Created by Chicks-- a must-visit, must-bookmark, must-subscribe-to blog!

Quinn Curtis, my very good friend and partner in crime (okay, partner in planning the Moms Who Make It conference), just started a new blog appropriately and awesomely named CreatedByChicks. I absolutely LOVE the name; it's sassy with a lot of style thrown into the mix. And because it's been forever since we've had a fashion trend tuesday, I thought it more than appropriate to feature it today.

CreatedByChicks is brand, spankin' new so you'll want to check back and watch as it takes on a life of its own. I'm so totally sure it will since Quinn, the woman behind CreatedByMom.com, is behind it!

I’m just a chick who really digs celebrating creativity, especially creative chicks. I think the world needs more creativity. It gives us life & happiness to be creative, don’t you think?

That's the new blog in a nutshell, but a very concise, very creative nutshell. Her first post features beautiful headbands by kaang--the Lesley Flower headband is TO DIE FOR! Have your own fabulous creations and designs? You'll want to join the CreatedByChicks community by uploading pics of your "creative endeavors" to the CreatedByChicks Flickr group.

I am so excited about CreatedByChicks I can hardly stand it! I am anticipating it becoming one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, fashion blogs for crafty, creative women entrepreneurs, so check back regularly as she builds the site and adds a subscription option. You'll definitely want to catch this blog's updates! --Emily

Made By Survivors: Give a truly meaningful gift this Mother's Day

I am all for sparkly things and two-pound boxes full of dark chocolate come Mother's Day, but what really sets my heart aflutter is a gift that gives back. I don't think we give these gifts often enough, and so this Mother's Day I want you to really think before buying that slow cooker or Kitchen Aid mixer. They may help support your position as the "favorite" in the family but do they support a more worthy cause like fighting human trafficking and modern-day slavery?

Made By Survivors is part of The Emancipation Network (TEN), an international organization that "[helps] survivors of slavery rebuild their lives after rescue from slavery, with sustainable income, education and help reintegrating into society. [They] work to prevent slavery in high risk communities such as red light and refugee communities, by creating jobs for adults and through volunteer trips and donations to our shelter partners for rescue, school fees, emergency needs and reintegration."

The Emancipation Network imports and sells a wonderful collection of beautiful handmade products created by survivors of slavery and persons at risk of being trafficked into slavery. Made By Survivors is where you can find these handcrafted products, from jewelry, handbags and clothing to paper products, home decor and fun children's items such as the Butterfly Purse pictured at left.

I love the Silver and Stone Necklace and these whimsical Recycled Rice Bag 3-Pocket Wallets! Though the selection isn't as huge as what you might find elsewhere online, I dare you to find a cause more worthy of your support. You can still give sparkly things for Mother's Day--they'll just have greater meaning this year.

For more the full line of Made By Survivors products, visit TEN's online store. To learn more about TEN and how they are "fighting slavery with empowerment" please visit The Emancipation Network site. --Emily

Time to pass the georgie tees torch

I tried to come up with some lighthearted introduction to today's post but just couldn't do it. Not that it's a sad subject--it's actually a rather exciting one for us, and in a way relates to a fashion trend tuesday post. The good news is LeShan and I both have a few new projects in the works. The bad news is in order to make these new endeavors happen, we will be moving on from georgie tees, selling the company we have built over the past three (almost four) years.

You will find a mini post about all of this on a couple of our favorite sites and we didn't want it to take you by surprise. It's already up on A Mom in Red High Heels and a similar mention will soon be seen on the Mom 4 Life blog, Boutique Cafe and The Lily Pad. Here's how our friend Tammy is helping us spread the word--her post, "Own It: Your Own Maternity & Infant T-Shirt Line," made me smile:

Moms, one of my favorite maternity t-shirt lines, is for sale! georgie tees™ is designed to add humor–and kick!–to this amazing thing we call motherhood! georgie tees™ brings you freshly baked style in infant & maternity apparel. LeShan and Emily, the moms behind the biz, have both been interviewed right here on A Mom in Red High Heels!

If you’ve ever thought of owning your own business in the maternity/infant fashion industry, this business is definitely worth looking into!

LeShan and Emily, the women behind georgie tees, are looking for a mom or moms who are interested in owning their own business and who would be a perfect fit for their company. LeShan and Emily have spent over three years building their business and as much as they’d love to continue, both women have new projects they are working on and entrepreneurial husbands who could use their wives’ help to grow their own businesses.

