So the Isaac Mizrahi collection for Bon Bebe is coming soon. So excited to see him bring his sense of style to infantwear. It will be in Bloomingdales and high end specialty stores and select boutiques in early Fall, so be on the lookout! And when it does make its way to the land of retail, I will load up my purse with….nothing and leave my children at home with the babysitter or Daddy or do it while they’re at school. End of story. Let’s face it, shopping with small children is like..well..everything else with children. There usually involves a lot of crying, panicking, grumbled under the breath cursing and a whole lot of “Stop that! Get down! Where is your brother? Where is your sister? No no no no no!”. When I only had my first child, shopping together was a dream. She would lay in her stroller, happily cooing away while I met my other new mommy friends for lunch and lazily browsed the high end jeans section so that I knew exactly which pair I would buy when I lost the baby weight. Then she started walking. Then I had two. Then #2 started walking. And my happy days of contented browsing were over. And I still haven’t bought those jeans. From keeping track of each child and making sure they don’t accidentally shoplift to making the dreaded mall potty run and bathing them in handsanitizer, shopping with my kids has become akin to being skinned alive while being forced to listen a never ending loop tape of my children in the midst of a breakdown and/or meltdown. I plan to enjoy shopping Isaac’s new collection in a high end department  store in high end no children tagging along screaming MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY style. How about you? Do you enjoy shopping with your little fashionistas?

So, I watched the Oscar ceremony last night. And like any other middle aged Mom of 2 (Wait..did I just say middle aged? Am I middle aged? Ok, that’s a topic for another day), I had no real interest in who won what.  I just wanted to see what everyone was WEARING! This got me thinking about my own (just ok) fashion sense and then about my children’s fashion sense. My 5 year old girl is all over the place. She’s happy to wear girly, poofy princess dresses, but even happier in shorts and short sleeved tshirts (even in February). My son is much pickier. If it doesn’t have a superhero on it, don’t even bother to suggest it to him. And for some reason, the velcro straps on his shoes have to be perfectly aligned every time he puts them on. This always makes me laugh since the rest of him is usually a disheveled mess and Mr Picky is normally busy picking his nose while he yells at me about the straightness of his shoes. Anyway, when my first was born, I was all about fancy, expensive baby clothes. I only wanted “the best” for my little one. I quickly realized that that way of thinking was a big huge waste of money. First of all, kids grow out of clothes faster than you can say “hey..that cost a lot of money and you’ve only worn it once!”. Secondly, kids destroy clothes. Bottom line. They puke on them, poop on them, spill on them, write on them, make dirt angels in them, eat mounds of play doh in them, and just generally do anything in their power to stain them and everything around them. I quickly realized that finding affordable, good quality children’s clothes was the way to go. Oh, and I also learned to never turn down any “hand me downs” from Moms with older kids. Lucky for me , and you for that matter, bon bebe offers just that! “Fashionable”, well made baby clothes at a great price.  And now they’ve partnered with fashion legend Isaac Mizrahi to create a line of super chic and well priced pieces, arriving in stores later this year. So stop reading this, and go shopping. And when your baby’s stopped on the red carpet..be sure to tell them that he/she is wearing bon bebe!

I had lunch with a couple of Preschool associated Mommy friends today. As is usually the case, our lunchtime talk eventually centered around Mommy guilt. I’ve touched on this before in previous blogs. In fact, this is kind of an extension on my previous post about New Year’s resolutions.  What is Mommy guilt, those of you without children might ask? It’s the constant feeling of not doing a good enough job. It’s constantly second guessing yourself and your parenting skills. It’s looking at other Moms and realizing (or at least thinking) that they just might be better at this than you. It’s feeling bad about wanting to go back to work. It’s feeling bad about NOT going back to work. I think you get the picture. We all feel it. But my Mom friends with older children consistently reassure me that this too shall pass. That not only is parenthood the toughest job in the world, but being a parent to SMALL CHILDREN is the toughest part of that toughest of jobs. It will get easier. So they say. But I did actually surprise myself when I declared during lunch that I’m at peace with my Mommyness. After  years of self doubt, I declared, I’ve finally decided that I’m not always going to get it right, say it right, or do it right. And I’m ok with that. I know that my children are well fed, safe, warm and loved. And they kinda like me. Like a lot. My littlest one has gotten in the habit of randomly approaching me, touching my face and saying “I really like you Mom”. And yes I usually burst into overreactive tears of joy because it’s usually preceded by a temper tantrum where he also states that I’m a “BAD MOMMY!”. But all in all, I think I’m a good Mom. Maybe we just need to remind ourselves of that. Or at least say it aloud as I did today. I don’t know what prompted me to say it, but it felt good and I felt a kind of peace (or was it resignation) wash over me. So, banish the guilt and enjoy Mommyhood as much as you can. And while you’re at it, get your retail therapy on at www.bonbebe.com.

