Special 2 day feature as we’re taking Friday off for a long weekend before school starts!

It is my absolute pleasure to promote and feature this brilliant shop as we all know and love the owner! Our beloved Babyluxe founder, Sarah Masci, is a busy little bee with not just Babyluxe but also a career, a family, a LIFE, and with Paperluxe Studio!

It seems like every time I turn around, there’s another shower to be thrown, more thank you cards to write, birthday parties to plan and attend; having a large family and extra large friend base makes for never a dull weekend! Paperluxe Studio has been a part of every special event in my life for the past few months, and every purchase made with Sarah has been custom made and super perfect! For example, instead of making out a zillion boring thank you cards or buying a birthday card for every gift given, {seriously, we’ve had 6 gifts and parties in the last 2 weeks and just received 2 more invites}…needless to say buying a card each time can get expensive, why not purchase Family Stationery from Paperluxe Studio. Write a little note to the gift recipient or a thank you for the housewarming/birthday/baby gift on beautiful note cards personalized for your family.

This precious stationery is my favorite!

{Thumbprint Vignette}

What Paperluxe Studio is best known for is its personalized stationery favors. For the next bridal or baby shower you host, why not give a favor that is practical and usable, yet gorgeous and chic! Sarah will work with you to design a favor that goes along with any theme you have {or pick a design from her ever growing portfolio}, for as many attendees you have. Each guest will receive a favor they will actually love! Trust me, soaps shaped like hearts or dinner mints wrapped in tulle are quite boring.

You can also be quite a hit at your child’s next birthday party too! Let Paperluxe Studio design your next party invitation! Don’t forget to get matching stationery for thank you cards! For older children, especially girls, give stationery favors. And what about giving a set of personalized note cards for gifts? How about teacher or nanny gifts, think Birthdays or Christmas…it’s right around the corner!

Endless designs, endless options, be creative with your next event! Get your invitations, your thank you cards, your favors all at one place!

Announcements too!

Want to see this beautiful stationery in person? TRY YOUR LUCK AT WINNING SOME! Comment back to us by August 21st what you love the most about Sarah’s business Paperluxe Studio…the favors, the invites, the thumbprint vignette {my favorite}, a specific design, etc…, for your chance to win a set of 24 personalized note cards. Good luck!

Las Vegas! Not a place you think we would promote on a baby website site right? WRONG! Las Vegas is actually very much a place to take the whole family; {sure it’s more fun to go with the girls for a bachlorette party weekend} but now that we are all moms, vacations must include everyone and we must take our vacations where everyone will enjoy themselves. NineBlue Travel Guides is here to help make your next family vacation a success!

NineBlue’s eBook is exactly what you need to make Las Vegas a memorable experience for the entire family. Bring the kids, bring the grandparents, there’s something for everyone to partake in! From family friendly hotels and attractions, the best shows and dining for families {discounted or free meals for children}, and advice on how to get around the “Strip” with kids, it’s all there in the NineBlue Las Vegas Travel Guide. With this guide at your hands, you’ll be sure to stay clear of any inappropriate activity and events.

Let me share two points of view for you on Las Vegas for families and whether or not this guide can help. Coming from me, someone who has never traveled to Las Vegas before, I can honestly say I never considered bringing my children there. I always thought it would be a 20th, 25th, so on, anniversary trip for my husband and I once the kids were older and gone. But as I read through this guide, I realized that a trip to Las Vegas with the kids would be like any other trip with the kids. Wherever you go with children, rules must be followed to ensure safety, cultures are always different and need to be respected, and negative areas and influence are always around. As long as you and your family are aware of your surroundings and plan accordingly, any trip can be a memorable one! NineBlue does a very thorough job acting basically as your family friendly travel agent, in paper form. Over 70 pages dedicated to giving you the insight to all Las Vegas has to offer; it’s not all gambling and adult venues like I always thought it was. There’s museums, circuses, aquariums, arcades, and cinemas. Fabulous hotels with child care services and child friendly activities. Way not eat at the Cheesecake Factory, what kid doesn’t love a big old piece of Oreo Cheesecake while on vacation!

Our friend Jennifer gives us another point of view as someone who has traveled there will her children just recently: “I have been to Vegas several times and I think this guide from NineBlue is great for families. I know there are plenty of things for families to do there but no one seems to know about them. Everybody thinks that Vegas is only for adults. That was the case in previous years when we were growing up. But now the hotels are awesome for everyone! I have taken my kids every time we’ve gone in the last several years. And I would definitely recommend this travel guide!”

