Ladybug Stitches

I recently discovered Ladybug Stitches Online Boutique...they specialize in custom and handmade gifts for babies, and clothing for boys and girls. They carry a wide variety of *ADORABLE* items, from aprons, diaper bags, nap mats to burp cloth sets and clothing. The prices are really affordable and the items are all handmade. And did I mention...adorable? Take a look!

I apologize ::

Sorry for the long lapse in posts and reviews....here's a pretty good reason why.

Winner :: Paper Shouts & Bride Wars Giveaway

To - Brea's Mommy - the winner of the Paper Shouts/Bride Wars Giveaway. Congratulations!

gift hero to the rescue

I am a BIG fan of companies that exist to make my life a little easier as a mama. I can't count the number of times I have stood in the aisles of Target five minutes AFTER a birthday party starts, looking for the perfect birthday gift. I've heard the idea of having a "gift closet" but have never gotten around to such a concept. And, if the child isn't my son's age, I usually don't have any clue of what he/she will like. Gift Hero solves so many of these problems. They have done the research for you - they know what kids like - you can shop by age and gender. And, I LOVE that you can select gifts under $20. I find myself attending about 38 birthday parties in the month of October, so I can't spend a lot on each gift. :) And, the gift comes in the coolest bag (shown above) that you can use as wrapping and re-use. Kids love bags - it's like a gift within a gift!

tess & tallulah

I have come to the realization that my kiddos have much nicer things than my husband and I...I suppose that is the natural progression of things. Our wedding gifts are now almost 10 years old, so it makes sense that some of our things have seen better days. Our children are "newer", after all. :) Case in point :: I just received the most luxurious towel from Tess & Tallulah for baby on the way. Not only is the towel super plush, it is so adorable -- it is one of those products that I want to just display on a shelf, not actually use, which I realize is very silly. The towel is in a mod fabric I happened to see on a recent episode of Brothers & Sisters (love that show!) and thought to myself "I need something in that pattern" because I loved it so much. It is the Jack pattern shown here. The dresses and changing mattes come in a variety of modern and colorful fabrics, too. Lucky kiddos...

Paper Shouts Giveaway

As you know, I am a big fan of Paper Shouts. In fact, I plan on using them *very soon* for birth announcements. WELL...

Paper Shouts has partnered with 20th Century Fox to give you a taste of some great style and great fun. Paper Shouts and 20th Century Fox is giving you a chance to not only win a copy of the newly released movie, BRIDE WARS, but also a $25 gift certificate to Paper Shouts. And if you are the lucky winner here, you will also be entered to win other prizes including...

• Grand Prize: 6 nights at the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort and airfare for 2 on AirTran airlines.
• 1st prize: Sunglasses Worn by Kate Hudson in BRIDE WARS movie and $100 Paper Shouts Gift Certificate.
• 2nd Prize: BRIDE WARS one-sheet signed by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway and $50 Paper Shouts gift certificate.
  
  Have you seen the movie? Anne Hathaway & Kate Hudson play best friends {since childhood}, they become engaged within a few hours of each other and together, they begin to plan their weddings. A clerical error at the wedding location and subsequent clash in wedding dates pits the two brides – neither of whom will step aside – against each other, in a competition that quickly escalates into all-out war. Fun, huh?
  

Well, if you haven't seen it, you can purchase the movie when it is released in just one week - on April 28th. In the meantime, enter the giveaway here - on this post. We're going to make you work a little for this one, though. After all, you have the potential to win a 6 night vacation in Cancun! For reals! To enter, post a comment on this post. Let me know which character's style you relate to more...Emma's traditional, romantic style or Liv's couture, "only the best" approach AND also let me know your favorite Bridal Shouts card. You can find them here. Enter by Wednesday, May 6th at 10:00 pm (pst). If your contact information is not linked to your google account, don't forget to leave your contact information in your comment. (If winner does not come forward within 48 hours, a new winner will be randomly selected.) Check back on Thursday, May 7th to see if you won! Anonymous comments will be ignored. One entry per person, please. Good luck!!

