Krinklz Baby is bringing the noise to the baby gear world with its handmade-to-order, washer-and-dryer-friendly baby and toddler toys and accessories.

From baby paper, teething toys and cubes to burp clothes, blankets, word and letter pillows, the Krinklz Baby personalized products are no ordinary gifts to give, thanks to the addition of that extra special crinkly sound that babies crave.

Krinklz Baby is currently creating a ruckus with celebrity mommies like Alyssa Milano, Alicia Silverstone, Victoria Beckham, Tori Spelling and recently Keri Russel and Rebecca Gayheart, all of whom have received something from the oh-so smart line.

Want to give a customized, cuddly, cute and ever-engaging gift guaranteed to keep baby entertained—and mommy a chance to to breathe (and maybe even return an email) for a minute? Krinklz Baby is a sound choice indeed.

For more from Krinklz Baby, go to www.KrinkzBaby.com.

A big shout at to Versy, the latest and greatest bit o’ sanity-saving baby gear on the market.

This insanely cute baby positioner provides full head and neck support to infants ages 0 to 12 months old and does double duty as a feeding (breast and bottle) and playtime essential.

The Versy is made in the USA with TDCPP and PBDE-free foam inserts that are covered in plush, cozy, machine washable cotton chenille and available in four fun colors.

From feeding to diapering to playing, the versatile Versy adjusts to seated and lying positions and is super light for easy, breezy transportation.

(Ah, if only that were true of all the other baby gear you have to haul.)

At just $24.95, you’d be crazy not to add Versy to your registry or give one to your best gal pal who’s about to pop.

Check out more about The Versy here. Get 25% off with code thegroove25.

Looking for a one-stop organic shop for your babies—human, canine and feline?

Welcome to Babies Are Priceless.

This green go-to has it all, from clothing, baby gear, bed & bath, decor and more for the babes and toys, clothing and accessories for their furry counterparts.

More than just eco-friendly, everything is high end (but still affordable), hip and healthy for the little loved ones in your life and the very big planet they live on.

To give your babies the best, go to www.babiesarepriceless.com and get 11% off with code Family.

TFG Deputy Editor Chelsea Kaplan brings the cool this October with her fall-tastic faves.

Maternity Activewear from Me2Roo

Tired of squeezing that big ‘ol belly into your pre-pregnancy workout gear, preggers gals? If so, you must check out the activewear from Me2Roo, a seriously chic-looking and ultra-comfy line of workout (or, let’s be honest, hang out) clothes for ladies with buns in the oven. The line is the brainchild of by Maggie Zembruski, a former luxury goods industry exec who left the corporate world and went on a mission to combine her passions for fitness and fashion with her newly loved job: motherhood. My personal favorites: the “Pat” pants (with a very stretchy over-the-belly panel) and the neon pink and black “Charlotte” top with built-in shelf bra. Believe it or not, you actually look and feel kinda hot (read: not like a beached whale) wearing them. Visit www.me2roo.com to see the full line.

Halloween Foaming Soaps from Bath and Body Works

The amount of resistance I get when I ask my kids to watch their hands would make you think I was requesting that they eat an entire plate of liver. (Seriously, it’s hand-washing! What gives?) However, what I have found makes the encouragement process far less annoying is stocking their bathroom with yummy-smelling, niftily-packaged foaming soap. My choice for October: the Halloween line from Bath and Body Works. With their kid-friendly scents like Green Apple Candy, Marshmallow and Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and spooky-cute Halloween packaging, your kids might actually look forward to sudsing up with these on your bathroom counter. ($5.50 each, bathandbodyworks.com)

Graco Trekko Stroller

A pal of mine recently rolled up to our weekly walk with her baby nestled into the coolest-looking three-wheeled sport stroller. When I asked her who made it, I was expecting her to name some schmancy, high-priced European manufacturer, but no – it was from good ‘ol Graco and was their newest stroller, the Trekko. Even more surprising: its $170 price tag – far more affordable than its schmancy European sport stroller peers.

The Trekko accepts any Graco SnugRide infant car seat and can grow with your child until he or she weighs up to 50 lbs. There are so many cool features on this stroller like no-flat tires and a one-hand fold… really, you must check it out if you’re in the market for a new set of wheels (for your kid, that is). ($170, buybuybaby.com)

I am asked daily about what is the best baby shower gift to give.

