Map Your Life

What do you want in 2008? This is a question we're all asking ourselves this time of year, and there's no better time to take stock of what we have, where we are and where we want to be. At the beginning of each year I write down the goals I'd like to achieve on a sheet of paper. I then fold that sheet of paper up and safely tuck it away until January 1 of the following year. It's amazing to me when I pull it out that I've usually achieved many of the goals I set, without the piece of paper being visible to me throughout the year. I think somehow that setting the intention and putting my goals into words on paper help to crystallize ideas and give me a more clear perspective.

Carrie and Danielle take this idea a step further. They encourage us to make a Lifestyle Map (and even offer a free template to download) with goals for each area of our lives. But more importantly, they ask us to write down how we hope to feel while achieving each goal. In the area of Relationships + Communication, do we see ourselves feeling connected, supported, sexy? How about the Body + Wellness area? Many moms want to envision themselves as healthy, strong and vital! Carrie and Danielle believe attaching feelings to goals is key to making them a reality. This is your life story - make it shine!

Friday Blog Roundup

Some of the mamas are on vacation this week, but here's what's being heard around the mommy blogs of those who are still hard at work...

On MomFinds: The Best Diaper Bags of 2007. We've rounded up our favorite backpacks, stroller totes, messengers and clutches this year.

On Classy Mommy: Let your favorite kid star in their very own personalized Aardvark Adventure story. Just submit their name, choose a story, and send in a super cute photo and Aardvark will take care of all the rest. Save 15% when you mention CLASSY MOMMY by Jan 15, 2008.

On Boston Mamas: Folk singer/songwriter Ellis Paul's first family album, Dragonfly Races, is out now; enter to win one of 5 copies by noon today!

What's On Your Agenda?

As 2007 draws to a close, one thing you'll need to have on hand is a personal organizer for 2008 - a place to keep track of your busy schedule, birthdays, appointments, etc. Let the Mom Agenda be your go-to book. It's a portable calendar that offers both month-at-a-glance and weekly views, giving you more space for notes. It includes a removable MomEssentials booklet to keep track of all your addresses, email addresses, passwords, medical information and birthdays and anniversaries. You can keep it with you or leave it at home and you can use it from one year to the next.

The Mom Agenda is bound in a pretty, silky fabric that comes in five lustrous colors. You can even have your agenda personalized with your name or initials. And best of all, it's on sale right now for 15% off.

Repurpose Your Holiday Cards

Now that the holiday season is coming to a close, it's time to think about taking down all those lovely cards you've received over the past month. When it comes time, don't throw them away - repurpose them!

Something I've been doing for years is trimming down old cards to create pretty and clever gift tags. This is a great idea at Christmas, but also for other occasions as well. And it's simple - so simple you can enlist the help of your kids and turn it into an afternoon project that will clear up clutter and keep the kids (ages 5 and up) busy too!

I start with a manila tag to use as a template. I place it on top of the best part of the card and trace. Then I carefully cut it out, punch a hole in it and viola! This is just a place to start - the tags can be any shape you like, and if the card won't look as pretty when cut, just cut the back of the card off and punch a hole in the top or or top corner of the front and you'll have a large tag that will add delight to a big package next holiday season.

For all the cards you've received with pictures on them, there's a way to repurpose them too. Just cut out the picture in a cute shape and punch a hole in the top. You can use each gift tag for those friends and family next year. Just make sure you don't forget where you put them!

Neutral Glamour for Your Nails

Having my nails done is a rare luxury for me. I have short nails and always seem to have my hands in something, so having my nails painted is a very short-lived experience. It seems when I do indulge myself and have them painted a deep, sexy shade, they're smudged and chipped before I get to the car. But the weekend before Christmas I had a party to go to (and some extra time - what a treat!) so I decided to go for it. After all the gift wrapping, baking and cleaning I had been doing, my hands were in need of some serious TLC.

