Babies Gotta Have It

Way back in December I had breakfast with Wendy Bellissimo. Well kind of.  Thanks to the generous folks at Q-Tips I ate some super yummy food at a gorgeously decorated restaurant with her and got the skinny on her suggestions for decorating your baby’s nursery…as well as a sneak peek at the pretty darned cute new Q-Tips packaging.  But more on that later.

I am actually pretty proud of how we decorated Bean’s room.  I really couldn’t do anything crazy girly. That’s just not my style. And when we had to make choices about paint colors we didn’t know if we’d have a boy or a girl.  The walls are a gorgeous sagey green (Benjamin Moore’s Silken Pine) and the trim is white.  We found a yellow braid rug at Home Goods that was insanely reduced because of a black mark on one side (yeah, we turned it over).  My Mom made curtains.  And we painted old pieces of family furniture in a lilac and light yellow color so that they all matched.  I splurged on a crib (the Stokke Sleepi Crib) because it’s so small and streamlined and perfect for apartment living.  And we didn’t really spend a thing on any of the other furniture.  Oh yeah, our friends Larry and Lisa gave us their glider.  It was a light blue check but I threw purple blankets over it and it was dandy.   We hung up two of those floating shelves and filled them with a mixture of antique and new things–including a vintage Boston Red Sox pennant (thank you New England branch of the family). As it turned out, according to Wendy Bellissimo we did some of it right. So here are her tips for readying your room for baby:

• Look to create a calming yet inspiring environment.
• Drop that paintbrush! Resist the urge to paint first.  Begin by clearing out the entire room and creating a blank palette.
• Become your own designer! Browse magazines, the internet and books and create your very own inspiration book or board, filled with ideas that speak to you.
• Go back in your room and consider the arrangement of your main pieces (most likely your crib, changing table, and rocker). Then incorporate your fabrics.  And only then choose your paint color.
• Then go crazy and stock that nursery!
• Choose whites or pale greens if you don’t know the baby’s gender…then accent accordingly when the time comes.
• Think long term when you select your furniture.  Are these pieces that can grow with your child?  Or choose gender neutral pieces so you can pass them along to a sibling to come.
• If possible, replace all your light switches with dimmer switches so bedtime can be calm and soothing (I LOVE this idea…totally wish we had been able to do it).
• And finally…incorporate things that were yours or your mother’s when you were children to give the room a really special touch.  I am so glad we did this.  Plus, hasn’t your Mom been bugging you to finally clear out your room so she can put in a home gym? Now’s the time, gals.

And may I say, the food was excellent.

When you’re stocking the changing table, be sure to check out the adorable new Q-Tips packaging.  These whimsical decorative boxes will blend in with lots of nursery styles.  They are small and sleek enough that you can easily keep them out where you can access them quickly, without needing to deal with those cumbersome boxes grown-up Q-Tips come in or finding another little basket to put them in.  Super idea, as far as I’m concerned!

Want to try them?  Thanks to Q-Tips, one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win two boxes of Q-Tips Baby Packs. They will be a wonderful addition to your wee one’s nursery, or a great little item to tuck into a Baby Shower gift!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Q-Tips Baby Packs Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Leave a comment on this post.  Share a nursery decorating tip if you’d like. Or just say hi!  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Tweet this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  I just entered to win Q-Tips New Baby Packs @BabiesGottaHavT Enter today! http://tinyurl.com/yzmd72v
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Friday January 22nd and ends on Friday February 5th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Monday February 8th,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Q-Tips offered the above pictured baby packs for the winner of this giveaway.  They provided the delicious breakfast I attended and a small gift bag upon leaving.  I was not compensated monetarily for writing this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update: We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 18″  Congratulations Sandra!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!  Be sure to check out my current giveaways!

As the holiday season approaches, I know I am going to be scouring the stores and the web for wonderful toys that will impact my little gal and the earth she inhabits equally well.  I am a huge fan of Sprig Toys! Their toys foster battery-free creativity in our children and the Story Builders Playsets are no exception.  These toys encourage storytelling and imaginative play, and the fact that they’re made of 100% recycled paperboard (printed with non-toxic water-based ink) and recycled sprig wood is just the pink stripe on the candy cane as far as I’m concerned.