Even with all the multitasking these women do, they can’t make time for everything in their busy schedules! They have built a strong foundation for georgie tees and are excited to see it grow under new ownership. If you or someone you know might be interested in georgie tees, you can email LeShan and Emily at bizinfo[at]georgietees[dot]com for more information.

We appreciate everyone who is helping spread the word. We aren't in a hurry; we're all about making sure the new owners will be a great fit for the company (i.e. we hope they have a good sense of humor!). For more information you can email us at bizinfo@georgietees.com. Until the sale is final (and probably for a little while after) we will continue to pour our hearts and souls into our baby company...it's what mompreneurs do! --Emily

Denim goes "deal of the day"

I'm either a member or an RSS subscriber of a few "deal of the day" sites, including Mockstar Baby, The Mini Social, Rue La La and Babysteals.com. I recently discovered a new one and it's all about denim--I think I'm in heaven!

Citizen Blues is a new face on the deal scene. Though Citizen Blues, like other sites, provides customers with authentic designer clothing at a fraction of the price, the site only features one product a day. Short and sweet and to the point, perfect for those who don't have the time to shop.

You'll recognize many of the designer labels and Citizen Blues offers them for at least 50% off the retail price. It's a good thing they only feature one product at a time or I may max out my credit card in one visit! With a counter for each size you'll know just how many are left; you can judge if you have time to run an errand or if you better place your order immediately before your size is gone.

These days steals and deals on designer labels are more fashionable than ever, so this fashion trend tuesday be sure to add Citizen Blues to your high-style RSS feed. --Emily

EcoStiletto shows that "green" is the new black

Though I still have a long way to go I am trying to go green wherever and whenever I can. Yes, I have room for improvement (more like a 4-bedroom house) but every little bit helps and that's what I'm banking on. I'll be the first to admit my preconception about "going green" is probably not a fair one (cleaning products that don't really clean, an unsightly mini composter on my kitchen counter), but it is slowly changing as I come across more and more companies that are making going green a fashionable endeavor. Yes, "green" is slowly becoming the new black and sites like EcoStiletto are leading the movement.

EcoStiletto is an eco-friendly site geared toward women...but it's not about vegan heels. Their tagline reads: "Stiletto-size your carbon footprint and change the world, one small step at a time." Some of you may not know what the term "carbon footprint" means. Here's what CarbonFootprint.com says:

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.

Basically it's the effect your activities have on the environment. Going green is all about shrinking your carbon footprint and having as little negative effect on your surroundings as possible--at least that's my understanding.

But back to EcoStiletto. The site is all about changing your Ugg-boot-size carbon footprint to one that is either nonexistent or at the very least the tiniest of Manolo stilettos. The site features eco-friendly choices in a variety of areas including fashion, beauty, parenting and even entertainment. I love this quote from their About Us page:

We're not about guilt, we're about information. We're not about forcing you to change, we're about giving you alternatives. Because everyone wants to make a difference, but no one wants to give up the little things that we love. Making a difference doesn't have to mean making a huge change in your lifestyle. Sometimes it just means considering the alternatives.

Now that's sounds like change I can handle! Some of EcoStiletto's recent posts include Canopy Verde's eco-friendly bags, organic chocolate (I knew I loved this site!) and cool recycled toddler shoes from Pedoodles. One of my most favorite things is their Big List of Things That Suck, which highlights from A to Z things that are so not "green" (e.g., animal testing, BPAs, phthalates, and VOCs).

"EcoStiletto is for the woman who wants to do the right thing and still look good doing it." That quote comes courtesy of Kelly Rutherford from Gossip Girl. (I'm not into Gossip Girl but from what I gather, if Kelly endorses something it's worth taking note.) With EcoStiletto, going green has never looked so good! --Emily

More boutiques & more press--we're feelin' the love!

Even though Valentine's Day has come and gone (and so has the chocolate), we are still feeling the love here at georgie tees. We've added a few new online boutiques to our list of locations and had some great press. We kind of think all this love makes for a great that's hot! thursday post so check out the new boutiques and latest press coverage below. And if you don't think it's a great that's hot! thursday post, we have our fingers are in our ears while loudly saying "la la la la la la la" (i.e., we're not listening).

"Fresh" boutiques

"Hot" press

"Can you imagine being pregnant when maternity clothes consisted of bows, giant polka dots and oh....the mumu dress?! GAH! Thankfully, maternity clothes have come a long way since then, and georgie tees makes maternity clothing hip with their cheeky t-shirts."


