A Lovely Lark: Baby Products and Gear

Showing posts with label Baby Products and Gear. Show all posts

Holiday Giveaway 2014

11.28.2014

I'm super excited to say that I've rounded up some of my all-time favorite baby items and partnered with some of my favorite shops to create a fantastic giveaway! One of you will win EVERYTHING on this list - over $1100 in prizes. You can enter via the Rafflecopter below.

Merry Christmas! xo, Lauren

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Get Cozy

11.24.2014

It's that time again! Time to kick off our annual holiday gift guides. I've been loving all of the warm and cozy fabrics and textures that I've been seeing just about everywhere this year. And with how Fall has been going, it looks like we may be in for another polar vortex! Needless to say, anything cozy and cuddly is going to be a hit with the littles. Here are some of my favorite soft, warm, and cozy gift ideas for your littles:

Bear Sleeping Bag: RH Baby & Child

Knit Bus in Mint: Oeuf NYC

Faux Sheepskin Throw: Pottery Barn

Bear Hat: Zara Kids

Sherpa Mittens: Gap Kids

Pointelle Blanket Mist: Blabla Kids

Bunny Slippers: Zara Kids

Knit Bunny Rattle: Anne-Claire Petit

A-Frame Tent: RH Baby & Child

Bunny Ears Hat: Anthropologie

Ergobaby Carrier Winter Edition: Amazon

Lambswool Hippo: Tiny Warbler

Bear Slippers: Gap Kids

Knitted Jacket: Mini Boden

Share and Share Alike (Plus a Giveaway!) with Bunch & Rosa

5.20.2014

The lovely Tampathia of Bunch & Rosa sent over this gorgeous handmade quilt for Lucy a while back, and we love it SO much that I asked if we could have a giveaway for all of you. The colors are completely perfect, I love the design, and it's beautifully made. It was really an inspiration piece that made me want to add more color to Lucy's nursery. It also inspired this shared kids' space - it was a great jumping off point for the color palette. I also love that their quilts are made here in the USA and that they use organic cotton for all of the quilts.

In addition to this particular quilt, there are a ton of other gorgeous designs - some more traditional, some with lots of color, and others with a more subdued color palette. And the best news is that you get your choice of any quilt in the shop!

You can enter via the Rafflecopter below by liking Bunch & Rosa on Facebook or following them on Pinterest. (Sorry, this one is open to U.S. Residents only) Good luck! xo, Lauren

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Design Board Sources:
Navy Crib Sheets
Crib
Don't Give Up the Ship Print
No Jumping on the Bed Print
Lion Cub Twins Print
Abstract Quilt
Map Print
Mushroom Shadowbox
Clock
Fox Night Light
Dresser
Knit Ball
Cross Crib Sheets
Dinosaur Planter
Storage Basket
Table Lamp
Chunky Braided Wool Rug
Sailboat
Knit Bear Hat
Twin Bed

Summer Baby Essentials

3.12.2014

I've teamed up with the lovely folks over on Baby List to share a few of my favorite Summer baby essentials, and I'm excited to say that I'll be writing for them regularly! You can see the full post and all of the sources here. xo, Lauren

Baby Items I'm Glad I Bought + Ones I Wish I Hadn't

2.26.2014

In case you missed it, I shared a few of my favorite baby items (and a few I could have lived without) over on Apartment Therapy last week. The funny thing is, the list would have been totally different if I had written this when I had Violet! Is it just me or did anyone of you have a different must-have list for each of your babies?

Because I Actually Get to Feed My Baby Real Food This Time Around...

2.25.2014

Even though Lucy is my second baby, I feel like a new mom when it comes to feeding her. With Violet we weren't able to give her anything but breastmilk or her prescription formula until she was over a year old due to her extreme food intolerances, so I never really got the experience of feeding food to a baby. Now that I'm fully into that arena with Lucy (she's now ten months old!), there are a few things that have been quite new for me.