There are just so many fantastic gifts to give both mom and baby and I find myself rattling off my ever-long list of my faves, until I’ve completely overwhelmed the question-asker who, usually, politely says thank-you and changes the subject.

Next time, I should just say Groovy Gear for Baby and be done with it.

Here, we talk to Groovy Gear’s owner Nancy about some of her favorites and why shopping for them online is definitely the way to go.

THE FAMILY GROOVE: Why did you start your business?

Nancy: I have been looking for an online business for quite some time. For months I searched for online businesses that are for sale, but I wasn’t sure which type of business I wanted to buy. When the right time comes, I suppose things happen for a reason. My husband and I do a lot of shopping online. As soon as we found out we’re expecting a baby girl, I started shopping for baby stuff and ran across this site. As I was skimming through the site, I saw that there was an ad stating that the site was for sale. I contacted the owner immediately, and we came to an agreement and that’s when Groovygearforbaby.com started. I have been working hard to build the site to provide a large selection of products. I added many new vendors, and I am very selective with the products I choose because my goal for the site is to carry unique, modern, organic and quality baby products. There are many more new vendors to come. Many of my friends were pregnant around the same time and this site has become a hit with them. They love the products they added to their baby registry. Babies are so special and they deserve to have the best of everything.

TFG: What makes Groovy Baby Gear stand out?

N: There are so many online stores that sell similar products, and it’s tough to be different from the rest. Groovygearforbaby.com is very selective in the products we sell. You can go to your local stores and purchase baby products, so why shop at my store? When I look for products to sell on groovygearforbaby.com, my goal is to offer unique, modern organic and quality products with competitive prices.

Shopping online allows the client to shop at any time of day. If you’re up for that 3 am feeding and can’t go back to sleep you can go online and shop. There are no salespeople to hassle you or push you to purchase products.

I am always looking for interesting products, if you have any requests or suggestions please email me at info@groovygearforbaby.com

TFG: It can be difficult to choose a gift for an expectant mom that is different and unique. What do you recommend?

N: The Balboa Baby nursing pillow makes a great gift. It is designed to help new moms breastfeed by lifting the baby up so mom does not strain her neck and shoulders. The nursing pillow was designed by Dr. Sears.

The stainless steel bottles make a great gift as well. They are a great investment for your pocket as well as the environment. The bottle transitions from a baby bottle, to a sippy cup, and finally to water bottle. Reusing your investment and saving you money.

Smart Trike tricycles is an excellent choice for a gift. The tricycle can be used from infant age up to 3 years old and more. The tricycle has changeable parts that modify the design and allows the child to use the tricycle at different stages.

Gift Cakes or Gift Sets are ready gifts that will make great baby shower gifts.

TFG: What are the top three must-haves for new moms?

N: Diaper bag – The Timi & Leslie diaper bags are fashionable and reusable once you’re done using it as a diaper bag. You do not need to carry a diaper bag and a purse, these diaper bags look like a purse and fit everything that you need for your baby. Later on they can also be used as laptop bags.

The Baby Rocker is a great item to have for any new mom to help sooth fussy babies. The baby rockers are easily portable to any room in the house or outdoors, backyard, picnics, the beach and vacation.

The receiving blankets are an absolute essential item. Speaking from experience and actually using these blankets for my baby, they are just amazing! They are large enough and once you swaddle the baby the wrap does not fall apart.

TFG: What’s your proudest moment as a business owner?

N: Receiving great comments from customers about the website’s design and unique products, and having these customers return to purchase more items.

For more grooviness, go to www.GroovyGearforBaby.com.

First aid just ain’t sexy.

It’s smart and necessary but pretty and chic—well, not so much.

Unless, that is, you have a Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet.

These fashion-meets-function bags help moms stay true to their style savvy ways without compromising on safety.

Here, we talk to Priscila Thomas, founder of Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet, about her cool carryalls that are making it posh to be prepared.

THE FAMILY GROOVE: What inspired you to start your business?

Priscilla Thomas: My children and my husband were my inspiration for our business. We travel a great deal as a family, and I wanted a chic-boutique bag to carry all of my “first-aid/baby” needs/products for my children. I wanted the bag to be at my immediate disposal at all times. I was tired of making lists for each trip and felt it would be easier to have all of my product needs in one place for the for the “grab-and-go mom” in me.

TFG: Tell us about the name.

