Babble Top 50 Best Dressed Moms

We are really big fans of Babble, a great resource for new parents. This site has wonderful content for parents at every stage of - well - parenting! We particularly like their Top 50 lists, which they periodically publish. And, while we think it's still a wee bit early in the year to publish any best of 2010 list, we love their recently posted Top 50 Best Dressed Moms of 2010!

These days, we're not surprised to see a list begin with Angelina Jolie, who we admit is one of the most glamorous Mothers in Hollywood. Coming in at #2 is Victoria Beckham, who always looks like she's going to a runway show, even if she's just taking her three sons to the Zoo!

Halle Berry, Heidi Klum, Padma Lakshmi, Nicole Richie, First Lady Michelle Obama, and one of our favorite new Mommy's Sandra Bullock, all made the list!

We were even surprised to see a number of reality show celebrities grace the list, which includes Real Housewives of New York star Countess LuAnn DeLesseps, Keeping Up With the Kardashian's Kourtney Kardashian and Bethenny Getting Married? star and new Mommy Bethenny Frankel.

But why, oh why, wasn't Jennifer Garner on this list? To us, she represents one of the most down-to-earth and yet glamorous Moms in all of Hollywood.



How she can get dressed in casual chic, wearing jeans and a comfortable yet stylish sweater, to pick her daughter up from day care or just run errands with the two girls....

...to looking absolutely stunning on the Red Carpet at the 2010 Golden Globes, embodies what is truly a best dressed Mommy. Because, as everyone knows, there's a time and a place for heels and a ball gown and the sand pit at your local park just isn't one of them! Hopefully the Babble editors will add Jennifer to the list next year!

In the meantime, we're still waiting to see the Top 50 Best Celebrity Nursery list! We're pretty sure you'll find a lot of Bonavita nursery furniture in that roundup.

So, who do you think is missing from this list? Which celebrity - based on their sense of style - do you think has the most stylish nursery? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Bonavita Belly Brunch - smashing success!

Our first ever Bonavita Belly Brunch was a smashing success! Twenty six expecting parents attended the brunch and feasted on decadent cupcakes while viewing Bonavita's line of nursery furnishings. Check out the great photos below!

We'd like to thank Simply Baby and Kids in Monroe, CT for helping us host our first ever Bonavita Belly Brunch!

Get in touch with us if you'd like us to host a Bonavita Belly Brunch at a retailer near you!!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

How to Design a Stylish Nursery

Pastel paint or cartoon wallpaper? Blinds or curtains? Diaper genie or wastebasket? Dora the Explorer or Sesame Street? Dark wood or white paint finish furniture?

When it comes to designing the nursery, many new parents are filled with excitement while others are overwhelmed. From selecting the perfect crib to choosing patterns and colors to compliment it, designing a baby nursery can either be a great joy or a source of frustration for new parents.

Artist and designer Ron Briere shares some tips for turning that cluttered office or spare guest room into your new baby’s perfect corner.

Inspire Yourself: Look around your house for inspiration. Love country? Modern? Do you love dark wood and pale walls? Whatever you have enjoyed in the rest of your home, will serve to inspire great décor in the baby nursery. Design a nursery that fits your personal style.

1-2-3: Select colors that are soothing or cheerful, calm or bold, but a good rule of thumb is to stick to three complimentary colors and then look for accents and paint and bedding to coordinate.

Cut the Clutter: Wipes and creams and diapers, Oh My! Babies seem to have more toiletries than movie stars but if you have selected your furniture carefully, there is a place for everything and everything should be in its place. Keep everything you need for changing baby in arms reach, but inside a drawer or stacked in a decorative basket near the changing pad.

On the Wall: Artwork and wall hangings are great ways to personalize the room. You do not need to match frames with the furniture but do try to match frames with frames. Pull the room together by selecting art that reflects the colors in the room or choose black and white for a classic look. If you have digital photos, play with the programs on your computer and create the look of charcoal paintings or add borders and other subtle effects. Photos of relatives, cherished pets or even favorite vacation spots can all add character and class to the nursery. Hang wall accessories at eye level for an average adult.

Try, try again: Designers don’t walk into a room and immediately decide where to place each object so neither should you. The best way to decide how the crib and furniture will look, is to move the pieces around and live with them, walking in and out of the room, for several days. Just don’t bolt anything to the floor! As baby develops, you may find the nursery needs to change and grow to keep up as well.

Invest in Rest: Baby furniture is an investment. Many families invest in a crib and furniture set that will grow with the baby. Look for a crib that converts to a toddler bed and even to a full-size bed as baby grows. Select styles that look beautiful in a baby’s and in a child’s room. For great photos to inspire decorating ideas, a selection of Lifestyle® cribs and quality furniture, visit our website.

We hope these tips help, and as always, comment below or contact us with any questions!