Life with Pooka

Holy Holiday Shopping List!

2010-11-22T19:00:00.000-05:00

The last few weeks have found me wracking my brain as to what to get Pooka for Christmas. She will be 20 months on Christmas day and seems pretty bored with the variety of toys currently residing in her toy basket. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate her toy cache, although let's be honest...she is just as likely to go gaga over the wrapping paper and boxes as she is with the toys!

To streamline the process this year, and to be a good partner parent, I put together a spreadsheet of Pooka's Christmas list and sent it to my husband complete with links to the items and prices. This will likely create a conversation between my husband and I that will go something like this...

Him: "Is she really going to use this?"
Me: "Of course, she's going to love it."
Him: "I don't really think she needs this."
Me: "Well you're not the one home with her all day trying to keep her entertained."
Him: "Is there a cheaper version?"

Anyways, you get the idea. So without further ado, here is the list of items I hope to stash under the tree for Pooka this year:

1) Kitchen Set: I have my eye on two different kitchen sets for Pooka for Christmas. I have to warn you that they are rated for ages 3 and up so it's up to you to decide if it is appropriate for your child. Pooka has used them at other houses and absolutely loves them so I'm pretty confident she can handle having her own kitchen. My first favorite is the WH Swiss - Educo French Kitchen available at Oompa, which comes complete with pots and pans and some food for the bargain price of $99.00. I am also a big fan of the Gourmet Chef Kitchen available at Giggle, although its a bit pricier at $138.00 and you have to add cookware and food. I like this one because it is very compact and stylish!

2) Scooter: Again, most scooters are rated for children ages 3 and up, but there are a few for the younger set too. Last spring we went to a two year old's birthday party and not only was she an expert scooter rider, she was doing tricks on her scooter too! So that's my inspiration behind getting Pooka a scooter at this tender age. I should also clarify that she took her first steps at 10 months and is a pretty good mover, so if your wee one didn't walk until later they may not be ready for a scooter for a while. The two I have my eye on are the Razor Jr. Folding Kiddie Kick available for $40.00 at Giggle, and the Radio Flyer My First Scooter available tons of places like Toys R' Us and Target for $39.99. The Radio Flyer scooter is rated from age 2. And don't forget to grab a helmet while you're at it! I like the Adjustable Hula Helmet from Nutcase or the Giro Me2 Infant Bike Helmet!

3) The Rody Horse: Made in Italy by Gymnic, this inflatable horse is about a cute as it gets. Your wee one can climb aboard and bounce to their heart's content. And as they get older they can even bounce around with it (like those hopping balls we had as kids), rather than just do stationary bouncing. I love the design so much that I won't mind leaving it out in our space constrained apartment, rather than hiding it away when company comes. The good news is the Rody horse is latex and phalate free! And did I mention the Rody comes in about a dozen different color combos? I found the best selection of Rody horses at Red Wagon Toy Co, were they retail for $41.95.

4) Janod Alphabet Puzzle: Referred to as the "Take a Letter" puzzle on Land of Nod, I'm a huge fan of this alphabet puzzle by French toy-maker Janod. Pooka is really starting to get the hang of puzzles, and I love that we can practice our ABC's with it, even if she can't seem to get all the pieces on the board yet. Again, this toy is rated for ages 3 and up, but you must realize by now that we like to live on the dangerous side! The puzzle retails for $34.00.

5) Leap Frog Chat and Count Cell Phone: If your child is anything like Pooka then they are obsessed with cell phones. Up until now I have refrained from purchasing her a faux phone, as she seems to do just as well picking up a wood block, holding it to her ear, and jabbering away. But this phone from Leap Frog has me rethinking my strategy. Part of their popular Scout line for toddlers, this phone has a fun combination of songs and counting games. We've recently noticed that Pooka has been repeating the numbers 1-10 so this phone seems like a fun way to reinforce her learning. Priced at $14.99 it's a great stocking stuffer or gift for toddler friends!

6) Nuts and Bolts by Plan Toys: We love Plan Toys for their quality, non-toxic wooden products and their green manufacturing policies. The Nuts and Bolts toy is a great choice for developing fine motor skills, plus I am hoping it will keep Pooka occupied at the dinner table and out in public when she's feeling a little feisty. Available at Oompa, and retailing for $17.99 this is also a great stocking stuffer or gift for your wee one's bestie!

So I hope this list gives you a few ideas for your dear one this holiday season. To some of you this may seem like a short list, but once you add in the gifts from the fam it should be a reasonable amount for any toddler. Besides, they can only play with so many things at once! And one other little helpful hint: many of these products can also be found on Amazon (often for less money), and if you have an Amazon Prime account you can get free 2-day shipping!

Life With Pooka back in action!

2010-11-22T13:27:00.005-05:00

I'm sure many of you have been wondering where I have been these last fews months, as it has been radio silence here at LWP. Some of you may have read in previous posts that it all started last spring with Pooka's bout with croup, then my sinus infection, and then (wait for it...) we were blessed with a brand new pregnancy. That's right, Pooka is going to be a big sister! But unfortunately that meant about 14 weeks of morning sickness, which is an ailment I suffer from in a big way. Combine that with a toddler who barely naps and the reasoning behind the extended blogging hiatus should seem pretty clear. Fast forward to now, I am 21 weeks in and have finally found that second trimester energy which will allow me to get a few posts out.

I hope you will come back and visit again regularly as I rededicate myself to creating interesting posts on the products, classes and events that shape Pooka's world! We missed you and can't wait to be cyber visiting with you again!

p.s. I just ordered Pooka some really cute sale t-shirts from Amy Tangerine on The Mini Social so hurry over and have a look!

Fab Find: Anya Hindmarch Canvas Tote

2010-06-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

As you may already know from my previous posts, I am a huge Anya Hindmarch fan! I recently visited the store on the UES in search of one of her marvelous Canvas Totes. They are roomy canvas totes with buttery leather straps perfect for the farm market, the beach, or general trips about town. I have fancied them for a while but spent the last year and a half so wrapped up in diaper bags I couldn't embrace their full appeal. But this summer things are different. Toting Pooka around no longer means having an overflowing diaper bag filled with a blanket, a change of clothes, multiple diapers, a nursing cover, pacifiers, toys...you get the idea. These days we travel a lot lighter: a Joya Baby Diaper Clutch, a Monkey Foot Designs Wet Bag filled with the summer essentials (sunscreen, hat, baby legs, wipes), snacks, and mama's wallet and phone. For errands we pair down to just the wallet, phone, and wipes. So now the Canvas Tote makes perfect sense for a morning Starbucks trip and a quick jaunt to the swings, but it's still roomy enough for a whole day adventure or a trip to the sprinklers at AMNH. And to put the icing on the cake, Anya Hindmarch now does a tote with moms in mind with the adorable navy blue and turquoise Toys Tote. If you're looking for something more grown up check out the Boat Bag Tote, Beach Bag Tote, Picnic Tote, Gym Tote or others. These totes are a great price at $98 so ditch the diapy as we head into summer!

The Great Green Workshop for Babies: June 25th

2010-06-16T11:00:00.002-04:00

As you may have read in a previous post, Pooka and I are great fans of Unplugged on a Rug's Great Green Play Date. We been several times and adore Natalie and Ofrit! So if your wee one is under 12 months be sure not to miss the upcoming Great Green Workshop for Babies on June 25th at Kidville on the UES. The hour long event is filled with music, creative play, and special guests. And best of all, 50% of all proceeds go to the Max Cure Foundation to help fight childhood cancers. And if your wee one isn't so wee anymore the next great Green Play Date is scheduled for August 6th for babies 6 months to 6 years. In the meantime Unplugged on a Rug is involved in several fun charity events, so visit their events age. And stay tuned for Natalie and Ofrit's next big adventure, Unplugged on a Rug Daycare rumored to be coming to the UES this fall!

The Chariot: A perfect Father's Day gift for active Dadas

2010-06-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

Ok, to be fair I see lots of dads these days unabashedly toting their tot in an Ergo or a Baby Bjorn, and even the occasional sling (like my hubby). But let's be honest, most things baby are not terribly manly. Enter the Chariot! The Chariot is the Swiss Army Knife of strollers. With simple kits you can quickly change the Chariot from a regular stroller, to a jogging stroller, bike trailer, or ski trailer, and even harness it to yourself for hiking. Available in both single and double with three different levels of performance, the Cheetah, Cougar, and the CX (for serious athletes), Dada's most difficult decision will be "what activity should we do today?" Many weekends my husband will take Pooka for a morning run and then an afternoon bike ride. And in the winter he hooks up the skis and harnesses the Chariot around his waist for a cross country ski or snowshoe adventure (that's him with Pooka in the pic below).

We have a Cougar Double because we are planning on popping future siblings next to Pooka in the Chariot, but unlike many systems the harness can be shifted to the center to keep the Chariot balanced when she is in there alone. Plus, the system is a pretty big investment so we wanted to make sure that we'll get plenty of years out of it. Luckily for us my husband found a 2007 Chariot on Craigs List so we were able to pick ours up for cheap. The previous Dada had barely used it and it was in pristine condition. It came with the bike trailer kit and we have added the jogging kit and ski kit. It's hard for us to imagine that this sweet rig was barely used because ours is used several times a weekend, but this should also serve as a warning that the Chariot is not a good gift for the faint of heat-rate. And lest I be sexist, the Chariot is great for athletic Mama's too. It's very light and I use it for serious walks, and even tried it on the cross country tracks this winter even though I no longer consider myself in the athletic mama category)! So if your husband's idea of a fun filled day involves a triathlon than the Chariot may just be the perfect gift for him this Father's Day!

Celebrate Dada at Big City Moms and Dada Rocks Father's Day Party

2010-06-15T11:55:00.005-04:00

What are you doing Wednesday night? We'll be attending the Big City Mom's and Dada Rocks Father's Day Event at Kidville on the UES. We'll be rocking out to the fabulous Little Maestro's, eating awesome food from Din Dins, getting our picture taken by professional photographers, playing in the play gym and more! Hope to see you there!

April showers bring decked out babies: Big City Moms Spring 2010 Biggest Baby Shower

2010-05-18T18:06:00.010-04:00

The Big City Moms always put on a wonderful event, and their Spring 2010 Biggest Baby Shower was no excception. This time the venue moved from American Girls Place to the spacious Park East ballroom. Products filled the two ballrooms from dozens of vendors. On display were new products from some of our favorite vendors including Orbit Baby, Momma Couture, Zoli Baby, Maclaren, Skip Hop, Bugaboo, Boon Inc., and Oeuf to name a few. Also on hand were fab newcomers like Simplisse Breast Feeding Products, Stride, Hop Pop, Tomee Tipee, and the amazing Taga Bike and Luxury Stroller. Expectant moms had the opportunity to test out multiple brands of strollers, check out furniture, diaper bags, and the latest in all things baby.

Guest speakers included Dr. Alan Greene (see this post to learn more about Dr. Greene) and the wonderful Carley Roney from The Knot empire. Roney spoke about her favorite essential gear for new moms. These included some of our personal faves like the Orbit Baby stroller , which she highlighted as the "Sunday Brunch" stroller thanks to Orbit's patented technology that allows you to pull the stroller up to the table and spin the seat so baby faces you! She also talked about Momma Couture's clever Stinky Bum diaper clutch (another of our favorites and a previous "Fab Find"). Roney pointed out that no matter which stroller you chose, having only one stroller will never fulfill all your strolling needs. She suggested getting a lightweight umbrella stroller for traveling onthe subway on in the airport. Her picks were any of the strollers in the Maclaren line or the Uppa Baby G-Lite. Roney praised the ubiquitous Baby Bjorn carriers for babywearing, and spoke about The Bump's new iPhone app called Baby 411 (see my other favorites in this post).

Finally, Roney, a serious career mom, gave some fantastic advice on being a new mom:

1) Get OUT of the house and take lots of walks!
2) Make sure to network with other moms and build a support system
3) NURSE in PUBLIC (my personal fave!)

Roney explains that breasts are very portable and make it easy to feed on the go and to find places in your neighborhood where you can comfortably nurse such as baby boutiques and department store lounges (Saks has a great one on the fourth floor). Don't hesitate to meet with a lactation consultant if you are having any nursing problems. Other key advice Roney imparted on the expectant moms was to relax, trust your instincts, and give yourself plenty of time to learn this whole motherhood thing! She is truly and inspiring women!

As always, the gift bags far exceeded expectations. The overflowing (and heavy) bags had far too many items to list them all, but some standouts included the new Uppa Baby Car Seat Bubble (universal to fit dozens of car seats), a Bugaboo Stroller Blanket, gorgeous mittens from Oeuf, Robeez shoes, a Company Store Kids crib sheet, a Naturepedic Organic Piddle Pad, a set of Boon Benders utensils, bottles from MAM Baby, Prince Lionhart, Born Free, and Tomee Tipee, and multiple coupons for everything from strollers to nursery furniture. And that's just scraping the surface of the booty moms received in their gift bags. Add to that the individual gifts the moms won in the Baby Bingo Raffle and it almost tops the shower your friends and family throw for you!

Pooka's First Birthday Celebration!

2010-05-18T11:14:00.008-04:00

Last month my sweet little Pooka turned one. I can't believe it! I spent the week leading up to her birthday thinking about that same week one year ago when I was awaiting her arrival. I thought about the luxury of laying in bed and dozing until late in the morning that last week of pregnancy (will that ever exist again?), but mainly I thought about the anxiety and anticipation I experienced. What would the birth process be like, and what would I do after I brought Pooka home from the hospital? Who could believe so much can change in one year! My life is so radically wonderful now with Pooka in it. I don't think I have ever spent a year filled with so many intense emotions: overwhelming love for my baby girl, a strengthening of my bond with my husband, fear and anxiety over first illnesses and shots at the doctor's office, and hours and hours of joy and laughter over the simplest things. And that only begins to describe the wonder of our first year with Pooka!

We celebrated Pooka's first birthday with family and friends at my mother's house in Connecticut. We chose a spring flower theme, and filled the house with daffodils, tulips, and grape hyacinths. I made tissue paper pom-poms in shades on blue, purple, and yellow to match the flowers and invitations from Sarah + Abraham (see previous post). I used these easy directions from Martha Stewart to make them. They are unique, more environmentally friendly than latex balloons, and if you have the room you can store them for use at future parties.

I wanted to bake Pooka's birthday cake myself so I could use all organic ingredients and control the amount of sugar that went into them. I had a hard time choosing between a single multilayer cake and cupcakes. In the end I found this adorable Buttercup Cakelet Pan at Wiliams-Sonoma and made individual flower cakes. I Used Ina Garten's recipe for Lemon Cake and it was absolutely delicious! I glazed the cakes and decorated them with Williams-Sonoma's colored decorating pens in blue and yellow.

Finally, Pooka looked resplendent in her simple blue and white Larissa Dress from Baby CZ (it's only available in the Marrakesh Print online). She got so many compliments! All and all it was a wonderful day and we made memories to last a lifetime. The only bummer was that Pooka woke up the next morning barking like a seal...she had croup! That was the start of over a month of sickness in our house that kept us from regular posting. But we are back in action now and thank our readers for their patience while we convalesced!

Fab Find: Shinzi Katoh Bento Boxes

2010-04-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I just realized I was majorly scooped on these Shinzi Katoh Bento Boxes when I googled them and found they were one of Cool Mom Picks Picks of the Year for 2009. But then I realized there are probably lots of moms who haven't seen them yet so they were worth sharing again. Plus Shinzi Katoh makes tons of cute things besides bento boxes that you might want to check out too. I first spotted him at Flora and Henri on the UES. They carry his adorable kid sized aluminum drinking bottles. When I got home I checked him out online and discovered his sweetly illustrated bento boxes. But then, lo and behold, I spotted more Shinzi Katoh in the form of darling zipper tote bags at one of my favorite haunts, Olive and Bette's (fab clothing boutique chain for stylish mamas in NYC). Turns out Shinzi Katoh is taking NYC by storm right now, and with good reason. Embracing a Japanese philosophy known as Zakka, Katoh's designs are meant to spruce up the common things in everyday life. Using his skills as a children's book illustrator and artist Katoh has certainly done just that. The boxes come in single or double decker, or with a domed lid referred to as Onigiri, or Rice Ball Box. They are perfectly sized for stashing some snacks or a small lunch for your wee one in your diaper bag. And when they start school you can pack these reusable containers in their lunch box. I'm a big fan of the fairy tale characters, and love the Alice in Wonderland and Snow White bentos. Or how about the apple and pear on the Red and Blue or the Lazzy Farm bento boxes. There are several online shops where you can find Katoh's bentos and other cute patootie objects like lunch bags and children's cutlery. My favorites are Queen Baby Bean, Ollie Bollen, and
Little Bean Shop.

Pimp My Ride: Our New Orbit G2 Toddler Seat

2010-04-13T21:00:00.001-04:00

So it has been nearly a month since the big box housing our new Orbit Baby G2 Toddler Seat arrived, and our love for it has grown everyday. See, the nice thing about the Orbit Baby system is that it grows with your child, from the infant car seat to the toddler car seat and separate toddler stroller seat. And the even greater thing is that even when they come out with a whole new system, they design it to integrate with your current setup so you won't have wicked stroller envy. So what, you may be wondering, do I adore about our new toddler seat? The hard question is where do I start? The new seat still has the same patented spin technology that allows you to move it 365 degrees, but now the seat also reclines so your wee one can get sleepy and nap completely horizontally. Pooka has already tested this feature many times. It fact, she seems to fall asleep much more easily then any other stroller she's been in. My next favorite element of the new seat is the amazing sun canopy. It has three positions, and when fully extended it blocks any rays from hitting your wee one. The seat also has a great bumper bar that has an attachable bento box that holds snacks and a sippy cup. We haven't used it too many times yet because Pooka has a tendency to grab entire fistfuls and shove them all in her mouth at the same time. Then she realizes she can't eat so many at one time and spits them all out. So until she has a better mastery of her snack situation I just gaze at the bento box and dream of its usefulness to come. Oh, I also really love the soft fleece snuggler and matching shoulder pads that come with the seat. It's removable when your child grows, but it's still working great for Pooka at 17 lbs. There is also an extendable footrest that grows with your child. And did I mention that all the fabric on the new G2 is Orbit Green Certified, which means all fabric that comes in contact with your child is Oeko-Tex 100 certified to be free of 100 harmful and toxic substances. It's an industry first for strollers and car seats! You can even feel good about the rain cover because it is PVC-free. Another industry first! Finally, the seat now has awesome ventilation thanks to a panel that zips open to reveal mesh that makes the seat nice and breezy. There is nothing worse than peeling your sweaty child out of their seat on a hot summer day! And I nearly forgot, but there is a new color on offer besdies black or mocha...an absolutely gorgeous Ruby Red (my favorite color)! I went for the Ruby Red seat, which works smashingly with a black cargo pod on the older models. It is a really snazzy set up!

Of course we are using the new G2 seat on our old stroller base, for for those of you who are going to buy the whole system there is a newly designed stroller base. It is a fab powder-coated white so it will be sure to stand out in the stroller world. It also incorporates new foam filled tires (no more pumping them up or changing flat tubes) and a QuadShock system to give your wee one a cloud-like ride. The double cup holder has changed to a single cup holder designed to accommodate more drink sizes and also gives a place for keys, lip gloss or even your phone. The cargo pod is also more user-friendly with inside pockets and a better shoulder strap. And as with the older version, the fold is beyond amazing, and the stroller takes up much less room in your car than pretty much all of its competitors.

I also added the Panniers to my Orbit Baby and wish I had them from day 1! Now I can do a full trip to Whole Foods and between the Panniers and Cargo Pod I don't even have to hang a bag from the handles. They are brilliant! Oh, and people ask me about those all the time too. And while I don't have it yet, I plan to order the Green Edition Foot Muff for next winter. I was so jealous this winter when all the other strollers had their made to fit foot muffs and I was struggling with a bulky 7 Am Enfant Evolution. To read more about the Orbit Baby system see this previous post. For us it's been a love affair from the start, and the romance keeps get better and better!

Luxe Life: Rebecca Minkoff's Zipper Baby Bag

2010-04-06T11:00:00.000-04:00

Some of you may be familiar with Rebecca Minkoff's ubiquitous Morning After Bag (MAB). It's her best selling style and is designed to go to work, then play, and then get you back to work the next morning even if you never made it home. For most of us those days are over and our bag needs have shifted dramatically, although we are probably still suffering from the same lack of sleep. The next logical step in the Rebecca Minkoff line is a diaper bag version of the the MAB aptly named the Knocked Up. With the similar stylings to the MAB, the Knocked Up comes with a wipeable canvas coated lining, stroller straps, a changing pad, and plenty of pockets. I picked one up in Salmon last fall at a sample sale and it never fails to elicit envy amongst moms an non-moms alike. It is released each season in a different palate of colors. They seem to be sold out for this season, but you can still find them at various online boutiques, and they will likely be offered again in the fall. Also new for this season is the Zipper Baby Bag, which is definitely the punk-rock little sister of the grown-up Knocked Up. Like the Knocked Up, the Zipper Baby Bag is not obviously a diaper bag. With its bright red leopard coated canvas, turquoise leather trim, and zig-zagging zippers its flirty and fun for summer. Packed with the same features as the Knocked Up you will not be wanting in function or organization, but I can guarantee that you'll have the most interesting diaper bag in your play group! And while you're visiting the Rebecca Minkoff website you might want to grab a bag for date night or afternoon sangria's with the girls on those days when you have a sitter. Check out the cross body stylings of the Beloved Mini in Moss or the Mini Rikki in Turquoise for the spring season. Heck, considering they are meant to be worn cross body you could wear them while pushing the stroller and leave your diaper bag hanging from the handles. Need something with a bit more space? Then grab a Neon Nikki with it's vibrant neon pink trim. Its frisky, fun, and easy to wear! So wether you are worried about being organized for the kids or looking chic when you head out on the town Rebecca's got you covered!

