accessories

Showing posts with label accessories. Show all posts

Serena & Lily Goes Puffy

Please don't think that I am in any way, shape, or form recommending that you spend $118 on a child's backpack (I'm not), but speaking of the puffy coat trend, check out these cool new puffer backpacks by Serena & Lily. Serena & Lily, a company you may know better for exquisite crib bedding, has branched out into other areas of home decor and now, some very cool gift items including these mod backpacks. They're dreamy to look at in their rainbow of colors; check them out here.

Bubbles, Blankets and Bibs

Swaddle Designs has expanded its baby apparel and accessory collection with more items to coordinate with its ultra-popular blankets (when I had my 2nd baby, in 2006, Swaddle Designs was pretty much only known for blankets). Now you can get coordinating bodysuits, knotted hats, sleepsacks, bibs, and even crib sheets in the signature circles, paisleys and polka dot pastel prints. My favorite is the light blue mod circle sleepsack ($36). A cozy and practical gift for a fall/winter baby boy. Browse all the new items at Swaddle Designs.

Mama, It's Cold Outside

It's starting to get a little chilly, and if past winters are any indication, by Thanksgiving my children will be fully outfitted in new winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves, while I will be shivering in an old jacket and mismatched mittens from the drugstore. But I've taken a step towards taking care of myself, too, by purchasing some winter accessories from Zulily today, where there's a super sale of women's winter gear by San Diego Hat Company (I hadn't heard of them either). These cute knit beanies, berets, and scarves add a punch of color to your winter wardrobe, and ensure that your kids aren't the only ones staying warm in style. Shown above: the Multi-color red pom-pom beanie ($9.99; retails for $25). I'm pairing it with the Berry Knit Scarf ($11.99; retails for $30). Maybe for once, my daughter will wish something of mine comes in her size. Check out the San Diego Hat Company sale for moms at Zulily.

Haven't joined members-only Zulily yet? Don't worry- you can click on this link for an invitation and start scooping up their killer sales right away. Plus, you'll get a $10 credit for each friend you refer who makes a purchase. Win-win for everyone!

Fall Fashion at Arte Bebe

I've been writing this blog for 3 years and there are several boutique sites that, without fail, serve up the best selection of stylish kids' clothing season after season. One of these is Arte Bebe, which is a go-to destination for finding trend-setting brands like Splendid, Neige, and Appaman. Here are some of my top picks for Fall 2010 clothing you can buy at Arte Bebe:

Appaman Metallic Silver Puffy Coat ($92). In case you haven't noticed, "puffy and shiny" is the new black (more on that in another post), and Appaman's puffy coat is the hottest piece of outerwear (SJP's son has this coat).

I hadn't heard of this brand before, but I'm digging Kapital K's Trapper Hat in Camo ($23 in 2-4; $26 in 5-8); you should check out the matching camo pants, too. I like the subtlety of the pattern.

A former Vera Wang designer makes the beautiful knit separates by Neige, like this thick Neige Anna Sweater Coat ($96 sizes 2-6; $100 size 7).

Lastly, Splendid has another hit with this just-right-for-autumn Orange-and- Navy Stripe Thermal Hoodie ($52/$54; sizes 2-6X). Arte Bebe sent this for S. and I am hooked (so is he). He is sensitive to some fabrics and styles, but Splendid's thermal tees are luxuriously soft and comfortably. Note that they run a bit small- order a size up if in doubt.

There's lots more, with new products arriving all the time (oh, and you know those 3 Sprouts Wall Organizers I mentioned a little while ago? You can buy those here too).

Shopping for back-to-school clothes? Get 10% off any clothing purchased at Arte Bebe now through October 15th, 2010 with code "MMMFALL". Coupon applies to clothing purchases only.

Back-to-School at Layla Grayce

Our affiliate Layla Grayce is running a special on all of its Back to School products (see coupon code below). This includes Skip Hop's popular new "Owl" design for its toddler backpack, which I've spotted in a bunch of fall magazines. Love this one. The toddler packs are the perfect size for preschoolers (10 x 11.5") and are completely BPA-Free, Phthalate-free, and PVC Free. There's a matching lunchpack, too, if you can stand the cuteness. Order one for $20 at Layla Grayce.

Enjoy a 10% discount on all back-to-school items at Layla Grayce with code "BACK4FALL" now through August 31st.