These neat sets combine board books, puzzles, and sturdy 3-D paper dolls and buildings all in a compact, easy to take on the go package.  In addition to “Little Red Riding Hood” playset featured in the video also check out “The Three Little Pigs.”

Babies Bottom Line: Watch the video.  The Bean had a great time playing with the Little Red Riding Hood Story Builder board book and play set.  And Mama loves that it’s eco-friendly, non-toxic, and great for travel.

Disclosure: Sprig Toys sent me this product to review.  I was not compensated in any way for this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

People from Maine are a little crazy.  They love their state just as much as Texans love Texas. They’re just a lot quieter about it.  I lived in Texas.  I have family from Maine.  I know.  The mosquitoes were particularly horrendous in Maine this year (as they were all over the East Coast), and did a number on the little Bean when we went up in August.  But still, I have to admit to having a bit of a love affair with the Pine Tree State.  So when the cute as can be Flannery Brothers from Hampden, Maine contacted me to review their CD for kids, “Love Songs For Silly Things” I swooned at the chance.

I fancy myself a bit picky about kids music.  I’m a snob, I must confess.  The CDs I have recommended on this site, are really really good.  And this one is no exception.  My two year old loves it.  She calls it the “new CD” or the “blue CD” and despite the fact that it’s upbeat and cheerful, enjoys listening to it during her naps.  Go figure.  These guys have their finger on the pulse of what kids like.

Let me tell you about my two favorite songs on the CD.  The first is ‘Blue Sky Moon” — about just that.  That mysterious, beautiful, puzzling moon that shows up in the blue sky in the afternoon.  I can so remember staring up at it as a child and wondering if it was the same moon that came out at night and why it was there sometimes but not always.  I’ve sort of forgotten the wonder of the Blue Sky Moon.  The Flannery Brothers haven’t.  They think like kids, it seems.

I also love “Farmer’s Market”.  People in Maine are a step ahead of the rest of us in the slow food movement.  They’ve been shopping locally for years and we city people are just catching on. But this song is catchy and super fun and I find myself singing it to the Bean every Thursday when we take our tote bags and head to the local Green Market. Want to get your kids excited about vegetables?  This is just one of the songs on this CD designed to encourage adventurous eating.

It’s not too early to start thinking stocking stuffers for the grandkids or unique gifts for the neices and nephews and godchildren.  Heck, a collection of amazing CDs is one of the most wonderful and unique baby gifts you can give.  Pair “Love Songs for Silly Things” with a soothing lullabye CD for a truly wonderful present that will keep on giving long after the 3 month onesie has been passed along to another dear baby.  This CD was created for kids ages two to six and has been recognized by The John Lennon Songwriting Conest.  Cool, huh?

So here’s your chance!  Thanks to the aforementioned super cute Flannery Brothers, one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a copy of “Love Songs for Silly Things”!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Flannery Brothers “Love Songs For Silly Things” Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Do yourself a favor.  Check out the totally fun Flannery Brothers website and enjoy their tunes.  Then come back and leave me a comment sharing the music you loved most as a child  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  The Flannery Brothers “Love Songs for Silly Things” CD is rocks my kids world! Enter to win one @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/y8az9f7
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Thursday November 5th and ends on Thursday November 19th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Friday November 20th,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering! Disclosure: The Flannery Brothers sent me their CD to review and they provided a CD for the winner of the giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 5″ !  Congralutaions Katherine Puma!!!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

So as I have mentioned in the past, I am having a bit of trouble getting my two year old to eat anything that’s not beige.  Or sweet. Or a cupcake. So when the opportunity arose to try out and review some of the new Evenflo Smart Steps products, designed to foster healthy eating habits in toddlers, I jumped at the chance. The Evenflo Smart Steps line was created with three primary goals in mind, to encourage children to: serve themselves, explore food, and know portion sizes.  I am totally behind all of these goals.  And the fact that the products are all BPA free is kind of the icing on the cake…or shall I say, the ranch dressing on the carrot stick.

