Articles by Lorraine Beltran

Spring is on our heels and so is that time of year when we begin the search for the “picture perfect” dress or ensemble for our little darlings. It may be a first birthday, a baptism, or an important wedding and your sweet girl has been carefully chosen as the tiniest of bridesmaids or flower girl!

In most cases we are all looking for the same thing however, not literally! We all wish for uniqueness, knee weakening frocks with dazzle and charmed to perfection. Why wouldn’t we? I mean our little princesses are exactly that… petite royal highnesses and must look the part for every photo opportunity.

When I think of posh and precious I think of a few special designers; today I will highlight one that has been one of my favorites since the early 2000’s. The designer is named Heidi Schwarck and the name of her company is Luna Luna of Copenhagen.

Luna Luna is comprised of not only stunning show-stopping dresses but gorgeous layette and accessories for newborn and infant girls. Each season Heidi designs a memory making dress for her clientele. Each year Luna Luna’s party dress is a retail success. It is historically the best selling dress in its category and by far the most unique. This combination is no easy feat, but for Heidi it was a consistent accomplishment. Heidi was a New York women’s designer for design houses such as Jones of New York, Bill Blass and Tahari. She then started a family and left the fashion industry until she had her third baby, a baby girl named Luna.

Luna was born and like most sweet baby girls, she had no hair. Heidi designed a whimsical baby hat with beauty and detail. It was important to her the hat projected femininity, as Luna was often mistaken for a boy. She received several comments and inquiries and the rest is as they say history. Heidi began Luna Luna in the early 2000’s and today her clothing line is represented in several specialty stores across the country. The best way to describe Heidi’s style is a Californian lifestyle meets elegant European flair. Luna Luna consists of two-piece sets, gorgeous take-me-home layette sets, diaper covers, hats and booties and the ever popular party dresses. This dress is worth more than each dollar you spend! The compliments and the smiles on your baby girl’s face will be worth more than the retail total of your purchase.

So, as you begin to ponder through all those catalogs you receive in the mail or wander through the same websites, take a moment and stroll through Luna Luna of Copenhagen.  You will be very happy you did!

In the past five years the newborn industry has experienced an overwhelming explosion of luxury baby blanket resources for our choosing. I heard it asked on several occasions by sales people in stores “What makes blanket A more superior than blanket B?” My reply was always: “There is never just one choice to be made.” My reasons for this reply were vast. Most importantly, we have learned that babies require a myriad of blankets morning, noon and night. Each of them serves a unique purpose. Receiving, stroller, crib, daycare, christening, tag-a-longs, lovies and so much more.

My personal favorite classification was the “Luxury Baby Blanket” category. This is where we find our lavishly, soft and cozy wraps for baby in delicious pastels lined with sumptuous silks, cashmeres and cottons. While I could name dozens of blanket manufacturers I will take this opportunity to highlight just one. Luxe Baby, which is made in the U.S. This small in size, however grand in elegance is a Southern California based company. Owner, Designer Paty Murillo has cornered the market in vintage femininity. The magic of Luxe baby is the romantic nuance each of these blankets bring to a baby carriage, crib or any room where baby sleeps. The average price point of these exquisitely made blankets is $72.00. Why do I love Luxe baby so much? Well, the first time I picked up one of these supple cuddle wraps I said “how much would I love to wrap myself around one these treasures?” I would love it!

Luxe baby designed beautiful, adult-sized throws for mama to indulge along with baby. These are not inexpensive, however make a timeless gift for any mother-to-be, new mom or your best friend! The price point range is $100.00 to 180.00. Again, with baby blankets being such an emerging and profitable facet of the baby accessory business the adult category is slowly making a home for itself in specialty stores. The next time you find yourself in the mood to treat yourself, imagine tucking yourself in just as you would your precious little darling.

Bath time for baby is not only a special bonding experience between parent and child, it is also an opportunity to provide imaginative playtime for squeaky clean infants and toddlers. In years past, we were forced to entertain our little ones with a simple rubber ducky and if you were lucky a few animal shaped sponges. Today, innovative bath toys are made available to us with just the right amount of personal expression and whimsicality which makes bath time a splash!