Fab Find: Sarah + Abraham

2010-04-01T11:40:00.001-04:00

So as you probably read in my previous post there are tons of options for choosing a birthday invitation. It was really hard to pick the perfect one for Pooka's first birthday. I didn't want anything too girlie, and anything cartoon or super hero related was totally out for me. So what did I choose? You might be surprised to hear it wasn't one of the many that I highlighted. I ended up choosing a simple but lovely silhouette style invitation from Sarah + Abraham. I first found them on Etsy when I was looking for mommy/business cards for the Life With Pooka. Sarah + Abraham designs custom stationary with a vintage feel and modern lines. You can choose from dozens of silhouettes to represent your family, a vibrant pallet of colors, and several fonts so your stationary, invitations, birth announcements or business cards represent your personal style. They did a fabulous job on my business cards and thank you notes for Life With Pooka, and I love our Birthday Invitations. We went with a Scallop Bordered Silhouette Invitation using the "Ella with Balloon" silhouette with a yellow border and lake blue background. The colors are a bit on the boyish side, but the darling little girl silhouette balances it out. Other favorite invitation choices include the Kids at Play and Garden Party invites. For older children I love the Olliegraphic invitations, where you can choose the hair style, hair color, eye color, and skin tone. I particularly like the Kid in Space and Circus invitations.

While visiting Sarah + Abraham's website, be sure not to miss the Personalized Art Prints that would be sure to give classic style to any nursery it adorns. They also do stickers for everything from address labels to favor tags and fab notepads that are perfect for stashing notes in your little ones lunch box or leaving instructions for the sitter. I'm a huge fan of the whimsical new Spring Notepads! Finally, Sarah + Abraham does adorable personalized water bottles with Olliegraphic designs (just be aware that the bottles are aluminum rather than stainless steel). I can't wait until I have another occasion that will call for a an order to Sarah + Abraham.

Some bunny loves you: Pooka's 1st Easter Basket

2010-03-30T15:00:00.002-04:00

Wow, this really is a year of firsts, and sadly Easter will be the last of our "first" holidays. So I'm aiming to make this a good one! I've come across lots of darling little baskets and stuffers and thought I should share some of them with you. Last week, our friends at Parentville sent out an email highlighting some of the Easter items I had recommended on their site. Parentville is a member driven site where parents can make requests or give recommendations to other parents about products, classes, services, and more. We use it all the time, and Life With Pooka has a whole second life there with a ton more recommendations. Check the blue box on the lower right hand side of this site to to read my latest recs at Parentville.

First off, the baskets. Pottery Barn Kids has some great wicker baskets in white or chestnut with personalized liners. These baskets will last for years to come and you'll never confuse who's basket is who's. They also have stuffed Puffy Easter Baskets in bunny or chick. They're just like their soft Halloween baskets and can also be personalized. You can also grab some basket stuffers while your at PBKids. I'm a fan of the Nursery Critter Stacker, particularly the jumbo stacker that's over a foot tall. It features a plush hippo, bunny, and frog. Another great option is the Klean Kanteen Water Bottle that has awesome designs and you can have it personalized. And if your little one isn't ready for a water bottle yet you can pick up a sippy cup adapter from Klean Kanteen.

I also found some cute fabric baskets on Etsy. I like the fabric Easter Buckets from Henry and Zoe. Have a look at the My Little Teatime Bucket if you like a traditional pattern. While you're there you can pick up an Artist's Tote Set for your children. Twenty Little Toes has some great fabric baskets that you can use all year round in the nursery after Easter is done. Check out the Blue Cupcake Basket. Rellaroo has similar fabric baskets, like their Sock Monkey Basket. But I think Lunatic Design's features my favorite with their charming Bunny Fabric Baskets.

How about a stuffed bunny for your basket? One of my favorites is the Bunglie Bunny from Jelly Cat. How can you deny those dusty pink ears? If you're looking for an organic stuffed bunny try the soft white bunny from Foundlings. Mi Yim also has great organic stuffed bunnies: the Victoria Plush Bunny, Baby Victoria Plush Bunny with cute white pinafore, or Baby Victoria Knit Bunny. Or skip the whole bunny theme and go with chicks like Mi Yim's Plush Chicken Rattles or Jingle Chicken with Finger Puppets exclusively at Giggle. If your little one is too tiny for a stuffed bunny than try a bunny dou dou like Under the Nile's organic Bunny Blanket Friend (try Giggle for a striped version and don't forget a teething carrot for your little bunny!). Pooka has been sleeping with hers since she was born. Kathe Kruse also has a cute dou dou called the Mimi Activity Towel with whimsical pink flower print.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary for Easter, perhaps you would be interested in the eco-friendly Wonderworld Hopping Bunny Walker made of sustainable rubber wood and featuring non-toxic water-based paints (see my full review at Parentville). We ordered ours through Diapers.com and had it overnight. Pooka loves pushing it all over the place while giggling her head off!

Finally, if you are looking for a real keepsake for your wee one or a favorite mom-to-be then try Tiffany's ceramic Bunny Bank. Or really splurge and go for the silver Bunny Bank! These are gifts that will last a lifetime and be passed down to future generations. Hope this list of ideas is helpful as you put together your basket for your bunny love. For more Easter gift ideas and reviews check my recommendations at Parentville.

You're Invited: Invitations for Pooka's 1st Birthday

2010-03-23T12:30:00.000-04:00

Pooka's 1st Birthday is rapidly approaching so it is time to choose the invitations. I can't believe it has been a year already. I still strongly remember the feeling of her in my belly, the anticipation of her arrival, wondering what she was going to look like, and then holding her dear little body in my arms. Now I've got a toddling, babbling, 6 tooth sporting bundle of energy! So how do we announce this very special day celebrating Pooka's first year with us? There are tons of options out there!

Some of my favorite cards are from Paper Culture. I'm in love with the First Milestones Card. I mean what could exemplify the first year better than reminding you of all your wee ones exploits such as the first smile, crawling, and waving bye-bye. Want to share a photo with your prospective guests? Then how about the Dinosaur Photo Card for your little man. I'm totally hooked on ocean themed cards and am seriously considering the Whale Spout Card, good for a lady or fella. Or what about a woodland theme? Check out the sweet My Dear Card in gender specific or gender neutral colors. There are also bold and bright cards from the designers at Giggle, like the adorable Costume Party invitation.

There's also Tiny Prints with tons of choices for photo cards, and they tend to be a bit more economical too. I'm a fan of the Big One photo card for first birthdays, and the Undersea Adventure card with three photos. Looking for something more simple? Try the Simply Charming card with photo for your little lady. Not interested in having a photo on the card? Have a look at the vibrant pinks and purples of the Birthday Pop card in azalea.

We're also fans of the invitations on offer by Minted. Check out the gender neutral stylings of the Elephant Balloon Card in red or green. Having a tea party for your baby girl? Chose the elegant Tree Climbers invite in yellow, pink, or purple. Or how about the Orange Balloon invites for your little man with lots of cute vehicles driving across the bottom.

If you decide against the paper invite route there are plenty of great looking options out there besides tired ole' Evites. I'm obsessed with the fab designs at Pingg. Check out the 40's styling of the Tricycle invite! Pinng has also brought on board well known designers like Martha Stewart and Giggle. My favorites include Martha Stewart's Dinosaur Cupcake invites, and Giggle's Robots or Butterfly invites. For a more upscale email invite replete with virtual lined envelopes check out Paperless Post. The first 25 invites are free, but additional invites require a small fee. There are tons of choices, but my favorite is the Balloon Aminal card. You will have to register and log in to check them out.

With so many choices you may have to enlist dada or grandma to help you choose the right invite for this very special occasion. I think the best part of planning for Pooka's first birthday is remembering how much she has changed in the last 12 months!

Win a Rosie Dress from Pink Chicken New York

2010-03-18T10:32:00.006-04:00

If you aren't familiar with the charming clothing of Pink Chicken New York then you are greatly missing out. To see my full review of their new Spring/Summer 2010 collection please read my previous post. One of my favorite pieces from the line is the Rosie Dress, and lucky for you we have one to give away. One fortunate reader will take home a Rosie Dress in Pink Chicken's classic Indian Paisley in summery lime, yellow, and orange. It's perfect as a dress or beach coverup, and I love that as your little one grows the dress simply becomes a tunic rather than be retired too soon. When you see how darling this dress is you will want your daughter to wear it until she leaves for college!

You have two chances to enter to win a Rosie Dress:

1. Send an email with "Pink Chicken Rosie Dress" in the subject line to lifewithpooka@gmail.com

2. Follow @lifewithpooka on Twitter and tweet "RT and follow @lifewithpooka for a chance to win a darling Rosie Dress from @pinkchickenNYC - http://bit.ly/a16I6m"

Or better yet, do both and enter to win the contest twice! A winner will be selected at random next Wednesday, March 24th. The dress for giveaway is sized 18 months. Good luck!

Thanks to Pink Chicken New York for generously offering us this dress for our giveaway contest!

Everything's Coming Up Rosie: Pink Chicken's New Spring Collection

2010-03-16T08:55:00.010-04:00

Not everyone likes to dress their little lady in onesies with slogans like "I love Mommy" or dresses with cute applique teapots. For those with more discerning taste craving a sophisticated but unstuffy style take a look at Pink Chicken New York. After 15 years in the fashion industry, creator and mom of two Stacey Fraser moved to the Hamptons and began designing bohemian style dresses for little girls above her garage. She was inspired to become a momprenuer after the birth of her second child. She realized she couldn't go back to the work and travel schedule of the corporate world, and wanted to do something she was truly passionate about. The world's of children's fashion is a better place because of Stacey's passion! When I asked her how she balances work and motherhood she jokingly exclaimed "OMG, barely!" but shared that having her own business allows her to have a flexible schedule so she can take her kids to school and activities. These are things she couldn't do if she were working for someone else.

Designed for "easy, breezy dressing that is no fuss but always stylish," the influence of the beach is evident in the laid back styles and airy prints and fabrics of Pink Chicken. The line now includes fabulous knits, swim wear, and newborn clothing but continues to shine most brightly with it's dress collection. This spring's collection is inspired by her love of summer: sun, surf, and downtime with family in the Hamptons. Prints range from gorgeous pinks and purples echoing lilac and fragrant flowers to vibrant yellows from the sun and a touch of blue from the ocean.

My favorite prints are found on the Belle and Sasha dresses. They remind me of dresses my aunt used to sew for me as a little girl, which makes them timeless and perfect for Pooka. The Rosie dress is Pink Chicken's iconic summer style, and this season finds it in indian inspired prints and with beautiful embroidery. And if those don't wow your pants off with their cuteness, then check out the preppy chic Ella Dress or boho Nellie Dress. For casual play dates check out the knit collection featuring the adorable Lucy Dress and great capri leggings. And you don't want to miss the swim collection. Where else can you find an amazing bathing cap with embroidered flowers for your wee one with a matching suit? And even the littlest ladies can get in on the action with the newborn collection. I love the two piece Belle sets for 0-12 months.

But I think I have saved the best for last...Pink Chicken has now released a women's line so Pooka won't be the only one looking fab at the beach (or in the park) this summer! You too can have your own Rosie or Ella Dress in the same great prints, or maybe a Sasha Top to match your little one's dress. Moms get their own styles too. I love the Beatrice Top, Eva Top and Marcia Maxi Dress. Whichever Pink Chicken ensemble you chose, wether for yourself or your wee one, you will be sure to exude that effortless style and sophistication that many desire but few attain. Toss a few in your bag and you'll be able to travel light on your trips to Montauk, the Vineyard, or Wellfleet this summer!

We'd like to thank the wonderful ladies at Pink Chicken New York for sending us a Rosie Dress for review and giveaway. Stay tuned for our next post featuring a contest to win a Rosie Dress for your little dear.

Twinkle Toes: New shoes for cruising feet

2010-03-12T13:18:00.008-05:00

Pooka is a cruising fool these days. She only crawls to travel in between the places where she can hang on and cruise. She has even taken her first tentative steps when passed back and forth between mama and dada. I think the cutest part is that she will take a few steps before she realizes she isn't holding on to anything and then immediately sit down! So now we are in a transitional phase with footwear. She is outgrowing her soft soled shoes but not quite ready for walkers yet. I headed to the fabulous Harry's Shoes for Kids on the UWS to find out about our options. I learned some great things from a wonderful salesman named Neil. Before your wee one is walking they should remain in soft soled shoes with some grip so they don't slip when crawling and cruising. They need plenty of room in the toe box because their little toes fan out and press down to help them to stand, and barefoot is best when you are at home. So even if you can still squeeze your wee one's feet into that super cute pair of shoes, you may be making it more difficult for them to cruise. Once they have moved past the cruising stage and are genuinely walking your wee one should be outfitted with a pair of hard-soled, but flexible shoes to give them a stable platform and provide cushioning and support for their fragile ankles. Neil predicted that Pooka would need the hard-soled style of shoe in about a month and discouraged me from purchasing a new larger pair of soft soled shoes (amzing to meet a salesman who discouraged me from buying!). He tested Pooka's current shoe and said it had some wiggle room and should be fine until she is really walking, barring a major growth spurt.

So what shoe is my little darling wearing? Currently Pooka is wearing a delicious pair of Naya shoes in black from Smaller by See Kai Run. They have a very Parisian flair to them and people are constantly complementing them. We love Smaller by See Kai Run because they have plenty of width, are made of a soft buttery leather, and have great rubber gripper circles on the sole. We also like that they are sized in three month increments, (3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18 month...) rather than six month increments like most other brands. I think they work much better than our Pedipeds that have a harder plastic-like bottom and only come in 0-6 or 6-12 month sizes. Pooka outgrew her 0-6 month Pedipeds by Christmas and is only now starting to wear her 6-12 month size. I am also in love with the soft soled shoes by Umi. We tried some on today and I wish I had known about them sooner! Like the Smaller shoes, they are constructed of supple leather with rubber gripper circles on the bottom. They are less traditional looking than the Smaller shoes, but I love how the toe is rounded up and the color combos are charming!

Before too long though, we will be moving on to the hard-soled variety of shoe. Right now I have my eyes on Livie and Luca's Petal shoe in Red, or maybe the Pio Pio's in Pink. And I will definitely be getting Pooka a pair of Salt Water Sandals for the summer. I love the original sandal, and there are so many colors to choose from! And for a pair of true keepsake shoes, have a look at Rachel Riley's classic styled Double-Buckle Shoes in Red. This timeless style of shoe has been around since the 1930's! I know I have focused entirely on shoes for little ladies, but each of these companies also feature some nifty choices for boys too! Favorites include Smaller by See Kai Run's Seamus and Alec shoes, See Kai Run's Agustin shoe, Umi Dimples, Livie and Luca's Emilios in Red, Salt Water Sandals are unisex, and you can get Rachel Riley's in a Classic Lace-Up. If only I could buy every pair!

Tick tock, tick tock, I'm a little cuckoo clock: Decoylab Wall Clocks

2010-03-05T15:59:00.004-05:00

"Tick Tock" is one of Pooka's absolute favorite songs. It never fails to elicit a big toothy grin! When we were designing Pooka's sleep space (have I ever mentioned we live in a studio? More on that another day!) I fell in love with Decoylab's faux Cuckoo Clock in orange. It's got a fun woodland theme that meshes nicely with our Amenity Meadow bedding. A friend of mine has the Night Owl Clock and its dreamy too! Looking for something in wood? Try one of the Modern Animal Clocks. I love the Owl! Aren't in the market for a clock? Then have at look Decoylabs whimsical prints. I'm a fan of the Animal Alphabet Poster, and the Snow Bubbles Print. Or how about the Afternoon Walk or Butterfly Lady print for your little ladies room? With Decoylab's great prices, you can afford to buy a clock and a print!

Ride 'em cowgirl! Petit Bateau's new western collection for spring

2010-03-05T14:08:00.004-05:00

We recently returned from a lovely family vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. While there I was looking for something cute for Pooka to wear for a photo shoot to commemorate our trip. That's when I found this adorable new collection from Petit Bateau featuring a bandana print with horses, cowboys, and cactus'. What I really love about these prints are that they are not obviously western! The blue and white print looks more like resort wear than cowboys and indians. I got Pooka the Bandana Print Dress for Baby Girls with matching leggings. We're also a fan of the chambray Tunic Dress with gingham cuffs. Pair it with the cotton poplin Bandana with "Western Story" Print for a completely rockin' little cowgirl! For your little cow poke check out the Cowboy Polo Shirt or Cowboy Tee. So hitch up the horses, load the kids in the wagon, and ride on over to Petit Bateau to snatch up these cuties before they're gone and your kids will be singing Rawhide before you know it (...rollin', rollin', rollin', keep them doggies rollin'...)!

Don't stick that there! The Mobi (non-rectal) Digital Thermometer

2010-03-02T08:51:00.004-05:00

In most relationships the mother is the big worrier, constantly wondering if her baby is healthy and happy. She bolts out of bed during the night when she hears a strange cry or worries that her baby hasn't met some developmental milestone in an appropriate time frame. In our family that role is reversed. My husband is the big worrier, and in the first few months of Pooka's life he was obsessed with taking her temperature. I'm sure this fear was heightened by our beloved pediatrician telling us that a fever over 100.4 in the first 8 weeks would result in our daughter being hospitalized and given a spinal tap to check for meningitis (eek!). Whatever the cause for his overcautiousness, the thermometer became a staple in our life. For a while we used a Vicks Rectal Baby Thermometer. It is specifically designed for being stuck you know where, with a very short end so you can't accidentally put the thermometer in too far. But eventually it stopped working after getting wet from it's many post-temp taking washes. For a short time we used a regular old digital thermometer until, horrors of horrors, I put it in too far and had visions of a perforated intestine (double eek!). The next day I trekked over to Giggle on the UES, the denizen of all baby things cool, and found the Mobi Digital Thermometer. Life suddenly seemed brighter! No more discomfort for me or Pooka, and Dada can take her temperature anytime of the day or night (and he has!) without disturbing our wee one. We simply hold the thermometer to Pooka's forehead or temple to get a quick reading. And even cooler, the Mobi talks to us! That's right folks, a lovely sounding British woman says " Your body temperature is 98.6 degrees Farenheit." You can turn that feature off for night time temp checks so it doesn't wake baby. The thermometer also has some nice added features like displaying the room temperature and date. The Mobi has definitely given us some piece of mind, and greatly reduced Pooka's subjection to regular anal probing. So far we haven't had a major fever to record on the Mobi, but we have successfully checked it against the old fashioned style to test its accurateness. If Pooka were ever to read a fever on her Mobi, I would likely follow up with a rectal reading from regular thermometer as well, but the key to the Mobi is that my husband can check her fever anytime he feels like it without ever taking off her diaper!

Luxe Life: Kate Spade Bon Mot X-Ray Coal Baby Bag

2010-02-19T10:39:00.004-05:00

Kate Spade holds a special place in my heart. I got my first bag in college and it opened my eyes to the world of designer handbags. Her bags were just making a splash back then, and I felt so swank when I carried my brown nylon tote around town. In fact, I still own that bag and it makes a guest appearance now and again. The Bon Mot X-Ray Baby Bag in Coal embodies Kate's signature style with it's whimsical illustrations of the likely contents of your diaper bag. I love the strong navy and orange colors, and it will look great next to your towel by the pool in St. Barth's or on the sand in Nantucket this summer. The bag has plenty of pockets for storing all your baby gear and although it is canvas on the outside it has a waterproof interior to deal with the inevitable spills that come along with mommyhood! Pair it with this marvelous Mysie Top by Calypso (in KNCKERS) and you will look fresh and ready to take on anything your baby throws at you (with Pooka it's usually peas!).

Get Unplugged on A Rug at the Great Green Playdate!

2010-02-18T17:15:00.003-05:00

Unplugged on a Rug is the brain child of two moms and former teachers Natalie Cronin Reyes and Ofrit Shirian Peres. Natalie is the National Childhood Development Director for Kidville, and Ofrit's has a music background and is the founder of the Rug Bug music program currently running in Brooklyn. Once a month these two ladies host a fantastic event called the Great, Green Playdate. I'm sure you can all remember how much fun it was to play with a big empty box, well the Great, Green Playdate embraces this idea and takes it a step further. The event, designed for kids from birth to age 4, focuses on creative ways to play and entertain your child by recycling things found in your own home and encouraging imaginative play. The playdate also incorporates music, games, and our favorite part, the call and repeat drum circle using empty boxes. The event we attended in December even had a violinist walking among the children as they played with pillows, scarves, water bottles filled with beads, feathers, or glitter, and the amazingly simple boBle tumbling toys (read more about our love of bObles here). With the motto "Changing the world through play," you will never look at an old scarf or an empty canister of oatmeal the same way again! It's definitely an event you won't want to miss! And did I mention that 50% of all the proceeds go to children's charities? The donations are currently going to support the Max Cure Foundation and their work researching rare pediatric cancers. The next Great, Green Playdate is Friday, February 19th at Kidville in Tribeca. Watch this video to get a better idea of what goes on at the Great, Green Playdate! All are welcome, and you can register for the playdate here.

