Baby

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we’re taking inspiration from stylish moms who always make it work!  Make sure you and your brood are perfectly put-together whether you’re at a family function, the park or just relaxing at home.

More of Me Piper Dress ($198) is not your average maternity dress! Playful yet refined and something that you can keep in wardrobe post pregnancy.

Who say’s comfort can’t look cute? A match made in heaven, your feet with thank you for considering both style and fit with Converse Chuck Taylor/PJ Marimekko kicks ($90)!  (more…)

ONE. Tiffany & Co. Piggy Bank — Any expectant mother would love a thoughtful gift wrapped in a signature blue box- baby’s first Tiffany. Tiffany’s baby piggy bank comes in pink for girls and blue for boys and serves as the child’s first savings account (hey it’s never too early to start saving up for a Birkin).  The ceramic bank with hand painted polka dots also adds warmth and character to any nursery.  (more…)

Lately, I seem to be buying a lot of baby gifts for many new mommies in my life. I love shopping for baby showers (who can resist mini everything?), but I really dislike shopping off registry for the most part.  Typically, I find them all listing the same thing in boring pinks and blue designs that seem not to have changed much since I was a baby.  While I appreciate why a registry exists, I also want to gift something that reflects a bit of my own personal style, yet still fitting within the needs of the new mom. So I admit it – more often than not, I’m the rebel who will buy something off-registry. (I know, I know…)

Still, I love to find practical yet gorgeous pieces for the new baby.  That’s where I turn to Right Bank Babies.  This delightful LA label has been on my radar for some time now and it’s my little secret that I’m now sharing with you.  In fact, I would say that the majority of newborn gifts that friends and family have received in the last couple years have come from this brand. Inspired by a combination of Parisian flair and the boho vibe of Los Angeles, this label churns out some of the most beautiful children’s pieces on the market today. Below are some of my current favorites from their line: (more…)

A modern mama has not only adorable children, but still looks effortlessly chic herself – despite the fact that she’s holding down a 9 to 5 job, running countless errands and still manages homecooked meals for her family. (Yes, these women exist – and boy, are we impressed!) Make sure to pick up one of these gorgeous gifts that will enhance her life and maybe, make her busy lifestyle even more manageable and stylish.

ONE. Rockabye Baby! — For the rocker chic mom, she’ll love having a set of these Rockaby Baby lullaby albums. These albums transform rock songs into instrumental lullabies that are soothing enough to lull baby into naptime, but just as enjoyable when baby is awake! She’ll also love being able school her new baby in her favorite bands – from Coldplay to The Rolling Stones. - thedailyobsession (more…)

After a flurry of weddings this year, I’m preparing myself for what inevitably comes next: baby showers. I’m scouting baby and children’s lines for cute, modern clothes that I know my dear friends and their offspring will adore. Right now, I’m totally enchanted by lemonbean.

Founded by Ilana Kotin and Fanshen Thompson, lemonbean is a retro and stylish line of children’s clothing. Ilana and Fanshen were next door neighbors, who shared a love of vintage-inspired designs. They also both had daughters, who were only weeks apart in age. Working with vintage-inspired 100% cotton fabrics, unique large buttons and ric-rac trim, they experimented and produced their signature sets. “We were excited to use multiple fabrics that complement one another for each piece because it enables us to use more of the so many beautiful fabrics that we have found,” says Fanshen. “And we thought that a set comprised of a dress and pants would be versatile, allowing the pieces to be worn together as a light summer outfit, or with a long-sleeve shirt underneath the dress. Or they could be worn as separates.”

For only $68, this is a fantastic value because it really contains pieces that can be worn year-round – alone or layered. The Fig and Clementine sets are bestsellers, but I actually prefer the Persimmon set (Ilana’s fave!). The print is so striking and playful, that your mama friends will be sure to get complements when her children wear these pieces – for both her impeccable taste and her adorable children. Additionally, lemonbean offers single pants ($24) and dresses ($49). Being a girl, I favor the dresses naturally. “We loved the idea of a simple bell-shaped dress, which is also a vintage design that was inspired by dresses we wore as children.” I personally want the Lemon dress, which is so cheery and bright that I just smile looking at it!

Overall, these are just really fun playclothes that any modern mom would love, so check it out at www.lemonbean.com!

I adore giving baby and children’s gifts. There’s something so fun about it…I think it’s because you 1) you get to re-visit childhood for a moment and 2) get to buy items that are incredibly whimsical and playful. Right now, I’m completely enamored by the line called Jasper Hearts Wren.

When co-founder Heather Jennings had her son Jasper, she couldn’t find anything that wasn’t cutesy pastel or over-the-top ironic. “I sat down one day with a pile of felt and some scissors, and came up with a few designs that I thought would be really fun. I ended up with ‘Rocket’ and ‘Robot.’ I got some colorful American Apparel onesies and hand-stitched them on,” says Heather. She showed them to her pregnant friend, Lisa Schwartz, who was floored by the gorgeous designs. After Lisa’s daughter, Wren, was born, they decided to collaborate and launch their children’s line, which is filled with felt or printed tees, hoodies, onesies and dresses.

