Current Littles & Momma Obsession: Step 2 Deluxe Nursery Center

What Little doesn't LOVE playing Mommy? We know ours just love it. And now, they can follow our every footsteps with the Step 2 Deluxe Nursery Center. Hours of fun, your Little can make believe all she wants in Mommyland!

Why we love it (besides the fact that it is totally adorable) and why our Littles love it too:

- It is study! No falling apart, Mommy can you fix this, put-back-together-ten times kind of product. Put it together & it stays together.

- Wipe clean! This is a MUST for any Mom! You NEED easy-to-clean toys in a playroom and this perfectly fits that category.

- Space saver! The all-in-one Nursery Center fits great in a corner & doesn't take up a ton of space like other large pretend play items. But yet, enough space for multi-child play!

- Fun! It creates hours of fun & you will love watching your Little take over that housewife role in her little pretend world! Everything a little momma needs - changing table, feeding station, sink with "faucet", washer, and storage space for all the bottles & diapers they need! We also love the sweet mobile.

- Teaches! Your Little will learn how to nurture, care & love their sweet babe in every way possible!

Stay tuned, this is one of our best of the best toys & will be featured in an upcoming playroom photo shoot on our new site in April! Yes, it is the FABulous! Your Littles will love it!

Buy It Now: Step 2 Deluxe Nursery Center, $79!

{Dolls & Accessories not included}


Etsy Shop Love -- NEW items we LOVE from Snuggle Bug Kid'z

This is one shop we adore. And well, apparently many other FAB people love them to as the designer herself was just asked to design some clips for the Golden Globe's Boom Boom Room! Yes, you better order now because soon this shop will be in a ton of magazines as every HOT celeb mom will be scoring her hair clips! Lucky for you - the shop just stocked up on a ton of new items! Check them out now. 

So cute Pillowcase Dress! 

New hair clips, $3.50

Sweet little Valentine's Day Ring, $5


Head over to Snuggle Bug Kidz on Etsy now, LOVE them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!
Use code LOVEYOU to get 10% off NOW! 

current obsession: the Little Giraffe NapSack

Whether you're catching a flight, taking a road trip, heading to day care or off the Grandma's - the Little Giraffe NapSack ($95) perfects nap time. The three-piece set includes a chenille pillow trimmed in satin, chenille toddler sized blanket and satin handle carrier to keep it all tucked away until it is time for snoozing. We just LOVE the the satin trim which makes the perfect blanket for any Little to grasp onto as they drift off to dreamland. 

Another reason we just love it? Little Giraffe is a celeb-fave with Suri Cruise, Brad & Angelina, Nicole Richie and Gwen Stefani who are always clinging to Little Giraffe wherever they go. It is one of those we-can't-leave-home-without-it items you must always have in hand. 

Use "DailyCandyNS" at checkout to get 10% off the NapSack as it was recently featured in Daily Candy Kids. You will also get free shipping with any order over $100. 

Our Editor is a JUDGE in the Eisley Rae Design Your Own Dress Contest!

Just recently cupcakeMAG came across an uber-cute handmade shop full of adorable handmade clothes for your Littles - Eisley Rae on Etsy.  Well, we just found out they are having a Design Your Own Dress contest and our editor - Casi -  is a judge! What are you waiting for? Go enter now! 

Design Your Own Dress

Details: You get to be the creative one this time! Search online and email 3-5 pictures of fabrics that you would like to see a dress made out of and email the pictures  (or specific links) to EisleyRae at gmail dot com.  The deisgner will post the pictures of the prints you've chosen, along with your name (First name and last initial) in their album on the Eisley Rae Facebook page!

There will have 3 judges who will choose the winner! The winner will receive a FREE Dress, made with the fabrics that they've chosen.

There is one more way to win as well!! The person who has the most comments on their fabric choices picture, will win a Free Skirt!!

The contest will end January 15th, 2011!! The free dress/skirt will be shipped out by February 20th, 2011!

