Not just another stationery designer

The BabyLuxe:

Sprinkles Invitations are stationery designs that are fun, colorful and different from what you normally see out there in the marketplace.

What makes them a practical little luxury?
It is so rare these days to come across a stationery designer that is unique, fresh, fun and inspirational, so when I came across Sprinkles, I had to share it with you all! There is nothing really "practical" or "luxurious" about these invitations, but just that they are super cute, and in my opinion, super original. While browsing the site, I had the hardest time deciding which one to post in this feature, because they are all equally adorable! So I posted a few of my favorites... Princess party anyone?

Sprinkles offers flat cards as well as die-cut invitations & announcements, and they offer many of their designs in a coordinating fold-over note card, for thank-yous. The die-cuts are unique in that they are actually two-pieces of paper, held together by an eyelet brad. The top sheet swivels aside to reveal the bottom sheet where the invitation details are printed.

All invitations come with a magnet on the back of the back sheet, which can be posted to any metal surface. All Sprinkles Invitations are 100# heavy paper stock.

They are not limited to just baby and kids stationery, as they do holiday invitations & cards, weddings, theme parties, moving announcements, and more.

You really must check out the entire collection!

http://www.sprinklesinvitations.com/
BabyLuxe readers take 10% off all orders through October 31st with the promo code "BABYLUXE"!

No batteries. No blinking lights. No cartoon-themed toys. Period.

The BabyLuxe:

Oompa Toys carries a wonderful, ever expanding mix of wooden toys, baby toys, soft dolls, play food, ball tracks, play mats and other beautiful, high quality wooden toys.

What makes it a practical little luxury?

Well, now that my little one is 8 months old, he is more and more active every day, as you can imagine! It is finally time to start weeding through and replacing some of those barely played with, over commercialized, unimaginative "toys" that my first son had, with some high quality, natural imagination toys. Oompa Toys provides just that, and more. With their extensive line of quality European toys and European inspired toys, they're an online leader in wooden toys, baby toys, Haba toys, toddler toys and learning toys.

Oompa believes in humane and safe working conditions by adults and with absolutely no child-labor,and they go to great lengths to ensure toys within the Oompa family do, indeed, come from safe environments. Along with their fabulous product selection, Oompa Toys also offers a wish list, gift cards & super cute gift wrap!

View their entire collection here:

http://www.oompa.com/cgi-bin/category/0

Education at the dinner table

The BabyLuxe:

Everything by Crocodile Creek!

What makes it a practical little luxury?

With two {almost} self-feeding children under the age of 3, and a new kitchen table, I suppose you could say that I have not been the most practical person lately. So began my quest for some fun, attractive & most importantly, educational placemats, dishes & bibs. I am a firm believer that all meals should be eaten at the dinner table, and they should consist of educational conversation, and thought-provoking topics of discussion.

Throughout my extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that no one beats Crocodile Creek in this market! They have a ton of attractive designs to choose from, their prices are more than reasonable, and the quality of their products is top notch. And they are educational to boot! While I have not tried every single item in their product line, those that I have tried have far exceeded my expectations. From flowers to the world map to barnyard animal sounds, they have a little something for every child. Another great thing about them is that their designs mix and match across product categories, making them a great one stop shop for a fabulous themed baby gift - "Smart Baby Meals"!

View the entire collection here:

http://crocodilecreek.com/home.html

"Boy Meets Girl" meets double strolling!

The BabyLuxe:

Let’s Go Strolling will have the exclusive “Boy Meets Girl” Pink & Blue Limited Edition version of the Valco Twin Trimode! Pre-order now before they are gone!

What makes it a practical "big" luxury?

While I cannot say that I own this, or that I have even tried it, I can't help but point out the luxury and practicality of this stroller. Not only is it just the right colors for your little ones, but it is also one of the best, safest, most durable double strollers on the market today.

Ready for shipping in October, they are currently taking pre-orders for this wildly popular limited edition. Make sure you pre-order one of these amazing strollers before it is gone. The "Boy Meets Girl" Pink & Blue Limited Edition Valco Twin Trimode comes fully loaded with matching pink and blue footmuffs, individual and easily removeable pink and blue bumper bars, zip-in UV shade, rain cover, tire pump, parent cupholder and more and is still the same Valco Twin Trimode that parents around the world adore.

