Stylish alternative to tired maternity clothes!

This one is for all the beautiful ever-expanding bellies out there!

I wanted to introduce you to a fabulous new product for "showing off" that bump of yours, rather than hiding it; Sassabies Sashays! Although very common in European countries, maternity sashays have just been recently introduced to the United States. Brought to America by Dutch designer, Saskia Charbonneau, the sashay is made to go over your pre-maternity wardrobe, not under it like other belly bands that we've seen.

Whether you want to give an old, tired maternity outfit a fresh look, or you want to wear your pre-maternity clothes longer, the Sashay will come in handy! It also serves as a trendy belly cover-up after pregnancy, while breastfeeding!

Available in a choice of five stylish designs, Sassabies Sashays absolutely make the perfect gift for the expectant mom in your life!


Click here to see all of the unique designs.
Free shipping on all orders until March 1st!

For all of life's little emergencies!

As any parent of a potty-training toddler knows, when the little one's gotta go, he {or she} has GOTTA-GO! Take tonight for example. We were at the ice cream parlor because we'd all had a slightly crumby day, and needed a little something happy to finish off the day with. Nothing is better than ice cream for that, right? So as routine would have it, before packing into the car, we made sure our 3 year old didn't have to go potty. Of course he didn't, so off we go. Three licks into his cone, and I hear the dreaded 4 words... In that fast, panic-filled child voice, "I gotta go potty!" Ugh, this is the last thing I need right now. I wanted to just tell him to hurry up and eat his ice cream and we'd be home soon. But nope, that wasn't going to work. Then it occurred to me, I have these great little handy mitts for this exact scenario! They were sent to me by a self-proclaimed germaphobe, mompreneur in Maryland, and they are called "Gotta Go Mitts"!

Developed out of a need to be used on her two boys, Gotta Go Mitts are made from a thin (for fingertip feel), waterproof material, with wide openings for easy-on and off. The disposable mitts come in a slim packaging which easily fits into even the smallest of purses.

They can be used for a variety of purposes, from public restrooms to keeping hands clean when eating lollipops in public. These are the perfect handbag accessory that every potty-training parent needs to have on hand!

Check them out here!

Little Bodies Big Souls {GIVEAWAY}!

Giveaway details at the bottom!
Ok, so I am not a yogi myself, or a yogini for that matter. I don't even know which I would be, if I was one... Are you still with me here? Anyway, I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to some super cute yoga wear, that is made by yogi's and yogini's, FOR yogi's and yogini's! I recently received the softest, most adorable "Yoga Baby" onesie in the mail, from a fabulously wholesome & environmentally conscious little company, BuddhiWear Organics.

Enter BabyLuxe10 for 10% off!

With fun sayings like, "Yoga Divas do it on the mat", "Little Bodies Big Souls" and "Let me hear your ROAR", BuddhiWear creates organic apparel for the whole family, with a flare for yoga, meditation, pilates, reiki, the environment and all things positive. With 29 designs to choose from, you can get matching mother/child or sibling sets, all silk screen printed on a variety of fashionable shirt style and size options.
You know that you are helping the environment when you buy BuddhiWear because all items are manufactured sweatshop-free in the United States, and are printed with environmentally friendly dyes. BuddhiWear also contributes a portion of its annual profits to environmental organizations and other worthy worldwide causes.
{{{GIVEAWAY INFO}}}
I have an adorable Yoga Baby onesie available as a giveaway to one lucky reader! Just make sure you are on our {daily} subscriber list, for your chance to win. One name will be drawn at the end of the week {2/1/08} after 9pm.

Enter BabyLuxe10 for 10% off!

MIA

No, I haven't been MIA. I was just hobbling around on one good leg all last week, and therefore had way too little energy to stay up late enough to keep you abreast of all the latest and greatest in the wide world of BabyLuxe!

What was suspected as a case of MRSA, turned out to be nothing more than a severely painful infection in my leg. Who knows where it came from, but it was awful; AWFUL, I tell you! But, the good news is, I am on the mend, and expect to be back to 100% in no time. The other good news is that BL is back in business. See you around!

What I do for fun

Ok, so here it is. I didn't plan on doing this, but I am plugging "myself" for a change. Take a look if you like. Pass it on if you like... This is my hobby, and I am turning it into a small side business, for now. I love doing this sort of work, and would love to help any one of you make your upcoming event more memorable!

Definitely not for kids only!

Here's a great little album that I wanted to share with all the bluegrass music lovers of the world.