"georgie tees specializes in 'freshly baked style for bellies and babies,' which translates to super cute maternity and infant t-shirts, and is owned by friends Emily & LeShan."


"Tired of the same uninteresting tee shirts? Are your maternity clothes giving you the blues? Add some humor to your wardrobe and your baby’s too with numerous entertaining fashion and selection from georgie tees. ..."


EA: "What has been the greatest success you’ve had so far in your business?"
Emily: "For us it is when we hear complete strangers comment on our tees–or complete strangers wearing our tees!"

To view our entire list of locations you can visit our locations page on our website. For past press coverage or to view our press kit (it still needs a little updating so give us a few days), visit our press page. Thanks for letting us toot our own horn once again. We promise not to do it too often! --Emily

Saving money is more stylish than ever!

In today's economy it's all about saving money. Fortunately I've never been a full-price shopper so buying things on sale, and especially clearance, comes naturally. Sometimes it takes a bit of patience while you wait for that must-have sweater to go on sale. And once in a while I experience the pain of disappointment when the skirt I want is sold out by the time I am ready to buy it. But I get over it quickly as I look for the next great deal. That's not to say you shouldn't pay full price for a high-quality wardrobe staple (or a fabulous and comfy pair of heels), but most of the time paying full price is just plain silly.

Fortunately for us a lot of retailers are cutting prices more often and by a higher percentage as they too feel the crunch of the economy. I swear Old Navy, Gap, Gymboree, Esprit, The Children's Place and many others are sending me more emails than ever about special sales and markdowns. Anyone else noticing their Inbox filling up rather quickly? In the spirit of saving and on this fashion trend tuesday, I thought I'd share my recent budget-friendly purchases. (Just don't tell my husband; he doesn't know about all of these...yet.)

Victoria's Secret Hooded Pajama set (Not exactly what my husband had in mind and for some reason it doesn't look that sexy on a normal person like me...)

$19.99 regularly $39.50

Victoria's Secret Empire-Waist Wool Coat (This isn't the exact coat; perhaps they've already sold out. Mine is a similar style but hip length.)

$99 regulary $148 (mine was $65 regularly about $125)






New James Jeans via ebay (I love ebay for designer denim. Just make sure you go by measurements--waist, rise, inseam--and not size!)

$19.98 regularly $100+


Anthropologie Frosted Sigh Blouse (I justified this purchase because I had a $20 gift card--thanks, Bri!)

$59.95 regularly $118

Have you found any great deals in the past few weeks? Do you have any favorite websites and/or blogs you watch for upcoming deals and specials? We'd love to know! --Emily

cheeky & swank: the perfect combination

I much prefer doing a take it off tuesday than a fashion trend tuesday. Exercise and fitness is much more my thing than the latest styles and trends but since my brownie, bread and Oreo diet isn't having the desired effects I'm not feeling the fitness thing this week. What I am feeling is super cute styles for parents and baby, and that's what Cheeky & Swank is all about!

Cheeky & Swank, a company "for cheeky kids & swank parents," has something for everyone, from bibs and burp cloths for baby to stylish tees and bags for moms and dads. One of my favorite items is their Magna-Bib. Kind of sounds like a superhero, doesn't it? And it just might be with its high-temperature, special magnets hidden in the neck. The magnetic closure means no scratchy Velcro and no snagged tights coming out of washer or dryer. Velcro is probably my least favorite. The tie-on bib is a step above because it stays secure but it can be quite the battle trying to tie it on a very hungry, very squirmy baby. I love the idea of a bib with a magnetic closure. Thank you, Cheeky & Swank!

Beyond bibs the company also has a beautiful collection of blankets, burp cloths and slings. And let's not forget about those swank parents! I absolutely love their Blushing Bird and Madame Butterfly tees for Mom and Owl messenger bag. Their tees for Dad are pretty cool too (the V-Dub long-sleeve is my fave). Oh, and I forgot to mention their cute line of apparel for kids. I just might have to purchase the Miss Peacock smocked top for my little girl. So sweet!

In our house being cheeky will either get you in trouble (those over the age of 8) or make Mom & Dad laugh (those under the age of 4). And style has nothing to do with it. If you're looking for that perfect combination you'll want to check out Cheeky & Swank. They've got it down perfectly! --Emily

tired of the CPSIA? we sure are.

