Baby Friendly L.A.

Picture People Coupon

Picture People coupon for a FREE portrait plus 35% off.

We all love photos of our kids. No matter where you go to have them taken, you'll generally end up walking away with a picture that you love. But some places stand out for having a better quality and experience. I've tried several studios to capture Ava's milestones such as Sears, Kiddie Kandids and Picture People.  All achieved my goal catching cute images of my kiddo, but one stood out as my favorite - Picture People.

I love the simplicity of their plain, white backgrounds. I was pleased with their level of patience and ability to bring out Ava's adorable expressions even on one of her most uncooperative days. They were fast and friendly, but most importantly I was impressed with their quality and pricing. There is a package for every budget and they will work with you until you are satisfied.

The coupon they are offering is incredible. From now until September 12th, you can receive one FREE portrait PLUS 35% off additional portraits and merchandise. Enjoy!

Here's a direct link to print their promotional coupon.

Be Treated Like a Celebrity!

Enjoy perks like a Hollywood star at this special dinner for L.A. Moms

Have you always wanted to schmooze with celebrities? How about those lavish gift bags they get also known as swag? Want one? If you have ever dreamed about being treated like the star you are, now is your chance! Why? All because you're a mom. How cool is that?

If you are a mom or soon-to-be-mom in the Los Angeles area looking for the newest and safest baby gear, toddler toys and other must-have items, this is a special dinner just for you. Hosted by Celebrity Nursery Designer & Baby Lifestyle Expert Jayneoni Moore and Celebrity Mommy & Actress Ali Landry, From the Bump to the Tot Mommy Dinner will showcase everything from the perfect bottle, to strollers to car seats to toys to high chairs and everything in between.

Enjoy this amazing presentation over a yummy dinner at L.A.'s cutest restaurant, Giggles N Hugs. Every mommy attending will walk away with one of the showcased products PLUS an overflowing gift bag valued at over $200.

Tickets are only $45 for this amazing event, but because you are a BFLA reader you also have a special opportunity to WIN a free ticket plus a beautiful Aden & Anais blanket set! (I absolutely LOVE these blankets and used them all through Ava's infancy - we still use them!)

Contest Rules: Leave me a comment here telling me why you would like to be treated like the star and I'll choose one lucky winner to attend this incredible event.  Contest ends Monday night. The winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 24 hours.  GOOD LUCK!

From the Bump to the Tot Mommy Dinner details:
When: Wednesday, May 27th from 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Where: Giggles N Hugs Restaurant: www.gigglesnhugs.com

For more information on the event and to purchase tickets please visit:
www.breakfastclubmommies.com

LA Kids Consignment SALE

Times are tough and kids are expensive.

The Spring LA Kids Consignment Sale is happening this weekend, March 27 – 29th. Over 20,000 gently used and new children's products will be on sale at a massive warehouse location in the San Fernando Valley. From cribs to strollers to toys and clothes for babies through pre-teens - it can all be found at this tremendous sale that happens only twice a year. It's a great way to get the items you need at an incredible bargain – and who couldn't use a bargain right now?

Here are the details:

WHEN:
Friday, March 27th - 9am-5pm
Saturday, March 28th - 9am-5pm
Sunday, March 29th - 9am-2pm - 50% off most items

WHERE:
City-Art
7733 Hayvenhurst Ave.
Van Nuys, CA 91406

NOTE:
The sale is CASH only.  Children are permitted to attend, however it is encouraged to find a childcare arrangements since it can be overwhelming and the lines are long.

www.lakidsconsigment.com

Three Peas Co.

Adorable fashion for trendy tots.

I recently had the pleasure discovering a delightful children's fashion line, Three Peas Co. This trendy, online boutique was created by two stay-at-home moms from California who love designing unique creations inspired by their "three little peas."  We have several of their playful hair clips and they are by far our favorite out of Ava's growing collection. Ava actually requests to wear her fancy bows and we always receive compliments on how adorable she looks in them.

Turquoise blue leopard print, hot pink polka dots and fruit punch zebra stripes are just a few of the fun fabrics available in their collection.  They offer several sizes ranging from small hair clips to super-duper, extra large bows that are sure to make a statement. And as a mom they have quickly become my favorite as well – and not just for the funky designs. They stay in place.