Bathing baby is an event which begins very early and continues well into the toddler years. Buying bath time products is always a win if you are searching for a gift for a baby shower, a first birthday or any holiday. You do not need to know the gender of the child so it makes it easy to select the perfect gift! Bath toys and accessories are always welcomed by any mother of a newborn or infant. Several children’s specialty boutiques and websites have now created ample sized bath shops, as this category has emerged successfully and will continue to grow.

Here are a few of my “fun in the tub” favorites: Sassy Baby’s Ali Sorter helps develop motor skills, encourages hand eye coordination and looks adorable in the tub. When baby bathers have had their fill, just hang the alligator by it’s tail from bath or shower head.

ALEX bath toys are a popular favorite and now have offer 650 items in their “rub-a-dub” collection. The company is dedicated to brightening a child’s mind and spirit. Alex tub toys are a myriad of chunky bold designs in shape sorters, bath books and floating cars. Another award winner is the “shaving in the tub” kit. Baby can lather up with all the plastic shaving accessories just like dad. The shaving kit won the parenting media award as well as parents magazine best toys of the year award.

Elegant Baby and Swankie Blankie offer sweet and snazzy. Swankie’s hooded towels are designed with flair, handmade and are machine washable. Vibrant rubber duck and washcloth gift sets by Elegant baby will keep little ones clean, dry and busy at bath time. Be sure to check out the menagerie of ducks available in stripes, dots, and brights galore!

Happiness is never having to take a bath without a dozen bright and fashionable squeaky clean rubber duckies.

Valentine’s Day is a week away and we still have time to consider a gift for our Little Sweethearts. I have always had a passion for hearts, and this is the time of year when we are able to discover an abundance of unique keepsakes not only for ourselves but also for baby. The beauty of buying heart shaped treasures is that they are fashionable year round! The heart is indeed a universal symbol of “Love” and is often used to adorn many elements of clothing and accessories for newborns and infants. If you too hold a passion for hearts, here are a few of my favorites to share!

Yummy, washable cashmere hoodies and blankets by Amber Hagen. These are luxurious to the touch, not to mention how charming your cherub will be wrapped in the cardigan or blanket. The Cardigan is sized 3 month to 24 months and retails for $160.00, well worth the extravagance! The famous tattoo hoodie is the Tinsel Town favorite; celebs such as Julia Roberts, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Garner and Angelina Jolie are all fans! Stylish gift boxes are available for an additional $5.00 if you are sending as a gift.

While shopping, ease your travels with the ultimate stroller accessory by Dante Beatrix. This tote bag is not only beautifully tailored and timeless it is extremely functional. It was designed to compliment any women’s personal style and store diapers, sippy cups and my favorite All of my Heart soap by Noodle & Boo. The bag has clips to fasten to stroller and extends long enough to to wear across the body like a hip handbag. Dante Beatrix is the bag of choice for famous moms like Marcia Cross and former Bachelorette turned mom Trista Renn. The stroller tote retails for $110.00.

Save the permanent tattoos for others and enjoy a bit of fun with the novelty of a temporary tattoo for your little one. Ooh La la Mama offers the hippest onsies that look adorable with jeans or my personal favorite way to sport, bottomless and chubby legs exposed! You have your choice of zen Buddha, animal print punk star or the Heart Tattoo and several more. These onsies retail for $38.00. So whether you are inclined to purchase one of these contemporary items for your little sweetie for Valentine’s Day or just because, your choice will be heartfelt.

Happiness is finding the sweetest heart for you and baby too!

If you are a mother of boys then you will certainly be able to relate to the subject of the ongoing search for the latest and greatest toys and gadgets for busy little boys. The popular “mega girly” Club Libby Lu, the Hannah Montana craze and Princesses galore make it more than feasible to purchase the optimal gift for a friend’s daughter or your own. Let’s face it … we shop for a little girl and we spend more money than we intend. Why? The choices are endless, not to mention the emotion and creativity the manufacturers pour into the design and production of dolls, beauty centers and fashion accessories for our lovely little divas. We have quickly adapted to “more is more” for our little girls and the marketplace happily obliges, but what about our sweet little boys?

