The Daily Stroll

Going Out With A Bang

There she is. The inspiration for this entire venture, the dailystroll. She has become quite the fashionista and while not everything has to be pink and princess-like, she is enjoying new hair accessories. The satin headbands from Bugalug to be precise. I find them rather innovative with their patented plastic toggle design. Simple slide the band over your head (or that of your fashionable preschooler) and tighten to a perfect fit with the toggle.

Ruby has fabulous hair for these headbands too, and I just love giving her a little bit of bangs out the front and keeping her wild mane under control in the back. I can even sport a Bugalug headband if I like and they have so many great designs on the website it is hard to choose. Based in Calgary Alberta, Canada their website their products are available right from their website or at several retailers.

Other headbands can slip or give you a headache but with Bugalug baby all you get is style and comfort. This is very important when introducing your daughter to all of the wondrous hair accessories she can enjoy as a girl. Save the "beauty is pain" lecture for when she shaves her legs at age 8 without your guidance. For now stick to the simple and sweet and painless.

designer:: Bugalug Baby

dailystroll readers enter DLYSTRL10 at checkout for 10% off of your order. exp. 4.30.08.

Keep It Clean

A Performance Bib. That is what we all need. Well not us, but our little people in our lives who tend to spatter peas on everything. As I was scraping bananas off of my expensive wallpaper this morning I wished that everything could be covered in a lovely soft terry with a waterproof backing. At least if my wallpaper can't be during infant feeding time, my infant can be and she sure needs it.

Baby Chaleco makes Performance Bibs. They cover up baby or toddler in a cute, and flexible way. No more starchy or hard plastic bibs- I mean who wants to sit in their high char with that on? They even cover the shoulders which can get just as messy as everything else when baby is trying to avoid said peas and such by nodding her head side to side. A few different styles are available, The "Dribble Buster" is cute, the "Frock" is fitting, but my favorite is the "Shoulder Shield" for those sticky pea incidents we keep having.

I also got to thinking that Baby Chaleco bibs make a great first birthday party bib. When you let junior at the cake you will want to protect his first birthday outfit that you spent a fortune on and fantasize about turning into an heirloom.

designer:: baby chaleco

Priority shipping is standard on orders of two or more products.

boob

boob. It becomes all about the boob for millions of women each year. Trouble is, they can be a bit unruly. Leaking, popping out of your shirt, showing up right when the mail carrier comes to the door (personal experience). Wouldn't it be nice to simply lift up and pull down just the important part of the top when you need to expose the goods? I mean the last thing anyone wants is to expose their stomach as well during nursing hour. We are not talking "Girls Gone Wild" here we are simply talking chic, discreet, stylish nursing wear. That is boob.

boob is also a maternity brand. Each piece is a Lycra stretch cotton to insure a great fit. Transition wear is key, and two outfits for the price of one is a plus. Wear it before, wear it after and since you will really love it- wear it way after. No one will know. What they will know is that you are super fabulous and smart for your wardrobe choices. With a double layer of fabric over the bust, each nursing top is like your little secret weapon for keeping your style side and your mommy side happy and in sync.

designer:: boob
available at:: due maternity

Bon Amies

If you are a mom, aunt, grandmother, Godmother, or special friend to a little girl you are probably aware of what they wish for on the market these days. Those commercials with those dolls (not naming names but you know who they are), and toys focused on beauty not brains are what they want from 3 to 13, but is that what you really want them to want? What you want them to aspire to? What you want to spend your hard earned money on? I didn't think so.

We want to build strong women. We want them to value themselves and their bodies and brains. We don't want the plastic doll circus scattered throughout our living room (not to mention we don't want to see her perfect size zero with giant boobs figure laying naked on our kitchen floor before we have had our first cup of coffee). Let's start a movement to move away from that and find products that our kids and tweens can really use.

Kids love dogs, and tweens love great colors, dogs, skulls, argyles and mixing them all together. They love cool laptop covers, chic coin purses, and toting their first real wallet. Preschoolers love a first backpack, and we love AMIES Circle for creating a positive product line that does not set out to start a frenzy of eating disorders and questions like "how come the Bratz  and Barbie dolls (okay I named names) get to wear half shirts?" How about a super cool question like "hey aunt Liz, can I please have a cute laptop sleeve?". "For $20 why yes you most certainly can" will be my answer and somehow I know that it will be yours too.

AMIES Circle is the brainchild of Jubily Boy. A San Francisco based designer and mom who is pairing children's love of animals with great style, great prices, and safe products. Her lead free line of bags and stationery is super cute and addictive. Pick your favorite character and grab up everything in the line. I like Sir Louie. He seems smart but tough. Perhaps you like Donnatella or Bingo? You will have to see for yourself. Also checkout the page of fun downloads for kids such as coloring pages and color posters. Jubily Boy really has something here and we are so thrilled to help her spread the positive word.

designer:: AMIES Circle

Free Shipping on orders of $50+

Well Nested

Babies are small. Yes this is a fact. My babies were both under 7lbs and surprisingly it was tough to put them in what I thought were regular newborn outfits. The second time around when baby E was born I wised up and purchased quite a few 5-8lb tops, hats, and gowns. This was very helpful since she was 3 weeks early and stayed under 8lbs for her first month or so. If I hadn't found companies that really knew how to dress a lightweight newborn she would have been swimming in clothes that were too big, unsafe, and not cozy. A un-cozy baby? Oy- what a thought.

