Baby Shower Blvd!

I have a wonderful friend in my neighborhood who makes the most fantastic shower gifts! She also happens to be a very accomplished cook and baker. She recently started her own business called Baby Shower Blvd that specializes in beautiful custom diaper cakes and party favors. Wouldn't these be a perfect centerpiece to any beloved new mom's celebration or child's birthday party?

Photos by Sharma Podila

Why You Need a Network of Moms...

I have this group of friends who I've made over the years. We met when my oldest started Kindergarten and our children have grown up together through the years. Most of us had moved to California away from home and family. Our children now go to different schools, but we still maintain a friendship and connection. Together we created our own family of moms...we've grown together as parents and friends. We meet for coffee, we meet to discuss books, we meet at the park, we meet to discuss marriage. We've supported each other through hard times, and shared each other's triumphs and joys. We've cried together, and laughed together, and commiserated the pains of childhood and parenthood.

And yesterday, while I was hopped up on pain meds, and covered in ice packs I totally appreciated yet again how wonderful my network of moms is. They took the son, gave me time to sleep and recover, called to see how I was feeling...

Thanks ladies, love and appreciate you more than you can ever know :0)

Do you have a color-coded life?

Yes, I'm nuts. I know this, but not for the reason you'd think...

This is the ONLY way to organize all the things in my life. I used to write everything down on little scraps of paper and leave them all over the house. I still do this to some extent (much to my husband's chagrin), but I've massively consolidated over the years. From tutoring sessions to dentist appointments I needed a way to organize it all, and a way to have it with me at all times. Thankfully iCal syncs up with my phone and back again to my computer so I always have an updated copy of what is going on and when and where I'm supposed to be.

Still, I realize I look like a complete OCD nut when you see the picture. Seriously, if you saw my desk you'd know this is not the case ;0)

Why you have to have a Mac when you travel...

Alexi and I are currently in Pennsylvania visiting family. Math and The Hubs stayed behind since they both had school and work. I took my MacBook with built in iSight with us, and we were able to use iChat video conferencing to talk about our day and say our goodnights. Alexi's favorite part was when his dad and brother superimposed themselves into an aquarium and did a bunch of other zany special effects for his benefit :0)

I'm going on a trip, and with me I'm takin'...

• 1 toddler (2.4 year old, 36-pound body of pure obstinate bliss)
• 1 stuffed panda
  
• 1 ultra-light FAA approved booster carseat with restraint system (I checked out the CARES restraint but it's not 5 point)
  
• 1 Cheeky Monkey Pac Back
• 1 fully loaded 64 GB, 6 hour run time iPod Touch with protective cover and headphones
  
• 1 Silver Cross Mini pushchair (to be checked at gate)
  
• 1 Patemm pad (airplane bathrooms are gross)
  
• 1 spill proof sippy cup
• 1 backpack stuffed to the hilt with wrapped, inexpensive treats, toys, and distractions.
• 2 Pre-filled Children's Benadryl packets (don't judge, it works for us), and a pack of Hyland's Calms Forte.
  
• 1 mini first aid kit (band aids, Tylenol, a few horse tranquilizers for myself)
• 2 plastic bags (vomit happens)
  
• 2 change of clothes (again, vomit happens)
• 3 magazines for me (it might happen, or at the very least he can rip them to shreds...might provide 10 minutes of fun)
  
• 5 organic lollipops
  
• 10 diapers and full pack of wipes (because you never know how many you'll need)
• Various snacks and pre-packaged favorite foods
• Cash

Labels...

At the park yesterday Alexi tossed his brand new Sigg water bottle out of his diaper bag. This prompted me to wonder why I've never labeled any of my kids things before. I think I'm going to go with Oliver's Labels. They have a bunch of cute designs and they offer a "Found-it" program. Interesting, no?

Baby Brain

If you're expecting or have a newborn, and you have an iPhone or iPod Touch this one's for you...

All I can say is Woah! How is wish, wish, wish Baby Brain had been in existence when my kids were babies because I know my husband and I would have flipped over it! I'm not really much of a number analyst in my family so maybe I'd have slacked off on some of the capabilities, but The Hubster thrives when working with raw data. I know he'd be the one constantly logging info and being tickled to death by the nice data charts and graphical representations.

This app does it all (nap length, diapers/day, breast feeding timer, bottle calculator) in one neat, affordably priced package! I love it gives the option of bottle and breast since I was an exclusive expresser. Also, the graphical interface is intuitive, fast and simple to add info, and really nice looking!

The creators of this app are a San Francisco husband and wife team who have two young children of their own so they know their stuff!

You can download Baby Brain off iTunes here.

Birthday Gifting...

