The Bebe au Lait Blog

We've Moved!

2008-11-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

Bebe au Lait's Blog has moved from Blogger (http://bebeaulait.blogspot.com/) to a new blog on our own web server (http://www.bebeaulait.com/blog/)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Bebe au Lait

The Secret to a Quick, Put-Together Look

2008-10-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

Two things ladies. Sunglasses and a great, trench-length coat. My one purchase this year for Fall/Winter (I like to add in 2-3 pieces typically, but the r-word is in full effect) is this Trovata coat. Yes, it's cream colored. I coated it in Scotch Guard and carry a Tide Pen in my handbag + the kids know when mommy's wearing her "fancy coat". I love it because you slip it over whatever cozy clothes you may have, add in some boots and big sunglasses and then your lack of makeup and un-perfected hair stand a chance of going unnoticed! Here are two celeb moms and their go-to coats: one of Claudia Schiffer and the other is Salma Hayek--who both look outstanding.

Perfect Toddler-Friendly Halloween Craft: The Knife-Free Jack-O-Lantern

2008-10-15T10:04:00.001-07:00

We wanted something fun for our Play Group to celebrate Halloween that would be interesting for us, fun for the kids, and easy to do so we could pass along the idea to our friends. Inspired by a Matthew Mead idea from his amazing book of Halloween ideas called Halloween Tricks and Treats, we created the Knife-Free Jack-O-Lantern Party.

The Prep: 3 days prior to event.
(1) Find small-medium sized pumpkins that don't have super deep grooves and still have some stem.
(2) Prop them up on rocks or wood on a newspaper-covered area and paint them with spray-on chalkboard paint in black (from Home Depot or other paint store). We used one spray paint can to cover our five pumpkins. Let dry for 36 hours.
(3) We made cookies (Banana-Chocolate Chip from Martha Stewart) and bought Halloween candy to create a happy, sugared frenzy for our craft. You can make the cookie dough ahead of time, freeze it, then thaw day-of and bake.

The Party:
(1) Cover the table with a drop cloth or machine washable tablecloth.
(2) We created a station of pumpkin, treats, and tools for each child and had them some to the Play Group already in their costumes (which they readily wore before Halloween!).
(3) Introduce them to the spooky black pumpkins and have one for yourself, &/or each mom and dad, and put chalk to pumpkin to create your own design. Note: you can erase and start over, but the black paint does chip off a bit, so you might want to have a chalkboard eraser handy. This can also be fun, letting the kids do more than one design if they don't like the first.

Success! We had a great time with kids ranging from age 2-8. And every neighbor has already stopped by to see if the black pumpkins on my front porch are real. Great fun.

Send us pictures of yours and we'll post some of them: Halloween@BebeAuLait.com

Jolie Breastfeeding

2008-10-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

As a mother of twins, I can tell you with 100% assurance that it is not easy to keep up with breast-fed babies who are on the same feeding schedules. And as a mother of now 3-year old twins who are so healthy in many ways, I can say with 100% assurance that it's worth it and I'm thankful (with extra thanks to Renee my post-natal doula) that I could make it all work for them because it was challenging in many ways. So here's kudos to Angelina Jolie who is apparently not only breastfeeding Knox and Vivienne but also promoting it.

March of Dimes Babies Love Soccer, Too!

2008-10-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

If you've had the opportunity to check out our "about" page, you may have realized that we've got quite the talented international soccer player running the show here at Bebe au Lait.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, our CEO, Ronnie, began playing soccer when he was just six years old and ultimately played professionally for more than 18 years. Hard work and natural talent led him to win several notable awards with the teams he played for, including twice winning Major League Soccer's (MLS) Championship, being honored as an MLS Pepsie Best XI player, and a Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Best XI Player. Ronnie also held coveted field positions for the Danish National Team and their Olympic Team. Today, in addition to overseeing the day-to-day finances, operations, and senior management of Bebe au Lait, Ronnie also holds the position of Technical Advisor of the San Jose Earthquakes for the 2008 season.

Coincidently, it just so happens that in addition to a genuine love for great design and our products, many of us here are also soccer enthusiasts and are loving the March of Dimes commercial below.

I actually spotted this ad for the first time over this past weekend. Clever and cute, I immediately thought it captures what Ronnie and Claire are all about: nurturing growing families, healthy babies, and playing soccer!

Flying with Children

2008-10-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

For those parents out there who are getting ready for a flight, Bebe au Lait offers our list of considerations and tips for a low-stress trip.

Well Before the Flight:
Visit your airline's web page, and read about their policies for traveling with young children. Be sure you know what to expect from the airline and the flight staff before showing up at the terminal.

Read and tell stories to your kids about traveling by air. Also, tell them about the destination, and what makes it special and unique.

Plan For Comfort:

Flying causes a lot of anxiety for children who have little (or no) idea what is going on. In order to soothe some of this anxiety, smart parents bring along plenty of toys, goodies, food, drinks, activities, etc. to get the kid's mind off the flight, and onto something less stressful. In the case of babies, think comfort. Physical contact, rocking, bouncing, breastfeeding, and shiny objects will all calm the little one down making your life much easier.

Airports:

Airports are very stressful places. Children (adults too!) are highly anxious in this environment.