Ahhh…it’s that time again. Time for those yearly resolutions that we all make and that most of us don’t follow or complete. I find that I make almost daily resolutions these days. “Starting tomorrow, I will spend more time playing with my kids and less time on my iPad.” or..”Starting tomorrow, I will have more patience with my children and not lose my mind when the little one spills his drink for the fourth time in a row.” or..”Starting tomorrow, my kids will watch less tv, eat more vegetables, spend more time outside, learn to read, do volunteer work, learn valuable life lessons and become confident, secure, happy individuals.”. Wait, what? I feel like parents these days, mom’s in particular, feel constant guilt. With the constant barrage of media that tells us we’re not doing enough, we’re doing too little, every food we make them eat is bad for them, they’re overscheduled, they’re not scheduled enough, and everything in between, it’s no wonder we never feel like we’re good enough. Oh and then there’s the added pressure of being Martha Stewart in the kitchen and having the perfectly decorated and immaculately cleaned house. And, of course we should also be teaching our children that Mom’s have lives too so we should each have some sort of super cute and inventive work from home job or a massively successful corporate job. It can be exhausting, to say the least. So, I say…no New Year’s resolutions for me this year. And no daily guilt trips either. I’m just going to continue doing the best I can and try to stay focused on what’s really important. And try to enjoy the ride as much as I can! But if you made the resolution to dress your baby in adorable clothes this year…stop by www.bonbebe.com.

It’s all the rage. If you can call efforts to save our precious world a rage. Going “green” and “reducing our carbon footprint” are normal phrases we use everyday. But what can a busy, harried Mom do? I know I should have used cloth diapers when my babies were still using them. But the disposable ones were so EASY. And I would cringe every time I dropped a messy one in to those little non biodegradable baggies that keep the stink away and then throw that into our overflowing garbage cans that were filled with the endless paper towels, wipes  and paper plates we went through on a daily basis. But I have made some changes. I shop with reusable bags, recycle anything I can, try to  incorporate organic foods into our diets as much possible, drive a fuel efficient minivan…. I know I should do more, and I try to make small changes whenever I can. Companies are feeling the pressure to make changes as well. Bon Bebe’s parent company is a tenant in a 1,000,000 square foot warehouse in New Jersey. The owners are converting the facility to all solar power on December 20th. They are installing enough solar panels to cover an area equal to 20 acres, making it the largest commercial installation in the state. The area that houses Bon Bebe’s parent company will generate enough electricity to power four homes. Bon Bebe is proud to be a part of these efforts. We can all do something. Even if it’s just a little something. And hey, now you have another reason to  feel good buying products by Bon Bebe. I’m sure they have one or 2 “green” bodysuits in that warehouse .

