November 2009 - Momtrends

Maternity Holiday Dress Up from Pea in the Pod Collection

Look like one hot momma (to-be) this holiday with Destination Maternity. Last week I went to the Destination Maternity showroom to see the Holiday and Spring Maternity Collections. And there is plenty of good news--you and your bump are going to look fabulous this season.

It's Cyber Monday and time to get serious about your gift list. I'm putting together my shopping list for my girlfriends (we all know girlfriends are essential to a mom's sanity) and focusing on gifts that are functional as well as fabulous. This season trendy moms are carrying Ellen Allen Annapolis bags, putting them on their wish lists and buying them for the friends that matter most--mom friends.

Kitchen playsets are one of the best gifts you can give your child and your family. This season I'm loving the sets I found at Whimsmoore. These green gifts are gorgeous creations that will provide hours of imaginative play. A handmade wooden kitchen inspires kids to cook up loads of meals (my favorite is chocolate cupcake soup!) and work as a team.

About a month ago Cuisinart sent me a Cuisinart WCH-1500 CleanWater 2-Gallon Countertop Hot/ Cold Water-Filtration System Kit. I was eager to test this out. Having vowed to stop buying bottle water for the family, I'd still like a way to get refreshing, clean water that is convenient. Set up was easy and this device looks fairly sleek on the counter.

Wooden blocks have never been cooler. Look around at any preschool group and you'll find kids gathering round these classic wooden toys dreaming and building. This year I'm keen on CITIBLOCS Original Wooden Building Block Set.

Calling all crafters, one of my favorite places to shop for modern kids' furnishings, 2Modern, is sponsoring a Recycled Ornament Contest. All you DIY Junkies get ready to create a Holiday Ornament made completely of recycled materials. Winners will be judged on creatvitiy, use of recycled materials, and design asthetic.

Save big on personalized gifts from Preppy Poppy. I for one have never outgrown my love of things, pink, green, and monogrammed. Preppy Poppy is running a promotion through 12/2/09. Get 20% off your entire order. Discount automatically applies at checkout. Momtrends picks: The personalized and Insulated Lunch totes make wonderful teacher gifts for Christmas. ($12)

So technically you do need power to use this next gift pick, Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker. But technicalities aside, this will get your girls up and moving. I promise! This DVD combines classical dance and music from the timeless ballet The Nutcracker. The DVD deconstructs the ballet in bite-sized lessons.

I'm simply mad fpr plaid this season. And no one does tartan for the holidays like Ralph Lauren. For Christmas finery, I recommend the two pieces shown. To find out more about them, plus learn how to get free shipping and 25% off your Ralph Lauren purchases read on...

Whew! What a meal we had yesterday. The highlight had to be my pear and prosciutto stuffing. Moist, flavorful and distinctive. This is a side-dish you won't soon forget.

I'm happy to report spending time with family is trendier than ever! The turkey's been demolished and the kitchen is back in order. Time to focus all the things I'm thankful for. First, my beautiful family (Mr. Momtrends is reading to the girls right now)--they are full of energy and enthusiam. We've been blessed with health and good fortune this year.

A great gift for the holiday should bring smiles. This knit caps has flair and a very high cuteness quotient. Put Zooni caps on your holiday shopping list and you can't go wrong. These hand-knit caps almost stop traffic they are so sweet. The brand made a name for themselves with floppy furry Mop Top Caps. New for 2010 is the cupcake hat ($32.50).

Smart moms always keep a well-fitting black dress in the closet. If you're looking for a way to dress up your little black dress for the holidays, I've found just the necklace at Anthropologie. Pretty as a posey, this necklace sparkles with faceted glass centers. The faux-silk blooms drip from a twisted ruby cord. ($38)

Thanksgiving Wine Picks from Supple Wine

Just in the nick of time! Momtrends solves the "what to serve conundrum"...Here is the guest post from Mike Supple of Supple Wine.