First, cut out the stress of time. Leave for the airport allowing plenty of time for bad traffic, parking, checking bags, waiting in line, etc. Absolutely nothing is worse than feeling rushed at an airport. The tension is thick, and kids pick up on that from you, then broadcast it to everyone else at the airport.

Even taking time and stress into account, it's likely that your child will still feel nervous, and make it known. Be prepared to smile at a lot of dirty looks from strangers.

Checking In:

When it comes time for you to check in, ask if the flight is full. If not, see if you can get an empty seat next to you.

If you're traveling with really young children, you're often allowed to board before everyone else. Ask about this when you check in. When you board, get ready to stash one bag at your feet, and the other in the overhead compartment. Have a seat, and relax as quickly as possible.

Diaper Changing:

Be sure you pack an in-flight changing kit. Put some diapers, multi-purpose burp cloths, baby wipes, diaper cream, baby powder, and hand sanitizer in a small pouch.

When you board, ask the flight attendant where the best place to change the baby is. In some planes, there will be one larger bathroom on board with a changing table.

Eating and Feeding:

Bring your own food. It's better to be prepared with food that the child likes rather than chancing it with airplane food (or lack of it!)

If you're with a really young child, be ready for them to make a mess. Bring at least one bib that will help keep their clothes clean, and be ready with those all-important wipes!

If your child is breastfeeding (or you're pumping), bring a nursing cover for privacy. They are also great for creating a "cocoon" while the baby is sleeping.

If you're bottle feeding, be sure you have plenty of milk for the child ready to go. If you need the bottle warmed up, let a flight attendant know, but also understand that it takes time, so get your bottles heated up before you actually need them.

Keeping Children Entertained:

Flights are generally pretty boring. Even sophisticated adults feel stir crazy after just a few hours on a plane. Imagine that sensation times 10, and minus certain social boundaries, and you've got a good idea of what is going on inside your child's head! As you can imagine, boredom is the root of many in-flight irritants.

There are many things you can bring, but focus on the few items that are likely to distract the child for the longest time. Load up your iPods or iPhones with good programming like Sesame Street. You could also bring a laptop or portable DVD player. Some other ideas include coloring books, stories and puzzle books.

Sleeping on Board:

Bring a comfortable blanket or nursing cover. Airplane blankets tend to be scratchy and icky.

Good luck, and enjoy the trip!

Here are some fantastic resources where you can learn more:
www.flyingwithkids.com.
There is also this short pamphlet published by the FAA.
Speaking of the FAA, they also have this great resource for travelers.

Fun Walk

2008-10-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

Bebe au Lait sponsors and donates to many select causes throughout the year. Yesterday we were the proud sponsors of one particular cause that is close to my heart...our little girls' elementary school! The girls are always thrilled when i help out at school and to be selfish, i love the way they make me feel when I'm there :-)

September Be-Be-Q in the Park

2008-09-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

About a week ago Friday, our closest family members and friends joined us for a fun-in-the-sun-filled afternoon barbecue in the park. We jumped in a jumbo-size bounce house complete with climbing wall, slide, and basketball "court" fit for big and little kids alike and competed in classic outdoor games like croquet, badminton, soccer, Frisbee, horseshoes...even a potato sack relay race!

Hot dogs, burgers, tri-tip and baby back spare ribs were barbecued on-site by one of our favorite local smokehouses. They also served up garlic bread, fresh fruit and green salads and their famous baked beans. Thank you to Christina and Alan for baking cupcakes and cookies and to Santa and her family for treating everyone to homemade tamales.

Two pinatas -- one pull-string for the really young ones and a more traditional one for taking a swing at -- were very popular towards the end of the evening. Notice the alternative use of our nursing cover! :)

Long Car Trips With Toddlers, Tips for Making the Long Haul Work

2008-09-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

I'm a mom of 3 year-old twins and was ready to embark on the longest car trip to date thus far--moving from Colorado to California. I searched online for ways to prepare and found a few good ideas + came up with a few on my own. This chronicles the best parts offering up some

Tips on making the long haul car trip work.

(1) The preparation. I made a travel box of trip-toys (using Banker's boxes) for each day and let them know that every morning there would be a new box of toys and a new movie for the day. At night, when we cleaned up the car, we packed up the previous day's toys so there were fresh ones to discover when you we got in the car every morning. The boxes had some of their favorite toys from our play room before the movers packed everything and then I bought a few new ones so it would be a mix of daily treasures. As crafty as I tried to be, we definitely needed that travel DVD player too and they loved having new movies to watch. I also discovered the McDonald's DVD rental set up. While we only stopped for their iced coffee and to let the kids play for about 30 minutes (which was fantastic since it's hard to find parks in a foreign town on a limited schedule) it was the DVD rental that was pretty fantastic. $1 per day, drop them off at the next McDonald's you stop at (any, it doesn't matter) and there were appropriate choices for kids of many ages.

(2) Craft time. I got them these plastic tray/desks at Michael's for $5 so they could color and do some sticker crafts + help me keep track of toys, sippies, etc.

(3) They love the movie Cars, still. So we played "guess the truck" -- was it a Peterbilt, a Mack, Volvo etc. They actually loved this so much that they still do it when we drive around town.

(4) Travel potty. MUCH cleaner than most of the rest stops. I used my Diapees & Wipees bags to hold disposable, wet toilet paper, hand sanitizer and clean undies. We had our own restroom-on-the-go.

