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Baby Boutiques & Mama Marts – Where to get all things KID!

June 9, 2010 by Jessica C. | Comments (0)

Summer is officially HERE! It’s time for family picnics and beach escapes, trips to the zoo and weekends by the coast. Cruise local kid’s shops and outfit your little ones in the latest and greatest! While you’re at it, grab a few things to make your life easier – the perfectly-pocketed diaper bag, anyone? How about attention-grabbing toys to keep tots occupied on long road trips? And if you’re expecting, you don’t have to go far to find fanciful furniture and decor for your new nursery!

The Little Red Barn & Baby Cakes
baby-cakes.net

Expecting? Well you can expect the best in baby interiors from both The Little Red Barn and Baby Cakes (run by the same owners)! These two charming baby boutiques specialize in helping you create the perfect, one-of-a-kind space for your perfect one-of-a-kind kid! Check out popular furniture lines Little Castle Gliders and Bratt Decor and cover them with custom 100% cotton bedding. Complete your nursery or big-kid bedroom with your choice of fun or fanciful lamps and lights, sturdy, kid-friendly throw rugs and unique wall decor! Contact The Little Red Barn or Baby Cakes today for your complimentary fabric swatches to help you choose the perfect look!

Right Bank Babies
rightbankbabies.com

Head to Right Bank Babies for kiddie couture and fun baby fashion! Ellen Uzarowicz and the Right Bank Babies team believe that children’s fashion should reflect the way children live – with wild abandon! Fancy clothes aren’t saved for fancy ocassions at Right Bank Babies…instead put your princesses in jeans and a satiny, frilly frock. Embrace color, texture and pattern by layering skirts, dresses and cardigans. And dress your little men in stripes and checks, vests and button downs…all in light, breezy, breathable cottons. Childhood is about having FUN – have FUN with what your kids wear at Right Bank Babies!

Weego Baby
weegobaby.com

Jessica Richter’s Weego Baby in Santa Monica is a one-stop-shop for all your baby and toddler needs! Choose crib, rocker and changing table for baby, and high chair, bunk bed and sippy cups for older brothers and sisters. Then snag a darling hand-knitted doll, an eco-conscious toy recycling truck (made, itself, of 100% recycled milk jugs!), and a bedtime story or two. And don’t leave Weego Baby without a bedtime CD…our favorite? Lullaby Renditions of AC/DC!

Planning a Fun in the Sun Picnic

May 17, 2010 by Jennifer L. | Comments (0)

Food always seems to taste better when enjoyed outdoors and in the company of great friends and family. So, pack your picnic basket, grab a blanket, bring some companions, and take advantage of the sunny warm weather the spring and summer months have to offer with an al fresco dining experience! Don’t sweat, planning a picnic doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some fun and fuss-free ideas for planning a picnic in the fresh air and sunshine!

1. Pick a Location:

• At the Park: Whether you’re on a grassy spot in the sunlight or under the shade of a tree, a park is the perfect place to gather for a picnic! If you’re feeling guilty about leaving your beloved pooch at home, there are plenty of pet-friendly parks so you can bring Fido along!
• On a Beach: Sun, surf, and sand is the ideal combination for a picnic on the beach! Just make sure you enjoy each element separately to avoid melted, soggy, or grainy grub.
• At a Drive-In Movie: CRAVing a romantic night with your sweetie? Dinner and a movie underneath a blanket of twinkling nighttime stars is a perfect date night combination. Don’t forget to bring popcorn and candy!
• In Your Backyard: Want to enjoy a meal outside but don’t feel like hauling a basket or cooler full of food around? No problem, a picnic in your backyard can be just as fun and probably less stressful if you happen to forget the napkins!
• On a Roof-top Patio: For those of you dwelling in the concrete jungle, many apartment and condo buildings have a roof-top patio for their residents to enjoy. The only difference? Rather than being surrounded by trees, you have adjacent skyscrapers to provide shade.

2. Picnic Menu Items:

We encourage you to be creative, but to also keep things simple with your picnic menu! Remember, you have to schlep these baskets around with limited heating or cooling available, and food poisoning is never included in the recipe for fun. Pack your picnic baskets with these simple palate pleasers, bon appetit!

