Still Running and Still Fundraising!

So, we had our longest run ever last weekend - 15 miles! I am not going to lie and try to convince you that it was easy and enjoyable. In fact, it was the hardest run I have ever done. I was already feeling tired and unmotivated right at the start and everything went downhill from there. The good news is that I hung in there and I was not even sore the next day. We have a half-marathon this coming weekend (the Nike NYC Half Marathon) and I am actually looking forward to it. I figure that I have somehow gotten stronger - mentally - from last weekend's run. This marathon thing really is a rollercoaster ride both mentally and physically. I will be so proud of myself once I cross that finish line on November 5th!

In addition to my running program, I am also fundraising for Team for Kids, an organization that endeavors to beat childhood obesity. I have committed myself to raise $2500 and need your help. You can make a direct contribution by going to the Team for Kids website and typing in my registration number: 3395.

I am also selling funky running gear through Cafe Press. All profits are being donated to Team for Kids. Check out the line at www.cafepress.com/runnerchick and buy what you like - it's all going to a good cause!

Mangos - A Sweet Fruit and A Cool Invite

The story is sweet and the product is sweeter. Mango Ink, an online trend-setting stationary boutique, really did begin with a love for mangoes, entertaining and invitations. And just as the Mango Ink story is about life - beginning with a boy who falls in love mangos and ends with a man who falls in love with a woman who loves entertaining just as much as he does - Mango Ink products are also about life. Regardless of your stage in life, Mango Ink has a stationary to suit you. Whether you are hosting a grown-up party, planning a wedding, announcing the birth of a child or just happy that it's Summer, you'll be sure to find what you are looking for at www.mangoink.com.

You can choose from a cool line of Mango Seeds, which allows you to personalize your stationary by sending in a photo and your own words (as the Mango Ink motto goes: "Your words, your photos, your personality, we just add the mango juice to sweeten it up.") or you can select an exclusive design from the line of Mango Notes. All notes are printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper and professionally hand-mounted on white, high-quality 5.5" x 4.5" note cards.

Either way, you can't go wrong! All the stationary is so hip and incredibly memorable... What a great way to celebrate every stage of your family's life.

A Do-Run-Run A Do-Run-Run

So, we are on week 8 of marathon training and now the fun really begins! This Saturday is our first really long run - 13 miles! This will be the longest distance that I have ever run and I may be crazy, but I am actually looking forward to the grueling grind around Central Park in the scorching NYC heat. I guess I'll have to bring lots of GU (which I, oddly enough, love and crave...especially the vanilla flavor) and drinks lots of fluids (which, for some reason, I hate doing). At least I won't be alone in my 13 mile journey this Saturday. My husband, who is also training for the marathon, will be running with me. I must say that I love the time we spend training together, and I really love the shorter runs when we can bring our son in our running stroller. On most days, our son is in good spirits and we all enjoy the run. On the days that "in a mood," running isn't as much fun.

Anyway, there's not much else to report. My husband and I are (knock on wood) in good spirits and good health, and are super excited about this weekend's run.

Couture for Little Girls

You know your little girl is a princess and you also know that she shouldn't have to settle for anything less than fabulous. So, why should she have anything other than a couture-inspired wardrobe? That's right - move over Baby Gap and make room for hottest thing to hit the world of baby girl clothing - Loopy! This line of clothing is not only fun to say, but it's super cute, too.

Some of my favorites come from the Loopy City collection with its flavor of "ballerina." Stylish and sassy, this collection is perfect for weddings and special events.

As if cuteness wasn't enough, these little girl garments are incredibly well made - by hand, no less! In fact the story is quite quaint. The entire collection is hand made by individual seamstresses and knitter throughout Britain. The creator of the collection, Nancy Krzyzanowski , brings comes from a solid fashion background. In her former life, she worked with luxury brands such as, Chanel, Celine, Cartier and C. Jourdan. That said, it's not surprising that she decided to design a line of 'couture for little girls.' Check out more Loopy at www.loopydesign.com where you can buy online or find "brick and mortar" stores where you can find the Loopy line.

