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!

Nice day for a walk...

I drank the Kool-aid...

So, if you're like me you heard whispers of this new thing called Zumba, but didn't pay too much attention. Then suddenly you look around, and it seems like all the moms you know are partaking in this Zumba thing, but you still have no clue what is going on. So finally you ask, "What the hell is Zumba???" And they tell you, "It's exercise." *shrug*

BUT, what they didn't tell you is it's the Latin-dance workout that's sweeping the globe. What they didn't tell you is that even if you are a spastic, rhythmless nerd you'll go back for more, wanting to salsa your way to cardiovascular bliss. What they didn't tell you is it's the most fun you'll ever have. They didn't tell you any of this because the classes are so full it's impossible to sign up fast enough. And once you're in, you're irrevocably hooked...

Check our your nearest community rec-center or gym to see if they offer classes. The rec-center is great since some have morning drop-in classes and cheap babysitting to boot :0)

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!

Bebe au Lait

I like to think I'm progressive, but I'm also a prude. Maybe it was my Irish-Catholic upbringing that made me this way (I'm adopted, so take that nature vs. nuture), but the idea of breastfeeding my baby in public was mortifying. When I was living in Oregon I really admired the mothers who could just rip off their shirt and bear-all, staring down anyone who might dare say otherwise. For me, I was desperate to find some way to keep things "under-wraps," and not be forced to slink back to the car or a dirty bathroom.

In comes Bebe au Lait! Bebe au Lait is a small company started out of Los Gatos that offers chic, cleverly designed print and organic nursing covers. They come in so many hip, contemporary fabrics it's impossible to choose just one. The simple rectangle of fabric is packed full of little features, too. On the back side there is a built in pocket made out of terrycloth that holds small essentials and also works as a burp cloth. The neck line has a thin strip of rigid plastic that allows you to see your baby, and keep air-flow breezy. It machine washes beautifully. And lastly, they have a great sense of humor about it all. The company used to be called, "Hooter Hiders," and you can still buy the covers with the old company name on them. I love that!


Even if you don't breastfeed your baby, I found this cover to be useful. It made a great impromptu sun/wind shade, especially if you do the baby-wearing thing at the park or the beach. I'd just sling up Alexander and then hang the Bebe au Lait over my neck to keep him snuggly and protected (better than a blanket since you can't drop it!). So for any new mom out there...this one's for you!

Using the Bebe au Lait as a makeshift stroller liner at Disneyland

You can purchase Bebe au Lait covers at Maternal Connections within El Camino Hospital, Right Start in Palo Alto, The Children's Shoppe in Menlo Park, Due Maternity in San Francisco, Nordstrom, and a bunch of other places all around The Valley.