NEST Maternity & Baby Boutique

A Modern Crib Design I Haven't Seen Yet...

It's called the Juddy Crib, inspired by the minimalist artist Donald Judd, and made by Greg of Daddytypes.com.

Constructed from one-inch thick birch plywood and plexiglass for the front panels, Greg's design complies with all CPSC and ASTM safety regulations  Yeehaw!

I personally love the simple lines and minimal style.  The only downside I can think of is having to Windex spit, handprints and snot off of the plexiglass a gazillion times a day.  Fun.

Visit Daddytypes for a link to the full Flickr set.

What Will Happen to Michael Jackson's Kids?

Image via Wikipedia

written by Sunny Chanel

Michael Jackson leaves behind 12-year old Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., 11-year-old Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, and 7-year-old Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.  The mother of of his two older children, Debbie Rowe, gave up all her parental rights not once, but twice and she is not in line to take custody. There have been reports that she may get temporary custody until long-term guardians are confirmed.

The youngest child “Blanket” was supposedly carried by an anonymous surrogate mother. And there have been some allegations that have arose that the children look absolutely nothing like him but Jackson had publicly claimed that he was indeed the father.  During his the 2003 interview with Martin Bashir, Jackson stated: “I used a surrogate mother (for Blanket) and my own sperm cells. I had my own sperm cells in my other two children. They are all my children.”

If the biological mothers or Jackson’s family don’t immediately come to take care of the children there’s always their godparents. Mark Lester (the star of Oliver), the godfather of one or two of the children, told MSNBC that he is ready to fulfill his godfather duties saying “I’m here for them 24/7, so whatever they need, they’ll get from me.” Also it is reported that Elizabeth Taylor and Macaulay Culkin are godparents to the older children as well. And Michael Jackson just happens to be the godfather to celebrity Nicole Ritchie and to Barry Gibb’s son Michael.

Similar to Michael Jackson’s “ex-wife” Lisa Marie Presley childhood, Jackson’s three children will be growing up in a microscope with the memory of their Dad – a worldwide cultural icon - always haunting them. The children have already had what I’m sure is a surreal existence. Wearing masks when in public, traveling the world, and well…having Michael Jackson as a Dad.

~Ms. Chanel resides in San Francisco with her husband and daughter. Editor-in-chief of an alt music mag, she has written for the SF Weekly, Bust, and Jane.

Related articles

• Michael Jackson Confirmed Dead (manolith.com)
• Michael Jackson Heart Attack? (manolith.com)
• Michael Jackson: A Video Tribute (mashable.com)
• Michael Jackson: king of pop or wacko jacko? (telegraph.co.uk)
• Michael Jackson: his final hours (telegraph.co.uk)

Online Yoga Classes at YogaGlo. Finally!

Image by myyogaonline

This is right up my alley!  I truly want to be fit both physically and mentally, but I just can't seem to find the time (err- willpower) to go straight from work to the studio.  I just want to go home people to see my hubby and kids, eat dinner, catch up on the news and change into my comfy clothes.

But I could see myself fitting in a yoga class from my bedroom when the time is convenient for me.  That is where YogaGlo out of Santa Monica, CA comes in.

How it works

Yogaglo is a new website that streams yoga classes from their studio in Santa Monica, California so that people can experience their classes from home or on the go.  If you can get access to the internet, you can YOGA!

They have scheduled classes during the week at their studio and then upload their classes shortly after they end.  Their "glocam" is a discrete HD camera housed in a white box at the back of the studio and films all classes.  A nice fyi to those lucky enough to live in Santa Monica and attend their classes.  Be sure not to pick your nose or underwear.  They will catch you and stream it worldwide.  If you are a chronic picker, don't fret.  Their studio is spacious enough so you may select a space off camera if you wish not to appear in the video.  Thank goodness.

Their goal is to offer online classes free of advertising.  You get unlimited access to Yogaglo classes with an $18/month membership, the price you would normally pay for one class.  You can experience Yogaglo classes with full screen HD or normal quality video.  Their home page displays the six most recent classes and you can sort archived classes according to teacher, style, level and duration.  Sweet!

They have classes for beginners, advanced and everything in between including pre/post natal. 

I am considering signing up soon!

Top iPhone Apps for New Moms

Being a new mom is both rewarding and nerve wracking, but if you have an iPhone you are in luck. The iPhone has some great apps that are extremely helpful and entertaining!

1. BabyCam

   It can be difficult trying to get babies and younger children to sit still and pose for pictures. This is where the BabyCam iPhone app comes in. After downloading this app, just open it up and press the sound button. It can play fifteen different sounds and noises to soothe the kids. The BabyCam app comes with sounds and noises such as “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, drums, bells and other popular children's songs.

2. Nursing Tracker

   The Nursing Tracker app allows new mothers to record information on breastfeeding their baby. This app allows them to record when they last breastfed their baby, how long they breastfed their baby and on which side they breastfed their baby. The Nursing Tracker app also has a stopwatch and the ability to track up to six babies. Stats can be uploaded to a spreadsheet or saved on their iPhone.

3. Diaper Tracker

   This iPhone app allows new mothers to track their baby's bathroom habits. It allows them to track the consistency of their baby's stools and allows them to log how often their baby goes to the bathroom. Stats can be uploaded to a spreadsheet or saved on their iPhone.

