Green Speaks: Planet Green

We've all been seriously lacking in options for good tv lately.  Summer brings reality shows and not much else, but thankfully one channel has swooped in to rescue us all.

Planet Green, part of the Discovery channel family, is the first channel dedicated to all things green.  They have 24/7 show after show of teaching us all how to take another green step each day.  The "Living With Ed" show, the "G Word", each and every show offers a unique perspective and is wildly entertaining and informaticve.  My personal favorite show, "Supper Club" features funny man Tom Bergeron hosting a dinner that is prepared by a fabulous green chef using delectable local ingredients.  There are usually a few celebs (in hollywood and green-wood) to share in the feast and discuss all things green.  The guests rarely have the same viewpoint on any issue, so the conversation is inviting and the food to die for.

Go here to check your local listings to see if you can get Planet Green, and you will wonder how you survived all these years without this perfectly sustainable channel.

-Arianne 

Sock Dog

Bow Wowza

When it comes to anything that involves a needle and thread I must admit to being somewhat intimidated.  You can imagine then my trepidation when I opened the Sock Dog kit [$20] only to find two socks, a needle and thread, buttons and some shrink-wrapped stuffing.  Sock Dog (along with his Socktopus and Sock Monkey friend) is a make-it yourself stuffed animal kit with two socks as the foundation.

I began the creation of Sock Dog by following the included instructions and proudly made it past step three. Admittedly, step four gave me a bit of trouble because terms like "whip stitch" have a tendency to leave me scratching my head.  The only sewing I've ever done has involved a foot pedal, so I had to Google "whip stitch" before I could go any further.
After what I consider a herculean effort, I managed to get through the end of the directions with my own green and purple plaid creature that could pass as a distant cousin to the Sock Dog pictured on the package. 

Sock Dog, while cute upon completion, proved to be difficult for this not-so-seamstress Mama to assemble. I have faith though that for someone slightly more gifted in the sewing arena that Sock Dog would present a fun afternoon activity.  In the end, crafty types will even end up with one hot diggity of a dog to call her own. As for the rest of us? You can these cute creatures and more premade for just a few bucks more. [$25 and up]

 

Win it!
For your chance to win a Deluxe Socktopus (no purchase necessary) just enter here. One winner per month.

-Darcie

FlipClips

This Flip Doesn't Flop

Without fail I am at such a loss when a gift-giving holiday rolls around and I go in search of the perfect gift for my grandparents (my children’s great-grandparents) who happen to have everything. OK, maybe not everything, but those items they don’t have far exceed my measly budget. I have found, though, that anything involving their great-grandkids is sure to put a huge smile upon their faces.  I try each holiday to come up with something new and different, but with the recent passing of Father's Day my creative juices seemed to run dry.  I mean really, a grandparent can only have so many photo coffee mugs or t-shirts that don my kid’s likeness.  Even the personalized calendars begin to lose their luster the fourth or fifth year down the road.

Lucky for me (and my grandparents), I recently discovered FlipClips [prices range from $9-$20].  Surely you remember those flip books that we all took a stab at making in middle school art class.  Well, FlipClips has modernized that painful process and come up with a novel way to put life in motion, all within the pages of a book. Simply record a short digital video, upload it to their website, and less than a week later they mail out a flip book of your video. And admit it – who doesn’t enjoy a good flip book? I took a short video of my son running around the house.  Once my order arrived I flipped the through the pages and sure enough, my little guy could be seen zooming around the house.  Granted, I can simply watch him do it, but his doting grandparents don’t have that luxury.  That is, of course, until Grandparents Day rolls around in September and they receive their very own flip book from yours truly in the mail.  I'm sure it'll give them something to flip over.

-Darcie

Me Go Green

Support Our Allies

As we go along on our journey to going a little bit greener with each step of our lives, one big way we can make a difference is by supporting green companies.  The only problem is that often there isn't one resource for finding these companies that are committed to low impact business.  Enter the MeGoGreen guide. If you live in the Chicago-land or Madison, WI areas (with more areas planned in the future) and are looking for companies to support that have gone green themselves, than this guide [$15] is your heaven.  Now only does it offer pages and pages of environmentally  friendly and healthy products and services, but it's also a nifty coupon guide offering thousands in discounts at the participating companies.

The MeGoGreen website also offers great resources for finding the green companies as well as an events calendar to keep the social schedule abuzz with all the latest shindig's going on locally in the green community.  You can pick up a guide from their website, or drop them a line if you want a MeGoGreen guide for your city.