Entitled Not for Kids Only, this album is a compilation of songs performed by two very talented, legendary musicians, Jerry Garcia & Dave Grisman. Understanding our appreciation for great music, we received this CD as a gift from my music-loving brother and sister-in-law shortly before our first child was born. Of course after seeing the title, I wasn't going to actually wait until the baby was born to listen; I had to check it out right away. So in the months leading up to the birth of our son Colin, I often found myself humming along to these tunes in the car and at home. As the title implies, this isn't just ordinary kids music. The songs are down-home feel good, humorous, bluegrassy. Although definitely "kid-friendly", the musicians' talent really shines in each and every piece, with the sounds of the mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar & jew's harp throughout most of the songs.

Highly recommended for anyone that appreciates this sort of music; Not for Kids Only, by Jerry Garcia and Dave Grisman is available here, at Amazon.com.Album cover artwork by Jerry Garcia

Pamper your baby with Love...

{10% off just by mentioning BabyLuxe}

It just occurred to me while perusing the aisles of my local pharmacy tonight, that Valentine's Day is just around the corner! For years, the only one I have really had to think about on V-Day was my husband. Well, now I am beginning to think that maybe the little ones could use some lovin' too!

If you have a little one in your life who's in need of something special this Valentine's Day, then I have the perfect idea for you! Why not give him or her some Love, Chic Baby? What is it, you ask? "It is the first pair of luxurious fresh scents designed exclusively for little girls and boys, and for those who want to pamper them, thus creating a special bond between mother and child."

We tested it out, and we can honestly say that it's two thumbs up! There isn't much that can make a smelly baby boy fresh without a bath... But this stuff works wonders!

With a delicate, floral scent for little girls & a fresh, clean scent for little boys, both come in adorable packaging that reflects the playful, loving spirit of the fragrances. You won't find Love, Chic Baby in the perfume aisles though, as it is not a perfume. Instead, look for it in the children's section of high end boutiques and departments stores, and on the web site.

Love, Chic Baby is the perfect gift of luxury & style for all the little boys and girls in your life, ages 6 months and up. Even moms love wearing the fragrances! So what better time than Valentine's Day to splurge on your little Valentine?

Marmalade Ink

Dedicated Advertorial, by Marmalade Ink

Marmalade Ink offers exciting and unique photo announcements that are perfect for celebrating life. We believe that all sides of a card should be created equally so you will never find a “plain white back” at Marmalade Ink. Your photos and greeting are artfully designed with all sides in mind.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, just add your favorite photo, personalize and click to order. Your design will be printed on high quality card stock and will ship to you within 5 business days. It’s that easy!

Add some unique flavor to your announcements with Marmalade Ink!

BabyLuxe readers take 10% off your entire order with coupon code BL0001!

Keeping your sanity & baby's health in check!

Now that my baby is off the bottle, and onto a sippy cup, we are no longer on scheduled feeding times. We pretty much have a sippy cup filled with water, at the least, everywhere we go! And because Alex is just such a sweetheart, he loves to play games with mommy. His latest favorite game is seeing how many times I will bend over to pick his cup {or toy, for that matter} up off the floor, wherever we may be.

So you can imagine my joy, when an adorable Clingy Cord arrived in my mailbox! The Clingy Cord, a product of CaitiMac Creations, was created by a mom of two, who was experiencing the same frustrations. Made from a large variety of adorable fabrics, Clingy Cords attach to almost anything, including car seats, high chairs, strollers, and even doorknobs and desk drawers {in my case, the desk drawer functionality is a super plus when I just want him to sit still on my lap so that I can write these reviews}. Easily adjustable, the cords will fit a ton of different sizes. So whether it's a bottle, a sippy cup, a pacifier, toys, stuffed animals or even keys {again, in my case}, this fun little accessory will do the trick!

CaitiMac Creations also carries a variety of other adorable handmade baby & kids items, including nap mats, shopping cart covers, burp cloths & personalized koozies.

BabyLuxe readers can take 10% off just by entering "babyluxe" in the coupon box on the bottom, left-hand side of the home page!

So excited! And so jealous....

... of you parents-to-be!

As I was perusing the blogosphere this morning, I read from this very reputable source that Target is about to launch their debut of Dwell Studio for Target: Baby Collection! Set to be released in February, new parents will now be able to buy affordable, mod-style baby bedding, furniture, layette & accessories. Here is a sampling of what's to come!

And if that's not enough, a few other common household name stores are starting to carry a very cool selection of mod baby bedding & accessories as well.