This being said I consistently made a diligent effort to offer more of a balance between boys and girls in selection. The market and industry often dictated what was “hot” for girls; however when it came to our little boys I had my work cut out for me! Sure there was always the token blockbuster film dominating the toy industry but who wants to buy the same product that every other little guy has in the neighborhood? Just like girls, our boys like to be voted “most popular” on the playground.

Here are a few toy ideas and websites to share from my years of shopping for specialty toys for little boys. Play value was always the key coupled with safety, education, and hand and eye coordination. Durability and quality were also key factors in my decision process.

Siku is one of my favorites for high tech, high level standards in toy trucks and cars. “Siku” is a German manufacturer and offers so much more than a dump truck. Who doesn’t need a Liebherr Hydraulic Excavator? In addition, back hoe loaders and street sweepers are popular. You can find these and more at 300Toys.com.

Quercetti manufactures a spectacular exclusive vortex loaded with multiple marble launches, paddle wheels and double length bridges. It contains 220 pieces, ages 6 and up. Made in Italy. You can find Quercetti on Educational Toys Planet along with several other unique and fantastic toy items for boys.

Be sure to check out Ravenburger on line and view the 2007 award winning “Pirates of the High Seas.” Your little one can hoist the sails in a supersize 3-D pirate game. Ages 6 and up.

Discovery Toys has a very popular toy for the toddler boy; I have bought this several times and has been a smash! It is called “Farm animals bowling set” — not only is it visually pleasing, it is safe, interactive and offers open ended play! I have multiple favorites, however I had to narrow it to a few so my final recommendations would be LearningResources and their “Wacky Wigglers.”  They are motorized buildingsets. Learning Resources also offers several other styles in this category. Melissa and Doug and the classic Radio Flyer are also worth a browse.

You can shop in quantity for your little guys as you do for your little gals, you just need to know where to look. The year has begun and birthday parties, milestones, and soon the holidays will once again be upon us. Begin now, take pride and have fun in toy and gadget shopping for our equally sweet little boys and their toys.

Happiness is having the brightest, biggest back hoe loader in the sandbox!

Personalized baby gifts are not only a tokens of love, they become lifelong keepsakes. One of the most common requests I received as an Infant and Toddler Buyer for years was to offer more of a selection in “Personalized” gifts items for children. Once I was able to honor this request I discovered various treasures of unique, personalized baby essentials. The magic of which occurs when a personalized gift is given is that it becomes a “one-of-a-kind” heirloom. Personally, I cannot think of a more expressive gesture of gift giving.

One of the newer and more innovative companies I have most recently discovered is preciously named Little Worm and Company. The artist offers a playful selection of handpainted ceramic plates. These plates may be purchased with Birth Announcement information or the milestone Baby’s First Birthday in addition to various other storytelling options. The designer consistently updates her collection which supports the attraction of repeat consumer spending. Little Worm is a personal favorite of “Law and Order” actress, Mariska Hargitay. These plates range from $38.00 to $44.00. Someday Inc. is another one of my heaven sent personalized gift choices. This beautiful and uniquely adorned, hand painted collection is sure to be a splash at any baby shower, birthday party or special occasion. Designer Chrissy Consiglio offers whimsical watercolor creations in the form of wall canvases, clocks, frames as well as piggy banks.

In addition to novelty items and room decor it is also a great idea to indulge in personalized layette items such as receiving blankets, burp cloths and onsies. Two Tinas offers an array of cotton, “chicmink ” blankets embellished with personalized ,stylish monograms. These blankets sell for $48.00. Be sure to check out the cotton interlock ringer onsies. a very fashionable way to put baby to sleep!

You may also experience sweet discoveries on websites such as The Corner Stork, Mama Bear’s Baby Boutique, and Nordstrom. Have fun exploring a myriad of choices in room decor, jewelry, silver, furniture, toys, layette and so much more! Need the perfect baby or birthday gift? I say “Make it Personal!”