My Boon Obsession!

2010-02-16T17:03:00.000-05:00

Last week I spoke at the Big City Moms Expectant Moms Dinner on the best items for your baby registry. You can see the five products I recommended last night in this previous post. While at the dinner I had the opportunity to speak some great folks from Boon Inc. and share with them how much I loved their products. Then I realized I should probably share with you, my devoted fan base, the many Boon products we love and why we love them. I should specify that I have never received any free products from Boon, so my love is totally unadulterated.

Ok, where to start? I realized as the Boon folks presented their products that I actually owned the majority of them. I guess I'll start with my first crush item, the Benders Adaptable Utensils. We had a few different spoons when Pooka started eating solids, but found these to be the best. The spoon isn't too big for her mouth, and it's just the right depth to get her a good mouthful without a ton of food squishing back out. As your baby grows they will be able to feed themselves with these utensils because they are the perfect size, and the heads can be bent to help your uncoordinated wee one get the head of the fork or spoon into their mouth (Pooka is working on that). Since we are on the topic of feeding, we are also completely enamored with the Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon. If I had a nickel for every mom who said, "I wish they had that when my kids were young" Pooka's preschool tuition would be covered. The spoon has a reservoir that holds up to 3 oz. of baby food that you can squeeze directly into the spoon. We use it in the car and out and about. Need something to serve your food in? We have the Saucer Stay-Put Divided Plate. We are using it now for finger foods, but will use it for all types of food when Pooka gets more coordinated with her spoon. Wee ones have a difficult time picking the plate up thanks to the rubber ring along the bottom. It should keep the UFO's to a minimum. And don't forget about snacks. We love the Snack Ball because unlike a snack trap, Pooka can only get into this one when I open it for her. It's round shape makes it easy to toss in your bag and find it again, and doubles as a fun ball for Pooka to roll around and play with when we are out and about. Finally, dry your Boon products on the high style design of the Grass Countertop Drying Rack. It's so cute we leave it on our counter all the time (and to be honest there is always something drying on it), and sometimes you can even spy some grownup items drying on the grass.

Boon's products also populate the bath. They are most famous for their first product, the Frog Pod and its newer sister the Bug Pod. They are one of the few products we don't have (we have gorgeous new carrara marble tiles in the bath and I couldn't bare to hang anything on them!) but hear nothing but great reviews. We do, however, have Bob the Odd Duck and the Splat Floating Ring Toss. We love Bob because he doesn't have any holes to fill up with water and leak out later after bath time is over (Pooka loves to bring her bath toys into the living area). She is also infatuated with the rings from the Splat and carries them all over the apartment, and because all Boon products are BPA, phalate, and PVC free I have no problem letting her chew on them to her heart's content.

So needless to say we own quite a few Boon products already, but there are still some on the list we would love to have. I'm dying for a Stash Multi-Room Organizer to keep bottles, snack balls, etc in so they don't clutter up the kitchen counter. Your child will clearly have the coolest sippy in play group with the intriguing design of the Fluid Toddler Cup. And eventually we'll have to invest in the Potty Bench!

Whichever Boon products you choose they will likely became as indispensable as they have for us! And did I mention that 10% of all profits are donated to children's charities like Helping Orphans Worldwide and the Child Crisis Center!

Too Sweet: NYC Valentine's Day Events for your little Cupid

2010-02-10T09:11:00.001-05:00

What could be sweeter than spending Valentine's with your wee one? I'm thinking this might be my favorite Valentine's Day so far, and my husband and I have had some pretty good ones. But seriously, what could compete with having your own real live cherub to snuggle with? Maybe I could get Pooka a little bow and arrow, dress her up as Cupid and have her shoot Dada as he comes in the door. Or maybe not...Perhaps the best part is all the Valentine's activities going on this week for you and your cherub. There tons to choose from, but here are a few of the best.

Big City Moms is hosting two fab V-Day events this week. The first is a Mommy and Me Valentine's Soiree on Friday, February 12th from 11:00AM-12:30PM at Dylan's Candy Bar. The event will feature music by one of our favorites, Rockin' with Andy, plus craft activities, candy, food, and photos. If your looking for a whole family event Big City Moms is also hosting the Sweetest Valentine's Day Party Ever at Kidville on the UES on Sunday, February 14th from 11:00AM to 1:00PM. Featuring a Little Maestro's concert, games, food, candy, family portraits with Suzanne Cohen, and use of the amazing Kidville gym. This is a family friendly event, so bring siblings, dadas, grandparents and more! And I can only assume that BCM will be doing their amazing baby gear raffles at these events. I never walk away empty handed from one of their events.

Diva Moms is also getting in on the V-day action with their 6th Annual Divalysscious Valentine's Day Party at Dylan's Candy Bar on Saturday, february 14th from 11:00AM - 1:00PM. Featuring a performance by Broadway Babies and activities including chocolate decorating, jewelry making, picture frame decorating, family portraits, and tasty sweets.

Baby Bites is hosting a Mommy and Me Valentine's Day Lunch at the Roger Smith Hotel on Friday, February 12th from 12:00PM-2:00PM. This event features a Little Maestro's concert, photos, and raffle for a Chicco Stroller and Boon high chair.

Interested in less child oriented music? Then grab tickets to the Baby Loves Disco Valentine's Disco Ball on Sunday, February 14th from 12:00PM to 3:00PM at Le Poisson Rouge on Bleeker St. There will be music, hula hooping, a bubble machine, snacks, juices, and of course dancing to the grooviest tunes from the 70's and 80's.

For more ideas, check the Time Out NY Kids Valentine's Day event calendar. Some of our other favorites this week include Clifford's Valentines Day Party at FAO Schwartz on Thursday, February 11th, Sailor Valentine's made with shells and other ocean items at the South Street Seaport Museum on Saturday, Febraury 14th, and Chocolate for Tinies at Chocolate and I, New York on Saturday, February 14th.

Seems like you can't go wrong with whatever event you chose. We'll be hitting the Big City Mom events, so maybe we'll see you there!

Super Sippy Cuteness: MAM Baby's New Products

2010-02-09T14:51:00.004-05:00

I have to say that I totally heart Austrian-based MAM (pronounced "Mom") products. Pooka and I have been through several bottle styles, but really fell hard for the MAM Anti-Colic bottles. Unlike most of the other anti-colic choices on the market, MAM bottles are super easy to take apart and clean without needing specialized brushes or worrying about tiny pieces growing mold where I can't see it. This is especially important to me because I don't have a dishwasher or sterilizer in my tiny NYC kitchen. The bottles have a great nipple style (they refer to them as teats) that mimic Mama's own and is designed to be harmonious with breast feeding. We never had a problem with switching between breast and bottle with our MAM's. I should also mention that the bottles are very cute, coming in pink, purple, aqua and light blue.

New to the market for MAM is a line of sippy cups. The lovely ladies I met from MAM sent me the new sippy's to test and we adore them. You can start with the Hold Me Bottle as a transition from breast or bottle towards sippy cups. Then move on to the Trainer Cup with perfect sized handles for wee ones and a hybrid nipple/sippy spout. Pooka is using this one frequently now, and can even tilt it up and hold it by herself. The final stage is the Learn to Drink Cup which has a harder spout and no handles. Pooka is just starting to try this cup. They became available in stores last month, so go out and get yourself one and be the first on your block to have one.

MAM has tons of other great products to check out like their famous pacifiers. We sampled the new Air Pacifier that is open around the mouth so the skin can breathe and reduce rashes from frequent paci use. Other products we love are the Starter and Clip teether and Massaging Brush for sore gums and first teeth. Oh, and I forgot to mention that all MAM products are BPA free! What's not to love?

What I really needed at the Hospital

2010-02-01T06:48:00.001-05:00

Every pregnancy book, birth book or website has a helpful list of the things you will need to take to the hospital. They are very helpful because, thanks to pregnancy brain, remembering to pack things like your toothbrush or comfy socks might get lost in the shuffle. On the other hand, there are tons of things that you might not ever need, and how big of a bag do you plan to take? The most important thing to remember is that what every mama will need is different based on the type of birth they are planning. We were hoping for a natural birth and packed many items to help with pain management. In the end we were induced (Pooka had no fluid left to swim in) and after 12 hours of Cervidil and 7 hours of Pitocin with zero progress I took an epidural, which made many of the comfort items we packed obsolete. If you are planning to use pain medication or have a scheduled c-section you may not need essential oils, a massage ball, or hot/cold packs. The list I am making here is based on my experience, but should apply to every birth scenario. It is designed to supplement the more extensive list you get from those books and websites.

1. Pillows, Pillows, Pillows: Check with your hospital to see how many pillows are available in your delivery room. Ours literally only gave one per mama, and they were flat as pancakes. Perhaps your hospital will give you several, but if they don't make sure to bring your own. I brought two, but wish I had brought four. Sounds crazy, right? But I would have given my right pinky toe for a couple more before I took that epidural. Besides, you may be at the hospital for a few days and having some creature comforts like your pillow from home may soothe your tired soul. Oh, and make sure if you do bring a favorite pillow that it has a pillow case you don't care about because things do get messy with all that birthing going on!

2. Towels: You know how those towels at the gym barely cover your essential parts? Our hospital had the same size towels, and they didn't even begin to cover my ample pregnancy assets. I brought a big fluffy towel from home and was thankful for it after every shower during the four days and three nights we spent at the hospital. Again, bring an old towel if you are worried about any stains. In fact, just looking at that towel makes me shudder a bit so you may want to toss it when you get home.

3. iPod with Speakers: I made two playlists for the hospital. The first was gentle but upbeat music laced with songs that made me happy and meant something to me, like our wedding song and songs from concerts my husband and I attened. The second playlist was composed of my favorite lullabies from Rockabye Baby. We used both playlists during labor and after delivery. The doctor and nurses especially liked the lullabies and asked us about them when they were in our room. We had also played the same music for a few weeks prior to Pooka's birth so playing them in the hospital gave her a sense of continuity. Make sure to bring battery operated speakers and plenty of extra batteries, because most hospitals won't let you plug anything in.

4. Cozy Sweatshirt: I frequently felt cold at the hospital and was so grateful I had brought along a 3/4 length tie-front sweatshirt from Lululemon. I'm not a bathrobe wearer so having this sweatshirt was key. I wore it while walking the halls during labor, and later while nursing my newbie.

5. Comfy Socks and Slip-On Shoes: Bending over to put on shoes after you deliver is not easy, particularly if you have a c-section. So bring some big fluffy socks with grippy traction on them so you can head to the bathroom during the night without having to put on shoes. But you will want shoes when you venture out of your room so make sure they can easily slip on. Again, there is a possibility of them getting stained so you may not want to bring brand new Ugg slippers!

6. Breastfeeding Book: Unfortunately our hospital did not have a lactation consultant on duty, but the baby nurses were very knowledgeable when we needed help getting Pooka latched. But I also wanted to remember all the little tips and tricks I had learned at my breastfeeding class and from the books I had read. And by the way, I dragged my husband to our breastfeeding class (he was one of two men there). It was much easier than having him ask a hundred questions after the baby was born, and he was able to provide an extra level of support. We brought The Nursing Mother's Companion by Katherine Huggins with us and we both referred to it regularly over the three days we were in the hospital.

7. Fashionable Hospital Gown: So I know this sounds crazy, but having my own cute yellow and pink polka dot hospital gown to slip into after the birth was like a tonic for my soul and made our first memories with Pooka picture perfect. By picture perfect I mean literally, since pics of Mama, Dada and baby were being snapped left and right and I wasn't sporting a crappy hospital issued gown. It was also perfect because the nurses still had appropriate access to my IV, etc, and it was super easy to breastfeed in because the shoulders quickly unsnap. My family thought I was neurotic for purchasing my own gown, but then again I labored and gave birth in my own tank top and Binsi Birthing Skirt because I hate hospital gowns that much. But hey, I wasn't there because I was sick, I was there to have one of the most memorable moments of my life and I wanted to look good doing it! Just note that the birth process can be very messy, so you may not want to actually give birth in your cute hospital gown (the Old Navy Maternity tank top I wore was very stained and had to be cut off of me after the birth because of my IV). There are several cute options for hospital gowns, including Peanut Shell, Dear Johnnies, and B.Y.O.G. (I had the Lemon Drop pattern).

8. Baby Bottle and Pacifier: Pooka is breastfeed and has never taken a pacifier, but she does take a bottle on occasion. Before she was born I was completely against giving her a bottle or pacifier until she was at least a few weeks old and past the point of nipple confusion. But despite our best laid plans I wasn't producing much milk yet and Pooka wasn't peeing (it's a requirement for your baby to pee before you are released from the hospital), so the nurses began feeding her formula. Luckily our hospital was just a few blocks from our apartment and a family member was able to fetch our bottle of choice. If she had to drink formula I wanted her to have the most breast-like bottle. The same goes for pacifiers. If there is a particular brand you want your baby to use introduce it at the hospital.

9. Multiple Baby Outfits: So you obviously know that you need a going home outfit for your wee one, but I would bring more than one. First, if you stay at the hospital for a few days you might want your little one to wear something other than white during that time. But more importantly, you can never be sure what will actually fit. Pooka was expected to be over 7 lbs based on level 2 scans we had the last few weeks, but in reality she was less than 6 lbs. I had brought three outfits, but only the absolute smallest one worked for her. Other friends have unexpectedly had 9 lb babies when they were expecting 8 lbs. So make sure to pack a good size range so you'll be sure to have something that fits.

10. Baby Nail Clippers: I think this is totally odd, but our hospital would not clip Pooka's nails. And believe me, she had some serious daggers when she was born. Again, we had a family member bring a set from home but you should probably just throw a pair in your bag just in case.

11. Olive Oil: So you probably know that baby's first poohs are called meconium, and are tarlike and sticky. They can be very difficult to clean off your wee ones bum. A touch of olive oil can make things a lot easier. Apply a little with each change to keep the meconium from sticking and those first diaper changes will be a breeze!

As I mentioned previously, this is not meant to be an extensive list, but a supplementary list. There are many other things you may need, and probably a few that you won't. Things I didn't use included makeup, and the cute going home dress (I opted for my Lululemon pants and sweatshirt...how did my mom ever put on makeup and a dress?). I also brought Booby Tubes for breast engorgement, but didn't have good access to a microwave and ended up using hot wash clothes instead. I think in the end the lighter you make your bag the happier you'll be. There are also a few things you'll need once you get home, so stay tuned for a later post!

Photos of Pooka taken at the hospital by Hannah Hardaway Photography.

Fab Find: Vitra Eames Elephant

2010-01-29T11:15:00.000-05:00

I'm a huge fan of all things Eames, and now there's a place for it in the nursery too. Well actually, an Eames Lounge would be brilliant in the nursery for late night feedings so if you have the space and the moola I would highly recommend one. But this post is about the fetching Eames Elephant by Vitra. Based on a 1945 design, at 16.5 inches high the elephant is perfect for your wee one to ride on and use in all sorts of imaginative play. Available in 5 fun colors you can go for realism and choose the elephant in grey, or whimsical pink, or how about the elusive white elephant? It's also available in red and lime green if those colors would work better for your decor. This elephant is so cute, why confine it to the nursery? How about setting it out in the living room room for the whole family to enjoy! You can purchase the Eames Elephant online at All Modern Baby.

Big City Moms Hope for Haiti Concert Tomorrow at Dylan's Candy Bar

2010-01-27T12:04:00.004-05:00

The lovely ladies at Big City Moms are hosting a concert with Rockin' with Andy tomorrow at Dylan's Candy Bar with 100% of the proceeds going to charities supporting Haitian relief efforts. Starting at 12:30 PM the event will feature a concert, raffle, candy, and more. Big City Moms has put together an impressive number of sponsors who have donated gear for the raffle, so you'll have a great chance of winning a prize. But more importantly, you'll be helping a good cause! We hope to see you there!

Dash and Dine: Organic baby foods for tots on the go

2010-01-26T10:18:00.002-05:00

I try to make the majority of Pooka's baby food (see previous post on home made baby food), but there's not always time. So what do you feed your wee one when it's not home made? Obviously there are plenty of choices in jars, but they don't impart the sense of wholesome goodness that I seek when choosing Pooka's meals. And to be frank, after tasting some of the jarred varieties I was less than impressed with their bland flavor. After sampling a promising jar of chicken and apple compote that tasted nothing like chicken or apple I went in search of other options. Luckily there are tons of new choices out there for Mamas seeking alternatives! Those options range from frozen, to squeezy pouches, to freeze dried foods. Pooka and I have a few favorites that have seamlessly been incorporated into our typically home made meal plans.

Yummy Spoonfuls: As a frequent reviewer for Parentville (see my latest product reviews in the blue box on the right side of this page) I was sent a box of Yummy Spoonfuls to sample, and I'm so glad they did. Yummy Spoonfuls makes 100% organic frozen baby foods for all three stages. Packaged in individual 6 oz. containers, these portions will last for 3-4 servings in the early days and 1-2 servings as your baby grows. The stage 1 purees, called Creamy Yummy, are perfect for first timers because of their thinner consistency and work great when added to cereals. They offer some unique flavors like Papaya, which was our favorite by far! We also tried some of the stage 2, or Mushy Yummy foods, which are a bit thicker and have more interesting combos. Great choices include blueberry and millet, or papaya, quinoa, and banana. And later on, Yummy Spoonfuls offers Chunky Yummy for babies over 12 months. But best of all, Yummy Spoonful foods are not heat treated which makes them most similar to the purees I make at home. Another bonus is that the plastic containers they are sold in are BPA and Phalate free so I like to save them to use on the go or freeze home made foods. And at $2-3.00 per container they are a great price considering their organic goodness. Yummy Spoonfuls are available online in their store or on Amazon. If you are in the New York area you can find Yummy Spoonfuls at Dean & Deluca stores.

Happy Baby Foods: Happy Baby offers a whole range of organic food for your wee one from stage 1 right up through the toddler years. Choices range from Happy Bellies cereals with DHA and Probiotics, to Happy Baby frozen foods, Happy Tot pouch foods, and Happy Bites meals. Pooka eats the Happy Bellies oatmeal every morning (rice cereal makes her constipated), and we keep our freezer stocked with various packages of Happy Baby frozen foods. I really like that Happy Baby frozen foods come in individual 1 oz. cubes, so it's easy to give Pooka a nice variety of flavors at each meal. We also love the Happy Tot pouches for when we are on the run. They offer awesome flavor combos and don't have to be refrigerated until after they are opened, which means you can carry one in your diaper bag for emergencies or when you don't want to carry a cooler pack. We keep our Snack Trap filled with Happy Puffs (cereal puffs) and Happy Melts (freeze dried yogurt chips). The nice thing about Happy Puffs is that unlike cereals like Cheerios, they melt in the mouth so you can have a little piece of mind when you start your baby on finger foods. Pooka is still too young for Happy Bites, but we plan to try those too. I mean, who can deny oganic Salmon Stix or Veggie Tots! And it's also reassuring to know that all Happy baby Foods come in BPA free packaging and endorsed by pediatric guru Dr. Bob Sears. Happy Baby Foods are available at numerous locations, so check their website to find a retailer near you.

Ella's Kitchen: Ella's Kitchen specializes in scrumptious stage 1 squeezy pouch recipes, and fruit smoothies for babies of all ages. We fell in love with the Broccoli, Peas, and Pears and the Carrots, Apples, and Parsnips. Made in the UK, it can be found at Babies R' Us and now at Diapers.com.

There are lots of other tasty choices in the organic baby food market, but I wanted to share a few of our favorites. We have also enjoyed food from Petite Palate, Sprout Baby, Tasty Baby, and Plum Organics. It's just nice to know that there are companies that care about your child's health and well being as much as you do!

Luxe Life: Tory Burch Nylon Baby Bag

2010-01-25T15:15:00.004-05:00

I'm always on the lookout for the latest and greatest diaper bags. I often wonder why every major designer doesn't have one in their line. Mommies are big business these days! Tory Burch has recognized this need for discerning mama's to carry fab looking diaper bags. Her Nylon Baby Bag is currently available in black with patent leather accents and signature gold hardware. It is sure to keep people guessing, "is it or isn't it." And by that I mean a diaper bag, of course! With tote handles and a removable shoulder strap there are plenty of carrying options, and pockets galore inside and out. Apparently it has been available for some time, so it's anyone's guess why I am only now stumbling upon it (and don't already own one!). They are available through Tory Burch's online store and I imagine they sell out fast, so if this is the bag you've been searching for don't wait to purchase it. You wouldn't want to be the only mama in the Hamptons without one this summer!