I adore the Swallow (so cute for a little girl!) and Rocket prints. The Rocket also happens to be Heather’s personal pick. “My sentimental favorite is Robot; my son has always had one in his size,” says Heather. Lisa adores the bird-themed styles overall, but the Spider print is her favored creation. It cleverly and adorably hangs down the front of the top. Another fun style is the Gnome. “He gets called all sorts of things by our customers/clients. He’s been called ‘Santa’ and ‘The Travelocity Guy,”” says Heather. Other bestsellers are the Birdie Jumper and the Owl style.

Pick any of them and you can’t go wrong.  They’re all super cute and adorable!!! They would make for fantastic modern baby shower gifts, as well as a fun gift for a toddler (just pair with a stuffed animal or toy of the same print!). Scoop them up at www.jasperheartswren.com.

A few years ago, I experienced the Summer of Endless Weddings. Every weekend was spent at a reception, every Friday afternoon I’d trudge diligently to Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma or Macy’s to retrieve a registry and pick up that perfect (or at least, specifically requested) gift.

So it shouldn’t have surprised me nearly as much as it did when this summer turned into the Summer of Endless Baby Showers. Even though baby registries are pretty common these days, I find myself more tempted to stray from the registry when it’s for a baby than when it’s for a wedding. There are just so many fun and fabulous gifts out there for the little ones — it’s hard to stick to practical choices when I can get something really decadent and irresponsible instead.

Hands-down, my favorite gift for these events is a classic book from my childhood. I love to gift Where the Wild Things Are, Goodnight Moon, or, more recently, Little Pea or Little Hoot, both illustrated by Jen Corace – whom I absolutely adore. I pair that with one of my favorite stuffed monsters from Ugly Dolls, and it’s a perfect low-cost gift that’s still so thoughtful and unique. (more…)

Yummy mummies…they are those fabulously chic moms (or moms-to-be) who not only care about giving the best to their babies, but also take pride in looking sophisticated themselves. (Think Becky Bloomwood.) We bet you have at least one in your life – so gift them with something that will keep her and baby in style:

ONE. We all know that moms have a million things to carry around – from bottles to toys – but also want to look fashion-conscious. The Olivia Nylon Bag by Gryson ($765) is an edgy, gorgeous bag that will hold everything she needs for everyday. Piped in contrasting Italian leather, the inside of the Olivia Nylon Bag features adjustable shoulder straps, double top handles, silver hardware, suede interior and plenty of pockets She will look impeccable chic, yet practical…just like a yummy mummy should. Bonus: Use code “cardio” to get 20% off through Active Endeavors.

TWO. Hot mamas must have the most fashionable storybooks – and naturally, one written by the Kym Canter, the creative director of J. Mendel, would qualify. Masquerading as children’s fiction, Star Von Bunny: A Model Tale is the sassy, smart and stylish tale of a white stuffed bunny who aims to more than a bed ornament – and instead, is determined to be a “model/actress/whatever.” Now that she’s made it to the top, she’s sharing her secrets with you. Look for cameos from famous celebs including Carine Roitfield, Gemma Ward and Jonathan Antin – just to name a few. We’re kind of obsessed with the adorable SVB and her vogue adventures. To purchase for $19.95, visit amazon.com. (more…)

How adorable is this outfit? Unfortunately, it’s not for grown ups! The Eberjey “Ray of Light” tunic and lounge pant is made for baby – and it is so cute that we couldn’t resist writing about them. A light pastel floral print adorns 100% soft cotton voile, while ruffles add a touch of girliness. The overall effect is totally breezy and cheerful. If you have a baby shower to attend, I guarantee the mom-to-be will totally love this for her new baby girl.

Available at Libellula Creations for $62.90.

Is there a mommy-to-be in your life? Celebrate this Mother’s Day with some of these fabulous gifts – for her and baby:

The Koo Koo Bear Sleepy Head Bunny is a plush toy that is sure to become baby’s favorite cuddle buddy. Winner of the Oppenheim Best Toy award, these super soft bunnies are infant safe, machine washable and can be custom embroidered. Each bunny (pink or blue) wears a striped slumber suit and matching hat. The bunny is available in two sizes, large (22″ long, $45) and medium (15″ long, $25). More information or purchase at KooKooBearKids.com. Enter “WPMB” for free shipping.

Babymooning is one of the hottest travel trends among expectant parents today. This trip serves as a pampering getaway – especially for the mother – providing a chance to relax and rejuvenate before the baby arrives. Today, many hotels and spas have jumped onto the trend and are offering customized babymoon friendly packages. There isn’t a main source that compiles all the babymooning packages out there, but check out resources such as BabymoonFinder.com or SpaFinder.com for more information. A simple Google search will also do the trick. (more…)