Sample this guide yourself on the NineBlue website. Let them assist you in everything from packing to eating, from where to stay to where to play {with the kids that is!}

NineBlue offers family travel guides for destinations all over the world! Pick up a copy for your next vacation, maybe Vegas?!

Must be the month for wall art here at Babyluxe {daily}! We love it! {But this boutique offers much more as well}

Personalized products are my favorites! If you’re giving a gift, make it a personalized one; it’s so much more special. If you’re decorating the nursery, make sure to add a touch of personalization to the walls! Make sure everyone who walks into that room knows whose room it is!

Lillybean Designs is a boutique paperie offering custom design products, from the adorable wall art {like the two pictured above} to return address labels. I love this one: one of the most fanatistic twists on the birth announcement I have ever seen, “Birth Marks”. Birth announcement book marks! How precious, so unique and creative; check out the imagine below, don’t you just love it!

Okay, so there are numerous invitation/announcement companies out there now a days. What makes Lillybean Designs stand out in comparison to the rest? A high quality, professional look of course AND, my favorite feature, 2-sided design. Why waste the back of the invitation or the thank you card; personalize that area as well!

Check out all Lillybean Designs has to offer at their Etsy shop. Let them customize something special for you {Hip Mama calling cards}, for your next event {Save-the-Date cards/Magnet announcements/gift tags/favor stickers}, for your child’s room {so sweet wall art}, or for any occasion {noteworthy note cards}.

Kidluxe Edition

Story time! My family is always on the look out for the newest, most exciting, and educational books on the market. Going to the book store and library actually excite my kids {I know that will change as they grow older}, but for now I’m enjoying the time reading and teaching them. I would like to share some new favorites with you!

Immedium publishes 4 new titles a year written by a few select authors. My boys and I have sampled several of these books, if only I had video taped the squeals coming out of my 2 year old as I began reading “Timmy and Tammy’s Train of Thought”! It was hilarious to watch him get so excited over a book, obviously he loves trains! Mommy on the other hand got excited over the brilliant illustrations and attention getting story line. {A MUST when you are reading to 3 kids, any book that keeps them in their seats goes to the top of my list!} Each book we sampled from Immedium was not to long, not to short, excellent for different age groups. I think “Timmy and Tammy’s Train of Thought” has replaced Thomas the Train in our house!

“2008 is The Year of the Rat”. Each year {annual Chinese New Year} Immedium comes out with a new “The Year of the…”. {2006 was Dog, 2007 was Pig, and I can not wait for 2009…Ox!} What a great collection this will make! We sampled The Year of the Pig, what a cute story! And again, bright and colorful pictures with a terrific story line.

I am a huge fan of FUN ABC books! It’s such a reward to watch your child read along with you and begin to point out and recognize the letters! “The Adventures of Wonderbaby from A-Z” is fantastic! Not your typical A is for Apple and B is for Boy kind of story! Instead WonderBaby “Drools like a Dog” and “Wiggles like a Worm”, much more engaging and entertaining for the kids.

As I mentioned, my kids and I have read through several books published by Immedium, not one of them will get shoved to the back of the shelf anytime soon!

Right now at Immedium, Buy 2 copies of WonderBaby, get a free poster!

 As I type this feature, it reminds me of how awesome this product would have been for “meal/recipe exchange” night with my girlfriends {now we’re all too busy to boil water let alone make 10 + casseroles to exchange}.  If you enjoy sharing your culinary creations with friends and family and want to jazz up your recipe presentation {or for a fabulous, unique gift or favor}, these cards are for you!

Nella Designs personalized recipe cards are great to buy for yourself to use whenever you need to brag about that tasty dish you discovered, but I’m positive there is someone in your family that these would make the perfect gift for!  Someone you are always asking for recipes from, I bet it’s grandma’s Spaghetti Surprise, or mom’s Coco Cookies, or Aunt Betty’s famous Apple Pie!  With Summer parties and barbecues going on, bring a bunch of your own personalized recipes cards with you and your signature dish, you know, the one you bring to every get together {for me, Sausage Bread}; what a hit you will be!  OR, since this is “Baby”luxe, these would go over extremely well as personalized baby shower favors!  Baby bottle shaped bubbles or Beautiful Personalized Recipe Cards…ummm…I’ll take the cards!

Oh but there’s more!  Nella Designs has some very creative paper “designs”.  Note cards for any reason {birthday, thank you, general, etc…},  address labels/stickers, bridal and baby sets, note pads and to do lists, and so on…{personalized or not}.  All items can be customized as you wish.

Take a set of the stickers above, matched up with some recipe cards and a To Do list pad, and PRESTO…you have created a gift set any “baker” {whether they are good at it or not} would love to receive!

