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SWIRL, SIP, SAVOR
Based in Brooklyn, Donna da Vine is a fine wine boutique we’d visit all the time if we could. But since we can’t (darn all those responsibilities of adult life), we’ll settle for hitting up the website and ordering their Da Vine Mama party pack, a set of four wines all created by moms. With fantastic flavors and just the right amount of variety per pack, this set makes a hip gift for any vino-swilling mama. We could recite all the deets about the different wines, but it really comes down to this: A) We like supporting mom-owned businesses, and B) we like wine. What more is there to say?
SET IT DOWN
Want to give the hostess with the mostest something she’ll most definitely dig? Set her up with Monogrammed Coasters by Dabney Lee from Nik’s Naks, a site chock-full of gift-giving staples. These high-design paper coasters come in a set of 125 in a Lucite box, with a huge array of patterns to choose from: damask, leopard, hexagons, sea horses, paisley and much more. The initial adds the finishing touch—she’ll know this present was picked just for her, not a re-gift. (Or get them for yourself—you need to protect your tabletops in style, too!)
($80, www.niksnaksonline.com)
WRAP THIS WAY
Swaddling is definitely a learned the skill—if the lift-here, tuck-there, wrap-this-way, then-that-way technique has you confused, there is an easier solution: the award-winning SwaddleKeeper. This one-step system eliminates the excess fabric and has an opening for legs to stretch and diaper changes. Made in the USA and designed by an RN, this product is ideal for babies with colic or those who are multiples. Plus, you can’t beat the fun colors, free shipping and complimentary instructional DVD that comes with each order. They’ll sleep more and cry less, and as a result, so will you.
($19.95 to $29.95, www.swaddlekeeper.com)
HIT THE FLOOR NO MORE
Dogs may love to play fetch, but when it’s mom or dad chasing after the sippy cup that keeps hitting the ground, it’s less of a game and more of a chore. But with the mom-made Little Lasso, you can stop wondering where the take-along items your toddler has have gone. The stretchy band attaches to strollers, shopping carts, high chair, strollers and more to keep bottles, cups and toys within the reach of your little one—and off the floor.
($19.95, www.thelittlelasso.com)
BAG LADY
Big bags are the best—except when you can’t find any of the stuff you crammed in there. AbbyRoo feels your pain, and has created a great carryall that has compartments to fit everything you could want in a purse and more. Eight mesh pockets allow you to quickly see what’s inside, so you won’t be doing that “I know it’s in here somewhere…” routine again. Take it to the beach, on vacation, or use it as a baby bag. The wide strap slings over your shoulder and across your body for extra comfort, or you can wear it as a regular purse—just one with a lot more organizational capacity than you’re used to.
($39, www.abbyroo.com)
KEEP YOUR COOL
If you want super-cool toys for your kids, there’s one logical place to look: Super Cool Toy Store. Makes sense, right? This website lives up to its name, offering a huge array of toys broken down into helpful categories. Browse by cool rating, by type and by price to find the awesomest toy on the block. Each product has the typical write-up, but you can get more information by clicking on the “Alternate Images” tab, and then the very helpful “Why It’s Super Cool” tab, which tells you everything you need to know. (Some toys are just Very Cool or Pretty Cool, and they’ll give you the scoop on those ratings, too.) Each toy is tested by real kids, and adults assess the price and other factors. We hate to say it, but…that’s super cool.
PIECE OF CAKE
Looking for a fun shower gift for a co-worker who’s expecting or another mom-to-be you may not know well? You can’t go wrong with a diaper cake, and the ones from Bliss Cakes Boutique are some of the cutest and classiest out there. Choose from one, two, three or four tiers, with the plushest of them all including 110 to 115 organic diapers, one hooded towel, three onesies, three caps, three pairs of socks, three pairs of mittens, three washcloths, three burp cloths, a toy and baby bath products. The Bliss Baby Bouquets (for when baby arrives) and Tie the Knot Cakes (for wedding showers) are also a cute way to celebrate some of life’s most memorable milestones.
($20 to $155, www.blisscakesboutique.com)
CAP IT OFF
You know the drill: bathe baby, feed baby, bathe baby again because she took all her food and mashed it in her hair. No fun. Thus the Crumb Cap, a hair bib of sorts that keeps your little one’s noggin clean, no matter how messy mealtime gets. Invented by a mom, the non-vinyl lightweight cap—an instant baby registry classic—wipes clean, rinses off, dries fast, is stain-resistant, and is soft and comfy on the inside. Gooey hair, be gone!
($8.99, www.crumbcap.com)
