Things we love: Angel Dear Monograms

Lovies are a toddler essential. Trips to the doctor, a relief with a babysitter and times when mom isn't around. A lovie is the perfect toddler comfort item. And, gone are the days of plain blankets. Lovies come in all shapes, sizes and species.

Angel Dear makes, in my opinion, one of the best lovies. They are the perfect size, 14” square, and made of the softest, most durable material. These guys can be rubbed, loved, dragged on the floor and still look impeccable. They come in adorable animal shapes - puppies, lions, frogs, bunnies, ducks, monkeys, giraffes, you name it, and Two Blue Peas carries it.

Best of all, these lovies can be monogrammed. Siblings won’t confuse their lovies, and forget about it being swiped at daycare. Your child’s name can be emblazoned on the side with pride. My little one has been drooling on her duck lovie for a year and a half. And, each time I can pry it out of her hands for a wash and dry, her Angel Dear looks brand new!

Culture shot: April showers bring kiddie cabin fever

Rain, rain go away, mommy might go crazy today.

After spending a couple of cooped up soggy days at home this weekend, I found myself actually enjoying the downtime for once. Cooking in, watching movies, and leisurely thumbing through my new mags between catnaps – it was like a mini vacation from my usual errands and cleaning frenzy.

I promise I’m not trying to gloat. And I realize that none of the above can be achieved with a toddler in the coop.

If the last movie you watched on a rainy day was Lady and the Tramp, and the only one in your house actually napping is the cat himself, I’m sure wet weekends can feel like anything but a break.

Entertaining a toddler on a beautiful day can be taxing enough. But trying to distract a whining 2 year old from wanting to go outside during a downpour can be downright mind-bending.

With a little imagination (and a lot of patience), there are plenty of creative indoor activities to pass the time until the playground dries off. I found a couple of fun ones online worth sharing:

• Build sheet forts and camp out indoors
• Turn the kitchen floor into an empty plastic bottle bowling alley
• Bake sugar cookies and decorate them with colored icing
• Make homemade play-doh
• Bathe washable dolls and toys in the tub
• Go on a flashlight safari hunt for teddy bears
• Finger paint on the shower walls
• Have an indoor picnic on the living room floor
• Make paper bag puppets and put on a show
• Water the house plants with bath squirt toys
• Create junky jewelry with rope, empty spools of thread, large tubular pasta, metal washers, and paper towel rolls cut into rings

If all else fails, webcam Gramma and beg her to entertain.

Mommy Diaries: Lillie Accessorizes with Eyewear

There is nothing more keen than a 19 months old's fashion sense. Lillie has a flair for accessories. We all know about her love of hats (or buckets for hats), but one of her new loves this Spring is eyewear.

Thankfully baby fashion makers have lots of eyewear to choose from for little peas. Here's a peek into how my lovely daughter accessorizes her outfits when heading out the door this season.

Style file: the Two Blue Peas meet Tim Gunn!

Last night, our fashion fantasy came true.

Not only did Helen and I sit front-and-center at an exclusive fashion show emceed by the Royal Fashion Highness himself, but we were able to shake his hand, giddily introduce ourselves, and pose for a lovely photo opp. Which, of course, was set against a petal pink backdrop that coordinated perfectly with his tie and rosy cheeks.

Going into the event, I expected nothing less than pure poise, eloquence, and stylish brilliance. I’m happy to report that Mr. Gunn certainly “made it work”.

The way he presented each look that sashayed down the runway inspired me to re-think my wardrobe and the way I dress myself each morning. By the end of the show, I had mentally created a gargantuan giveaway pile and simple checklist of key items missing from my closet.

It’s not about keeping up with the trends or replicating your favorite star’s look from head to toe. It’s about finding your own inner style and then knowing how to piece a collection together that can be mixed and matched, dressed up or down, and accessorized inexpensively to keep each look fresh.

Here are the takeaways from the soiree that I’d like to share:

• Know who you are and how you wish to be perceived by others
• There is no right or wrong in fashion (only a right and wrong way to achieve a true self “style”)
• Rid yourself of boundaries and try on anything that interests you – you just never know
• Pay attention to silhouette, proportion, and fit, and always prioritize those first when shopping
• Arm your closet with a variation of Tim’s "10 essential elements", keeping in mind that these 10 should vary wildly from one woman to the next, depending on her inner style

Looking around the room I saw silent nods, heard oohs and ahhs, and almost sensed a newfound confidence among the ladies in attendance desperately seeking some direction on how to achieve a personal style.