When I was told to select my nail color, I was drawn to the deep, dark shades (of course!). But then I spotted Hollywood Blonde from OPI (6 bucks) and it was love at first sight! This is no boring neutral polish. The picture just doesn't do it justice. I'd say it's like champagne for your nails! But I was torn. Do I go for the instant shot of color and nails that scream look at me? Or do I play it safe and go with something that might actually last until Christmas? So after debating for about 10 minutes, and having someone come and try to take it away (she wanted to buy some for herself - a good sign!), I decided to go for the Hollywood Blonde. I was not disappointed! This color may be "neutral", as in it goes with everything, but it does not go without garnering some attention. I felt very glamorous, even though, hard as I tried, I had a couple of smudges from trying to peel a price tag off a Barbie for a birthday party the next day (darn those tags!). Oh, well. No one would notice with this mild-mannered, yet smoldering hue.

If you need a shot of glamour that can withstand the busy life of a mom, Hollywood Blonde is your ticket. Do it yourself at home (or treat yourself and slip down to the salon) and your nails will look lovely for New Year's Eve. If you do opt for the at-home treatment, grab some Quick-E Drying Drops ($9.99)from Essie and your nails will be dry and set faster than your toddler can get into your make-up drawer! I haven't tried these myself, but hear they are worth their weight in gold when it comes to saving your nails and giving you a good, strong finish. And when you look glamourous, may just feel like a celebrity yourself!

One Cold Hand

Lost gloves are just a fact of life. Unfortunately, if you lose one, the other's not going to do you much good. Despite that, I tend to hang on to a lone glove and carry the hope that I'll find it's mate one day.

For you readers who are in Pittsburgh, your day may come. Jennifer Gooch, a Carnegie Mellon art student, has created a website called One Cold Hand designed to reunite found gloves with their rightful owners in the Pittsburgh area. There are a dozen drop boxes at area businesses for collecting found gloves. Gooch gathers the gloves, takes pictures and posts them on One Cold Hand to be claimed.

When One Cold Hand made it's debut, Gooch was hopeful that she could get gloves back to their owners, but didn't really expect it would happen. Imagine her surprise to have reunited 4 glove owners with the other half of a pair. Gooch plans to create a book documenting her project, and is working on similar sites in cities around the globe. For those of you who just can't bear to throw away half of a pair, your day may come too!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours - have a very happy holiday and a very Merry Christmas! We wish you peace, love and joy and hope you are all enjoying time with your families. Remember, when the kids start to get stir crazy and your in-laws get snippy, take a deep breath and remember just how lucky you are!

Santa, Baby..Hang a Handbag On the Tree For Me

Are you hoping Santa will leave a great new purse for you under the tree this year? Keep your fingers crossed that it's a designer original. Come Christmas morning, if all you get are new PJ's and an electric toothbrush, then it's time to take matters into your own hands. But - yikes! - spending a lot on yourself after Christmas just seems too indulgent. Those credit card bills are going to come one of these days.

Give your wallet a happy home with a new bag from BagHaus. With bags that very closely resemble those from top name designers (Isabelle Fiore, Coach, Burberry, to name a few), these are no fakes, mind you. Simply inspired by the hottest desingers each season, bags from BagHaus are all hand-sewn with quality materials and workmanship, yet with prices that are won't empty your pockets.

BagHaus was started to give women beautiful and affordable alternatives to the beautiful and not-so-affordable handbags carried by celebrities, giving you more bang for your buck and allowing you to change handbags as often as you like without any guilt. So if Santa wasn't good to you this year, be good to yourself!

Friday Blog Roundup

Heard around the mommy blogs this week...

Boston Mamas are talking about strategies for clothing battles with your daughter. Check out these guidelines and additional resources for strategies and talking points on this tough topic.

Modern Mom is talking with celebrities Christa Miller, Brooke Burke, Lisa Rinna and shares their holiday plans on ModernMom.com's Mommywood blog.

On Clever Parents: Ho Ho Ho! A clever way to visit Santa without leaving home.

On Healthy Bump: The Perfect Holiday Maternity Top. Find the perfect maternity top for the holidays while there's still time.

MomFinds is offering a chance to win a $50 Gifts.com Gift Card so you can treat yourself after you've treated everyone else.