If you follow me on Twitter or simply follow any #cpsia tweets, or if you're lucky enough to know someone in the business of creating products for children then you've probably had an earful by now about the CPSIA or Consumer Product Safety Improvment Act. But even an earful isn't enough as the possible effects of the law are felt by more and more businesses (think Etsy), organizations (think the ALA--American Library Association) and you, the end customer (think less choices and higher prices).

Today has been designated as a CPSIA Blog-in, a virtual sit-in of sorts. Perhaps if we inundate the Web with what we know about this badly written law, we will finally be heard. I'm not sure Henry Waxman, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, will ever listen to the message I left on his voicemail. (As someone said on Twitter, he probably has an assistant sitting nearby with one of those bus-driver clickers keeping count.) But as seen from the recent Motrin fiasco, we do know the power of bloggers--it's a force to be reckoned with!

I have already posted about the CPSIA with some of my favorite links but here are a few more just in case you thought you, the end customer, wouldn't be affected by its reach.

• The CPSIA: Soon to bar kids from libraries? (Yes, your toddler may not be able to thumb through those board books after February 10th.)
• Ten predictions for the CPSIA's effects on children's products for 2009
• "Say No to the CPSIA" Blog-In (I love this one as it breaks down those affected by groups, from the entrepreneur to the second-hand shopper.)
• CPSIA Series: Business is Personal (You too should take it personally!)
  
• CPSIA Links (Probably the most comprehensive list of resources out there: articles, videos, contact information and posts from experts)
• The Ballad of the CPSIA (This is quite possibly the pièce de résistance of the posts for today. I much prefer to laugh than cry...)
  

LeShan and I are doing our own protest of sorts and have yet to take an XRF gun to our line of infant apparel. Though the law does not allow us to use certificates of compliance from our suppliers (American Apparel for our tees and a local screen printer for designs), we will have their certificates stating both tees and inks are lead free. For us, that is enough. As our local American Apparel distributor said, and I quote, "Don't they know there's no lead in apparel?" And by "they" I'm pretty sure he meant the idiots behind the CPSIA.

We feel confident our infant wear is lead free and will continue to sell it on our site. We are also confident that change is in the air. We will be offering a really great sale in the next few days in "honor" of the CPSIA, so keep your eyes out for that announcement. (We are still working out the details.) Because we did not do our own testing, though it would've cost us only a few hundred dollars, you will not see our infant line on some of our online boutiques. Hopefully the law will be resolved soon and we can all get back to work. I know for many of us this CPSIA has caused more than a few gray hairs and more than a few added pounds due to stress-related eating.

We would love your help in spreading the word about the CPSIA and the possible National Bankruptcy Day on February 10th. If you don't feel up to contacting your local congressman perhaps you'd be willing to link to this post from Twitter, Facebook or even your own blog. If you've never participated in a sit-in, or blog-in in this case, now's your chance! --Emily

Babycapes sale! 40% off all styles!

I reviewed Babycapes not too long ago on Boutique Cafe's Daily Dish. (You can read my Babycapes review here.) Though it took a few tries to get the hang of it we have fallen in love with this stylish, warm, super soft--and very safe--coat. The retail price (around $80) is a bit high for some budgets but since the coat can be worn from infant to toddler I still feel it's a worthwhile investment. Plus your child is a lot safer buckled in her car seat wearing a Babycape than that bulky sweater or coat!

If the price tag kept you from purchasing your own Babycape, you're in luck. The company just announced its American Economic Recovery Sale. All Babycapes are now 40% off! That is just about wholesale so you won't find a better deal anywhere online or at any other time of year. Don't wait too long to choose your favorite--popular styles will go quickly. You can view the entire collection online at Babycapesonline.com.

P.S. Keep your eyes open for our own special sale. We'll be announcing it soon! --Emily

the giving tee

You've heard of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree but have you heard of Tiny Revolutionary's The Giving Tee? I doubt it's as well known as the aforementioned book yet it has just as strong an impact, if not more, on society. Why? Because The Giving Tee supports a variety of worthy causes.

My favorite Giving Tee has "This shirt saved a life" emblazoned on the front. The tee is the result of Tiny Revolutionary's partnership with Africa Aid. The shirt truly is a life saver. When you purchase a "This shirt saved a life" tee, $20 is donated directly to Africa Aid to fund a child in their school lunch program in the Buduburam Refugee Settlement in Ghana for an entire year. Yes, an entire year. The design is printed on a super soft 100% cotton vintage black tee with non-toxic inks. Each tee includes an inside print explaining the program and is hand-numbered before it's shipped so it's truly one of a kind.