Running the Marathon and Need Your Support

The time has come for me to become a true New Yorker - I have decided to run in this year's NYC marathon. As much fun as it is to watch the marathon whirl by from the sidelines, I think that it would be even "funner" to run the 26.2 mile journey through the greatest and grandest city in the world!

Not only will I be running the marathon as a personal challenge, which I will be writing about on this blog throughout my training, but I will be running it for a worthy cause - to fight childhood obesity. I have always been concerned about this growing epidemic (after all, children are our future and it is our responsibility to ensure that we teach them how to live happy and healthy lives) and have become increasingly passionate about it since becoming a mother myself last year.

That said, I will be running to raise funds for the Team for Kids, which is the youth-services arm of New York Road Runners that provides fitness programs for 15,000 children in New York and across the country who have little or no access to physical education.

While my personal success in the marathon depends on my training and determination, my commitment to raise $2500 for the New York Road Runners Foundation depends on others, which is why I'm asking you to support my efforts with a donation. Your tax-deductible contribution will help pay for the supplies, uniforms, events, and transportation that make the programs happen and truly give youth a running start. I encourage you to consider a minimum gift of $1 per mile (or $26.20), though no donation is too small (or too large!) and all are appreciated.

Please take a moment to go to www.teamforkids.org and click on "Contribute," where you will need my entry number: 3395. The NYRR Foundation will inform me of all contributions, so I can send you a well-deserved thank you after the marathon.

At the end of 26.2 miles, I will be exhausted, but also grateful for and exhilarated by the support that I've received through your generosity.

All the best and thanks for your support! By the way, keep coming back to my blog to keep track of my training progress.

Cheers,
Nada

A Sneak Peek At A Brand New Clothing Line For boys

Boys get the bad end of the stick in fashion most of the time and the designers behind this brand new label - Colin Maguire - have combined both comfort, style and a good cause.

The designs found on Colin Maguire tees were created by kids residing at The Children’s Inn at NIH (www.childrensinn.org). The National Institutes of Health provides the latest treatment options for seriously ill children. The Inn at NIH offers a place like home for these brave children and their families. Colin Maguire’s partnership with The Inn at NIH supports the Inn financially, but it also helps to share the spirit of these special children and their loved ones with children across the country.

The shirts are 100% super-soft cotton with contrast stitching and distressed hemlines. They are currently available in sizes 18-24 mos, 2T, 3T, 4T and 5T. Long-sleeve “layered” tees are available for fall and many short-sleeve styles are on the way. New artwork is submitted regularly allowing for the launch of a new tee shirt every month! All come with unique “About the Artist” hangtags.


10% of the profits from the sale of every tee is given to The Children's Inn at NIH

Giddy Giddy

I tried to come up with a creative title for this blog entry, but I couldn’t seem to find anything that described these designer hair clips better than the company’s own name – Giddy Giddy. These super-sweet, handcrafted clips are the creation of self-proclaimed “craftaholic” mom, Teri Dimalanta. Needing both a creative outlet and a practical way to tame her baby girl’s unwieldy mohawk, Teri began designing her own hair clips. And thanks to entrepreneurial spirit, she created Giddy Giddy – a line of cute and quirky clips for little girls. From flowers to gumdrops to pink popsicles, these clips are the epitome of eye candy.

Check out the entire collection at www.chloeinstyle.com.

Bling Baby Bling

It’s true - your kid can never be too young to appreciate the value of bling. While the other babies are crawling around in powder blue or pink onesies that are covered in mystery stains, your baby could be sporting the latest in high-end baby fashion – 100% cotton onesies complete with Genuine Swarovski Crystals by Mama & Bambino. The "Red Sox Fan" onesie is super cute and the “I Love Daddy” onesie makes a great Father’s Day gift.

And if you are in the market for some bling for yourself, then you should check out Mama & Bambino’s “Mommy Tank.” Available in black, light blue or hot fuschia pink, these tanks are fully embellished with Genuine Swarovski Crystals. A-listers like Katie Holmes, Angela Basset and Gwyneth Paltrow are all owners of the sexy, bling-inspired tanks.