One more picture.  The design of this card is so beautiful; classy and elegant looking!

Check out all Nella Designs has to offer on their Esty site.

As many of you may have noticed, the latest nursery design trend seems to be of a more modern style. Parents are looking to streamline and simplify things a bit more nowadays. For those of you that are knee deep in inspiration & design, you might want to check out this fabulous new etsy designer, Le Papier Studio.

While I may not be designing a nursery any time soon, I am certainly at my wits end with our playroom, and have been de-cluttering like crazy these past few weeks. I’ve purchased new storage furniture & am now looking towards wall decor. I found this beautiful print on Le Papier Studio’s etsy shop & think that it is exactly what I need to pull the whole look together {our walls are even the same yellow}!

Maybe you’re nursery and playroom is already finished… How about some of these sweet silhouette cards?

Or these amazing little hang tags for goodie bags!

Le Papier Studio’s designer, Vana Chupp, has digitally drawn all of the beautiful silhouettes that you see on her site, and will draw your own child’s silhouette for a small fee on top of the print price! Her turnaround time is amazing & the print quality can’t be beat!

Check out Le Papier Studio’s etsy site & blog today, for truly beautiful paper art!  Have your chance at winning one of TWO 8×10 portrait silhouette prints!  Comment back here abut your favorite designs, and be entered into the giveaway.  For a bonus entry, make sure you are signed up on our mailing list!  We will select TWO winners in one week, on July 17th!

For those of you that want free shipping, enter the code LUXE10 at checkout!

Enjoy!

Think of how many thank you, birthday, Thinking Of You, or “just cause” cards you write, not from or for yourself, but from your children to whomever.  At only 2 years old, my child has more “correspondents” than I do!  I just recently completed 20 + thank you cards, from a 2 year old, for his birthday; but at least I had the cutest note cards to write them on!

 Daninotes unique and personalized stationery is perfect for any social butterfly in your family!  Dani’s designs are fresh and different, unique to fit your personal taste.  For example, Connor’s 2 year birthday theme was Little Einsteins, and of course Rocket is the best character in the world in his eyes.  Our thank you notes from Daninotes had the best red rocket on them; not only were the note cards personalized with Connor’s name, but the rocket design captured his 2 year old spirit.

And, the craziness of birthday parties is simplified a bit with Daninotes enclosures and/or stickers.  Simple and sweet, personalized…save some time {and money} by not buying and writing individual cards anymore.   Mom, these are not only for the kids!  Get your own monogrammed or family cards.  Basically, never go in the greeting card isle again!

Stock up for the entire year at Daninotes, you’ll need stationery for each child, yourself, hubby, etc…  As a Babyluxe {daily} reader, take 15% off your order at Daninotes using the code BLUXE08.

Some of you may already know this about me, but if not, I am obsessed with the latest craze: giraffes… Call me crazy, but I designed my younger son’s nursery around them as well as his 1st birthday party. I am currently on the hunt for the perfect giraffe print handbag & anything with those unique, wild-kingdom-like spots catches my eye! So of course, when I found out about this new stationery company & when I saw her giraffe-print party invitations, I was hooked!
This brand new company, known as littleday press, was started by Carrie Eckert, owner of Pen & Parchment, an online stationery boutique. The littleday press collection includes birth announcements & party invitations in a delightful assortment of preppy photo & non-photo designs {including the famous giraffe-print pictured above}. All cards are professionally printed on premium quality felt card stock, that looks and feels like watercolor.The most recent addition to the collection, that hasn’t even been added to the site, but can be seen on the Stationery Scoop Blog {also by Carrie Eckert}, is the custom framed prints collection. These can be special ordered through the contact form on the littleday press site, at $22 unframed and $56 framed, plus shipping.Currently, all orders are taken directly through the Pen & Parchment web site, but custom orders are gladly accepted through the littleday press contact page.

BabyLuxe readers take 15% off your order with coupon code “babyluxe15″ {not available on the custom framed prints}.