It’s that time of year again…when lots of families are packing up their bags and their kids and headed to see family and friends for the holidays. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Our family of four just took a week long trip that included a cruise (one sponsored by the guys with mouse ears)  to the Bahamas and a trip to said mouse ear world. The trip itself was awesome. We had a wonderful time and the kids loved every minute. The actual traveling? Not so much. Trying to pack for small kids is like trying to decide what you’re going to have for dinner on a random Tuesday 3 months from now. You just don’t know what you’ll want to have, just as you don’t know just what you’ll need when it comes to kids. What if the little one suddenly starts having accidents? Should I bring swim diapers? Should I pack 2 pairs of underwear for every day? Exactly how many boxes of band aids should I bring? Can they survive with just 2 stuffed animals instead of their usual 15?  What if the picky one decides he’s only going to wear super hero shirts (as he’s been prone to lately)? I don’t have enough to last a week without laundry. Will 22 individual bags of goldfish and 15 juice boxes last us through 4 car trips and the park? The list of questions goes on and on. I can’t even imagine packing for a long plane ride. Just the thought of having to fit everything a child 5 and under might need/want/scream for over a span of  several or more hours in a confined space with no exit literally sends me into panic attack territory. We’ve never actually traveled on a plane with our kids yet. I’d rather be in a car for 15 hours. But that’s just me. I guess this ties into my last post about the diaper bag issue. There’s just so much that goes into being prepared for anything when it comes to children! But don’t let that stop you! Pack away! Make the kids bring a carry on! Send the goldfish ahead in a FedEx box. Wherever you’re going, just try to enjoy the trip and make some memories. And while you’re getting ready for those big holiday hauls, stop on over at www.bonbebe.com to pick up lots of adorable gifts for all the little ones in your life.

It’s been 5 years since I just walked out of the house with a small purse. That doesn’t mean I’m still carrying a diaper bag everywhere. But you can be sure that there is one in my car or somewhere near me at all times. It goes without saying that when you have  a baby, you have to cart around a lot more extra stuff. From diapers and wipes to breast pads, bottles and extra clothes, your days of carrying around a cute little bag that fits only your cell phone, license and lip gloss are a thing of the past. And your bag size usually depends on how many children you have and if one or all of them is either a “spitter” ( a baby who spits up everything it ingests, usually at the most inopportune times…like the exact moment when your perfectly adorably dressed baby is about to be placed into Santa’s welcome arms for their very first Santa picture) or in the midst of potty training. I carry a bag because of the latter. My son has pretty much mastered the art of indoor plumbing, but still has the occasional accident and periods of regression. So, I must have a complete change  of clothes with me at all times. And of course, I still can’t live without a package of wipes to wipe the always present PB&J stains off of my kids’ clothing, or just to wipe down their hands, feet, the car seats, steering wheel etc..The list of uses for diaper wipes is neverending. I am truly looking forward to the day when I can leave the house without having to remember “THE BAG”. How about you? Do you just carry the bare necessities or does your bag look something akin to a US Army issued  rucksack? (PS- www.bonbebe.com is the perfect place to shop for all of those extra sets of clothes you’re lugging around )

Pregnancy/Baby/Child rearing advice. Gotta love it. As if you don’t have enough on your plate. As if you aren’t constantly second guessing yourself about everything you do regarding motherhood. Just the other day a friend’s babysitter told me that my 5 year old was too small for her age and that I need to make her eat more. Then I had to listen to  all the VERY simple ways to make children eat.Thanks. That’s helpful. As if I wasn’t aware that my child has been 3rd percentile or lower on the growth charts since the day she was born (she’s average height). As if we didn’t run every test in the book when she was such a skinny infant and take her in for bi monthly weigh ins to make sure she was at least gaining. As if I haven’t tried every bribe, trick, and approach in the book to get my kid to eat more. I was so glad to have a stranger point it out and give me some advice. Ugh. Incidentally, my girl is perfectly fine and healthy. Although she’s still on the low end of the weight spectrum, she continues to stay on the same track and is just a skinny, muscular girl. She’s built for Gymnastics, which luckily she loves. For some reason, when it comes to children and babies, many strangers, friends and family members (well intentioned though they may be), feel the need to give you advice from breastfeeding/bottle feeding, to discipline, schooling, sleeping and everything in between. I quickly learned to smile and say “thank you” and to trust my own gut when someone tells me the best way to handle MY child. And sometimes their advice is even helpful. I have even been known to dole out some advice to other Mom friends in an effort to help them through something that I’ve been through with my own kids. So my advice to you? Keep your ears open but always trust your instinct when it comes to your own children. How do you respond when someone offers unsolicited advice? Don’t forget to sign up for great deals and offers at www.bonbebe.com..