On Moms' Buzz: Laundry Tips from the Experts. With our busy agendas, many of us do not pay close attention to our laundry labels or give the proper care to our clothers. Here are some laundry tips from www.TheLaundress.com, experts on laundry home products and more, that will help us in taking better care of clothes, delicate or not.

Less Plastic - More Pretty

It used to be if you wanted to bring your own bags to the grocery store and eschew the plastic vs. paper dilemma, you were stuck with boring natural canvas bags. Now that being eco-friendly has become chic, shopping with the earth in mind has never been easier or looked better. Minusbags give us a stylish alternative to using plastic bags and creating more waste for our world.

According to the EPA, more than 380 BILLION plastic bags are used every year in the U.S. and roughly 100 billion are thrown away each year. Most clog landfills, but many end up snagged on trees or fences as an ugly reminder of our disposable society. Minusbags wants to help change that. Creating some of the best looking bags around, they give new meaning to bringing your own canvas bags to the grocery store. Adorned with modern prints of fruits and vegetables, Minusbags are as sturdy as they are stylish. This is one bag I'm proud to pull out, and have even taken it shopping with me to the mall. Minusbags are $16 each, and when you buy 3 you get one free. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Make a difference.

An Ounce of Prevention

With less than a week before Christmas, it's a time filled with anxiety. Did I remember gifts for everyone? Shouldn't I just get one more thing for the baby so big sis won't gloat that she got more? Will the kids behave at Grandma's?

While it can't help with last minute shopping, The Preventive Ounce can help you understand your child's temperament and manage issues that may arise during the holidays (and belive me, they will). With all the shopping, traveling, excitement and overwhelm, children often wait until you're at a relative's or friend's home to do those things you find most embarrassing - screaming, biting, having tantrums, hitting, etc.

The Preventive Ounce realizes that your child's temperament can tell you a lot about how they might behave and offers advice on heading off potential problems. They also offer other parenting resources that may be helpful as well.

With a very spirited daughter in our household, I will certainly be turning to The Preventive Ounce for some tips on preventing the Christmas Day meltdown this year so we can all have a happy holiday.

Sore Throat? Simply Gargle It Away!

With December filled with a flurry of holiday preparations and activities, busy mamas can't afford to feel less than 100% for long. At the first sign of an irritated, scratchy throat, pick-up some Simply Gargle Salt Water Rinse and let it help get you back on track.

Formulated with a unique blend of vitamins, herbs, antioxidants and astringents, Simply Gargle is a pre-mixed, natural, doctor-recommended remedy that you just, well, gargle with for effective sore throat relief without harsh drugs. It comes in single-use, portable ampules, making it easy to keep in your purse, car or diaper bag.

Simply Gargle is available in four fourmlas: sore throat and cough, cold and flu, allergy and hay fever, and a nighttime formula. Available at Wal-Mart, Rite Aid for around $7 each (package of 12 doses), or at Amazon for $17 for a box of 3 (36 doses). For a free sample, simply click and you can try it out yourself.

One Chic Giveaway: The BusyBody Book

A while back we reviewed the great planner and personal organizer, the BusyBodyBook. Now, we're giving one away! One lucky winner will receive a BusyBodyBook in ZigZag, a BusyBodyBook in Brown (one to keep and one to share) and a Fridge GRID pad to help keep you and your family organized in the coming year. The book goes with you so you know who needs to be where, when. The grid pad can go on the fridge (or another central location) so your family can refer to it each morning to keep up with appointments, obligations and reminders (such as birthdays, family meetings, trash day, etc).

To enter this great giveaway (valued at $45.85), simply send us an email telling us why you need these organizational tools and put "BBB" in the subject line. Deadline is Friday, December 21st at midnight. Don't delay - enter now and get yourself ready to be more organized in 2008!

Fifi the Fashionista

What makes fashion so fascinating? Is it the over-the-top shows designers put on, featuring amazing clothing that is revered among fashionistas? Or is it just the wave of excitement and instant gratification that swoops in and engulfs us? Whatever it is, Fifi Lapin sure has developed a taste for it, and she loves to show off her latest and greatest designer duds.