The impending arrival of aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws causes plenty of pre-Thanksgiving stress; the last thing you want to worry about is what wine to serve with your culinary creations. Thanksgiving wine pairing can feel particularly daunting because of the wide variety of flavors involved – the average turkey day table is stocked with sweet, savory, herby, tangy and creamy foods. While the most important part of pairing wine and food is making sure you’re drinking something you like, a few quick tips will help you avoid any bitter mishaps and really make your cornucopia shine.

Oh how I love Kickboard USA scooters. Let me start to count the ways. #1 they are incredibly fun to use. A two-year old can master the Micro Mini Kick ($79.99; four colors) in an afternoon. #2 the fun lasts. Your kids won't tire of this toy. My daughter has had her Mini for two years and still uses it every day in nice weather. #3 it's great exercise.

Holiday dressing doesn't have to mean fussy. Juicy Couture sent me the holiday look book to review and I found two adorable looks that won't have your girl screaming in protest. What little person wants itchy fabrics and fussy designs! First pick: Juicy's Knit dress with leggings. The multicolor stripes top reminds me of Sonia Rykiel. Details, such as the goldtone scottie are tasteful and festive. Sizes 3-24 mos. ($98) A coordinating dress is also available for big sister. ($138)

In a prefect world girls would love sports as much as tutus. Soccer would be as cool as Miley Cyrus and obesity wouldn't exist. Alas, it is an uphill battle as a mom to give your girl toys that will fire up her dreams not her insecurities. That's why I love the Go! Go! Sports Girls dolls. The motto of these plucky girls: "Dream big and go for it!"

Last week the folks from P & G lured me out with a promise of a spa lunch with my NYC bloggy pals and a massage--well twist my arm already. The catch? I had to listen to talk about mucus and phlegm.

Playmobil play sets are a classic toy to fuel the imagination. Yes there are a myriad of tiny pieces, but that is part of the fun--its got amazing real-world detail. This holiday the Playmobil Take Along Construction would make a marvelous gift for your kids and guess what? Momtrends is giving one away...

15 great crafts all in one box. Seems like the perfect solution to the long school-free holidays that are coming up. The KidsBusyBox Company sent me a Fall Collection box to test out and I got busy gluing and coloring with the kids over the weekend.

It's been a delightful weekend full of crafts, cooking and testing (plus lots of fun outdoors). All these projects have meant tons of hand washing. So its a good thin Simplehuman sent me their new motion sensor soap dispenser ($29.99). My first impression: Why the heck would I want a soap dispenser that requires four AA batteries! But then I got to thinking...

Holiday cards are a big tradition in our family. I'm always on the hunt for specialty paper companies that offer inspired designs. I'm happy to share the scoop that Pretty Printing is offering Momtrends readers 25% off all holiday orders. Use code: MOMTRENDS. I'm smitten with this Lattice & Stripes pattern--very Tori Burch!

The fabric tents from Lucy & Michael are simply awesome. Children can completely loose themselves in play when tucked inside this roomy hideout. Having a play space that is chic as well as inspiring--that's something the whole family can celebrate.

This summer we spotted Tatsoi at our local market. I was stumped about the leafy green and did some research. Turns out this sweet vegetable is related to Bok Choy. Once I found that out, I decided to make an Asian stir-fry. Now it is a regular side dish on our table.

Thanks to a series of movies the penguin is now one of the hottest animals around. From plush toys to animated series, these waddling little fellows are everywhere. For me, I'd pick this clever pop-up toys as a favorite. This Percy Penguin Jack in the Box from Jack Rabbit Creations is old school in its construction, but trendy in its design.

Yesterday Momtrends braved the crowds on 5th Avenue in NYC to check out the hottest new designer + big brand marketing event: Stella McCartney for Gap Kids. Yes indeed there was excitement in the store. The display was wrecked as trendy NYC moms sorted through the offerings.

The family that plays together stays together. Yet, board games can be long and boring (especially with little kids). When I saw the Chicky Boom game at Toy Fair, I knew I found a winner. This games is designed for 2-4 players and helps kids develop steady hands.