(5) Food. I'm not a huge fast food fan. We relied on a cooler filled with watered down juice, yogurt tubes, homemade granola, fruits, veggies, hummus, sliced cheese, sliced ham and pretzels.

(6) Sleep. These Head Pillows (Noodelhead) helped them sleep longer and better in the car and also doubled as cuddle toys at night comforting them in a new hotel every night. I found that they also helped when put under another pillow and over the "trip toys" box for keeping them semi-upright and still in their seat belts while sleeping for naps on the road.

(7) Pictures. Since I was always taking them I thought I should bring their travel digi cameras too. It was really fun to encourage them to take pics as well. Note the ketchup on my daughter's. That's why their kids cameras!

(8) Fresh air. We would open the windows about once an hour for fresh air and have them say "hello" to whatever landmark we were driving by. Even though we were guided by GPS the old-school Atlas came in handy for planning ahead and to figure out just what the landmarks were. Made for some extra entertainment for sure.

Are we there yet? Two 10 hour days and one 4 hour day and we made it. Pretty successfully even. I loved this sign for "Beverly Hills" in the middle of the Nevada desert, humor was a nice spice to pepper our days with. Good luck on your next trip!

More from Bebe au Lait

2008-09-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

As you might have guessed, I work closely with the Bebe au Lait group. As a Style Coach I have a different perspective to offer. Paired with their creative team's keen eyes for beauty, texture and patterns and you have style, luxury, and function for parents. And now they have more ways to offer that. Here are some shots at the recent trade show showing you the booth as well as the new Double Bib available in time for the holidays this year. The Double Bib manages to do its job while being soft, flexible and free of crazy clasps since it operates gracefully with the help of encased magnets. The lovely blonde is Claire, one of the founders of Bebe au Lait. The baby is Soren, the son of one of the boutique owners we met with.

Hiking, Toddler Style

2008-09-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

Beautiful weekend, an extra day, we didn't labor much all Labor Day weekend so we were ready for a nice hike at Chautauqua in Boulder, Colorado. We were prepared--oodles of sunscreen, shoes with good tread, water bottles for each person, a collapsible potty, a camera and some cute mountain gear. Come on, I'm a Style Coach. Of course we need cute gear, nothing too granola-like for our quick jaunt up the flatirons! I was even wearing a grecian-style Theory tank top--the jersey knit was comfortable and cool and much more chic than a plain tee or sports top.

One parent to another, it's not really a workout. But it's a great diversion and pretty low stress. Encourage your kidlets to look for bugs, listen for sounds, find sticks, choose which flower is their favorite color, take pictures, and overall run, jump and play along the way. They love it and you get a real breath of fresh air and maybe even a few minutes to talk to your spouse about the view. And since you're toting the potty, encourage them to load up on water along the way. That little blonde boy on his Dad's shoulders was sipping away at Dad's Camelback as they hiked up.

And then...the best payoff.

Hiding Your Bump at Work?

2008-08-07T14:52:00.001-07:00

When to tell the boss that you are pregnant. I read this today and wanted to share it with everyone since this is a tough decision. Here's some great advice. Follow the link for the full article.

Be up front and professional to avoid being placed on the ‘mommy track’
By Tara Weiss
Forbes
Thurs., Aug. 7, 2008

Laura Stager couldn't wait to share with her co-workers the news that she was pregnant. But once she did, a strange thing started happening: People who barely talked to her before the announcement started rubbing her belly; even more uncomfortable, colleagues ask her weekly how much she weighs.

Stager learned the best way to deal with these new realities is to be honest. For the weight question, she replies with something like, "I don't think you're supposed to ask that." As for the touching, she tolerates it from her closest colleagues, but for others, she simply says, "hands off."

These are the small issues that come with telling the office you're expecting. But there are larger ones, too. Most co-workers will be thrilled, but some bosses won't share the excitement, a possibility that causes some pregnant women to conceal their growing stomachs for as long as possible.

Women who worked hard to climb the corporate ladder worry the boss will put them on the "mommy track," giving them less-challenging projects. This is of particular concern to women who are on a partnership track and need to demonstrate certain skills to advance. Others fear their manager will work them extra hard so they can do as much as possible before taking maternity leave.

But you can't keep your pregnancy a secret forever, and it's best to start planning early how you'll transition to maternity leave. Most experts suggest telling the boss your news after the first trimester, a time when the risk for a miscarriage greatly decreases. The only time to tell the boss sooner would be if you're experiencing a difficult pregnancy or severe morning sickness, and need to take time off from work. No matter what, tell the boss before other colleagues — it's a sign of respect.

Breastfeeding Awareness Week, and Month

2008-08-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

I read this in the NYT on 8/1 and was a bit shocked by the comments section, wow, this is still a really hot topic. The Bebe au Lait nursing covers provide moms the opportunity to nurse, or pump, in a chic cocoon of privacy regardless of the situation--subway, during a dinner party or even in their office. Maybe I should send one to the author, in fact, I will. Here's to moms everywhere that find a way to nurse their babies anytime and anywhere they need to and a thank you to Bebe au Lait for donating covers to rallies nationwide.