Fifi Lapin is a bunny with a penchant for fashion. She follows the designers closely each season and adds only the best pieces to her closet. She favors dresses, and loves accessories. She's started a blog so she can model her latest acquisitions for you. If you like them as much as she does, you can even order prints of Fifi, reveling in her lovely frocks. After the holidays, Fifi will be taking a break (being a fashionista is hard work!) but she'll be back in April, wearing all the best spring styles, hot off the runways!

Thanks, Rachel, for the tip!

Friday Blog Roundup

Here's what's happening around the blogosphere this week:
Classy Mommy brings us this interactive nightlight, the Twilight Turtle by Cloud b. It automatically turns off in 45 minutes and shows stars in 3 colors to captivate your child!

Modern Moms encourages us to be green by giving us a chance to win a chic market tote filled with Method products! Did you know: Americans throw away an average of 16 plastic bags per week? Modern Mom and Method think its a bad habit, so we want to help you kick it for the New Year.

Moms Buzz discusses sibling rivalry and gives us 3 simple rules for dealing with it that will come in handy during this holiday season as our lives are busier than ever, and often times these rivalry problems seem harder to handle than before.

Clever Parents are talking about creating a new holiday tradition with a clever and fun way to get those Christmas classics read and have an enjoyable slow down moment with your family.

Healthy Bump brings you A great book for expectant moms. Easy Labor: Every Woman’s Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth by authors William Camann, M.D., and Kathryn Alexander is a must read for all expectant moms.

Momfinds rounds up the best maternity party dresses to help you be the toast of the party this season.

Boston Mamas brings us Lotuspad, a nontoxic, eco-friendly yoga mat for kids that offers great cushioning, excellent traction, and chic styling.

Two Books with Lovely Messages

The holiday season is the perfect time for children books. We found two books that impart wonderful messages on children and teach them to be more joyful and loving.

We often tell our children how much we love them, but what does that really mean to them? Can they ever understand how deep that love runs? What about their love for us?

I Love You More, by Laura Duksta, is a sweet way to explore the love between a parent and a child. With thoughtful, rhythmic verses such as "I love you brighter than the brightest star ever shone. I love you more, so much more than you’ve ever known", it opens up conversation about love and gives us a fun way to express it easily. Upon reading it, my daughter was already saying "I love you more than - ice cream!", which means she gets the point. She really does love ice cream.

The best part about I Love You More is that it never ends. Read one side and you hear about how much the mother loves her son. But flip it over and you hear the son's point of view and how much he loves his mother, showing that love really does go on and on. With vivid, watercolor illustrations inspired by nature, I Love You More is a wonderful way to let a child know how much they are loved.
Joy Is The Greatest Gift, by Lisa Rey Marks, is part of a new line of inspirational books for children based on Focus Friends, and tells the story of JoyAnn. She helps teach children to focus on celebrating joy in their lives, even when they are mad or sad. She shares her joy in seeing beauty everywhere, in spending time with those we love and enjoying days full of fun.

My daughter was captivated with the lovely, vibrant illustrations in Joy Is The Greatest Gift and ejoyed hearing JoyAnn's message. She sometimes has a hard time dealing with her emotions, and letting them go. JoAnn acknowledges these emotions but doesn't let them stand in the way of celebrating life and finding joy in all the wonderful things it has to offer. Her message teaches children to find happiness within themselves rather that from video games, candy or other external pleasures. Joy Is The Greatest Gift reminds children how much hugs and kisses from loved ones mean, and how a phone call to grandma can really make her day. That's a lesson well learned any time of the year!

Holiday Cards In A Flash!

Gotten your holiday cards yet? Don't panic, there's still time to send out a cute card with what everyone on your list really wants this year - pictures of the kids! Just log onto winkflash, sign up (it's free) and get started adding your photos. Then you can choose your favorite card design and upload your photo to get an instant preview of your design. Holiday cards are 40% off with code G3F8E7W4 (4 X 8's are just $.23 each!), and when you sign up you get 50 prints, FREE, with code WF95WF27. Plus, ground shipping for prints is just $.99. Although you may want to opt for air. Then you'll have them quick as a wink;)!

