excellent Etsy find: Spoiled Sweet Couture

Spoiled sweet is what every child should be, and it's not hard to do with today's excellent Etsy find. Spoiled Sweet Couture has beautifully designed accessories for your little ones, from bibs and onesies to diapers & wipes cases and even "tinkle toppers."

I love, love, love Spoiled Sweet Couture's fabrics (Whimsy Flower is my favorite) and her embellished birthday bibs are better than that number candle you'll be putting on the cake. (Plus it will last a heck of a lot longer!) Her spittle bibs are just the right size for little droolers and with so many choices you'll have no problem finding one to coordinate with almost every outfit!

My most favorite product is probably the Custom Elegant Shabby Sparrow onesie. This super sweet sparrow is to die for and the super soft onesie has a decorative stitch around the neck and arm holes. I just might have to get the coordinating Shabby Sparrow Spittle Mink Dot bib as well!

Okay, I just discovered another favorite while writing this post. I am loving the Amy Butler Gothic Rose Chenille bib. It has a super absorbant layer and comes with a coordinating chenille backing and a pearl snap closure. Plus its size is perfect for infants and toddlers (wish it fit my 8-year-old as well).

Don't wait for the holidays to spoil your little one with the sweet style of today's excellent Etsy find, Spoiled Sweet Couture! --Emily

jot down your ideas with a ringlet jotter from SusyJack*

Post-it notes are great, don't get me wrong, but they can quickly get out of hand. You only have so much space around your computer monitor, and if a strong breeze blows through the window your ideas will scatter faster than my kids down the Target toy aisle. Plus, they're not the best way to write down your epiphanies while on the go. (The backs of receipts aren't that great either.)

So how's a girl to jot down her recently planned lunch date, brilliant product idea or overheard quote and keep it close at hand? Today's that's hot! thursday has the answer and it's the Ringlet Jotter from SusyJack*. The Ringlet Jotter was designed for keeping track of all those "notes to self" we busy women so often need. These stylish, eco-friendly books are small enough to fit in your purse and they keep your notes all in one place. They can easily go from desk to kitchen counter to bag and would be a lot more fun than your pink flower-shaped Post-it pad. Plus they make great party gifts and stocking stuffers!

SusyJack* has some other really great products such as pencil cups, wall art, boxed note sets, and my other favorite, cartlettes. Cartlettes are the multitaskers of paper products. You can use them as business cards, gift tags, scrapbook embellishments--the possibilities are endless!

SusyJack*s products are printed and hand-assembled in the USA. Recycled packaging is used for shipping and all paper used in Susy*s products are 100% post consumer recyled. I doubt your Post-its are post consumer recycled, so do some eco-friendly jotting with a Ringlet Jotter from SusyJack*. --Emily

Where do blogging moms go? MomDot, of course!

If you're a mom blogger and would love the camaraderie of connecting with other mom bloggers then you'll want to read today's wonderful web wednesday post in its entirety. It's all about MomDot, a site started by a couple of mom bloggers "who wanted a way to reach out to other bloggers." Who better to start a mom-blogging community! MomDot lets you list your blog for free, and if you contact them you and your blog can be featured on the site. They also print articles of interest and will link directly to you on a weekly basis. Just send them the link to your post and they'll check you out. If you're a boutique owner you can talk to MomDot about being highlighted on their Feature Boutique page, where you can share your store with MomDot members and visitors alike. Or even better, list your boutique on the Boutique Listings page for free!

Our friend Trisha at MomDot is a fan of our comfy "nesting" tee. Even though she's not expecting that didn't stop her from wearing it during her recent visit to New Orleans. (See photo at right.) We of course want you to check her out in our tee but be sure to scroll down and read about her experiences in New Orleans and view the photos of her Hot Blogger shoot. Sounds like quite the trip!

Got a mom-related blog or boutique? Get listed at MomDot and join a network of mom bloggers just like you! --Emily

Being Healthy for Busy People

Today is a take it off tuesday kind of day and I have a great new website for you! I discovered it via Twitter (@tallivansunder is a great Twitterer to follow) and am a big fan. Being Healthy for Busy People is the perfect site for most women since 99.9% of women are super busy.