Tiny Revolutionary has two other Giving Tees, both just as cool as their "This shirt saved a life." "No guitar left behind" helps provide music education and instruments to homeless and underprivileged kids in the Chicago area through Rock for Kids. "Where there is love, there is life" helps caregivers learn techniques that improve their ability to nurture a child's social, cognitive and physical development through Hands to Hearts International.

Giving Tees cost from $34 to $40, but $10 to $20 of that goes directly to a charitable foundation. (I can't say the same for my latest Esprit t-shirt purchase.) Tiny Revolutionary is giving you an easy way to support a worthy cause, something that's always in style and even more so in today's economy. Make your next apparel purchase your most fashionable one yet. --Emily

BlueSky Rocket and Bubby Boutique carry georgie tees!

It is fashion trend tuesday and readers of our blog know we use this day (and sometimes wonderful web wednesday) to make announcements related to georgie tees. Today we'd love to give a shout-out to the two newest boutiques to carry our line, BlueSky Rocket and Bubby Boutique. Bubby Boutique is the newest and has yet to add all our tees, but they have maternity up so far! (pregnancy does come before baby so it's fitting...).

These two boutiques offer wonderful items for mom and babies; you'll want to visit both because they carry a variety of different product lines. Help share the georgie tees love and visit BlueSky Rocket and Bubby Boutique today.

Look for another boutique soon to be added to the list. Hint: it's one we've featured in a past blog post. Plus, a fabulous showroom just launched in Los Angeles and we're in it! We'll be sharing the news with you later this week. Happy shopping! --Emily

pediped & Make-A-Wish; you can make it happen

Learning how you can support a cause is always a great way to spend a wonderful web wednesday so that's what we're going to do right now.

pediped Footwear, one of my most favorite children's footwear companies, has always been committed to giving back to the community. Even in this depressing and sometimes scary economy, pediped is making a very rare offer on its website. (Rare because this is only the second time the company has made such an offer.)

From December 17th through the 31st, pediped is reducing the price of select footwear and will donate 50 percent of the sales from these shoes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Angela Edgeworth, pediped's president:

We believe in the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the good work it does with children. We are blessed with healthy children and feel compelled to make a difference in these children's lives. We initially pledged $50,000, but thanks to the generosity of our consumers, we are confident we can double that. We've reduced the price of our shoes, something we never do, as a way to give back to our consumers while benefiting this worthy charity. We hope everyone shares in the spirit of giving this season. Goodness knows people need it now more than ever. We should be thankful every day for what we have.

This is the first time pediped has partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and through its fundraising efforts the company has already raised over $87,000, enough to grant the wishes of 12 children with life-threatening medical conditions. You can view some of the granted wishes and keep up to date on pediped's goal by visiting the Make-A-Wish page on their website.

This special online fundraising event is good only through the end of December. You can learn more about this fundraiser and view the select footwear at pediped.com. Trust me, you'll want to do some shopping. Not only will it support a very worthy cause but you'll be dressing your child in some of the most stylish, child-friendly, even podiatrist-recommended footwear around. Can you tell I'm one of their biggest fans? (You can see for yourself by searching "pediped" on BoutiqueCafe.com.) --Emily

The Mini Social: designer duds for mom & baby up to 60% off

These days a lot more people are finding they have champagne tastes on beer budgets, especially when it comes to clothing. In a recent fashion trend tuessday post I featured Mockstar Baby, a site offering a daily steal on hip and edgy clothing for little ones. Today I have another one for you, The Mini Social.

Two fashion-forward moms are behind The Mini Social so you know it's going to be stylish yet simple and tailored toward moms like us. The Mini Social is an invitation-only site that features the latest designer clothing and accessories for mom and baby at up to 60% off. The site "hosts" two or more designer "socials" a week; I've already stopped by for the baby star social, while umi, Kayce Hughes and Nest Organics are going on right now. Think of it as your online exclusive sample sale!

The Mini Social isn't just about great deals on the hottest styles. A portion of the proceeds are donated to several charities, including the United States Fund for UNICEF and Shoe4Africa. I love it when my shopping does someone else some good!

See for yourself what The Mini Social is all about by signing up and visiting the latest designer socials. Refer a friend and receive a $10 credit when she places her first order! --Emily

help save small business!