We had a chance to test drove the new Insulated Sippy Cup, the Snack Stackers (with the magic labels) and the Discovery Spoons.  The most honest review I can give is to say that they have so made their way into our regular eating rotation, that I totally forgot I was reviewing them. My gal is a bit old for the Discovery Spoons–they are really designed for toddlers just learning to feed themselves and are quite shallow with soft sides.  I actually wish I had a set about a year ago!  The insulated sippy cup is quite cute, first of all.  It has a nice cover for the germaphobic Mama like me, and provides good control against leaks.  And the soft insulating wrap that removes to allow you to plop the cup in the dishwasher is pretty cool.  The snack stackers certainly keep our chocolate bunny snack portions in check–and the easy to snap on lids and magic labels would also be great for storing and labeling baby food.  They are also awesome for maintaining nice and mushy raisins!  I’d love to try the Portion Plate with its colorful sections showing how big portions should be (complete with a tiny “just try it” blue bowl in the center)–very cool idea.

Babies Bottom Line: Evenflo Smart Steps provides BPA free, affordable, and healthy products to encourage veggie eating in toddlers.  Starting preschool with healthy eating habits?  That’s something that baby’s gotta have.  Wanna try them?  Here’s a link to a printable coupon so you can do just that!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Evenflo and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

“No Nasty Chemicals.” What’s not to like about that?  I’ve talked about the all-natural, non-toxic baby, personal and household care products from Ecostore USA in the past.  And now, I’ve tried a whole bunch more. Check out the video to learn more…and the secrets of the Eco Village in New Zealand are finally revealed!

You know you want to try some of these products!  In honor of the arrival of Ecostore products at Duane Reade Pharmacies near you and the opening of the new Duane Reade in Herald Square on October 23rd, one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a $25 ecommerce Gift Certificate to do just that!  Thank you Ecostore USA! Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Ecostore USA $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Watch my video review and check out the Ecostore USA website.  Browse around, come back and leave a comment on this post letting me know which product or products you’d choose if you won the $25 ecommerce gift certificate.  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  Ecostore USA is coming to Duane Reade Pharmacies! No Nasty Chemicals! Win a $25 gift certificate @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/ygtkaln
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday October 19th and ends on Monday November 2nd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday November 3rd,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering! Disclosure: Ecostore USA sent me all of the products shown in the video to review and they are providing the $25 gift certificate for the winner of the giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update: We have a winner.  Random.org says “Result: 1“  Congratulations Kim!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

In this vid My little bean is sporting the Polliwalks Fish Lips waterproof sandals for toddlers and kids.  Thank you Polliwalks! Like all Polliwalks, Fish Lips come with fun “footprint” treads that allow your kid to leave a unique print in the sand. Also like all Polliwalks, they are machine washable (yeah you heard me–machine washable), easy to get on and off, waterproof, and packaged in an environmentally friendly way.  What makes them unique…well check out the video and keep your eye on those fish lips!

It may be September, but where I live, it still  feels like summer.  I’m guessing there are lots of you who will  be hitting the beach and the pool and the backyard sprinkler for another month or more.  Have some fun.  Wear some Poliwalks. Bring out the animal in your kiddo!

And here’s the best part…one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a pair of Polliwalks in the style and size of his or her choice!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Polliwalks Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Watch my video and then stop by Polliwalks and browse the adorable assortment of waterproof sandals they have to offer.  Come back and leave me a comment on this post sharing which pair of sandals, style and color, you’d choose if you won and what you like about them.  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste): @BabiesGottaHavT is giving away a pair of Polliwalks waterproof sandals for kids! Enter today! http://tinyurl.com/ox7c4o
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday  September 1st and ends on Tuesday September 15th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Wednesday September 16th,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

UPDATE: We have a winner!  Random.org says…Result: 23 Congratulations Angela H from Just An Army Wife and Just a Mommy!  Hope you love your Polliwalks!  Thanks so much to all of you who are such loyal entrants!  I love you all!

I am aware that this blog is called Babies Gotta Have It.  I am also aware that in one month, my baby girl will turn two.  She recently fell headfirst off a seemingly harmless foam kiddie chair, and there’s no denying it.  This baby is now a toddler.

