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MORE THAN WORDS
In the mid-'80s, Frankie said relax. In the early, uh, tens/preteens/whatever this decade is, The Happy Magpie says hip, happy, healthy. A better mantra nary we have seen. This halcyon sentiment seems to be a clarion call for modern-day moms-to-be everywhere. Pair these words with an elegantly designed cherry blossom branch (the cherry blossom symbolizes love, feminine beauty and principle in Asian cultures) and you've got a tee for the ages—or the next nine-plus months, anyway. Made from organic cotton and nontoxic dyes and inks, the preshrunk top provides full belly coverage at every stage of your pregnancy thanks to a touch of Spandex—which has finally outlived its neon-biker-short bad reputation and proven itself to be a good thing, especially for growing mamas.
($40, www.thehappymagpie.com)
DIAPER ACTIVE
We are going to say something to you right now and we don't want you to get nervous: cloth diapers. Now, we know what you're thinking, but no need to be daunted. The cloth diapers of today are so user-friendly that the thought of going the (evil, land-filling, chemical-laden) disposable route basically seems like an anachronism. Case in point: GroBaby. First of all, they're so cute—and cute is important. But, they're also highly cost-effective: This dashing diaper is a veritable revolution in cloth diapering because of its one-size-fits-all, expandable shell that keeps Baby's bum covered up to 35 pounds. Each dioxin-free diaper comes with one organic cotton six-layer, elasticized, snap-in soaker pad and one cotton booster. The easy-to-navigate system sports adjustable-rise snaps (that are guaranteed for life) built-in laundry tabs, never-pill hook tabs, quick-dry inner mesh and more. From Pure & Simple Baby, offering the best in eco-friendly and fair-trade baby products from carriers to clothing to toys to teething items to bottles, bibs and burp cloths to bedtime essentials, these eco-fabulous heinie-hiders are sure to make the move from disposable to cloth a natural choice.
($24.95 to $26.95, GroBaby Shell Set, www.pureandsimplebaby.com)
GET 10 PERCENT OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE WITH CODE SIMPLEBABY
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $75!
CHAIRMOM OF THE BOARD
Business cards, pictures, notes, messages, reminders, ripped-out recipes, receipts, drawings of you and your daughter holding hands underneath a rainbow, oh my! Yes, running a household, aka your life and the lives of your mate and your kids, comes with a lot of stuff. What's an otherwise organized mom to do? Simple: Hang 'em high with a magnetic bulletin board from Bailey Bea Designs, an elegant online boutique specializing in unique, high-quality, high-end stationery and gifts. The brilliant boards help keep the chic of your office, kitchen, playroom or bedroom thanks to their designer prints, plus custom options like monogram or name, and uber-functionality. Available in 52 patterns and styles, they're not just an organizational must-have for any modern mom; they also serve as a constant reminder of the spirited hodgepodge that is your life in the 'hood—parenthood, that is.
($58, www.baileybea.com)
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
When you put Baby to bed on organic cotton sheets, she won't be the only one who's sleeping safe and sound—you will be, too. Your new-parent mind (read: already taxed with way too much information, a lot of it scary and all of it daunting) will rest easy knowing that the place where your little one spends most of her time is free from toxic chemicals and dyes. Phew. The dreamy digs sold at Danalika do double duty, making the nursery as chic as it is green. With sweet sets from organic bedding superstars like Kee-Ka, Cotton Monkey and Kate Quinn Organics, you can rest assured your sleeping beauty will slumber in the height of eco-style. One good decision down. Three hundred more (today) to go.
(Prices vary, www.danalika.com)
THE -IZE HAVE IT
Personalize Junior's everyday wear with the stylized designs from Hopscotch Tees. The customizable tot tops pair your little one's name (and/or age, year of birth and hometown) with a tongue-in-cheek saying and a funky-fresh graphic that's cute enough to be age-appropriate and cool enough to give your Dora and Diego-saturated eyes a much-welcomed respite. With prices in the low $20s for infant and toddler sizes (and high $20s for mom-and-pop versions), these special tees are the gift to give your favorite fashionista-in-training and Dapper Don-to-be.