Check it out here!

http://www.letsgostrolling.com/limited-edition-pink-blue-valco-twin-trimode.html

Let's Go Strolling offers free stroller consultations, an awesome assortment of practical gifts and accessories to go along with their complete line of strollers, excellent customer service and FREE shipping on all orders over $99!

Kangaroodle giveaway winner and promotion!

Congratulations to Lisa G. in NC on winning the Kangaroodle $100 shopping spree!

Unfortunately, everyone couldn't win, but Kangaroodle is offering 15% off your order until December 31st, when you use the code "babyluxe" in the checkout section!

Leave a sophisticated "impression" with Three Designing Women

The BabyLuxe:
Three Designing Women are the innovators of customizable self-inking stamps. Available in many unique, sophisticated designs, the stamps can be fully personalized with address information, family names, name and monogram – or designed as book plates, birth or moving announcements.

What makes it a practical little luxury?

These stamps are absolutely beautiful in real life! I received one as a gift, and cannot wait to start leaving my "impression" on all things paper {thanks Zia}! The variations on design are virtually endless, as custom artwork and providing your own artwork are both options that you have when you order a Three Designing Women self-inking stamp. What makes Three Designing Women so much fun is that they also offer a complete line of fresh, colorful paper products designed to coordinate with the custom and monogram stampers-and now embossers.

So if you want to be totally original in creating your baby's birth announcement, why not have Three Designing Women design a self-inking stamp that would look something like this, and then order from a variety of note card options, to mark the stamped announcement. For complete personalization, include a small photo of your new baby inside the note card!

I also love the wine & gift tags! Order a family stamp that says "Happy Holidays! Love the Smith's", and impress all your friends with a personalized bottle of wine as a gift this coming Holiday season!

See the entire collection here:

http://www.threedesigningwomen.com/

While Three Designing Women does not sell directly to consumers, they have a complete list of retailers that carry their line. My personal favorite is Stationary Style, as they have the most extensive selection! Happy Stamping!

A modern changing table, at Kangaroodle {surprise giveaway}!

The BabyLuxe:
Stylish, hip and incredibly quick. Not words one would typically associate with changing diapers, but the Ubi changing table is all that and more.

What makes it a practical little luxury?
Ok, so we've all been there. You're in the nursery, trying to change your fragile little newborn, but you don't dare try to firmly hold his legs up with one hand, so that you can quickly slip the diaper up under his behind. Gosh, you think you might break him. So instead you ever so gently try to wiggle it up underneath him, so that it lines up "just so". Through this lengthy process, your little darling has already gotten another urge to go, and proceeds to pee all over you!

Or maybe you were lucky enough to have been blessed with a baby girl, who never had that sudden urge to go. But now it is 6 months later, and your sweet little angel is so wiggly that she takes nearly 10 minutes to change, because she's just all over the table, and wiggling out of your firm grip {hopefully by now you've realized that a firm grip is what it's going to take, to get the baby changed efficiently}.

So you get my point. Diaper changing can be a real pain in the butt, and it takes a lot of practice and skill to be able to quickly and efficiently change diaper after diaper, day & night, for two years or more. This is why every new parent deserves the new Ubi diaper changing table! The table comes in a basic & deluxe model. Both the basic and deluxe tables make changing diapers a breeze by always having a fresh diaper laid out ready for the next change, while the retro-mod prints and clean wood lines appeal to today’s modern parents.

See how it works here!
http://www.kangaroodles.com/cart/home.php?cat=364
Kangaroodle is offering 15% off your order until December 31st, when you use the code "babyluxe" in the checkout section!

Love the concept, LOVE the name!

Just wanted to introduce a fabulous online boutique, with whom we share a lot in common! I stumbled upon "Luxebaby Gifts" while doing my own google search "research" and was just so excited about the concept, that I had to share it with you all. And what better time than now, while their entire site is up to 50% off!