• Savor: Definitely use your left-overs when you can! Roasted chicken can be used to make a yummy pasta or Caesar salad. You can also make some simple PB&J or turkey sandwiches the night before and refrigerate them until you’re ready to head out. Soft bagels with cream cheese are also a great and effortless menu option. Here are some other easy picnic recipes to consider.
• Sip: Class up your picnic with a bottle of wine to sip while you savor your meal, which is ideal if you’re enjoying a laid-back picnic on your backyard porch. For public parks and beaches, we recommend some bubbly and refreshing sparkling apple cider instead. Lemonade is also the classic beverage of choice for a sunny spring/summer picnic.
• Sweets: You can’t go wrong with brownies and cookies, which are crowd-pleasers for any age. A fresh fruit salad is delicious and nutritious, and also surprisingly portable! We generally don’t recommend packing anything that melts quickly, but if you’re having a backyard picnic you can get away with serving ice cream and popsicles!

3. Picnic Essentials NOT to Forget:

• Sunscreen/sun block: Don’t ruin your outdoor picnic with a painful sunburn, keep yourself sun protected! As the people from the land down under would say, “Slip, Slop, Slap: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat.”
• Insect repellant: A good idea if you’re going to be outdoors long enough for the mosquitoes to come out for their own picnic.
• Big quilt/blanket: If you’re going to be dining on the grass, sit on a big quilt or blanket to protect yourself from ants in your pants, or even worse, in your food!
• Eating utensils: Finger food is always fun, but if you plan on serving something that requires a fork, spoon, or knife, eating with your bare hands will get messy and complicated.
• Plastic bag(s): Be considerate of others and the park in which you are enjoying your picnic and clean up any trash or food waste. Also, if your pooch joined you for your picnic, please pick up behind your pawed pal as well.
• Anti-bacterial hand gel/wipes: Ahh, germs! Need we say more?
• Entertainment: Don’t dine and dash, stay a while! Bring some playing cards, a Frisbee, or play bocce ball while your tummies digest.

Bond with these Activites on Mother’s Day

May 3, 2010 by Aubry | Comments (0)

It’s that time of year – it’s all about mom. You know as well as we do – with a hectic lifestyle, sometimes traditional alternatives have to do the trick (isn’t it the thought that counts?). But with all that mom has done for you, we’re guessing you probably CRAVE some creative mother/daughter bonding activities this Mother’s Day. So take a break from the craziness of the day to bond with the number one woman in your life. Whether you’re a “like- mother-like-daughter duo” or have completely different tastes, you’re sure to find a fabulous way to celebrate your mom in style with our irresistible options! Get ready to make some memories!

Rediscover Family Recipes
What better way to celebrate the women in your family than with a day dedicated to the culinary queens that have graced your family over the years? We all have recipes stashed away in a drawer in the kitchen that we always talk about with family members during holiday time. How many times have you reminisced about Grandma Marie’s outrageous chicken Marsala or Aunt Susan’s legendary lemon meringue? It’s time to pull out those recipes and cook them up with mom! Be sure to recopy those recipes that are written on paper that is little worse for wear, organize them and swap memories as you savor your hard work. So, if CRAVE something spicy or sweet and want to share special memories of the wonderful women that have paved your way, get cooking with mom. Who knows, you might even make some mother-daughter recipes of your own!

Other ideas for the the crafty mother-daughter duo:

- Organize family photos in scrapbooks or photo albums.
- Transfer old family tapes to DVD.
- Take an art class together.

Mother-Daughter Massage
What better way to say goodbye to stress and pamper the number one woman in your life than with a mother-daughter massage and spa treatment? Sometimes, the unspoken shared moments in life mean the most. With a little time to meditate, make muscles melt and mend your bodies, you and mom will be bonding in no time. Take some time together to choose your lineup of indulgences for the day. Whether you and mom CRAVE some hot stone therapy, aromatherapy or holistic skin care, your Mother’s Day Spa date is sure to be one to remember!

Other options for mothers and daughters looking to chill:

- Take a yoga class together.
- Safely score some rays of sunshine at the beach.
- Pack a picnic lunch and your suits. Find the perfect place to swim, enjoy the water and indulge in some homemade picnic classics!

Generational Clothing Swap:
Admit it – you have always wanted to raid mom’s closet (maybe you already have!) for some of those classy vintage outfits she has saved over the years. She’s probably had her eye on some of yours! Now is your chance to share style secrets that span a few more decades. Spend the days discussing style and sharing trends that have come in and out of both your lives. You might find some similarities you would never suspect – styles always seem to come back! After you swap chic secrets, you might even want to have a generational fashion show. Whatever decade you and mom each CRAVE when it comes to style, the creative possibilities are endless when you put your heads together in the name of fashion!