"Ball of confusion, oh yeah; that's what the world is today, hey..." Those are the lyrics (originally sung by The Temptations) that come to mind when reading about the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, or CPSIA for short. I've tried reading the info on the CPSIA website but my brain quickly becomes its own ball of confusion. What does it all mean for small business who manufacture/design/create products geared toward children age 12 and under? Will they (us included) go bankrupt because we can't afford third-party testing of our products to certify they do not contain lead or phthalates?

We are still doing our research but we have done enough to know reform is necessary to keep thousands of small business from closing their doors. "The CPSIA: Good in Theory, Hurting Small, Favorite Green Businesses in Practice" from The Smart Mama is a great post outlining the impact of the CPSIA on small and not-so-small business. It gives a better picture about what types of products/business are affected and the types of testing involved. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the article:

On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). It was drafted as a toy safety law in response, at least in part, to the numerous recalls in 2007 for lead in children's toys and jewelry. It was also drafted in response to the tragic death of a 4 year old after ingesting a charm that was almost pure lead.

It was designed to be a toy safety law, but its reach is much, much broader. And, like all broadly written, reactionary laws, it has very significant, it appears largely unforeseen consequences. Like perhaps putting out of business thousands of small manufacturers of children's products, including some of my favorites - the small manufacturers of reusable cloth diapers, natural wood toys, handcrafted costumes, and innovative children's products.

She promises to have another post on the phthalate portion of the CPSIA next, and we'll be on the lookout for it.

Another site serving as a clearinghouse for info is NationalBankruptcyDay.com: "February 10, 2009 untold numbers of children's products manufacturers and retailers will be closing their doors." Sounds like a national bankruptcy day to me. This site has the most recent info and FAQs on the new legislation with links to how you can get involved, from forums to writing the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and your legislator.

Z Recommends, one of my most favorite sites for children's product reviews, safety information and pretty much everything a parent needs to know, just posted "Five steps you can take to save natural/handmade companies from the CPSC and CPSIA":

Livelihoods, work-at-home arrangements, and the availability of handmade and natural products for our children are at stake. Here are five things you can do today to help force Congress to address the mess they've made before the law goes into effect on February 10, 2009.

The steps are fairly straightforward and require only a small amount of time. You might think the new CPSIA doesn't affect you, but even if you don't design and sell children's products, you probably buy them. With the way the CPSIA is now, you will have far less products from which to choose and the ones left on the shelves may carry a price tag no one can afford.

LeShan and I are still learning the ins and outs of the CPSIA but you can bet we're doing our part to make reform happen. Because if it stays as is, you will no longer see georgie tees cute infant onesies and tees online or in boutiques... --Emily

Monkey-Toes on Oprah...and your little one's toes!

I love it when a mom-owned business receives good press and in the case of Monkey-Toes, it's really, really, really awesome press. (All mom-owned businesses should be so lucky!)

A while back Oprah interviewed Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in Telluride. This was actually one of the few episodes of Oprah I saw this year and somehow I missed the fact that in the first part of the interview, Oprah noticed Monkey-Toes' Little Lady Mary Janes in the mudroom of Tom and Katie's home. She even picked them up and commented about how cute they were. Now THAT is great press!

And if the first time around wasn't sweet enough, the interview is airing again so those of us who missed Suri's sweet little ladybug Monkey-Toes can keep our eyes peeled for Oprah's ooohs and aaahs this time around. Want to catch Oprah's interview with Tom and Katie? Click here for local listings.

Jenny Ford, the mom behind Monkey-Toes, had a little help from another mompreneur, Katja Presnal from Ladybug Landings. Katja had put together a basket full of unique gift items for the Cruise/Holmes family and Monkey-Toes' Little Lady ladybug shoes appeared on Oprah a few months later. Since then her shoes have been seen on other celebrity children including Tori Spelling’s son Liam. As a side note, you really should subscribe to Katja's blog, Ladybug Landings. She has so much info on PR and marketing, your head will spin...but in a good way!

I love this post on Classy Mommy about Monkey-Toes on Oprah. It features a great Q&A with Katja about the experience.

To celebrate a second round of great press Monkey-Toes is offering our readers $5 off so you can get your own pair of Monkey-Toes just in time for the holidays. Simply use code "OSURI08" (without the quotes) when checking out at Monkey-Toes.com.