Want a unique and cool, but inexpensive birthday gift? Make a shirt! I bought a simple outfit from Target's Circo line ($8 for the set), and ironed on a vintage cut-out I picked up at a boutique in LA. The cut out is made from a few vintage fabrics that have been quilted together and cut into a bird shape. Iron it on, and then sew in a zig-zag to ensure it won't come off in the wash. Voila! Totally hip, one-of-a-kind baby gift that's straight from the heart :0)

Biking Mama

So it's official, I'm now the proud owner of and Electra bike :0) I love it so very much! It's perfect for cruising around my little neighborhood or to the grocery store or to the park. After much thought I decided not to get the coveted Bobike Mini. I realized I was a tad too klutzy to put the extra weight on my bike, and I picked up a trailer from a friend instead. This turned out to be a good decision since I can haul the kids in the trailer and my stuff in the front tray.

I was told I can now be the neighborhood bread girl since in Europe it's a very common style of bike for bakers to deliver bread ;0)

This morning we all did a family bike trip to Hobees for breakfast. So loving this new found mode of transportation :0)

I also picked up a Wordlock bike lock since I'm notorious for forgetting my combination. This is so much simpler since it's just a 4 letter word...much easier to remember!


And lastly, I've asked The Hubster to get me a Yakkay bike helmet as an anniversary gift, lol. Sure it doesn't sparkle, but it's way cute as far as bike helmets go. Safty first!

Electra bikes can be purchased from The Off Ramp in Santa Clara and Mountain View. Wordlocks can be found at all Targets. Yakkay helmets are only available internationally, but are sold on-line through a UK retailer called 50cycles.

Tie Ts

Look what I just picked up for Alexi! Designer Tie T-shirts are all the rage right now, but the designer price made me want to faint. Check out this swank Etsy shop that sells a huge variety of Tie T's for a great price!

Succulents

Photo by Caitlin Atkinson

What I wouldn't give for the vertical masterpiece above! It was created by a San Francisco artist named Flora Grubb (that's her real name!). She owns and runs a garden nursery, and specializes in works of art made from succulents and other cacti variations. And I'm oh, so smitten!

I'm no green thumb. In fact, I kill almost every plant I touch which is why I find succulents so fascinating! They are hearty little buggers, and beautiful, and require almost no botanical know-how to survive. Plus, since this is mounted on a wall, it would be up and away from my kids (who would invariably try to rip up each of those little suckers as cargo fodder for their toy trucks)! I have dreams of owning such a work of art someday *sigh*

I wonder if my kids would eat these...

It's ice cream, but it looks like fruits and veggies! I want to try it...Yum!

Hat Happiness

I don't think it's a secret that I'm a huge fan of hats. My kids like them, too!

Here's a few new hats that are fresh and fun for upcoming sunny summer days.

These are a staple for the pool and the park. They're light and fast drying, hold up to sand and chlorine, and stay put on Junior's head. Can be found at Mel Cottons in SJ and PA Sport Shop and Toy World, Sports Basement Presidio in SF.

Isn't this the cutest? And it's reversible!

My sons have an endless supply of newsboy caps. They're timeless, and they always look good dressed up or down. Found at Janie and Jack.


Now for the Moms:
Lacoste Sun Hat is not only sporty and cute, but functional for tennis lessons and the pool! Can be found at Valley Fair, Union Square in SF, and Stanford Shopping in PA.

This one is sweet and has a vintage throwback feel.

And the omg hat...isn't it fab? Found at Saks Fifth Ave.

Cool Cuffs

I'm really loving cuffs lately. I don't why. Maybe it's because they look kind of alternative, but are easily mixed with more traditional casual wear.

Anyway, here's an awesome one by SouleMama...she has far superior sewing skills than I, but this is so cute and fresh and easy looking.

I might try to tackle this one this weekend.

Here's a more simple one I made out of my son's old necktie.

Calling All Moms....

I've been on the hut for some really cute mom calling cards. If you've never heard of mom cards before they are basically business cards with your kid's names and your contact info. This card thing brings back memories of reading Little Town on the Prairie and the name cards Laura used to exchange with her friends. Her mom gave her some money to purchase them and she was so tickled about it. I am, too!

Anyway, in these modern times, I am often at the park, or at a playdate, or at a class and invariably I run into a cool new mom and we hit it off. Then one of us says, "We should totally get together! What's your number?" And I never have a pen, and I've usually forgotten my phone (which is a crime according to my husband). So I think I have a real need for these ;0) Stash a few in the diaper bag, you know? I bet these would make a really sweet baby shower or new mom gift, too!

It's down to these two options. They're both awesome for different reasons. Which do you think?

I really like these cards because you can add photos! And the prints are really fresh and modern.

And then I saw these on Etsy, and they are really cute in a sorta Victorian vintage sortof way.

Tough decision!

Summer Sun Means Sandal Fun!

YAY! The weather is warm, the pool is open, and the only thing that's missing is footwear for the kiddies. I'm listing off my personal favorites...

Sride Rite Wyatt. The name keeps changing, the style does not. I've been buying Matthew the same pair of shoes each year for the past 8 years, and there's a good reason why. They are industructable, they look great dressed up or down, and they come in widths (anyone with a child with wide feet can attest to this particular woe). Even better, Great Mall in Milpitas has a Stride Rite outlet store so you can get them much cheaper, too.