Bravo Mr. Gunn. It was a delight meeting you, and an inspiring experience to say the least. Until next time, Auf Wiedersehen!

> Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style (book)
> Tim Gunn's Guide to Style (tv series)
> Project Runway (greatest show on Earth)

Things we love: Pregnancy & Newborn magazine

Ah, life’s little happies. At the top of my list are clean sheets, full-fat ice cream, and a mailbox full of fashion magazines.

The little green monster on my shoulder nags that I should cancel my subscriptions and read them online. But curling up on the couch, flipping through the glossy pages, and folding down corners is one of those pleasures I’m just not ready to give up. When finished, they go into my recycle bin – promise.

One day, there will likely be a new monster advising that I replace my current reads with mags focused solely on baby. That voice too, I shall ignore. Well, sort of.

There is obviously a need for the old standbys to keep you up to snuff on everything baby – safety, health, what to expect. But any mom will testify that it’s important to not completely lose yourself in the crazy shuffle that is parenthood.

I think I’ve found the best of both worlds. A magazine that marries the down-and-dirty parenting advice with tips on how to look and feel fabulous in the process.

A relative newcomer to the scene, Pregnancy & Newborn magazine is a refreshing blend of all things selfless and selfish about being pregnant and caring for a newborn.

With regular features like “lust vs. must”, “celebrity fashion stakeouts”, and “retail therapy”, this pub is the perfect compromise between InStyle and Parents. Because yes, those two words can be uttered together in the same sentence.

Culture Shot: Going Green for Baby

Green is the color of choice these days. It's a buzz word in the media, a lifestyle and now it is an educated and healthier way of life. Gone are the 80's where excess was the trend, insert aerosol hairspray comment here. We’re living in the 21st century, and we all should be challenged to rethink our carbon footprint.

Raising a baby certainly comes with its own sense of excess. The amount of waste we all produce those first two years is astounding. But, if we think about just doing one Earth-friendly thing a day, no matter how many dirty diapers we’re putting in landfills, an impact will be felt. Here are some great ways to go green for your home. And, it doesn’t involve wearing patchouli, I promise.

1. Switch to environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. My new favorite, from the makers of Clorox, is green works.

2. Choose a better laundry detergent. All laundry has created their detergents to be 3X as powerful to reduce the amount of plastic used to make the packaging.

3. Use chlorine-free diapers. Seventh Generation makes a great diaper that not only works well, but is kinder to bottoms and the environment.

4. Rent toys, don't buy them. Babyplays.com is a genius endeavor by a mom who wanted to help reduce waste and amount of space toys took up in her home. The toys are sterilized and packaged before they come to your home. I love this idea.

Take a little time this Earth Day to think about how you can change that one little thing in your routine. And if you're really wanting to geek out, you can measure your carbon footprint at www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx. It's quite surprising what it will tell you.

Mommy Diaries: TV or not to TV?

Oh, television, how I love thee? Let me count the ways...seriously, how can I live without it? I think Lillie started her TV addiction at about 13 months. Signing Time is her preferred program, and it is in high demand all day long. A good educational program, yes, but a bigger pain in my butt.

I have an internal battle about the television. Does Lillie need to watch TV everyday? If she's this enthusiastic about TV now, what happens at age 2 or 3 or 4? Am I raising a couch potato? Well, its not like we watch all day. In fact, I try to limit TV to only twice a day for 30 minutes. But, after reading all the reports about toddlers and television, I have the guilties about even that small amount of time.

How can I win? Although the guilty feelings are strong, the TV gives me time to sit and answer email, do laundry, have a conversation on the phone. Well, and even as we speak, write this blog. I think, Lillie loves learning sign language, and in fact she's quite good at it. And, the only person teaching her is Racheal from Signing Times, not Mommy. So, it can't be all bad, right?

Most of my mommy friends and my own mom say I need to let it go. I play, go on adventures and all around interact with my child for every other minute of the day. And, the one hour of TV a day isn't going to negate all that hard work. But, still the guilties are there. Maybe that's just part of being a mom; always having a guilty feeling about something!