1. Food stains! Violet's clothing stayed sooo much cleaner than Lucy's does - I didn't realize how messy feeding a baby can be!
2. We go through bibs like crazy - I feel like we have a thousand and I just can never keep enough clean to last the whole week.
3. Sticky fingers, sticky faces, general stickiness. Of course, when Violet was a toddler we dealt with the sticky fingers thing but we were blissfully unaware of how sticky a baby can get.
4. Where do you feed them when visiting friends? I'm not about to lug my high chair everywhere we go, so where do you put your baby when you're visiting a friend (or even a restaurant) who doesn't have a high chair? I usually end up just holding her on my lap, but what a disaster that always turns out to be! I'm thinking maybe we should have invested in a portable high chair of some kind, but now I'm wondering if it's a little late in the game to actually get our money's worth out of it? I'm really liking this one by Inglesina:

So pretty! It comes in a bunch of pretty colors and has gotten really great reviews, plus they're not too pricey. Any words of wisdom? Is it worth it at this point?

Thanks so much from a second time mama, first time baby feeder lol! xo, Lauren

P.S. Tips for Little Eaters

5 of My Favorite Cribs Under $1000

2.13.2014

And last but not least, if you can afford to splurge on a crib, here are five of my favorite cribs under $1000!

1. Kalon Studios Caravan Crib: $695
2. Dwell Studio Mid-Century Crib: $980
3. Nursery Works Loom Crib: $649
4. Oeuf Sparrow Crib: $760
5. Oeuf Rhea Crib: $670

P.S. 5 Favorite Cribs Under $400 + 5 Favorite Cribs Under $200

5 of My Favorite Cribs Under $400

2.12.2014

In my last post I chose my five favorite cribs in the under $200 price range. But if you've got a little bit more wiggle room in your budget it can really open up your options in the crib arena. Here are five beautiful cribs under $400:

1. Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib: $379
2. Honest Collective Crib: $399 (I love that when you purchase one of these cribs, The Honest Company will donate one to a family in need)
3. Babyletto Skip Convertible Crib: $299
4. Karla Dubois Oslo 3-in-1 Convertible Crib: $399
5. DaVinci Highland 4-in-1 Convertible Crib: $389

P.S. 5 Favorite Cribs Under $1000 + 5 Favorite Cribs Under $200

5 of My Favorite Cribs Under $200

2.06.2014

When we put Violet's nursery together, we were on a shoestring budget, especially when it came to home decorating. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a stylish nursery. I did a lot of shopping around, made use of hand-me-downs and yard sale finds, and did a few DIY projects in order to decorate the space within our means. Sometimes I feel like I see all of these gorgeous modern cribs in my favorite nurseries, and their price tag is like a mortgage payment. If it's doable for your family financially, I say go for it, splurge on the crib of your dreams! But if not, don't despair - these five cribs are all under $200, look great, and will be perfectly lovely for your little guy or gal:

1. The Classic Jenny Lind - This one is definitely a favorite for me (obviously since it's the one I chose for my girls' nursery!) - I love the classic look and its versatility. The Jenny Lind will look at home in most any space - whether the style is modern, eclectic, classic, or vintage, the Jenny Lind is kind of a chameleon that can hang with most any look. At $159, it's a little more expensive than the one we purchased (it was made by Delta and we paid $103), but that one doesn't seem to be on the market any longer.

2. The IKEA SNIGLAR - Clean lines, warm wood tones - simplicity at its best. This is my favorite crib from IKEA, and at a price tag of $69.99 it really can't be beat.

3. The Baby Mod Modena - This is another crib that would work well in a lot of different nurseries - modern, woodsy/rustic, or even traditional. It comes in a variety of colors and sneaks in just under the $200 mark at $199.98.

4. The IKEA SUNDVIK - At $119 this is a little pricier than the SNIGLAR, but it comes in gray-brown, white, and black-brown, so if you're looking for a non-wood toned option, this is a great bargain.

5. The IKEA GULLIVER - The most expensive of the IKEA cribs, this one is $129, which is still one of the best looking and most inexpensive cribs out there - really IKEA gives you, as always, a lot of bang for your buck. It is available in both white and birch.

And if you're looking for more options, check out my favorite 5 Cribs Under $400 and 5 Cribs Under $1000.