Unlike most hair bows out there, these clips have staying power. A special lining on the inside of the clip - which is also very gentle on the hair when you remove them - makes it the perfect active accessory. Ava has a lot of hair which often means barrettes are difficult to keep in place. They tend to slide around or she easily yanks them out. These bows have lasted through gym class, the park and many other rigorous activities. And this is the perfect clip for fine hair too. If your baby girl has very little hair and you're just waiting for the day to decorate her with adornments, give these fabulous bows a try. They are funky, functional and absolutely fabulous – just like the entire Three Peas line!

www.threepeasco.com

The BFLA Shop

I'm excited to introduce the new BabyFriendlyLA Shop! Ava and I have compiled an online store powered by Amazon, including some of our favorite products.  We've made shopping easy by gathering some of the best products out there for moms and babies and putting them all in one place so you don't have to hunt them down. Nearly every item is a personal recommendation and many have been reviewed right here on BFLA. Here are a few of the selections you'll find:

• Ava's Favorites: Ava's section has her favorite toys, books, games, and many other fun things that she has loved since she was an infant. 
• Must Haves: I've compiled a "must have" section for items that I just couldn't live without or that made life with a newborn a little bit easier. From baby monitors to booster chairs, this is my essential mommy list.
• Baby Gear: This section contains products such as strollers, car seats, high chairs... Baby gear that we've used, abused and can't say enough good things about. 
• Yummy Diaper Bags: The name says it all. I've gathered a group of stylish, functional and fun bags to fit any budget.
• Mommy Style: My favorite section! This area is all about killer shoes and sweet handbags for stylish moms on the go.

More to come! I plan to update this shop with more books, gadgets and recommendations from mommies, teachers and baby experts.  You can easily visit the shop any time by clicking the circular SHOP icon on the right side of the website. Enjoy!

CONTEST: Win a Car Seat Cover!

There's less of a mess with a NOMIE BABY™ car seat cover!

NOMIE BABY™ is introducing two brand new colors this month – Charcoal and Navy. To celebrate, they are hosting this awesome contest where you have a chance to WIN a NOMIE BABY™ car seat cover of your choice! You'll get to choose an infant or toddler car seat cover in one of SIX colors – pink, lime, blue, navy and charcoal (and white - only available for the infant seat). (Retail: $34.00 www.nomiebaby.com)

Created by one talented mompreneur, these amazing covers help keep your expensive car seat fresh and clean. They are machine washable, waterproof and completely durable. And they look great too!  We have one and we love it. For my full review, click here. And now the simple rules:

• For ONE chance to win, leave a comment here (we'd love to hear about your messy kid, but any comment will do)

• For TWO chances to win, leave a comment here AND state your wish to be included in the NOMIE BABY newsletter.

• For THREE chances to win, leave a comment here AND state your wish to be included in the NOMIE BABY newsletter AND Twitter the contest (please follow me and send me the tweet).

Contest will run until (EXTENTION UNTIL TUESDAY, March 10th) and the winner will be announced here at BFLA on WEDNESDAY March 11th and will be contacted via email. If the winner fails to respond with 48 hours, a new winner will be selected. This is a GREAT contest! Good luck!

BlankyClip®

10% off these cuddly clips that keep your blankets in place.

If you've ever had a sleeping baby out in public, you know how important the blanket is. Not only does it help keep your little one warm and cozy, many times it is the shade that keeps the sun away and allows your sleeping beauty to snooze a while longer. The blanket is an important piece of baby gear, but keeping it in place is a whole other story.

I remember countless times pushing Ava around with her blanket draped over the stroller as she napped.  More often than not, the blanket would fly up whenever a breeze kicked in and I'd panic that she'd wake up sooner than expected. I wish I had discovered the BlankyClip® back when Ava was an infant.

BlankyClip® is an innovative product created by California mom, Adrienne Alitowski, who like many moms with a sleepy newborn, needed a way to secure blankets in place.  Adrienne didn't stop at function though… These clips are actually adorable, lovable little animals that are just begging to be cuddled. They are soft and safe for baby hands (meaning no pinching) and they are so cute that you'll want one just for a decoration.

There is a sweet little sheep, a delightful yellow duck and huggable brown bear to choose from. They are all so charming that it's difficult to choose a favorite, however Ava won't let the sheep (or "sheepy" as she calls it) out of her grasp. We bring him everywhere and clip him on to basically anything – such as the handle in the car above her car seat, her jacket, my purse, my shirt, her shirt… you get the idea. Before we leave the house she brings him to me and says, "On, on!" And we have clipped him on to blankets too! Ava and I are both in love with this product.

We are sure you will love BlankyClip® too, so Adrienne is offering a 10% discount to all BFLA readers! Enter 10BFLA at checkout to receive the discount. Be the hit at the next baby shower by bringing along these adorable (and functional!) cuddly friends.

www.blankyclip.com
10% Discount Code: 10BFLA

Nomie Baby Car Seat Cover

A cute cover built to take a beating.

When Ava was an infant I loved strolling her around in a fancy leopard print and hot pink car seat. But now that Ava is a full fledge, walking, talking, spilling-everything toddler, I wanted... no, I needed a car seat cover that could handle a mess.  It was only a matter of time before something happened that would require me to uninstall her toddler seat and tear it apart for a cleaning. I desperately wanted to avoid this scenario if at all possible. This time it was all about function. And of course, price too.

