Serena and Lily: New Bedding Collections!

One of my very favorite crib bedding lines Serena and Lily has recently launched 5 gorgeous new crib bedding collections. I swooned over Serena and Lily back in February and I'm still in love with their classic, timeless style.

The new collections are named Posey, William, Harper, Ben, and Francis. On a side note, I feel like Serena and Lily is a really great baby name resource, don't you?

Of the new collections, I prefer Frances for girls. Soft blue and lilac keep the look feminine yet unconventional. Plus, the unfussy posies distantly remind me of Mary Engelbreit but in a muted, sophisticated way. This collection has a dreamy, soothing feel to it, perfect for the nursery.

For boys, my favorite is William. Preppy stripes become not so preppy in bright blue and orange. The collection has a lot of energy--sort of like a little boy! I like that the color combination is unexpected and that it's mixed with the classic look of stripes. And I'm partial to stripes.

Find your favorite Serena and Lily collection at CSN Baby!

Topping My Wish List: The Storytime Rocker

I have big news for you all today: this is my 50th blog post on Baby This Baby That! It's a real pleasure keeping you up to date on the best baby products out there as well as exclusive offers and deals from CSN Baby so I hope you enjoy reading!

In honor of this momentous occasion, I decided to blog about the baby product that's on the very top of my wish list: Nurseryworks' Storytime Rocker.

I absolutely love this rocking chair. It manages to look very elegant and modern yet it still retains that comfy, inviting look that all the most well loved, lived in chairs seem to have. But that's not the only reason why I want one of these lovely rockers in my home. I also love the fact that it's extra wide. For a book lover such as myself, this is the most attractive feature (it also explains the Storytime Rocker's name). At 35 inches, it's the perfect width for me and a child to sit and read together, or I could curl up in the chair by myself with a book propped on my knees. Nursing moms will also enjoy the extra roomy seat (decorative pillows can make it more snug if necessary).

When I look at this rocker I see a nursery chair now and a cozy reading chair for years to come. That's what helps to justify the ever so slightly daunting price. It's also the perfect addition to a nursery that has to do double duty as a guest room when family or friends come to visit.

On the practical side, it's made of anti static fabric and is water resistant. You can choose from a wide variety of attractive colors (for the nursery or living room)in Microsuede, Twill, or Velvet, and legs in either dark or light Ash wood. That way you can totally customize your Storytime Rocker. Right now I'm dreaming about Navy Blue Twill with light Ash legs. What color combination fits your style?

How Do You Choose a Diaper Bag for Your Super Stylish Friend?

Okay, I'm back from my friend's baby shower and I can finally spill all the details. My sister and I knew right away that we wanted to give our friend a diaper bag for her shower. Choosing the right one took much longer, especially since she's known for her chic sense of style (no pressure!). After a lot of agonized online shopping and even some emailing with her mom and sister (hey, there are a TON of gorgeous diaper bags out there to choose from), we finally settled on a Nest Diaper Bag.

We chose Nest for their stylish designs and practical details. Their bags simply don't look like diaper bags. I've seen the Grommet Diaper Bag in Toffee Brown twice while walking down Newbury Street and I don't even think one owner was a mom (no child, no stroller, no baby gear, and no undereye circles either!). FYI the bag looks even more soft and luxe in person.

We settled on one of Nest's new designs: the Mercer Diaper Bag in Black with Navy Trim. In person even more so than in photos, this bag is really elegant. The black patent leather is very posh and the navy suede trim means it will go with just about anything. When my friend's brother saw it he said flatly, "That's not a diaper bag."

And yet,despite this outward disguise, the bag is chock full of mom-friendly features. First of all, there are so many pockets: 2 exterior pockets, 1 interior zippered pocket, 2 interior bottle holders, and 2 divided pockets for toys, books, or extra clothing. There's also a separate, zippered diaper compartment at the bottom of the bag, which features pockets for diapers and wipes as well as a large changing pad.

The entire bag is lined with Nest's signature fabric, which is turquoise and features their own pattern, made of pacifiers, storks, safety pins, and other nostalgic baby imagery. Plus let's not forget that the liner is waterproof and can be zippered out for cleaning.

There are suede straps on each end of the bag to close it. On the front and back there's also two straps with a magnetic closure. You can just use the magnetic closure when you're on the go, or use the other straps to form an "x" over the top of the bag so that it's more secure. The nice thing is that you can still reach into the bag even when all four straps are closed. A removable, adjustable long strap is included so that mom can choose how she wants to carry her bag. The hard bottom keeps it upright and gold toned feet protect it from scuffing or tipping.

Since Mom-to-be C also loves her high heels, we couldn't resist including a pair of Heelarious baby shoes for her baby girl. These crib shoes have received a lot of attention lately ranging from amused to outgraged. In fact, they were even featured on the Today Show this morning (don't I feel trendy!). I have to say, they make a really fun baby shower gift. Honestly, they're really adorable and, well, hilarious. All the moms at the shower had a good laugh over them and insisted on passing them around so everyone could take a look.

I have so much more to share with you about the baby shower as well as some gossip about some new baby products, but you'll just have to check back next week to get the scoop!

Wheely Bugs Are Wheely Fun (sorry, I couldn't resist!)

I'm so excited about the gift I got for my friend's baby shower this weekend and I want to tell you all about it! But seeing as that same friend reads this blog (Hi, Mom-To-Be C!)all the details will have to wait until next week.

So until then, I thought I'd tell you about the absolutely adorable ride-on toys by Prince Lionheart that are now available at CSN Baby.

Available in three unisex designs (bee, cow, or ladybug), the Wheely Bug Ride-Ons are hard to resist. There's just enough detail to give these guys some character while still leaving plenty of room for imaginative play. Kids will especially love the stainless steel "antennae" and "horns" (depending on which ride on you choose), which wobble but won't come out thanks to an internal cord.

These little guys are entirely non toxic and contain no PVC, so parents can breath a sigh of relief. The Plywood base is made from renewable plantation timber and it's covered in tough PU covering that's easy to clean. To soften the ride, the Wheely Bug's body is padded with a 1” layer of soft sponge and has an inner body core of non-compressible foam.

Cute and compact, the Wheely Bugs are perfect for urban or suburban homes. They're intended for use on smooth floors and run quietly. Each Wheely Bug is just the right size for 3-5 year olds and (bonus!)is stylish enough that you won't even think about hiding it in a closet when guests come over.

Researched and developed in child care centers, Prince Lionheart's ride-ons encourage gross motor skills in a fun way. They cleverly included multidirectional castors so your child won't get stuck in a corner. No wonder they won the UK's 2005 Right Start Award for Best Toy as well as awards in Australia and Tokyo!

(And, though I fear this might give you all heart palpatations--which is why I'm only going to say it in parentheses--these would make great holiday gifts, especially since your child will be able to enjoy it all winter without having to go outside. Apologies to all for bringing up holiday shopping already but let's be honest: we have to start sometime!)