Win it!
We're giving away 5 copies of the MeGoGreen guide Chicago to our readers! To enter email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with I Go Green as your subject and let us know what one thing you're working on to live a little greener. Giveaway ends 06.23.08

-Arianne

HP for Father's Day

Picture Perfection in an Hour Flat

If you're like me, you're down to the wire and still scrambling for the perfect Father's Day treasures. Before you start to worry or get a crazy idea like heading out to the mall with the kids in tow, keep in mind that thanks to the lifesaver that is overnight shipping almost all of the gifts in our Father's Day Gift Guide will arrive on time.

If you're looking for something personalized to honor your favorite Daddy-o head on over to one of HP's Photo Centers located at Mejier, CVS and Long's Drug Stores. All you'll need is a CD or USB full of your favorite family photos and the easy to use kiosk will help you create a photo book, calendar or poster of your prints. Best of all, your creation will be ready in about an hour.

My wee one and I created our very own bound book [starting at $20] for the Papa in our lives and it was so gorgeous we couldn't wait until Father's Day to share it (hence my last minute scramble for the second perfect gift). Our book was a hit and an awesome for way this Mama to finally get some of my favorite photos off of my computer and into print.

Want it?
Buy one 16x20 poster and get one free with this coupon.
 

Posh Peacock

Color Your Words

Email may have killed the pen and paper, but it will never compare to finding a real handwritten letter in the mail. The sentiments you can convey with a simple thanks or “just thinking of you” can make someone’s day and say so much about how you feel about them. Express yourself and the power of your words with the unique and stylish designs of Posh Peacock.

You might find this Sassy Mama note from me if I just want to drop a line or thank you for a baby gift [$18 for a personalized set of 8, $12 for non-personalized.] The Limited Edition Citrus Bird Cards [$16 for a set of 6] are just so happy and assuredly won’t be thrown out and deleted like an email and would even be a sweet little gift if you can resist the temptation to just use them for yourself! Calling cards [$50 for 75] are all the rage if you buzz from playdate to playdate or are an avid blogger; personalize yours and give everyone something to remember you by.

A personal favorite treat of mine from Posh Peacock are the Japanese Paper Magnets. You’ll want to clothe your fridge or any other magnetic surface with these beautiful delights [$2 for large, $1 for small.] They certainly look more posh than their affordable price. You’ll have something pretty to write home about with Posh Peacock. Go ahead- give snail mail another chance and be the cock of the walk.

Want it?
Free shipping (automatically applied) on all orders through the end of May, so hurry!

Win it!
We're giving away a stationary set to one lucky reader. To enter, email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Peacock as your subject. Let us know which item not listed here ruffles your tail feathers. Giveaway ends Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

-Steph

Happy Birthday Olive Kids!

One of our favorite kiddie companies, Olive Kids, is celebrating their 10th birthday in a big way for you. There is one heck of a contest going on and we just had to tell you about it. Head on over an enter yourself to win one of over $1,000 worth of prizes including a $750 whole room makeover! Now go, we'll race you...

How Fast They Grow

Ain't That The Truth

In the past year (since my son was born) I have taken a massive amount of pictures. And I know that I am not the only mama with this addiction! We have all these pictures, just bottled up on our hard drives, our memory sticks, and our flash drives; just sitting there, because as all new mother's know, we don't have much time to perfectly place them in a "First Years" Baby Book or heaven forbid, spend hours and hours on an intricate (and expensive at that) scrapbook. Now, I love scrapbooking, don't get me wrong. I think you can pour your heart and soul onto a scrapbook page and it can be so beautiful. But I just don't have the energy, time, or money to go about the hobby in a proper manner. And traditional photo albums aren't really my style. 

How Fast They Grow is an amazing company that is known for their "7-Minute Scrapbook Page", and I can honestly say it's remarkable. With their easy to use program Digi-Scrapbook, all you have to do is drag, drop, and type to make a beautiful, unique, and completely personalized 12X12 scrapbook page [$7.50 each]. The program includes features that allow you to change the fonts and the colors, as well as crop and cut your images with a simple click of the mouse. They offer a wide variety of templates with different colors and themes so you can customize them to your own perfection. All of their pages are printed on acid-free high quality card stock and with proper care can be archived to last longer than traditional scrapbook pages. Just make sure to proofread your pages carefully, because there isn't someone on the other end making sure you spelled everything correctly. Let's just say, I learned the hard way!