Are you or your guests on the search for the perfect baby shower gift? A great way to enhance your event for your guests, as well as for the guest of honor, is for the ceremonial gift opening experience to be unique and unforgettable! Last week, I shared an innovative theme for a baby shower. The theme of the shower has been created using the bedding and or room color palette pre-selected by the mom-to-be. Keeping in line with your theme, it would behoove you and your guests to offer gift selections in hopes to unite the dream baby trousseau of which any new mother could wish!

1. Fully-stocked diaper bag. A Fleurville Mothership or Caden Lane Messenger bag make the perfect packaging; these are prominent and prestigious diaper bag companies and each represents the utmost quality. Fill the bag with Noodle and Boo hair and skin care products, such as Extra Gentle Shampoo, Conditioning Hair Polish, Super Soft Lotion and Ultimate Cleansing Cloths. You can fill the outer pocket of the diaper bag with fashionable travel bags with pink disco dot by Diapees & Wipees.

2. The Peanut Shell. A celebrity favorite, this pouch can be worn 5 different ways and has just the right amount of stretch for comfort! Brooke Shields, Marcia Cross and Jenna Elfman are all fans of the Peanut Shell. Retro Dots in Pink Chocolate or Blue Chocolate are best sellers!

3. Hip, keepsake designer blankets by InphantElefant, wrapped just like a gift ready to give! Be sure to add a matching onsie. Inphantelefant was also featured in Oprah’s World’s Biggest Baby Shower!

4. Ribbit-Ribbit hand painted, wooden ornate baby frames designed by Amy Dillard, Many colors and motifs to pick from you will find more than one to match any baby’s room.

5. Blossom Roll crib bedding or Bassinet Bag by Petunia Picklebottom. Baby will sleep in comfort and style in this luxurious linen. Available in chocolate brown and champagne pink floral brocade (pictured here). A beautiful diaper bag is also available to match!

Planning a baby shower? In a quandary as to how host this special event? Start with a theme. The mother-to-be has most likely pre-selected the color palette and motif for her newborn bedding ensemble. The most popular color preference today is the decadent combination of pastels (pink, blue, sage green) and chocolate brown.

Host a “Pink (or Blue or Green) Chocolate” baby shower for the arrival of a sweet new treasure. Begin by obtaining a copy of your guest of honor’s bedding print and color scheme. Design your invitation using a companion print to the bedding or components of the same print. The invitation can include gift ideas and baby registry information.

Next, design a menu which is reflective of your theme. Dessert will be easy! Instead of a cake, offer delicious chocolate cupcakes with a fresh pink or blue fondant icing. Serve treats on old fashioned dishes that will romanticize your table settings; shop second-hand or antique stores for these. An old fashioned brown teddy bear grasping a plentiful cluster of pink balloons makes a charming centerpiece. Guest favors could be personalized pink and chocolate M&M’s and over-sized chocolate cookies with pink icing wrapped fashionably with designer ribbon. Stationary stores such as Papyrus offer more contemporary paper goods for showers and parties; you will find a bevy of pink and chocolate!

Once you have established your vision you will discover a wealth of fantastic gift ideas to offer as well as modern baby shower games for your guests to enjoy. Next week: room décor and accessory gift ideas for your chocolate shower, including my favorite Noodle & Boo products!

Cupcake photo courtesy of Belissimo Favors.

Are you ready for the best take-out ever? I am speaking of the hippest little baby ensemble to purchase this year! Best of Chums is cutie couture at it’s finest. This whimsical and essential collection is created by designer Laura Millman of Los Angeles. The indelible impression left upon you when you discover this unique baby treasure is indeed it’s packaging! Best of Chums is packaged and ready to go, ready to give and most importantly … ready-to-wear!