NYC Children's Sample Sale January 26-28th at Clothingline

2010-01-22T15:22:00.005-05:00

Clothingline is having another of it's famous luxury children's wear sample sales. Next week's sale will feature clothes by Jacadi, Crewcuts, Rachel Riley, Imps and Elfs, Kule and Polarn O. Pyret. The sale starts Tuesday, January 26th and goes through Thursday, January 28th from 10:00am to 6:00pm each day. I've had great luck at these sales, snagging tons of Jacadi dresses and sweaters for Pooka in a mostly empty showroom. Other moms have gone to sales here and found a crowded showroom and little product, so it's defintiely hit or miss. I plan to pop Pooka in a carrier (no strollers are allowed) and check out the sale during the afternoon. Hopefully we'll hit it right!

Sale Runs at the Clothingline (261 W 36th St., btw 7th and 8th Ave.):
Tuesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Fab Find: Bical Grippers

2010-01-12T10:17:00.003-05:00

Pooka has just started crawling in this weird crab style. It kind of defies description but she certainly gets from point A to point B. On top of that, she has started to pull herself up on anything he can reach. And not everything she pulls herself up on is stable. Combine that with our hardwood floors and it's a recipe for many bumps and brusies. To the rescue come the Bical Grippers, fantastic shoe socks with rubber soles. Made in Brazil, Grippers were originally designed to be worn as water shoes for kids to wear at the pool or beach, but they are perfect for babies who are learning to crawl, walk, and wipe out. But what makes these shoes even better are the crazy cute designs. Think Trumpette meets Crocs! Don't get me wrong, we love our Nowali Moccasins too, but their leather soles don't offer the type of traction my little wiggle worm needs these days. We got out Bicals at a great little children's boutique on the upper east side called Lemonade, but they are available online at numerous sites.

Fab Find: Itzy Ritzy Washable Nursing Pads

2010-01-12T10:15:00.000-05:00

Okay, so nobody really sees your nursing pads, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you know you are wearing something totally beautiful in your big ole' nursing bra to suck up the leaks. I mean, let's face it, there is nothing more womanly than leaking milk from our engorged breasts. And yet somehow it feels kind of gross. So grab these lovely Washable Nursing Pads from Itzy Ritzy to pretty up the whole process! They are made of super soft and eco-friendly baby bamboo. And while you're there grab a cute and practical High Chair Cover (I love the Black Skulls print!) or Peek-a-Boo Pod Infant Carrier Cover.

Luxe Life: Maloles Shoe's for Mama and Baby

2010-01-07T13:37:00.007-05:00

Okay, so I'm not a big fan of the whole mother/daughter matchy thing but these shoes are so adorable how could you not get both of you a pair, or two, or three? Based in Paris, designer Maloles Antignac's eponymous shoe line is best known for her flats, but she also does boots and heels. For mama, check out the Zoe flats. The detail is based on the gatherings on the underside of a ballet shoe (which of course makes me think of tutus, which in turn makes me smile!). I also love the casual glamour of the studded Georges flats. Or how about a sexy mommy heel with secret practicality? I like the Cassidy Pump with its au courant studs and rubber treaded sole. I also love the sweet bow style of the Celia in a ballet flat or a heel (again with rubber treaded sole).

But I'm getting carried away. I haven't even mentioned the wee shoes from the Petit Maloles collection. Get all matchy/mathcy with a pair of Petit Zoe's, or Petit Celias. More options that will match mamas include the studded mary jane style Petit Safir's or t-strap Bianca Pom Poms. But I really die for the Petit Anna Button Boots. Those buttons! That classic style! Oh my! It's no surprise that Petit Maloles are frequently seen gracing the feet of mini fashion maven Suri Cruise. My biggest issue is where to find them, but go to the Maloles site to locate stores and online retailers in your area. The fall collections are mostly sold out, so keep your eyes peeled for the release of her spring collection because they go fast!

10 Things I couldn't live without for Breastfeeding

2010-01-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

Last month I was invited to speak at Big City Moms Expectant Moms Dinner that focused on breastfeeding. As always, it was a wonderful event with every Mom walking away with prizes, and a lucky few winning strollers by Orbit Baby, Quinny, and Baby Jogger. Preparing for this dinner got me to thinking about my own experiences with breastfeeding. One of the biggest surprises with the entire new baby process was how challenging that breastfeeding can be. It seems like it is a natural evolutionary process that mothers should instinctively know how to do. I've travelled all over the world and seen women of every age and ethnicity easily feeding their babies the way nature intended. And yet, here in the states you hardly ever see that! Unlike in many other countries where exposing your breast to feed you child is not considered a taboo, here it is and I had never really seen a mother breastfeed until I went to a breastfeeding support group after Pooka was born. That's why we have to go to classes to learn how to do it! And my mother and other female relatives did not breastfeed their children so I had no expert wisdom to glean from them. So my best advice for those of you who plan to breastfeed is to stick it out for as long as you can to try and make it work. It took us 6 weeks to get comfortable, and 3 different lactation consultants to get all of our issues figured out. My mommy friends have run the gamut of experiences from relative ease with feeding, to low milk production, poor baby weight gain, and even mommy's who exclusively pump for months because their babies won't latch or went on a nursing strike. The bottom line is that breastfeeding doesn't work for everyone, and if trying to breastfeed impacts your quality of life and happiness with your child than it may not be the right choice for you (and don't heap your choice to formula feed onto the pile of mommy guilt that you will inevitably pile up over the years!).

I also want to share my experience with you, because it is one you are less likely to hear: I made too much milk! How is that a problem? You'd be surprised! Once my milk came in, it flowed like Niagra and I had a very fast letdown. The problem was that Pooka couldn't handle the volume and speed of milk flow, so to compensate she would bite my nipples to shut off the flow so she had time to swallow. Not only was the biting extremely uncomfortable (remember those Texas Tittie Twisters from middle school?), but throughout the feeding she would compress the nipple. This led to blistering and scabbing, but also to a more painful condition called vaso-constriction. Pooka was literally slowing down the blood flow to my nipples, and within five minutes after a feed my breasts would feel like they were on fire and full of pins and needles. But we stuck it out and got through it thanks to the help of the amazing Beverly Solow, a lactation consultant on the UWS. Once I knew what was happening and how to manage the pain Pooka and I were back on track. This leads me to my list of essentials for breastfeeding.

1. Lactation Consultant: In NYC there are multitudes of lactation consultants to choose from and your hospital is likely to have one in-house (unless you give birth at Roosevelt!). Make sure you choose an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), use this website to find ones in your area. Here in the city, my friends and I have had wonderful experiences with Beverly Solow, Ayelot Kaznelson, and Heather Kelly. Please know that every penny spent on a lactation consultant will pay you back in spades, and if you have a hard time coughing up the $200-300 for a home visit try one of the many drop in groups around town (especially those run by the ladies mentioned above).

2. Breastpump: My milk was slow coming in so my doula recommended pumping after every feeding the first few days. If you are going back to work a double electric pump is a must, but even if you are not they are still a good idea if you will pump regularly. Now that Pooka eats solids I am pumping daily to add to her cereal, so the pump is still a necessity. We have the Medela Pump In Style. Pumps are pricey, so if you don't want purchase one you can rent one from your hospital or local nursing or maternity store. Also be sure to check with your insurance company, ours agreed to pay for half the cost of our breast pump!

3. Hands Free Bra: As mentioned in a previous post, I pumped after every feeding for four days after Pooka was born before purchasing a hands free bra. I would have to prop my arms up on pillows because they would get tired holding the cones to my breasts, and forget reading, napping or holding your baby at the same time. My whole world changed after purchasing a hands free bra. Companies like Easy Expressions make hands free bras, or do what my friend did and cut two holes in an old sports bra. That wasn't an option for me, as my cup size grew from a B to a DD/E when my milk came in (eek)!

4. Nursing Pillow: You wouldn't think your little bundle of joy would feel all that heavy in your arms, but trust me when I say they will. First, your arms are not used to holding anything in a cradle position for an extended period of time (unless you played football in high school or college, but that seems unlikely). Second, getting the latch and holds right is not easy at first and you will need to use both hands, which means you will have a hard time juggling baby. I highly recommend purchasing a nursing pillow like the Boppy or My Breast Friend. I've had experiences with both and have some definite opinions. I purchased a Boppy after looking at both options in the store. I thought the My Breast Friend looked odd and really stiff, and I didn't like the idea of being strapped into it. Then I brought Pooka home (at 5 lbs 12 oz and 19.5 inches long) and discovered that she didn't fit well in the Boppy. She sort of fell in the hole between my belly and the pillow, and I had to roll up a towel and place it across the pillow to fill the gap for the first few weeks. Then I went to a lactation consultant and had the opportunity to use a My Breast Friend and I loved it. Because the pillow is attached it fits tightly to your belly (no gap) and the stiffness was really convenient for keeping the baby stable while getting her latch right. In retrospect I wish I had bought the My Breast Friend for the early months, although the Boppy is a perfect fit now with my older baby and I still use it every feed when I am at home. So check out both pillows an choose which one you think works best for you.

5. Breast Pads: Yes Virginia, you will leak milk! Somehow I thought I might get away with not leaking like the way I had dodged other pregnancy bullets like constipation or severe heartburn. But alas, that was not to be the case although there is the rare woman who doesn't leak regularly (maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones!). So do yourself a favor and stock up on beast pads. I tried both the Medela Disposable Bra Pads and and Lansinoh Pads. Both work great, but I preferred the Lansinoh pads because they had a larger circumference and were a bit thinner. I also have some reusable organic breast pads made by Imse Vimse they I used a lot when I was at home. They are super soft, particularly if you are cracked or scabbed. Oh, and if you produce lots of milk and leak while feeding check out the Milkies Milk Saver to catch and save leaky milk.

6. Lanolin Cream: It was on the list of essentials to have, but I chose an organic olive oil based nipple cream from Mother Love. This cream is great if you have minor irritation, but less effective if you are severely chapped, cracked, or bleeding (I was all three). On my first trip to a lactation consultant she recommended switching to a 100% pure lanolin-based cream, as lanolin is the only cream proven effective at healing nipples. The standard in this category is Lansinoh and it's easy to find and works great. My only concern was were the cream was sourced, since I was rubbing it on my nipples and my vulnerable newborn baby was sure to be ingesting some. I ended up using a Medela Pure Lan 100 because it was recommended by a lactation consultant who shared that it was pesticide free (although I can't seem to find any info to back that up).

7. Itzbeen Baby Care Timer: I couldn't have made it through the first few months without this amazing gadget. Read more about it here in a previous post.

8. Nursing Bras: I bought my first nursing bras at 30 weeks of pregnancy and wished I had bought them sooner. The lovely ladies at the Upper Breast Side pointed out how my underwire bras were leaving marks on the underside of my now ginormous breasts and could potentially lead to pluged ducts (ouch!). Trust me, nursing bras are much more comfortable than standard bras. My first two choices were a Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra and an Elle MacPherson Maternelle Bra. To get fitted, head to one of two NYC stores dedicated to breastfeeding: The Upper Breast Side on the UWS, and the newer Yummy Mummy on the UES. The two stores carry similar stock but definitely have different vibes. There is often a wait to be fitted at the UBS, the bras and clothes are kept in closets and brought to you rather than allowing you to browse, and you try things on Loehman's style (no dressing rooms, so don't be shy). But they are the original and certainly know their stuff, as well as advocate tirelessly on behalf of the rights of breastfeeding moms. Yummy Mummy is a more pleasant shopping experience with a beautiful store that allows you to browse the racks freely, try things on in a dressing room, and promotes an overall sense of tranquility. When I shopped there recently there were only a few other women who came in while I shopped. And Yummy Mummy ladies certainly know their stuff too.

9. Nursing Tops: Whichever store you choose, make sure to grab some nursing tops. You won't regret it the first time you feed in public and your torso is covered rather than on display for everyone to see how much baby weight you are still carrying. My favorites for warm weather or as an underlayer are tank tops by Bravado and Glamour Mom (go for the longer length on these) that don't require a separate bra. I lived in these last summer, and wear them now under sweaters and cardigans. I also love my hidden nursing tops and dresses by Mayreau, Boob Design, and Milkstars. Each company approaches nursing access differently. Mayreau does super soft jersey tops that are great when you want a slightly dressier look, using cowls or wrap styles to hide the nursing access. Boob Design from Sweden makes their organic cotton nursing tops and dresses with a hidden overlap right under your bust that you lift up for access. Their designs are sportier and good for everyday, and include pieces like hooded sweatshirts. Finally, Milkstars makes t-shirts with great details like micro-puff sleeves and double v-necks. They use a double layer for the entire front of the garment, and you simply lift the top layer for nursing access. Start with one or two styles , and add more as you find a favorite (and are sure you are going to continue breastfeeding).

10. Nursing Cover: If you choose to breastfeed you will eventually have to do it in public. The funny thing about using a nursing cover is that I don't actually use it for me, but to make sure that others don't feel uncomfortable. By the time I left the hospital and saw multiple lactation consultants I had no shame left about baring my breasts to strangers. These days I'm comfortable enough with my nursing tops that I can feed well in public without flashing any nip, and besides, Pooka loves to try to pull the cover off and expose me rather than concentrate on eating so I don't use one anymore. But you will definitely want a cover for the early months. It takes quite some time to get comfortable juggling your baby, unhooking your nursing bra, and getting a proper latch in public without the whole restaurant seeing your goods! I use a Bebe Au Lait, but Peanut Shell and Itzy Ritzy make great covers too.

So that sums up the bounty of my breastfeeding wisdom. Pooka still breastfeeds several times a day, and when her little hand reaches up and touches my face while she drinks I realize it has all been worth it! Oh, and when in doubt, the absolute best resource for breastfeeding info is the website KellyMom. Go there regularly to keep your sanity while going through this process!

Pooka's Christmas List # 6: bObbles Elephant Tumbling Animal

2009-12-22T09:15:00.002-05:00

Last week Pooka and I had the good fortune of attending Unplugged on a Rug's Great Green Playdate at Kidville. We had an amazing time and fell in love with the bObles that were scattered about the room. Natalie Cronin of Unplugged (and also our Wee Wiggle Giggle instructor at Kidville) showed us how beneficial they can be even for baby's who aren't crawling yet. Using the Crocodile bOble she showed us how Pooka can strengthen her core and work on stability by sitting at an angle, or laying on a downward slope on her belly. But our favorite bOble by far is the Elephant Tumbling Animal. Shaped like a half circle your little one can climb up its trunk and sit atop, or flip it over and use it like a rocking horse or chair. I love that bObles promote imaginative play and can grow with your child. When they are older they can stand on the elephant to practice their balance. I get tired of buying so many toys that are outgrown in 5 months! Order yours from Oompa Toys, or you can find them at Mini Jake in Brooklyn or in Manhattan at Babesta or the MoMA Design Store (that's right folks, a toy that's considered high design!)

Finn's Finds NYC Sample Sale December 18-19th

2009-12-15T16:11:00.010-05:00

Our friends at Finn's Finds are having a sample sale this Friday, December 18th and Saturday, December 19th just in time for you to stash some fab clothing under the tree for your dearest ones. Finn's Finds focuses on unique clothing lines from all over the world, and seeks clothing lines manufactured by environmentally and ethically responsible partners. You may remember Finn's Finds from a Fab Find post I did last month. Their site features adorable clothes for your wee ones, and lots of organic choices. I'm hoping to pick up the Double Face Knit Pique Romper, the Rouched Button Hoodie, and the Touch of Stripes and Ruffle Long Sleeve Onesie. See below for more information. Maybe we'll see you there!

Finns Finds Holiday Sample Sale:
Up to 50% off current merchandise

Friday December 18th 10am-7pm
Saturday December 19th 12pm-6pm
@ Archetype Showroom
676 Broadway, 2 fl
New York, NY 10012
(btwn Bond & Great Jones)
http://shop.finnsfinds.com/

Pooka's First Christmas Dress

2009-12-15T12:27:00.006-05:00

Being Pooka's first holiday I wanted to choose a special outfit for her to wear on Christmas day and memorialize in photos. There are tons of options out there in many different price ranges. Several dresses made our short list. On the less traditional side we considered the plaid taffeta dress from Baby Gap's Copper Mountain Collection (may still be in stores, but no longer online), Baby CZs Audrey Dress, and Marie Chantal's Dotted Silk Dress (the last two are both on sale at Saks right now). For a more traditional style we looked at Isabel Garreton's Smocked Silk Bishop Dress (also on sale at Saks), Olive Juice Kids Trapeze Dress in Regent Red, and Rachel Riley's Tartan Print Dress in red or green. In the end, we went with the very traditional velvet Douane Dress in Ruby Red from Jacadi (available in-store only). We will be pairing it with Hanna Anderson's Snowflake Tights, and Pooka's silver Naomi Pedipeds. We are searching for a sweater to put over her dress, so let us know if you have any ideas!

Pooka's Christmas List # 5: Melissa & Doug First Bead Maze

2009-12-08T12:15:00.001-05:00

Often relegated to the waiting rooms of doctor's offices or play corners in stores and restaurants, the bead maze is an underrated developmental toy. As Pooka approaches 8 months it is important for her to begin working on her fine motor skills. What are fine motor skills? They are usually defined as her ability to use her pincer grasp (her thumb and forefinger) to pick up something as small as a raisin. I don't know about you, but I will not be handing my child a handful of raisins to practice with because they also present a choking hazard. That's why a bead maze is on Pooka's Christmas list. I particularly like the My First Bead Maze from Melissa and Doug. It has a wooden base with suction cups so you can attach it to the floor, a table, or high chair. It has two "maze" tracks and several wooden beads in different colors. One track has larger beads that are easier to grasp, while the other has smaller beads with a second layer of beads that require highly tuned skills to slide them over the first. What's great about this bead maze is that it will grow with baby as their skills develop!

Pooka's Christmas List # 4: Haba Cordoba Building Blocks

2009-12-04T18:07:00.000-05:00

My favorite toys for Pooka are generally colorful, made of wood, and encourage creative play. Haba toys tend to do all of those things and are designed and made in Germany so you don't have to worry about the "China factor." They make several amazing baby block sets, so it's hard to chose a favorite. Better yet, buy a few sets and create a serious collection or leave a set at Grandmas house. My favorite are the Cordoba Building Blocks because they are a little bit feminine, but not enough to disqualify them from unisex status. Looking for a more boyish set? Try the Fantasy Building Blocks. Something a little girlier? Check out the Sevilla Building Blocks. All three of these sets are more than just the run of the mill wooden blocks, featuring turrets, archways, and even onion domes. Certain blocks incorporate bells, rattles, and kaleidoscopes. We also love the Eeeny, Meeny, Miny, Zoo Wooden Blocks for a different flair. This set includes cute animal blocks that turn the collection into a puzzle set as well. These building blocks are rated for one year olds and up, but with Pooka being 8 months on Christmas Day I figure she's ready for them even if they only go straight into her mouth. Is your little one not ready for blocks yet? Then don't miss the Haba clutching toys like the Klapperworm, or the Flower Fairy Stroller Toy. Check out all the great Haba toys on Oompa, my favorite site for toys!

Mommy's Little Helper: Mama's favorite iPhone Apps

2009-12-01T09:32:00.005-05:00

Many years ago, in a time when pregnant women still drank and smoked with abandon, "Mommy's little helper" referred to a chemical form of stress relief to help mom's get through the day. Today we know that all those things are not healthy for us, and we are forced to rely on helpers of a different nature to get us through the day. My latest addiction is my brand spanking new iPhone and all the fabulous applications that make my day easier, happier, and shinier (much like the "Mommy's Little Helper" of old)! If you have an iPhone you know that there are something like 75,000 different applications available to download, it's an absolutely dizzying array to choose from. But in just a few short weeks I have found some indispensable apps that I would love to share with you.

First, all NYC mommies (or visitors to NYC) must download iKidNY. Created by a brilliant NY mommy (and UWSider to boot), this is the app I dreamed about when Pooka was first born. How many times have you found yourself outside your hood and wondering where you're going to find the closet changing table after your dear one has just blow out their nappie? Trust me, it happens, usually when you have forgotten to bring along a clean set of clothes. The first time I was confronted with this dilemma I rushed home and searched the web, assuming someone must have created a website to address just this issue. And yet, unbelievably, no such site existed. How about a stroller friendly restaurant, or the closest park for the wee ones to burn some energy? And the real piece de resistance, the closest subways with elevators so you and your stroller (avec bebe) can ride the subway with wild abandon! Salvation has arrived in the form of iKidNY. Using the GPS in your phone, this app will locate the nearest indoor and outdoor activities, restaurants, changing tables, and subway elevators. Now, if only this app could also tell us where the cutest baby boutiques are! A girl can dream...maybe in a future update.

How about making mommy errands easier? I have been reveling in Grocery IQ, especially when gearing up to make baby food. Enter your list item by item (the app has an awesome autofill that even lists brands), make separate lists by store (for instance Whole Foods, Target, Babies R' Us), and never forget your list at home because it is always in your phone. Want Dada to grab a few things on the way home? Email him the list from your phone. I like to add items to the list as they run out, then head to the store once a week with my completed list. No more mommy brain leaving me stranded in the paper goods aisle trying to remember how many rolls of toilet paper we have left. I mean, when do I ever have a free hand or pen and paper handy to make grocery lists the old fashioned way?

My husband has been after me to work out a budget (can't imagine why?). Thanks to iXpenseIt keeping track of spending is almost fun until I see the bottom line and gasp a bit (How much did I spend on Pooka's clothes last month?). You can itemize spending, keep track of the form of payment, and even add the vendor or notes to a purchase. Then you can create reports to view accumulated spending by category, like groceries, baby supplies, baby clothes, or shoes for mama. View your spending in a bar graph or pie chart to better understand your habits. Well to be honest, I already know my habits, but viewing the bottom line on a regular basis is very sobering.