Sustainable Style With A Cause

You don't need a good reason to buy a bag from Hardware Handbags. With handles made from recycled steel, they're eco-friendly. Made from strong nylon, they resist tears and last for years. Crafted in workrooms in Seattle, they are made using fair labor practices. Enough said. But wait, they're chic, too! And now, for every bag you buy, you can help a child through a partnership with Project Night Night.

Hardware Handbags creates two classic, yet chic handbag styles, the Shopper and the Shorty. Use these as you would your purse, as a diaper bag or a market tote. And for every one you buy, Hardware Handbags will donate a Night Night Package with a blanket, stuffed animal and an age-appropriate book to a homeless child. Just enter code PNN1 at checkout to help and get FREE shipping as well. Now you can give a little more with each purchase.

Couture Comfort for Your Baby

Having a baby is such a wonderful experience. Here is this adorable little creature you've been waiting to bond with and who wants mommy 24/7. Such a blessing, yet it can be challenging to have a free hand to eat lunch, check email or write thank-you's. That's where slings come in handy. They create a comforting, snuggly environment for baby so she can be close to your body and hear your heartbeat. They also free up your hands to do, well, whatever.

This Fuzzy Untrasuede Pouch Sling ($74) from Bronwen Handcrafted is a lovely way to carry your baby in comfort this winter. Made from a beautiful, distressed antique brown ultrasuede with a warm, fuzzy inside, this sling creates a cozy cocoon for your wee one. Hand-crafted with love, this durable sling is perfect for taking baby to the park when your older kids need to get out of the house and burn off some energy.

Bronwen Handcrafted creates chic slings, including pouch slings and ring slings, out of some of the best fabrics around. Using wonderful Missoni knits, flocked silks, Vera Wang prints and more, Bronwen Handcrafted elevates the sling to be just as much a fashion accessory as it is functional carrier. Bronwen also creates the most adorable baby shoes, artisanal quilts, jewelry and baby clothes, all with her lovely handcrafted charm.

Get a 15% rebate with code ONECHICMAMA on your next purchase from Bronwen Handcrafted. Enter the code in the comments section and your 15% will be refunded.

That Baby Rocks!

That Baby DVD came just in time! My four-year old was having one of those days and we desperately needed a distraction. Luckily, when we stopped to check the mail, we had received our copy of That Baby DVD to review for the Parent Bloggers Network. Phew! Her meltdown was history.

Once That Baby DVD got going, I wandered into the kitchen to prepare dinner. I hadn't planned on watching the DVD just yet, but I found myself peeking around the corner to see what was happening, and humming along to the music. My daughter was riveted and fell in love immediately. The opening song, "Happiness Runs", has got to be one of my favorite songs for kids. It's sweet, sort of melancholy, but with a happy feel. A perfect way to open the DVD. What I really like about this DVD/CD set is that the songs are all upbeat and very positive. They're targeted to kids with messages about friendship, being comfortable with who you are, and sharing, while appealing to us grown-ups too. With covers of such favorites as Brass In Pocket (Pretenders), These Are Days (10,000 Maniacs) and Pony Boy (Bruce Springsteen), this is music we parents came of age with, yet is a perfect fit for the cute videos that accompany each one. My daughter has a new favorite each time she watches.

We caught up with Rob, creator of That Baby DVD to get the scoop behind this great collection of music and video:

What was your goal when creating That Baby?

As our kids (now 5 and 3) grew, we wanted to introduce them to some of the songs we loved growing up. These are songs we sang at camp and put on mix tapes for our friends. Another goal was to create music that can be enjoyed by the whole family—not just dumbed-down songs that kids enjoy and parents merely tolerate. Many parents have confessed to us that they’ve been listening to this music even when their kids weren’t around!

Why did you choose these particular songs?

We brainstormed the list from many angles. Sometimes we’d say “what’s a song we sang at camp?” and came up with Circle Game and Garden Song. Other times it was a song that would come up randomly on one of our iPods, like Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird or Neil Diamond’s Sunday Sun. And then there were those times when we started with the musician and thought “What would be a great Beatles song? How ‘bout Springsteen?”

How did your own kids inspire you to create That Baby?