(Prices vary, www.hopscotchtees.com)
WE CAN BE HEROES
Calling all budding eco-avengers: Gear up for Earth Day with a superhero must-have from Kids Love Capes! This eco-friendly gift sparks hours of enlightening, imagination-moving play for your little "Kid Green." Positive role models may be in short supply nowadays (thank you, reality TV), but with this cape, complete with goldenrod satin underside, eco-light bulb applique and magnetic closure, Generation Next need to look no further than the boy or girl in the mirror to see a shining example of the new and improved truth, justice and the American way. Brought to you by the hot mom and cool kiddie depot Stringbean Co., a site that offers a variety of made-in-the-USA-only items, this cape saves the day.
($34.50, www.stringbeancompany.com)
HEY, GOOD LOOKIN', WHATCHA GOT COOKIN'?
Familiarity breeds contempt—especially when it comes to what you're dishing out, day after day, night after night. Talk about a rut: We could pass out from the Groundhog Day that is our current cooking repertoire. Thank goodness we found Relish!, an online weekly meal-planning service and more that's put the sssizzle back in our 6 o'clocks. Sign up for their slice-of-life meal plans and choose from 15 different recipes, plus one dessert (all scalable to satisfy your family's size, from two to eight servings). Select as many dishes as you like and then head off to the store with an automatically populated grocery list based on your choices. The ultimate hostess and Mother's Day gift, Relish! saves you time and money (no more wasted purchases!), and spares you and your brood from the horror that is another Tuesday night of grilled chicken and frozen sweet potato fries.
($21 for a three-month subscription; $37.50 for a six-month subscription; $58.50 for a 12-month subscription; www.relishrelish.com)
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES
Thank heaven for little girls—especially when they're dressed to the nines in the season's sweetest styles from Jottum. Known for their high-quality fabrics and meticulous attention to detail, these de rigueur designs dazzle, from everyday to special-occasion outfits (seriously, we're considering crashing a beach wedding, just to be able to put our girls in that Jottum Girls Shirine Stunning White Dress!). The photo-op-worthy collection of fabulous frocks (oh, and we're stalking the Jottum Girls Solana Navy Suspender Dress, too), skirts, tops and pants color the season in the sun with all the drama and whimsy that is a little girl in the world. Available at KoolKloz.com, a chic-porium of, well, cool clothes that you wish you could buy for yourself, Jottum is the standout of the season.
(Prices vary, www.koolkloz.com)
OVER THE MOON
Charm your favorite mom by giving her a darling dangler she'll want to keep close to heart, day in and day out. This elegant and meaningful necklace features a crescent-moon-shaped pendant with sentimental saying; a small sterling disc, hand-stamped with the name, date or favorite word; along with your choice of two birthstone crystals, freshwater pearls or sterling charms. Whether it's for Mother's Day, birthdays or just because (and that includes scooping it up for yourself), any mom would love to don this versatile piece, not only for its chic style but for good, old-fashioned sentimental reasons.
(From $46 to $58, www.invitationjane.com)
TAKING IT TO THE CHIC
Breast-feed your little one anytime, anywhere (the park, a restaurant, a playdate) with this elegant nursing must-have, available at Arabella Belly, a one-stop maternity-to-mommy shop. Discreet and oh so chic, the easy-to-use (it fastens with a simple button clasp) luxurious cotton cover features a bold flowered pattern with accent piping, scalloped edge and contoured shape that makes it the essential new-mom accessory. With the nice weather here (finally), its grab-and-go functionality makes getting out and about a much more attainable prospect. Leaving the house, check. Now all you have to do is figure out how to take a shower and maybe even return a phone call during the day. Baby steps, moms, baby steps.
($69, www.arabellabelly.com)