By simply setting up a FREE account with How Fast They Grow you will be able to save and share your pages with their online system, as well as receive monthly newsletters with tips and ideas from other "scrapbookers" like yourself.  And with the easiness of the program, you could very well complete an entire book in just a few hours. One you place your order, they ship it out immediately. And after you see the pages for yourself, you'll discover that the quality is unbeatable. You can literally open the envelope and directly place the pages in your own scrapbook (or you can order a book from their shop).

If you want to show off your adorable pictures in a creative and unique way, How Fast They Grow is here to help. With all of the options and selections they offer, you'll be able to make a one of a kind scrapbook, in record time. And anything to save a little time, is alright by me.

Want it?
Readers get 20% off with code mamaspeaks at checkout. Expires 04.30.08

-Jen

Rock-n-Tot

Partyin’ Like It’s Your Birthday (without the birthday) 

My husband and I recently hit up one of the coolest DC nightclubs.  It was like old times, we couldn’t resist the rump-shakin’ beats being spun by the DJ, we got down on the floor, and when our not-like-they-used-to-be bodies couldn’t handle anymore, we chilled out with a cool beverage and bar food.  Only once did we need to leave the dance floor to change a diaper.  That’s right, we brought our toddler, we always said you’re never too young to hit the club scene, right?  Apparently we’re not the only ones who think so as we were joined with at least 100 other beaming tykes and their parents at the Rock-n-Tot event in Washington, DC.

The brain child of mothers Liz Weirshousky and Naomi Hattaway, Rock-n-Tot [$15 per person, non-walkers free] takes over 4 levels of the hottest clubs bringing life to an otherwise ordinary Saturday afternoon.  The events run from 2pm-5pm, working around our nap schedule perfectly.  We experienced one level of dancing to parent and kid friendly music.  These aren’t kid tunes that were spinning but that didn’t stop the under 4 foot set from getting down. (They just didn’t get the same nostalgic feeling when Billy Jean came on and we didn’t have to worry about bleeping out any four letter words.) Kids can freestyle or choose one of the props like hoola hoops or shakers to get them going.  Below us was a quiet and clean place to change diapers and a room just for crawlers that may need to seek safety from thrashing kids. Above us was an entire level of complimentary spa treatments for the entire family from facials, manicures and mini-massages for parents and airbrush tattoos and face painting for the kids.  The top level provided a place for everyone to chill with books, interactive story time and tents. Best of all, each level was stocked with complimentary juices, fruit and other easy to grab and dance snacks.  You’ll also get your chance at winning some great prizes from their growing list of sponsors.

Rock-n-Tot is quickly becoming one of the most sought after events.  We witnessed defeated parents trying to guilt their way into the sold out event so we recommend buying your tickets in advance online and not risking the limited quantities available at the door.  But Rock-n-Tot isn’t just for those Capital City residence (or those willing to drive the much worth it 1 hour+ like us). Midwesterners within the Cleveland vicinity can get their groove on as well, just check the event schedule for both locations.  And maybe if we all throw a tantrum, maybe we can convince Liz and Naomi the rest of the country needs their own Rock-n-Tot locations as well.  Because this is just too cool to keep for ourselves.

Win it!
We're giving away 2 pairs of tickets for Rock-n-N Tot April and 2 pairs of tickets for Rock-n-Tot May. To enter send an email to giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Rock Out as your subject. Please note that tickets are for the Washington DC events only.

-Cara

 

Marmalade Ink

Something To Write Home About 

The personalized greetings by Marmalade Ink are not the usual cutesy variety that you see available online these days. No frills and fluff or generic colors here- these vibrant cards and invitations stand out above the rest and express your style with style.
   

For certain there is a birth announcement to fit your growing family. Your special arrival deserves the royal treatment with the Brandon Michael announcement [$57 for a set of 25] and Adoption announcements like the beautiful GraceAnne gracefully let the whole world know about your new addition. Send the classiest Holiday cards this year that will surely be on display by all your acquaintances. And next birthday, personalize a rockin’ invitation like the Jeremy James [$50 for 25].

 

We were most excited by the Kids Lined Stationery Pads [$32]. Oh, it is so hard it is to find lined paper! Not to mention paper this cool and personalized with your child’s photo and name. My Noah couldn’t wait to write his grandparents a letter and will also be composing a “What I Did Over Spring Break” note to his teacher this week! His eyes were so wide with excitement when he saw this electric guitar notepad of his very own. What a fabulous gift idea for any young writer.