August 1, 2008, 4:34 pm
A Subway Ride to Support Breastfeeding Rights

By Sewell Chan
Feeding on the Subway Advocates and new mothers rode the A subway train to bring attention to World Breastfeeding Week in 2006. (Photo: Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times)Today is the start of World Breastfeeding Week, and partly to mark the occasion, about 30 women nursing infants rode the A train from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia in Washington Heights to Nostrand Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. There, they exited the subway and joined a rally at Restoration Plaza.

But the women were not taking part in the annual subway ride, held since 2004, merely to demonstrate their right to breastfeed in public. (Since 1994, it has been legal for women to breastfeed anywhere in public — “irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother’s breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding” — under the state’s Civil Rights Law.)

The women were advocating for the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights, a legislative proposal that has passed the Assembly in Albany but has stalled in the State Senate, in part because of concerns raised by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The law would affirm that pregnant women have the right to information about the “nutritional, medical and psychological benefits of breastfeeding”; the right to stay with their babies immediately and continuously after delivery “to facilitate beginning breastfeeding immediately”; the right to refuse bottle feeding for their newborns in hospitals or other health care facilities; the right to be informed about and refuse any drugs that may dry up breast milk; and the right to “refuse any gifts or take-home packets, distributed by the maternal health care facility, that contain commercial advertising or product samples.” (There has already been a strong push to eliminate baby formula samples from hospital gift bags.)

Most of the legislation affirms what is already on the books in state laws or regulations, but the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat, said the proposal “codifies mothers’ rights to breastfeed into a single, concise document and bans commercial interests from influencing new mothers’ choice of breastfeeding.”

Ms. Krueger criticized a fellow state senator, Kemp Hannon, Republican of Long Island, saying he “has kept the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights bottled up in committee for too long,” and noting that the Assembly has twice passed the bill, the last time unanimously.

In a phone interview, Mr. Hannon said he was not opposed in principle to the legislation, but was sensitive to concerns raised by obstetricians and gynecologists about the wording of the proposal. Some of the language concerning access to information, he said, could be read to mean “interference in the practice of medicine.”

Senators Krueger and Hannon both said that the bill’s supporters had tried to address the doctors’ concerns. Ms. Krueger gave him stacks of paper toward the recent end of the legislative session, Mr. Hannon said, documenting how the bill mostly enshrined provisions already contained in state laws or regulations.

“It’s a fine idea, but the implementation is something you have to be very cautious about,” Mr. Hannon said. “You can’t practice medicine by legislative enactment.”

He added that he would be willing to have the Standing Committee on Health, which he leads, take a look at the bill if the doctors’ concerns are addressed. “The goal is quite laudatory,” he said, while adding, “I think we should leave the practice of medicine to people who are licensed to do that.”

Ms. Krueger said the bill represents a consensus among health care providers, nutritionists, lactation specialists and others involved in the issue, including the New York City Breastfeeding Promotion Leadership Committee, a working group that includes government agencies, nonprofit groups and health care providers.

The committee includes groups like the Black Women’s Breastfeeding Alliance, the Bronx Breastfeeding Committee and La Leche League International, which focus on black and Hispanic women.

Traditionally, white women and middle-class and affluent women have been far more likely to breastfeed than minority women and women from working-class or poor backgrounds. Many working women find breastfeeding to be too time-consuming or complicated.

The dispute appears, so far, to be one of language and not ideology.

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends breastfeeding an infant through the first year, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports has endorsed breastfeeding because it reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancers, adult-onset diabetes and osteoporosis.

Studies suggest that more than two-thirds of mothers breastfeed after being discharged from the hospital, but the proportion drops dramatically after six months. Hospital-based programs that encourage breastfeeding have been shown to result in women breastfeeding for longer periods.

Best Dress for Pre and Postnatal Summer Style

2008-08-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Even though the lovely Angelina and Jessica Alba were snapped wearing this fantastic long, sleeveless, caftan dress by Rachel Pally in dove grey and orange, respectively, while pregnant I enjoy it perfectly post-natal (uh, 3 years post-natal). While incredibly long and flowy, it's made of jersey cotton so you can trim the bottom to be a custom length on you. It's forgiving, allows you to look amazing with very little effort and is so comfortable--see more about it here in the video.

And ever since Ms. Jolie-Pitt wore the dress, it is generally sold out everywhere except at this really great store online, Shop Rapunzels (great customer service).

My Secrets for a Successful 3-Year Old's Birthday Party

2008-07-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

My bebes Lilia and Grayson turned 3 years old this weekend and there were a few moments of genius regarding the planning (and the usual crazy stuff that wasn't as genius) that I wanted to share.
(1) The game plan: Lots of things to do. Good food to meet every allergy, age and appetite requirement. Games and Snacks 10-11. Pizza assortment delivered and eaten 11-11:30. Cupcakes 11:30-11:45. More play time 11:45-12-ish. Then...naps!
(2) Because I actually wanted to talk to some of the parents we set up the following in the backyard so the kids, ages ranging from 4 months to 4 years, could play at their own pace: kiddie pool; jumpy castle; bubble machine; crayons and markers set out on a huge piece of paper; face painting (which I did--whiskers and a nose, nothing fancy); jungle gym; a dress-up assortment; fruit salad; juice boxes; mini muffins; and cheerios mix.