While you’re at it, make sure to take a look at the “Bambino’s Who Lunch” dining set. Rather than rummaging around the diaper bag for a fork or spoon (which is probably crusted with yesterday’s lunch or some old teething biscuit crumbs), the “Who Lunch” set has everything you need to feed your baby. This is where fashion meets function. Upon opening this pack, you will find a place for a fork and spoon on one side, and a pocket on the other that holds a disposable bib, placemat and hand wipes (all included!)

For more bling baby paraphernalia, visit www.mamaandbambino.com.

Yoga Baby

I am big into yoga – it was my saving grace both during and after pregnancy. I am convinced that my labor wouldn’t have been as bearable as it was if I had not practiced yoga throughout my pregnancy. And it was yoga that helped me get back into shape…post-baby.

While I am by no means a yogi, I am quite familiar with most of the poses – downward facing dog, pigeon pose, goddess pose and, of course, child’s pose. While going through the sun salutations the other day, I suddenly realized that all the poses that we were doing in class are “poses” that my 12-month old baby does at home. That’s when I came to the conclusion that yoga is innate – we are born to salute the sun. But seriously, if we began practicing yoga as children and carried on with our practice throughout our lives, I truly believe that we would live happier and healthier lives.

That said, I am a huge advocate of baby-and-me yoga classes! What a great way to bond with you tot while also helping your baby tap into the yogi within him or her. And why not do it in style? Thanks to Lotus Children, you can outfit you offspring in the coolest yoga wear around. The “omesie,” “baby om pant” and “yoga t-suit” are all must-haves for your tot’s yoga wardrobe. And when your baby has outgrown the baby om pant, he/she can graduate to Lotus Children’s great toddler line of yoga attire.

Namaste.

Father's Day - Coming June 18th

Whether he's a dad or a dad-to-be, he deserves a present for Father's Day...which is coming really soon! June 18th is just around the corner, so don't wait until the last minute to start thinking about what to get the dad in your household.

Check out the line of Funky Stork products at The Funky Stork Shop - You'll find Father's Day tees, hats and mugs as well as some fun stuff for you and your tot. Make sure to check out our most popular Father's Day items - our "Great Dad" line and our "Cute Baby - Cute Dad" products. They are perfect for new and expectant fathers!

Cool Gear For Babes

Whether you are shopping for a hot babe (aka expectant mom) or a cute babe (aka baby), you'll undoubtedly find what you are looking for at Meringue Boutique. They carry a large selection of women's, maternity and baby gear, which is all very stylish. I only wish I knew about Meringue Boutique when I was pregnant - they have some fabulous evening dresses that flatter the pregnant belly as well as some super comfy and super sexy sweats (no this is not an oxymoron). But alas, I am not pregnant anymore. That said, I am a new mom who loves her retail therapy! Thankfully, Meringue Boutique has a ton of cool baby stuff to satisfy my retail needs - all very decadent and very cute! Check it out at www.meringueboutique.com.

Crazy About Photos!

I have never been a picture person, that is, until the birth of my son. Suddenly, everything is picture-worthy! His first smile, then his second smile, and his third smile...well, you get the point. At about the same time I realized that I had a photo addiction, I also discovered that I had a picture frame addiction. So began my pursuit for stylish frames that could both showcase pictures of our little bundle of sunshine and match the decor of very cramped Manhattan apartment.

My pursuit ended with the discovery of Sticky Prints. Started by a picture-crazy, space-saving, certified stay-at-home mom, Sticky Prints are stylish frames with a magnetic backing. This means that you can create your own baby gallery on your refrigerator, filing cabinet or any other magnet-friendly surface. Simply brilliant!

The frames are sold individually as well as in sets of three. The seasonal and limited addition sets are super cool, and the personalized frames are a perfect gift idea. Check out the entire line at www.stickyprints.com - Psst...they add new designs to their collection every month!