P.S. 6 Tips for Decorating a Nursery on a Budget and 16 of My Favorite Sources for Crib Sheets

16 of My Favorite Sources for Crib Sheets

1.29.2014

A-Lovely-Lark-16-Favorite-Sources-for-Crib-Sheets

I haven't talked much about Lucy's nursery on here, mostly because I'm about 75% there, but have gotten a) super busy with two kids (note to self: finish nurseries BEFORE the baby is born!) and b) I'm kinda stuck. I've been trying to decide for months whether or not to paint the upper half of the nursery white.

I love, love, love white nurseries. Pretty much 80% of my Pinterest boards on home decor are of white spaces. The problem is, I also am very attached to the tree that I painted on the wall before I had Violet. If I paint the space white, the tree will either have to go, or I'll have to figure out some really creative solution to keep in in another color. If the tree goes, I feel like I'll have a blank wall on that side of the room screaming for something. Unfortunately the wall is sloped (so I can't hang anything) and there is no real ceiling - it just curves straight into to the opposite wall, so no wallpaper unless you cover the entire room, which is why I painted the tree in the first place. So anyway, I figured I'll ask you for advice and in the meantime share a little bit of my favorite nursery items on here.

When I started updating the nursery for Lucy, one thing I really searched for were the perfect crib sheets. I wanted them to either be patterned or linen and relatively inexpensive. Here are 16 favorite sources for crib sheets that I came across along the way:

1. Candy Kirby Designs
2. Olive & Andrew on Etsy
3. Serena & Lily
4. Unison Home
5. Mayasri

6. Aunt Bucky on Etsy
7. Land of Nod
8. Little Auggie
9. Iviebaby on Etsy
10. Babiease on Etsy

11. Aden + Anais
12. Dwell Studio
13. RH Baby & Child
14. ModFox on Etsy
15. Target
16. Carousel Designs

Do you have any favorite sources that aren't on the list? I'd love to hear about them and/or hear what you think about the paint/tree situation! I've seriously been going back and forth in my head for months, and at this point I just feel ridiculous lol! xo, Lauren

P.S. Violet's nursery and a couple of peeks into the updated space so far.

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: For the Babes

11.26.2013

To follow our baby giveaway from yesterday, here are a few of my favorite lovely things for the baby in your life:

Little Hip Squeaks believes that kids are fun, and their clothes should be, too! Our aesthetic is for of bright colors and bold prints, with modern babies, tots and kiddos in mind.

Juniper Wilde

Juniper Wilde began in 2010 when Owner and Designer Nicole VandenToorn gave birth to her first son. She was unable to find organic, eco-frientdy nursery decor that fit her own rustic/modern aesthetic. Being a trained designer it seemed only natural for her to take on the project herself. That's where is all began and from there a passion was born, soon to be followed by an Etsy shop! Nicole designs all of the fabrics for her collection and they are used exclusively for Juniper Wilde. All of the products are organic and the inks used in the printing process are non-toxic and eco-friendly, which makes Juniper Wilde items perfect for snuggling the style-savvy littles in our lives.

Egg-A-Go-Go

The whole Egg-A-Go-Go product line is painted, designed and printed by Sarah in Boston. From tiny watercolor paintings on clay to screenprinted clothing and from clever cards to cute postcard sets, Sarah hopes to make things that make people happy and to bring appreciation to small and often-overlooked wonders.

Busy Bonnie Bee

Busy Bonnie Bee grew like a magic mushroom out of my crafts and crafty works that had started to accumulate over the years. As my kids were born and grew, I enjoyed dressing them in this and that, and I'm still tickled when they wear my clothes or when someone compliments their clothing and it's something I've made. My philosophy of creating clothes and toys is to have fun and love what I am making.

Koukku

I am a 34 years old, and I am very proud to say that I was the first one to bring crochet nursing items to Etsy. It was a fantastic creative process five years ago. My hobby and Etsy customers literally saved my life in 2011. I had to spend two weeks in the hospital and deliver my second daughter after six months of pregnancy. She didn't make it. I almost lost my life too. It was my Etsy shop that helped me to survive. I received orders and lovely feedback every day, so I just kept crocheting and my husband was my personal postman. And we made it. Day by day, our first daughter kept us busy as well and we are okay now.