(3) We did the party from 10-12 to beat the heat and get kids at their best hours of the day + give the families the rest of the day to do whatever needed to be done.
(4) Cupcakes. I make great ones, but I don't make great frosting. So, I made all 30 cupcakes from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook (One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes) and ordered the frosting in bulk from a local baker. Divine. Then I topped them with every character you can imagine so each kid got something they liked. Plus cupcakes are great--no cutting, waiting or plates.

(5) Presents. Tough when kids are three and not fully sharing or understanding the idea of presents and manners. So we opened them later that evening (post-nap) and photographed each one to send along with the thank you cards to the respective parent/kids. The parents didn't mind skipping the insane, "no, that's a gift, honey." and it taught my kids to have a bit of patience.

Breast Cancer Awareness

2008-07-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

I have clients who are survivors of breast cancer and one of them recently mentioned to me something I'd never heard of before, Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It is often mis-diagnosed and cannot be detected during a mammogram. So, mom-to-mom, here's a video (click on the dark red link above) from the newscast showing and explaining the symptoms since early detection and treatment is the best course of action.

Two Hour Vacations, aka the Staycation

2008-07-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's a fun new word, the "staycation". Meaning, gas is ridiculously expensive and so is everything else right now because of it, so what can I do locally for a much-needed break?! The typical vacation can be brutal anyway, the angst and panic that can set it when you plan to take a few days or a week's vacation. The planning, the packing, the fun-making; it can overwhelm the best of us before you even leave the house. Suddenly the staycation goes from an interesting idea to something you are actually going to do.

Here are some ideas on how to freshen up your routine enough to feel like you've had a break without spending too much $$ or time.

(1) Treat yourself to a real manicure, pedicure. Schedule it at a day spa and read a magazine cover-to-cover. It’s okay to tell the nail technician you are there to “zone out” and don’t want to talk. Pick a bright, cheery color and bring your own polish so you can do touch-ups yourself and lengthen the amount of time it lasts.
(2) Consider a vocation-vacation. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a ______? Find one near you and ask them if they would mentor you for a day, a weekend even, and give your dream or curiosity a chance to bubble up to the surface.
(3) Go to a movie by yourself. I do this because a good movie gives my mind a great break from MY life and lets me focus on someone else’s for a few hours, plus I like to see the wardrobe choices on my favorite stars.
(4) Plan a themed dinner party for the friends in your life you want to re-connect with. Do something exotic like a Moroccan themed dinner party—you can learn to cook something new, have fun with festive décor, and remember how nice it is to do something different and laugh a bit. InStyle magazine always has great ideas and so does this site: HostessWithTheMostess
(5) Go to your Farmer's Market and create a meal around the items you find there. Get the kids involved smelling the herbs, sampling the produce, picking the produce and really relish is the food choices that are abundant right now. Talk to the farmers there about the crops and how to pick the perfect XYZ. They are usually happy to indulge you.

Enjoy.

Commemorate Moments

2008-06-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

I don't love the words push present but I like the idea, and beyond just the birth of your baby. I like to commemorate big and special moments in life with jewelry--not always uber-expensive, but special pieces for special moments. I have a diamond ring I wear on my right pinky, as did my mother and my grandmother. It's been passed down for three generations. I have gold hoops that a dear friend gave me when my life was confusing and she wanted me to feel special again. I have my first Tiffany piece (a silver necklace) that I bought myself when I finally got a promotion I had been gunning for. The list goes on, including this ring I just made from one of my grandmother's vintage earrings (more on that in a new post, coming soon).
My point is two-pronged: (a) as a stylist, I am always reminding clients that jewelry is a wonderful expression of who they are and a beautiful finishing touch to even the simplest outfits; and (b) jewelry with a story and a memory can be a powerful and uplifting little moment in your day. I like being reminded of the day my children were born (bracelet) and that my grandmother was a professional pianist (the right hand diamond ring) and of my wedding day (ring).

One of my favorite pieces was a gift when my twins turned one--that was a HUGE achievement! It was from Hot Mama Designs and has the kidlet's names stamped on two disks. I love it. And I like the real deal kind of stuff--hers are still custom and hand-made in Boulder, CO, not a machined version of her great idea.

Baby Shower Idea: A Sanctuary of Celebration

2008-06-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

I just finished looking through the June/July FitPregnancy (the one with the gorgeous Jessica Alba on the cover--she's also a Bebe au Lait user!) and was really struck by a great idea on the last page (144)

"In: Birth Blessings. Out: Baby Showers"

Regardless of mom's religious beliefs, it offered the idea that the shower is really for mom, not just baby. They encouraged giving mom "offerings" of personal notes of advice, encouragement and quotes and explained that mom offers her guests a bracelet meant to be worn until the baby arrives. The mom they featured said, "A birth blessing really makes you stop and think about the fact that you are going to become a mother."

This gave me many ideas for a shower I'm planning. I'm going to meld a beautiful, traditional baby shower with this advice and create a sanctuary of celebration, so to say. Since my friend is a serious yoga-girl, I'm going to have the guests dress comfortably and bring in a yoga instructor to take us through a relaxation exercise instead of playing any shower games. I plan to decorate with oranges and cool blues (baby is TBD) and place white orchids throughout the setting. I'm going to provide healthy, organic snacks and cupcakes (ok, those aren't going to be healthy, found a great recipe from Sprinkles in LA) and have each guest read their blessing to the mom-to-be and then enclose them in a large envelope for her as a keepsake. I think we will all enjoy the chance to relax, reflect and celebrate in a modern, peaceful way.