Babies R Us is now carrying a selection of Skip Hop mod prints, like this one:
And Pottery Barn Kids, has an extensive collection of designer fabrics to choose from, for your custom-upholstered nursery glider.

PBK also has some adorable bedding!

And one of my favorite all-time baby/kid stores, Land of Nod, has this super cute, ultra-mod bedding set! I just love the colors, don't you?


I am so very jealous of all the pregnant ladies today... I guess that's all the more reason to try for #3!

Photo inspired art

Ahh... Don't you just love when you stumble upon a company that is so unique, so truly beautiful that you can't help but search far and wide for a reason to use their products?


This happened to me when I opened the package that I received in the mail from Paper Locket. Wendy Morales, photo artist & designer, has done something fabulous with the art of photo birth announcements! Her cards are breathtaking; and not only because of the unique designs, but also because of the high quality pearlesant card stock that she uses for her announcements.


These announcements literally "speak" to you. I sat there, and flipped through her sample pack in a complete state of awe. My older son was having dinner, and trying to carry on a conversation with me, and I found myself telling him to hush for a moment. I needed the peace and quiet to fully appreciate the beauty before me.

If you are having any doubts or are in question about where to get your baby birth announcements, I highly recommend Paper Locket for them. They are so worth the price, and you will NOT be disappointed, I can assure you of that!

Mention BabyLuxe for 15% off your order!!



PS - these photo's do Paper Locket little justice... The shimmer of the pearl is what makes them so gorgeous, and you cannot see that on here...

Taking the labor out of your delivery!

Huh? you ask...

Yes, it's true! I am excited to introduce you to two "mompreneurs" who came up with the idea for a baby planning service when they bonded over their own frustrations with planning for their own children. Ellie & Melissa didn't know what "layette" meant, weren't sure what they needed, and found the superstores overwhelming and the baby boutiques intimidating. Thus, The Baby Planners was born; a Los Angeles-based concierge and consulting service that caters to the needs of expectant parents. No matter what stage you are at in your pregnancy, they are available to meet your needs. Whether you are registering for the first time, need a special service, or just have some important {or silly, for that matter} questions, Ellie & Melissa are your go-to ladies.Ellie says, "One big tip we have for registering is that you don't need to buy everything at once. That's key because most people feel like it's a task they need to complete and it's a lot of stuff to consider and purchase at one time. Also, baby doesn't need much to come home from the hospital with. The basics - diapers, some layette items, a place to sleep and most of all, an infant car seat that we always recommend be installed by a professional. Too many people believe that their car seats are installed properly when they've done the job themselves and unfortunately, statistics show us otherwise."

Due to high demand, The Baby Planners are offering a special; a 1/2 hour phone consultation for $75 to answer any questions expectant parents may have. This makes a great gift for those with a few "quick" questions!

This is one of those novel ideas that makes you say, "Now why didn't I think of that?!" Visit The Baby Planners web site for more details, and stay tuned for their upcoming blog!

Take the cake {GIVEAWAY}!!!

I still remember at my first baby shower, several years ago, when a neighbor showed up with a diaper cake. I had never seen one before, and just thought it was the cutest thing. Apparently everyone else did too, because she was the most popular guest at my party. So I took my cute cake home, and set it on display in the nursery for several weeks of viewing pleasure. Eventually the day came that I ran out of diapers. So in a desperate attempt, I took apart the cake, and ta-da, I had a week's worth of diapers!

But in all honesty, I never realized that a diaper cake could be so fabulous, until I saw the Vintage Floral diaper cake by Diaper Cakewalk. This cake is truly amazing quality & so beautiful! Although it is made with 100% usable premium diapers, I can't say that I would ever want to take it apart, even if I did run out of diapers. It is that pretty! Leah, the cake "decorator" has paid great attention to the details of all her diaper cakes. Perfect little bows, super sweet {and useful} adornments such as Burt's Bees baby products, sturdy construction that even my 1 yr old couldn't destroy {unless of course, given sufficient time; then he could destroy anything}.

But sadly, I don't have a feminine nursery to decorate; just sports, trucks, trains & jungle animals here... And I don't even have a baby girl shower to attend any time soon. So that makes it your lucky day! Because I appreciate you, my reader's so much, I am going to be giving away this amazing vintage floral diaper cake, to one lucky reader! To be eligible, all you need to do is be signed up on the BabyLuxe mailing list. As a subscriber, you'll get an {almost} daily email delivered right to your inbox, chock full of super cute & practical little luxuries, AND you'll get a chance to win this diaper cake, valued at nearly $90.