Now all LeShan and I need to do besides watch Oprah tomorrow is figure out how to get someone like Minnie Driver's son Henry to wear our "i wasn't born yesterday shirt" while his mom is interviewed by Oprah...and his shirt is in full view! --Emily

excellent Etsy find: Imogen's Garden

Today's excellent Etsy find is a mom-owned boutique full of "fresh" items for your little one. From soft little dolls and sweet custom swing tops to fabulous felt play food to shark-filled soap, Imogen's Garden is a shop full of treasures.

The woman behind Imogen's Garden is a mother of four who understands "how difficult it can be to find quality children's clothing upon which both mother and child can agree." Comfort is always top on her list when it comes to her children's clothing and each style has been "tested" by either one of her own children or godchildren. If it doesn't pass the test, she doesn't sell it. I love that!

My favorites are the swing tops for girls and wide-leg pants for boys. Her appliqued tees are pretty cute too, and of course the dolls are simply irresistible! As with most excellent Etsy finds, good luck choosing just one thing to buy! --Emily

Tees for Change: inspiring, organic, & eco-friendly

I. Love. T-shirts. And that's probably the understatement of the year. My favorite outfit is a comfy pair of jeans and a super comfy tee, except in winter when it's a comfy pair of jeans and one comfy tee layered over another. I love it when I find a new line of tees like the PeaceLoveMom tees I reviewed on Boutique Cafe a few weeks ago.

Today's fashion trend tuesday features Tees for Change, a company I heard about only last week but wish I'd heard about sooner. Their line of eco-friendly t-shirts are not only super comfortable but stylishly simple and foster positive thinking with statements like "chase dreams," "practice kindness" and "live passionately." For babies my favorite is "dream big." They offer five different styles, from organic cotton fine jersey tees to bamboo raglan sleeves. All are super comfy and their styles appear to have a really flattering fit.

The tees from Tees for Change are all fair trade and made under sweatshop-free conditions from 100% organic cotton in the U.S. or 70% bamboo/30% organic cotton in Turkey. Just as cool as their eco-friendly fabrics is their commitment to giving back. Tees for Change has partnered with Trees for the Future and plants a tree for every tee purchased. (Trees for the Future plants trees in Asia, Latin America and Africa.)

With inspiring messages and an inspiring story, how can you not want your own Tees for Change t-shirt? I'd have purchased one by now but I'm having a hard time deciding which inspiring message is my favorite. Good thing I have a few pairs of comfy jeans just in case I need to buy more than one!

Right now Tees for Change is offering customers a free organic cotton tank with a purchase of $50 or more and they have $4.95 flat-rate shipping! Tees for Change make a great gift for friends and family, and you'll be giving back to the environment too. 'Tis the season to give, so give some 100% organic inspiration! --Emily

Peekaboo Picks & Mom Central feature georgie tees!

Because we're the ones writing the posts on this blog we feel it's okay to toot our own horn once in a while, and today's mompreneur monday is one of those whiles. Last week georgie tees was featured on two fabulous sites, Peekaboo Picks and Mom Central, and we couldn't be more excited!

Peekaboo Picks was the first to feature us this holiday season (that's us on the homepage just under Baby Capes, a fabulous company whose owner is a new-found friend). Our favorite part of the review, which you can read in its entirety here, is this little blurb:

When Noah got his shirt in the mail (Sharp Shooter) after I unwrapped it from all the pretty tissue (I always know it’s going to be good when the wrapping is almost as pretty as the inside contents) I immediately put it on him. It is so soft, and also so well made. Plus, the best part is he looks darn cute in it and it sums him up perfectly!

A big shout-out to LeShan--she handles all the fabulous packaging and we're always receiving wonderful feedback from happy customers about how beautiful the wrapping is on our tees.

Our "sharp shooter" tee is one of our popular sellers for boys and looks great layered with a long-sleeve tee or under a button-down shirt.

The second site to feature georgie tees last week was Mom Central, and we were more than pleased to learn we were part of their 2008 Holiday Gift Guide! Under Baby & Toddler, Mom Central says our tees "make one adorable statement whether they are on you or your baby." Our favorite part of the full review, which we truly hope you'll read, is the last part:

All of the clothes make perfect gifts (who doesn’t want to give a present that displays both their good taste and sense of humor), but you’ll probably want some for yourself as well.

Nothing like a few good reviews to to bring a little holiday cheer to a couple mompreneurs feeling a little frazzled this season! --Emily