How about keeping track of dirty diapers, feedings, and baby milestones with Total Baby. With Pooka over 7 months now I don't need to keep track of diapers and feedings, but I would have loved this when Pooka was a newborn. I use it now to keep track of her doctor's appointments, vaccination record, and developmental milestones. Only want to keep track of nursing or diapers? There are also separate applications for those individual needs if you aren't interested in the whole sha-bang.

What about keeping your dear one entertained? For the youngest babies try iBabySee. This app flashes simple, beautiful black and white images perfect for captivating your newborn. It likes having flash cards in your purse at all times. For older babies check out the Peekaboo Barn and Peekaboo Wild apps. The Peekaboo Barn app hides a farmyard animal making noises behind barn doors. Once the doors are tapped, they open to reveal the animal with the name spelled out and an adorable child's voice repeating the animal's name. Peekaboo Wild does the same except with safari animals hiding behind tall grasses. I've found this app popular with babies all the way up to kindergarten aged children. I also love Baby Piano, which turns your screen into a simple piano keyboard where you can create songs of your own or follow the lead to play familiar songs like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Play it for your infant, or let your toddler or preschooler play the piano themselves. While I do not endorse these apps as educational or strengthening development in the infant stage, they certainly have their time and place. These apps have really come in handy at restaurants, on the train, or in the car when your dear one becomes a fussy nightmare.

All of these apps are avaialable in the Apple iPhone App Store, and some of them, such as Peekaboo Barn and Baby Piano offer "Lite" versions that you can download for free and test drive. You're a mommy now, so go ahead and toss out that Blackberry you had from work and grab an iPhone. I did, and I'm never looking back!

When good ideas go right: Big City Moms and Collective-E's Meet the Mompreneur's Event

2009-11-24T09:40:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday night I had the good fortune to attend the Meet the Mompreneurs panel hosted by Big City Moms and Collective-E, a membership-based organization that supports and promotes women entrepreneurs. The panel included local mompreneurs Carley Roney of The Knot, Bump and Nest empire, Katie Danzinger of Nomie Baby, and Marni Konner of Little Maestros. I expected to hear interesting stories of the trials and tribulations of launching a new service or product, but I didn't expect to be so inspired! Did I mention that these women started their businesses while simultaneously raising 2-3 children each? Lately I've barely been finding the time and energy to post regularly, but somehow these women have been able to launch multimedia powerhouses, create soft waterproof fabrics, and train musicians for a new branch in Dubai, amongst other things!

Carley Roney got into the wedding business at the right time when she and her partners embraced the nascent media of the internet to launch The Knot and reach a new generation of brides-to-be. Now considered one of the foremost wedding resources, the brand grew organically when brides moved into their first homes, began having children and needed new types of information and message boards. The Nest and The Bump were created to meet these needs. I can't deny that I have used all three of these resources as my life has moved through these stages! The Knot is now a publicly traded company with over 500 employees. And did I mention that one or Carley's partners is her husband? This women seriously know's how to make things work!

Katie Danzinger and Marni Konner did what most moms fantasize about. They saw a gap in the mommyhood world that needed to be filled and took it upon themselves to make it happen. Katie Danzinger, creator of Nomie Baby, got frustrated trying to remove the cover on her car seat after her daughter soiled it. She cut holes in a changing table cover to fit on her car seat and before long her friends wanted her to make them covers too. Viola, Nomie Baby was born! By no means an easy road, Katie has finally gotten her award winning car seat covers to market and they have quickly become a media darling. Marni Konner, founder of Little Maestros worked in the music industry, and after the birth of her first child in 2002 sought a quality music program to sign up for. Feeling that the offerings for music programs at the time were lacking, Marni got a group of friends together and hired a guitarist to play by the hour for their children in the basement of the church across the street from her apartment. From these humble beginnings Little Maestro's has grown into a multi-city program licensed through Kidville, employing numerous musicians and dominating the children's music class scene in New York City.

Besides sharing their awe-inspiring mompreneurs stories, these ladies shared some wonderful wisdom. While most of these thoughts are directed at entrepreneurs, they can be easily substituted as advice for new moms! Here are some of my favorite thoughts from the evening (and I hope I don't misquote anyone):

Carley Roney:
Starting a business
- You can convince yourself not to do anything
- Don't be afraid to look stupid or ask for help
Selling your product
- Persistence is key, you have to ignore the humiliation of rejection
- Be willing to do anything for your business
- Be passionate about your product, nonchalant doesn't work
Being a working mom
- Work when you are working and be home when you are home (compartmentalize)

Katie Danzinger:
Starting a business
- You need to ask yourself what you can do, what you can't do, and find someone to help you do what you can't do?
- You may have a huge list of things to do, but none of them have to be done at the same time
Being a working mom
- Don't draft an email while doing a puzzle or playing with blocks

But my favorite quote of the night came from Marni Konner when she said "I haven't had a manicure since my Bat Mitzvah! " Unlike the other two mompreneurs, she brings her toddler to work with her. I think it sums up being a mompreneur perfectly! As for me, I've only had two pedicures in the 7 months since Pooka's birth and I'm not trying to launch or run a business.

Thank you Carley, Katie, and Marni for sharing your stories and advice! And thanks to Big City Moms and Collective-E for organizing this fabulous event!

Pooka's Chirstmas List # 3: Bla Bla Boogaloos

2009-11-23T08:44:00.005-05:00

As an avid knitter I know that knitting stuffed animals and dolls can be a big pain in the butt, so I can appreciate when others do the work for me. Such is the case with the marvelous Boogaloo dolls by Bla Bla. Inspired by a French cartoon with blob like charaters, Boogaloos have a pear-like shape on the bottom and different crazy characters on top. It's hard to pick a favorite because there are too many cute ones, but if I had to make a list I would highlight Yoko with her pink hair and striped shirt and Johnny with his blue mohawk. Feeling nautical? Grab a Marlin Booglaoo. Love Sherlock Holmes? Then check out the Watson doll. Celebrate the advent of the snowy season with an Anouk doll. Or play cowboys and indians with Shane and Kaya dolls. They come in two sizes, the regular Boogaloos are 10" and the Minis are 6", perfect for the littlest elfs in your houses. They also do wonderful line of classic dolls that you can purchase with a permanent knit-on outfit or that you can add clothes to, and animal dolls (think extra-hip sock monkey). Like the Boogaloos, these dolls come in small (12") and large (18-22") sizes. Some of my favorites include Prudence and Wink Owl, Gigi the Giraffe, Squirrel "McNuttie" and the Billy Goat Doll.

Don't miss the other great Bla Bla items while shopping their site. Check out their rattles, finger puppets, and mobiles for which they are well known. They also do fun knit clothing, blankets and accessories. Keep your wee one warm with an animal hat and bootie set like the Monkey Hat and Booties. Whatever items you choose will give you that snuggly hand-knit feeling without having to spend hours (or days, or weeks, or months) making these items yourself!

Pooka's Christmas List # 2: Baby Xylophone

2009-11-17T20:22:00.003-05:00

For Christmas I am very excited to get Pooka started on a musical journey. Aside from playing the clarinet in middle school (poorly I might add) I am not musically inclined and neither is my husband. I would like Pooka to have a solid basis in the world of music and have been searching for the perfect musical toys to start her off right. They will also be a nice accompaniment to the music class we plan on starting after the holidays, giving her the chance to do her first homework (and by that I mean bang and shake things at home just like she will in class). I have seen lots of xylophone's out there but most are geared for the toddler set. I imagine this is because they are usually metal and could have sharp edges. Then I found this cutie on Giggle that is all rounded and safe for babies as young as 12 months. Baby still too young for this xylophone? How about the amazing Mini Orchestra set or Mini Rainboshaker for 6 months and up. Better yet, these musical toys are phthalate-free, BPA-free, and lead-free plastic so its perfectly safe if Pooka wants to suck on them more than she wants to play them right now. All of these are currently available at Giggle, so get them now before they sell out!

Luxe Life: Flora and Henri

2009-11-14T08:57:00.006-05:00

Despite the French sounding name Flora and Henri is a homegrown enterprise. With stores in NYC and Seattle their beautiful collection offers european inspired clothing for the dear wee ones in your life. What most inspires me from their collection are the shoes and knits. How can you resist the incomparable cuteness of the Baby Ballet in soft lavender? Skip the Uggs and grab a pair of Wooly Baby Boots to keep those precious tootsies warm this winter! Or get ready for next summer and pick up a pair of bright blue Maryjane Scallop Shoes on sale. And don't miss their gorgeous sweaters in chunky cashmere. What I like about them is that you feel like your little one could still run outside and play in these, rather than just pose for a portrait or wear for the holidays. Have a look at the Luxurious sweater, Ideal sweater, or Lovely sweater. Their price points put them into the luxe category, but being a knitter I can attest that the yarn alone would cost a small fortune if you wanted to reproduce these sweaters. Be sure to check out the extra small sizes in some of the knitted and layette pieces, like the 100% organic Nona sweater. Flora and Henri is one of the only luxury baby brands I have seen that offers newborn size clothing (although some of the knits are small enough to fit a preemie too) in beautiful knits. And don't miss the super sweet Wool Laurel Leaf Bonnet! I love that Flora and Henri's clothes are timeless. They would be a fantastic choice for a cozy holiday portrait session!

Fab Find: Momma Couture Diaper Bags

2009-11-12T09:04:00.005-05:00

Being a mom is a pretty busy job, especially when you have more than one wee one under your roof. There's play dates, music classes, doctor's appointments, grocery shopping...you get the idea. Now imagine you are doing all of this with two kids and then decide to launch a brand new company. That is exactly what Rashmi Budhram of Momma Couture did! She's a Brooklyn mom of two who couldn't find a diaper bag that fit all her needs as an urban mom and still looked chic and un-diaper bagish. Rashmi has definitely accomplished those goals with her Momma Couture line of diaper bags. One of my favorite features is that all of her bags are insulated, and I don't mean just a bottle pocket, the entire lining of the bag is insulated. You might think this would make the bags bulky, but they are surprising thin and light. So go ahead and toss your bottle, sippy cup or snacks right into the main compartment of any of these bags and don't worry about them getting too warm! But that's not the only great thing about these bags. They are streamlined and purposeful, and not to mention they are really great looking. For quick dashes out and about, to throw in a non-diaper bag, or to hang from your stroller choose the Stash & Go which holds a sippy cup or bottle, a diaper and wipes. Or check out my favorite, the hilarious Stinky Bum bag (I mean you might as well call a spade a spade) that holds a diaper, wipes, a changing mat and all your essentials for running out (lip balm, cell phone, credit cards).

For longer jaunts try my favorite, the City Bag. It holds everything you need for a day at a compact 12" x 4" x 9.5" and is described as messenger style, but you won't find a front flap here. The City Bag is all business and has an adjustable strap so you can wear it cross body and be hands free or hang it from your stroller. This one is on my list for when Pooka is in the front carrier and one of our larger bags is too difficult to carry. Rounding out the collection are the spacious (and aptly named) Playdate and Satchel bags that are perfect for long days or even the weekend. And if you have older ones, check out the Momma's Helper that can be used to hold diaper gear on one side and drinks and snacks on the other side.The range currently comes in a lovely linen in Navy or Khaki, and will be available in a wipeable nylon in mid-March.

Life With Pooka readers can get a %15 discount at checkout by typing in coupon code: pooka15

Watch those fingers! Maclaren Stroller Recall and Alternatives to their Strollers

2009-11-10T11:05:00.007-05:00

By now you have probably seen the recall alert on all Maclaren Strollers made since 1999. It turns out the hinges are quite sharp and have amputated the fingers of 12 wee ones (yes, total shock an horror is an appropriate reaction!). Maclaren is offering a repair kit for all owners to fix the hinge problem. We have a Triumph that we love for its quality, durability and ease of use and will continue to use it once we receive the kit. For those of you yet to buy a light weight stroller or want to replace your Maclaren there are some great options out there. Just walk into any Babies R' Us and the selection will astound you, but here are a few of my current favorites.

First on that list are the offerings from Cybex, recently arrived from Germany. I had the chance to check these strollers out at Big City Mom's Biggest Baby Shower. I was impressed with their quality and design, and they are comparable to the Maclaren line in price and weight . Actually they are nearly a model to model match with their Ruby, Onyx, Topaz and Callisto strollers lining up with the Maclaren Volo, Triumph, Quest, and Techno strollers. They have some features that many might find superior to Maclaren strollers such as a one-hand adjustable harness, an insanely full recline, a groovy two position foot rest and car seat compatibility (with Cybex's Atom car seat) on all except the Ruby stroller. Cybex also has great color schemes that will set you apart from the typical light weight stroller, and I dig the white chassis (rather than the typical chrome finish). I'm sure it won't be long before these babies flood NYC sidewalks, especially after Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted with one a few weeks ago.

For Uppa Baby lovers there is the G-Light and G-Luxe lightweight umbrella strollers. Both strollers stand up when folded, and require only hands to fold (no foot action needed). The G-Lite is similar to the no-frills Maclaren Volo in that it is super light-weight at 8.3 lbs but offers no recline option. Their new G-Luxe, which Uppa claims is the lightest full-size reclining umbrella stroller on the market, weighs in at 11 lbs, offers a full recline and even comes with a cupholder. It is a Babble Best for 2009. I also appreciate that Uppa Baby is committed to being eco-friendly by recycling strollers, donating strollers to charity, and making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. A sign of this commitment is the organic lining that comes standard on their full size Vista Stroller model. Yeah for organic as a standard rather than a costly add on!

Quinny offers the Zapp, by far the coolest looking light weight stroller out there. With an incredibly compact fold (Quinny claims its the smallest in the world), a weight of 13 lbs, and car seat compatible (with Maxi Cosi car seats) the Zapp is the perfect travel system for quick getaways at a fraction of the cost of many luxury travel systems. It has the added bonus of including the travel bag as standard. If I lived outside the city I might consider this for my full time stroller. The only drawback is that there is no recline feature for napping babies!

So while I hate to throw Maclaren under the bus, this is an alarming recall and it's good to know there are other choices for high quality light weight strollers. I like Pooka's delicious little fingers right where they are! We plan to get the repair kit for our Triumph and keep rolling but I can't say some of these other strollers aren't very tempting!

Pooka's Christmas List # 1: Olive Juice Kids Clothing

2009-11-09T08:42:00.003-05:00

I've decided to create a new "seasonal" category highlighting the items Pooka would like for Christmas. Well, let's be honest. Pooka is 6 months old and can't make a Christmas list for herself, so it's really the things mama wants for Pooka for Christmas. Her list already has quite a few items on it which I will share with you over the coming weeks. First up on the list is clothing from Olive Juice Kids. I love them because their clothing is very classic, but also has an Anthropolgie vibe about it, particularly for older kids. First up on Pooka's list are the timeless Andrea Coveralls in Ruby, although I love the Champagne Polka Dot as well. The ruffles on the butt are just too cute and these are sure to be handed down to future kiddos or even generations! I'm also sweet on the Regent Coveralls in Rose cotton velveteen, which are also offered in a unisex corduroy. Both of these coveralls would look great with the Bailey Top or Piper Bodysuit underneath. Rounding out Pooka's list from Olive Juice Kids is the Duffy Topper, which we love in every color. Try it in champagne and silver for a unisex look. If you've got older children be sure to check out the new Holiday collection too. I can't wait until Pooka can wear styles like the Eloise Holiday Dress, Beatrice Dress, and Camilla Dress!

Fab Find: Oeuf Alpaca Bead Necklace

2009-11-04T23:28:00.003-05:00

If your baby is anything like Pooka then they are constantly grabbing at any accessory you wear and trying to put them in their mouth. Actually that goes for my hair too, as if I hadn't already lost enough of it! Dangly earrings are out for now. Just ask my mom who keeps insisting on wearing her big hoops (despite my warnings) only to have them torn out over and over again! And these days my necklaces are selected very carefully to ensure whatever ends up in Pooka's mouth won't injure her, and that the chain won't cut into my neck when Pooka yanks it. Enter the deliciously soft Alpaca Bead Necklace from Oeuf, who are well known for their beautiful furniture. Handknit by indigenous women in Bolivia, Oeuf's knitted accessories are Fair Trade and provide a sustainable income for the artisans who can now afford to send their children to school. If the beaded necklace isn't your thing, take a look at the Alpaca Flower Melange Necklace. When I first viewed these necklaces online I thought they would be a bit juvenile, but once I saw them in person at Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower I was completely in love! The colors are understated and elegant (yes, I called a knitted necklace elegant), and if your wee one wants to chew on your necklace you won't have to worry about their safety or yours! And don't miss some of the other great knitted accessories at Oeuf like the Peasant Hat for baby or you, the hilarious Bat Girl Hat, darling Alpaca Angel Slippers and Sweater, and the snuggly Neckies.

Germaphobia: Keeping your house and hands germ free

2009-11-03T12:59:00.005-05:00

Any which way you turn you are bound to run into something about H1N1, which may have you running scared. I know it has certainly been rattling our cage, and considering that Pooka has her third cold of the season I think it is time to redouble our germ fighting efforts. Luckily for us there are plenty of great products out there that fight germs without exposing Pooka to a slew of nasty chemicals.

The first line of defense in germ fighting is hand washing. You could purchase an antibacterial hand soap, but a regular soap can do the job just as well without using synthetic detergents or chemicals, or drying out your skin. Triclosan, the antibacterial agent found in many soaps and hand sanitizers, may contain dioxin and PCBs that I'd rather not expose Pooka to. My current favorite is California Baby's Moisturizing Handwash which uses ravensura, lemon, tea tree and coconut oil to be naturally antibacterial. It comes in a large 19 oz. bottle and will last for months. It's certainly not the cheapest out there, but it's packed with yummy smelling essential oils and like all California Baby products avoids synthetic detergents, fragrances and other baddies. Use warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds (I like to go for 30 seconds, and sing the ABC's to be sure I scrub for long enough) to eradicate germs.

Another favorite of ours is the CleanWell family of products. CleanWell claims to kill 99.9% of germs without using Triclosan, toxic chemicals, artificial colors or parabens. At home we use both the All-Natural Antibacterial Hand Soap in zesty Spearmint Lime, and on the go we love the All-Natural Hand Sanitizer. The sanitizer comes in a large size, which we leave next to the changing table, and a travel size that we put in the diaper, stroller, and car. It smells 100 times better than Purell and doesn't contain alcohol. EO brand also makes a great hand sanitizer with organic essential oils and 62% organic alcohol. They have a variety of sanitizers in Lavender, Peppermint or Eculyptus scent, in spray, gel or wipe form, and in a variety of sizes. They even have a canister with 210 wipes that you can use to fill your spare wipes case and keep in your diaper bag.

Around the house there are tons of chemical free choices these days, but I definitely have my favorites. We adore the Dapple line of natural-based products, especially the Toy Cleaner Wipes. They smell great and are moist enough to tackle several toys with just one wipe, or you try the spray cleaner. Don't forget to bring the wipes with you to play group! They also have a great natural Dish Liquid and Dishwashing Powder that really helps get rid of milk residue and doesn't make me panic about how well I have rinse after washing because there are no nasties in the ingredients list. Dapple products are biodegradable, and free of parabens, SLES, phthalates, synthetic dyes and fragrances. You can also keep your toys germ free with Fields Organics. Their non-toxic organic cleaners were designed specifically for homes with children. Their Toy Cleaner is perfect for any surface your wee one has contact with including car seats, strollers, and countertops. Other products for the house include a great Stain Odor Remover that we use to pre-treat clothes and clean breastmilk and spit up from the couch and rugs. We also use their Laundry Detergent for all of our clothes, and they have additional products as well so be sure to browse their site. All their products use organic essential oils for their antibacterial properties and refreshing scent and a portion of the profits from Field's Organics products goes to support the Children's Health Environmental Network.

So arm yourself with these products to keep your dear ones healthy and free of nasty germs chemicals. Now I have to make the time to keep all Pooka's toys and gear squeaky clean!

Fab Find: Pure Baby Organic Denim Pinafore

2009-11-02T11:12:00.004-05:00

I am in love with this delightful denim dress by Pure Baby. It can be worn in nearly every season. In warm weather wear it as is, or add a long sleeve onesie and tights to wear during the colder seasons. What I really appreciate about this dress is it's manufacture. Pure Baby is an Australian company that uses %100 organic cotton and is the first Australian company to have joined the Made By initiative. The Made By initiative requires manufacturers to prove that all stages of production use eco-friendly materials, and are produced in optimum working conditions. Pure Baby also strives to be %100 accountable and transparent in all of its production practices. Other favorites from Pure Baby include the Striped Ruffle Shirt, and Alphabet Shirt and onesie. The best part is that Pure Baby is very well priced for such cute organic clothing. Find Pure Baby styles at Finn's Finds, a great site based in NYC featuring clothes manufactured by environmentally and ethically responsible partners.