Gifting Like a Pro

2008-06-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

Three new babies in my circle of friends. It's time to shop for them, and for my 3-year old twins at the same time--it's only efficient to do so, right? When I am preparing a gift for a personal friend, or a client's, I always look for something with that special touch, something you can't just pick up easily from a chain store. Of course there's plenty a new mom needs from those big stores, but I always like to include something extra (and often not on the registry) and a bit unique that I discovered.

My gift formula takes into account what the mom's lifestyle is like + what's cool and hip right now + what she registered for + what worked really well for me as a mom and then I wrap it exceptionally well since half of the fun is receiving a gift that looks more like a couture piece of candy.

Here's a rundown of some fresh ideas.

As we're on the tail end of potty training (hip, hip, hooray! The "pee pee laser" metaphor is working!), My Wee Friend has been fantastic. It's a little sticker that goes at the bottom of the mini, plastic potty and a shape/face appears when they go pee on it. The kids can't wait to see the star show up. And for better, or worse, they like to use this travel potty more than a full-on restroom when we're out and about.

My kids are just getting into really singing actual as well as made up lyrics to their favorite songs. So, I picked up CDs that include their names in the lyrics from Name Your Tune. American Idol 2020, watch out.

For those of you looking to add a little style to you children's accessories, this company out of Sweden has some really cool stuff. I love, love their blankets and bibs--something really different but still simple and chic. Like nothing I've seen here in the States. It's worth the international shipping for a special occasion or gift. We just gave some friends the Golden Edition pacifier for their new baby and can't wait to buy more from Elodie Details.

The kids are getting into their book reading, or at least making up stories to go along with the pictures, these days and we found the perfect way to encourage it. A company called Bodemi sells the Reading Kaboodle and it is perfect for the kids to cuddle up on it with a pile of books and toys. It's also become our go-to for long car trips, they use it as a blanket and cuddle pillow in their car seats.

My two lived in Robeez until their +6'-parent-genes caught up and their feet got too big. They are one of my go-to gifts for friends having babies because they worked so well for me/mine. I'm sure you've seen them before but what I discovered is that they have some larger size runs and crafty new styles like penny loafers and mary janes coming out soon. I gave a pair that look like skateboarding shoes to a friend with a new baby boy. He's stylin now, can never start too early really.

2008-06-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

A Simple Bebe Shower

We celebrated a friend and colleagues pregnancy last weekend and the timing wasn’t bad at all – on Wednesday Jessica and her husband Jason welcomed a baby girl into the world. Congratulations guys – Ava Elizabeth is absolutely gorgeous!

Having moved house last weekend for the 5th time in 7 years, our house was still littered with boxes, so we needed to keep it simple. Most of the preparation went into getting the house straight and visitor ready and buying the baby shower necessities.

One of my favorite things to do is decorate a table for dinner, so this was an enjoyable task.
Our theme was ‘English Tea Party’ – we were going to hold the event outdoors but the Northern California weather for once let us down, so the party was moved indoors to the dining room. The gloomy outdoor weather only added to the coziness and we lit some candles to brighten things up and make things festive.

Here are some of the details:

The Invitations: Martha Stewart Crafts for Michaels The Menu: Tea Sandwiches from Whole Foods, A big salad and a gorgeous cake from Icing on the Cake - this place is a true treasure in Los Gatos.
The Drinks: Mimosa’s: Freshly squeezed orange juice (it makes a difference) and champagne
Non-alcoholic ‘Mimosa’s’ for the pregnant: Freshly squeezed orange juice and 7UP
The Decorations: Shabby Chic has to be the best way of authenticating the English Tea Party look.

I purchased bedding from the Simply Shabby Chic for Target range to use as the table linen and now I can use them on my little girls’ beds --multipurpose --yay!

The centerpiece - I visited a local flower store and purchased this cute baby carriage. It was originally black so we had it spray painted ivory – a bit more babyish. Then I lined the bottom with foil and placed some wet oasis in the bottom and inserted pink tea roses all around, along with some greenery from the garden.

Other Deco touches: I placed small vases (I used old glass yogurt pots!) with single Gerbera Daisies alternating down the center of the table in white and pink. Our plates from Ikea were perfect.

We chatted the afternoon away, talked baby names and children and had a very nice time indeed!

Tales from the Pump

2008-06-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

What a great headline! This month's Cookie magazine (one of my favorites) has an article about Pumping called "Express Yourself" (p.26) which lists some fantastic tips I only wish I had known while I was in the midst of all of this. And online they've got some stories (Tales from the Pump) you can relate to about pumping in public--good for a quick laugh. The one tip they're missing? A Bebe au Lait nursing cover is fantastic as a pumping-cover! We know this from the 100s of moms who have emailed us making sure we knew it could be used to create your own pumping-cocoon when a private place can't be found. According to the Cookie Magazine poll, 35% of their readers had to find a random, empty room to pump in--wouldn't that cocoon have been nice for them?! Enjoy. ARTICLE LINK

Finding Style in the Simple Pieces

2008-05-22T18:26:00.001-07:00

I saw this woman in NYC last week at ABC Carpet and Home. Sidebar: amazing store! Cost Plus meets Fred Segal. There was inspiration in every corner. They said they'll have their online store up in a few months.

