Keen on Aquamarine: 5 Fab Summer Finds for Baby Girl

I get hooked on colors every so often and can’t seem to shake it. While I was pregnant with my first child, I wore pink all of the time. I’m not even a big fan of pink, but I sure did love it for a while. What’s scary is I didn’t even notice I had an Aerosmith thing for pink (remember this video?) until I looked at my closet one day and was struck by a wave of pink, purple and fuchsia. I blame it on hormones. Today I find myself obsessed with aquamarine.  Blue water, blue skies and lazy, blue, summer days.

Sweet Ivy Swing Dress
This beautiful aqua-colored A-line dress has a little bit of lace peeking out from the bottom. The pintucked pleats, bow applique and hem details make it the perfect party dress for summer fun. It comes in toddler and youth sizes. Retails for $36 at Nordstrom.

Sweet Heart Rose Floral Dress
Striped, dotted, ruffled & more. This dress has it all! This sundress features a bright floral skirt and a lined bodice. Toddler sizes. Retails for $34 at Nordstrom.

Merrell “Flutterfly” Mary Jane Sneaker
It’s a dress shoe and a sneaker all in one. With grippy rubber soles and Air Cushion technology, these stylish shoes are the perfect choice for your oh-so-posh kiddo on the run.Retails for $45 at Nordstrom

Small Paul Ruffled Bodysuit
With ruffles at the neckline and puffy sleeves, this onesie is chic, comfy & cute. Oh, and don’t forget the Clever Julius screenprint. Find it at Nordstrom for $18 in infant sizes.

Little Maven Seersucker Dress
This dress if from Tori Spelling’s line of baby clothes. It’s the Seersucker Bow Dress and isn’t it sweet? Back button closure and fully lines. Retails for $38 at Nordstrom.

Wanna see more cute clothes? Check our my post about 5 Superbly Stylish Outfits for July 4th on Droolicious!

Sandy’s Shoes & Toys: Happy Feet in Austin

If you live in Austin, TX, and you haven’t checked out Sandys’ Shoes & Toys, you’re missing out on a sweet treat for little feet. We discovered this cool shop many years ago and it’s really the only place I buy shoes for my kiddos.

The staff is helpful, the new store is amazing and the shoe selection is phenomenal.  The folks at Sandy’s turned us on to Tsukihoshi brand shoes about four years ago and we’ve been buying them ever since. These are my most favorite tennis shoes for the kidlets. I like Pediped too. You should see the new Teva sport sandals. They’re so cool.

In addition to the shoes, Sandy’s has a great toy selection. The new store on West Anderson Lane has lots of extra room and is the perfect home for lots of awesome brands including the largest selection of Melissa & Doug toys in the entire country!

Nursery Bliss: A Crib in Every Color


Okay preggo ladies, do these color swatches mean anything to you? They should. These are color options for a crib. In fact, the Newport Cottages Panel Crib comes in even more colors. This is great news for those of you who can’t seem to turn off your inner perfectionist.  It’s very unique concept and the crib itself is gorgeous. Hop on over to Droolicious to read more!

Because Mommy Needs a Paperie

Yes, a paperie. And if you don’t know what a paperie is you might also need a dictionary. Ouch. Snap! Sorry, MommyQ hasn’t had enough coffee today. Anyway…

If you don’t have a paperie like Polka Dot Design – that makes your mouth water and your heart skip a beat, you’re totally missing out on party-throwing fun. From adorably tiny cupcake toppers to swoon-worthy invitations to knock-your-stilettos-off party favors, a reliable paperie is one of life’s perfect pleasures.

I think every mom needs a one-stop-shop for baby shower and birthday party inspiration. This fact is especially true if you’re like me, up to your knees in diapers, sippy cups, Goldfish crackers and a ponytail is your standard hairdo. Trying to be the creative party hostess can be as tricky as making my spirited 2-year-old get a haircut or trying to convince my 5-year-old that cauliflower doesn’t smell bad.