We are having a garage sale at my parents’ next weekend. So sad to see so many of the baby toys go. Yeah, I’m saving some for friends…making a point to pass along things that were passed along to me (cuz it’s wrong to make money on stuff your friends handed down to you…right?).  But pretty exciting to see the toddler toys take their place.

It’s easy to find baby toys. It’s easy to find preschooler toys.  But toddler toys that are safe and age appropriate?  Kinda tough to find. Seems these days like everything I pull off of a Target shelf says “For Ages Three and Up.” So I was absolutely delighted to discover Play and Bounce–an online toy store that specializes in toys for toddlers!

The site categorizes the toddler toys by type, and I have to say, one of the things I’m most excited about is watching my little girl’s imagination start to develop. The fine folks at Play and Bounce sent the Little Bean the Dinner Time Set and Casserole Set from their Play Pretend Toys and you can see in the video just how much fun they are.  Plus they are colorful, durable, not made in China, and dishwasher safe.

Toys for pretend play.  Yeah, that’s something toddlers just gotta have.

Your baby is coming. You have moved beyond puke and heartburn, cravings and swollen ankles…you are big as a house and you’re ready for that baby to make her grand entrance…

EXCEPT! Your house is a sty.  A total and complete mess.  How is it that you have lived the past 9.999 months without seeing this?

Strap on your wings, Mama, you’re nesting.  And when it’s time to declutter and dust, reorganize and scrub, purge and purify, nix those nasty chemicals and go green.  The choices for safe, non-toxic cleaning are doubling daily it seems. Here are three of my new favorite green companies to get you and your house spic and span and ready for baby!

The Eco Store - This New Zealand based company’s motto is “No Nasty Chemicals.” Which I love, because chemicals give me the willies and hand mange. But before you blow a gasket about shipping costs, let me say right off the bat they offer free shipping in the U.S. for orders over $25 bucks. Yup. So read on. Their plant-based cleaning products were created in an “eco village” in New Zealand.  I have no idea what an eco village is but I think I totally want to retire there.  They are dedicated to making safe products that work as effectively as those with yucky stuff in them, and they were kind enough to send me their lovely Lemon Cream Cleanser (good for bath, basin, white goods, stainless steel, chrome, tiled and laminate surfaces).  I just used it on my counter and gas stove (while unbeknownst to me the baby made a long distance call to Aunt Gretchen and chatted for about seven minutes), and it works beautifully.  Need to remove the caked peanut butter from the microwave before your inlaws come to stay with the new baby? Check out the fantastic household (and pet and baby and bath) products from Eco Store!

Clorox Green Works - So here’s the thing about Clorox Green Works. Your husband will be able to find it in the grocery store. Need proof? Mine did.  We were on vacation for the 4th of July weekend and needed some dish soap to wash the baby’s bottles and sippy cups in the hotel bathroom. The fine folks at Clorox had given me some of their Water Lily Natural Dishwashing Liquid to try and it’s divine. Effective. Not overly scented. Really lovely. So hubs went off to pick up Chinese and a few staples while I stayed in the room with the babe (who is also in a crazy clingly Mama phase…is this what it means to be two?). Now clever as hubs is, he couldn’t find a health food store if it smacked him in the face with a slab of tofurkey. But he is clever enough to choose the green option when it is right there on the shelf at the supermarket.  And the wide availability of Greenworks  is one of the big things it’s got going for it. That and the fact that it works. I have also tried the spot cleaner (yeah, I dripped frappuchino on my new khaki shorts the first time I wore them). It works too. Yup, Greenworks is coming out with laundry products including detergent and spot cleaner too! Washing those new BPA free bottles? Cleaning and putting away the brand new nursing bras and tanks? Send hubs to the store. Tell him to get Greenworks. He may actually find it.