It’s not all about the kids; Marmalade Ink has Something for Mom, too. Take time to send a creative note of your own. Express who you are and encourage the whole family to recapture the lost art of letter writing and sending through the post. There’s nothing like getting a real live letter in the mail.

Want it?
Enter mamaspeaks1 for 10% off all orders. Expires 04.28.08

Win it!
We're giving away a Kids Lined Stationary Pad for one lucky winner! To enter, send an email to giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Marmalade as your subject and let us know which design is your favorite. Giveaway ends March 31, 2008.

-Steph

Subversive Cross Stitch

R-Rated Needle Point 

I hadn’t picked up a needle and thread pretty much since my 6^th grade Life Skills class, but when I came across Julie Jackson’s Subversive Cross Stitch and her *ahem* colorful patterns, I couldn’t wait to dig out my embroidering hoop. After I stopped blushing, that is. This ain’t your Grandma’s cross stitchin'. Well, maybe it is and then, well, you have one hip Grandma.   

   

Knowing some of our readers prefer the more "family friendly" product, we’ll warn you to click and stitch at your own risk as you browse the patterns at Subversive. Preferably shoo the kiddies out of the room. Perfect for the more crass out there, instead of the trite “Bless This House” or “Welcome” sign at your door, why not display a crafty Get Lost! [$12]? The patriotic might appreciate a hand-stitched Truthiness [$12]. Can’t pick just one? Snatch the Subversive Cross Stitch Book [$15] with 33 Designs For Your Surly Side.

   

Each Subversive Cross Stitch basic kit comes with cross stitch fabric, thread, pattern, & instructions. For $8 more you can upgrade to the Deluxe Kit to add an embroidery hoop and two needles. And you can find animated instructions and tutorials available Subversive’s website if you need them. Like I said, I hadn’t crossed a stitch in over 15 years, but these patterns are so very easy to pick up and catch on. Beginners, this is the place to start. If you can thread a needle, you can do this in one day. Old pros will love the tart irony of all this crafty sass. And if needlepoint is just not your thing and never will be, then send a wildly inappropriate message to someone with the Subversive Note Card Set [$14]. Go on, you know you want to.

Win it!
Two readers will receive a Subversive pattern of their very own (Rated PG, we promise). Just send an email to giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Stitch as your subject by midnight January 2.

-Steph

TV Time

Make TV Time Mean Something

       

For most parents, gone are the days when the TV was only something you watched together as a family after dinner or on the weekends. TVs can be found in most every room today, including bathrooms and kitchens, and even cell phones. According to Neilsen Media Research, Americans have more televisions than people in their home. Many parents can probably admit that the TV is on more often than it is off. I am sometimes one of those parents. If I get careless or busy, I find that I have lost track of how long my kids have had the TV on.

TV Time [$20] is the simplest of concepts, a small box with cardboard tickets and an hourglass timer, but it is a tangible way to monitor the TV viewing habits of your family. With tickets in 15 minute increments as well as a movie ticket, you can allot how much TV can be watched. Your child will insert their ticket in the TV Time box and the 15 minute timer will run out when their time is up. 

 

The tickets can be earned, or as part of an allowance or gift- this will help your children avoid “mindless” watching and give them the responsibility of choosing which TV show or movie they want to use their hard-earned ticket for. Once their ticket is spent, the idea is to turn the TV off. Same goes for video, Internet time or computer games- use these tickets as helpful tools to keep track of all boob tube or ‘puter habits.

      

Although it was originally designed for children ages 2-5, I feel that all audiences, regardless of age, can benefit from the idea of TV Time. It simply assists you and your kids to develop better viewing habits. It might not be for everyone if you’ve already got a great sense of discipline, but there are some parents (raising hand) that do need the extra help and in a fun example like TV Time.

Win it!
Need to curb your little one's tube time? We have a TV Time kit for one reader, just email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com by midnight Dec. 09 with TV as your subject to enter.

 

-Steph

Baby B'Air

Baby B’Awesome

I think we can all agree that flying with young kids is about as fun as poking yourself in the eye with a hot fork.  When the kids aren’t crying, screaming or fighting with each other, they’re doing their best wiggly moves to make their way off your lap and into the aisle.  We can’t have them getting arrested for going near the cockpit, and most kids hate to be strapped into their car seats on an airplane, so what’s a parent to do?  Most parents just hang on to the wild child the whole flight, which makes for uncomfortable and stressed out travel.

