There are no words...

...to describe how broken my heart is right now. I'm in tears, praying for a family whom I have never met in real life. I heard the news through Twitter and realized how quickly, and helpful, this service can be when there is news that needs to be spread.

A beautiful toddler lost her life today and her family (and loved ones near and far) are mourning the death of someone too young and too precious to say goodbye to so soon.

Madeline Alice Spohr
November 11, 2007 - April 7, 2009

Words just cannot explain how devastating it was to find out that L.A. based mom and dad Heather and Mike, lost their daughter Madeline today. Although Heather wrote about her daughter needing to go to the hospital just yesterday, there's nothing that could've ever prepare her (or any parent) for the death of their child.

If you are able to be Los Angeles on Saturday, April 25th, please join the walk for the March of Dimes or donate in Madeline's name if you cannot be there and please spread the word through your blog, website or on your Facebook, Twitter or other networking pages.

R.I.P. dear Madeline

Instant Parents

Are you about to or have just become an "instant parent?"* A Los Angeles television production company is currently searching for families to potentially feature in a docu-drama.

We are in the process of developing a positive, upbeat show (think: "Jon and Kate Plus Eight"). We're looking for LIVELY families with funny stories, big emotion, and great personalities. Multiple children not necessary, but preferred (the more the merrier!). Do you (or are you about to) have an "instant family?"

If interested, please email Ally Weinberg with your contact information and your story.
Please send responses to: Reality_Casting@pietown.tv
To learn more about our company visit our site at: http://www.pietown.tv

*An instant parent is defined as any man or woman who is about to marry (or has recently married) someone with children (aka bonus children).

Bundle Up Joy

BBBRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. It's November already, which means that it's time to pull out the winter clothes and electric blankets. I know. Those of you who know me or know anything about me realize that I live in San Diego - where it's always (rumor has it) 75 and sunny.

Think again. Even in San Diego we find temperatures in the mid-40s during the winter (I'm not complaining, trust me) so winter wear is essential, especially for our little ones.

Bundle Up Joy, founded by Terry Chi of Los Angeles, has created some pretty unique wearable blankets for babies up to six months of age. With her beautiful designs and car seat buckle up design, these sleep sacks make great gifts for new babies.

Since the biggest gift-giving season is just weeks away, I thought I'd introduce you to her sleep sacks by offering a giveaway!

Bundle Up Joy^® was born in 2007. They kept parents and babies in mind when they designed the first and only line of Luxury Wearable Blankets. Their baby bunting products are better, safer, and more versatile than loose baby blankets, sleepsacks or swaddles. Their fashionable and functional wearable blankets can be worn day or night, inside or out. Your bundle of joy will be perfectly dressed for any occasion.

You’ll have peace of mind knowing that they never sacrifice quality for fashion. The high quality, machine washable fabrics they choose have stunning, eye-catching designs in vibrant colors.

Found at only the best baby boutiques in select cities, Bundle Up Joy wearable blankets can be yours (or yours to give) by simply adding a comment with your favorite Bundle Up Joy product.

Two winners will be chosen at random and announced here on November 20th.

Baby Loves Disco: Los Angeles

Purchase Tickets for Baby Loves Disco
July 19, 2008
@ Cinespace in Hollywood

Head to the BLD LA site to meet your host, the DJ and check out the sponsors for the upcoming event!

The Baby Planners™ Seal of Approval

I received an official Seal of Approval today from The Baby Planners™ | a Consulting Service for Expecting Parents!

In case you've missed it, they've had some wonderful press these past few months, from Daily Candy to The Washington Post to People Magazine! Check out their press page to read all about it!

They're also going to be working again with Babies R Us. They'll be featuring items from their stores when they showcase The Baby Planners' Five Essential Items for Bringing Home Baby tomorrow, Wednesday, June 25th on the KTLA Morning Show. Of course if you don't live in the Los Angeles area, please check out the link on their site in the coming days to view the segment.

They've also announced that they are now featured columnists on one of the most comprehensive social networking sites for new and expectant parents, The Cradle. Their monthly column "An Inside Look with The Baby Planners" started this month - visit them for the inside scoop on all things fabulous in babydom!

