Balloons + Baby Showers

Have you ever seen a funner way of setting the mood for a baby shower?

via here

Me and Mini Me

These shirts could make a fun Father's Day gift.

Find them here or here.

Silhouette Pendant

A custom silhouette pendant of each of my babies would be such a lovely treasure to wear.

Order by the end of today and you can still receive yours in time for Mother's Day!

Chambers and Beau

I've always liked the idea of a charm necklace with my children's names on it. These designs by Amy Elson, Mom and designer behind Chambers and Beau, are particularly playful and unique.

Cookies and Milk Baby Shower

Check out this creative milk and cookies baby shower on Cookie's (how appropriate!) nesting blog.

In my dreams....

...this would be gift of all gifts! The postpartum recovery kits from The Recovery would be the absolute perfect thing to give a new mom. They have truly thought of everything! They feature 6 different kits that fit everyone's unique delivery experience. My personal favorite is the Childbirth kit. It comes with all sorts of goodies from a Spa Robe to the Abdominal Compression Binder (an absolute must!) and a unique organic tote!

The fabulous people at The Recovery, have given our lovely tutusandturtle readers a 15% discount with the code: tutus15.

Nursing Bracelets

A good friend of mine was wearing one of these darling nursing bracelets. With a new baby on the way and two little monkeys running around, I thought this was the perfect way to keep track of baby's feedings. The esty shop Chunky Monkey Toes has heaps of styles too. And they are very reasonably priced.

Laborlooks gowns

We all have that fabulous picture of us holding our new arrival in the hospital, our faces are glowing, our little one is still nice and pink, and our hospital gown is.... faded, worn and just plain unattractive. Well the creative girls over at Laborlooks gowns has just the thing to make that picture even better. They have created hospital gowns in an array of fashionable fabric, that have side ties in the back, and snaps on the shoulders. Their gowns are practical, and comfy.

And they are giving tutusandturtles readers a 20% discount on their gowns with the code tutusandturtles! Thank you laborlooks!

Mama Apple Maternity Dresses

Shabby Apple now has a maternity dress line, Mama Apple, and the dresses are oh so cute. Virgin Strawberry Daquiri is almost(!) worth getting pregnant for.

Chocolate Craving looks flexible enough to work for any season, and could easily be dressed up or down. It also look super comfy for those last couple of months.

For those that aren't expecting, Shabby Apple has a Fit to Flatter guide to help you determine which dresses are going to be most flattering for your figure. There is also a fantastic accessories section so you can complete your new look. How's that for convenient one-stop shopping?

By Order of the Management

This sign could come in handy.

So could any of these...

You have to love the creativity of artists like John W. Golden. Get a quick look at more (and enjoy a giggle or two) here or view the entire selection of 'By Order of the Management' signs here.

PeaceLoveMom

Merry Mom

PeaceLoveMom: "A Celebration of Motherhood"

I really, really enjoy companies and products that promote all the wonderful things about being a parent and make you feel really good about a life that is completely delightful, yet frequently overwhelming. PeaceLoveMom is one such company that follows through on their claim of celebrating motherhood. Their line of apparel is cheerful and inspiring, along with being well made and super comfortable. It is a simple act, but putting on a shirt that expresses your pride in your role really is empowering! I know my thermal top will be getting a lot of wear this winter.

Lucky Mom thermal PeaceLoveMom thermal

With the weather getting colder every day, any of the cozy thermals or a shirt from the holiday line would be a great pick. There is even a selection of hats which, if you are like me, would be perfect for those days that you are running out the door while pulling your hair back in a ponytail.

*Use code "t&tfreeship" for free shipping on orders over $20.00 through 12/1*

Ooohh....

...Dante Beatrix's Studded Heart Stroller Tote Luxe -Sweet and Sassy!

Shopping Guide for Baby

You are going to have a baby, and you want to purchase all the greatest things, but how do you know what you will truly love and what you may find useless? Check out Fit Pregnancy's Essential Gear Guide to help you get started.

Other helpful resources include Amazon.com and Babiesrus.com. Products carried by both sites are publicly reviewed by people who have loved (or not loved) the products you are interested in so you know what others have experienced before you buy. Have fun shopping!

