The Daily Stroll

Frilly? Really? Is it back? Did it ever leave?

I woke up this morning to two email newsletters from two of the other popular top baby/mom websites on the Internet. Both were featuring items that 1. I would never buy or write about, and 2. that seem to be a bit dated as in the year of the bedazzle.

Maybe it is just me so I thought that a reader poll would be fun! Please enter your answer below to the question- Is "Frilly" Back? By "Frilly" I mean decorating tees for kids with tulle, painting kids canvas shoes, bedazzling pacifiers, baby onesies, applique's on jean skirts. Do you want to see more of this on the Daily Stroll or are you super duper happy with the modern selection of toys, clothing and goods for home that I show? Either way I am probably going to stick to writing about what I would and do actually buy for my kids but it makes an interesting poll. IS FRILLY BACK? You tell me. Did it ever leave? It is possibly  that I am just blissfully ignoring "frilly"? It reminds me of older women pairing tracksuits with high heels and gives me the twitches.

PS. you can vote more than 1 answer for example you can check both, No and thanks for not showing frilly. BUT- you can't view the poll results unless you vote!

Dear Daily Stroll: Birthday Outfits?

We received this note in our box:

My son's first birthday is this March and I've been looking for a special shirt and hat for him to wear when he dives into his first birthday cake and the paparazzi that is my family captures the moment.  I wondered if you have any ideas because so far I'm not inspired by anything I've seen (I haven't found much).

Thank you in advance!

Meredith

Our response was:

Ruby wore outfits for her 2nd and 3rd birthday and I plan to get one for her 4th from Liliputians-NYC!  Not to mention her little sister's 1st birthday! You can get an entire outfit or just a tee. We suggest entire outfit for that perfect photo op though and they make a wonderful heirloom!


- update- Meredith loves the idea! - thanks for a great question and Happy Birthday to your son!
Ooooo Lizzie I knew you would point me in the right direction.  Love these!  Thank you thank you!

Meredith

designer:: liliputians-nyc

photos of Ruby in her 3rd birthday outfit::

Dear Daily Stroll... Have You Seen These Tees?

Dear Daily Stroll.....

I am writing about the most adorable t-shirts that I have purchased. If you are a movie lover or just a fan of famous lines you will love these shirts because they will be the talk of your mommy-and-me play groups. The website is http://www.bfmwear.com/. And the name of the company is Baby Fish Mouth.

I have a two year old son, and we purchased the “he made me a bottle I couldn’t refuse” t-shirt, and we had everyone laughing when he wore it to another child’s birthday party. They shirts come in many sizes and are of good quality. I have purchased a few for gifts and have gotten rave reviews. Really cute idea !!!! The lines are so well know by everyone, that they always seem to be a great conversation piece. They also have the greatest packaging. Really clever and well designed.
-Louisa, Mom of one


Thanks Louisa! My favorite is "this cry goes to eleven". My friend and I were just referencing Spinal Tap the other day! Baby Fish Mouth's logo is just the cutest. Baby E has been making that face recently.

designer::  babyfishmouth

Road ID

Recently we received this letter from a loyal reader + mom::

So I know this is not your typical kind of product you are interested in but my husband Rob and I recently had a close call while running at night and in repeating our story to a friend at the gym, found out about this line of products. Santa is bringing one for all three runners in our house to ensure if we ever have a closer dangerous brush we will at least be identifiable. Anyway, I got to thinking about how as parents we have become so involved in making sure we are physically fit and setting a good example for our son and have found most of his friends parents are the same way. I have found myself metioning this product to tons of people every day and thought that maybe you knew some people who also wanted to make sure that if something happened to them while they were away from their kids, that they had a way to identify themselves. - Sarah, IL

The product Sarah is referring to is called Road ID. We think it is a great concept and the bands are affordable so there is no excuse why a runner (especially a night runner), skier, cyclist, or any other sportsman or sportswoman should be without. It is getting darker earlier so even if you think that you can take your stroll with your kids after their nap- make sure you use the firefly on your stroller or on your wrist and this way you are taking steps to make sure you are visible to motorists driving home from work.

To learn more about Road ID click here

you design it

We received this note from a loyal reader:

You have a great sense of style (that I envy) so I wonder if you can help find some cool handbags that don't look like "diaper bags" and still hold the items that we tend to accumulate (crayons, little dolls, jewels, little cars, etc.) plus the stuff we really do need in there. Thanks! Heather

Well here you go Heather- and all of the other readers wondering the same thing-

Guess what? I designed this bag. Yup- all by myself. Well okay... with the help of the super cool software and huge fabric selection at 1154 LILL Studio! This is the DONNA and I chose these fab fabrics to coordinate with my mood this fall. I call it "mod-floral explosion". The 2 fabrics that I chose for the main bag are much like tapestry and it reminds me of a hip version of Mary Poppins carpet bag. The only thing is that I can't pull a lamp and full size mirror out of it but it does do everything else. The straps are a nice navy sateen and they support the DONNA nicely.