Anyway, the mom. Yes, she had the Bugaboo stroller which is stylish on its own but Graco and the like are catching up these days using more sophisticated color palettes and design. What I loved about her was that she did "style" well by using basics. Every mom I know has these basics, it's just a matter of putting them together. Great, dark rinse jeans with a chic flat + fitted tee + casual, lightweight jacket + shiny, sleek hair and the topper--she wore it all well. The pieces were fitted and simple but put together with care. Find time to feel good about yourself by putting yourself together and planning an outing to somewhere your mind can wander a bit. Whether it's ABC or a book store. Finding your own style is just this side of easy and predictable.

The Anatomy of an Event

2008-05-16T11:51:00.001-07:00

I was in NYC this week for Bebe au Lait to talk to the magazines and attending bloggers at a "press junket" of sorts for award winning baby products. I introduced them to the Bebe au Lait Simple line and had great discussions about what it means to be "eco". It's not just about buying organic, it's also about reducing, re-using and recycling. To that end, I emphasized how these nursing covers are being multi-tasked by Bebe-au-Lait-Moms (and Dads!) worldwide: for nursing, pumping, sun shades, blankets and even changing mats. Now that's eco. One product that does many things and is easily cleaned.

Here are pics from the event in case you ever wondered what it takes to pull this type of thing off. First, product was sent from our warehouse in California to my hotel in NYC where I packed the items into bags for the journalists to pick up at our "booth" (that's my husband lending a hand, he's a friend of Bebe). Then we loaded the bags into the boxes so they could be carried the two blocks to the event the next day (again, my husband did this--I carried the flowers and cupcakes). Speaking of cupcakes (those are Red Velvet from Magnolia bakery--perfection), we have found that the attendees at these events get so tired that there's nothing better than having a sweet respite while listening to our information. Sometimes we call that a bribe :)
The rest of the pictures are the event itself and all of the action. It was really fun to be there to introduce the Simple line and see all of the other fun products now available for moms and babies. The 7 hours flew by and then we packed up, said our goodbyes, and headed home.

Pumping at Work

2008-05-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post recently published an article on their website (See it here) about the trials and tribulations of nursing mothers who need to pump at work.

The article introduces a Washington DC law (The Child's Right to Nurse Act) passed in December 2007 that gives nursing mothers the right to a private and clean room outside of a restroom where they are free to express their milk at work.

We applaud the intentions of the lawmakers, but also mourn the fact that passing a law was necessary to get employers to provide a good space for nursing mothers to pump.

Celebration--Fete de Vin 2008

2008-05-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

We are 19 employees strong now which sounds small to some, but huge to us! To celebrate and take a well deserved break, Claire and Ronnie (our owners), hosted a wine country tour and tasting. Even though we weren't all "tasting" per se, the views, the time together and the gorgeous Northern California weather were incredible. Here are some photos to share with you, Savannah-Chanelle was the unofficial favorite. If you're ever out this way be sure to visit and bring a picnic lunch.

More than 75% of New Moms Breastfeeding in US

2008-05-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Breastfeeding rates are at a 20-year high in the US. See CNN's article about it here.

The Centers for Disease Control released some interesting findings about Breastfeeding: More than 3/4ths of new mothers are now doing it, the highest rate in 20 years!

The decrease in breastfeeding rates in the 1980's and 1990's is probably due to more women being in the workforce, and the improvement in baby formulas. In addition, breastfeeding was not encouraged as much in the past as it is now.

A few statistics of note:

In 1993-1994, only 60% of mothers were breastfeeding.

African American mothers saw the greatest increase in breastfeeding rates: 65%, up from 36% in 1993-1994.

European American mothers increased breastfeeding rates from 62% to 79%

Mexican American mothers have always led the pack: From 67% in 1993-1994 to 80% in 2008.

The CDC also reported that mothers who were rural, poor, under 20, and unmarried had lower breastfeeding rates.

In addition to the fact that breastfeeding positively affects IQ, breastfeeding is also more encouraged, and more accepted. Nursing in public (In the US, anyway) is beginning to gain more acceptance, and with the help of nursing covers, more women are nursing more often.

As more awareness is raised about the benefits of breastfeeding, we're likely to see even more women breastfeeding their babies more often.

Breastfeeding Improves Baby's IQ!

2008-05-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

Heard the news yet?

An international team of scientists has concluded that breast milk and breastfeeding are beneficial to a baby's IQ.

See Breastfeeding.com
or...
MSNBC

This confirms what many people have long believed, and several other studies have attempted to prove.

On average, breastfed babies had a 5 point IQ advantage over babies that were not breastfed. There is still controversy as to whether the breastfed babies score better because they are breastfed, or because breastfed babies have moms that further influence their babies' IQ development.

Regardless of the reasons, whether physiological or psychological, breastfeeding is a smart practice to raise a healthy and intelligent baby.

Breastfeeding in Public

2008-05-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

Most new mothers worry about the idea of nursing in public. While we at Bebe au Lait believe women should have the right to nurse in any place where they see fit, there are a surprising number of people and organizations that do not share this belief. Most of these anti public breastfeeding arguments boil down to the fact that the breast is exposed, and as such, can be considered offensive. The voices on the other side of the argument deny these claims, and of course have several arguments to counter the anti public breastfeeding movement.

