Because my daughter was born in Austin, and because it's such an awesome place, I will always have a thing for it. Because Tee Shirts & Jeans Girl was started by a most fashionable friend I worked with at the Austin American-Statesman, and because they were designed by another newspaper friend with an awesome style all her own, I am so excited about this new company! They sell originally designed tees, jeans and belts with the most awesome belt buckles. Even one with a San Francisco buckle, which celebrates where I live now. These tees can add some stylish flair anywhere a mom goes, and would make great gifts for teen girls too. My Austin born daughter is a big fan of Allie, the purple tiger tee. ~ Where do you find your comfy, yet stylish, tees? ~

Lately I have literally been up to my ears in bedroom decor for kids! Between trying to create a gender-neutral room for preschool aged grandchildren to sleep in out of my old bedroom, to advising a high school friend on bedding choices for her tween daughter, I know what all the comforter choices out there are! From high to low end, I have seen it all. We all settled on something priced in the middle, and both chose bold colors mixed with white. For the Washington D.C. based girl, the room all comes together on the left. The  Company Store Bright Dots duvet cover commands everyone's attention on this loft bed. And the pillows, actually bought before the duvet cover, match perfectly! The two seen here are from Casapoema Creations, while an owl pillow is flying in from SweetRiver. The flower wall decals from Target were bought a while ago, and have been waiting for this room to come together. And now it has! ~ Where did you buy your children's room decor? ~

When Tiny was first born my husband had one rule. We had to toss out the lavender scented all natural body cleansers we had been given as gifts, and stick to the tried and true golden stuff. He wanted to make sure our baby girl smelled like a baby was historically supposed to smell!  Well four-and-half-years and another kid later, I am starting to take some bath time initiative, and have branched out a little. Hip Peas Shampoo and Body Wash intrigued me since it is two products in one, and touts a blueberry scent! This hair and body wash is full of natural ingredients, and contains none of the things you don't want on your kids. The pump makes the bottle easy to use. And your kids do really smell like blueberries afterwards! It's a little reminiscent of Violet Beauregarde, the constant gum chewer in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!" ~ What all-natural products do you use on your kids? ~

From crafting to cooking, there are endless monthly subscription services for kids. And now there is one for moms! The concept of working out for a mom is a nice one. It's a chance to get out on your own and get in a run or a yoga class. But along with finding time to work out comes trying to find time to shop for stylish yet practical workout outfits. pv.Body has solved that problem by putting together top and bottom exercise wear packages boxed up according to your specifications, and sent with free shipping! Their quiz is fun to take and asks whether you run, do yoga or just like to lounge! It asks what kinds of colors you like to exercise in, and what size you wear in tops and bottoms. I was an Epic exerciser, meaning I let nothing get in my way in life! 

SPECIAL OFFER
The subscription is currently $39.95 per month for a high end outfit that retails for $150! Pricing will increase to $49.95 per outfit on December 1. With this special offer you will get 20% off of your first month! And you can always cancel after that first month. So if you order now that is $32 for one $150 outfit. Without leaving your house, and without having to try on endless combos! Sounds like it's all working out! 

~ What are your favorite  ways to get a workout in? ~

The one place kids are guaranteed to build up an appetite is the playground! Whenever we bring a picnic with us, we pack all of our goodies in a Gourmet Getaway Lunch Tote by BUILT. The tote is made out of neoprene (wetsuit material) so it stretches to fit an ice pack in it along with that last juice box, or just one more string cheese! It makes a great snack bag for traveling as well since it packs completely flat. We love our French Bull Wine/Raspberry Sorbet pattern, and it really does bring a little sophistication to a kids' meal! Pictured here is the Big Dot Black & White/Magenta bag. ~ What are your favorite playground snacks? ~

No one can deny that personalized gifts are all the rage! But my question to Little Uni's co-founder Andrea Needlman, was simply, "Why?" Here are her top reasons for creating and recommending personalized gifts this holiday season. 

"New parents love seeing their baby's name, especially if it is a unique name or a family name.  

Personalized gifts last longer. Outgrown personalized clothing can be worn by stuffed animals, framed as a keepsake and personalized plates can become wall decor.

It makes a memorable gift. In the sea of new baby presents or holiday gifts, the personalized gift will stand out from the rest.  

Ownership. For siblings, there is no arguing over who gets the 'princess' plate. Everyone gets their own."

CONTEST NOW OVER! Congratulations to Darlene & Heather B! Everyone seemed to love the owl plate, among many others!

PROMO CODE: Use HOLIDAY2012 for 15% off on the plates. Expires December 15.