I am working on an art deco collection for women and girls and hope to launch in 2014.

Holiday Giveaway No. 1: For the Babes

11.25.2013

For our first giveaway, I thought I'd start "at the beginning", so here's a fun pack of prizes for the baby (or mama-to-be) in your life:

1. $50 Credit to Little Hip Squeaks
2. Any single item + shipping from Koukku
3. Any onesie + shipping from egg-a-go-go
4. Night Sky Carrier + shipping from Ergobaby

This one is open to U.S. residents only (due to shipping restrictions of some of the participants), but don't worry I will have some international giveaways in the days to come too, so don't fret! You can enter via the Rafflecopter here. Good luck! xo, Lauren a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beach with a Babe

7.17.2013

We're thinking of taking a day trip to the beach (I wanted to go longer, but Kevin thinks it will be a big hassle with the baby). Plus we are trying to save money with me being off work, so I guess a day trip is better than nothing! We've taken Violet to the beach as a toddler but I've never been to the beach with an infant. I've been trying to think of everything we might need...

1. I'm thinking some sort of sun shade is in order. Although there are some really amazing sunscreens out there, I've read that you shouldn't use sunscreen on babies younger than six months. So an umbrella or tent/cabana is going to be necessary to keep the rays off that baby-fresh skin. I love that this cabana is made using UPF 50 fabric and folds up for easy transport. (These sunscreen wipes look really convenient - might have to snag a pack for Violet!)

2. Something to carry the babe in. I don't think pushing a stroller over the sand sounds like much fun to me, so I'd probably bring our Ergobaby carrier, and a beach-y bag to carry all of those teeny weeny baby things.

3. And, of course, cute swimwear, water-friendly footwear, a floppy hat for some extra sun shade, stylin' sunnies, and some colorful toys to entertain the babe and the toddler. These cloth swim diapers are super cute too, and UPF 50 fabric for that little bum!

4. Speaking of baby bums, I've heard that a little baby powder helps take the sand right off of your skin. Is that true? Anyone know from experience? If so I'm definitely stocking up on some before we go.

Anyone have any advice? Like I said, we're babe-at-the-beach novices here. Thanks so much! xo, Lauren

Surviving the Fourth of July with an Infant

7.01.2013

So we went to an early fireworks display the other night and it went surprisingly well! We were both a little nervous as Violet hadn't napped and was seeming a bit grumpy, and Lucy is, well, a two month old! But we figured the worst that could happen is a little crying and a trip back home. Well, I'm happy to say that there were no tears and we had a lovely time! Here's what helped in case anyone else is toting an infant along on the Fourth:

1. A big blanket - We got there a bit late, as we tend to do these days (still trying to get the hang of two!) and there wasn't a bench or seat in site. Luckily we did think ahead and brought a blanket, so we just spread out on the soft grass which ended up being perfect. Violet got to run around and catch fireflies and she snuggled with her papa during the show.

2. A floppy hat - To keep the sun off that wee little head

3. White Noise App - I can't say enough how much this app on my phone has come in handy. We purchased (in the middle of the night!) it when we traveled to Australia with Violet. We were actually in a hotel room right by the elevators and could hear the dinging and people chatting as they got off all night long. None of us could sleep, so out of desperation I bought this app and we haven't looked back.

I use it all of the time to help Lucy fall asleep on the go. It calms her down in the car too (she's surprisingly not a fan of driving around). She does really great at parties and things of that nature with a lot of constant background noise, but for something intermittent like big booming fireworks, this is a life saver. It of course didn't block out the noise (what could?!), but it definitely made her feel more comfortable with it.

4. A breezy outfit - Something comfy and light for those hot summer days and evenings.

5. A light blanket - to swaddle baby for comfort, nursing in public, or to provide shade from the sun

6. Your favorite carrier - This was huge at the fireworks. Lucy felt safe and snuggled with her mama and slept through the entire show!

7. A pacifier - I know some prefer the thumb, but my babies have loved their paci's - instant soothing. We actually use the classic Nuk pacifiers, but this one is super cute.