When my son was about 3, we got him some DVDs of the original Muppet Show. He started asking to look on iTunes for the show’s guest stars, like Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, and, as he put it, “Hilton John.” It got us thinking about all these great singer-songwriters whose music is so universally appealing that it transcends age. Plus, my daughter had just turned one when we made our last DVD. She wasn’t great at taking direction back then, but had since grown into a 3 year old dynamo. I had to make a movie with her in it! That’s her on the cover of the DVD, and my son on the CD.

Anything else you'd like to add?

We like to run our company and treat our customers the way we like to be treated ourselves. We offer a “no questions asked” money back guarantee and free lifetime replacement of scratched or damaged discs.

That Baby DVD makes a great gift this season for all the 1 - 5 year olds in your life. You can buy the DVD for $24.95, the CD for $14.95, or the set of both for $34.90 (you save $5). Plus, with orders over $25, you get free shipping and you can save an additional 20% off your purchase when you order here and use code PBN. That makes the set just $27.92 including shipping - what a deal for entertainment you can enjoy as much as your kids!

Lipstick: Regular or Unleaded?

Unfortunately, these days regular may just mean "includes lead". With all the recent press spotlighting negligent toy manufacturers who have allowed lead to become an (unwanted) ingredient in many of our children's toys, it is also being slipped into our cosmetics. Fortunately for us there are watchdog organizations such as The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics keeping an eye on what really goes into the cosmetics we buy. Their findings are enlightening, and show that we do need to question what goes into body products, as well as our food and our toys, and that we won't accept cheap and harmful additives secretly being added to our goods. What's surprising (or, rather, shocking) is that luxury brands of lipstick are as just as likely to have lead in them as the less-expensive drugstore brands. Some of the offenders include Avon, MAC, Body Shop, Maybelline, Revlon, Dior, Clinique, Tarte, Wet n' Wild, Cover Girl and Burt's Bees, with the hightest level of lead being found in L'Oreal. The average woman swallows up to six pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Nice, huh?

Lead is a potent neurotoxin that has been linked to numerous other health and reproductive problems. It's an unwanted additive in lipstick (among other things). Following the release of these test results, Senators John Kerry, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have sent letters to the FDA demanding action to protect our health.

For more information, read the report by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics called "A Poison Kiss". You can also take action by writing a letter to L'Oreal, or any of the other companies mentioned in the report, to let them know you prefer your lipstick "unleaded".

Gifts for the Tea Lover

There's nothing better after coming in from a brisk, chilly day than sitting down to a steaming cup of tea. I've been a tea lover ever since I can remember, and even though I am a big fan of coffee, sometimes nothing will hit the spot quite like tea. Whether it's English Breakfast with a splash of milk, or a citrus-y green tea for a refreshing pick-me-up, there's a tea to suit every mood.

For the tea lover in your life, a pretty teapot makes this delicious, steeped libation even more of a treat. I just fell in love with this Platinum Chandeliers Teapot from Rosanna. It's on sale for just $18, comes already gift-boxed, and is just the thing to bring a touch of whimsical sophistication to the table. Add a pretty plate of petit fours and you've got tea fit for a queen!

Speaking of queens - to indulge your inner royalty (of that of your best pal), this very chic Kings Road Teapot from Rosanna ($30) is just the thing to indulge Anglophiles without sending them across the pond. Gift-boxed and ready for giving, this is perfect for those who deserve the royal treatment.

For solo tea drinkers, we love this adorable Charmed Life Tea For One gift set from Rosanna. On sale for just $20.97, it's a teapot and teacup all in one. A thoughtful teacher gift that will bring some elegance to their day. Add a box of your favorite tea for the finishing touch!

Artful Gifts for Your Man

Why is it that buying gifts for the men on your list is always so challenging? When I was little, my dad would tell me every year that he wanted a red pen or white handkerchiefs for Christmas. Easy enough. But by the time I was old enough to buy him a real gift, well, I was stumped.

Don't let the man in your life stump you when it comes to gift-giving. Keep daddy (aka hubby) looking stylish and in-touch with the art world with one of these great gifts.