And you thought your baby was cute.

Of course your little one is the most adorable thing on the block. Unless that block happens to be somewhere in the Tiergarten Nuernberg zoo in Germany.

Flocke the 2 month old baby polar bear made her public debut this week, and the AP caught it all in some really amazing photos.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for nature, brilliant photography, and any kind of baby – even if I they can’t be dressed up in Two Blue Peas garb. Happy Friday!

> view the AP slideshow
(which also features some of Flocke's other new baby buddies)

Style File: Feminine & Flowy for Summer

Summer is around the corner and already cool cotton clothes have hit the stores. Styles this summer season are reflecting the warming trend around the globe with flowy, feminine styles. Both you and baby can relax in cool cotton clothing, avoiding those dreaded sweat rings around your mid-section while taking in a baseball game or picnic in the park.

Designers must be getting hip on the fact that global warming has a strong effect on our comfort and style, thank goodness. No longer do you need to wear fitted tees and suffocating tube tops. This season you can throw on an a-line top with shorts and be cool as a cucumber.

And, let's not forget about our little ones, as well. Sure onesies are a viable option for indoor play. But, if you're spending time outside, give her a breezy top and keep her cool while it’s hot. Kumquat and Zutano both have great cotton swing tops for baby this season. Not only are they heat friendly, they are very adorable.

So, keep cool this summer and avoid the drips down your mid-section. With rising temperatures, I'm sure we're set to break records this summer.

Things we love: personalized pea presents

What’s in a name? Everything!

It’s what Mom yells at you when you’re doing something bad. It’s where your goofy nickname springs from in high school. But most importantly, it’s how you claim your stake on a favorite lovie that’s for your hugs only.

Naming a child is about as tough as the labor itself. OK, maybe there’s never been a case of baby naming that required an episiotomy, but you get the point. It’s hard to come up with the perfect name both Mom and Dad are happy with.

Once finally chosen, new parents just love proudly plastering their little pea’s initials all over everything. Before they have the chance to take a Sharpie to every surface in the nursery, treat them to a gift with a gorgeous custom monogram. We use thread, not permanent marker.

Two Blue Peas has a slew of items that can be personalized in a variety of fonts and colors. Our personal fav? The ultra-plush lovies from Angel Dear.

For $20 (that includes the monogram!), you’d be hard pressed to find anything more adorable or thoughtful. They monogram beautifully and are sure to be cherished for years to come.

> view all personalized items

Culture shot: “Giant” music for little people

While only slightly better than its evil predecessor, the eighties, the nineties brought us many memorable things. Fanny packs, Beanie Babies, the Macarena, and a little ditty about Istanbul (not Constantinople).

Thank goodness the fanny pack is now extinct, but They Might Be Giants is very much alive and still cranking out catchy tunes. Only this time, their audience is a bit smaller – literally.

First they brought us Here Come the ABCs – a quirky collection of songs that received an A++ from kiddos and parents alike. Now with the alphabet down pat, TMBG put their unique spin on the letter’s best friend, numbers.

With tunes like "Triops Has Three Eyes" and "Infinity", They Might Be Giants Here Come the 123s is sure to get two sticky thumbs up.

Educational content, catchy lyrics, and a bonus DVD with puppet performances of each track – what’s not to love? Lillie graciously let me borrow her DVD, and I have to admit, the album had me at Zero.

Have a quick listen to "Seven" (plus a few bonus tracks from Here Come the ABCs):

Mommy Diaries: Battle of the No's

How can such a small word create this twitch in the back of my neck? I know it's common for toddlers to use the word "no". Unfortunately it is easy to say, repeat and turn into a really long whine. I think it is Lillie's favorite word besides "want". What all the parenting articles online don't tell you is just how annoying the word "no" can become.

Experts suggest that you shouldn't use the word often, so your toddler won't pick up on it. I feel like i don't say "no" a lot to Lillie. I try to say "don't" "stop" or "please". And, often "no" is followed by "ma'am", just to give it a nicer feel. Alas, Lillie still uses it as often and loud as possible. Try to get her to do something small like put on shoes, "NOOOOOOO" is all I hear. Would you like to eat your lunch? "nnooooo, NOOOOOOO!"