Alex and Sam Holiday Trunk Show November 18th

2009-10-30T11:22:00.007-04:00

Our friends at Alex and Sam are holding a Holiday Trunk Show to help with your gift giving needs. Items will be offered at a great discount and it's the perfect opportunity to get your wee one some personalized gear or wonderful toys from Melissa and Doug. And lest you forget, a portion of each sale goes to a great charity of your choice like Baby Buggy, Robin Hood Foundation, St Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Fund for Public Schools (Shop for Public Schools), Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, New Alternatives for Children, WomenWork!, Friends of Yemin Orde (a youth village in israel), and more. So spread the wealth this holiday and help those in need when you purchase your gifts for the ones you love!

Please join us for an Alex&Sam Trunk Show and Sample Sale!
Get an early start for your holiday shopping and save

Please be our guest... with the holidays around the corner, we wanted to invite our special customers to a Private Trunk Show and Sample Sale.

Save up to 70% off on jewelry, up to 40% off of toys, clothing, gifts and much more!

See our latest collection of unique Personalized gifts, Stationary,
Tabletop, and Judaica.

Shop for gifts for mom, child, baby and more! This is a once a year sale you don't want to miss! Hope you can join us!

250 West 90th Street,
Event Room
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
9:00am-4:00pm

Fab Find: Amenity Home Eco-Wooden Bowl and Spoon set

2009-10-29T10:43:00.004-04:00

If you read my post yesterday you know that Pooka recently started eating solids and with that comes a whole new set of gear to acquire. It should be simple to find safe and healthy products for feeding your baby but you'd be surprised. After a quick trip to Babies R' Us I realized there were still a lot of products on the market with BPA and finding bowls and spoons without PVC and phalates was nearly impossible despite a wall full of feeding gear. The only brands I found without those ingredients were Boon Inc. (which I love and own) and The First Years Meal Mates and Take and Toss sets. As the name implies, the Take and Toss are not exactly eco-friendly despite their safer ingredient list because they are marketed to be tossed although they are reusable.

Then I remembered Amenity Home's gorgeous Eco-Wooden Bowl and Spoon set they introduced this summer. The bowl and spoon are carved from non-toxic cherry wood and finished with beeswax and oil. You can use the bowl and spoon like a mortar and pestle and mash bananas, avocados,or steamed veggies right in the bowl. This bowl and spoon set will last through more than one child and will likely become a beautiful family heirloom (this ain't no take and toss). An added benefit is that the bowls are made by a co-op in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Purchase the Baby's First Meal gift set and get four organic wash clothes with your bowl and spoon, you're going to need them! And while your there pick up some of their organic bedding and bath gear (read more about Amenity in this post).

NHTSA gives Orbit Baby all clear on safety!

2009-10-28T18:31:00.005-04:00

Many of you may have followed this debate between Orbit Baby and the negative review of their infant carseat by Consumer Report. I posted each new communication as the event unfolded starting in late August (post on 8/31, and 9/2). We are loyal Orbit Baby parents and were very disturbed by this turn of events, but wholly confident in their product. Below is the conclusion of this debate. The NHTSA has cleared Orbit Baby carseats of any safety concerns, and once again Consumer Report is looking less than credible in their evaluation of the safety of a baby product. I think many Orbit Baby parents had already come to this conclusion based on our personal experiences, so this won't be a shock to them!

Dear Orbit Baby parent,
Update October 26th, 2009: We had promised that we would update you on the situation with Consumer Reports’ testing of the Orbit Baby Infant Car Seat. We are pleased to let you know that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has sent Consumers Union (the publisher of Consumer Reports) a letter officially stating that no further inquiry is necessary because our product meets all federal safety standards.

NHTSA reviewed their comprehensive database of the safety history of the Orbit Baby Infant Car Seat on the road, and did not find any reports of injuries, seat separations, or other safety risks.
NHTSA conducted its own tests on the Infant Car Seat. All tests passed, and no separations occurred in both sets of tests:
Crash testing according to the official Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)
Research crash tests to match the non-compliant procedures that Consumer Reports’ magazine used in August
You can read NHTSA’s official letter to Consumers Union about Orbit Baby here. We have also provided more information below in an effort to further clarify the situation.

Though Consumer Reports has repeatedly tried to raise what they felt were safety concerns with our Infant Car Seat, their concerns have been refuted by every subsequent test and piece of research conducted by regulatory agencies and independent labs. (You can read more about our past statements, and learn more about how Consumers Union improperly conducted its simulated compliance testing, here.)

Based on a comprehensive inquiry, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has now issued an official statement that it "believes that no further action is currently warranted" in researching the safety of Orbit Baby’s Infant Car Seat.
In its inquiry, NHTSA reviewed their database of over three years of comprehensive real-world reports from consumers, safety personnel, and NHTSA's Early Warning Reporting system with NO reports of deaths, injuries, car seat separations, or complaints. NHTSA does not solely rely on lab tests, like those conducted by Consumer Reports, when evaluating the performance of a safety product. At Orbit Baby, we have always emphasized the real-world safety that families face out on the roads, and we are proud of the fact that our track record of safety is a key factor in NHTSA’s conclusion.
NHTSA conducted the official Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213 tests that are required of all US car seats, and as expected, our Infant Car Seat passed this testing, and no separations occurred. In addition, NHTSA further conducted research tests to simulate the non-compliant test conditions that Consumers Union conducted. These tests were all done at the same lab that Consumers Union originally used, and were attended by three Consumers Union representatives. NHTSA also reported no issues or car seat separations on these tests.
In NHTSA’s recent letter to Consumers Union, it confirmed that the magazine’s original tests of the Infant Car Seat deviated from their official government test procedures and were NOT configured correctly according to FMVSS No. 213. We believe the improper test set-up Consumer Reports’ used likely contributed to their inconsistent results, and you can read our original response to their mis-testing of our product here.
We have always tried to put the concerns and safety of our consumers first, and have tried to do our utmost to research this issue independently as well as cooperate with NHTSA at every turn. Even though NHTSA has directly told Consumers Union that the inquiry into Orbit Baby’s Infant Car Seat safety is concluded, Consumer Reports maintains its assessment that this seat poses a safety risk. We believe that Consumer Reports’ decision unnecessarily confuses parents, and believe that they should reconsider their recommendations.

As an Orbit Baby parent, please continue to take advantage of these helpful resources on our website to ensure that you, as well as the caregivers of your children, are educated on proper car seat usage.

View Car Seat installation videos
Download Orbit Baby product manuals
Visit the FAQ's section
Read Orbit Baby's position on car seat safety
Email us anytime with any further questions at support@orbitbaby.com
Thank you once again for your support of Orbit Baby.

Best,

Joseph, Bryan, and The Orbit Team

Photo of Pooka by Hannah Hardaway Photography

Time for solids: The skinny on healthy feeding

2009-10-26T19:57:00.006-04:00

My extreme dislike of peas is a family legend. At the tender age of four I went toe to toe with my dad at the dinner table, sitting for hours refusing to eat my peas and finally being sent to bed. I think I won that round, as dad never tried that tactic again. So when it came time to feed Pooka her first meal I put a considerable amount of thought into what that first meal would be. It became clear last week that she needed more than mommies milk to get through a night (she woke up ravenous at 3 AM three nights in a row, which is very unusual). I was very happy that we made it just shy of 6 months of exclusive breast feeding.

The first issue was what to feed Pooka for her first meal. I was armed with several books to help me make this decision. First, I had decided to make homemade baby food as often as possible. I have two books on home made baby food, the Organic Baby and Toddler Food Cookbook, by Lizzie Vann and Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes and have found them both very useful. To be honest though, at the outset you are steaming a single vegetable and pureeing it in your blender or food processor, so the cookbooks are a little irrelevant at this point. Many of my mom friends are also big fans of the Beaba BabyCook, which steams food and then purees it all in one bowl. It is BPA free but unclear whether it contains PVC or phalates, so make sure you do your research if you plan on using it daily. Personally, we live in a studio so adding another appliance to our counter didn't seem like a good idea. I actually use a hand or stick blender (sometimes called an emulsifier) which is great because I can use it right in the pot or a bowl, takes up little space, is portable for trips away, and makes a fab smoothie right in the glass you drink it from. I parcel out enough puree for a few days in the fridge, then freeze the rest in trays. Right now I am using the Beaba Multiportion Trays which are silicon and BPA, PVC, and phalate free. The silicon makes it easy to pop out a single portion when you need it, but I have found that I only need to fill them halfway to make a Pooka size portion at this stage. I also have the Kid Co BabySteps Freezer Trays that are designed more like an ice tray with a lid. They are BPA and phalate free and like an ice cube tray, you need to smack it on the counter a few times to loosen up a baby food cube. Kid Co also makes a manual or electric food mill as an alternative method of pureeing foods for baby (the battery operated food mill is great when you are on the go and want to feed baby from the table).

So now the question was what that food should actually be. I was inspired by two books, Feeding Baby Green by Dr. Alan Greene and Hungry Monkey by Matthew Amster-Burton. Feeding Baby Green is a fantastic book describing how babies start experiencing tastes while still in the womb and continue exploring new tastes through the first 2 years. He discusses windows of opportunity to expand your child's palate and hopefully encourage them to eat a wider variety during the picky toddler years when children experience Neophobia (otherwise known as "I will only eat french fries and chicken nuggets, and don't even think about bringing that green thing near me!"). He suggests trying as many as 10-15 times before your child excepts a particular food, and making sure to feed your child produce from all 21 categories he lists in his book. He also dispels many myths about food allergies and outdated modes of thinking when it comes to feeding babies and toddlers. We're on board with his program, I only wish it had been out when I was pregnant! Hungry Monkey is more of a foodlogue about a gourmet dad's effort to expose his daughter to a variety of foods, particularly those that people say kids shouldn't eat. It's humorous and encourages parents to think a little outside the rice-cereal box!

So Pooka ate her first solids a little over a week ago. We decided to bypass the rice-cereal for now. Her first meal was peas and she can't get enough. Seriously! By the end of her first meal she was literally opening her mouth, leaning forward, grabbing my hands and pushing the spoon into her mouth. Thinking my luck would hold I introduced Pooka to one of my favorite veggies a few days later, green beans. On her first bite she made a lip quivering frown and spit them out. Hmmmm, certainly not what I had expected, but perhaps apropos since I loathed peas as a child and she adores them. Since then she has enjoyed roasted acorn squash and had a mixed review of raw avocados. Per Dr. Green's method we tried the green beans again last night which garnered a slightly less strident rejection, but I think we still have a ways to go!

Luxe Life: Baby CZ by Carolina Zapf

2009-10-23T18:58:00.004-04:00

Madison Avenue certainly has its share of high end retail for babies, but head into Baby CZ by Carolina Zapf and you will not be disappointed. The first thing you will notice is the abundance of soft luscious cashmere for your dear one (and the accompanying price tags). Cashmere is Zapf's specialty and she does it well. She's known for her Ruffle Cardigan, but I'm a fan of the Tipped Reversible Hooded Sailor Cardigan. Pair the sweaters with a Chunky Cable Pom-Pom Hat or the delicious Cashmere Flower Hat. Cashmere is not all Zapf does well though. Her dresses are downright charming, particularly the Chloe Dress and Audrey Dress (love it in purple check). And make sure not to miss the Velvet Quilted Jacket with Hood. I realize this review has leaned heavily on the girlie side, but don't worry, their is plenty on offer for the boys too. So next time your on Madison Avenue or in need of that perfect dress for a portrait session or the holidays head to Baby CZ and bring a credit card with a low balance!

Sail Away in Petit Bateau Maternity

2009-10-22T13:38:00.003-04:00

I am a huge fan of Petit Bateau for Pooka and myself. Their onesies and t-shirts are extra soft and wear very well. Their clothing line for babies is darling, and she wears her cargo pants at least three times a week. And now, miracle of miracles, Petit Bateau has its own maternity line! It almost makes me wish I was pregnant again (soon enough, soon enough!). I will definitely be heading here to stock up on maternity clothes when it's time to make Pooka a sibling. My favorites are the Light Cotton Maternity Undershirt with Gathers (why don't they just call it a turtleneck???) and the Maternity Dress with Gathers. It's a small collection, but full of staples. Grab a few pieces in a couple of colors and you're done! And while you're there don't forget to grab some onesies and footies for your upcoming arrival.

Fab Find: Ugg's Honey B

2009-10-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

I must be the only women in NYC that has never owned a pair of Ugg boots (although I have had a pair of their slippers). Pooka, on the other hand, has just acquired her first pair, but they are not the ubiquitous boots. I purchased a pair of Honey B's for her in black (they are also available in soft pink). The are a lovely soft leather with white contrast stitching and soft soles. The interior is lined with Ugg's signature sheepskin. They will be perfect everyday shoes with tights and pants on cool days, although I imagine a pair boots will still be necessary for the coldest days of the year.

Homemade Halloween costumes for the craft challenged: Etsy to the rescue!

2009-10-20T22:53:00.009-04:00

I consider myself one of the lucky ones because my mom can sew and I have fond memories of trips to the fabric store to pick out material for my Halloween costumes (and later prom and holiday dresses). I vividly remember being Raggedy Ann, and a beautiful butterfly, and a rather creepy Harlequin clown. Luckily for me my mom will also make Pooka's costume this year. Don't have the sewing skills or crafty family member to make a costume for your little pumpkin? Don't let that keep you from having a unique handmade costume. If you are a regular reader you will now that I love finding great handmade baby gear on Etsy (see this post), and Halloween is no exception. Here is just a sampling of the items you can find and many are still available for delivery before October 31st.

Candy corn is an often neglected icon of Halloween, but these designers have featured it front and center. Got a seriously wee one who's not ready for a costume? Try this absolutely ridiculous (I mean that in a good way) Candy Corn Bunting by Dahlhart Lane. I love these candy corn onesies by Bambinamia and Little One Boutique. Speaking (or writing) of onesies, I'm also a big fan of the I Love My Mummy onesie from Baby Grin and the Woooo Halloween Ghost onesie by Chloe's Ruffle Butt.

Need a full costume for your little man? What could be easier than a onesie costume? Make him a superhero with the Boy Wonder Onsie with Detachable Cape from Trusty Sidekick.Not into tights? Try the masculine Brown Tool Belt Onesie or sedate Corduroy Vest and Tie Onesie from Rock n Rags. Does your baby have a little more edge to them? Look no further than the Tuxedo Long Sleeve Romper or Punk Rock 80's Romper (think CBGB) from Lowleepop. Girls can get in on the Lowleepop action too with the Punk Rock Dress.

There are plenty of options to choose from for your baby girls. You could go traditional with this gorgeous Little Red Riding Hood or Snow White costume from Lover Dovers Clothing. I really love this sweet Pirate Girl costume by Rae Gun, or the Bumble Bee dress by April Scott. And don't forget the tutus! There are literally dozens of vendors making tutus for all occasions on Etsy, but some of the best for Halloween are offered by Polka Dots and Paisley, The Magic Tutu Shoppe, and Lil Southern Girl (if you are thinking along the lines of fairy or ballerina).

Still haven't seen something you like? Try this less traditional Rainbow Sprinkle Costume from Not The Kitchen Sink, or the spectacular Round Little Pumpkin costume from Dahlart Lane. And some other options for the less mobile little ones are the Sweet Swaddle Blanket Pumpkin by Tisha Too Designs, or the innovative Flower Cart Stroller Cover by Kikis Thing's for your Maclaren! One of my favorites by far though is Pinkadellic Industries Make Your Own Gnome hat. Make sure you read the seller description when you check out the hat, it will crack you up!

Already have your dear one's costume? Click on these links anyways because pictures of babies in costumes are always good for a smile. Seriously, doesn't that baby in the gnome hat above make you crack up?

Fab Find: Feather Baby Organic Baby Clothes

2009-10-19T19:04:00.005-04:00

Last week while visiting a friend in the West Village I found the most adorable outfit for Pooka made by Feather Baby. I hadn't seen their line before, but it was love at first sight. I purchased a soft faux-layered onesie/pant combo in grey with gorgeous purple flowers (I can't find a photo on the site to share!). We got lots of compliments on Pooka's stylish outfit when she debuted it yesterday. What I love even more is the obvious effort and care that goes into producing Feather Baby products. Founder Sude Peta, once a Sony music exec and NYC boutique owner, and her husband relocated to Lima, Peru with their triplets in order to better control the manufacturing process. These controls include using color-grown 100% organic Pima cotton, no-bleaching, and simple vegetable dyes for the Feather Forever collection. For silkscreened collections all inks are devoid of pvc and phalates and no solvents are used in the process. And to top it all off, this fab company supports fair trade practices meaning each farmer and worker is guaranteed good working conditions and a fair wage. Now, if only they were a little bit easier to find! We got ours at YoYa at 636 Hudson St.

Luxe Life: Anya Hindmarch Oakley Diaper Bag

2009-10-16T11:24:00.003-04:00

Picking your diaper bag can be as difficult as picking a pair of jeans. Is your style utilitarian or whimsical? Would you rather your diaper bag scream mommy or hide your status? Should your bag be inexpensive or luxurious? So many questions, and so many bags! Updated for Fall 2009, Anya Hindmarch's Oakley Bag is a good choice if you want a subtle and chic diaper bag. Made of black nylon with patent leather trim it's perfect for winter's inclement weather and for wiping off drool or spit up. It comes with a nifty changing mat, a removable "nappy" bag, and smartly labeled pockets with terms like "bibs," "bobs," "books," and "bottles." So while the bag doesn't broadcast "mommy," at closer look it shows that you're proud to tote your little ones goods. New for fall are an interior key ring, cell phone pocket and cute striped shoulder strap that can also be used to hang the bag from your stroller. These are huge improvements on the previous canvas version from last spring, but with a new price tag of $695 you are paying for those upgrades!

Tis' the Season: Snowsuits & buntings for every style

2009-10-15T23:24:00.003-04:00

Today it poured and the temperature dropped below 40 degrees during the day for the first time this fall. It was one of those days that you order takeout for lunch and contemplate staying inside all day. And yet Pooka and I couldn't bear to miss out on our play date downtown. The question was how to get there. Drive ourselves (then search for overpriced parking), take a cab (and pray the tires aren't bald on the wet roads), or hop the subway. We went with the last option today, but the big dilemma was how to keep Pooka warm in the front carrier. That's when we reached into the closet and grabbed our fuzzy new bunting and ear flap hat and headed out the door. So that got me to thinking about the options out there for gearing up baby. Trust me, there are plenty out there, but here are a few of our favorite buntings for outdoor wear.

For the beefiest, burliest, most extreme baby outerwear check out Polarn O. Pyret's snowsuits. The company is Swedish so we shouldn't be surprised they have created bomber baby-wear for getting out in the elements. Their Performance Snowsuit is wind-resistant, waterproof, lined in fleece and has elastic stirrups on the feet to keep babies pants from riding up above their boots. Don't spend that much time outside? Maybe the Double Zip Snowsuit is a better choice for you. Featuring many of the same details as the performance suit, like the wind-resistant and waterproof outer shell and foot stirrups, but just a bit less extreme. Finally, if your baby will spend most of the time under a rain shield in their stroller or car seat during inclement weather look to the Wind Fleece Bunting. The bunting has roll over cuffs and feet so no extra boots or mittens are required, and I love the striped lining. I wish I had seen this one before purchasing ours!

Next on the list for technical baby outerwear is Patagonia. Most of Pooka's warm winter things are from Patagonia (as are Mama and Dada's) and we can attest to its design and quality. I love the Patagonia Reversible Puff-Ball Bunting because it is lightweight but extremely warm. It's also wind-resistant and water repellent, but coolest of all is that it is made of recycled materials and can itself be recycled when no longer needed (but realistically it will be passed onto many other children before that day comes). If you have a little girl you can't go wrong with the lovely Birds and Vines print! Accessorize the snowsuit with the matching Baby Shelled Hat or Baby Two-Way Blanket. Don't need that much protection? Try the Infant Synchilla Bunting in solid or printed, which has legs that can be zipped together to form a bunting bag when baby doesn't have to be strapped into the car seat or stroller. We chose the solid bunting in unisex Green Oasis so it could be passed down to other babies, and paired it with the Baby Shelled Hat in Birds and Vines which has a coordinating green in the pattern and lets everyone know Pooka is a girl. There is also the Infant High-Plush Bunting which is fuzzier on the outside, but is not made from recycled materials. We have found that the sizing runs pretty large, so if your baby is 6 months the 6 months size will fit an average size baby for quite a while. Pooka is almost 6 months and is still wearing her 3 month Baby Synchilla Cardigan, but she can also wear her 6 month bunting (though she does swim in it a bit, and it's going to fit for a long time).

Not decadent enough for your little one? Splurge on the fantastic Bon Point Blizzard Pilot Jacket with removable fur hood (real???) and boots or the courdoroy Neige Pilot jacket. Bon Point also offers the mid-weight December Pilot Jacket with removable booties and mittens. By the way, there must be something lost in translation because the "jackets" are actaully snowsuits.

How about something a bit dressier and less outdoorsy? Check out the snowsuits by Jacadi. Jacadi has the beautiful ruffled pink Degas Snowsuit, the boyish brown Doux Snowsuit with an embroidered carousel horse. My favorite is the Damisela Snowsuit for girls in brown with embroidered berries. All feature attached feet and removable mittens, and they also carry more tradtional light pink and light blue snowsuits.

Looking for something more economical? Try the trusted quality of Lands' End with their Baby Down Bunting with a cute fur trimmed hood and fold over hands and feet. Or how about the styling on Mini Boden's cute printed Snowsuit with stars for boys or bright dots for girls. I love the removable booties!