Blankie Keeper

There comes a time in a toddlers' life when it's not so cute anymore to be dragging around a tattered and worn blankie. Then what? Try a Blankie Keeper! Mompreneur Leslie Smith came up with the idea for a keeper out of "desperate necessity".

"My daughter was nowhere near ready to let go or get rid of her blanket when it literally began to shred in the wash. I stitched it several times but for every seam I made, a new rip materialized. I finally convinced her to put it in a little pillowcase and leave it alone. Four years later it is still her number one cuddly bedmate." - Leslie

Blankie Keepers come in three different sizes and many different fabrics. I'm actually using one for MY old blanket. My son recently uncovered my favorite blanket from childhood in his closet and started sleeping with it, but since it is 20+ years old, it starting falling apart. So, to keep it from disintegrating before my eyes, it is now encased in a Blankie Keeper as a keepsake for years to come. Thank you Leslie!

Discount :: Save 20% on your order through April 30th. Use code "GRANDSLAM".

lina bean

We love it when companies combine great design & functionality, while remaining eco-friendly. Case in point: Lina Bean! Lina Bean offers a variety of products, including bibs, blankets & burp cloths. My favorite? The throw & go blanket - we always have a blanket in our trunk for impromtu picnics and fun at the park. But, this throw & go is made from recycled bottles and is trimmed with a bamboo/cotton printed fabric - really cute and eco-conscious, too!

Skyoozmee Burp Cloths

I've heard babies spit up. You may think I'm lying, but my little one didn't spit up. I can remember two times EVER that he spit up. I know. You think I'm lying. Well, I am expecting again and I am quite sure I am going to have a baby that not only spits up, but projectile vomits at least 10 times a day. Well, now I am forever prepared for what is to come. Because I've also heard that babies don't always conveniently spit up on your shoulder, which is where most burp cloths so nicely fit, but that it will often fly and even go down your back.

Enter the Skyoozmee :: a burp cloth designed to cover BOTH shoulders, as well as your chest and your back. It allows you to have both hands free so you can bend over, switch sides, or do whatever you want without this burp cloth going anywhere. Cute designs, too!

Winner :: Bonn Bonn Baby Giveaway

To - Meredith - the winner of the Bonn Bonn Baby Giveaway. Please send your shipping address to info{at}iknowamom{dot}com with "I'm the winner!" in the subject line and I will have your gift sent right away. Congratulations!

BonnBonn Baby

IMAGINE your baby staying dry after a spill.
IMAGINE your baby quickly dry after wetting the sheet.
IMAGINE baby staying fresher.
IMAGINE life easier with BonnBonn Baby.

Really! Bonn Bonn Baby has created baby products - you know...those everyday items that become stained, unsanitary and wet from all the spit up and blowouts from baby - that actually pull away moisture from baby and offer antimicrobial protection, too. Genius! Not only are they practical, they are simple and modern in design. Check out their line of products here. Another great gift item for mom-to-be!

DISCOUNT :: BonnBonn Baby is offering 20% off for I Know A Mom readers - enter code "iknowamom" at checkout. Offer good through July 31, 2009. Thank you BonnBonn Baby!

And how about another giveaway? Yes, please!

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GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a Newborn Gift Pak - a $34 value - from bonn bonn baby. Post a comment on this post - any comment at all. t's that easy! Enter by Mon, April 6th at 10:00 pm (pst). If your contact information is not linked to your google account, don't forget to leave your contact information in your comment. (If winner does not come forward within one week, a new winner will be randomly selected.) Check back on Tuesday, April 7th to see if you won! Anonymous comments will be ignored. One entry per person, please. Good luck!!