I don't know how long this phase will last, but I'm trying to cope. I ignore, give in to demands and try to distract as soon as that word hits the front of her lips. I hope as her vocabulary grows her need for the word "no" will dissipate. I'm sure it will be replaced with other varied words of meanness towards her mommy, but I think at this point I might like that better. Give me "stupid", "absolutely not" or "I hate you", anything just not that little, tiny booger of a word "no".

Keeping up with your Mimi

Whether you're near family or not, its always hard to keep everyone up-to-date on the latest with your baby. Little ones change constantly and are always coming up with something new to show off. Whether it's a first hello, bye-bye or steps; I personally know that sharing these moments becomes extremely important. Especially to the ones who want to spoil them the most, grandmothers!

The most essential tool for keeping the family updated on progress is by far my digital camera. I have a small love affair with my Cannon Digital ELPH. Not only does it take the most amazing pictures of my pea, it has a specific kid and pet setting option to snap photos with. Because, we know little ones don't sit still and moments happen fast. It also takes great video.

So, emailing photos is great, but what about video? If you are leery of YoutTube, as I was. I have found a great alternative site for sharing your videos. Vimeo.com has one of the easiest interfaces and processes for posting and sharing online. Once you upload, you just email a link to your family and voila, instant Mimi gratification.

Some other great tips for keeping the family in touch:
- web cams
- start your own blog, Blogger.com
- photo sharing services like Shutterfly.com
- weekly or monthly emails
- start your own baby site BabySites.com

Whatever vehicle you choose, I promise your friends and family will love all the information about your little one. I know I feel like I inundate everyone with Lillie pics and videos, but they all seem to happily want more. At least that's what they say to my face!

Style file: fab fabrics for a DIY nursery

I’m a glutton for fabulous fabrics. I have a giant plastic bin in my closet full of remnants I’ve collected here and there because I just know I’ll have a use for them someday.

I don’t have the need for a nursery just yet, but you better believe I have visions of the perfect one laid out in my head – bedding, accent pillows, curtains, and all.

Of course I plan to start with a gorgeous Serena & Lily crib set as my inspiration, but the rest will be one-of-a-kind, custom-made goodness sewn by yours truly out of some of the best fabrics I’ve found this side of the web.

If you want to create a modern and unique space for your little bundle-to-be, but feel overwhelmed by the fabrics and intimidated by the machine, have no fear. There are plenty of easy patterns out there for roman shades, basic tab-top drapes, square pillows, flat bedskirts… that can all be tackled by a novice.

The best place to start is with a color palette and fabric selection. Here’s a list of my favorite sites that are all bursting at the seams with amazing choices:

Things we love: Swaddle Designs Swaddlers

There are few baby items that I personally give to all expecting moms. And, although there are so many "needs" that come with having a baby, a Swaddle Design swaddler is an essential. This one is mom tested, friend recommended and baby approved all the way around. And, I'm pretty sure Lillie lived in her swaddler for the first 3 months.

Lynette Damir is the creator and inspiration behind this wonderful blanket. As an RN and mother, she was searching for the perfect swaddler. Not only is the blanket large enough to actually wrap your baby in it, but it’s stylish and will make you so happy to create your baby burritos. Wouldn't you know it would take an RN to create such a thing? Remember how perfectly swaddled your baby was in the hospital? Well, I'm not lying when I say this blanket will help you re-create that perfect wrap.

My personal loves are the modern prints, big bold circles and now Swaddle Designs has added a modern square print (which Two Blue Peas will be adding to our Swaddle Designs selection). The colors do not fade in the wash and the fabric gets softer and easier to handle the more it is used.

Trust this mommy, this is the essential swaddler. You will sleep longer and your baby will be happier; snug as a bug in her or his beautiful blanket.

Culture shot: giving bag to the community

Musical handbags – we’re all guilty of it. I’ve probably owned more purses than underwear in my lifetime.

You “need” a diaper bag (of course), a big roomy bag for every day use, a small dressy clutch for special occasions, a sporty sack for outdoor events and concerts, a bright funky tote for traveling… and you probably buy a new set of all these to follow the trends each season.

Women are able to justify a new handbag for pretty much any reason. How about one more, much better reason? FredaLA’s “Success is in the Bag” handbag donation drive.