With so many options it's hard to choose just one. It's just so darn cute when our dear ones little faces' peek out from under the puffy hoods. Restraint girls, restraint! To soothe your angst get a variety of hats and mittens to keep things interesting!

Fab Find: Giddy Giddy Hair Clips

2009-10-13T22:16:00.005-04:00

I have fallen in love with these adorable felt hair clips and pony-tail holders from Giddy Giddy. Alas, Pooka does not yet have the hair to wear them, but I keep telling her it won't last forever! In the meantime we will be ogling these lovely clips! How can you deny the superb wearability of this Owl Hair Clip? How about the Apple for all you city dwellers, or the Gingerbread Man for the holidays? And let's not forget the boys who can sport the utterly fantastic Robot Backpack! Moms and older siblings can get in on the action too with ponytail holders and big girl clips. I'm thinking Whale or Bird for myself. And these would definitely make great stocking stuffers for the little ones in your life. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed that my follicle-challenged baby will have some hair to clip back by then! Oh, and Giddy Giddy supports microlending through Kiva (a fabulous non-profit organization) that helps women around the world kick start their own businesses!

Postmarked with love: Holiday cards to highlight your little ones

2009-10-13T14:24:00.009-04:00

It's that time of year again. The leaves are changing, the smell of wood smoke is in the air, and the holidays are right around the corner. Too early to order your holiday cards? Hmmmm, not in this household where it took me five months to get my birth announcements out (actually, I still have a few to put in the mail!). I figure if I can address a few a day I will get them all out before the New Year. Oh, and I will definitely be ordering return address labels to speed the process. I really regretted skipping those on the birth announcements in the name of cost-saving. At this point I value time-saving more readily than cost-saving!

The go-to place for stationary needs for us is Tiny Prints. Several of our friends sent us Holiday cards and birth announcements from Tiny Prints last year, which was how I found them. We ordered Pooka's birth announcements from here and were pleased with the design and quality, and received many compliments on them. They have one of the largest selections, are reasonably priced and are delivered quickly. We had to reorder more of Pooka's announcements and their customer service was great. One great feature for their birth announcements is that you can choose your design and pre-order the envelopes to fill out before your wee one arrives. Once you have the photo (or not if you are a traditionalist) you can order the cards and pop them into the ready-to-go envelopes. We ordered the envelopes, but I never got around to filling out the addresses in advance, so it was all for naught! I like the Fanciful Flurry card, the more traditional Warm Memories with multiple photos, the Holiday Blessings photo and story card, and the charming Snow Lamp for NYC families.

My new favorite stationary site is Minted. The designs are fresh and unique in part because Minted holds regular design contests for new cards for their collections. My favorite options on the Minted site are the Yearline Holiday Photo Cards and the new Minibook Holiday Cards. While they are not inexpensive they are wonderful for sharing your latest news with family and friends. For a cost-saving measure you could get 25 of these style cards for immediate friends and family, and order a more traditional card for the rest of your addressees. My absolute favorite card from Minted is the Gift Wrapped Holiday Card. For NYC families, try the City Snow Globe Holiday Photo Card or the Bright Lights Holiday Photo Card or let your photo steal the show with the Paris Holiday Photo Card or Vintage Holiday Photo Card.

In a Baby Carriage has similar cute holiday card designs, and they do a cool trifold card. Pear Tree also has great designs and some interesting card styles. Check out the Pocket Cards like the Snow Falling Photo Card and Self-Mailer Cards. I love that you don't need and envelope if you use the Self-Mailer Cards.

Still haven't found what you are looking for? Stacey Claire Boyd offers fantastic designs like the Festive Flamestich (think Missoni), Hip Holiday (think Hable Construction), the bright Be Merry, or retro Hope, Joy and Love cards. Order Stacey Claire Boyd through our friends at Alex and Sam and a percentage of your purchase will go to charity...tis' the season! When checking out of Alex and Sam get 30% off your stationary with coupon code: Pooka

I have the holiday season for many reasons, but one of my favorite parts is receiving adorable photo cards from friends and family and covering our fridge in them! Already got your cards? Let us know what design you picked in the comment section so we can check them out!

Fab Find: baby JaR Burp Cloths

2009-10-09T09:58:00.004-04:00

Shortly after Pooka was born I purchased a set of baby JaR burp clothes at ZBaby Company. I love the fresh, colorful patterns! I appreciate how thick and absorbent they are and that the burpies themselves are colored, not just the accent fabric. I quickly found myself waiting for them to come out of the wash so I could put them back in the diaper bag. And speaking of the wash, my cloths have been washed weekly for the past few months and they still look fantastic. They may not be the cheapest burp clothes but thanks to their quality they are more than worth it and can handle a whole days worth of spit up (unlike some of the thinner ones out there).

A mommy friend of mine also loves her baby JaR burpies, but I was very jealous because hers are monogrammed with her daughters name. Recognizing my lust for these lovely monogrammed burpies, she thoughtfully ordered some for us (thanks lady!). That means we now have four of these burpies and can use them most of the week! baby JaR also makes matching bibs, blankets and clothing, although monogramming is only available on the burpies. Have a look at the Long Sleeve Anchor Tatoo outfit while you're there too!

Mama's Night Out: Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower

2009-10-07T19:46:00.005-04:00

Tuesday night I had the good fortune of attending Big City Mom's Biggest Baby Shower at American Girls' Place in NYC. What a fantastic event these ladies put on! Ironically, I didn't attend one of these events while I was pregnant but I am wishing I had. That being said, there was still plenty to offer for a new mama or mamas pregnant for their second or third time. Although the food spread would have been even more beguiling if I had been pregnant (ummm, cupcakes, cookies, and tarts, oh my!).

On offer were products from tons of baby companies and some really interesting seminars. For gear, I liked seeing the new Product Red Bugaboo strollers, the new iCandy strollers (I like the Peach Blossom for a growing family), diaper bags from Momma Couture and Rosie Pope, the new Cybex line of strollers and carriers (particularly the 2.Go carrier), beautiful knit items from Oeuf, and everything Skip Hop. We also got a chance to visit with our friends from Alex and Sam and Orbit Baby. And that's just a small sample of vendors that were displaying their wares. And you can't miss the gift bags. I was shocked with the amount of schwag loaded into the shiny silver bags. In my bag I found a Bugaboo stroller blanket, 6 bottles from different companies (I'm excited to try out the MAM bottle in particular), pacifiers, bibs, Baby Legs, a crib sheet from Company Kids, a baby t-shirt, scores of flyers, coupons and discount codes and more. In addition to the bags, nearly every Mama walked out laden with prizes from the baby shower bingo and raffles. Mamas won strollers, play gyms, carriers and every other kind of gear imaginable. Skip Hop alone gave away over a hundred gifts.

I also enjoyed two seminars. The first with the amazing Dr. Alan Greene who spoke about his new book, Feeding Baby Green. I was unfamiliar with his work prior to the shower, but now I am a huge fan. His ideas about how to feed your baby in the womb, while breast feeding and for the first year differ from what many pediatricians recommend, but make so much sense they are impossible to deny. I am now reading his book and will be sure to post a follow up when I am finished. I also sat in on the Save-A-Tot seminar that discussed infant health and safety topics and was a great refresher from the course I took before Pooka was born, and I even learned a few new things.

The evening concluded with a talk with the stunning actress and mother of two Kelly Rutherford (The OC, Gossip Girl, and many more) who shared her thoughts on being a working mother, breast feeding, vaccination, and more. I was astonished to learn that she breast fed her first child throughout her pregnancy with her second child, then continued to nurse both children after the birth of her second child. That's one dedicated Mama! Oh, and her children are not vaccinated if you were wondering (but I'm not touching that debate!).

Okay, so I guess I am gushing a bit, but I was very impressed by the whole event. If you have the chance to attend the spring shower I would highly recommend going. Big City Moms knows how to put on a great event!

Push Presents: Jewelry for Proud Mamas

2009-10-05T10:22:00.005-04:00

My husband does not believe in "Push Presents." His attitude is similar to how he feels about holiday decorations (see Halloween post). I mean , realistically, that baby is coming out one way or another whether you husband is dangling a fancy bauble at the side of the bed or not. On the other hand, we are the ones who do all that pushing (or having major surgery) and dealing with the short term healing and long term scarring (physical and emotional) of bringing our little bundles of joy into the world. Needless to say, I did not receive a push present, but the holidays are coming and I'm still holding out hope for a baby inspired bauble (oh, and our 3rd anniversary is in December, so I guess I have two shots at this). So here's a collection of my favorite mommy jewelry, from the decadent to the recession conscious. And don't forget the grandmas, they typically love shiny things too!

Ok, let's start with the wish-listy, truly decadent pieces. By far the most inspiring mommy jewelry I have seen is by Heather Moore, but it ain't cheap. If I didn't already have a charm bracelet highlighting the important events in my life I would certainly be clamoring for one of the charm necklaces. Dream piece: a necklace with an initial charm (everyone in our nuclear family has the same first and last initial so that's a no brainer), Pooka's name and birth date charm, and a wedding date charm. Then more charms could be added as future offspring are added to our brood. I think I would like it to look like the Thomas and Heather Necklace. Or how about this stunning Rose, White, and Yellow Gold Channel Set Necklace (a girl can dream, right?). Some of the bracelets are amzing too. I love these very original Leather Cuff Bracelets. You can choose a series of names, words, messages and dates to fill this cuff in a graffiti style. I also like the bangle bracelets and cuff bracelets. You could add a new bangle with each additional child, although this could present a problem if you're like the Duggars! Heather Moore also offers rings, key chains, and even cufflinks and belt buckles. How cool would Daddy look sporting this belt buckle to work!

Another long time favorite of mine is Jeanine Payer. For years I have been collecting pieces of her unique jewelry featuring famous quotes. We've also given them as gifts to both of our mothers. My past pieces were chosen for their quotes and designs, but Payer now offers personalized photo pieces. Here's a great way to keep a picture of your little one close to your heart with a sweet saying (choose from 3 different quotes), and offers another chance to use that great birth announcement photo! I love the simplicity of the Hutton and Seurat necklaces. While you are there, take a look at the beautiful new 20th Anniversay Collection. I particularly like the Avalon and Vineet necklaces.

The Vintage Pearl has adorable silver necklaces that you can have personalized for a great price. Check out the Family Nest Necklace for a different look. I also like the elegant Mother of Pearl Necklace. Another designer to try is StephanieMc Designs who has an Etsy shop for her jewelry. The Framed Mommy Necklace is a great choice for moms and grandmas alike. Its features a charm with children's names and small charms for each birthstone. It's especially great for grandmas that have multiple grandchildren. Or for plenty of variety, Bliss Living has over three pages worth of mommy jewelry to choose among from multiple artists. The Julian & Co pieces with mini hand and foot prints are my favorite choice!

Don't know whether you are having a girl or boy or haven't picked a name yet? For years I have been wearing the simple string charm bracelets from Gas Bijoux. I actually don't take them off, sleeping and showering in them. When I was pregnant with Pooka I purchased the "Maman" charm bracelet for my mother to let her know I was grateful to her for raising me, since I was experiencing first hand the trials and tribulations of pregnancy. After Pooka was born I added the pink Maman bracelet to my own collection. Gas Bijoux has boutiques in SoHo and the Upper West Side. You can see the bracelet style among the flash slideshow on their site, but unfortunately they do not have images of the individual bracelets online. I will try to post a photo of them online in the near future.

There are choices in every price range if you want to wear your new mommy-hood in pride. They make a wonderful gift for new or expectant mommies, so with the holidays around the corner make sure to add them to your list. Oh, and you should do it soon because many of these vendors take a few weeks to make the personalized charms!

Bon Voyage: Baby Gap's New Left Bank and Deauville Collections

2009-09-30T11:31:00.008-04:00

I think I have a love/hate relationship with Baby Gap. A couple of collections will be released and I will feel very luke warm about most of the pieces. And then they blow me away when they release a clean, classic collection like Left Bank. I'm in love with the Quilted Jumper Dress and Jacket. I also love the bodysuits with the adorable Mouse and Poodle, and would pair them with the Wide-Leg Knit Pants. And who could deny the fabulous cuteness of the Quilted Hoodie Footed One-Piece? The new Deaville collection has some cute pieces as well, like the Plaid Drop-Waist Dress. I'll also be grabbing Pooka one of the Micro Fleece Jumper Dresses to keep her warm and stylish this winter.
And don't forget about the boys! The Motorcycle Jacket in the boys Deaville collection is a must have. I'd pair it with the Plaid Pants. And I love the edge to the Striped Denim Overalls, these aren't your typical Osh Kosh's. The collections are available online, and will be in stores in the next few weeks.

Pooka's 1st Halloween: Spooktacular NYC Events

2009-09-29T15:47:00.002-04:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays but the last few years Halloween have been rather lackluster in our household. My husband hates dressing up and abhors the candy and decorations (to be fair, he thinks all holiday decorations are a waste of time and money). I did coax him into hosting a Halloween party at our house a few years ago, but that has been the apex of our Halloween celebrations in the eight years we have been together. And then along came Pooka! I finally have a partner in crime to get dressed up with and attend Halloween parties. And I know Daddy will be more into the whole celebration too when he sees the joy it brings to little ones.

Living in NYC offers multitudes of Halloween events to attend with the wee ones. I've decided to give you a sample of what's out there to help you choose. Pooka and I will be attending one of Big City Moms My First Halloween parties. Held throughout the week at various Kidville locations and Appleseeds, these parties feature a mommy and me lunch, professional photographer (so make sure your baby is in costume), and music by Little Maestros. They will also host a party for the whole family on Halloween at Kidville's Upper East Side location with music, photos, face painting, cupcake decorating, and more on October 31st.

Similar events are being hosted by Baby Bites and Diva Moms. Baby Bites celebrates with three different events: a night time party on October 29th at Poppyseeds Pre-Nursery featuring the music of Moey's Music Party and a costume contest; a mommy and me lunch at Tavern on the Green on October 30th with a costume contest, a professional photographer, and a performance by Little Maestros; and two MoonSoup parties where little ones can play and party with MoonSoup's teachers and entertainers and enjoy a Rockin' Music and Spooky Songs Concert on October 31st and November 1st. Diva Moms will hold their 5th Annual Divalysscious Halloween Bash at Dylans Candy Bar on October 30th with a performance by Broadway Babies, a costume contest, games, cupcake decorating and makeovers by Cozy's Cuts for Kids.

For outdoor adventures, Central Park has a number of Halloween events scheduled in October. Festivities kick off on Saturday, October 24th with the 2009 Pumpkin Festival featuring a scarecrow competition, hayrides, a free pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, live entertainment, and more. Or check out the super cool Pumpkin Sail on Sunday, October 25th. Bring your jack-o-lantern to the Harlem Meer for storytelling, live music, crafts, and a costume parade at 5:00 PM, then watch your jack-o-lantern float along with hundreds of others at dusk. Hit the Central Park Zoo on October 30-31st for Boo at the Zoo to watch animals eat Halloween treats, hear a wildlife talk with a witch, get your face painted, do arts and crafts, or participate in a scavenger hunt. This event also takes place at the Bronx Zoo each weekend in October. Finally, Flaubert Frog hosts Tricks and Treats at Le Carousel in Bryant Park on October 31st for scary stories, games, crafts and a performance by magician Arnie Kolodner.

NYC's museums have events to offer as well. Head to the American Museum of Natural History on October 31st for their 14th Annual Halloween Celebration to trick or treat through the halls (what could be spookier than giant dinosaur skeletons), and enjoy arts, crafts, and live performances. The Children's Museum of Manhattan has a whole series of events going on in the week leading up to Halloween. Check their schedule to find out the days and times for pumpkin painting, making bat puppets, storytelling and more.

Finally, if you're looking for a safe and fun place to trick or treat, head to West 69th Street for their annual Halloween block party. Designed to entertain children and families, residents of the apartment buildings and brownstones between Broadway and Central Park West decorate their facades and pass out candy in full costume. Some even turn their living rooms into mini haunted houses. The street is closed down at 4:00 PM and candy passing usually starts around 6:00 PM. It's the place to be!

Black, white, & red all over: Developmental toys for the early days

2009-09-25T14:40:00.006-04:00

The hospital discharges you and you head home with your beautiful new bundle of joy. They eat, sleep, poop, and spit up. You try and do the same. But isn't there more to this baby thing? What about playtime? Admittedly, in the early days your baby isn't much more than a cute little lump, but there are still ways to entertain them and help them move along the cognitive path to enlightenment (sorry, just read the new Dan Brown!). So what are babies interested in the first few months? Here's a few things Pooka seemed to enjoy.

Newborns spend a lot of time in their bassinets and cribs, so that's a good place to start. There are tons of mobiles to chose from that will keep your baby entertained, but the Wimmer Ferguson Infant Stim-Mobile by Manhattan Toy is an award winning design with simple black and white images that can later be changed for color images as baby's eyesight improves. As Pooka got older, she would lift her legs to kick the mobile and watch it spin. The mobile wasn't the only thing Pooka has in her crib. We also placed Wee Gallery Art Cards for Baby around the crib's edge. The simple black and white illustrations of animals give her something to look at when she is falling asleep or waking up. We also use them the old fashioned way an hold them up for her to gaze at. Another option that one of our mom friend uses is the Double Sided First Book from Tiny Love to wrap around her co-sleeper, and I have also seen them used in stroller bassinets. Finally, we hung the Manhattan Toy Color Burst Mirror on the side of the crib. She didn't really look at the mirror in the beginning but she did like the pattern around the edge. Now she uses the mirror for tummy time.

What about the awake time outside the crib? The item that totally blew our minds was when we showed Pooka the Begin Smart Baby Faces book. She was four weeks old and just stared at the photos, particularly the black and white ones. I had heard babies are into these books, but was unprepared for Pooka's intensity. We also have the DK Eyewitness Baby Faces book, but Pooka prefers the black and white borders in the Begin Smart book.

It will be a while before baby will be able to hold a toy, but there are a few that will interest them now when held in your hands and they will eventually grow into them. One of our favorites is a wrist rattle, which helps babies learn where their limbs are (it's really fun to watch them figure out that they have arms, then elbows, then hands and fingers). We have the black and white Infant Stimulation Panda Wrist Rattle from Genius Babies. It is darn cute and Pooka loves to stare at it when it is on her wrist. These days we attach it to the wrist of her Mi Yim Organic Plush Benjamin Frog so it rattles when she grabs it. All of the Whoozit toys from Manhattan Toy are also fabulous. We attached the Whoozit Baby Whoozit to Pooka's stroller and play gym. The black and white side is perfect for the early days, and as her eyesight improved we flipped the Whoozit to the colorful side. It was also one of the first toys she reached for. She would grab the colorful stuffed loops and triangles hanging from the bottom. They are made with different fabrics and textures and are the perfect size for petit fingers, and at 5 months old Pooka is still fascinated by her Whoozit. We also had a Whoozit Rattle (which doesn't appear to be on thier site anymore) that had the same black and white bulls-eye on one side and face on the other. Even at two weeks old Pooka would track the high contrast rattle with her eyes when we held it in front of her. Now she holds it and shakes it all on her own.

The other fantastic and interactive toy Pooka loved was her Tiny Love Gymini in Black, White and Red. It is a bit difficult to find (it's not on the Tiny Love site but can be found on Amazon) but worth the extra effort. Pooka loved to stare at the black and white arches at first, then gradually took interest in the hanging toys, especially the mirror. This gym does not have crazy lights or lots of sounds like many of the others out there. It's all about contrast, although one of the toys does play a lullaby when squeezed. To compare, we also have the Garden Floral Activity Gym from Skip Hop (replaced by Farmyard Activity Gym), and Pooka wasn't nearly as engaged with it the first few months. Don't get me wrong, it's super cute and we love it, but it didn't capture Pooka's attention the same way the Gymini did.

This is obviously just a sample of the developmental toys available for the 0-3 month set, but these are the ones that worked well for Pooka. Definitely check out the Genius Babies site for the best assortment of developmental toys out there. It may look like nothing's going on in that tiny little head, but babies absorb tons in those first few months!

Eco-Slumber: Organic Bedding Sets

2009-09-23T19:37:00.006-04:00

Gone are the days when buying organic baby bedding meant choosing between cream or ecru (you know, the natural colors). These days there is a plethora of options to chose from, so it's an easy decision to go organic for your little one. After all, babies spend the largest portion of their time slumbering in their cribs (hopefully). Here is a sampling of some of our favorite organic crib bedding.

Coyuchi crib bedding is a feel good choice all the way around. Not only is their bedding 100% certified organic, it is also Fair Trade and a portion of the proceeds goes to The Cow Project, a philanthropic project based in Andhra Pradesh, India that helps farmers purchase livestock. Coyuchi crib bedding is all this and cute to boot! I love the woodland creatures embroidered on the Thor collection, and the natural safari colors of the Jingo collection. You can also grab matching towels, rompers and t-shirts. And while you're at it, grab a gorgeous duvet for yourself too, the good stuff shouldn't only be reserved for the wee ones!