GIFT GIVEAWAY:
Now it is your turn to be the gifter or recipient of two of these adorable personalized plates! Just visit Little Uni and pick out the two plate designs you like (not all of them are featured in this post) and comment below with your choices. The Chanukah menorah and Christmas tree plates make great gifts this time of year. Two winners of two personalized plates each ($52 value) from the combined Blog and Twitter comments will be picked at random on Wednesday, November 21, at 12:00pm PST. Just in time for the start of the shopping season! 

This is the most adorable way to teach a child about flavors and tastes! And this print from Acopladitos has it all, bitter, sweet and even umami! Which is great for all the mini sushi loves out there! This piece could easily decorate a child's bedroom, playroom, play kitchen, or the real kitchen or dining room. After all, good food is universal! Proceeds from artwork by the artist Tatiana Arocha, originally from from Bogota, will benefit the New York Aquarium in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, since she now lives in New York. ~ What is your child's favorite flavor? ~

An animal theme is a pretty safe bet if you don’t know the gender of your baby. And what animal is better for your little tadpole than happy hopping frogs? They’re little, they eat bugs and they look cute on baby items. Here are five baby essentials that happen to be decked out in all things frog. So I guess it is easy being green.

No one can predict which stuffed animal or blanket your baby will grow attached to. But the Angel Dear Froggy has an advantage as a lovie contender since it is part blankie and part plush pal. The friendly frog face and soft material will make anyone want to cuddle with it. It is available on its own, and is also sold as a set of three, in A Pair and a Spare. That way your baby will never be minus one little speckled frog.

While the little green friend on the Nova Nature Natural Frog Teether is busy contemplating its next meal, your little one can feel free to chew away on the teething handle. Made of natural rubber and decorated with non-toxic paints, this is one thing that you will want your baby to stick in their mouth. As a PVC, BPA and Phthalate free product, it won’t bring chemicals into your pad.

You will think you have found your frog prince in this multitasking Boon Frog Pod. It can be mounted to the wall in the bathtub, and used to store toys and baby wash bottles. The holes in the holder will allow toys to dry, and in turn last longer. And the toys will have somewhere to go besides the bathroom floor. Now that’s something to hop up and down about!

The Bestever Frog Baby Mat will be your baby’s first best friend. It is a comforting place to lay down, try out tummy time and start to learn to play. The soft fabric and stuffed mat can easily be moved around the house. So you can know that your little one will always a plush place to lay down, and will have a friendly face to look at too. Because babies need to relax too.

The Pretty Lady Anne Happy Green Frog Burp Cloths bring a sense of style to burp time. How can a baby not smile while looking at those friendly frog eyes, while expecting the long awaited burp to show up. The cloth’s soft flannel and peanut shape create a soft spot for your baby, while actually staying over your shoulder to do its job.

Froggy or not, any baby products will do the trick, but we suggest choosing ones with some fun and friendly froggy flare.

~ What gender neutral nursery themes have you used? ~

Moms and moms-to-be are invited for a day of shopping, education and information at the Babes & Babies event in San Francisco! You can shop from 65 designers and companies offering baby and toddler clothing, accessories, gear, toys, resources and much more, at discounted prices! You will enjoy speakers on topics including sleep training, diapering, cord blood registry and more.  There will be gift bags for the first 200 families, play spaces and activities for kids, as well as a raffle with incredible prizes, including a Stokke High Chair, Joovy Stroller and Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump! The event will be held on Saturday, November 3, from 9:30am - 2:00pm at St. Mary's Cathedral, Patron's Hall, 1111 Gough Street at Geary) Street. You can get 

DISCOUNTED Admission with the code TOTS. Entry for 2 people for $5 with the code TOTS at appelandfrank.com, or you can pay $5 for one person online or at the door.

WIN FREE TICKETS HERE! Please leave a comment telling us what your favorite local SF Bay Area spot is to hang out with your little ones. We will randomly choose two winners from this blog, Facebook and Twitter, to each win one pair of tickets, on Monday, October 29, 2012. Good luck!

Thank you Appel & Frank!!

DwellStudio literally has got this bed covered! The perfect sheet for our son's travel-themed room is this one! We received it as a gift, and it couldn't have fit better. The circles on the pillow and duvet cover I got look like globes to me, so I had to have those too. I like to be somewhat subtle with my themes sometimes, so even if only I think they look globe-like, that is ok! Coconut and Blintzie seem to love it all too. 
~ In a themed room, do you opt for matching bedding, or something more subtle? ~