I also kept my hand over Lucy's ear (the other ear was pressed against my chest) and swayed back and forth to keep her in motion. We had a great time and I'm really excited for the parade we'll be going to on the Fourth! Hope you all have a lovely holiday - kids or not! xo, Lauren

Favorite {Baby} Things Giveaway - Last Day!

6.27.2013

It's giveaway time! To thank you all for visiting A Lovely Lark and helping me to stay home with my girls a little bit longer, I've put away a giveaway of some of my favorite baby products. One lucky reader will win 1. $100 credit toward Birth Announcements or Nursery Art from Minted, 2. $35 store credit to Little Hip Squeaks, 3. Four-Pack of Classic Aden + Anais swaddles in one of their newest prints, 4. Virginia Johnson Crib Bedding Set, 5. Baby Moccasins from Freshly Picked, 6. A sweet little Crocheted Cloud Cushion, 7. Sleep Gown from Tadpoles, 8. Set of Glass Bottles (two 8-ounce and two 4-ounce) and Bottle Sleeves, Gia Nursing Pillow and Cover from Dr. Brown's, and 9. Organic Ergobaby Carrier in Lattice Print. That's a total retail value of over $600!

Here's how you can enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A big thank you to our giveaway sponsors! Show them some love:

Minted: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest
Little Hip Squeaks: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Instagram
Aden + Anais: Website . Facebook . Twitter
Freshly Picked: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Instagram . Pinterest
Tadpoles Bedding: Website . Facebook . Twitter
Dr. Brown's Baby: Website . Facebook . Pinterest

This one's open to U.S. residents only, and it will run through Friday 6/28/13. Good luck and thanks for reading A Lovely Lark! xo, Lauren

5 Favorites for Mama & Baby

5.15.2013

For all of you mom's to be out there, I thought I'd share some of the things I can't live without these days:

1. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets - with Violet I kind of gave up on swaddling because all of the flannel blankets I had were almost immediately too small to swaddle her with. Plus she was a May baby, so I quickly felt that they were too warm for her. When I was pregnant with Lucy I hunted and hunted for swaddle blankets that we could actually use and fell in love with these gauzy dream blankets from Aden + Anais. The material is lightweight so it's perfect for a spring or summer baby, and they are the perfect size. I'm confident we'll be able to make use of these for quite some time. And the patterns are just gorgeous to boot.

2. Picci Moses Basket - Although we have the crib and co-sleeper upstairs, I like to have a cozy safe spot on our first floor to keep my sleeping babe close by during the day. With Violet we used a pack n play, but now that we have more furniture and kids' stuff around the house, we just don't have room for it. So this time I snatched up one of these Moses baskets by Picci with some Zulily credit, and I'm so happy that I did! She is super comfy in there, it doesn't take up too much space, and I can actually transport her from room to room while she's sleeping. A+

3. Cozy Comfort Pregnancy Pillow - When I was pregnant with Violet I suffered through without one of these ginormous pillows because a) they're kind of expensive and b) they take up a lot of space. But with this second pregnancy I reconsidered. Although this was another find I bought with credit on Zulily, I'd pay full price for it in a heartbeat today. So SO worth it. I can't tell you how much more sleep I was able to get while pregnant with this gem of a pillow, and it came in handy postpartum as well. After I came home from the hospital I was pretty sore and beat up and this helped me to be so much more comfortable. In fact I'm still using it because it keeps me super comfortable while I'm nursing at night. Kev has been a champ and hasn't complained about his reduction in bed space once. Love you honey!

4. Carter's Jumpsuits - It's so hard to find comfortable, affordable clothing for infants that doesn't have crazy animals or creepy sayings. After a lot of searching I'm so in love with these adorable jumpsuits from Carter's. I bought them in newborn size and liked them so much that I went ahead and purchased the next size up as well!