BlogHer '10 Part 3: The Goods

Besides learning and networking, BlogHer '10 was about products- especially products for moms and kids. Companies exhibited and handed out tons of new items ranging from baby gear to beauty products. Here were some items that I liked the best (where applicable, I noted what I received personally):

Fisher Price Little People Wheels Stand 'n Play Rampway ($39.99 at Toys R Us). It's big, yes (2 feet tall), but how much fun does this look?

Playskool Weebles 2-Packs ($6.96 at Walmart). There's bigger than I remember them, but they still take me back to the 1970s (Remember the jingle: "Weebles Wobble, But They Don't Fall Down!"). I got a pack for R & S, and also one to donate.

Acclaimed children's author/illustrator Todd Parr was on hand to promote his new, limited edition book "Let's Fix Dinner!" ($7.99) in collaboration with Stouffer's.

Inside one of the "swag bags", I received this Vemayca cosmetic bag ($35). It's a super soft, luxurious fabric cosmetic bag with removable liner and it is perfect for weekend getaways.

Remember I told you about the elegant Ralph Lauren event I went to during BlogHer? We learned all about "RL Gang", a virtual storybook (narrated by Harry Connick Jr.) which combines narrative and shopping and launched just this week. We each got a copy of the hardcover storybook, too.

My favorite item of all was this Vera Bradley Very Berry Paisley Tote ($46). I've already received so many compliments on it. It is the 1st Vera Bradley bag I have ever owned.

There were also a lot products given out for infants and new moms. Since I'm out of that stage, I collected my products and samples together and packed them up in this iCandy Lifestyle Changing Bag ($57.99)--which I got at an event hosted by Mom Trends--so that I could donate them. I included new Fisher Price Happy Days & Nights diapers, Lansinoh diaper rash ointment, and Downy detergent, among other items. This week, I'll be delivering them to Inwood House in my neighborhood, where they can be used by teen moms learning how to take care of themselves and their babies.

Finally, dear readers, I have some fun stuff to give away to YOU!!! Yes, I have stashed some swag to include in some giveaways at this blog. That will take place in another week or so; if you want to be alerted when the giveaway(s) has been posted, e-mail me with "newsletter" in the subject line.

Thanks so much to the BlogHer '10 sponsors, exhibitors, and vendors for introducing us to all of these new products. And my daughter (who turns 7 today!) thanks you especially for the Mint Fudge Creme Oreos and Extra Dessert Delights Sugarfree Gum.

Preview: Liz Claiborne for JCPenney

A few weeks ago, I got an exclusive sneek preview of the new clothing line Liz Claiborne for JCPenney (JCPenney is now Liz Claiborne's exclusive distributor- learn more about that here). As someone who used to buy Liz Claiborne clothing for work sometimes (my office was down the street from its former store at 5th Avenue/52nd Street), I was curious to see how the new designs. I liked them. The pieces are smart, stylish, and well-priced, and I love the accessories, too, such as the handbag and monogrammed compact mirror shown above. You can buy Liz Claiborne for JCPenney now at the new JCP store in Manhattan on 6th Avenue/33rd Street, or online at JCPenney.com.

Psst! In a few weeks we'll have a giveaway of a new Fall outfit, head-to-toe, by Liz Claiborne for JCPenney. E-mail subscribers will be notified when the giveaway is posted; if you'd like to be notified about this and other giveaways, just e-mail me with "newsletter" in the subject line.

Your Own Superhero

If you've wanted to buy your child one of those personalized superhero capes, I've got a good opportunity for you. Our sponsor Chase's Treasures just introduced these velcro-closure reversible satin capes which fit children ages 3-7. You pick your two colors, emblem design, child's initial, and, voila! Your child is his/her very own superhero. The price is reasonable ($28) especially considering that it includes personalization, plus I have a generous coupon code for you (see below). Check out this and other new items (such as these pretty engraved wooden frames) at Chase's Treasures.

Enjoy a 25% discount on any order of $30 or more at Chase's Treasures with code "Emmy2010" for a limited time only.