This diaper cake, like almost all of the cakes at Diaper Cakewalk is packed with some great goodies:

Baby pacifier
Johnson's baby powder
Johnson's baby lotion
Johnson's baby wash
Soft and pretty baby washcloths
Limited Edition Amy Coe Floral baby bear
70-75 Pampers Swaddlers, size 1-2 (up to 15lbs.)



Sign up to win, and you could be the hit at your next baby shower.
Congratulations to Kim L. in Tennessee on winning the vintage floral diaper cake!

Check out the entire line of diaper cakes at Diaper Cakewalk!

Great deal going on at Luca Bleu!

FREE Set of Wall Letters with Bedding Purchase!

Luca Bleu is offering a great promotion for those expecting a new baby or redecorating a child's room. They are giving away a FREE set of hanging wall letters with every bedding purchase!* And it's so easy. Simply follow these steps:

1) Place your order for a crib or twin bedding set at Luca Bleu.

2) Send an e-mail to customerservice@lucableu.com and include: your name, order #, the letters you would like to order (up to 7), and your ribbon selection.

They have just added many new crib bedding sets from hip brands like Maddie Boo, New Arrivals, Nursery Works, Banana Fish, and more! Check out the selection of Girl's Crib Bedding and Boy's Crib Bedding today. And remember...Luca Bleu offers FREE SHIPPING on all bedding purchases!

*Maximum of 7 hanging wall letters applies for this promotion.

Therapy for mommy hands!

Having been through the whole newborn thing twice already, and both times in the winter months, I have experienced a great deal of what I like to call "new mommy hands" syndrome. Even now with a toddler and pre-schooler, maybe even more so than with a newborn, my hands are incredibly chapped. I've tried so many products over the past few years, and nothing has come close in comparison to the La Source 60 second fix for hands, at Crabtree & Evelyn. I was gifted some of this stuff a while back, and let me just tell you, it by far exceeds anything else I have ever tried. The best is doing the treatment just before slipping into bed for the night. The incredibly relaxing scent alone is enough to make this hand treatment a part of my daily bedtime regimen.

From the Crabtree & Evelyn site:

Restore dry, parched hands to softness quickly in two easy steps. First apply La Source Hand Recovery, our revolutionary hand treatment that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes. Follow with our intensive La Source Hand Therapy moisturizer for baby-soft hands all day.

• Soothes and restores softness
• Intensive shea butter and seaweed formula
• Amazing results

This is one of my favorite new go-to $10 gifts for women. It's the perfect little extra for a new mommy or even an old mommy or mommy-to-be. You can get the small gift set for 10 bucks, or the larger set for $28. The smallest set, which is how I first received it, was plenty to get me addicted. I have recently purchased the largest available size of each tube, separately, at a buy one get one half off sale.

La Source has a whole slew of other products in their collection, though I still have not tried anything but the hand fix. I probably should, huh.

You can see the whole collection here. Sorry, no coupon code for this one. Just another fabulous product that I thought you would love to try out! Get the $10 set and see for yourself.

Attention girl moms!

While I may be just a "boy's" mom, I can definitely appreciate a great site dedicated to all the little princess's of the world. One of my good friends recently launched a brand new site that does just that. Pink with Sparkles is an entertainingly witty read, loaded with fabulous finds! If you have not had a chance to check it out yet, I suggest you head on over & sign up for the daily dish. She will fill your inbox with the most fantastic deals to be had in the fairy land of little girl's {ok, and some boys} shopping market.

Thanks to Pink with Sparkles, I have already over spent on baby and birthday gifts this month. Not that I am complaining or anything... Have fun with it!

Slinging makes us happy!

I've said it before, and I will say it again... Having a pouch sling for my second baby was one of the best baby products I ever owned.

Alex has always been a screamer, and though you may think that he is a bit spoiled, when he screams, I pick him up. This behavior made it nearly impossible to get anything done around the house, especially with a 2 1/2 year old under foot as well. So for me, slinging was the way to go. Eventually it became sort of a comfort zone for us, as we both loved the closeness of each other. So then it became something to look forward to. Since he was growing too big for every day around the house slinging, when we were out and about, I started slinging, rather than strolling. People told me that this was not a good thing... He would be spoiled... I did not listen. All that mattered was that we were happy! And then he grew, and grew some more. The sling we were using just was not cutting it. The support was just not there with the sling we had. This made for a sad mama, and a potentially sad little man ~ if only he could understand emotions.