The site features a popular podcast by Talli, who has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. "She is a physical therapist by trade. She is a health fanatic by passion. She is also a wife, mom and an all around busy person." Talli has owned her own physical therapy clinic and worked as a personal trainer. She is all about bettering the lives of clients and now she is improving the health and well being of the virtual world.

You'll find a few ways to listen to the show, and if you're more a reader than a listener (though we should all be good listeners), Being Healthy for Busy People has a blog. You'll find yourself agreeing with pretty much every post and setting new goals to be healthier and happier. Talli offers common sense to combat the craziness of fad diets and weight-loss gimmicks. Here's a taste from her recent post, "Want Something to Eat?":

If someone asks if you’re hungry and you have to think about it before answering, you’re probably not truly hungry. You’re not asking your stomach if it needs more food. You’re thinking about whether it can fit any more food.

Sound familiar? Thought so.

Being Healthy for Busy People is a great resource for busy women like myself because it reminds me that even I have time for a little health and well-being in my busy day! --Emily

background check!

As mompreneurs many of us blog, whether we've tied the blog to our business or blogging is our business. If you're not a programmer the standard templates offered by Blogspot and WordPress often leave something to be desired, so today's mompreneur monday highlights a few fun sites offering free blog backgrounds and templates. Without some color your blog is just "blah!"

Blogspot backgrounds

• The Cutest Blog on the Block--great backgrounds and even some blog secrets.
• Leelou Blogs--spread the love by adding her button to your site; also offers custom blog design.
• Blogger & Blogspot Templates--kind of a clearinghouse of sites offering Blogspot backgrounds
• Blogger Templates--check out the "At World's End" template...pretty cool!
• Blogger Buster: "125 More Excellent Blogger Templates"--The post dates back to August but that doesn't mean these designs aren't fresh!

WordPress themes

• "100 Excellent Free WordPress Themes"--great blog post highlighting the best of the best (I guess, since I know very little about WordPress...)
• Top WordPress Themes--not sure if these are the top but there are some really fun ones

I struggled a bit to find WordPress themes so if you have a great resource please share! Happy blogging! --Emily

trick or treat! (I prefer treats!)

This Saturday is my sister-in-law's annual Halloween party and we can't wait! The kids always have a ton of fun and the adults always eat a ton of food. No better time to let the holiday eating begin and no better way than with some fun Halloween treats.

I'm bringing some guacamole dip drizzled with a sour cream spider web and served with a side of bat tortilla chips (recipe below) and I couldn't resist these fun bat cupcakes courtesy of Allrecipes.com (recipe also below). If you'd like even more ghoulish treats, Family Fun's Halloween Fright Site has a cauldron full. Check out the melon brain...eeeeew!

Bat Tortilla Chips
1 large flour tortilla per person
1/4 cup olive oil
salt

Preheat your broiler. Using a bat or other Halloween cookie cutter, cut each tortilla into shapes. Lightly brush both sides of each creature with oil. Arrange on a cookie sheet and broil, flipping once when they begin to brown. When brown on both sides, lightly sprinkle with salt. Serve with spider web guacamole. (Use a decorator tip to draw concentric circles on top of guacamole using sour cream. Then drag a knife from the outside circle in. Top with a fake spider or two!)


Bat Cupcakes
1 package chocolate cake mix
1 container prepared chocolate frosting
1 package fudge stripe cookies
1 small bag milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped
1 tablespoon red gel icing

Prepare cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool. Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Break cookies in half and press two halves into the top of each cupcake for wings, stripes facing the frosting. Place a chocolate kiss in front of the cookies with the point facing forward for the body. Make two beady little eyes with the red gel icing towards the point of the kiss. Enjoy!

Eat, drink and be scary!

excellent Etsy find: PrettyBabyBowtique

I've just decided to add a random feature on that's hot! thursdays called "excellent Etsy find." I have been stumbling across way too many fabulous Etsy shops to keep them all to myself, and I'm sure my friends are getting weary of my emails telling them about another Etsy boutique they simply must visit. So now I'm sharing them with you!