The concept of Luxebaby Gifts is to provide modern parents, who have too much on their plate to seek out original baby gifts for friends and family, a one stop shop for the complete package. The ladies behind Luxebaby Gifts have immersed themselves in the world of baby products to seek out the best of the best and keep on top of the latest “it” products and trends. You can choose from a variety of gift collections & price ranges including Mini, Deluxe and Luxe, ranging from $30 - $115 {regularly priced}. But remember, almost the entire store is up to 50% off right now! Each gift also comes with complimentary gift wrap, and low $4.99 shipping every day!

Check out Luxebaby Gifts today, while the prices are still hot!
http://www.luxebabygifts.com/

Leading the way for modern parenting!

The BabyLuxe:
The Catch Bowl, created by Boon, Inc., is the perfect way to help first-time eaters control little spills.

What makes it a practical little luxury?
Well to be totally honest, I believe that everything Boon comes up with is extremely practical, and I think it's all a bit luxurious too! Anyone that has a self-feeding toddler can relate to the frustrations associated with cleaning up half of every meal off the floor. Even at two, my son can't get through some meals without accidentally tipping his spoon so that the rice or couscous ends up on his shirt, or on the floor. Granted, that is what the family dog is for, but wouldn't it be so nice if you didn't have to mop your kitchen floors several times per week? This is where the Catch Bowl comes in handy!

The built-in food catcher extends toward the child, funneling runaway food back into the bowl. Made from easy-to-clean soft material, the food catcher flexes when bumped. To help avoid bigger spills, a suction cup bottom keeps the Catch Bowl firmly in place.

Boon, Inc. has come out with an entire feeding line, and everything in the line is as unique and creative as the Catch Bowl! I am also a huge fan of the new Squirt, and cannot wait to try one out with my little guy. These new products won't be available until October, but you should go ahead and check them out now!

View the entire collection here:
http://booninc.com/feeding.html

10% of all Boon profits are donated to children's charities.

Charming personalized gifts for baby & family

The BabyLuxe:
Based in Thomasville, Ga., Fontaine Maury creates charming, yet sophisticated personalized stationary and custom gifts.

What makes it a practical little luxury?
Lately, a big 1st birthday trend seems to be the personalized birthday plate. While I am all for the special commemorative plate, I never quite understood why anyone would put such a large ceramic platter in front of someone that barely knows how to use a spoon, let alone keep a plate on the table! So when I first spotted Fontaine Maury's adorable custom-made melamine plates, it was love at first site.

Each plate is custom made. You choose the colors, the image, the name & more! With options such as cowboy boots, ladybugs, monogram only and personalized silhouettes, the variations are literally endless.

View the entire collection here:
http://www.finestationery.com/indexCelebros.cfm?manid=161&action=4&AnswerID=04ff9a81-ac2e-4a27-a6a9-a5f9ab411bb9&shopbybrand=true&sitemap=false

BlingBaby Winner!

Congratulations to Stephanie D in Arizona! Stephanie has won her choice of a BlingBaby onesie just by being a loyal BabyLuxe {daily} subscriber.

For your chance to win one of our upcoming surprise giveaways, please subscribe to our {daily} newsletter!

Make a fashion statement with Milk Bands!

The BabyLuxe:
Milk Bands are the latest solution for breastfeeding mothers who desire to keep and accurate nursing log of their baby's feeds without the hassles of nursing journals, safety pins or bracelets being switched from side to side.

What makes it a practical little luxury?
Of course I hear about all of these wonderful little products after I am done breastfeeding. The Milk Band is a simple and efficient way to track which side you last fed on, all while remaining hip & stylish! Made from silicone rubber compounds, the Milk Band is strong & durable. Rather than switching wrists with each feeding, all you do is turn the Milk Band inside out. Both sides are clearly labelled with "Right" or "Left" as well as a unique time-tracking system.

