Star Nursery Style on a Walmart Budget

You have a dilemma.  You love the clean, modern lines of high end crib brands like Oeuf, but you don't have $1000 to spend on a crib.  Your answer: Walmart.  Yes, Walmart.  Their line of Baby Mod nursery furniture looks almost identical to many of the Oeuf pieces, at a fraction of the price, and their cribs in particular have been getting rave reviews.  And if you think spending lots of $$$ on a crib will bring you a safer place for your little one to sleep, think again: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires all cribs to meet the same safety standards.  So, below are two pics: one of the Oeuf Classic Crib and one of the BabyMod Parklane crib.  Can you tell which is which??

You can find the Baby Mod pieces online at Walmart here.  Now go use that money you saved to furnish your own crib (new couch, anyone?). 

By Order of the Management

Some days it seems like I say the same sentences over and over again.  Share your toys.  Say "Please".   Don't poke your brother's eye out. (It's not a good day when I've had to say the last one more than once).  North Carolina artist John W. Golden was apparently been listening in on my conversations with my children when he created his series of "By Order of the Management" prints, which you can buy on his Etsy site.   Okay, more likely, he was just putting in print what parents around the world have been saying over and over again to their children since the beginning of time.  His prints come in a variety of punchy colors and have a saying appropriate for nearly every child-rearing situation.  Now, if only he had one for my office which read "Get back to work!"

New York State of Mind

I took a few days off blogging to take a quick trip to New York City for a college friend's baby shower.  I had been anticipating the trip since the moment I booked my ticket (some much needed "me" time), but as usual packed in a hurried frenzy a few hours before leaving for the airport.  The whole flight in, I had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something. And then it hit me: I had forgotten to buy the mama-to-be a gift, the whole purpose of my trip! Alas, good thing I was in the Big Apple and had a million baby boutiques to choose from.  And lucky for me, I was staying with my best friend from law school, who is also a New York shopping encyclopedia.   Without skipping a beat she said, "Don't worry, we'll get her something from Estella."  Of all of the many places to buy baby and children's clothing in the city, she gets almost all of her baby gifts from Estella. One trip there and I saw why: in addition to selling adorable, one of a kind pieces for young boys and girls, they also have their own Estella line of the absolute softest tops and leggings I've yet to put my hands on. After picking out the gift, I of course also managed to come home with a few pieces from their Estella line for my girls. For all you non-New Yorkers, good news: they have a website where you can pick up all of their wares.  Even better news: they have a huge 50% off sale going on right now until August 1. 

 Bon Bon Liberty Fabric Baby & Girls Dress with Spaghetti Straps

on sale for $59.50 (previously $85)

 Estella Stripe Cotton Short Sleeve Bodysuit, $25

Sign of the Times

I am loving the trend to decorate with Zodiac signs.  It's a fresh and subtle way to personalize your child's room.  A few of my favorites are below:

Leo Zodiac Pillow, Serena and Lily, $88

Capricorn Zodiac Art, Serena and Lily, $98

Pisces Pillow, Jonathan Adler, $98

What's your sign?

Organize in Style: Erin Condren Life Planners

I’m a techie.  I use an iPhone and a blackberry (one for personal, one for work, natch).  I have an iPad and a Mac laptop. And an iTouch.  And I use them all, often simultaneously.  However, I have yet to find an App that really gets my life streamlined and in check. (I’ve tried them all).  Let's just say that organizational skills are not my strong suit.  I've learned that if I really need to get things done, I know I need to use that old relic called a pen and write it down on real, tangible paper (yes, it still exists).  But I’ve also learned that I'm much more inclined to be organized when that paper is pretty and I’m proud to carry it with me.  Those plain office-issued datebooks just don’t do it for me, but Erin Condren’s Life Planners (which come in several other styles in addition to the one above, including ones with photos) are the supermodels of schedulers. Not only do they have the standard monthly and weekly calendars you would expect, but they also include food logs, and even newborn feeding logs for new moms.  (It's so fancy they even have a video showing all the great things you can do with it.) The 2011-2012 versions are just out, and they sell like hot cakes (Brooke Burke is a big fan).   With one of these in my purse, I may not only look like I’ve got everything control, I may actually have it under control (on some days, at least).  Now if only I could do something about organizing my closet...

More Mini's

I wrote yesterday about how some of the best fashion for kids comes from lines originally designed for adults.  Well, Women's Wear Daily is reporting that the ultimate style mama, Gwen Stefani, is bringing a kids version of her Harajuku line to Target in November.    The line, for babies through tweens, will be priced from $4 to $30.  Major style for your mini-me, at a mini price to match. 

Gilt-y Pleasures: Tai One On

Some of the most stylish children's lines are the ones that were originally designed for adults.  Case in point: bracelets by Tai.   I've scored the stackable bracelets on Gilt for myself in the past, and now the mini-Tai's are on major sale at Gilt.   So instead of your little girl stealing  borrowing your old baubles for dress up, you may find yourself pilfering these from her jewelry box.