Best of Chums is a melody of vibrant colors and sweet appliques. The layette is 100% machine washable cotton, and is perfectly presented in a novelty plastic and aluminum take-out container. The outfit is a four piece set appealingly placed in the box so the gift-giver as well as gift recipient may easily view all the components of the combination. The presentation alone is enough for everyone to immediately cast their vote for Best of Chums as the popular baby shower favorite!

The list of themes is a long one, however current favorites are Yoga Baby, Sweet Pea, Animal Crackers, and Sushi boy and Sushi girl, as well as the popular Monkey Around, which is a great pick for little boys. This looks fantastic in fanta orange and chocolate brown with the hat accented in banana yellow. Monkey Around was a personal favorite of celebrity actress Jenna Elfman and was recently featured on the cover of OK Magazine. Other celebrity fans are Madonna and Russell Crowe.

Best of Chums has also added an adorable onesie which sells for $22.oo and is available in several colors and appliques and is tightly packaged in the same fashion as the set; this could be considered a yummy side dish! My recommendation for take out in 2008 is Best of Chums, everyone will soon discover the menu will make it difficult for you to choose just one dish! Make this your baby shower gift of the year, you will definitely be remembered!

In my twenty years of professionally shopping the infant and toddler industry I have been introduced to more hair accessory product lines than I can possibly count. While the craftmanship of art-to-wear clips, bands and bows all possessed their own unique charm, I felt like I could flip a coin and always win, as one hair bow collection was just as cute as the next. In all those years and hundreds of designs, only a few truly left a lasting impression due to the unique menagerie of embellishments of the designers. These were the chosen collections I would eventually purchase for the stores.

In my recent research for baby baubles I stumbled upon the most brilliant and innovative hair accessory collection I have seen in years, not to mention the epitome of girlie goodness and fuzzy charm. I am speaking of a Bay Area based company called GiddyGiddy. This hand-stitched, heart felt collaboration of tangle free snap clips is the work of former investment analyst Teri Dimalanta. GiddyGiddy prompts faces to light up like Christmas trees when they see wee little heads adorned with felt cupcakes, flowers and a seasonal favorite, the gingerbread man. Teri’s clips are so unique, I would challenge one to find another more functional and equally creative.

Teri’s inspiration was to tame her daughters hair which we can all relate, as our mane sometimes has a mind and spirit of its own and it all begins at a very young age! GiddyGiddy is designed to hold wisps and sprouts at bay on the crowns of babies and toddlers alike. My favorite way to sport GiddyGiddy is in multiples. It is simply impossible to select just one style; the more you buy, the more she will wear and the cuter she will look! The choices are endless, my personal favorites are the cupcakes, cherries and especially for this time of year, the snowman.

Celebrity babies are playing peek-a-boo with their tresses dressed in clips by GiddyGiddy as well. Moms such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Courtney Cox and Angelina Jolie are all satisfied customers. You can find GiddyGiddy in specialty boutiques all over the US as well as Internationally. Online you can find GiddyGiddy at PeanutButter & Lilly. Popular California boutiques such as Kitson in Los Angeles and Fiddlestix in San Francisco are just a few who giddy for GiddyGiddy. For a complete list of retailers, click here.

A Happy Baby is a fully accessorized baby with style!

If the name alone does not dial you right in, the luxe look of these pure angora booties indeed will capture your attention as well as all your neighbors. YoMyBooties are by far the most “over-the-top” baby bootie collection in footwear for the tender toes of babes. These booties are fuzzy friendly and are made of pure Chilean angora.

YoMyBooties are the creation of a chic mama who discovered her passion for knitting by the age of five. Her name is Kris Pettit and her first notion was to do what every new mama does, knit booties to welcome her baby into the world. Kris’s booties had a much different flair than those of most handknit booties. You have to see them to believe it! Many new mamas-to-be were enamored by the unique quality and style of these posh booties, and they requested Kris knit them each a pair. She had several requests from women in her yoga classes as well as mommy and me. She was barely able to keep up with the demand and soon realized she had embarked upon something so spectacular she pursued her passion and soon YoMyBooties was created. This small however, mighty company has product represented in specialty boutiques from Beverly Hills, California all the way to London, England.