Counting down the days until Babyluxe {daily} launches a new and improved website AND the end to our Mother’s Day Contest {could be any day now}! If you have not completed our survey yet do so quickly to be entered to win one of 3 fabulous gift sets filled with a mixture of donations from our generous sponsors listed below:

Fresh Baby is a website, newsletter and products all in one for making baby food quick & easy! Their products and tips are must haves for any household trying to live a more “Green” and healthy lifestyle. You are less than 30 minutes a week away from being a satisfied, money saving, baby making food Mama! {So Easy Baby Food Kit}

Matilda Jane’s unpredictable, trendy children’s clothing line has recently launched their new women’s collection! These funky, inspiring designs will surely get mommy noticed along with her children! How can you resist such a sweet and modern addition to your child’s {and now your own} wardrobe! {Women’s collection}

SmartMom Jewelry is pretty and practical; it’s just what you’ve been looking for to be stylish AND pacify your teething child whenever and wherever needed! What an ingenious and “Smart” idea; and did we mention stylish, with those amazing real gemstone looks, but the feel and make of a teething product! {Teething Bling}

Preggers N’ Proud offers fresh look maternity slogan design tees. Look no further for the perfect way for you to express how “proud” you are to be pregnant or to just be Mom! Don’t forget about Daddy and Baby too; signature slogan designs to show off your “Hot Daddy” or “Buddha Baby”. {Happy Mother’s Day tank or tee}

Laugh & Learn DVDs take that stress out of childbirth and throws in the fun and silliness! The modern way to learn about childbirth, breastfeeding, and baby care is not from a classroom setting, but from the comfort of your own home! This 3 DVD set is perfect for any expecting parent who wants to know the ins and outs of what to expect, from an expert. {Laugh & Learn DVD sets}

Mango Ink brings out your individual personality through photos on hand mounted cards and invitations. Capture your next announcement with these beautifully crafted cards! Mango Ink also offers photo keepsakes and high quality homemade wrapping paper. {Gift certificate}

Julian & Co. was built on an amazing story about the love of family and cherished moments and items. They have custom made jewelry for all members of the family, especially for mom! From adorable Mother’s necklaces to cuff links for Dad to ID bracelets for the little ones, there’s something unique and personal for everyone! {Gift certificate}

CuddleBee offers unique and luxurious gifts for pampering baby! Bibs and burpies, blankets and belts, choose from some fabulous fabric designs, handmade from the softest material, perfect for any stylish baby or toddler! {Gift certificate}

Preppymommy baby and mommy products were created to make life a bit easier for baby and more stylish for mommy! Designed from some unexplored patterns, baby’s Bibkins and Binky Clips truly were made to make life out and about simpler! Plus, Lucky Lanyard and Ribbon Belt accessories for Mom to add a bit of style to Mom’s hectic lifestyle! {Lucky Lanyard}

Boon Inc. is know for bringing innovated products to your home and your life! Modern must have items from bath products like the well know Frog Pod to feeding and storage accessories. And just recently a new launched layette line for babies and toddlers! {Snack Ball}

AJaron jewelry creates exceptional fine jewelry for mom and baby, plus accessories for the home! Add a treasured piece to your collection from their extensive selection of beautifully crafted items! AJaron would also like to offer Babyluxe {daily} readers 15% off Rocks To Buy Baby in stock merchandise {with promo code MOM15} and 10% off SoHo Stack special order rings {with promo code MOM10}. {25% off coupon}

Girlie Gowns are a must have for any expecting mommy for her hospital stay! Why be frumpy in those old, worn hospital gowns when you can be “girlie” and pretty in your own! Just making baby’s birth a bit more special! {Girlie Gown}

Bellazandra has beautifully handcraft gifts for yourself or a loved one! They have some of the most amazing custom designed Mother’s and birthstone bracelets that any women would cherish for a lifetime! {Gift certificate}

Babystar, at Baby Star, a star is born everyday! They offer high quality, essential products for baby from bedding to bath {with a new line of hooded towels}. If you’re a parent who loves great moderns designs with a stylish baby, this shop is for you! {Gift certificate}

Kids Central Kitchen offers natural, whole grain baking mixes for today’s active kids and their families! Easy to make! NO trans fats, NO hydrogenated oils, NO high fructose corn syrup and NO artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Also available are fun & colorful baking utensils, pans & accessories. {Baking mix & utensils}

Tots on the Go brings you the finest in quality strollers and travel baby products, for the active family. They carry top brand name items such as the innovative Phil and Teds Sports buggy, baby backpack carriers, high end diaper bags and great travel gear. Looking for advice on traveling with your kids? Search Tots on the Go for great travel ideas or contact them directly. {Rowdy diaper bag}

Paperluxe Studio offers a wide range of simplistic, classic paper designs, including personalized stationery, invitations, announcements, matching thank-you notes, calling cards (for moms, nannies & teachers) & coordinating labels. Paperluxe Studio’s specialty product offering is personalized stationery for women; and more particularly, stationery that can be given in lieu of traditional party favors at baby & bridal showers, and other similar events. {Gift certificate}

momAgenda was founded by a busy mother of four who was constantly struggling to keep up with all of her children’s appointments & lessons, while still managing to keep herself pulled together, momAgenda combines style & functionality. The original mom’s day planner, momAgenda, has a smart collection of organization tools including the famous momAgenda Desktop, Kitchen Folio, myAgenda: for everyone, and a wide assortment of pads & accessories. {momAgenda Desktop}