Does he own and Ipod? Give him a clever way to keep it under wraps while showing off some great artwork. The Mila Art Jacket showcases the cult comic sensation, Onion Head Monster by one of our area's best known artists, Paul Friedrich. Available at Circuit City. ($24.95)

Keeping the man in your life well-dressed can be a challenge when all he wants to wear are jeans and a t-shirt. Give him this Japanese Koi print long-sleeved t-shirt from Ahpeele and he'll be stylin' in a hand-screened, limited-edition shirt .($32)

To complete the look, splurge on a pair of bespoke (nee, custom) jeans by Verses made by hand to order from selvedge denim ($175 - $195) and your man will give "jeans and a t-shirt" a whole new meaning.

She's One Chic Mama

Gina is one chic mama! Mother to a three-year old (and very well dressed!) daughter, Gina belives you can be a great mother and still work hard at what you love. She's setting a wonderful example. Several months ago, Gina and a partner opened up a chic and contemporary boutique for kids, selling the most wonderful selection of clothing, bedding and even some furniture.

Gina's great sense of style comes through whether she's dressed to the nines or in jeans and a sweater. Mother, wife, business-owner, and chic mama - Who says you can't have it all?

Friday Blog Roundup

Here's whats going on this week:

On Boston Mamas: Tiny Prints contest. Enter to win a $100 gift certificate to paper purveyor Tiny Prints.

On Clever Parents: 15 Most Important Questions To Ask The When Hiring a Professional Organizer.

On Coochicoos: Obiliterate Odors with a Vipp Diaper Pail . Giggle's Ali Wing shares her reasons Vipp works as the best diaper pail.

On Healthy Bump: Holiday Eating Tips. Nutritionist Christina E. Schmidt, owner of Baby Bistro Brands answers some questions about holiday eating and shares some super tasty recipes with us.

On MomFinds: 12 Days of Giveaways. Win 12 of our favorite finds from '07. Just check back every morning to see what goody is up for grabs and leave a comment.

On Moms Buzz: Win an iPod Nano for the Holidays! Ho, Ho, ho! Enter to win a Apple iPod Nano, 2nd Generation, 4GB MP3 Player, Silver for the Holidays!

Mudpuppy Love

When shopping for holiday gifts for kids, it can be a challenge to find toys that don't flash, make noises or (over)stimulate the senses on multiple levels. What about all those "quiet" toys - you know, things kids curl up in a corner with and enjoy while learning?

I was so excited to discover a site like Mudpuppy exists. It's chock full of educational and fun gift ideas for children that they're sure to enjoy, and at prices you won't believe. This fun set of Ring Flash Cards (just $12) is perfect for teaching preschoolers the alphabet with a different animal representing each letter. There are also flash cards to help teach basic words (such as shoes or dress) in French or Spanish, all beautifully illustrated.

Mudpuppy also has a wonderful selection of floor puzzles (only $15) guaranteed to keep your kids busy long enough for you to enjoy a nice cup of tea. Featuring such favorites as Eloise, Eric Carle's Very Series, or Peter Rabbit, these are sure to be a hit that your kids will enjoy long past Christmas.

When looking for gifts that recall the simplicity of days past, look no further than Mudpuppy. With traditional favorites that blend homespun charm with contemporary motifs, these clever gifts will keep your kids happy while they learn a little something. They may not even miss the noise or lights!

Save 15% on your first order when you sign up for Mudpuppy's email list.

Go Ga-Ga Over This Giveaway

As a bib designer and mother of a messy toddler, I can sure appreciate a good bib. That's why I like the bibs from Ga Ga. Made from a wipeable vinyl, these great bibs have a velcro closure that attaches on the side for easy access. But that's not all. One look at at these cute, contemporary designs and you'll be going ga-ga yourself!

Get ready, because Ga Ga Online Baby Boutique is giving one reader the chance to win a bib for themselves (er, their kids), along with a Gitta Diaper and Wipes Bag. Gitta designs some of the hottest diaper bags around, and these diaper and wipes carriers come in a couple of hip, modern color combinations. This is fabulous for any chic mom to simply toss into her bag and go!

