So many parents today are making every effort to go green.  We try to eat organic foods, drive fuel efficient vehicles, use compact fluorescent light bulbs and recycle, but have you thought about the paint on your walls?  In particular the walls in your baby’s nursery, where they are spending most of their time breathing in the air around them?  If you are the eco-conscious type and have not yet thought of this, you may want to consider Serena & Lily paints.  It’s a new collection of environmentally friendly wall colors from the design team behind the popular bedding company.  Their paints boast low V.O.C.'s, so they’re completely safe for your little one’s nursery.  Another nice feature is the scrubbable finish, so when your little sleeper becomes a little scribbler, their eco-walls won’t suffer.

Available in 15 shades, Serena & Lily paints are available for purchase online at serenaandlily.com.  Other Serena & Lily products can be found at some of mally bibs stylish retailers including Merry Go Round in Bellevue, WA and Nestings Kids in Toronto, ON.

Imagine an ice cream maker that was so easy to use, so compact, and so portable that you could take it with you to the beach, your next camping trip or an outdoor party.  That ice cream maker, believe it or not, does exist!  I had the pleasure of seeing this fun product in action on my last visit to REI.  Even better, I got to taste test the fresh home made ice cream that it made, and I must say it didn’t disappoint!  To make delicious ice cream simply add cream, sugar, rock salt and ice to the ball, then play with it for 20 minutes.  Roll it around, pass it back and forth, shake it a bit and, voila, you’ve made a pint of delicious ice cream!  The best part is it will be fun and exciting for kids and adults alike, creating some magical memories for sure. 

The camper's dream ice cream ball can be purchased online or in stores at REI. 

Based on the zen concept of living in the moment, The Original Buddha Board is the perfect way to let your child develop their artistic skills while they paint with water.  That’s right, I said paint with water.  The non-toxic surface of the board darkens when touched with water and then the image slowly evaporates and disappears within minutes creating a new blank canvas for the next work of art.  No need to worry about paint spills with this innovative product!  Of course, I also love the fact that it’s also environmentally friendly and will last for years with proper care.  It's even great for adults to use as a form of relaxation when the opportunity arises.  

The Buddha Board shown here also comes with bamboo brush and a Japanese style water holder for $29.95 USD.  I plan on purchasing The Buddha Board online next time I have some gift buying to do for my own children!      

Since I’m on a bit of a customization kick lately myself, I can’t help but notice and appreciate the other cool customizable products for babies available online today.  One that has really caught my eye is hand-picked pumpkin.  They offer stylish, comfortable, and modern apparel  in sizes from 3 - 24 months.  The best part is you can completely customize their modern knits down to the accent pieces and snap colors!  Available in all the baby apparel necessities, Hand-picked pumpkin makes a great gift for any baby on your list, including your own.

Hand-picked pumpkin is yet another mompreneur success story.  Allison Case, founder and president, realized a need for comfortable children’s clothing on the market and like most mompreneurs, decided to take matters into her own hands.  Another important factor was style.  Allison set a goal to ensure her clothing line was equally cute for both little girls and boys.  Hand-picked pumpkin is also a firm believer in charitable giving, donating 5% of gross sales to charities annually – a truly outstanding company!

Next to safety, parents all want their babies to sleep well.  A good night’s sleep generally results in a happy baby the next day, not to mention a well rested Mom and Dad!  I discovered a great product that will take care of all of those important concerns without sacrificing style!

hushamok™ guards against potentially serious health concerns that can arise during baby’s sleep.  The innovative design enables babies to sleep soundly on their backs, which is a key recommendation in the prevention of SIDs (Sudden Infant Dealth Syndrome).  The use of a baby hammock is also said to ease colic due to the gentle swinging motion and snug design.  Infant acid reflux is another problem resolved by the great design of this product.  Pediatricians recommend keeping baby’s head slightly elevated without the use of potentially harmful pillows.

 hushamok™ will soon be available online and at a retailer near you!