Froo Froos From Fabby Gabby

In case you haven't heard - a froo froo is a handmade tutu. Where have you been? All the coolest princesses are wearing them these days! Yes, I am talking about a tutu that is fabulously fluffy and perfect for little girls who insist on wearing only the most royal pieces of clothing. I have seen many froo froo-wearing princesses enjoying their kid's hot chocolate at Starbucks or simply hanging out in Central Park. They love the attention and they love the glam - and honestly, who can blame them? If I wasn't a 29-year old wife of an attorney and mother of an 11-month old boy, then I might consider sporting a froo froo myself.

But if you are looking for something for your babe to wear on a non-froo froo day, then you should check out Fabby Gabby's line of onesies, tot tees and mom & baby sets. Super cute and super chic!

Go Organic with BABYBEARSHOP

There are a million and three reasons why you should go organic when it comes to skin products for you and your baby. Allergies, environmental preservation and cancer prevention are just a few that immediately come to mind.

Thanks to the founders of BABYBEARSHOP, there is now a luxuriously natural line of products that are made with organic and, whenever possible, Fair Trade ingredients.

The Mama Belly Oil and the Cheeky Baby Butter are two incredibly scrumptious BABYBEARSHOP products you should try.

The mama belly oil has a perfect combination of chamomile, lavender and red mandarin oils to help protect your blossoming belly from being marred by stretchmarks. It's also great as a massage oil for babies who are older than 3 months. Super sensual and super sweet.

The cheeky baby butter is essentially a shea butter baby creme. It's excellent for baby massage and can also be used for eczema, baby acne, diaper rash. You can also use it on your own bod - it's a great hand and foot moisturizer. All you have to do is scoop out a teensy bit (a little goes a very long way) rub in clean hands until it melts like butter and then apply. Better yet, get your hubby to do it for you! After all, you deserve a little TLC.

Check out the rest of BABYBEARSHOP's organic skin care line at www.babybearshop.com. And make sure to try their lip balm - it truly is delectable!

Preggers and Proud Gives Us Another Great Shirt For our Collection

My husband always says that you can never have too many t-shirts. I think that he may be onto something here. They really can be an expression of you and they often say something about where you are in your life. Maybe that's a little too profound for our discussion of t-shirts. That said, I truly believe that a t-shirt is more than just a garment. If you share my incredible respect for "the tee," then you'll be happy to know that Preggers and Proud has some pretty cool pieces to add to your collection. The coolest thing is that Katie Holmes and Gwyneth Paltrow have been seen sporting the "HOT MAMA" tee.

There is even a baby and dad line, which are super cute. Our good friend, Julia Roberts, had her kids wearing the "Mama's Got My Back" shirts...too sweet!

And Preggers and Proud also has a charitable edge - For every shirt that is gifted to a celebrity, a home for pregnant teens in Santa Barbara get five! That's cool.

Classic Treasures for Our Stylish Babes

Right from the time that we discovered that I was pregnant, my husband and I shunned the mass-produced, generic baby products that you find in any department store. We didn't want our small New York apartment to be cluttered with Winnie-the-Pooh and Disney embossed products. Where in the big book of having babies does it say that you have to surrender all sense of style in order to be good parents? Sure, it may take a little longer to find the hidden treasures - but hey, who doesn't enjoy a good scavenger hunt?

Well, my friends, I have come across another gem - Teacups and Tadpoles. Teacups and Tadpoles is an e-boutique that specializes in very fashionable (and functional) styles for baby boys (a.k.a. tadpoles) and baby girls (a.k.a. teacups). You should also check out their other stuff, like their diaper bags and diaper wallets, car seat covers, and play mats.

Here are two of my favorite T&T goods:

The Cowboy Layette Set by 3 Marthas
The is a perfect gift for your little buckaroo. This 100% cotton layette set by 3 Marthas is a must for the cowboy in every little boy.

You can buy these items separately or you can buy it as a complete set:
- Cowboy Newborn Onesie (7-12 lbs.) - a "must-have" for infants
- Cowboy Burp Pad - perfect size for "rounding up" the mess
- Super Soft Flannel Cowboy Receiving Blanket (44"x44") - perfect size for snuggling


Ducky Tubbie and Bath Puppet
This vivid yellow little Ducky Tubbie & matching Bath Puppet is great for bath time fun. The Ducky Bath Puppet is the perfect size for play while soaping up your little ducky too! The fun continues when its time to dry off your clean little one with the Ducky Tubbie made of super soft & durable cotton terry.