Enter Baby B’Air.  They have created a safety vest [$34.95] for lap seated infants and toddlers that is approved by the FAA while cruising, and is soft and affordable to boot.  I was shocked to discover that 90% of all injuries on commercial airlines occur during flight, yet our little lap cherubs continue to fly unrestrained.  The award winning Baby B’Air has exceeded FAA stress test levels for aircraft seats, and will give you peace of mind while flying.  It’s the best thing I’ve seen to give a helping hand in keeping the toddler from roaming, and it’s made from extremely soft and comfy fabric, so even the fussiest baby won’t protest wearing it.  My super sensitive boys usually have a hard time wearing any kind of safety restraint, yet they had no complaints about the vest when we simply pretended we were rocket ship captains preparing for launch.  You still aren’t allowed to restrain your munchkin with anything but your arms (or a car seat, in its own purchased seat) during take off, taxi and landing--per FAA regulations--but the good news is that Baby B’Air is working to get an exception for their safety vests.  Baby B’Air has excellent customer service and education, so you’ll never feel left out in the cold with questions or concerns.

When planning your next flight, take along a little help from Baby B’Air.  It won’t help with the screaming or the fighting, but at least they’ll be safe while doing it.

Win it! We have a toddler sized Baby B'Air safety vest for one lucky Mama. Just send an email to reviews[at]mamaspeaks.com by midnight November 15 with Air as your subject.

 

-Arianne

Honest Baby

Tellin' It Like It Is

We try to teach our children that honesty is the best policy, but I've definitely had those moments out with my little one when I've told a little white lie to save face (or avoid the checkout line Mommy police). Because, after the zillionth time someone told me my son would never learn to walk if I carried him in the sling or that he'd never learn to sleep if we didn't stick him in a crib and let him cry it out, I learned that a smile and nod saves a lot of time. My 22+ months as a Mama have also taught me that it doesn't matter what those folks have to say, because the "right" way, is what's right for me.

This is what Honest Baby is all about.  Frustrated with that myth of perfect parenting, Mama Jill Besnoy, set out to create a forum where we can all embrace the imperfect art it truly is. You can share your Honest Baby tales of what's?! and woes and peruse the collection of cool guides and features: ranging from how to choose a babysitter to how to raise a girl, courtesy of Reverend Run.

Being the fashion loving mama's we are, our favorite thing about the Honest Baby experience are the tees. Now, my almost 2 year old can celebrate the fact he's not sleeping through the night, and this Mama doesn't have to say a thing.

Mama Speaks readers get free shipping at Honest Baby with code "honesti".

Zen is In - A Guide for Yogi's, Yogini's and Your Average Joan.

Yoga makes the world go 'round. Ok, so maybe it doesn't but it definitely makes for a more peaceful planet. Yoga is fun, it helps center you (if just for a moment), plus, it's great exercise. And it happens to be all the rage for the kids these days.

Itsy Bitsy Not Just For Spiders Anymore 

I didn’t have much interest in Yoga before I became a mom, it was a little too passive for me.  Enter years of lugging around extra people and co-sleeping in contorted positions, yoga has become my new best friend.  If it can work magic on my aching and stressed muscles, imagine how beneficial it would be for those little people trying to figure out exactly how their bodies work work.  Itsy Bitsy Yoga was developed to nurture babies body, spirit and mind.

Itsy Bitsy Yoga is made up of simple gentle poses designed specifically to help develop your baby’s motor development.  The benefits for baby and Mama are endless from a better night's sleep to less fussiness and it's the best thing around to solve those tricky tummy troubles.  Best of all, it deepens the parent/child bond and gets that new mama out of the house.

Itsty Bitsy Yoga classes are available in most states.  When my son was a newborn, we had to travel a bit to find an Itsy Bitsy Yoga class but in just the past two years, IBY is popping up in yoga studios, gyms and even children’s bookstores world wide.  Classes are available for pre-crawlers, crawlers and toddlers through age 4.   If you’re a slave to the nap and unable to find a class that fits into your schedule, check out the new DVDs for your own home-based session. (Cara)

Yogi-Poli

We know you want the little one's to be comfy and look fashionable while they perfect their downward dog. The Organic Kids line from Yoli-Poli offers up cozy cute tees that are perfect for yoga class or the playground. Available in a variety of colors for boys, girls and baby, the tees feature "lil-yogi's" in some of our favorite poses. They are the perfect inspiration for your little one to show off that tree pose he's been working so hard to master.