Designing was easy (well except for the part where you have to really make up your mind about what fabrics you want to use), and now my "DONNA" bag and I go everywhere together. It is big enough to use as a diaper bag and it is so soft and flexible I can smush it down in the stroller basket when I need to but usually I prefer to show it off by wearing it on my shoulder!

Inside each DONNA bag that you can create you will find a nice bunch of pockets that runs along the length of the bag. This spot is perfect for my Blackberry, baby "e"'s pacifier, my chapstick, etc.

Design your own at 1154 LILL Studio! Design a bag from their assortment of styles for your mom, sister, babysitter, best girlfriend. You don't have to go with a big DONNA bag- you can go with a clutch, a tote, you decide! You decide everything!

1154 LILL Studio recommends dry cleaning your bags.

designer:: YOU (at 1154 LILL)

15% off for daily stroll readers! The 15% discount is good towards one of 1154 LILL’s Signature Styles (offer good for one item). Enter “Stroll” in notes section upon check out (discount will be taken at LILL HQ and be reflected on your credit card statement). Offer only good for online purchases and cannot be used towards gift certificates. expires 12.3.07.

Jumper or Saucer- You Tell Me

UPDATE::

just in case you were wondering -we went with the Rainforest Jumperoo by Fisher-Price. It was on sale at Target for $59.99 (reg price $79.99) so it was fate.

Elkë is now 3.5 months so it's a bit early. We put something around her belly to help fill in the gap and I only let her play in it for 20 mins max so she doesn't get stressed but she seems to like it! I hate to stress her out and have her walk off in a huff! Thank you all so much for the suggestions on the jumperoo vs. saucer question. I love having hundreds of thousands of mom friends around the globe!

ORIGINAL POST::

OR

Usually we post reader emails called "ask the daily stroll" and we answer your question. I am now turning the tables because I need help from my momma friends around the globe!

Should we get a Jumper or an Exersaucer and what brand/style do you like best?

Elkë will be 4 months old in a few weeks. Now is the time to start thinking about a Jumper or a Saucer. I think she would like the idea of jumping. Since day one she has been standing on my legs any chance she gets! Her daddy loved to jump. His parents re-tell the story of him unscrewing the bolt that held his JohnnyJumper on the door frame and it all came crashing down on his head! Luckily these days they are more sophisticated and we don't need to worry about that.

Unfortunately the fashion aspect of these products is lacking BIG TIME in sophistication. I will take safety over fashion anyday for my kids but tell me you don't shiver in disgust everytime you think about your family room resembling the baby aisle at the local toy store! I mean why can't modern companies like Skip Hop or Svan design a cool, functional, safe, and stylish exersaucer, swing, or jumper? Until that day I am left with these choices.

Pictured here are 2 that I am considering. The Rainforest Jumperoo by Fisher Price or the Baby Einstein Saucer by Graco. Please leave your comments below. Should you work for one of these companies I would love to hear you convince me and the readers why to purchase.

Ask The Daily Stroll: Halloween

We received this email last week:

"Hi! I’m looking for a cute and stylish shirt my toddler can wear for the upcoming fall/Halloween season. It’s so hard to find something simple and not scary looking! Any suggestions? Thanks so much for your help, and I hope you are surviving the new-baby days. Love your site and emails – they brighten my long toddler-filled days! -Ginger"

We looked all around and came up with these cute tees by Kreepy Kids. Not too scary and cute enough for everyday wear not just Halloween. They have even more designs to offer and you can select any of their "monsters" for your kreepy kid. Devils, frankensteins, you name it. Want a matching tee for you? No sweat. We love  and appreciate the artistic flair from this designer. We just can't get excited over a simple pumpkin on a tee.... not much design goes into that!

designer:: kreepy kids

A Mother's Ring

The other day we received this note from a loyal reader::

"hello!
i'm in search for a mother's ring for myself since i am prego with my third & final baby right now.  do you have any recommended sites?  thank you & hope you are enjoying your new baby! (love the new site format too...great job!) -lisa"

Then I got to thinking. Why have a traditional Mother's Ring? You know the kind with a gemstone for each kid's birthstone. For 1. that can get expensive and 2. what if you don't like the colors? What if they don't look good together? What if you don't like traditional gold or silver? What if tradition has you heading for the hills?

I wasn't even really looking and I came across this great idea for a twist on tradition. The Nest Ring. A stunning Swarovski crystal pearl cozied up in a nest made of oxidized sterling silver. I heart this ring and I cannot believe the price! I also find it refreshing that it comes in sizes as large as 8.5. I have chubby fingers and that is my size!

designer:: The Vintage Pearl - exclusively available at The Silly Wagon


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