PT: In discussing what products should be in my bag, my wish list of sorts, with my husband, he had mentioned a specific product and my response was, “That should be in every ‘mommy’s medicine cabinet’” Hence, MMC was born. The Kate Bag was named after our daughter, Katherine. I realized that my Kate Bag would be a perfect baby shower gift, new mommy gift and or new grandparent gift as well.

TFG: What makes Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet different from traditional first aid kits?

PT: Our Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet bags supply individuals with age specific products in addition to our boutique-chic Kate Bag, a bag you don’t mind carrying around. Most first aid kits don’t include a doctor-recommend comprehensive assortment of medicines. In addition, the Infant bag is TSA compliant.

TFG: Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet bags are full of must-have supplies. How did you decide what products to include?

PT: We conducted several market research surveys asking moms what products they would like to see in a unique offering such as ours. We also surveyed pediatricians, family practice, and internal medicine physicians to determine what components of our bags would be considered necessities.

TFG: Tell us about the perks in your Frequent Buyer Program.

PT: The more you purchase, the more you save. During the calendar year, once your total purchases reach $100 from our web site, all future purchases you make will automatically receive a 5% discount. Once your purchases reach $200 in total, the automatic discount is 10% for all subsequent purchases. Finally, once your purchases hit the $300 level, all of your future purchases will receive an automatic 15% discount. It’s a nice, immediate, and automatic reward for customer loyalty. We want help make the shopping experience for medicine cabinet products easy and stress-free for our mommies and daddies.

TFG: What is your proudest moment as a business owner?

PT: I have several. First, I would have to say, the myriad of positive emails and calls I have received confirming my MMC idea and the admiration of my “Kate Bag” itself. More importantly, would be my children and husband telling me how proud they are of me for following my dream.

For more safety-chic carryalls, go to www.MommysMedicineCabinet.com.

Eco-friendly, charitable and cool.

Ding, ding, ding!

Yup! That’s the jackpot for parents for looking to scoop up the latest but still do their greatest for the world and the people who live in it.

Tiffany Van Drimien built her business, Likewise Kids, with the intention of paying it forward on all fronts.

Here, she talks about her unique oneline baby and kids’ toy, gifts, gear and clothing hot spot, a few of her fave items and how she’s the real deal when it comes to the best nation: donation.

THE FAMILY GROOVE: What inspired you to start Likewise Kids?

Tiffany Van Drimien: I was inspired to start Likewise Kids after I lost one of my best friends to cystic fibrosis. There is a long meaning to our name, the significance, and our purpse that is directly linked to her. I felt inspired to start a company that helped support charitable causes and healthy living. Maybe we can help enhance the lives of others in some small way.

TFG: Your entire business is so right on! From being carbon neutral to promoting a different charity each month (which is something we do here at The Family Groove) and donating a percentage of each sale to that charity. Tell us about your mission.

TVD: Thank you! Our mission is to help. We choose quality organic, natural, and eco-friendly products because they are the healthy choice for kids and the environment. We keep our pricing low because it helps families. We donate to charity because it is the right thing to do and helps everyone in the long-run. $1 from each purchase ($5 from Little Picasso) goes to our Charity of the Moment.

TFG: How do you choose which charities to support?

TVD: Our customers help us choose! When ordering, customers can tell us which charity they would like for us to add to our list. Just indicate the charity’s website in the Note to Seller or send us an email. Once $25 is raised, we send it to the charity and then go to the next charity on our list. The charity must be a non-profit or a school.

TFG: You have very unique, stand-out offerings on your site from lovies to books to clothing to on-the-go gear—all organic or all-natural. What are some of your favorites?

TVD: It is very difficult to pick a favorite because I choose our items very carefully. The Oshi Mats are wonderful because they are eco-friendly, non-toxic, cold-resistant, recyclable, and so much more. The Disposable Compressed Wipes are so handy, fun to use, and made from plants! Plus, they come in a refillable tube. Little Picasso is such a unique and personal gift that I have not seen anything like it. Each Little Picasso is created by an artist and is a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork.

5. What’s Little Picasso all about?

Little Picasso is available exclusively through Likewise Kids. The customer submits a child’s drawing to us via email and the artist uses the original drawing and transforms it to an unbelievable piece of artwork. We can deliver it on canvas, poster, or a digital file. Many hours and creativity are poured into each piece and they are all truly original. We show samples of the original drawing and the completed Little Picasso on our website. This is a unique gift that can become a family heirloom and is beautiful enough to hang on your wall.