While looking for a gift for my daughter's friend I tried Etsy's "Shop Local" feature where you can enter a location and Etsy will find boutiques in that area. I search for Utah boutiques and received around 100 results. Browsing through the shops I couldn't believe the overwhelming talent found right in my backyard! After a few pages I found just what I was looking for at PrettyBabyBowtique.

PrettyBabyBowtique has the sweetest collection of "no slip" clips, flowers, and bows along with crocheted headbands and hats. All her flowers and bows are attached to no-slip clips so they will stay put in even the finest hair, and all ribbon is heat cut and sealed so you don't have to worry about fraying--a really good thing since my baby uses her clippes as teethers!

I did some major shopping at PrettyBabyBowtique and the store's owner was wonderful! She set up a custom listing as soon as I messaged her with what I wanted. (I did some early Christmas shopping so it was quite the list--those hats with the flowers are a great gift!) I was able to mix and match hat colors and flowers and she even had me check out past sales to see if there were something I'd like. But probably my favorite thing about this boutique is her prices--they are so much more affordable than the ones at the mall kiosk where I've previously purchased my headbands and bows. My custom order list was long but it didn't come close to sabotaging my budget!

Orders are shipped within 48 hours after receiving payment and even as soon as 12 whenever possible. Mine was shipped the same day! Plus if you order more than three items you'll get free shipping on your order (see store details). PrettyBabyBoutique is definitely a most excellent Etsy find! --Emily

TAYGA apron giveaway!

With holidays around the corner there's a good chance you'll be doing some serious entertaining. Today's that's hot! thursday will help you cook--and later mingle--in style. TAYGA aprons are a must-have this holidays season if you're planning to go from stove to socializing. They're great for weeknight spaghetti as well but I'd rather use my ol' standby for saucy marinara.

TAYGA's aprons are fun, flirty and fully reversible. The 100% cotton designer fabrics and flattering fit are sure to tempt your style tastebuds. I love my new Marilyn in red (my husband's a big fan too); my other favorites are the Claudia and Casandra. TAYGA also has a line of aprons for children so your sous chef can protect her family-photo holiday dress from that messy sugar cookie frosting.

Read my full TAYGA review, "Cook your holiday meals in style," at BoutiqueCafe.com and comment for a chance to win TAYGA's super sweet mother & daughter set (a $108 value). This is a fabulous giveaway so don't miss it! The deadline for comments is October 29th at midnight. Better get cookin'! --Emily

5 Minutes for Mom: Blogs Can Change Lives

Today's wonderful web wednesday highlights 5 Minutes for Mom's latest Blogs Can Save Lives installment, PSPs for Hospitalized Kids:

When a child gets sidelined with life threatening or long term illness, not only do they have to face pain, suffering and fears that no child should have to endure, but they are trapped inside a body that denies them their natural state of play. Fortunately, technology can bring a child who is sick a little bit of freedom.

To give these children their freedom, 5 Minutes for Mom is partnering with Sony PlayStation to bring 10 PSP (PlayStation Portable) systems to kids with life threatening or long term illnesses. To read more about exactly what these children will receive please read the entire post from 5 Minutes for Mom.

What can you do to help? Well, there are three ways you can help "blogs change lives." First, you can nominate a child or teenager you know, who is battling serious or life threatening illness and would truly benefit from a PSP but whose family is not able to provide one. Scroll down the original post to read details on how to nominate someone you know. Second, do your part to spread the word by placing a banner ad and posting about the project on your site/blog. And third, comment on the 5 Minutes for Mom's post to let Sony PlayStation see your support of PSPs for Hospitalized Kids.

We are quickly learning how powerful the online community can be when it comes to supporting a cause. Don't let this opportunity to flex your virtual muscles pass by without doing your part to spread the word. --Emily

is your baby a Mockstar Baby?

If you’d love to dress your little one like the rock star she is but aren’t willing to sell your front-row Timberlake tickets to do so, then Mockstar Baby is your backstage pass to rockin' baby clothes at a nosebleed-seat price.