Following are just some of the time-tracking features a Milk Band can offer:
- Record single feeding sessions to the nearest 5 minute increment
(this works equally as well for bottle-fed infants)
- Record multiple feeding sessions over a full day period
- Record the number of times baby fed in one day
- Record the number of diapers a baby soiled during the day
- Reminding the mother what time baby last fed
- Reminding the mother roughly what time the baby is due for another feeding

And when you are done breastfeeding, continue using your Milk Band to keep track of appointments, how much water you drink each day, how many dirty and wet diapers baby has, and more. Let your imagination run wild with this functional little accessory!

View the entire collection here:
http://www.milkbands.com/

BlingBaby - GIVEAWAY!

The BabyLuxe:
BlingBaby is an online boutique featuring BLING for the baby who has everything!

What makes it a practical little luxury?
Well, it's just that... BLING in and of itself is a luxury, and it's quite practical for the baby that already has all of the necessities! Or, you could see the practicality in it, if you were buying for twins, per say. Or maybe you're just sick of being asked 10 times a day what your precious little bundle's name is. Beware though, with your baby in this sort of Bling, you'll be stopped more than 10 times per day! It's just simply adorable, and for me, that is practical enough!

BlingBaby also carries a complete selection for boys as well!

View the entire collection here:
http://www.bling-baby.com/
All BabyLuxe readers will receive free shipping! Just send an email with your purchase confirmation to jen@bling-baby.com and she will credit it back to you.

Giveaway entry:
A personalized BlingBaby onesie will be given away to one of our lucky readers! To be eligible, make sure you are signed up for our daily email subscription {to the right}. One name will be chosen at random, at the end of the day on Wednesday. Good luck to everyone!

Just what my little tyke ordered

The BabyLuxe:

The TykeLight is a super cool light that doubles as a flashlight and a nightlight.

What makes it a practical little luxury?

Well, I've never been a fan of nightlights. I didn't have one as a kid, nor do either of my kids have one. We have one in the hall bath, which illuminates the hallway during the night, and that has always sufficed for us. However, since our recent summer travels, which included leaving our 2 year old with his grandparents for almost 2 weeks last month, he now is requesting that the light stay on, and his door stay open at bedtime. This makes for occasional frustrations, when my husband and I are trying to get things done downstairs or when we have visitors over after the kids go to bed. Just because he needs light in his room, shouldn't mean we have to be quiet all night, right?

So it occurred to me that we need to get him a nightlight. In my quest for the perfect light, I came across the TykeLight. This is exactly what we need! It's perfectly sized for a kid's hand, and made of durable impact-resistant plastic. It's perfect for taking under the covers, down dark hallways, into tents, etc. This Mobi manufactured nightlight runs on rechargeable batteries that last for up to 10 hours, and it is made of impact-resistant, easy to clean plastic. Although I don't have this fun new light yet, I can say that I have never been disappointed with a Land of Nod purchase, so I am sure this purchase will be no different!

View the entire collection here (& to see some cool "in the dark" pics of the TykeLight):

http://www.landofnod.com/spill.aspx?c=466&pc=66

Luca Bleu invites you to their Grand Opening celebration!

Luca Bleu is opening very soon, and they want you to be a part of their grand opening celebration! The online boutique will specialize in unique and distinctive clothing, accessories, gifts, and décor for moms, babies, and toddlers. Personal touches will be added to every purchase such as handwritten notes and a special surprise.

To join in on the fun, you're encouraged to go to the Luca Bleu web site and sign up today! By signing up, you will be cordially invited to their grand opening, where you will receive 15% off your total purchase and free shipping for orders over $99. This promotion is by invitation only, so you must to sign up today!

Some of the more "practical" luxuries that Luca Bleu will carry:

B-Buckles, the hottest new maternity accessory that allows you to wear your sexy jeans throughout your pregnancy & beyond! Say bye-bye to rubberbands and scary maternity jeans.

The all-new Max 'n Maddie Papa Pillow, made from plush latte chenille and trimmed in slate blue, this thin pillow allows baby to rest in complete cozy splendor!

Cowgirl Tu-Tu by Prissy Poofs. The most "practical" tu-tu out there, especially with Halloween just around the corner!

Jack & Lily shoes. Specially designed to encourage a baby's development, these beautifully appointed, soft-soled shoes invite babies to discover, touch and smile.