Playtime New York Debuts

This may be my busiest August ever- with both my kids' birthdays, BlogHer '10, and lots of other (surprise) projects within a two-week span. But I'm going to try to squeeze in one more thing tomorrow- a visit to Playtime New York which runs through Monday. I've become pretty selective about which trade shows I attend, since they take lots of time & energy, but I want to check this out because it's the New York debut of a highly respected international trade show dedicated to infant and children's clothing, accessories, toys, and decor. For Playtime is now set up in a beautiful Soho venue at 82 Mercer Street. Some of the exhibitors I'm excited to check out for the first time are Bequita, Ninachka Couture and Clemence G.. Want to check it out yourself online? Visit Playtime New York. And I'll be reporting back on the blog when my schedule quiets down a bit (and in the meantime, check for my latest news this week on Twitter).

Need Another Summer Hostess Gift?

I've been admiring these Linen Hemstitch Guest Towels by Pottery Barn all summer. They're priced at $19 for a set of two plain towels (you have to order monogramming to get the graphic, though). So I suggest that you spend the extra $6.50 for the graphic plus personalization. Shipping is free, after all, so it's still a good deal. I like the Adirondack chair design best- it's the perfect gift to take to someone's beach or lake house. Buy them at Pottery Barn.

Baby Takes a Map

I read about these baby "soft maps" made by Brooklyn architect Emily Fischer in yesterday's New York Times. They're a labor of love- each is hand-embroidered and hand-knotted, and shows a child's city or neighborhood which can be personalized further with the child's name, birthday, home, and favorite local sites. Choose from a handful of city "soft maps" (including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago and Miami) or, closer to my heart, New York City neighborhood "soft maps" (Brooklyn moms, rejoice...these are for you). Shown above: the Prospect Park soft map. For an amazing custom gift like this, the price is about what I'd expect: $125 for a ready-made blanket, or $150 for a blanket with personalized details and locations. Check them all out at Haptic Lab.

Sublime Sundays: Fathers Day With Dad

My tour for The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details that brought me to the Kansas City area was perfectly timed to be able to spend time with my family and to celebrate Fathers Day with my dad.

As all dads do, they worry, especially when it comes to finances. Dad made it clear to me that he wouldn't be happy if I spent a ton of money on a Fathers Day gift, so I relied on my garage sale-ing luck for finding the perfect gift that suited my dad's personality. I didn't have to look very hard at a church rummage sale in Los Angeles to spy a wooden carved eagle perched proudly on a table. Dad has an affinity toward eagles, so this Japanese wooden piece would be a welcomed addition to his collection. I love the way this eagle's feathers are delicately curled, and his price tag was definitely right!

Pick up a copy of The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or Powell's.

The Elegant Thrifter

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

Petunia's Perfect Hostess Gift

If you're looking for a chic summer hostess gift that doesn't break the bank, check out this Summertime in Surrey reusable shopper tote by diaper bag designer Petunia Pickle Bottom, available at our affiliate Layla Grayce. It's a practical gift for any household (one that includes children or not). It's sized generously at 16 x 15.5 x 3.5 inches and folds flat for easy storage. Plus it has a small front pocket for quick access to keys and phone. This Surrey pattern- a modern floral in a chocolate brown and gold palette- is my favorite, but several others are available, too. And here are two more things to love. First, the price tag- the bag costs just $12 and that includes free shipping plus PLUS free gift wrap/gift message (instructions on that below). Finally, Layla Grayce is a star company in my book. They did something very special to help a little girl and her family this past Spring. Visit Layla Grayce and check the coupon code below.

To get free gift wrapping and free gift message on a Petunia Pickle Bottom shopper tote at Layla Grace, add gift wrap to your Petunia item and then enter in your recipient's name and gift message. Then enter code PPBGW in the promotion code box on the shopping cart page.

Ask MyMomShops: Boys' Overnight Bags

Dear MyMomShops,

Could you recommend some choices of a small weekend/overnight bag for a boy who is 6 years old (a duffel that could fit 1-3 nights of travel). Looking for something that is not LL Bean or Pottery Barn, but not super expensive either. I've looked and only found juvenile bags with dinosaurs, trucks, cars....more of a toddler bag instead of a big boy bag.

Thanks so much.

Elise

Elise- here are some options that fit the bill. It definitely can be tricky finding something appropriate for a boy of this age. I hope these help. Let us know what you decide. Love, MyMomShops

Kids' Duffels (about $20-$30 depending on size) by Lillian Vernon. I've ordered kids' luggage before from Lillian Vernon and have been satisfied. Several solid colors available, and personalization is always included.

Wildkin duffel bags are popular with the school-age crowd; try the Soccer Print duffel bag ($29.50). There are several other patterns that are not too babyish, too.

