Valco Baby has been manufacturing and distributing baby products for more than 30 years and they have set the standard for functional, durable, stylish and safe strollers. The Valco Tri Mode Ex Twin is easy to use, sturdy and practical. Eliza and I both love taking long walks in the area so I wanted a stroller that would seat both my little girls comfortably and allow us the freedom to explore the world without worrying about a flimsy frame or wheels that stick or breaks that don’t lock.

The Valco Tri Mode EX Twin is a stroller meant to grow with your burgeoning family. Not only does each child have their own seat, canopy and recline function, but there is also an option to add a twin toddler seat so that a third little one can sit and ride comfortably as well!

This stroller was clearly built to impress and it has all the bells and whistles of a super-luxury stroller at a reasonable price. Some of it’s best features include – reflective harness webbing, rear hood storage pocket which converts to a diaper bag that hooks onto the back of the stroller, LOTS of storage room, aluminum wheels, one-touch seat recline, zipper access to the basket, super compact fold (with or without wheels) and an adjustable handlebar.

All the fabric is stain resistant and easy to clean. The Valco Tri Mode EX Twin is also now available in an array of new, modern colors – Arctic, Candy Apple and Hot Chocolate as well as their standard black, aka Raven.

As I mentioned earlier, we are serious walkers – whether we’re off to the farmer’s market, the park, or around the golf course near our home. With any luck this next baby will be as happy to relax and be transported in her comfy Valco Tri Mode EX Twin as my first one.  For more information on all of the amazing Valco strollers, go to their website.

Tad Hills, known for his best selling Duck & Goose picture books, has done it again with this imaginative tale filled with adorable animal characters.  My 5 year-old, often hard to get to focus, was engrossed from the beginning.  Rocket would rather play in the leaves than learn to read, but the clever little yellow bird does not give up.  She comes every day and hangs an alphabet banner from the trees announcing, “Ah, the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet”.  Then she begins reading a story aloud, engaging Rocket until he is eager to know the ending.  The bird smartly makes him wait until the next day to find out, solidifying his interest in reading.

Rocket now hooked, hunkers down to learn his letters and we get to see the words spelled out phonetically – separated by hyphens.  Perfect for an early reader, my son loved spelling out his ABCs, especially since they were written in the snow.  Readers join Rocket in first recognizing their alphabet, sounding out the letters and finally constructing words together with the enthusiastic little puppy.  When the bird leaves for the winter, Rocket is hooked and continues to practice spelling out words like M-U-D, while he’s covered in what else, but mud.

When the little yellow bird finally returns in the Fall, Rocket is ready to begin his lessons again.  The two settle down to read books and discover stories together.  The illustrations of the changing seasons in oil and colored pencil, are the ideal rendering for this sweet, captivating story.

A great back-to-school book, How Rocket Learned to Read is not only entertaining, but perfect for building confidence in early readers.  To order visit their website.

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY: We are giving away 5 How Rocket Learned to Read books on Facebook this week! (Retail value: $90) Visit our honestbaby fan page to enter!

For my daughter’s second birthday I wanted the biggest, baddest tutu around and boy did I find it.  The people at Too Too Cute do not mess around when it comes to tutus.  Each of their tutus are made with 75 yards of tulle – with the exception of the smallest size, which is made with 50 yards of tulle.  Every tutu is accented with a large flower and a solid satin or polka dotted grosgrain ribbon.

There are 16 colors to choose from and the Specialty Tutus combine two or more colors into one sugary confection.  You can also customize your own tutu if you so choose.  And if your daughter would like a doll or a bear with a tutu to match her own that option is also available.

My favorite part about the tutu is how far 75 yards of tulle can go.  This tutu is nearly as wide as she is tall and she looked adorable wearing it.  She insisted on pairing it with her pink and white Pumas and it was an overall winning combination.

Too Too Cute Tutus sell for $35 each.  You can check out all of their fabulous styles on their website.

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY: We are giving away a Too Too Cute Tutu on Facebook this week! (Retail value: $35) Visit our honestbaby fan page to enter!

The Comfort Carrier has a padded waist belt and adjustable shoulder straps so that baby’s weight is evenly distributed onto your hips and shoulders.  For those who believe in “attachment parenting” and for those who are interested in maintaining as much physical contact with your little one as possible, this is truly an indispensable item.  It will allow you to carry your baby while still having your hands free to do… well… whatever needs doing.

As with all BabyBjorn carriers you can face your child inwards or outwards depending on age, size and personal preference (both yours and your baby’s!).   The Comfort Carrier was designed in close collaboration with pediatricians, parents and children.  It is appropriate for kids up to 2 years old weighing 13 to 31 pounds.