Winner :: Mini Mosaic Giveaway

To - Ruth - the winner of the Mini Mosaic Giveaway. Please send your shipping address to info{at}iknowamom{dot}com with "I'm the winner!" in the subject line and I will have your gift sent right away. Congratulations!

Mosaics by Hand

Okay, it really doesn't get any easier than this...I just received a baby brag book from Mosaics by Hand for my little one. The book is all decked out with the sweetest embellishments, papers and personalized just for him. After seeing the book firsthand, it is easy to get over the sticker shock. It far surpassed my expectations for quality - the pages are even made of chipboard AND it doesn't stop there. It also came with photo corners and tape dots to put my own photos in it. Easy peasy! In the end, it looks like a book that I spent hours toiling over.

I am a self-professed scrapbooking dropout and I have a rubbermaid box to prove it - full of ribbons, papers, stickers, stamps, etc. And the baby book that I started for my son {who is now 2 1/2 years old} has officially stopped at the baby shower my friend threw for me when I was 6 months pregnant. :( Every mom I know has tried her hand at scrapbooking at one point or another, whether it is elaborate or not, it takes TIME...time I don't have, but preserving memories is something that is very important to me. Here's your answer & what a great gift idea for a mom-to-be!

DISCOUNT :: Mosaics by Hand is offering a 15% discount for I Know A Mom readers - enter code "iknowamom" at checkout. Offer good through May 10, 2009.

Mini Mosaic

Stay-at-home mom of two, Alisa Wetzel, is the business owner & designer behind Mini Mosaic. The business was born out of her love for design, art & jewelry. And like all of mom entrepreneurs featured on this site, she found a way to merge her passions into a meaningful & successful business. I love that! So, here's the deal...Mini Mosaic is a sterling silver pendant and chain that you can customize and personalize by choosing any of the 48+ beautiful tiles to wear in the pendant. It is, oh so, convenient & economical!

DISCOUNT :: Mini Mosaic is offering 35% off for I Know A Mom readers - enter code "mom35" at checkout. Thanks Alisa!

We're due for a giveaway, don't ya think?

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GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a Mini Mosaic Necklace with Four Tiles (shown at left) - a $110 value - from Mini Mosaic. Post a comment on this post - tell you me your favorite tile - you can find them here. It's that easy! Enter by Mon, March 30th at 10:00 pm (pst). If your contact information is not linked to your google account, don't forget to leave your contact information in your comment. (If winner does not come forward within one week, a new winner will be randomly selected.) Check back on Tues, March 31st to see if you won! Anonymous comments will be ignored. One entry per person, please. Good luck!!

Swirl Syndicate

The Swirl Syndicate tshirt collection was created by Designer, Leigh-Ann Jackson. After she gave birth to her daughter, Simone, who — with her Caucasian father’s fair complexion and red hair & her African-American mother's big brown eyes - constantly drew double takes during mommy & me strolls when she was an infant. This collection of tongue-in-cheek tees is meant to take the taboo out of the race topic and celebrate the beauty of having a rich mixed heritage.

Sizes range from 6-12 month tees to 4T and come in a wide variety of colors, just like our little ones! And, you can rest assured, each design is screen-printed by hand in Downtown Los Angeles and designs are printed on sweatshop-free 100% cotton tees.

For multi-culti cuties...

Mix My Granola.com

Okay, so this isn't a mom-owned business, but really cool nonetheless and your kiddos will {love} it. I have said before to my husband as we walk the aisles of the pre-packaged trail mixes at Trader Joe's...that I wish there was a way to make my own - one just for me - with all my favorite things. Enter MixMyGranola.com. Not only are their choices enticing and really hard to choose, the website is really clean and eye-catching and is S. I. M. P. L. E to use. I was - oh so excited - to try my mix. I loved it! My husband ordered a healthy, cereal-like mix. He loved his. Moi? Well, of the sweeter variety, of course - including Tiramisu Caramels and Peanutbutter Bites. Yum! Try your hand at it - you won't be disappointed - after all, it's made just the way you like it!