Let’s take a quick look at these arguments:

Anti-Public Breastfeeding Movement says:

Breastfeeding requires baring a breast, and as such, can be considered offensive.
Breastfeeding releases bodily fluids, and is not appropriate for the public.
Breastfeeding attracts too much (wrong) attention.

Pro-Public Breastfeeding Movement says:

Because it is essential to nurse a baby several times throughout the day, it is not always practical to nurse in private.
Private spaces (such as bathrooms) are not always clean and comfortable, or even set up properly to allow women to breastfeed.
The breast is not exposed during breastfeeding, as the baby usually covers the nipple, areola, and lower portion of the breast.
Babies have the civil right to be fed when necessary, and mothers have a civil right to provide breast milk to their babies whenever necessary.
Women should not be ashamed of breastfeeding, or the attraction it creates.
The law is mostly on our side.

We have now seen both sides of the argument, and you probably already know what side you’re on. Let’s take a look at the legal side of the argument, and more specifically the laws governing public breastfeeding.

In general, the law is on the side of women who choose to breastfeed in public. However, here are some important facts to consider:

Private property is different from public property. In other words, owners of private property have the right to decide what appropriate behavior on their own property is. Because of this, some businesses have been known to deny women the right to nurse on their property. Always be respectful of a private property’s owner’s policies on breastfeeding.

Nursing in public is likely to draw attention to you at some point. Please understand that some people have strong opinions about this practice, and by breastfeeding in public, you may be subject to negative reactions, comments, or stares.

In many cases, the argument against public breastfeeding is nullified if some sort of cover-up is introduced. You will find that businesses are much less likely to have a problem with you breastfeeding on their premises if you cover up. In addition, you will likely receive fewer negative reactions and fewer stares if you cover up.

For a detailed summary of the laws in place governing public breastfeeding, please click over to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ page about the 50 states’ specific breastfeeding laws.

If you do choose to nurse in public, let’s take a look at some courtesies and solutions you can extend to those around you while engaging in public breastfeeding.

Please try to be discreet in public. While we believe in a woman’s right to decide how much (or how little) to cover during nursing, many people do not share the same view. It does not help our position if we offend the people we are trying to convince.
If nursing on private property, please ensure it is OK with the owners or managers of the property. If you happen to be a patron at a business, please be respectful of the policies in place. However, don’t forget about your own position! Make it known that you have no intention of returning or referring your friends to a business that discriminates against you choosing to breastfeed on their property.
Try to avoid arguing with people who take offense to breastfeeding in public, as it will likely anger the offended person, upset your baby, and do nothing for your cause.

Solutions:

Our Bebe au Lait nursing covers are excellent solutions for women who wish to breastfeed in public without exposing the breast to people in the vicinity. Even some of the anti-public breastfeeding crowd has embraced our nursing covers as a solution for mothers who wish to nurse in public.

We have a wide variety of designs available under two brand names: Bebe au Lait, and Hooter Hiders.

Finding Style, and a Smile

2008-04-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

The components of style and design are present in every aspect of our lives these days. How beautiful is that? What used to be out-of-reach to many of us is now accessible for our homes and for our families. I get out of my Dwell-for-Target sheets in the morning, drink coffee out of a MoMA mug, water my flowers in their Martha-Stewart-for-Macy’s pots with a pink Cynthia-Rowley-for-Target hose, get dressed in a Vera-Wang-for-Kohl’s outfit that looks like it’s fresh out of a fashion magazine, and outfit my toddlers in True Religion designer-denim jeans. I’ve taken a very big slice from the style-for-everyone pie the stores are dishing out.
What I’ve seen though, is not just how the style cues are absorbed and integrated into our daily routines but what that style does for our routines. In our increasingly busy, scheduled lives, design provides touch points of inspiration, fun and a sly smile for something that makes your day better. If I can eek out a little bit of extra joy in life between errands, work and life—then serve me another slice!

Minimum Mommy Makeup--For Real

2008-03-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

I often get asked, "What's the minimum amount of makeup I can wear that makes me look just a bit more polished and less tired? Oh, and no special brushes etc. I need to be able to do it in 2 minutes flat."

Set yourself up for success by taking care of your skin--minimal makeup is easy if your skin is healthy. At least wash and nourish it at night if you can't quite swing the full morning routine. Bare minimum in the AM? Sweep a toner over your face using a cotton ball as a quick-cleanse method, then put on a broad spectrum sunscreen, at least SPF 15.

Go for the biggest bang products that light up your face and buy good brands that are produced using high quality pigments that are easy to "get right" plus if you have to return them because they just aren't working out, you can if you bought them from a department store or Sephora.

Ok, makeup. Perfection is unnecessary and unexpected. Having an easy, fingers-only makeup arsenal is all you need to look fresh and vibrant.

Tinted Moisturizer [my go-to is Laura Mercier]

Cream-Stick Blush [my go-to is Bobbi Brown]

Mascara [my go-to is Maybelline Define-A-Lash, you can pick it up at Target]

Tinted lip moisturizer [my go-to is Bobbi Brown]
Done. A little practice and keeping it all together in a pouch that can go anywhere makes this do-able in two minutes, really.