The BabyBjorn Comfort Carrier is made with 100% organically grown cotton.  Both the bib and the carrier are free from health-hazardous substances and the entire carrier can be thrown in the washing machine when the need arises.

If all of this appeals to you – don’t stop there.  BabyBjorn has just come out with a Sun Cover that is suitable for use with all of their carriers.  I know a number of dedicated hikers that will find this accessory particularly useful.  If you are someone who braves the great outdoors regardless of 110 degree weather and blazing sunshine you might want to consider picking up a Sun Cover for your baby carrier before toting your little one along with you.  Even if you are just running some errands, this is he perfect accessory for keeping your baby safe from the sun.  This is particularly good for young babies since most pediatricians do not recommend using sunscreen on little ones before they turn six months old.

As a resident of Los Angeles – perhaps the most relentlessly sunny city in our nation – I have found this a useful accessory for my carrier.  I was able to use it with my infant facing in (although it can be used with your child facing out as well).  The cover has a detachable sun hat and your child can be lifted in and out of the carrier without removing it.  The sun cover is UPF40 and keeps baby carefully shaded.  Once again, BabyBjorn has thought of everything.  To check out more of BabyBjorn’s amazing products visit their website.

I recently found myself in just this situation.  With our newest addition to the family firmly ensconced in her dream nursery we moved our video monitor from our toddler’s room to the new baby’s.  Last night around 5am my husband woke up for entirely different reasons and realized that our two year old was crying.  How long had she been up before we raced in to her rescue?  I was wracked with guilt.  But I can assure you – this will not happen again.  We now have the new Summer Infant Sleek&Secure™ MultiView Handheld Color Video Monitor and we can keep tabs on everything at once.

The Summer Infant Sleek&Secure™ Monitor really is the top-of-the-line in baby video monitors.  It comes with two cameras and allows you to view up to 4 different rooms at a time (two additional cameras must be purchased for this option).  You can view rooms on a split screen or by a feature that automatically scans between each room every 8 seconds.  This is great for people with more than one young child or those who would like to keep an eye on a playroom as well as a bedroom.

There is a 2.5” color LCD screen with automatic black & white night vision on the monitor as well as 100% digital technology that provides a secure and private connection up to 350 feet away.  Some additional features include: talk back feature that allows parents to talk to baby while in nursery, belt clip, flip stand, 10-hour rechargeable battery, auto time-out feature, LED sound lights and one-touch video on/off button for nighttime convenience.

We feel that the Sleek&Secure™ MultiView Handheld Color Video Monitor is a fitting column to conclude our Dream Nursery segments.  A baby monitor is a necessity and you can’t get better than this sophisticated, convenient, modern technology from Summer Infant.

Enter for a chance to win your own Summer Infant Sleek & Secure™ MultiView Handheld Color Video Monitor! (retail value $269.99) Tell us your latest imperfect parenting moment!

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Serena and Lily has quickly become the go-to company for stunningly gorgeous bedding of the highest quality for nurseries and kids rooms. Back in 2003 when Serena (Dugan) first met Lily (Kanter) they decided to combine their design and business talents to reinvent the concept of the baby’s room. They were astonishingly successful both aesthetically and commercially.

To create the perfect room for our little princess we opted for the Eve Bedding collection and we were not sorry. The soft aqua blue and stunning mellon-pink embroidery would stand out in any room. Bedding is the clear centerpiece of a bedroom and the Eve bedding brings a bohemian flair to an otherwise traditional palate. Serena and Lily have become known for their inspired mix of gorgeous embroidery, rich colors and mosaic-patterns. They know how to join an earthy feel with vibrant colors and fun patterns – it is a winning combination.

Serena and Lily has also branched out into select furniture, paint and accent pieces that compliment their bedding line. There is a section on their website for design tips and do-it-yourself projects. In addition, they have a noble social mission that values healthy communities and the human spirit. As a result Serena and Lily supports organizations that advocate for underprivileged and at-risk women and children.

If you are looking for breathtakingly beautiful, high-quality linens for your child’s room (or even for your own!) Serena and Lily should be an obvious place to start. I’ll have to let the pictures speak for themselves…

It boasts micro-vented, breathable upholstery offered in Fuego (Red/Gray) or Pearl (Gray/Black) as well as an adjustable, clip-on cup holder so your little passenger has the same cool drink-holder options as the older members of the family.  It also has a headrest and side wings that adjust up and out for several comfort options.