Earth Baby Organics -  Because you’re not just gonna be cleaning your house for baby…you’re gonna be cleaning your baby! I’ve profiled a lot of mom created and run businesses…this one was started by a Grandma!  Who’s a chemist! Love it.  This clever Granny is using cutting edge technology to create natural and organic products for babies that are good for the Earth as well.  If technology’s your thing, read all about it in a very accessible description here.  Earth Baby Organics was kind enough to send us their Forget Me Knot Hair Detangler and we really like it.  It’s got a delicious vanilla scent, went on smoothly and lightly, and made that post-bath hair brush a calming and soothing bedtime experience.  Stocking up for baby? Looking for a lovely shower or baby gift? Look no further than Earth Baby Organics for a really nice selection of baby care products that you can feel good about giving and using.

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” - Galadriel of the Elves

I have this quote on my Facebook page.  I believe it. And so does the Nature Conservancy.  They have created Idbids, a very sweet collection of plush toys for kids, with the belief that if we teach our children about conservation as early as we teach them their colors and shapes, we can change the world.

Not to get all oogly boogly on you here, but I love that.  And these toys are sweet sweet sweet and green green green.  Lola the Flower, Waverly the Water Drop, and Scout the Cloud are made of 100% organic cotton (even the tag is printed on recyled paper with eco-friendly inks). And these toys are definitely Not Made In China — they’re made in Egypt from Egyptian cotton!

You know I love stuffed dolls, baby or flower or otherwise.  So what message is this Idbid flower doll sending to girls?  According to the tag, “Lola’s  pretty, a fact it is best not to forget.  Happily she also believes that ‘pretty is as pretty does.’ She is wise, sees both sides of an issue, is a natural mediator and offers well-reasoned advice.”  Ok, so I love that too.

My baby girl calls her Idbid “fwower.”  When she gets older, she can go to the Idbids website, click on The Nature Conservancy, enter her personal code, interact with Lola and her friends, and help protect Lola’s habitat. The name Idbid comes from “Iddy Biddy” –  as in even those who are iddy biddy can make a difference.   Oh, and fifty cents from each purchase will be contributed to the Nature Conservancy through February of 2010 with a minumum contribution of $10,000.

Cute, conscientious and consevationist cuddly toys for toddlers and preschoolers?  Yeah, that’s something baby’s just gotta have.

Babies Gotta Have It hits the road for Memorial Day weekend, and takes along the Chic&Cozy Blanket Bag by Chic Tots!  Check out the video to see the bag in action on Chincoteague Island. Its water-resistant outer fabric makes it perfect for hauling baby gear to the pool, beach, or park and its soft terrycloth liner is a wonderful play mat or diaper changing pad. It’s a terrific size for your baby, and just big enough for you as well (assuming you, unlike me, manage to lay off the leftover burgers, icebox cake and sweet tea from the holiday weekend).  Makes a hip and stylish summer diaper bag, and no kidding converts to several different styles.  I tried it.  It worked.  Use it as a tote, a shoulder bag, a stroller bag, or a backpack simply by adjusting the straps and securing them in various velcro loops cleverly attached to the bag.

This is one super cool baby bag.  So super cool, that Parents Magazine featured it…and Target is now carrying it at 800 stores nationwide (find it on Target.com starting at the end of June).  Going to a baby shower in the coming weeks?  The Chic&Cozy Blanket Bag would make a totally unique baby shower gift. Buy a Chic&Cozy Bag at Target between now and June 13th and get a thank you gift from Chic Tots when you visit this link!

Or just win one here!  Yup, thanks to the amazing folks at Chic Tots (who sent me the bag and also made the fantastic coverall bib I reviewed here) one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will hit the pool toting this hip bag in a fabric of her choice.  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Chic&Cozy Blanket Bag Giveaway:

• Take a swing by Chic Tots. Check out the Chic&Cozy Blanket Bags and leave me a comment saying which fabric you’d choose if you won.  That’s it! Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? Do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of three entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste): @BabiesGottaHavT wants you to hit the pool in style! Win a Chic&Cozy Blanket Bag! http://tinyurl.com/nue836
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog! Button code is in the right sidebar.
• Email your friends about the giveaway! cc me in the message–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Giveaway begins on Thursday May 28th and ends on Thursday June  11th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Friday June 12th,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my baby called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my baby, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Update…

And the winner is: Result: 53

Congratulations Carol!  And thanks for being such a loyal reader, follower, and giveaway participant!  I hope you love love  love your bag!