To enter, simply send an email to michele@onechicmama.com with the word "Ga-Ga" in the subject line and tell us one other item Ga Ga Online Baby Boutique carries. Deadline is midnight on Tuesday, December 11. Retail value is $59.95.

Sign up for Ga-Ga's Mailing List and save 10% on your next order when you use the code "onechicmama".

Beautiful Blooms for Your Baby

When a mom is expecting, there's so much anticipation and excitement. So many things to do to get ready, so many plans to make, so many gifts to open. It's wonderful to receive so many useful things for baby (after all, one can never have too many towels, onesies or diapers), but it's quite special to receive something that looks lovely to boot.

When you want to give a baby gift that's as beautiful as it is functonal, look to Baby Blooms. Their wildly imaginative bouquets for the expectant mom will fill the nursery with beauty until the baby arrives. Then, the pretty flower buds become a functional gift that will clothe baby during those first four months! Baby Blooms are lovely arrangements made up of sleep suits, hats, bibs, onesies and socks, all rolled by hand to look like flower buds. They're blended with silk flowers and foliage to create a stunning arrangement that is sure to be the talk of the baby shower. Baby Blooms stay fresh (no watering required) up until they're called into action, and give the expectant mum a sweet reminder of what's to come every time she walks into the nursery. Priced between $50 and $85, and available in pink, blue or neutral colors, Baby Blooms can be shipped domestically or in the UK to make gifting an expectant mum or a new baby a snap!

Kaboost Winners

Congratulations to Megumi and Jacqueline! They're the winners of our Kaboost giveaway. We know you'll love these!

The New Mom Jeans

Okay, we all know what mom jeans are, don't we? Those jeans made to fit moms' bodies in the past have been anything but flattering, with a waist that came up soooo high, and those tapered legs that just don't do anything for thunder thighs. What were we thinking?

Fortunately, our generation is smack dab in the midst of the denim revolution and there are more styles, fits and washes out there than you can possibly count. That's good news for us moms, giving us more choices than ever and more chances to find jeans that really fit!

About five years ago, when we made the decision to start having kids, I took a break from buying premium jeans. I would just buy a cheap pair at Old Navy or the Gap that fit me for the moment, but who knows what size I'd be two months down the road, and I didn't want to invest in something I wouldn't be able to wear for long. Now, after having had my second, and probably last, child, and having lost all of my baby weight (it took me a year!), I am ready for a good pair of jeans. So I called my sister, who manages a cute little boutique to dish about the fit of different brands and find out what style and cut she thought would work for me. Knowing that my tummy is still not rock-hard (was it ever?) and that I'm not a huge fan of low-riders, she told me that Seven for All Mankind now offers a, wait for it, high-waisted cut. Hallelujah! I knew in an instant that this would be the jean for me. So she boxed up a few pairs for me to try and shipped them to me (she even included a super straight leg and I have to admit it's not half bad). How awesome was that! I was able to try them on in the comfort of my own home, after the kids went to bed, while sipping a glass of wine. I could get used to shopping like this!

So I tried several pairs of Sevens, but the cut that fit me to a tee was the Seven High-Waisted Boot Cut Jean. I will confess, the name is a bit misleading. It's still not high-waisted like the mom-jeans of yore, but a more modern, flattering and higher than low-rise cut. These jeans are so soft and just feel great on. As I approach my forties (less than a month away!), I want to make sure my clothes not only fit well, but are age-appropriate to boot. These jeans are both. With a price tag of $165, they're not for everyone. Heck, they're really not even for me, but with the holidays coming up I thought it would be nice to treat myself. And I don't feel guilty because with this fabulous cut, I know I will get a lot of wear out of my new Seven High-Waisted Boot Cut Jeans.

A Paperbird In The Hand

A handcrafted card can be a work of art. Especially when it's created by an artist from handmade paper, printed by hand, and then sewn together like the lovely cards from Paperbird.

Organically inspired, the cards at Paperbird celebrate nature with images such as fish, birds, flowers and leaves. Whether you're looking for a special holiday card to send, or a few cards to give as gifts, Paperbird has some of the prettiest designs around.