I'm told (from very good sources) Havaianas are the hottest footware in Latin America and Spain. These Brazilian made sandals are fast becoming popular here in the States, too. Matthew was gifted a pair last summer, and they easily became his favorite pool sandals. They are rubber so you can wear them in the shower, come in a huge array of fresh colors and styles. and are very comfy. If you aren't fortunate enough to have a Latin-American traveling girlfriend, then these can be found at Nordstrom and I also hear reports of people finding them at Marshalls, too!

Here's another international gem I've come across. S'avarca's are favorites of the Spanish Royals, and look so comfortable and cute. I think Alexi would look very cute in them, but he's got a huge collection of gorgeous Spanish hand me downs that he can't seem to tear through fast enough :0) Might have to break down and get them anyway. 3 Soles is the only distributer here in the US selling these shoes.

And lastly, a more local brand, Rainbow Sandals. Math has outgrown two pairs of these, and is coming up on his third this summer! Until recentely, if you lived outside of California it's doubtful you'd heard of Rainbows before. I think they were SoCal's best kept secret for a long time, alas, no longer. Rainbows are super comfy board sandals that come with built in arch support. Customer service is reportably excellent as well. Rainbows are now becoming mainstream for the rest of us mere mortals. Pick up a pair at your local Nordstrom or Pac Sun.

PS - Moms, all but the Stride Rites come in your size, too! :0)

The Play Store

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with an associate at The Play Store on University Ave in Palo Alto. She was very gracious about letting me take pictures, and answered all sorts of questions about their stock and play philosophy.

The Play Store is a small independent toy store for children of all ages. It is unique in that it almost exclusively sells natural, wooden, and/or organic toys and accessories. I was also told they don't buy from any one particular region (though European toys seemed to have a heavy influence). Instead they specifically chose items based on child-centered functionality, and quality. The Play Store has a Waldorf inspired methodology regarding their beliefs about play and learning, and also believe that toys should be made to grow with a child (not ceasing to be useful after a certain age).

The associate also emphasized that safety was very important to them, and they did not purchase from countries known to have toxins in their paints. In fact, they try to veer away from paints all together, and mostly stock items that have been naturally dyed. And on top of all these great perks, they store has a conscience, too! They only purchase from companies and sources that treat workers fairly, and are environmentally friendly.

The store itself is very child-friendly, too. They have a wooden train table set up with a simple assortment of Plan City and wooden train pieces. Alexander spent much of his time playing there while I took some photos of the rest of the space...

Busy playing

Front of the shop

For the budding culinary virtuoso

Adorable wooden foods

Beautiful and naturally dyed wooden vehicles

Organic baby section. The Play store also partners with a local woman who makes unique knitwear, too!

Baby Gifting...

For some reason everyone I know is pregnant right now! There must be something in the water :0)

Anyway, here's a list of some great items to bestow any new mom...

Serena & Lily 'Market' Baby Sling sold at Nordstrom. Beautiful sling!

This German wooden activity gym is eco-friendly and cute! Can be found at The Play Store.

Glass, BPA/phthalate-free, silicon sheathed wee•go baby bottles. Found at your nearest BabyGap.

Baby Bunch apparel starter set, all wrapped up to look like a beautiful nosegay! Saw these at Right Start awhile ago. Don't if they still have them.

Mustela baby bath and skin products. Smells great, and it's French! Line at Pure Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, and Babies R Us.

"The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year Maintenance." My MIL got this book for my husband before our son was born, and he used it all the time!

Maggie's Functional Organic Panda Set! Sooo cute! Found at Whole Foods.

Check out this pudgy panda!

Mom shoes...

"Mom shoes" are kindof an obligatory essential to any mother's wardrobe. I've always been partial to flats since I'm accident prone on top of being a spaz. I don't like Crocs. I haven't joined an "I hate Crocs" fan club or anything, but do hold a deep-seated resentment towards the whole clog movement in general. Comfort is key, but who said comfort had to be traded in for fashion?

Here are some great spring finds:

I had a giftcard to blow so I just picked up a pair of these at the Coach store. They are SO comfortable, and they look pretty snazzy on. But, I just saw these on the web and they are even cuter!

I love Lacoste shoes so much it's kindof ridiculous. These look a little sporty, go with anything, and they're great for at the park.

Saw these at Nordstrom the other day. They are pretty and feminine, but look like they'd hold up out and about.

Chucks are all the rage again, so why not grab a pair to complete your shoe collection? I like that these don't have laces so they are easy to put on and kick off.

And lastly, this is a shameless Burton shout out. My hipster brother in law works for the company, and introduced me to the Gravis shoe line that came out several years back. Skate shoes are notorious for being very comfortable, and Burton for being very fashion forward. These would go great with a pair of jeans!