Have fun! We can't wait to see all of your wonderful ideas!!

Rules:

1. You MUST email the pictures to EisleyRae at gmail dot com. Please do NOT post your pictures/entries on my Facebook wall.

2. Only ONE submission per person.

3.One comment per person for the free skirt, all duplicate comments will be deleted and not be counted.

4. "Likes" will NOT count as votes for the free skirt.

5. Along with the pictures that you email, you MUST include the brand/designer name and the name of that particular print!

**Just to help you out, here are a few links to some of my favorite fabric shops/Etsy sellers!

So Fun Fabrics

Venezie Designs

Hawthorne Threads

is it spring yet?

Gymboree gives us hope - something to look forward to in the coming months. A little cheerful color from their new lines has us counting down and saying hello Spring! Why wait? Throw some Spring colors into your Littles wardrobe now! Oh, and of course - some FABulous shoes too!

Gymboree's latest styles just scream Spring! We love the uber-cute Frog Sneaker ($24.75) and yellow Daisy Ballet Flat ($34.75) -- just the perfect amount of color to add to any outfit! 

 Get the Look NOW! 

{1} Toile Tales "The Flirt" Hat in Ecru, $25

{2} Gymboree Frog Stripe Tee from the Flowers Showers Collection, $19.75

{3} Jeggings from Old Navy, $10 

{4} Ugg Toddler Classic in Black, $90

See ya Winter! Hello Spring! 

Are you ready? 

ALOHA, KANANI! AMERICAN GIRL’S 2011 GIRL OF THE YEAR HAILS FROM HAWAI‘I!

—National Campaign Encourages Girls to Share the Aloha Spirit of Helping Others—

This January, kicking off American Girl’s 25^th birthday celebration, is the debut of Kanani Akina^™, the 2011 Girl of the Year^®, whose story takes place in the lush tropical paradise of Hawai‘i. A warm and cheerful girl, Kanani loves her town’s beautiful beaches, tropical sunsets, and fun lu‘aus, but most of all, she and her family love sharing the aloha spirit—a desire to welcome and care for others with an open heart. Through Kanani, girls will discover that everyone has something to share that can make life better for someone else.
Kanani is available for one year and will launch with two books that tell her story, a beautiful
18-inch Kanani doll (featuring long, wavy medium-brown hair and hazel eyes), and an array of outfits and accessories such as a paddleboard set, a plush Hawaiian monk seal, and a shave ice stand!

Written by acclaimed author Lisa Yee, the 2011 Girl of the Year books—Aloha, Kanani and Good Job, Kanani—introduce readers to Kanani and her small seaside town on the island of Kaua‘i. Kanani loves working in her family’s shave ice and sweet treats store, as well as sharing the wonders of Hawai‘i with visitors. Whether she’s making her cousin from New York feel welcome on the island, helping rescue a baby Hawaiian monk seal, or assisting older people in her community, Kanani learns that by sharing herself and her home in the true aloha spirit, she is able to make life better for others. The back of each Kanani book features profiles of real girls who, like Kanani, discover the joy of helping others through their gifts and efforts, however small.

To share in the Hawaiian spirit of helping others, American Girl is partnering with the National Wildlife Federation^® (NWF) to help raise awareness of endangered animals, like the Hawaiian monk seal featured in Kanani’s stories. With the purchase of every Kanani plush monk seal sold in 2011, American Girl is donating $1 (up to a maximum of $100,000) to NWF’s efforts to help children throughout the United States gain an appreciation and understanding for America’s most vulnerable animals through various educational programs and activities.

To further engage girls in Kanani’s world and her story’s inspirational message, American Girl is introducing the following products and activities in 2011:

• Lend a Hand: Girl-Sized Ways of Helping Others: A nonfiction companion advice book to the Kanani fiction series, Lend a Hand gives girls ideas and tips (both big and small) for making a difference at home, among their friends, in their community, and on the planet.