Another great choice is offered by Q Collection Junior, whose motto is "People safe. Planet safe." We love their Celestial Parade collection, especially the Roxie set's great watermelon pink color. The fabric and fill is 100% certified cotton, and the set offers more than usual with a reversible bumper, reversible crib skirt, and two different sheet colors so you can change the look of your crib bedding when the spirit moves you! They also have beautiful nursery furniture using locally-sourced wood from responsibly managed forests and non-toxic finishes. In fact, they are the first crib manufacturer to receive Greenguard's 'Children and School's' indoor air qulity certification. Oh, and we shouldn't forget to mention that Q Collection Junior participates in 1% for the Planet in support of Healthy Child Healthy World and the National Resources Defense Council.

Pooka sleeps in a Stokke Sleepi crib (perfect for small spaces), which gave us limited choices for going organic for her bedding (although we do have an organic mattress). Future Stokke Sleepi parents don't have to suffer the same fate with Dwell Studio's recent release of their new Organic Circles oval set. Long since available for conventional cribs, you can now get the same set for the Stokke Sleepi. They have also released a second organic set for conventional cribs, the understated Poppy Blossom bedding.

Despite having the oval crib, I fell in love with the Amenity Organic nursery collection. Featuring a sweet, modern, borderline abstract flower scene replete with bunnies, hummingbirds and insects, the Meadow collection works well in our modern studio apartment. We have the crib blanket with matching stretched canvas wall art. In addition to the Meadow collection, there are collections with fanciful squirrels, deer, ducks, and frogs that would be perfect for boys or girls. And with wall art, floor pillows, and towels you can coordinate the whole nursery. They also sell organic mattresses, making it truly a one stop shop. While you're there make sure to check out the wall art and pillows for adults too!

Still haven't seen something you like? How about the softly colored organic Chick pattern from Egg by Susan Lazar? Too sweet? Try the funky Animal Parade or Abstract Flower crib sets. While you're there, grab some organic footies and onesies with Susan Lazar's egg within an egg design symbolizing mother and baby. Pooka loves the footies and Daddy loves the ease of the full length zipper (snaps are tough sometimes!).

Serena and Lily, maker of one of our favorite organic slings (see the post on Baby Carriers), also launched an organic crib bedding line this past year. My favorite is the Maggie collection with it's fresh green and yellow print! And don't forget to pick up the new Gypsy Tote to match your sling!

As I have said before, it ain't cheap to be eco-chic but choosing organic bedding for your baby doesn't have to break the bank. For an affordable option try Brooklyn-based Argington's new organic bedding line. I absolutely adore the unique Fish and Pebbles bedding. With Koi fish on the bumper and a sheet mimicking pebbles on the bottom of a pool your little one can't help but be soothed to sleep as if in a Zen garden. Coming in at less than $200 for a comforter, bumper, sheet, and skirt this deal can't be beat. Still need a crib to put the bedding in? Argington is best known for their furniture, so take a look at their new Bam collection. For less than $1000 you can outfit your nursery with bassinet/crib and changing table with the clean and modern look of more high end furniture.

You can find the Dwell Studio, Egg by Susan Lazar, and Serena and Lily organic crib bedding sets at our friends Alex & Sam (see post). For a 20% discount for our readers, at checkout apply the code: POOKA

Citibabes and Alex & Sam fundraiser with Laurie Berkner band October 4th

2009-09-21T22:04:00.004-04:00

Come out to support the fund for New York Public Schools Literacy Programs with a day of family fun at Citibabes in Soho, and co-hosted your friends at Alex & Sam (see our post on socially conscious gift-giving). What better way to spend a Sunday than supporting a great cause with fabulous guests and activities and the music of Laurie Berkner, a favorite of the preschool set! Pooka and family hope to see you there!

NYC Sample Sale this week

2009-09-21T08:32:00.003-04:00

The Clothingline is having their kids sample sale this week with fall merchandise from Jacadi, Rachel Riley, Imps and Elfs, and Polarn O. Pyret. We are disappointed that there will be no Marie Chantal as had been originally announced but maybe their replacement, Polarn O. Pyret, will offer more practical choices. The sample sale begins tomorrow (Sept. 22) and runs through Thursday (Sept. 24) from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at 261 West 36th Street (between 7th and 8th Ave.) on the second floor. If you are bringing the kiddos please note that they do not allow strollers inside the building, and it's not a neighborhood where you would leave your stroller unattended outside. I'll be sporting Pooka in the Baby Hawk. We got some great bargains at the spring sale, so see you there!

From the Clothing line:

Fall merchandise for infants, boys & girls
Jacadi - onesies, shirts, sweaters, skirts, pants, dresses, puffers, outerwear & more
Rachel Riley - shirts, blouses, sweaters, skirts, dresses, pants & more
Imps & Elfs - onesies, coveralls, knit tops, knit leggings, jeans, skirts, dresses, outerwear & more
Polarn O. Pyret - one pieces, sweaters, leggings, skirts, denim, outerwear, accessories & more

Alex & Sam: Socially conscious gift-giving for baby!

2009-09-15T22:47:00.013-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to meet the founder of an innovative website named Alex & Sam: The Art of Giving. What I love about this site is that you can purchase a variety of baby products (as well as jewelry and products for the home) for the same price as you would from another retailer, but a portion of the proceeds goes to charity. Alex & Sam calls this "socially conscious gift-giving" and prides itself on carrying an edited selection of high quality products.

The site carries everything from baby clothing to bedding, nursery decor, and baby carriers. Some of our favorite brands are represented including Serena and Lily, Dwell Studio, Organic Egg by Susan Lazar, Kissy Kissy, Mia Bossi and Dante Beatrix amongst others. Check out the Egg by Susan Lazar Wool Girl Pea Coat, the Plain Mary "Hunk" onesie, Serena and Lily's beautiful Sausalito Moses Basket, and Dwell Studio's new Paper Doll crib bedding.

Want something personalized? You've come to the right place. You name it, and they can put a name on it! The selection of high quality personalized items is one of the largest I've seen. Choose from albums, burpies, blankets, nursery decor and even clothing. I love the Bon Bon Corduroy Dresses with monogram! How about a personalized yoga mat?

When checking out you can select from a number of non-profit organizations to support, or the donation can be split amongst all the selected charities. These charities include: Baby Buggy, Robin Hood Foundation, St Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Fund for Public Schools (Shop for Public Schools), Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, New Alternatives for Children, WomenWork!, Friends of Yemin Orde (a youth village in israel), and more. The list is always expanding.

The best part of Alex & Sam is that you can create a baby registry on their site. Let's be honest, if you are having a baby you are going to get plenty of gifts. Wouldn't it be nice to know that other children and families can benefit from your gift too! Already had your little ones? Order holiday cards or thank you notes and spread the holiday cheer to the participating charities. Alex & Sam does personalized stationary, birth announcements, invitations, and holiday cards. We're thinking about ordering the Joyful Flowers holiday card by Stacey Claire Boyd.

Life with Pooka readers can receive a special discount when ordering from Alex & Sam. To receive 20% off any purchase or 30% off any stationary products, when checking out enter code: Pooka

Mama don't sew? The best homemade baby products on Etsy

2009-09-14T21:52:00.017-04:00

When I was pregnant with Pooka it was very important for me to make her some baby items with my own two hands. I knit regularly, so it wasn't hard to make her some sweaters and hats. But I wanted to take it one step further and make her a hand stitched quilt. I took a fantastic hand-quilting class at Purl down in Soho, but unfortunately I didn't get in done before Pooka arrived and it sits laguishing away in a bag at the bottom of my closet (some day Pooka!). So if you don't have the time, skill, or interest to make handmade baby products, and neither does anyone else in your extended family, it's Etsy to the rescue! Etsy's motto is "To buy, sell and live handmade" and connects buyers directly to individual sellers of various handmade goods. You can find everything from nursery decor, to clothing, toys and baby carriers. There are also a boatload of sellers creating green and organic products. For today's post I have rounded up a selection of some of the cutest baby items on the site. And the best part is, these products are all reasonably priced, and some are downright bargains compared to what they'd retail for at an NYC baby boutique.

One of my favorite designers on Etsy for nursery decor is Almost Sunday Designs. A friend drew my attention to them when she purchased the adorable Owl Mobile. I'm hoping to order the Butterfly Wall Art and a Birth Date Print. All items are well priced, and it's unlikely that any of your friends will have the same one.

For an alternative to main stream baby carriers check out Lovely Duds 100% organic and Oeko-Tex certified Tie One On baby carriers. They remind me of a Moby carrier, which are fantastic for newborns, but with cute printed panels like the Baby Hawk Mai Tai carrier. They have dozens of colors and fabrics to choose from, and at a cost $45 it's not a huge investment. A mom I know loved this style of carrier for her baby those first weeks when acid reflux was a major problem for her little one and she could nestle the baby against her chest in an upright position.

For quilts with a modern twist, or classic dresses for babies and toddlers in fun hipster fabrics pop over to the All the Numbers store. Check out the Vespa (pictured above) and Reversible dresses, or the beautiful Fresh and Modern Quilt that gives a new take on pastels for baby.

Using cloth or gdiapers? Baby blow out their diaper and wipe out their outfit? You need a wet bag to store the dirty nappies and soiled clothes until you can get home and wash them. They are useful for anything that gets messy while out and about, and I never leave home without one. Sure, you could use a ziploc, but why would you when the wet bags at Monkey Foot Designs are so cute and reusable too! The medium size is perfect for stowing a dirty gdiaper and some soiled clothing. For more than one diaper or larger sized clothing I would recommend the larger bags. Mines been thrown in the washer several times and has held up well. The Icky Bags in the Petunias shop are adorable too!I love the owl applique on this one.

For one stop gift shopping check out the SewnNatural shop, filled with all natural and organic baby products ranging from quilts and burpies to toys and bags. I love the Retro Elephant Toy and Upcycled Duck Baby. The Modern Dandelion Summer 5 piece set would make you the toast of any baby shower, or try the organic quilts.

While searching for an alternative to the satin and tulle style headbands that seem to abound in baby stores I found this one from Billie Brand. I love the simplicity of the design and the incorporation of a covered button in the center of the flower. They even have some made from organic fabrics. If your baby is blessed with plenty of hair (alas Pooka is not) you can try their flower clips. Choosing a color is the difficult part, but I'm leaning towards the Roxie!

The designers listed here are just a fraction of what you can find on Etsy. Pick a search term like "organic baby" and hundreds of products will show up. Or be more specific by searching terms such as "baby sling" or "baby quilt." You may not have Martha in your blood, but if she is in your spirit than look no further than Etsy. There is no better source for handmade goods for the crafting challenged.

Strap 'em on: A Review of Baby Carriers

2009-09-10T14:12:00.007-04:00

It's been about 4 1/2 months since Pooka was born and I have to come clean: we now own 5 different baby carriers! Why so many? Well, one reason is a logistical one. Our family splits our time between NYC and CT and we got tired of lugging all Pooka's gear back and forth every weekend. Also, the first sling I had purchased ended up being too large for me and I had to purchase a smaller one. Each purchase became an opportunity to try out a different model of baby carrier, and we actually use them all regularly.

Slings: We currently have three brands of sling. Our first purchase was a gorgeous, organic Serena and Lily Market Sling. It is a fixed length with padded rails that make Pooka feel secure in the sling. Unfortunately I sized the sling while pregnant, and the medium ended up being too large. It fits my husband perfectly and Pooka spent hours in the first weeks nestled in the soft organic flannel while he worked on the computer or did housework (he's a good man!). She would sleep in the cradle position, and it was perfect for taking her out in public because she was hidden from curious bystanders. We even took her to a cocktail party when she was two weeks old and she slept right through it! Similar fixed length slings that are popular are Hotslings, Peanut Shell, and there are dozens more.

I needed a smaller sling, so I decided to try out a different style and settled on a Zolo Wear ring sling. While I found adjusting the rings daunting at first, I watched the instructional video that came with the sling and then a few more videos on youtube to help me get comfortable. Pooka and I fell in love with the Tummy-to-tummy hold. It keeps Pooka in an upright position (helpful if your baby has reflux or gas) and mimics holding her tight in my arms. For a while it was her Kryptonite, she couldn't fight falling asleep. When she was really tiny I would roll up a burpie and place it behind her head so she had extra support in this position (when they are little their heads are almost below the edge of the sling). Now we switch between the kangaroo hold, which allows her to face forward and enjoy the view, and the tummy-to-tummy when she is tired. When she gets bigger I can wear her on my hip or on my back. I like the Zolo because it has a pocket in the front where I can keep my keys, wallet, phone and burpie when we are running errands in the neighborhood. This sling folds down small enough to fit in the bottom of Pooka's stroller, and I always have it with me in case she gets fussy and needs a change of scene. You can also use a ring sling to nurse the baby, but I haven't treaded that path yet! I would not recommend using a sling for a long jaunt: despite their comfort they don't distribute the weight evenly because they are worn over one shoulder. There are dozens of other ring slings out there that you can try. Maya Wraps have a padded shoulder (Zolo's are lightly padded as well), or try P-slings New York for a more lux option (their fabrics are gorgeous, check out the Avant Gradation style). Both these lines have organic options.

We also purchased a Roundhouse Sling that is adjustable but uses a buckle closure rather than rings. I really like the styling, and it also has a pocket and a nicely padded shoulder. The rails of the sling are also adjustable to make the pocket larger or smaller. This was the sling we had bought to leave in CT to use on the weekends. We've used this carrier the least because it seemed to have too much fabric for Pooka when she was small, and when she got larger she didn't want to be in cradle position anymore. We haven't tried the kangaroo position in this sling yet, but I think it will be a nice option when she is larger and will be great for the toddler years.

Front Carrier: Our front carrier of choice is the Belle Baby Carrier. We have the organic carrier in black. It was created by two dads who were rock climbers and engineers and the design of the carrier reflects that. The hip belt is very similar to a rock climbing harness with a padded belt and d-ring style closure. The Belle also has comfortable padded shoulder straps and buckles easily at your sides (rather than in the back like some carriers). The carrier portion is a simple piece of fabric lined with a soft flannel against the babies skin. I love that the baby is held directly against you with no fabric to separate you. There was a period in time when Pooka's head reached above the top of the carrier but she wasn't quite strong enough to hold her head up on her own. During that time we used our other types of carriers, but I imagine if you have an extremely long baby (Pooka was 50-75% for height during this time) it may be more of a problem. Now we use the carrier with Pooka facing forward and she loves it. The Belle is completely adjustable and Daddy also likes using this carrier (it was created by two dads, so it has a clean aesthetic). Similar carriers in this category are old favorites like the Bjorn and the popular Ergo Baby. The Bjorn allows tummy-to-tummy and forward facing babies, the Ergo does tummy-to-tummy or the baby can ride on your back (no front facing).

Mai Tai Carrier: A Mai Tai is an Asian style carrier and looks similar to other front loaders like the Belle or Bjorn, but uses ties rather than buckles. We have a Baby Hawk Mai Tai and it is is a favorite right now. It distributes the weight evenly with padded shoulder straps, has a padded headrest and you can choose from custom fabrics. They even have organic fabric options. I choose custom fabrics for Pooka's and added a pocket and toy loop. While these were additional costs I find them invaluable. I leave a toy attached at all times and a spare diaper and burpie in the pocket so I can just grab the carrier and go. You can also purchase a minkee liner insert and an attachable hood for cold weather. I liked that when Pooka was small she could ride in the carrier with her legs tucked under her rather than having them dangle like in some other front carriers. Once she was bigger her legs straddled me in a more ergonomic way then most carriers on the market. This carrier looks darned cute with the ties and is more unique than other carriers on the market. Pooka can ride tummy-to-tummy, or on my hip or back when she gets larger. Unfortunately she can't face forward in the Baby Hawk. Similar carriers are offered by Mai Tai Baby, or you could try a hybrid carrier like the Becco Baby Butterfly which is Mai Tai style but uses buckles instead of ties.

Just like a stroller, you may never get one carrier to cover all your needs. If you live in a urban environment you may choose to have more than one in order to cover all the bases. Trust me, I'm not the only mama to have a closetful of carriers! If you are in a suburban or rural area you may not have as much cause for schlepping the baby and can more easily find one that suits all your needs. There are tons of fantastic carriers out there, and I hope to to try more of them in the future and share the results. If you have had good or bad luck with a particular carrier please share your insights in the comments area!

Photo credit for the first picture of Pooka and I in her ZoloWear sling goes to Hannah Hardaway Photography

Big City Mom's Expectant Mom's Dinner: My 5 Favorite Baby Items

2009-09-08T21:35:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago I attended a new moms lunch about baby secrets of the Upper West Side hosted by Risa of Big City Moms. I had a number of my favorite baby gadgets on hand that caught Risa's eye and she invited me to speak at the upcoming dinner for Expectant Moms. I attended the dinner tonight and was very impressed with the information and products on display. Pooka and I use many of the products highlighted at the event, and all the expectant moms went home with a great gift bag and raffle prizes that included an Orbit Baby stroller, car seats, diaper bags, slings and more. I wish I had attended one while pregnant, and highly recommend attending one if you're in the process of creating your registry.

Below are the items I spoke about at the dinner. You can find more of my favorites throughout the blog, and also check out the "10 Things I couldn't Live Without the First 3 Months" post.

My 5 Favorites for New Moms:

1) Itzbeen Baby Care Timer: the easy way to keep track of feedings, diaper changes, naps and more when you are sleep deprived
2) Aden and Anais Muslin Wraps: our favorite lightweight swaddle blanket
3) Patemm Pad: extra roomy changing pad that you can throw in any bag
4) Sling Carrier (Serena and Lily Market Sling, Zolo Wear ring sling): soothe your newborn and get things done while baby snoozes
5) The Milk Saver: don’t let your leaky milk go to waste

Thanks to Risa and Leslie for inviting me to speak tonight!

Baby it's cold outside! Organic Blankets for fall

2009-09-08T12:08:00.005-04:00

About a week ago we woke up one morning to find that the humidity had disappeared and been replaced with clear, cool, crisp, fall weather. While I am grateful for an end to the drippy heat, Pooka and I are not ready for fall. It was still August and we have a closetful of adorable bubbles and sun-dresses for her to wear. I suppose we can keep our fingers crossed for a nice, long indian summer sometime this fall. Now don't get me wrong, I totally love fall and all its trappings (wood smoke, falling leaves, fresh apple cider, pumpkin pie, etc.), but this fall will be different from any other because I have to dress Pooka and keep her warm. I already miss the carefree days of throwing her in a onesie and heading to the park! To ease the pain, I am jumping headlong into cozy organic blankets.

By far my favorite organic blanket is made by Robbie Adrian. It comes in luscious organic fleece or cotton velour, and is trimmed in the softest silk edging. I long for the Fleece Organic Baby Blanket with Silk Ruffle in raspberry polka dots (think portrait session with naked newborn snuggled inside). The blankets are stocked at ABC Home in Union Square (but only in the natural color), and I visit them whenever I'm there. I'm putting one of these blankets on Pooka's Christmas list! They are more on the splurge side, but Robbie Adrian has taken the recent economic downturn into mind and are offering a new version of their blanket called the Little Less Silk with a narrower silk ruffle at a reduced price. Or go for the economical Lovey size ($26 for a 10 x 12 inch) so your little one can have a snuggly nap blanket.

Another much cherished organic blanket of ours came with the Take-Me-Home Set from Little Merry Fellows that we received as a shower gift. The hat is so cuddly and warm, and was one of the only ones small enough to fit Pooka in those first few weeks. The waffle blanket was also a great size for swaddling in those early days and we didn't worry about her overheating or getting cold. We also have their organic Moses Basket and Rocker, which is lined with ridiculously soft organic flannel. Pooka just grew out of it a few weeks ago, and I was sad she would no longer be enveloped in its deliciousness (and that she had graduated to her crib in the nursery, instead of being at the foot of our bed!). Little Merry Fellows also makes wonderful organic terry velour Poetry Blankets with quotes from J.M. Barrie, Kate Douglass Wiggin, William Blake or Rudyard Kipling. The J.M. Barrie quote is my favorite, "When the first baby laughed for the first time, his laugh broke into a million pieces and they went skipping about. That was the beginning of fairies." The Poetry Blanket would definitely be a unique shower gift.

Pooka and I are also big fans of Amenity Organics. They have just launched a new line of organic baby basics that include receiving blankets, burp clothes, towels and wash clothes. I can't wait to get my hands on some. We have the crib blanket and stretched canvas wall print in the Meadow print for our nursery in the apartment (actually, we live in a studio so her nursery is our bedroom and living room too!). We love the nature inspired prints that work for girls or boys and are wonderfully sweet and modern. They also have the added bonus of being manufactured in LA, which means you don't have to be concerned about sweatshops or child labor!

My perennial favorite, Aden and Anais, recently released their Muslin Swaddle Wraps in organic cotton. I love the Organic Enchanged Muslin Single Wrap and Organic Drangonfly Single Wrap. While they are priced similarly to the Little Merry Fellows and Amenity receiving blankets ($34 for one blanket), they are significantly more expensive than the non-organic version ($44 for four blankets). As always, being eco-chic ain't cheap!

Whichever blanket you choose, they are all great choices for your little one or as a shower gift. And to be honest, if you are like our household and do laundry only once a week (we don't have a washer and dryer in our apartment) you don't have to choose. You'll need several blankets, so you can get one of each!

Photo of Pooka in Take-Me-Home Set taken by photographer Hannah Hardaway