4. Lose It!

   New moms are always struggling to lose the baby weight. Their new baby keeps them busy and surely takes up any extra time to exercise. The Lose It! app allows new moms to set their weight loss goal, set their daily calorie intake, record the calories burned when exercising and record the calories they consume daily.

5. Ifitness

   IFitness is a comprehensive database of exercises that can help a new mom develop a fitness routine. This app allows users to search for exercises and learn to do them through step-by-step instructions and photos. This iPhone app lists over 160 different exercises and nine exercises routines focusing on strength training and weight loss.

6. BigOven

   Moms are known to be the cooks in the house, but not all new moms can cook. The BigOven app allows users to search for more than 170,000 recipes and tells them exactly what the necessary ingredients are. If users just can't decide on a recipe they can shake their iPhone when this app is open and a random recipe will be displayed. Users from all over the world submit recipes in this app, so there is definitely something for everyone. Users can also save recipes, see the top-rated recipes and get tips on shopping for the ingredients. The BigOven app also hosts more than 400 simple recipes that only have four ingredients in them for those who are really short on time.

7. aSleep and WhiteNoise

   These two iPhone apps are perfect when the baby just won't fall asleep. The aSleep app features fifteen popular lullabies that can be played or set to a time to help ease a baby to sleep. The WhiteNoise app plays ambient noises such as heavy rain or an oscillating fan to help ease a baby to sleep. This app also includes a timer and volume control.

To Co-Sleep or Not to Co-Sleep? That is the Question.

Image by Kelly Sue

Time.com has an article titled, "Advice for Coddling Parents: Put Baby to Bed Alone."

The article's sleep researcher, Dr. Jodi Mindell stated that "...only 12% of parents reported bed-sharing, and 22% reported room-sharing. But in Asian countries the numbers were much higher: fully 65% of parents shared beds with their infants, and 87% slept in the same room."

Interestingly enough, Mindell found that co-sleeping results in a more restless sleep in infants.  Asian babies get much less sleep overall and significantly less quality sleep than infants in the U.S.  But, the quality and duration of Asian babies who slept alone were just as low as babies who co-slept with parents. So what exactly does this mean?  Do Asian babies need less sleep?  How does sleep duration and quality impact infant development?

Ultimately, I am left just as confused and undecided as I was before I read the article.  And you?

Australian 12-Year-Old To Become a Mom

Image by Polina Sergeeva

Yes, you read that correctly.  12 years old.  Call me naive, but I did not have a clue about sex at that age, forget actually doing it. 

Taken from the The Australian online newspaper:

The girl’s mother had allowed the boy to move into their home, but the DOCS failed to take any action despite her father’s repeated pleas with the staff.

Cops said that they were also unable to intervene because both children were under the age of consent, and they could have only started a criminal investigation if the boy was 18.

The girl’s father, who is separated from the mother, discovered she was pregnant after he took custody of her in March.

And now, the girl is halfway through her pregnancy.

Her father is angry that it was the news of her pregnancy that made government agencies to finally take notice of the situation.

The only one that seems to get it is the young girl's father.  How can authorities not intervene?  Where the heck is her mother?  What about the young boy's parents... why is he not living with them?  Seriously.  Where is this world headed?  It worries me beyond disbelief.  

My husband and I can't help but be worried when we see elementary and junior high kids with cell phones.  Why on earth do they need one?  Their parents may say it is for safety reasons, so that they can call in an emergency.  Well, my reply to that is that they should be where they say they are and be home when they are supposed to be.  Enough said.  In our neighborhood growing up, we had a bell that my mother would ring.  I heard it and got my butt home.  My friends had a similar system.  Forget calling my parents to tell/ask them if I could come home later.  Rules were rules, and I thank them to this day for it. 

Must Have: Babysilk SPF 30+ Sunscreen Wipes by MD Moms

These award-winning soft wipes are saturated with a gentle, sweat-proof, broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen that’s enriched with Vitamins E and B5, marine silk, aloe and oat, to protect, soothe and moisturize even the youngest baby’s skin. Each wipe contains enough sunscreen to cover baby from head to toe with no fuss and no mess.  I can actually protect all of my girls with one wipe!  They’re a dermatologist-approved way to keep baby protected from UV rays at any age, anywhere, anytime.  And oh yeah, they smell amazing as do all of their products!

Contains no phthalates, lanolin, mineral oil, petroleum or waxes Contains physical sunscreens, titanium and zinc oxide, as the only active ingredients Protects against UVA and UVB rays Clinically tested & hypoallergenic Made in the USA No animal testing

NEW: Laughing Out Loud Kids Clothing

I love the name of this Boston-based kids clothing line.  I am a huge fan of laughing and can’t help but have a loud one.  Just ask my husband.  I am that person at the movies that laughs at everything.  Yup, that’s me.  I apologize.

NEST is lucky enough to be located only 45 minsutes north of Boston, MA so they brought the collection to us.  I got to look through their gorgeous Spring/Summer collection (their first debut) and it is amazing.  Amazingly soft.  Amazingly colorful.  Amazingly constructed.  Amazingly amazing.

We currently have the Spring/Summer items in-store and online.  Enter code BLOGLOL for 10% off.