This is why I love Polka Dot Design. Struggling with a great teacher gift? Not sure what to do for a party favor? Need a dinosaur centerpiece? Of course you do. And you’ll find all of this and much more that will get your creative juices flowing.

Have Kids? Meet Your Inner Concealaholic

I know we blog about items you must have as a mother. Things you need for survival in this crazy, kid-filled, hectic life.  There is only one thing I can guarantee as a mom. If you have dark circles under your eyes BEFORE the children arrive, you will have bigger, darker circles AFTER they show up.

This is maybe the cutest, coolest, most innovative product I’ve purchased in a while. It’s the ‘Confessions of a Concealaholic’ Kit from Benefit and it works. If you didn’t figure it out from the clever name, it’s a concealing & brightening kit You can find it online at Ulta for $36 and in many department stores.

My favorite item in this little kit is the Erase Paste. Like you, I’ve tried tons of concealers and none of them seem to work like this one does. Now you MUST understand that the biggest part about concealers like this is knowing how to apply them correctly. If you buy this at the Benefit counter, ask one of the gals to show your how to apply everything. No shame in that!

Here’s what comes in the kit:

– “That Gal” Brightening Face Primer
– Erase Paste (no. 2 medium) brightening camouflage for eyes and face
– Lemon Aid Color Correcting Eyelid Primer
– Eye Bright Instant Eye Brightener
– Concealer brushes
– Step-by-step lesson

I think this would be a great gift for an expecting mommy or new mommy. She may laugh at it when she opens the gift, but she’ll be putting it on in the a.m. And thanking you for it…

Loving these Nude Pumps: A Lux Look for Less

First of all, you’re welcome. I know, I know. You’ve been searching all over the planet for the perfect nude pumps, but you aren’t Victoria Beckham and we aren’t living in 2008 anymore – money is tight. Maybe you just can’t rationalize spending $600-$1500 for a pair of killer Louboutins like you once did.  Maybe you just like designer stuff, but you’re a bargain-hunter at heart. Read on my savvy, stylish friend!

This is the pair of shoes that will save your soul. Or at least put a big smile on your face for a day or so. These are the ‘Caryssa’ Pumps from Steve Madden and they come in black and BLUSH PATENT. Oh yes! You know, blush is the new black this year.

Anyway, it retails for only $89 at Nordstrom in lots of sizes. I can speak from experience, it’s a comfortable shoe. You will frown at it in the store because it looks ridiculously painful, but it isn’t. In fact, I’ve worn them for hours at a time and never had to take them off, defeated by 5″ stiletto pain.

What’s great about these shoes is they work with everything – dresses, jeans, skirts, pants – for any occasion. And they go with every color. They go a long way towards giving you a lean look and stretching your profile (and your legs) sky-high. Get ready to get lots of compliments too. My best friend threatened my life over these shoes. Awe, she loves me that much. And if you’re really sad about missing out on the Louboutins (the real deal will cost ya $735 – pictured below), go get a small jar of red Apple Barrel and paint yourself silly.

OiOi Studded Tote: Va Va Va Voom!


When it comes to diaper bags, this one is H.O.T. I’m really loving the style, size and color. It makes a statement and the statement is not, “I’m carrying a dorky diaper bag.”

This is the OiOi Red Studded Tote and is does everything except change and burp your baby. Now don’t get too excited because it’s back ordered at Arte Bebe until July. Nevertheless, it’s fabulous and here’s why:

– elasticized feature pockets
– one main internal compartment with 3 elasticized pockets
– 4 exterior pockets (2 with magnetic snap closure)
– water resistant nylon lining and accessories
– antique brass hardware
– fixed stroller straps
– large padded microfiber change mat
– insulated bottle holder- insulation 2 hours – (Max bottle size 330mm)
– OiOi hard wipes case
– protective metal feet on base

Find it at Arte Bebe for $160. Don’t forget to shop around a bit because it’s one of my all time fave baby shops!