Mockstar Baby, which offers "random deals at a chaotic pace," is similar to the popular site Steep and Cheap. If you're not familiar with Steep and Cheap, the concept is this: the site features one fabulous deal at a time until the inventory (often very limited) sells out. As soon as one deal is gone, another one is listed immediately. This happens 24/7 at a break-neck pace. From Hurley tees ($11 instead of $18) to Roxy hoodies (I was too slow to miss this deal--dang!), the deals are fast and furious--and fabulous!

If you find your day already filled to online capacity with Twitter, Facebook and actual work, Mockstar Baby's got you covered with their Get the Poop desktop alert. Simply download the alert and you'll receive instant alerts as soon as new products are available. If you're MIA for a while you can even find out which new products you missed. I'm not sure I need this feature--I hate hearing about what I've missed! Like when my friends went to The Police concert at Usana Ampitheater and all I got were some dumb Facebook photos...But I digress (as usual)...

Mockstar Baby also has a blog, and though it's a fun read--especially for parents who remember the first X Games--their audience is parents of infants and toddlers. They might want to rethink their recent post:

... It’s time to break out the hoodies and beanies to battle the pre-snow mornings…oh hell ya!! Got a bitchen hoody or jacket to hang on your kids? If not…we’ll hook you up!

Kind of reminds me of those 40-something moms who are trying so desperately to dress and act like their teenage daughters. But if they're determined to keep their blog's rock-star edge they could at least spell "bitchin'" correctly. ;)

Blog aside, Mockstar Baby is not just another passing fad like high-waist pants (I seriously hope this is a very quickly passing fad...). This up-and-coming site is your ticket to sweet clothes at a super sweet price. Now all you have to worry about are the groupies your new mockstar baby is sure to attract! --Emily

Jamie Bird: 'From Basement Selling to Big Box Selling'

A couple weeks ago Startup Princess featured an article by Jamie Bird of the Wet happened? wet bag titled "From Basement Selling to Big Box Selling," and the title had me hooked. For many mompreneurs, landing a big-box retail account would be a dream come true and I was anxious to learn more about Jamie's experience. The article did not disappoint!

From flying to corporate headquarters last minute to finding a manufacturer to desiging the perfect packaging, Jamie fills readers in on her journey from sewing in her basement to manufacturing overseas. Here is an excerpt from the article:

When I heard 200 stores, it seemed easy since I already sold to 50. I mean, how hard could it be to add a few more? Little did I realize that big box is completely different than dealing with boutiques or online e-tailers.

"From Basement Selling to Big Box Selling" is one of the best articles I've read so far because it gives a mompreneur's perspective on the process. Even if your dream is to have 100 high-end boutiques carry your line instead of the local big-box retailer, Jamie's experience and advice applies to you. I guarantee you will learn something from her, and learning something new is a great way to spend your mompreneur monday! --Emily

'The Mother in Me' book release party and Nie fundraiser!

Many of you already know about the fundraising efforts and support in behalf of Stephanie and Christian Nielson, author of the NieNie Dialogues, and her family. (If you haven't heard, please read our post about how the online community is rallying around this family in their time of need.) I just heard about a book release party for The Mother in Me: Real World Reflections on Growing into Motherhood, a "collection of writings [that] celebrates the season of mothering young children, illustrating its unique challenges and delights, and revealing its deep significance," and I wanted to pass the info along.

The book is a compilation of works from talented women and talks about everything from health crises to sanity crises and "the fruits of such struggles: insights gained, hearts expanded, and faith increased." The release party is Saturday, October 18th from 2pm to 4pm at the Deseret Bookstore in Orem, Utah. All royalties from the sale of this book will go to the Stephanie and Christian Nielson Recovery Fund.

Even if you can't be there in person you can still participate by buying the book online from Deseret Book's website on Saturday, the 18th. (Please shop at Deseret Book as the fundraiser does not include purchases from Amazon.com.) You can read more about the release party on c jane enjoy it.

If you haven't yet had a chance to donate or purchase a product whose proceeds benefit the cause, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so. The Mother in Me sounds like the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family this season. Get your holiday shopping done early and support a worthy cause while doing so! --Emily