What inspires us to add new designs to our collection you ask?  Our customers of course!  We constantly get design requests and make it one of our main goals to listen to our customers and make those top requests a reality.  We believe our customers are the experts and if they want it, we know we should add it!  Here's a sampling of some of our biggest requests and new designs! 

#1 - motorcycle

#2 - soccer

#3 - mod dots in small

#4 – sushi

#5 – police car

#6 – more neutral options

#7 – ice Cream

#8 – customization!

We kept our top sellers as always, and refreshed a few colors as well! Be sure to shop online and check out our entire new baby bib, toddler bib and art card collections.  And, of course, you must check out our new customizable feature (this was our big secret in the previous post!).  This will be loads of fun! You could even enjoy a little time with your little one and design their bib together, or use this option to create the ultimate unique baby gift.  Each custom bib even includes a special “custom designed for you” label!  As with our regular bibs, you may choose to have a matching art card made to go with your custom bib and if you like, we'll even include a personal message from you for your recipient!         

So far this blog has been mostly about other great products, but I can't resist spreading the occasional word of excitement about our own company every once in a while.  SO, if nearing the launch of our new collection, the recent addition of our blog and our new e-newsletter mally mail isn't enough, we have something else in store.  With the launch of our new collection, we will also be launching a new 'online feature'.  I'm not going to be giving away any of the juicy details just yet, but I wanted to share a hint of excitement at least.  It's going to be good, unpredictable, and definetely interesting.  This will be happening VERY soon... in fact we're in the final stretch of preparation.  Stay tuned!       

Fred & Friends is known for their quirky, fun, and often  humorous designs.  One of my personal favorites is their CHOPSTICK KIDS.  They are perfect for beginner chopstick users whose main goal is to have fun while eating.  Their soft, washable, food-safe hinges really keep your chopsticks in line while adding an element of fun to the dining experience.  And they’re not just for kids either!  Why not get a set for the whole family and have a little chopstick entertainment with your next meal?!

Having both a boy and a girl, I truly get to see the best of both worlds.  Each child comes with their own unique joys and challenges.  One of the challenges of having a little girl is what to put in her hair.  She wants something cool, quirky and fun. I want something that I know will stay in and keep her hair neatly out of her eyes.  Sometimes what she wants and what I want don’t quite click.  Luckily there are options that suit her wants and my needs!  Giddy Giddy hair clips are fun, functional and safe, clearly a concept that I love.  They come in super cute designs such as flowers, animals and food, and they stay in hair!

They are all 100% hand made and Giddy Giddy is yet another inspiring mompreneur story as well!  Created by Teri Dimalanta, an investment analyst turned craftaholic mom who is most giddy when sewing, painting, designing and making stuff.  It was as though becoming a mom 4 years ago ignited the inner artist in her.  Giddy Giddy hair clips can be purchased direct by phone or email or at some of mally bibs cool, quirky and fun retailers including Lavish and San Francisco, CA and Bug and Blossom in Calgary, AB.  

86% of US plastic water bottles end-up in the landfill, which then take 1000 years to break down.  Fleurville has taken steps to do something about this environmental problem, and even managed to create something with a great simplistic modern design in doing so.  The Re-Run™ Stroller Bag is made from a fabric which is made out of recycled plastic water bottles.  The outside of the bag uses 100% Re-Run™ while the interior uses a 50% Re-Run™ blend.  Each bag keeps approximately 8 (eight) 600ml plastic bottles out of landfill!

The Re-Run™ Stroller Bag is great for those who like to travel light, bringing only the necessities.  It weighs just 12 ounces empty and is equipped with fleece-lined electronics/sunglasses pocket and ‘ear-bud pass-thru’ badge and 5 interior pockets keep your necessities protected.  Fleurville products can be purchased online or found at many of mally bibs hip retailers including Yo Mama Maternity Boutique in Edmonton, AB and Baby Ant in Tarzana, CA.