There are so many more things to check out at www.teacupsandtadpoles.com. You'll be hearing more about them from me in the future - they are really fabulous!

Help Stop Gapiosis!

Gapiosis: The space between the sock and the bottom of the pant, often accentuated by being held in arms or by being placed in a carrier or stroller.

Sweet little baby legs all over the world are being exposed to the chilly air because of gapiosis. Protect their sweet little legs from wind burn and chill with BabyLegs!

BabyLegs ...

• Make diaper changes a breeze
• Protect soft knees from harsh surfaces
• Keep legs warm year round
• Provide light weight sun protection
• Make EC'n & potty training easier
• Jazz up any dance class
• Make a fun fashion statement with styles for every occasion

Feet remain free to allow for successful crawling, walking and dancing. BabyLegs also help keep socks on! They fit most kids from newborns to size 10. BabyLegs will warm your little ones for a long time. They're fun to use as arm warmers too!

Start Thinking About Father's Day!

Women love cuddles and men love praise. Maybe that's over-simplifying things or maybe it's old-fashion, but I do know that my hubby loves it when I tell him how much I appreciate him. Trust me, life in our household is much easier when I am praising and not nagging! That said, I still have strong nagging tendencies...sometimes it's cathartic to be a bitch.

With Father's Day coming up, I thought that you girls would be interested to hear about a fun and cute gift that you could get the "new father" in your household (or, if your child is still in utero, then you might want to get this for your expectant dad). A shirt, mug or apron that tells the world that he's a great dad will do wonders for his ego! And he'll also love the fact that you think that he's a great father! You can get these shirts and other funky items at The Funky Stork Shop.

Monkeemoos Gives us a Little Fashion Help for our Boys

Don't get me wrong - I love my son. He's cute and he's cuddly and he has personality! But let's face it, dressing a baby boy isn't half as much fun as it is to dress a baby girl. I am always amazed by how many adorable outfits there are for girls and how sparce and plain the baby boy section is.

Finally, there is a fashion-forward line of clothing that has that has thought about our previously plainly-dressed sons. Monkeemoos.com is an online boutique for baby boys. Their clothes scream personality with their funky and fun graphics. They have super-cool shoes, bibs and burpies, as well as a timeless classics collection. Talk about eye-candy! Everything about this boutique says adorable and, most importantly, it says BOY! Thank you Monkeemoos for giving us fashion-fiend parents a place to shop for our sons.

R&R Makes Things A Little Easier for Parents - Hint: It's a Bag with Fins!

We all know how essential diapers bags are when you are out with a baby. We also know how vacuous a diaper bag can be - how many times have you had to unpack everything in a desperate search for your tot's binky or some other baby essential. Or sometimes you don't even need all the space that your regular diaper bag affords and yet you find yourself lugging it around anyway.

Our friends at Reef and Reed have also found themselves in a similar conundrum. Industrial designer turned father, Gene, the creator of Reef and Reed Shoulderbags with Fins™, wanted a bag that was not too big and not too small. It needed to be practical (easy to find and hard to lose), but also fun and stylish. After many trips to the local aquarium, he came up with the perfect idea - A Shoulderbag with Fins™.

It's true - It really is the perfect addition to the day-to-day diaper bag. Instead of rooting around in that big o'l diaper bag of yours, the R&R bag is perfectly-sized to carry your most important stuff – just drop your keys, cell phone, credit card and sunblock into your fish, and you and baby are good to go! If you are on vacation, then just drop your room key into your fish and you are set for the day!

They're safe and practical - plus you'll catch the big fish trend that's set for this summer. Available in six styles, so we're sure you'll be able to Find Your Fish™. I personally love the Tomato Clownfish Bag - But that's only because I have a thing for Nemo. Check it out, you'll see what I mean.