FredaLA.com is donating gently-used, work-appropriate handbags to the lovely ladies of La Posada – a two year transitional home for teen mothers in California. In return, donators receive a $20 FredaLA.com gift certificate. Talk about win-win.

In addition to providing day care, domestic violence protection, and parenting classes, La Posada has helped young women achieve increased job preparedness, employable skills, and job stability since 1985.

"To get a job you've got to walk in the door looking great and feeling great,” says FredaLA founder Freda Kunin. “Sometimes, for a woman, it's as simple as a new handbag – a seemingly small luxury that many of us take for granted."

Handbag donations (new or used) can be made through FredaLA.com or by calling (888) 987-5678 and mailing them to:

FredaLA (Attn: La Posada)
9903 Santa Monica Blvd #349
Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Full details on the program and how to get your $20 gift certificate are available online at www.fredala.com.

Mommy Diaries: Lillie counts to ten!

Lillie scares me a little with how smart she is. When we play, she loves anything to do with letters and numbers. And, well, she really loves to give a good performance. This is my first child and I don't know when little ones are supposed to know these types of things. But, in my mind, she is a genius. A really cute one at that!

Parenting via message board

Take a look at any new mom’s bedside table and you’re sure to find a state-of-the-art video monitor, an emergency paci, a sour bottle, and a mountain of parenting books piled higher than the lamp. “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child”, “The Happiest Baby on the Block”, “Baby 411”…

Unless she’s a caffeine-pill-popping freak of nature that can learn via osmosis while sleeping with her hand on top of the stack of books, no real mom could ever get through one of those reads from start to finish. Let alone 20 of them.

I’m sure many of the authoring medical professionals, therapists, and “experts” have lots of valuable lessons to teach. But I’m willing to bet that other moms in similar rocky boats can probably impart the same wisdom in far less than 750 pages.

A stranger to message boards before starting Two Blue Peas, I assumed all of them were places for weirdoes to lurk and zealots to press issues. I was totally surprised to discover a handful of mommy boards that were just the opposite.

These communities are chock full of ladies seeking and providing advice, empathy, and unbiased ears for venting.

In addition to invaluable first-hand accounts and brutally honest opinions, I found friendships that had formed completely online. Bonds that were created by going through like experiences and sharing about them.

If you’re late on the message board wagon and are sick of staring at that intimidating mound of books, whip out the laptop and see what TiredMommy911 has to say about her encounter with projectile green vomit. That subject is probably not covered in chapter 35 anyway.

My favorite boards:
> Mommies With Style
> BabyCenter

Style file: Puj Slings

Baby carriers have to be the best accessory a parent can have. When Lillie was smaller than her 27 pound frame, I used to haul her around the house, neighborhood, grocery store, you name it in a baby sling. She loved being curled up close against me, warm and happy.

Two Blue Peas is so happy to carry, what I feel are the stylish baby slings out on the market. Not only is it great a great design, Puj slings are made with the most beautiful fabrics. Which, if you do some research, you don't find in many places. No longer are the days of feeling like your wearing your baby's nursery wrapped around your torso. Puj fabrics are hip, contemporary and accessorize any outfit.

If you do have a little pea now or one on the way, take this mom's advice. A Puj baby sling will get your errands, house cleaning and walks around town done easily. Well, and with great style, too.

Things we love: groovy dishes from Boon

There are countless things on your child’s to-do list that you prepare for, make a huge fuss about, and photograph obsessively.

The first smile (caused by something other than gas), the first mumble that resembles “mama”, the first attempt to crawl across the hardwoods to reach a favorite toy.

These firsts are all thrilling, and totally merit maxing out the memory on your camera. But I have to say my favorite of the milestones is the introduction of solid foods.

This one requires a whole lot more than the camcorder. You need a naked baby, 4-6 extra hands, a special chair, protective covering for anything within 10 feet of the table, a hose, and of course, cool dishes to entice your little one to dive right in.

The ultra-mod feeding line from Boon is perfect for the job. They’re bright, non-breakable, and designed with your child’s small hands in mind.

Fluid is easy to grip, Snack Ball is just the right size, and Groovy makes mealtime fun with its interlocking compartments and dipping bowls.

This rite of passage into toddlerhood deserves nothing but the best. And Boon is just that – the best!