Westcoast Baby has the right idea with their nesting kit. Complete with Infant Kimono (great for not having to put something over baby's head), Infant Beanie Hat, and Cocoon Blanket, the complete set comes in a handful of hip and cozy colors. Sizing 5-9lbs, or 8-12lbs. The nesting kit comes in a keepsake tin (so when they are done wearing their cozy outfit you can preserve it forever), and all pieces are made from a super soft knit jersey fabric.

designer:: westcoast baby

receive 15% off of your purchase by using the link above. expires 4.30.08

Good Enough To Eat

Sure there are many barrettes out there but there is only one Cakie. This delectable confectionery treat (direct quote) is good enough to eat, but wait- don't! Felt tastes furry and besides your little fashionista needs this for her hair and if you eat it you are depriving her from being stopped on the street and told how adorable she is. What's that? You need one too? Oh you are in luck, now there are Mama Cakies. There are also "rock on" clips, cakies to clip to your lapel, and sweet mums popping up from the whimsical garden that is the brain of designer Ruby Ellen Bratcher.

Mom of True and Brave, and adoring wife of Benny, Ruby is on the verge of big things. Busting down the doors of boutiques everywhere and wowing us with her layers of sweetness.

designer:: MyCakies

Personalitee

It is after all all about the kids. They want everything for themselves so why not indulge?

Resa design has a super cute way of coupling modern fabrics with a vintage twist. Appliquéd lettering, shapes, or numbers on whiter than white tees for your tot are as fresh as their baby bottom. Celebrate a birthday with a numbered tee  or bring out their personality with the first letter of their name on a keepsake shirt. Does your little cutie love turtles or birds? Stars or hearts? They are in luck. Oh luck- maybe they should do a clover?

No matter what Resa dreams up it is sewn with perfection and her custom pieces are the proof. Checkout other items like clothing, burp cloths, changing pads, and great "mom tips" scattered about the site.

designer:: resa design

daily stroll readers mention March STROLL at checkout for 20% off of your order. exp 3.31.08.

Puppy Love

In the Spring 2008 collection at Mairzey Dotes there is a certain blanket that I am loving. Dogs scattered about a crisp baby blue cotton with a reversible coordinating pattern of pajama stripes. Lined with love and cotton on the inside, and 100% cotton all around. Big enough for a tummy time play mat but not too big for your little one to drag about the house. With a preschooler and an infant in the house we are using "D is for Dog" from Mairzey Dotes a lot. Baby E loves to have her tummy time and look at the doggy friends while Ruby insists on counting them all.

Dogs not your thing? Check out the rest of the reversible collection, perfect for your modern nursery.

designer:: mairzey dotes

daily stroll readers receive 10% off any order. code: STROLL10. expires 3.31.08.

Quick Affix

 

If you are anything like me, a busy, working, crazed mom and wife you pretty much never remember to get greeting cards and or wrapping paper in time for events like birthday's and hostess gifts. The last minute run to the grocery store or corner gift store is SO not my idea of what to do with any extra time I may have before running out the door. When the babysitter is on the clock any spare time must be spent perfecting my "look", not fussing with wrapping paper.

I rely on quick methods of perfection when it comes to the last minute wrap job. This pretty much entails of slapping a sticker on a gift- and with Cardstix that is all you need to do and you (I promise) will wow the recipient of said gift.

Cardstix is a great company with gift labels that you can purchase in bulk for events like birthday's, holiday's and general all purpose "just because" gifts like this one above, which is so cute for your golfing girlfriend. Is her birthday coming up? Well grab a bottle of her favorite wine or sparkling cider and slap a Cardstix label on. Beforehand just pen the special To and From note and you are all set!

designer:: cardstix collection

daily stroll readers receive 10% off of their purchase! code: dailyst10 at checkout. expires 4.30.08. Also free shipping through March!

Mamaisms

I have to say I am pretty much over the tees that say stuff trend. I am a plain Jane and like to wear solid tees. This is probably because too many graphics on the front of a tee calls too much attention to "the girls" and they are huge and now sagging (thanks 2 kids) and they don't like to compete for space.

I will say that I do like the collection by Mamaisms though. I mean how can you not like a tee that says the exact "Mama-isms" you and your mother, and her mother have spouted for generations? "Play Nice" and "Mind Your Manners" are my favorites, and I appreciate these designers for placing the wording and images in flattering spots. The way the Mamaism lays across "the girls" doesn't make the tee seem two sizes to small and stretch out the lettering, and the off-set retro graphics are great. The tees are super soft and have just enough stretch. They are flattering and in my opinion run true to size.

What is your favorite Mamaism?

designer:: Mamisms Gear

ABOUT::
Mamaisms Gear is an “attitude revolution” carried forward through the simple, powerful wisdom dispensed by mothers for generations. Each Mamaism shirt is created with a distinct personality to allow you to express your inner Mama through familiar sayings and heartfelt encouragement.

"Mamaisms Gear – Because the world needs a dose of common sense!"

Mamaisms shirts are made from environmentally and ethically sound practices to deliver Turkish cotton in hip and stylish cuts. From common pieces of advice such as "Mind Your Manners" to "Play Nice," Mamasims shirts make an impact each time you wear them!

Mamaisms shirts are cut in a flattering women’s slim-fit style, are extremely durable, and made of 100% combed cotton in a tight gauge knit with a soft finish. Machine washable, and low-heat dry.

Created by four superb female entrepreneurs, Mamaisms Gear is all about strong mothers and strong families. They donate 5% of their profits to a local outreach program: The Child Advocacy Commission and The Parenting Place. Through their support groups and educational services they address the issues facing at risk families and those overcoming the legacy of domestic violence.