Rolling Duffel Bag ($34.99) from Kids' Travel Zone. This one has wheels, too, so even if it's packed heavy it's easy to transport.

Off To Camp She Goes

S. has started camp already, but R.'s first day is not till next Tuesday. It's a sports camp, so she needs some practical clothing and gear, but still wants everything "girly" (quite a change from 2 summers ago when she eschewed princesses for knights...). Here are some new purchases:

Geox Kids Mimosa Sneaker (on sale for $49.50 at Zappos.com, reduced from $55). Geox really should pay R. for her brand loyalty. She won't look at any others.

New York Mets Pink Tie-Dye Cap ($14.99 at Dunham's Sports). Her little bro has a coordinating one in solid blue.

Flower Tunic & Capri Set by Flapdoodles. On sale for $26.99 (regularly $34.00) at CWD Kids. No dresses allowed at sports camp- she agreed to settle for this.

Disney Princess Large Backpack ($24.50 at Amazon.com). Her 1st grade backpack- which is nearly identical- is quite banged up. This one will take her through the summer and hopefully into 2nd grade, too.

And....I must write a separate post about Mabel's Labels, which has saved me hours of time of camp preparation for both kids. More on them later this week.

A Gorgeous Gift, No Doubt

Even though my children have long passed the baby blanket stage, I still find myself admiring items like this super-luxe, taggie-trimmed Personalized Ultimate Puppy Blanket. Not just because a celeb mom like Gwen Stefani has been snapped using one, but also because I love any soft, plush, too-expensive-to-buy-for-yourself baby gift. Particularly one that's personalized. But I recently got a coupon code from our affiliate GoToBaby.com- which sells this and other baby blankets, so I thought I'd pass it on to you. Enter code "BABY10" now through July 1, 2010 to receive 10% off your entire purchase at GoToBaby.com. And check out the pink girls' version of the blanket, too.

Father's Day at Etsy

As promised, here are some cool Father's Day gifts that I found on Etsy- I think each one is pretty unique and a definite conversation piece. Sorry I'm cutting it close to the shipping deadlines; if you see something you like, "convo" the seller to see if they can help you out.

Antique Bicycle Necktie ($30 at Toybreaker)

Famous Golf Courses Typography Word Art ($60 at Barn Owl Primitives)

Custom Portrait from Your Photo ($30 by Made By Jen Schell)

Baseball Card Books ($36, designs/players vary; by Erin Zam)

Hand-Stamped Bar Keychain with Monogram/Personalization ($15 at Tabetha Sullens)

And browse through more of our Father's Day gift ideas.

World Cup Fever

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but it is nearly impossible- especially here in internationally-flavored New York- not to get caught up in World Cup fever right now. I've seen lots of mass merchandise to buy on the streets, but you can find some more unique items online, like these picks from Etsy:

Three Lions Pack-World Cup England Window Door Posters (Downloadable) ($12.95 at Creative Jen Prints)

Brazil Boys Tee- Adult ($29 at Kleno)

2010 FIFA World Cup iPhone Leather Cases- ITALY ($8.90, 16 countries available at Feltu)

Football "British Flashcard" Kids Shirt ($22 at Charlie and Sarah)

Who else is watching U.S. versus England this afternoon? I was invited to my first World Cup-watching party here in NY- can't wait! Wish I had that Brazil Boys tee.

Bargain Alert: Avon Classic Satchel

Ever since I got so many compliments on the inexpensive Avon handbag I carried every day last fall/winter, I have been sold on the company's chic-but-cheap handbags. For summer, I like their Classic Chic Satchel (so did Oprah...it was featured in her magazine). It's made of ramie cotton with "leather-look" trim (I couldn't care less whether it's real or not...) and is available in red or black for just $24.99. Check out all of Avon's seasonal handbags here.

Sweet Storage

My first grader has tons of collections (our apartment is teeming with Silly Bandz at the moment) and I am always encouraging her to keep them organized. These personalized mini suitcases from Etsy shop Paper Mill Designs might do the trick. Made of sturdy cardboard, they're available in three sizes (small through large) and six colors, and you can choose the personalization color as well. A small suitcase costs $15 personalized; a set of 3 personalized cases (1 of each size) is $45. Perfect for nursery decor, too! Check out all the options here at Paper Mill Designs.