Thank you to Cool Mom Picks for the mention and kind words about I Know A Mom. Cool Mom Picks is such a great website - if you haven't been there yet...well...that would be hard to believe and you might as well just clear your schedule for the next 4 days to read all that their editors have reviewed and written about - there is a wealth of information and they pick great products, many of them from mom business owners. We love that!

Pickled Tink Necklace

I go weak in the knees for anything personalized - I just love being able to wear or own something that is just for me. Naturally, I love the pendant I recently received from Pickled Tink - the creation of another fabulous mompreneur. At Pickled Tink, you can customize your very own sterling silver necklace or bracelet - using children's names, initials or special words. All designs are finished using sterling silver components and the finished product is a beautiful {and meaningful} piece of jewelry.

babysusu :: a collection just for boys

With a two year old son and another baby boy on the way, I am always on the lookout for new boys' collections. We have all seen the adorable choices for the little princesses of the world. But, what about for your little man? A little prince he will be in the babysusu collection - oh my...talk about cute little men...

babysusu offers little guys ages 0-4 the chance to flex their own fashion flair…with a mixture of classic styles and understated modern detailing. Made from all natural fabrics like cotton, cashmere, and wool, babysusu pieces are designed with care to survive all the snakes and snails and puppy dog tails that little boys are made of. The babysusu collection has a lux feel and a playful appeal, fashionable yet functional pieces that wear just as well on a playdate in the park as they do strolling down Park Avenue.

Moms on Monday :: Cortney Novogratz of SIXX Design

Cortney Novogratz is a :: designer, author, mother of six (and one on the way) - that's not a typo! She really is all these things - and is doing a swell job at it, I might add. Cortney and her husband, are the owners of SIXX DESIGN, a development and design firm with properties throughout Manhattan. Oh how I would love to have a camera on her for a day, but I settled for answers to a few questions on inspiration and how she does it all...

i know a mom :: Where does your inspiration come from?

cortney :: New York is very inspirational! Every time I walk out the front door. Also, my family, travelling and just the diversity of what I do every day inspires me.

i know a mom :: What does your ideal workday look like?

cortney :: I take the kids to school in the morning, do errands, work on our various design projects, have meetings with our clients, and then we all catch up at the house in the evenings for family dinner, where we can discuss our day together! The best days are the ones where our design comes to fruition and everybody in the family has had a successful, happy day.

i know a mom :: What is your best piece of advice for successfully managing business & family?

cortney :: We try to work locally so we don’t have to be away from the kids. I would urge every mom out there to follow her dream and try to do what you love. It’s very rewarding. And to keep your priorities straight. Whatever is really the most important to you, put that first, and the rest will follow.

i know a mom :: What are your favorite blogs/resources/books/websites?

cortney :: I love all the design blogs, there are so many of them. It’s interesting to see what drives other people in the creation of their environments. And so many of them blog about SIXX Design, our company, which is gratifying and fun! As for resources, I read a lot of different design magazines, many of them from around the world, and books about artists I am interested in, or architects, etc. I also read a lot of parenting blogs and hear what other moms have to say!

i know a mom :: What is the best thing about working with your husband? I won't ask the worst. :-)

cortney :: He can take over on the days I am not feeling it! And because we’re committed to a big career and a big family, you really need somebody who understands what you are going through and what kind of support you need, and that is a big part of our partnership!

i know a mom :: What is next for you, your family & business?

cortney :: Well, for our family, we are expecting a new addition on February 1st. We’re not sure if it will be a boy or a girl, but it will be our seventh child and all of us are really excited! As far as business goes, we are insanely busy, working on several hotel projects, we have a big book coming out from Rizzoli in May (Downtown Chic) and we are building a new house for ourselves in Downtown Manhattan. With more being added every day. We like to challenge ourselves and follow our dream! Hmmm - is that all? Wow! Thanks Cortney!