ZAKY...

"It is a soft but weighed pillow, partially filled - so that it comforms to the baby's body - that imitates the look, feel, weight, scent, and warmth of the parents’ hand and forearm. It assures proper positioning, helps with pain management and sleep, provides a sense of protection, and assists with the physical and psychological development of the child.

It is arguably the most loving and useful gift for infants (baby shower presents, healthy, premature or ill babies), toddlers, and special needs children of any age, size, or medical condition."

As a friend of a newborn baby, i decided to lend a "hand" to her, the Zaky to be exact. She ranted and raved about it! I asked her to describe it in a few words, she said, "It's a life saver and big help to have an extra hand especially during sleep times." It's benefit doesn't only work for nap and night times, it's an all day must-have! Having just been introduced to this product, i am amazed and hope to spread the word to you moms! You have to try it for yourself and reap the goodness it provides! Added goodness: It comes with a laundry bag and is machine washable! You can warm it in the dryer for a few minutes! You can shift the filling to control the weight and firmness! And you can scent it with your own perfume or after shave! I personally LOVE IT, so does my friend... and guaranteed, you'll LOVE IT TOO!

{You can find a store or order online here}

The Mommy Hook

I have a confession to make: I prefer to stay at home rather than deal with the hassle of going places with my two kids, even when they are perfectly behaved. Shopping is especially cringe worthy because of how much space we take up (I know, I only have two and they are still small, but this is just how things are for me!). We fill the cart or the stroller, and I am always stacking and shoving items to make them fit, especially at cart free places like a mall or the farmer's market. And please don't ask me how many times I have lost items I shouldn't be losing. Fortunately they usually turn up, but it is still a problem.

Long story short (Already messed that up, but I could have gone on a bit more!), The Mommy Hook would be just what I need. This no-slip hook attaches to a stroller or cart and allows you to hang your personal bag + any purchases without having to worry about anything slipping off or getting squished. Now I just need a no-slip hook to keep my two year old wanderer attached . . .

40 Weeks+ Pregnancy Organizer

I wish I would've had this when I was pregnant for the first time. I felt completely out of sorts and unorganized the entire 30-something weeks that I was pregnant.

I like this organizer for several useful reasons: there are places to write the name, phone number, and address of your OB, as well as your hospital. I know that seems like something you wouldn't forget, but I misplaced my doctor's phone number a million times, even though I called at least once a week with a question.

It also has a page to time/record your contractions. I really could've used that when my contractions started. Plus there is space for you to write your feelings down once the baby is born. I think I'll get one for my next pregnancy, just to compare how it goes!

Click on images to see details!

Baby Shower Ideas

Don't you love these mobiles? They look fairly manageable to duplicate, whether for a party or your child's room. You could have a lot of fun using this basic idea as inspiration.

Leave it to Martha to offer ideas on everything you need to host a Baby Shower, including pre-party planning, fun themes and unique gifts. Check out the guide here.

ROOTOTE

I have become a bit of a tote fanatic. They are small enough to have a few extras hanging around, so I can have different bags packed for different occasions such as a trip to the library, church, or running basic errands which keeps things a little more organized and convenient for those frequent times that we are rushing out the door. My only hang up is that everything gets jumbled up in there and I already have a tendency toward dinging up cellphones and losing my wallet (which I just found, thank-you very much!).

So hooray for friends who love to tell you about their new favorite things because I now know about ROOTOTE, a smart company that makes pretty bags with 4 interior pockets to keep me a little more sane. I love functional items. You can check out the great selection or buy them here.

Thanks Claire!

Dad's day too?

So you are packed and ready to go to the hospital, right? Well, how about Dad? The founders of 5 minutes apart thought of everyone. They have put together a very nice little set up for Dads to be comfortable at the hospital while they are at your beck and call!

Get free shipping on your order with code "freeship"!

Custom Hand-Stamped Charms

This necklace would make a delightful Mommy-To-Be gift, and the "2 Be" charm can be removed or swapped for Baby's name after his or her arrival. I love it.

What better way to honor a new big sister than with her own special charm?

I think this Etsy shop is a new favorite!