To sign up, please visit the following link:
http://www.lucableu.com/

Eat your Peas & Carrots!

Here's a fun selection of Peas & Carrots themed products, perfect for gift giving. Whether for twins, or just a single sweet pea, check out these fabulous collections!

Peas & Carrots onesie set by little bird creations, an etsy store. While I haven't seen the Peas & Carrots onesies in real life, I do have the pumpkin onesie by little bird creations, and it is super cute & high quality! The patches are cut and sewn individually, by hand. It makes for a truly one of a kind item.

Peas & Carrots Bink Link, available at Bediboo. Every paci-using child should have a clip of some sort, and these are just the cutest ones I have seen in a long time! Made of wooden beads, they are safety tested & conform to safety standards. Cheers to veggies without complaints!

Melimade Wool Carrot Teether, available at Bediboo. We have one of these simple little teethers for the little guy, and its so fun and unique. It gives him something other than hard plastic to chew on, and I can rest assured, knowing it is safe for him to have in his mouth, with no small pieces to choke on.

Sage Dot Bib & Burpie set from Cuddlebee, on sale!!! So maybe it's called "sage, but it still looks like peas, and heck it's on SALE!Eat your Peas for new moms Gently Spoken Communications. Although I don't have the "for New Moms" version, I have read several versions of Eat Your Peas, and they really are "simple truths and happy insights". Huggalugs, available in starfish orange and grass green, at Bediboo. I posted about these last week, and can't say enough about the practicality of them! They were perfect in the Adirondacks last week, when we had a full day planned with the kids, and the morning started off chilly, but reached mid-80s by 11 am. I just put a pair of shorts on the baby, along with a pair of Huggalugs, and we were good to go, with minimal changing of clothes.
Sweet Pea photo frame, but GiggleBrush Designs. Handmade photo frames that are high quality & adorable, are hard to come by. This is a sweet frame, that would add a special touch to any little one's nursery!

And for good measure, why not throw in the ultimate Phil and Ted's Sport Buggy Stroller with Toddler Seat? This stroller is available in orange & lime, as well as 5 other colors, at Let's Go Strolling. The stroller is super adaptable to your needs, going from single newborn, to single upright, to newborn/toddler, to toddler/toddler mode, all with a few simple adjustments. I use this stroller with the boys, and love it!

Build any space anywhere

The BabyLuxe:

Ok, so how about a KidLuxe today? Watch your child's imagination build. With no hard pieces to break or lose, the award-winning Fortamajig is the ultimate washable, storable, portable and durable all-in-one playspace. Use the Fortamajig to create a four-walled fort, teepee, tunnel, canopy - you name it. With a Fortamajig, kids can build any space, anywhere!

What makes it a practical little luxury?

I will be the first to admit that I am terrible when it comes to inspiring creativity in my son. I'll never forget the first time I realized that he was old enough for some good old fashioned fort-building, and I totally failed him. The blankets either weren't big enough, or they were too heavy and just fell every time I tried to connect them to the chair or table, or what have you. Then came the obstacle of figuring how just "how" to connect them, when there were no little clothespins lying around, like we had back in my childhood days. So through it all, we ended up with an approximately 2 x 2 foot space, that I called his very first "fort". Nope, I was definitely not on the list of cool moms that day!

The Fortamajig would have solved all my problems. With its generous size, durable nylon ripstop fabric which is waterproof & machine washable, a window & built in door, 4 corner pockets, 9 adjustable inner loops and 24 adjustable outer loops, the fortamajig rolls up to a portable square foot! It comes in an ultra lightweight single layer, or a brilliant two color reversible model.

The Fortamajig would make a perfect birthday gift, or stock up now for the holidays!

View the collection here:

http://www.thehappykidcompany.com/Home.html

FREE standard shipping on all Fortamajigs shipped within the continental US!

Thanks for your patience!

Thanks to all my loyal readers for sticking around during my brief hiatus!

We were on a much needed, but happy to be home, sort of vacation! I'll be back into the swing of things Thursday, with a whole slew of {daily} BabyLuxe's to cover, so stay tuned, and prepare to do some serious shopping!