5. My Arm's Reach Co-sleeper - This is one thing on the list that I bought for Violet and am reusing with Lucy. I love having my babe right at my side at night - it makes night-time feedings a breeze and helped get me through that first week where you're constantly checking to see if your baby is still breathing! (Does anyone else do that?) I don't think they sell this particular model any more, but all of their co-sleepers are the same concept. It attaches to the bed (and detaches quite easily as well), one side drops down so that you can see right in to the baby, and it has storage underneath as well as little pockets on the side perfect for diapers, wipes, and a changing pad. I don't get out of bed at all at night and that's just the way I like it!

Stay tuned, I'll try to share a few of my favorite things each week. Hope this helps! xo, Lauren

Baby Blanket Love

5.07.2013

Both of my girls are feeling super special after receiving beautiful handmade blankets from a couple of sweet and talented ladies. Lucy has been enjoying lounging on her new play mat from Jennifer of Baby J & Co.

I love that it's super soft and plush on one side and has a gorgeous pattern on the other. It also has a velcro closure that makes it really easy to roll up and take along to picnics and outings. Jennifer started making the blankets after having her own babe so that she always knew which side had been against the ground. Love when mamas run into a problem and instead of complaining about it they just roll up their sleeves and get something done! It's definitely going to be our favorite tummy time blanket for sure. Thanks Jennifer!

Violet also received her own special doll quilt and pillow a few months ago from Amy of My Little Loves and she loves it so much that I wanted to mention it as well. She uses it for nap time, diaper changes, tea parties - you name it!

Thank you so much ladies for taking care of my girls! xo, Lauren

Baby Wish List No. 009

4.03.2013

We obviously already have a lot of the essentials when it comes to feeding time, but if I had my druthers these lovely things would be on my list:

1. Stokke Tripp Trapp
2. Handmade Bibs
3. Hoppop Reversible Plate
4. Munchkin Safety Spoons
5. U Konserve Mini Containers
6. Ba Baby Bottle Holders

I definitely need to buy the baby spoons at the very least. Violet has been using ours for her baby dolls and they have a habit of disappearing! xo, Lauren

Baby Wish List posts are generously sponsored by the online baby registry, BabyList - put anything on your baby registry from any store. It's as easy to use as Pinterest, because making your baby registry should be fun!

Baby Wish List No. 008

3.25.2013

Diaper changing isn't the most glamorous job, but who says you can't have a pretty changing station? I'd love to have a few of these lovely things:

1. Organic Cotton + Wool Changing Pad: Miniluu
2. Baby Bee Multipurpose Ointment: Burt's Bees
3. Cotton Cord Basket: Doug Johston
4. Rikshaw Design Baby Blooms: J.Crew

xo, Lauren

Baby Wish List posts are generously sponsored by the online baby registry, BabyList - put anything on your baby registry from any store. It's as easy to use as Pinterest, because making your baby registry should be fun!

Lovely Links + Giveaway Winners

3.22.2013

A few of my favorite parenting links from this week:

Lovely newborn/family photo shoot by Paige Lowe Photography via 100 Layer Cakelet
To the parents of little ones...
Beautiful - "And then I worry less and breathe deeper, knowing that our children will always settle into themselves – as long as we wait for them."
Thoughts on the "big girl transition".
On holiday madness.
On the so-called 'mommy wars'.

And here's what I've been sharing on Apartment Therapy lately:

DIY Ideas:

10 DIY Easter Treat Bags
Create Your Own Duvet Cover
Create a Starry Ceiling
Toys You Can Make Out of Cardboard
DIY Ideas to Freshen Up Kids' Dressers

Lovely Little Spaces:

Before & After: Baby E's Nursery
Washi Tape Ideas for Kids' Spaces
More Washi Tape Ideas for Kids' Spaces
Desmond's Tiny Travel-Themed Room
Aden & Isabel's Colorful Shared Space

Lovely Little Things:

20 Wooden Baby Gyms
Gilded Artwork for the Nursery
15 Bassinets, Cradles, and Baskets
20 Super Stylish Storage Bins

If you'd like to see more of my Apartment Therapy posts, you can check them out here.

And last but not least the winners of the giveaways...

Home Depot giveaway: Tammigirl
American Blanket Co.: eRin

Congrats ladies, and thanks to all for playing! Happy Friday everyone - xo, Lauren

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