Mr. Momtrends and I were thinking about our holiday card last night and we pulled out an inspiration file. In it was this great-looking tree of life card from Bernard Maiser. So I went to bernardmaisner.com to check it out. Turns out this card is $34...for a single card.

Every day is a party when you've got the right toys on hand. The classic Schylling tea set has been around for almost 30 years. This season I'm fond of this vintage-looking 13 piece set. Reminiscent of a summer garden party this toy set makes me want to whip up scones and invite all the dolls in our house to tea.

Hugs and hand holding are some of the big perks of motherhood. Combine the two with these adorable Squeeze Me Mittens ($60) from Oeuf. Why wait for the holidays--start the fun now with this adorable find.

Who needs batteries to go fast? This gorgeous roadster from Playsam (Germany) won't sit still for long. This car is simply irresistible and could it look any cooler. I want to drive this, I really, really do. Since I realize most parents aren't going to shell out $400 for this toy, I've got options.

A few weeks ago I had my first Gyrotonic session at Kinespirit. When it comes to fitness, I'll give anything a try once. Some things work better for my stressful and wild schedule. Pilates, running, yoga--these are all for me. Weightlifting, DVDs, spinning, not so much. Gytrotonic excercise? A definite yes.

Giving your child a book for the holidays is a gift that will last and last. Puff, the Magic Dragon is not new, but this version is something special. It's got a Peter Yarrow CD included. Combine the music and and the glorious illustrations of this version and you've got a literary treasure.

I'm a Brooklynite and I'm a book girl. For the past two weeks, I've had my nose in Prospect Park West: A Novel. I've lost sleep, let the comments slide a bit on the blogs, neglected chores, all so I could hang out with the wild women of this fictional Brooklyn community. This book is the equivalent of dark chocolate or red wine...so good it's sinful.

Jergens Winter Weather Forecast Contest

I just uploaded my youtube entry. I'm aiming to be the Winterless Weather Forecaster for Jergens and possibly win $10,000 in prizes and a spot on the Today Show with Al Roker. Heck why not? I love forecasting fashion trends, why not the weather. Intrigued? Read how to enter here...

Neige: Save 20% on your order with code: Momtrends. Gorgeous clothing for the holidays and beyond. We love this gorgeous coat that can go from fall to holiday. Julia coat is made of a timeless wool flannel. For more deals click here....

Remember the theme, "No Batteries Required"? Well you've got to love a toy that doubles as cold-weather gear. Bear Hands is pretty well known for their adorable paw-shaped gloves, this holiday season I'm touting a new addition to the line--the BearHands Fleece Buddy Scarf.

Last week Stop & Shop hosted a blogging event to help busy moms prepare for the holidays. Their food expert Andrea Astrachan was there to inspire moms to creatively prepare for the season that can drain our energy and wallets. The moms in our group made chocolate dipped pretzels, flower arrangements and these gift-ready soup mixes. The soup mix really inspired me to create gifts this season.

Keeping the kids warm has never been so stylish and fun. From Sweden with love, I present Polarn O. Pyret. I think Americans will get used to the quirky name (translates to something close to "the buddy and the little guy") when they discover the quality and good looks of this brand. Read on to learn more and get a chance to win free winter gear...

November is the perfect time to start planning ways to save money and be green for the holidays. Many moms overspend when it comes to wrapping and packaging gifts. I've put together tips to save your cash and some trees this holiday season.

Finding the right book for toddlers can be tricky. They are beyond baby, one-word, board books, but not ready for elaborate picture books. We've found a bedtime favorite with Good Night New York City (Good Night Our World series). You don't have to live in the Big Apple to get in on this literary action. There are dozens of cities (from Seattle to the Florida Keys) and states to make your night-time ritual personal.