Let’s Go Strolling offers the best selection of high-quality strollers, designer diaper bags, new baby gifts and all best baby and new mom products. With outstanding customer service that exceeds your expectations, their mission is to make your shopping experience both easy and fun and help you buy the best products for your lifestyle. {Ju-Ju-Be diaper bag}

The Polkadot Platypus offers top picks for maternity, babies and kids. Their collection of stylish apparel, hip baby gear, designer crib bedding, fun accessories and unique baby gifts is like no other. Whether you are looking for cowboy baby bedding, paisley play tents, novelty tees, girly tutus or polka dot toddler backpacks … they have something for everyone! {SaraBear diaper caddy}

Made by Angie: Clean up in style with a Made by Angie wipes case! Choose from a beautiful assortment of fun, quirky & stylish fabrics to suit every mood you’re in. Having kids is a dirty job. Made By Angie handmade baby wipe containers make it easy to have fun while doing your dirty work! {Gift certificate}.

Alli’s Originals specializes in made-to-order hand stamped, personalized sterling silver jewelry. Alli works closely with each client to design a piece that is truly unique, special and one of a kind. Her clients have a big part in the design and creative process so their vision can become a reality. {Gift certificate}

Seabands are the new wave hair bands that stay in place & stay comfortable all day! They offer a variety of fabric and jacquard ribbon options, as well as personalization. They even do special orders for clubs, schools and businesses. {Mother/daughter set}

momspit: Inspired by the original, momspit is the universal no-rinse cleanser for hands & face, and not just for kids. Available in a 7 oz desk size bottle and a convenient 2 oz bottle, designed to effectively fit into the smallest of bags, including your handbag, gymbag & even the kids’ backpacks; take some momspit with you wherever you go. {2 oz bottles of momspit}

The Baby Planners are a Los Angeles-based concierge and consulting service that caters to the needs of expectant parents. No matter what stage you are at in your pregnancy, they are available to meet your needs. Whether you are registering for the first time, need a special service, or just have some important {or silly, for that matter} questions, Ellie & Melissa are your go-to ladies. {Gift certificate for ½ hour phone consultation}

sheppard girls: Handmade, vintage-inspired goods for moms, kids & babies. A one woman business, Lisa Sheppard designs and produces baby bibs, burp cloths, headbands & unique hand-painted vintage doorknob hangers. All of her products are made using the finest selection of vintage fabrics, wool felt & rickrack ribbons. {Headbands}

Keep an eye out for some upcoming {or previous} features from some of these gracious sponsors and their “luxe” products! {A special note to the winners once they are randomly chosen, not all these products will be in the gift set you receive, each set is a mixture and combination of the above} Each gift set is valued at over $500! Thank you to all our sponsors and our {daily} readers! We appreciate you all and Happy Mother’s Day to some of the best moms out there!

It’s so hard to find just the right way to tell your child or children that your family will be expanding soon! And even harder to prepare them over the next few months for what to expect when the new baby arrives but still make them feel special and loved through the entire process. The best product to accomplish ALL of the above arrived on my doorstep last week!

My 2 year old has been thrilled with his Big Brother Keepsake Album from Budding Family. With so many pages to personalize with his name and picture, and plenty of details to read him on what will happen with Mommy and Daddy and new baby before and after the hospital stay, this album is one to cherish! My son adores all the pictures of himself and the “story” of our family as we all prepare for the new little baby to join us. What a life saver this has been in explaining the changes both my children will experience over the next couple months.

With such a creative design and durable quality, Big Brother {or Big Sister} Keepsake Albums will last through the most curious child. Budding Family also has the cutest “Look who’s going to be a Big Brother/Sister” announcement cards! What an amazing way to spread the joy to friends and family while still including the older sibling! And this personalized card does not get thrown in the trash; it’s the perfect size to be placed in a 5 x 7 frame for viewing years to come!

This “gift” to our son was a noticeable reassurance to him that even though Mommy is changing and the house is changing with all the new “little” stuff and “baby” items, he’s still loved and the times to come with the new baby are going to be exciting and fun for him, plus he’ll have a new role, Big Brother! Yes, surprisingly, with an album like this, even a 2 year old starts to understand the concept!

Share and cherish one of your own {also check out the “Look who’s moving to a New Home” Keepsake Album}. Enjoy free shipping on your purchase with the promo code BLUXE for all Babyluxe readers.

Posted by Dana