Parenting Party 2009

There's less than one week until this year's Parenting Party and already I'm getting questions about where next year's event will take place.

I hadn't really thought about it until the idea was thrown out there...take the Official Poll found on the sidebar...Las Vegas, Miami, Portland?

Help me decide!

L.A. Baby

I spent this last weekend in Los Angeles during one of the warmest weekends of the year (so far). Inside the convention center, hundreds of exhibitors crowded the hall for Baby Celebration L.A. as parents with babies and toddlers, moms-to-be, new dads and grandparents walked the aisles, no doubt just as overwhelmed as I was.

Here are several of the companies that were there with products or displays that caught my eye:

Yoga Hub

Obli Organics

Chicks-N-Chickens

Ochanga

Blueberry Diapers

Baby Butter Clothing


Blessence Maternity


Manny & Simon



Baby Cha-Cha


Sassabies

Heritage Makers: Stories From the Heart

Mixed Baby Greens

Lollypop Ink


Urban Youngster


Seada: Children's Footwear

Snobby Babies

Pomme bebe

Paper Mama

Hot Moms Club

Hugablocks

Summersky

ChicaBoo

Innovative Baby

Baby Swags

Nabi Baby

Zoobies

Sticks 'n Stones

Bella mama

Cricket & Monkey

Baby Jakes

new


Cat Bird Baby

L'oved baby

LAF

Sweet Shoes

Slick Sugar


Sandbox Rebel



Baby Spare Wear


Chez Shea Baby

Modern Me

These were just a few! More to come...

The Boom Boom Room

My job takes me places like L.A. quite often but today's event - The Boom Boom Room - taking place in Beverly Hills was a first-time experience for me (and for Kane /Miller) but it was one that introduced me to many other vendors who offer wonderfully unique products for growing families.

Bebe au Lait

West Coast Wagons

The Bumble Collection

Egba Originals

Sok-O

Diapees & Wipees

Blessence Maternity

Moby Wrap

The Boom Boom Room - a annual celebrity gifting suite -benefits the Jayneoni Moore Children's Fund - a charity funding reading programs and providing books for low income areas.

Selznick, Frazee & A Big Box of Books

The SCIBA Trade Show and Authors Feast was last night. It took us nearly three hours to get to the Biltmore with an accident, road construction and typical Saturday evening traffic holding us back but we finally arrived!

We had enough time to walk the floor of the Trade Show, visit with many wonderful Sales Representatives and page through several fall books which I had not had a chance to see prior, and we still had time to mingle, enjoy a cocktail and wander through the beautiful hotel to see what other events were taking place that evening.

I was joined by two of my colleagues for dinner: Lynn, who most SCIBA members recall from her previous position as manager of The White Rabbit; and Christina, from The Book Works in Del Mar.

Also at our table was a member of the Harcourt children's division (also located in San Diego), along with four booksellers representing Russo's Books and Newsboy Books & Video.

The highlight of my night was meeting two of the award nominees (the two that I would've asked to meet if I was able to choose). Marla Frazee, whose work I absolutely adore, sat down at Table #12 just before dessert was served (what was that, by the way?). I nearly leaped across the table to shake her hand and gush over her work. She took me by surprise when she mentioned that some of her favorite picture books were Kane/Miller titles and I couldn't even begin to think of what to say to her after that, especially since we had to practically yell at one another to be heard.

Lynn was able to introduce me to Brian Selznick after the event and I was able to congratulate him after he received his much-anticipated award for his children's novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Other award-winners were: Lisa See (Peony in Love), Wendy Werris (An Alphabetical Life), Denise Hamilton (Los Angeles Noir), and Robin Preiss Glasser (Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy), who admitted on-stage that she had a little too much to drink.

It was a wonderful event and I was so pleased to be able to attend and very grateful for the big box of books that I opened early this morning with my son, who insisted that I read him Bossy Bear and Merry Christmas, Mouse! immediately. (This of course, after he asked me why his babysitter had to leave.) Welcome home, Mom!