Alternatives for moms and daughters with fashion in their blood:

- Get out there for some retail therapy, but here’s the catch – pick outfits for each other. You could be pleasantly surprised, or you might be laughing the entire time you’re in the dressing room!
- Score mother-daughter style makeover consultations.
- Go on a fashionable date – check CRAVE and other local listings for fashion shows and other styling events in your city.

No matter what you CRAVE and how you choose to celebrate mom, enjoy your time together. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at CRAVE.

Bright, Beautiful, Blissful – We’re Craving These Blooms

April 14, 2010 by Aubry | Comments (0)

As hibernation comes to an end, what better way to celebrate the sun than with a bunch of your favorite flowers?  Whether you’re after the perfect peonies for mom, a carnation corsage for your prom-goer, a budding bouquet for that springtime wedding, or a pick-me-up for yourself, Los Angeles is blooming with fantastic flowers.  Be sure to check out these flower shops we CRAVE.  With so many budding options, you’ll be smelling the roses all spring long!

Botany - botanyflowers.com

Their sidewalk shop might be small, but Stacie Rubaum and Stephanie Schur share a space that is blooming with the seasons brightest and most beautiful buds.  The duo’s regulars are testament to the business’s familiar feel and the freshness of the flowers.  If you’re looking for an addition to an outstanding arrangement, be sure to score some gardening tools, candles and lotions.  We’re loving the shop’s ever-so-quaint, cozy vibe!  So head over to Botany and discover the flowers and family for yourself.

Lauryl Lane - wwwlauryllane.com

With her flair for flowers and fashion, Lauryl Lane is sure to set you up with dream flowers for your dream wedding.  Check out Lauryl’s portfolio – we’re daydreaming about the “Anthropologie Ambiance” wedding right now.   This avant-garde designer is renowned for her versatility, attention to detail, vision for creative color-texture combos and love of organic flowers.  With an ability to connect with her clients to bring their floral fantasies to life, you’re sure to find a lifetime worth of memories with Lauryl Lane’s masterpieces.

Stephanie Grace - www.stephaniegrace.com

With the personalized charm and charisma she brings to her vibrant blooming arrangements, Stephanie Grace is sure to make any event – whether it be Valentine’s Day, your wedding day or any other – a day to remember.  With Stephanie Grace, the world of flowers is blossoming with possibilities.  We’re craving her “Rebecca” arrangement right now. Beyond her floral designs, Stephanie Grace applies her vision to entire events as well.  Check out Stephanie’s latest designs, and we guarantee you’ll be floating in flower heaven.

Best Places to Find Baby Shower Gifts

February 17, 2010 by Nicole S. | Comments (2)

 

For those of us that have not reached the point of motherhood, it can still be fun to pretend for a bit and purchase some super cute baby clothes and accessories!  Go ahead and indulge your maternal instincts and pick out something for one of your friends who is a mommy-to-be! Don’t have a baby shower on your calendar?  Anything that comes in a size that can fit a newborn is bound to be adorable so you are bound to find something you cannot resist- you can save it for a future shower or, who knows, maybe one of your own! We found the spots you must check out for the ultimate in baby glamour.

Jenny Bec’s

Jenny Bec’s is filled with super cute finds for your new tot to wear, as well as toys to play with and baby-safe bubble bath! We love the tiny camouflage socks for newborns and the hooded bath towel to wrap up your water baby. For those that don’t shy away from frills, you will adore the tiny tutu and headband set! Click.

The Little Seed

The Little Seed’s co-founders Soleil Moon Frye and Paige Goldberg Tolmach set out to create a store and website “where parents had the option to purchase stylish organic and eco products exclusively”. In addition to their fabulous products, The Little Seed shopping experience includes an arts and crafts area for little ones and educational seminars for parents! Pick up a brightly colored onesie and organic teether for the new baby and some safe and eco-friendly finger paint for big brother or sister. Click.

Poppy Store

Jenny Belushi and Heather Whitney’s Poppy Store is the perfect destination to spoil a new bundle of love. The luxe knit baby booties are delicate and adorable, and who doesn’t live for itty bitty newborn shoes? The Glamour Shoes in gold or silver are perfect for little ladies while the Infant Supergas (“a tiny version of the classic Italian sneakers”) is great for little boys! Click.

Right Bank Babies

Owner Ellen Uzarowicz named this shop is based on the Right Bank of the Seine River in Paris, the fashion district. It’s no surprise then that the patterned onsies and printed jumpers from Right Bank Babies are some of the most precious baby-wear we have ever laid eyes. Any little man will be dashing in a green plaid wool blazer, and we CRAVE the reversible umbrella skirt for girls. Click.