I consider myself a “Convenience Mom…with a conscience”. Meaning, if I am being totally honest, I willingly choose the most convenient way to do all things Motherly, but still try to make the best choices and think about what I am giving/feeding my kids. So, as much as I would love to say I made all of my own fresh, organic baby food from vegetables I grew in my own garden, that would be well…a lie. I didn’t make my own food because it was inconvenient. But I did try to buy organic baby food as much as I could. These days, the food we eat (especially as Americans) is constantly being criticized and looked at and talked about. The “organic food craze” isn’t really a craze anymore. For many people, it’s just a way of life. But there are so many blurred lines and no hard and fast definition,little government regulation or supervision, about what “organic” means, or what “healthy” is…that it can really be difficult to make the right choices for ourselves and our families. And let’s face it-unfortunately, many times the right choice=the expensive choice. Organic foods are more expensive.  And there are so many things labeled “natural”, “organic”, “healthy”-how do we know what to pay the extra money for? For my family, I try to always choose organic when I buy fruits or vegetables with soft skins. The way I see it-a watermelon has a pretty thick skin. Are the pesticides really going to get to the fruit? I also try to buy organic dairy products and eggs as much as possible and have recently been really trying to buy only grass fed beef. This all sounds great but I can’t say these are always steadfast rules. We’re in a recession, budgets are tight. Plus, it isn’t always easy or convenient to find these products, especially at your local conventional grocery store (although the US Dept of Agriculture recently stated  that organic products are now sold in over 73% of all conventional grocery stores and the Organic Trade Association states that the organic market grew 8% in 2010 while the rest of the food industry grew only 1%). And it’s now much more common to find products to help you make your own baby food. Every time I see the commercial for that cool super fast baby food maker, I want to run out and get one, even though my littles ones have teeth and can actually eat non-mashed food. But I still find myself reaching for the frozen chicken nuggets that are oh so easy to pop in the microwave (and no-not even close to organic). And a friend of mine just warned me about the toxins in microwave popcorn, but I can’t say I’ve thrown my giant box of it away just yet. I just really try to balance convenience versus making the best choices. How about you? Do you make your own baby food/buy only organic or do you think the conventional stuff is just as good and would rather spend your money on other things (like maybe some cute Bon Bebe clothes )?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 66% of  Moms with children under 17 work either full time or part time. And according to a study by the Pew Research Center in 2009-85% of those Moms were “very happy” or “pretty happy” vs. 80% of stay at home moms. So, most of us are happy being moms, whether we work or stay at home. When I had my first child, our plan was for me to go back to work. But when the time came, I really felt that I wanted to stay at home. Plus, the expense of full time child care pretty much negated my income. I was lucky enough to have the choice. In this tough economy, more and more mothers don’t have that choice. Dual incomes are a necessity instead of a privilege. But besides financial responsibilities, I know plenty of moms who just want to work. They didn’t want to leave accomplished careers or just find that being a stay at home mom just didn’t work for them. The first year of staying home was wonderful. I had one child and we participated in every “Mommy and Me” activity you could think of. We had playdates, worked out with a “Stroller Strides” group etc. Then baby #2 came and that all changed. Having a toddler and an infant was a whole other ball game. Trying to take classes with an infant was a challenge, playdates went out the window. I felt like I never showered, left the house or stopped doing laundry. I longed for the days when I worked. I missed adult conversations, long, non messy lunches, even meetings where I could sit and daydream. I even missed my long commute. But soon the kids got a little older. They both started preschool and I found some small part time projects to fulfill my need to feel like me again (like writing this blog). Whether it’s teaching mommy and me music classes or heading up the parent organization at my kids’ preschool, I’ve been able to find a balance that works for me. But there are times when I am envious of those Moms that I see dropping their kids off at school and heading out in their cute suits to go to their adult jobs. I guess the key is to find what works for you. Happy mom=happy kids. What has been your experience? Do you stay at home and wish you worked or vice versa? Or are you perfectly satisfied either way? And whether you work or stay at home-don’t forget to check out the great deals at shop.bonbebe.com.