For us Mommy-Folk

Of course yoga is great for us grown-ups too. There are countless kinds of classes available ranging from slow paced, gentle Hatha to the super physical Ashtanga (or power yoga) and everything in between. We recommend asking around and checking out YogaFinder.com to find what's available near you.

Prenatal yoga is essential to help you feel comfortable in your growing stretching body and once baby arrives an adult class a week can provide you with some special Mama time. Many adult studios also offer Mommy & Me classes, where mom practices and occasionally incorporates baby as a counterbalance or weight. And of course you can always pick up a DVD to practice your moves at home.

Peaceful Pretty

Let us not forget to pick up something to celebrate our zen status. Soft, colorful and made from the finest materials, OMgirl's line brings separates that are perfect for yoga practice and everyday. Their pants are definitely something to write home about, super soft and durable they've quickly become our go-to for class, bed-time, grocery runs and play dates. Ok, so we'd live in them if they didn't ever need to be washed.

"OMgirl clothing is made with love and is meant to inspire joy and encourage the world to discover the Yoga within." And since we can't go a minute without thinking of our kids you might want to check out the Teeny Yogini collection for infants, toddlers, boys and girl.

Namaste.

Win it!
We're giving away a copy of the Itsy Bitsy Yoga Sleep n' Grow DVD [$20]! Just send an email to reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com and let us know the name of the amazing woman who developed IBY by Midnight, October 21.

Let's Paaaaaarty!

I'm convinced there lives a creature in every mom's dryer that has a hunger for socks. Ok, so not really, but why is it that one sock is always missing? Never the pair and never the old, ratty, holey sock, nope- no way, always one of our favs. Well, Little MissMatched has the perfect solution to our woes. Their socks come in three's and are wonderfully mismatched, that way if one goes missing, you'll always have an extra. The funky, bold colors and cute designs are perfect for any girly girl or fun fashion-pushing mama, and thanks to the new Mixter Max line, the boys and daddy's can go sock crazy too.

Since their socks were such a huge success Little MissMatched has expanded to include fun bedding, accessories, toys and our favorite PJ's. Speaking of PJ's... Little Miss Match is hosting the most marvelous pajama party on the planet this Friday, October 19! (Mama's can read more info here) There'll be prizes, laughs and all sorts of fun, but hurry, you have to sign up by October 17.

Win it!
We'll be celebrating with Little MissMatched's two fabulous new books, Pajama Party in a Box and Marvelous Fabulous Me, Quiz in a Box! Of course we have copies of both for 5 lucky readers! And we'll get to you in time for Friday's PJ party! Just send us an us an email (reviews@mamaspeaks.com) after you get your girly-girls registered for the party with your mailing address and we'll chose winners at random. (ends midnight October 16)

We're so excited, I'm thinking about where I can ship my husband off to so I can have my own grown-up girly sleep-over, or maybe I could just borrow daughter. Hmmm, any takers?

Baby Breifs

I've never really been an organized person. I think that gene skipped me. Clutter, clutter and oh yeah, more clutter is what you'll find at my house. I have this problem, this paper problem, this piling of paper problem. I pile everything. Bills, in a pile. Letters, in a pile. Magazines, in a pile. No wonder I can never find important papers when I need them!

Well, guess what comes with having a baby? PAPERS! Insurance papers, hospital papers, birth certificate info, picture info, and oh, so much more. Well, here's the answer to all our baby paper problems...The Baby Briefcase by Organized from the Start. This handy organizer fits into any standard size file cabinet, and holds all the important info you'll need for your new baby. It includes 14 separators and a nice button closure. For just $29.95 you can store your organizational worries away with all that paperwork.

Free shipping on all orders for a limited time at Organized from the Start.

-Jaymi

Introducing Your Wee Little One

Once baby makes her grand entrance into this world we get the joy of spreading the word to our friends and family (and neighbors and acquaintances and friends of friends and the mailman...) Phone calls are lovely and an email is nice, but we like to think that good old fashioned printed announcements are the way to go.

The mama-made custom photo cards from Wee Little Designs make introducing your little one quick and painless. With an enormous selection of designs to choose from, you can easily add photo's and stats for the perfect intro. Ordering is a breeze and you can choose to have the cards mounted and mailed or emailed to you, so you can print as you see fit.

While definitely in the business of ringing in babe, Wee Little Designs also offers a wide range of party invites, holiday greetings and just moved announcements.

And all through September you can get your custom design emailed to you for only $20. If that isn't robbing the cradle I don't know what is.