One day while reading my morning's Jen's List, I saw a post for Nomie Baby^TM car seat covers.  They claimed to have everything I was looking for: a removable, washable, waterproof, one-size-fits-all car seat cover - and the best part - for only $34.00.  Ding ding. I had to try it out so I placed an order that very moment. 

Shortly thereafter I received an email from a lovely woman, Katie Danzinger, who happens to be the brains behind the Nomie. Katie, a mompreneur with three busy children, created her product out of pure need.  She, like so many of us with messy toddlers, dreaded spot cleaning the car seat or ripping it apart for a good wash. She needed something quick, easy and durable and that's how the Nomie was born.

The Nomie Baby^TM comes in three solid colors: pastel yellow, baby blue and light pink. I of course ordered the girliest one of the trio and to my surprise, the pink was delicate and soft and much prettier than the website's picture. The quilted material is silky and cool to the touch which is wonderful for our California weather and perfect for hot summers. The Nomie easily installs in seconds. It slips over the car seat and the hefty, Velcro openings allow for adjustable strap settings.

Just days after using the Nomie, Ava had somewhat of a deliberate spill. Drip drop, drip drop… before I realized what she was up to it was too late. Thankfully the Nomie lived up to its promise and spared my car from reeking of sour milk. I threw it in the wash, tossed it in the dryer and we were back in action the next day.  Whew!

The bottom line: The Nomie Baby^TM is practical, durable, comfortable and affordable. And while it may not be the leopard print and hot pink number of the infant days, it's stylish too.  Leave it to a mom to create such an amazing product!

www.nomiebaby.com

Etsy Wednesday: Rockin' Moms

Why be ordinary? So Cal moms creating coolness.

When I need to find a gift these days I often turn to Etsy. I am truly addicted to amazing handmade goodies created by extremely talented people. I always feel like I've won a prize when I buy something made by hand and that the gift is extra special. And in this tough economy, giving dollars to hard working artisans gives me even greater pleasure.  Here are three So Cal moms who create unique, affordable gifts of coolness.

I was hunting around Etsy this week looking for unique baby items when I discovered PunkyMonkeyKids tattoo-style onesies and baby tees. This very cool line was created by a Los Angeles stay-at-home-mom who wanted something edgy, different and affordable for her two little punky-monkeys.  Pictured here is a bit of goth for your punk rock princess – and for $19.99 for both the tu-tu and onesie, you can afford to have every day be Halloween. And this Love Stinks onesie or toddler tee says it all ($7.99).

PunkyMonkeyKids.etsy.com

Every princess needs a pair of slippers and BabyThingsByJessica is a sweet compliment to any outfit. Another Southern California, stay-at-home-mom created these delicate looking, yet durable baby shoes. Again affordable (around $13.00), unique and special. I wish they made adult sizes!

BabyThingsByJessica.etsy.com

So your kid is all decked out in their super-slick, cutting edge outfit, but what about mom? If you're a mom who walks to her own beat, check out KidPirate for tees, totes, messenger bags and more... this LA mom (to kitties!) created this fun clothing line out of her own doodles and designs.

KidPirate.etsy.com

Unique Los Angeles

A marketplace for independent, local designs and crafty fun

If battling your way through over crowded parking lots, standing in endless lines only to deal with testy, tired employees who could care less if you get that last Elmo doll makes your skin itch, here's a chance to skip the dreaded mall all together and do some truly unique shopping. And you'll be helping out a good cause while you're at it.

Unique Los Angeles is a two day event showcasing over 200 independent designers, artists and merchants from the L.A. area. 50% of tickets sales go to support Create Now!, a local arts-based charity for high-risk youths.  Tickets are $5 and if you visit the Unique Blog they'll tell you how you can receive some cool gifts just for purchasing tickets in advance. 

 

Unique Los Angeles was formed to bring together creative talent and support local shopping. It's an opportunity to discover new designers, artists and other creative and handmade goods. Think of a live version of ETSY.  Some of the event's special collections examples include:

• The eco-friendly Green Room features environmentally friendly merchants.

• The Hot Mama/Cool Baby area has plenty of trendy items for the little ones.

• Gallery Row showcases eclectic artists, painters, photographers and more.

For a complete list of vendors, click HERE.

The marketplace is open this Saturday and Sunday, December 13th – 14th from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm and is located Downtown L.A. at the California Market Center (110 East 9th Street, Los Angeles, CA) MAP IT

For more information, visit: www.uniquelosangeles.com
Or visit their supporting blog: http://uniquelosangeles.blogspot.com/