TFG: What is your proudest moment as a business owner?

TVD: My proudest moment was probably a toss-up between our first donation and getting our Carbon Neutral Certificate. Both were very important steps for me and I hope to continue both trends.

TFG:  What exciting things are on the horizon?

TVD: Every day is exciting. I am always continuing to search for quality products that meet our standards and our customers’ standards. I hope to be able to expand more and further develop a business that is both respected and beneficial. With the help of our customers and social media (@LikewiseKids), we can start a movement that combines products we buy with supporting charities that are important to us. Thank you to our customers for all of your help and support! We are here because of, and for, you.

For more paying-it-forward cool, go to www.likewisekidseshop.com.

Flash Sales with HUGE savings for TFG readers.
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What a girl wants! Let us tell you, Little Pink Dress has it!

From dresses to accessories to decor and more, Little Pink Dress nails sugar and spice and everything nice—with just enough sass to keep thing modern and enough good-taste restraint to keep things sweet and age-appropriate.

Here we talk to Sabrina Bailey and Lorina Harris about the girl-in-the-world boutique they started because, as on-the-go military wives, they had a difficult time finding what they wanted for their daughters, the top trends of the season and the new lines that your DD will fall for.

THE FAMILY GROOVE: Why did you start Little Pink Dress?

Sabrina Bailey and Lorina Harris: Being military wives, we found it difficult to raise our families and have a fulfilling career, all while bouncing around from place to place with our spouses. We decided that the best solution was to launch our own online business where we could still be at home with our children and have the freedom to run our business, no matter where the military took us. Also being the parents of daughters, we both became frustrated with the selection or lack of variety found in many retail stores, especially on the military bases overseas, so we began searching for designers and vendors that sought to capture vintage charm, classic beauty and the times when girls looked like little girls.

TFG: The site is looking even more fabulous than ever—it’s luxe and elegant but still fun! You have nailed the little-girl-in-the-world paradigm: sugar and spice and everything nice. What inspires your design aesthetic?

SB & LH: We’re really inspired by vintage children’s clothing and decor from the 40s and 50s, but we also admire designs with a more whimsical flare as well.

TFG: You carry everything a girl would want from clothing and accessories to baby gear to decor, bedding, furniture and gifts. What are some of your favorites?

SB & LH: Some of our favorites are the luxury children’s attire by Sebastian Cruz, our vintage inspired headbands (which are currently one of our top sellers), the new line of Wee Squeak spring sandals, Love Chic Baby Perfume and the fabulous new tween bedding by Glenna Jean.

TFG: What’s in style the season:

SB & LH: Soft colors are very popular this year especially pink, green, yellow, and blue. Flower dresses and a variety of floral patterns are also in this year, as well as a variety of skirts— tutus, bubbles, and twirls in particular.

TFG: What about decor? What are the latest trends?

SB & LH: Top trends and décor for baby nurseries right now are emphasizing style and functionality, such as convertible cribs that can become a full size bed or chest that can serve as a changing table. New moms are also, always looking for unique bedding for their little ones. Vintage patterns and lush fabrics are a must have for any new parents most precious treasure. Children’s art by Oopsy Daisy is very popular right now and we offer a wide variety that will fit any theme such as wall murals, canvas art and personalized growth charts.

TFG: What is your proudest moment as a business owner?

SB & LH: Our proudest moment as of now would have to be when we received our first order. It was for a bottle of Love Chic baby cologne. With any new online business you wonder if you’re going to get lost in cyber space. Our first order definitely made us feel like ok we can do this and we are officially entrepreneurs. It was really exciting and business has been steadily increasing ever since.

TFG: What exciting things are on the horizon?

SB & LH: Little Pink Dress will continue to bring our customers the most, trendy as well as unique items we can find. We are looking into bringing international styles and trends to our boutique that will continue to wow our customers. Of course every online business owner has the desire to open a store front and we are no different. Once our families have settled we plan on opening a store front that is just as whimsical and girly as our site is, so stay tuned because we have a lot in store.

For more from Little Pink Dress, go to www.mylittlepinkdress.com and get 10% off of $50 or more with code LPD11 (until July 31).

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: everything you need for your little girl in the world

You’ll Love It Because: Little girls are sugar and spice and everything nice (well, at least 75 percent of the time, right?), and they need sweet things to match their sweet disposition. For your pretty, pretty princesses, Little Pink Dress provides clothing, accessories, furniture, bedding, décor and more, all befitting of your glamour girl.