In many states kids are required to ride in a booster seat until they are 9 years old or 100 lbs.  It is safer than riding without a booster seat and it is the law.  The Chicco KeyFit Strada is intended for children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old, 38” – 57” tall and 33 – 100 lbs.  Most car accidents happen when a car is hit from the side, and this seat provides more energy-absorbing EPS foam then many of its competitors for maximum side-impact protection.  As your child grows the Chicco KeyFit Strada will grow with it.  This seat converts to a backless booster for children 40 – 100 lbs.

The Chicco KeyFit Strada Booster is an attractive, practical, well-made seat that will allow your child to ride safely in your vehicle.  Assuming you stop the text messaging when you start the ignition!  Suggested retail price: $169.99

We all know how teething babies are not only curious but love to put everything and anything they can get their hands on into their mouths.  That’s why I stopped wearing all of my jewelry…because frankly, who knows what it’s made of!  Teething Bling is perfect  – it’s pretty and practical!

True story – today, my friend who shops in all the trendiest boutiques, knows all the brands and designers, and always looks fantastic, was loving my bling – and was envious of my bling bangle and necklace! Ha!  But the biggest (most important) fan was Cameron - my most delicious 11 month old boy, on a serous biting frenzy (hello, those gums are strong)! Best of all, I am not at all worried about the diamond coming loose, or the chain breaking, and I really, really like this jewelry!

These are non-toxic, BPA, PVC, lead, and all bad things FREE!  It looks like a stone – but it is a the same material as an infant spoon.  And it comes in SO many colors and designs.  I gotta tell you, I was wishing all day I came up with this idea.  But, even though I did not, I am glad a smart mom (that’s just redundant isn’t it?) did!  Thank you!

My baby was happy teething on my necklace all day. and, when he wasn’t in my arms, and was crying the whole way home from his sister’s gymnastics class, I tried to pass him yogurt melts and cheerios, but that didn’t work.  Then I passed him the bracelet and he teethed quietly all the way home!

So I say,’ don’t bite the hand that feeds you, bite the teething bling’ – and he did!  Nice.  On top of it all, I finally have a new, cool gift for all my mom friends.  Love it!

Visit SmartMom Jewelry to find a store that carries Teething Bling near you!

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY: We are giving away Teething Bling on Facebook this week! Visit our honestbaby fan page to enter!

The focus of the Dad Gear brand is to bring together quality, style and functionality for men.  After all, I’m not the only one carting Eliza around town.  Once in a while my husband does actually take her somewhere and it’s nice to know he now has the accoutrements to make his own life easier.

I got him a Dad Gear vest and was thrilled to find that he really was able to stash an ungodly amount of baby-care items into the cleverly concealed pockets.  Some of the features of this fabulous vest include two zippered chest pockets that hold wipes and a cell phone or i-pod with headphone access as well as two large interior pockets for diapers or a change of clothes.  Two bottle pockets on either side that can lie flat when not in use.  It also comes with a slim-design changing pad included and tucks discreetly in a back pocket.  It is made with high quality, comfortable fleece material and durable hardware.  It comes in blue, black and orange and it is a great gift for any man on the go.

Although the Dad Gear brand carries Messenger Bags, Backpacks and Satchels we opted for a traditional Courier Bag in Green Retro Stripe.  It is the epitome of understated cool.  Looks good with anything and never goes out of style.  It is also large and comes with some handy accessories.  There is a quick access wipes window where you can insert the wipes of your choice into a plastic wipes dispenser that comes with the bag.  This allows for quick wipe access in case of emergency.  There are two large interior pockets for diapers, food, toys or what have you as well as two bottle pockets accessible from inside or outside the bag.  There is a stroller strap that attaches to any style of stroller and stows away when not in use.  There is a handy changing pad included with the bag that has its own zippered pocket to prevent cross contamination.

We all know what makes our man look his best.  The Dad Gear line is the first place I will now look for new, casual, practical clothes and bags at completely reasonable prices.  One-stop shopping for cool, functional, quality items.

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY: We are giving away 2 DadGear Courier Bags on Facebook this week! (Retail Value: $120) Visit our honestbaby fan page to enter!

The Mia Chandelier is hard to miss.  It drips with crystals and seems bathed in soft candlelight.  It is a five-armed chandelier made of cast iron with a dry-brush painted finish.  The glass beads compliment the graceful swirls of the cast-iron frame.  It is easy on the eyes and it was a perfect compliment to the rest of our Dream Nursery.  The creamy white finish allows the chandelier to blend in a room with a number of different styles and finishes.

Pottery Barn Kids specializes in providing casual furnishings and textiles designed to delight and inspire the imagination.  Most products are delivered within five to seven days of an order being placed.

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY: We are giving away one  on Pottery Barn Kids Mia Chandelier on Facebook this week! Visit our honestbaby fan page to enter! ($169 Value).