• Kanani Retail Events: Starting on January 1, girls can take part in Kanani-inspired events at American Girl retail stores nationwide, including demonstrations for dancing hula, free Hawaiian craft activities, and delicious Kanani-themed meals.

• Kanani and Me E-cards: From January 1 through April 15, 2011, girls can create and share their own Kanani-themed postcards at americangirl.com/girloftheyear and can be automatically entered (with parent’s permission) in a drawing to win a Kanani doll and book.

Starting on TODAY, the Kanani doll, books, and accessories will be available for one year or while supplies last through American Girl’s catalogue, at americangirl.com, and at all American Girl retail locations. 

About American Girl

American Girl Brands, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT, www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its mission with a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005 or visit www.americangirl.com. 

About National Wildlife Federation

National Wildlife Federation is the nation's largest conservation organization and publisher of the award-winning children’s magazines Ranger Rick^®, Your Big Backyard^®, and Wild Animal Baby^®. National Wildlife Federation inspires more than four million members and supporters to protect wildlife for our children’s future. For more information, visit www.nwf.org.

Featured Shop: Twins Twice Tutus plus a giveaway!

Is your Little starting ballet in the New Year? Well, we have the perfect little online shop for you. Twins Twice Tutus specializes in the cutest dance wear, yoga pants and so much more for your little dancer. They will be the cutest ballerina in the class! Who doesn't need a fancy tutu in their closet? The layer upon layer of soft chiffon and tulle is uber-luxurious. The top layers of lilac show off the soft pink underneath - super cute look for dance class! We also love pairing it with a rock star tee and a cute pair of leggings underneath for when you aren't dancing. We also LOVE the Brielle Ruffled Capri Yoga Pant and Simone Belle Sleeve Yoga Top -- they are the perfcet combo and seriously, you will want a pair in your own size. They are beyond soft! You won't be able to get your Little out of them! 

One Shoulder Contrast Leotard & Garden Party Tutu

 We chatted with owner and designer Leisa of Twins Twice Tutus to see just why she decided to start the FAB line of dnace wear and what is up next for the Spring! 

How did Twins Twice Tutus begin?

As far as how I got started with my clothing line - that's a funny story. I have short wellness news tips, called Living Well with Leisa, which broadcast on various local news stations around the United States. All of my daughters are also on the news reports with me and I always design their wardrobe for each segment. My younger twins are five years old and my older twins are six years old and it can be quite difficult finding four matching outfits the same size, so I found it much easier and more exciting to just design all the wardrobe myself.

I would always get calls and emails asking where I purchased their outfits and then the calls became more and more frequent. I found that people werre definitely more interested in fashion than wellness and that maybe I was onto something with my designs. Of course my four little tutu obsessed daughters definitely had a lot to do with my inspiration for starting this company.

What is your favorite part about having your own business?

I get to set my own hours for the most part, which allows me to spend so much more time with my four little princesses. I am also lucky to have my four little models right here at home with me, which makes shooting new items so exciting. I love that I can involve my family in the business and it is such a great learning experience for my girls!!

What is up next for the line?

This year in Spring of 2011, you will be seeing an expansion of my yoga line and many more items added to the studio dance line with great items that can be worn in and out of dance class. Look out for more cute dance shorties and fancy new leotards with a lot of bling that can be worn for ballet class, jazz class or even just out shopping with mom for the day. This will be the year of jeweled leotards, including jewels with lots of rich colors like gorgeous fuschias and turquoise. This was my first year of designing recital costumes for a few different studios on the West Coast and East Coast, which was very exciting and challenging. The company will be doing much more costuming for upcoming Spring recitals and I am in the middle of finishing these designs this month as we get ready for May and June recital season! I am very blessed that 2010 was a year filled with new business adventures. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to meet so many interesting and talented people in the dance world.  I can't wait to see what 2011 brings!

Now, the fun part! The super sweet owner wants to share a little something from her line! 

Read more to win!