Check This Out: Little Pink Couture. This collection of designer items is just what you need for a photo session or special occasion. The Sassy Sweetheart Skirt Set comes with a corset-style top and double-layer twirl skirt, so she can whirl around in style and comfort (stretchy fabric, an elastic waist and a silky underskirt mean she won’t complain about the itchiness two minutes in). There are plenty of other looks, too—Cowgirl Diva, Sweet Safari and Rodeo Princess among them—that she’ll pull off in the adorable way only little girls can.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: Vintage Couture Headbands. Keep her hair back and head adorned with these breathtaking headbands that look just as good in a jewelry box as they do worn. (And the extra-good news: Moms can wear them, too!) Pastel rosettes, soft feathers, Swarovski crystals and birdcage veiling are a few of the features you’ll find on these handmade pieces.

Contact: www.mylittlepinkdress.com

Get 10% off of a purchase of $50 or more with code LPD11 (offer expires 7/31/11)

Hopping around on the Purple Daisy Kids site is fun.

From the most excellent nap mats to the adorbs clothing to the well-vetted selection of toys, the site captures the essence of childhood in a well-edited, highly (but not overly) designed depot of cute.

Here, we talk to Purple Daisy Kids co-owner Susan about the site she started after her husband was laid off, why luxury goods don’t have to be luxury priced and what’s new for the season.

THE FAMILY GROOVE: Why did you start your business?

Susan Miceli: After giving birth to my daughter in 2004, I fell madly and passionately in love. I knew this would be my only child, so I did not want to miss a single moment with my new baby. I just could not bring myself to return to my hectic and demanding career in advertising. With just the little bit of time I had on my hands, I started following a few mommy blogs, checked out baby and children designs and styles, and educated myself with the latest children’s trends. Before long, I found a new creative outlet with decorating nurseries, children’s rooms and purchasing children’s clothing for friends. I tinkered around with this, and even started selling on eBay, but felt it could be so much bigger.

Eventually in early in 2009, my husband was laid off from Victoria’s Secret marketing department. Given the failing economy, jobs in advertising were extremely hard to come by. We brainstormed different employment ideas, and kept coming back to this: How much our lives had changed since we had our baby, the many new interests we now had, the new and innovative products that now graced our cupboards, and how the design of our home had changed to accommodate our growing family.

We decided to scrape together our savings to purchase an existing children’s website. Given we were a couple of seasoned advertising professionals, we thought we could handle it. In the process, we learned how much we didn’t know about Internet marketing. While it was working site, it was only a shell with a limited product offering, so we quickly redesigned the entire site. In fact, the only thing we kept was the name. We completely redesigned the site’s navigation, the graphics, logo, colors, photography, target audience, the products and category lines…everything was revamped. Then we plunged head first into search engine optimization, Google analytics, meta tags, social networking and more.

It has taken about 18 months of constant work, but we are now at a point where we are proud of the site. Although, I will say it is in a constant state of evolution, and there are many more products we are now introducing.

TFG: Tell us about the name.

SM: As mentioned above, the name came with the site, and we decided to keep it. At the time, I thought it might have a little bit of branding power behind it. I feel it evokes a sense of individuality, innocence and whimsy.

TFG: What makes Purple Daisy Kids stand out?

SM: Purple Daisy Kids offers a broad selection of nice products that fit any budget. While we offer many luxury brands, we also offer brands that are equally wonderful, just without the luxury price tag.

TFG: What’s your proudest moment as a business owner?

SM: Wow, this is a tough one because I have a few. The fact that my husband and I are able to work on this day in and day out together as a team, all while overcoming his layoff and the weak economy is a homerun to me. Secondly, sometimes it seems we’ve expanded much more slowly than we wanted to, but we’ve been able to do this all without outside financing. Thirdly, this spring, I am so excited to expand the children’s party line, as this is what I’ve dreamed of since the inception of the site. This is a personal goal of mine, and we have some great brands and products coming.

TFG: What’s new for the season?

SM: We are beyond thrilled that Mud Pie Baby is now offering larger sizes. Up until now, they have offered sizing only up to 24 months. So many of our customers have inquired about larger sizing for this brand, and now we can meet our customers’ demands.

For more from Purple Daisy Kids, go to www.purpledaisykids.com.