YoMyBooties are available in a brilliant array of fashionable hues such as pumpkin,sage, turquoise and the popular fushcia. If you know a baby who needs spoiling and who doesn’t? Look no more, YoMyBooties are for you! These sassy toe and heel accessories must be handled with care to retain their precious appeal. They are to be handwashed and warm air dried, we all know specialness requires some special treatment and these are well worth the time.

Hip Mamas of tinseltown are no strangers to YoMyBooties, the list is endless. Popular parents such as Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Debra Messing and Marcia Gay Harden are just to name a few who have either purchased or received these furry delights as gifts. They sell for $60.00 and are the must have for the new babe in your life. YoMyBooties at age 3 months will prepare her for her first pair of Monolo Blahniks and age 21!

New additions have been added to the collection, go to YoMyBooties to experience the pure joy of sassy soft footwear for your newest additions.

Jennie Lynn Johanson is the founder and designer of an haute diaper bag collection adorably named Bumble Bags. Her prominent background as a handbag designer helped her pave her way into embarking upon her creative niche in the diaper bag industry. Jennie’s handbags had so much fashion appeal she received a request from a customer to design a diaper bag. She was on the mad search for a stylish and functional bag for contemporary mothers. Jennie honored her request, and today these posh bags have been spotted buzzing around in outdoor shopping centers, walks in the parks, special occasions as well as the “Queen Bee” of baby shower gifts all over the the US.

Bumble Bags are a collection of sophisticated, lightweight diaper bags created with exclusive one-of-a-kind, hand-designed prints. The moment you are introduced to a Bumble Bag you are immediately charmed by its command to touch and feel, toss over your shoulder and watch yourself coo over its beauty. Bumble Bags are not just another pretty face, they are heavily equipped with function. Each bag is stroller friendly, machine washable, special stain resistant with a soil proof lining and have a widened shoulder control strap for comfort.

Who says mama has to forfeit sass and style to indulge in functional diapering gear? Certainly not the popular moms of Hollywood… recently in People Magazine’s Style Watch, a new favorite “Buttercup Bliss” was featured! A few famous mamas adorned by Bumble Bags are Sheryl Crow, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Garner, Naomi Watts and most recently Christina Aguilera purchased one of Bumble’s newest additions, an “On the Go” changing kit. This is one of Jennie’s newest additions to the Bumble Collection and is available in seven prints. Matching accessories such as car seat covers and small and large snack bags are also available for purchase as these prints are all so delicious you do not have to limit yourself to just one!

Kimberly Tote in Cappucino Dot, available at Bumble Bags.

Happiness is a hip mama with a hot bag . . . .

Chilly days are now upon us, “fear not” I say as tots are suddenly appearing donned with irresistible, however, fashionable chapeaus with style and whimsicality! These “mopped topped” tykes are spotted in playgrounds, pre-schools, birthday parties, family outings and even in their own backyards.

I am speaking of an innovative, new children’s hip and luxurious accessory company called Zooni. This San Francisco-based sibling duo have made quite a stir in the children’s wear market. They launched their fashion-meets-fun collection of hats in a fall ‘07 kids show last year. Word spread like wildfire as these adorable designs found homes in retailers such as Fred Segal, Giggle, and m. fredric, as well as 70+ more specialty boutiques across the nation.

These fuzzy and unique hats are the successful results of an inspiration had by sisters Michelle and Melissa Jeong. These creative and genius sisters were passionate about creating a line that would celebrate childhood and offer a uniqueness and individuality to each child who wears a Zooni hat. The sassy presence and the flare of couture has embellished the heads of children of popular celebs such as Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner, Heidi Klum, Courtney Cox, Katie Holmes and Angelina Jolie, just to name a few!

These hats are not only full of expression, they are warm and functional. The trademark for Zooni is a swirl which is called a “Koru” which means “Circle of Life” so appropriate for moms, dads and children worldwide as giving life to a new generation offering peace and harmony is enough to inspire anyone!

Leo the Lion hat, $36.00 at the Zooni website.