Purple and gray are going to be hot for kids this Christmas season. Sure we all think about tartan plaid and red taffeta, but why not liven things up a bit this year? I've been seeing pops of these trendy colors all over the place and am warming up to the idea for holiday dressing...here's why:

Today we kick off the Second Annual Momtrends 25 Great Gift List. The theme: No Batteries Required. Each of my picks are kid powered. And the first pick is Poloppo T-Me. Poloppo turns artwork and play into treasures like this tee my 20-month-old daughter created.

The BBIC (Bravado Breastfeeding Information Council) event was fabulous today. I joined up with a group of journalists and breastfeeding activists today at the W Hotel in Union Square to learn more about breastfeeding facts and hear the stories of mothers trying to integrate breastfeeding into their lives.

Beth Feldman is a woman of many talents. Gathering groups of talented women is one of them. Writing is another. She combined these two last week to kick off her book tour for See Mom Run: Side-Splitting Essays from the World's Most Harried Blogging Moms. This new book of essays on motherhood will guarantee you many giggles.

Hats are back! I'm not talking about winter woolen caps, I'm talking about stylish toppers for little men. Right now I'm loving the assortment from Kangol. The kids' woolplayer hat turns a so-so ensemble into something special.

Get ready, it's time to kick off the pre-holiday shopping and for us, that means getting an advent calendar. As a little girl I remember loving opening up each little window as Christmas approached. Now I am continuing the tradition thanks to Hearth Song.

Amenity Home is offering the first-ever autumnal allowance, just in time for the holiday season! Check out the organic baby basics. They are offering 20% off site-wide (Muir Collection excluded). Use code: fall20

I wash my hands a bajillion times a day. Between H1N1 fears, diaper changes and subway funk, I always feel like I need to soap up. Whenever a company pitches me, "we've got a new hand soap..." I say yes before I even read the entire email. The latest test was of Bath & Body Works Anti Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap.

It's 40 degrees in NYC--time for soup! We've been apple picking with the kids 2x this fall. I went in search of inspiration in Dr.Weil's cookbook and found an incredible soup recipe. It's so simple, insanely healthy, and tasty enough to make you want seconds and thirds.

Flashback to 1983. I'm a freshman in high school and I am wearing leggings, long shaker-knit tunic sweaters and ankle boots. The Limited is THE spot for fashion at my local mall and my girlfriends and I constantly badger our parents for more shopping funds. Flashfoorward to 2009...Limited is back.

Oh the delights that come in the mail here at Momtrends. Each day the UPS man and mailman have at least one box for me. I'll admit that books account for our favorite deliveries. I usually have quite a stack to work with. Today I'm sharing a book for babies and a book about the season.

We're mad about dresses. Now that the cooler weather is here, we pair tights with our girly clothes. I just scooped up footless tights at Mini Boden and am LOVING them for the girls. Chunky, knit woven tights add texture and warmth to all of our favorite outfits.

Tori Spelling brings a lot of style to motherhood. This mom of two has made a career of looking good in front of cameras while raising her kids. She seems to have embraced motherhood and all its blessings and complications. Her latest venture is a line of chic childrenswear called Little Maven.

Are you a SAHM? When you spend morning at playground, afternoon at teh doctor and evening doing the car pool shuttle you know all about hard work. From fixing lunches to making booboos better a mom's work is never done. Mom Works tees and accessories celebrate the energy and enthusiasm moms put into running a family.

When Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists approached me about advertising on Momtrends, part of the deal was that I needed to visit the NYC location and do some research. My reputation and my readers mean the world to me and I didn't want to advocate anything that made moms feel anything less than fabulous. So I booked an appointment with Dr. David Goldberg to do my investigating.

How many times have you dropped your cell phone at the park, in the house, or at the market? If you are like me the answer is far too many. Today I got a tour of The Shop PR showroom in the Fashion District. When I saw this nifty "Blackberry Bag" from JJ Winters, I knew I'd found a winner. Practical for any mom that needs to have her mom tools handy.

October Winners

You're going to have to click to see if you won. Thanks for all the entries and be sure to keep reading for more exciting giveaways in November. I've got everyone's email and will be sending you info. on how to claim your prize tomorrow.



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