Enter Sprout Pouch. These baby's are made for the big dogs! Made of super cute, reversible fabrics, and durable in every way, they are made to withstand weight, and they are made to fit YOU. After our brief, unfortunate hiatus from slinging, I threw my big man into this one, and away we went. He was comfy as could be, and I think he felt a lot more secure on my hip. Giggles confirmed my assumption. We're so excited to be back in the game!

Check out Sprout Pouch to see the stylish line-up. Also check out their brand new diaper bags while you are there!

BabyLuxe readers take $10 off through April 1, 2008 with code "uxe27" - 3 lowercase letters, 2 numbers.

Enjoy!

Contempo Tot re-launch!

Better late than never right? The much anticipated re-launch of Contempo Tot occurred over the holidays, and they have a special treat for us!

An exclusive code for BabyLuxe readers - BBLFS08 for free shipping on orders of $40 or more, good through FEB 15th.

Insider scoop:

Giveaways start today...up for grabs this week...

TUES - Diaper Bag by Zosephine Bags

WED - Eliana Pendant - a single sterling silver pendant on a silver chain, engraved with your choice of name or date

THURS - A Cashmere Teddy Bear by Teddyluxe

FRI - The Matching Game by Binth

To be in the drawing, you just need to be on the email list, so go to www.contempotot.com and select the newsletter option to sign up. Winners will be notified via email.

New lines will be added soon: Eboo toys, Babylegs, BabyStar bedding and accessories, Clean Well - a completely natural hand sanitizer that kills 99.99% of germs but is safe for kids - no alcohol or triclosan, Pixel Organics crib and toddler bedding, and much more!

retro, preppy, a little bling too - super cute barrettes!

by BabyLuxe guest writer, Shannon C:

"Finally a hair barrette that stays in my girls’ ultra fine hair for more than five minutes” is exactly what I thought after trying t a i a hair clips. Not only are these barrettes stylish, they come with a piece of Velcro attached to the inside of each barrette that ensures it will stay in place.

Both of my girls have been challenged in the hair department, especially my oldest who has never really had a full haircut and will turn four this month. When I was asked to try this product it was kind of humorous knowing the hair struggles we go through in my home. I was pleasantly surprised though at how well the barrettes stayed in. The patterns in the fabrics used to make the barrettes are ultra cute and trendy. There is also a tiny little rhinestone on some of the barrettes. My oldest loves wearing the jeweled barrettes. She says she feels like Cinderella.

I would definitely recommend t a i a hair clips to any mother of a little girl. Especially those of you that have a hair challenged daughter. Sometimes I wish I could get away with wearing them too.

Exclusive t a i a hair clips promo for BabyLuxe readers: Use the code "luxe" for 15% off your first order!

Mamas and Munchkins 3-day SALE!

For three days only, receive 25% off at Mamas and Munchkins with the code "happynewyear"!
{actually, I think there are only two days left, so hurry!}

FREE shipping at Mairzey Dotes!

Get free shipping at Mairzey Dotes through January 31st. Use code "ship4me" at check out!

Label with style & individuality

Ok, is it just me, or are there a ton of new moms heading back to work this month? I think because there are so many fall babies, new moms figure they might as well just stay home through the holidays, and then head back in January.

So when I went back to work for the first time after my first son was born, I had no clue about "labeling" bottles... Poor Colin, he wound up with masking tape & sharpie labels for a few weeks. Eventually, our kind daycare provider {in-home} took it upon herself to make some little waterproof labels for his bottles. They weren't exactly the cutest thing, but I suppose they worked better than the tape labels that I so creatively crafted.

And now, of course, that I don't have the need for labeling bottles anymore {my kids are at home every day}, I come across these totally adorable & affordable waterproof vinyl labels, by Kelly Hughes Designs, available at Pen & Parchment. They carry 3 whole pages of label designs to choose from!

Not only for bottles, these dishwasher safe vinyl labels are also great for sippy cups, lunch bags & even gifts.

Head over to Pen & Parchment to see the entire collection. While you are there, be sure to check out the rest of their wonderful paper treasures to be had!

Happy 2008!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Thanks for sticking around while I took a much needed break to spend some good old fashioned quality time with my family. I hope you all made wonderful memories with your families over the holiday season as well.

So now I am all rested and geared up for an exciting 2008, in which I hope you'll join me!

If you are not already receiving the {daily} newsletter, please take a moment and sign up. I really think you'll enjoy getting a fun to read email from BabyLuxe each morning! And please spread the love while you're at it! Link up & pass it on.

If you are an independent designer and you'd like to get noticed, please don't hesitate to drop me a line! I love hearing from creative souls like you & even more, I love helping you achieve the success & attention that you deserve.

Cheers!