Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Winthrop News


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 1,500

Bird Island Union


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 900

Henderson Independent


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 1,200

News Mirror


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 2,250

The McLeod County Chronicle


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 5,175

Fairfax Standard Gazette


December 31, 2008
Circulation:1,840

Yorktown PennySaver


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 25,250



The Glencoe Enterprise


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 2,420

Yorktown PennySaver


December 31, 2008
Circulation: 23,900


Monday, December 29, 2008

Golden Galaxy


December 29, 2008
Circulation: 24,000

Friday, December 26, 2008

Moundsville Daily Echo



December 26, 2008
Circulation: 4,000


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Ozark Spectator


December 24, 2008
Circulation: 5,163

Monday, December 22, 2008

Reviewin’ It Up


December 22, 2008
Circulation: Not Available
http://reviews.momminitup.com/?p=90

Celebrate Reviewin’ It Up’s New Look Giveaway!!!

Posted By: Emily

Jenny and I are pretty pumped about the new look here on Reviewin’ It Up… but we are even more excited about the fantastic giveaway we’re celebrating with!

This is, without a doubt, the biggest and best giveaway we’ve ever had. We are so thrilled!

One very lucky winner will receive:

Serta Perfect Balance crib mattress


Let me just say that I can hardly believe we’re giving away a crib mattress, but it’s true! The Serta Perfect Balance is the first environmentally friendly crib mattrees, and it’s the latest in sleep innovation. It’s distributed by LaJobi Industries, Inc, and available exclusively at Babies “R” Us. Made with organic cotton fill, the Serta Perfect Balance crib mattress cradles baby in a healthy, natural environment. Designed with comfort and durability in mind, the mattress features continuous heavy coils, flex mesh support and six-gauge border wire. A heavily laminated cover made without Phthalates protects from dust mites and bacteria, and there are eight air vents to keep the mattress fresh while providing a safe sleeping surface. The crib mattress also fits a toddler bed. Retail value $179.99!!!

If you’re pregnant (or planning to get that way!) or just never want to have to buy a baby shower present again, this giveaway is for you!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling us which of the above products you’re most excited about. If you’d like an extra entry, tweat a link to the contest on Twitter, and then leave another comment on this post with the link to your tweat. The deadline for entry is Saturday, December 27 at 5:00 p.m. and the winner will be chosen by random.org.

Thanks and good luck!!!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter the great giveaway we’ve got going on at Mommin’ It Up – please see below for details!


December 22nd, 2008

Posted By: emily

It’s almost Christmas, but we have time for one more Monday Holidaze Giveaway!

Or, actually, make that two giveaways this week… because Jenny and I are relaunching our review site, Reviewin’ It Up, and we are celebrating by hosting a giveaway there this week, too! So after you enter this one, make sure to head over there. I promise you will not be disappointed!

But back to this awesome giveaway. This week’s lucky winner will receive all of these prizes:

Puffets from Peas of Mind

Isn’t that name great? Peas of Mind is an frozen food company with a product line called “Puffets!”
Puffets are perfect for growing kids ages 1 year to about 8 years old. They are hand-held meals that contain organic ingredients including vegetables, fruits, beans and grains. There are six Puffet flavors in the line: Eat Your Greens, Carrot Risotto, Nanna’s Banana, Black Bean Polenta, Mamma’s Pasta, and The Dalai Lentil. Three flavors are gluten free and two flavors are dairy free! What a fun, easy way to get kids to eat their vegetables!

Sesame Street Playground from Putumayo Kids

Sesame Street Playground is a CD/DVD set featuring songs and music videos from Sesame Street productions around the world. The two-disc package features a music CD with 13 songs, featuring favorite Sesame Street Muppets, plus characters developed to reflect the unique cultural and social development needs of children in each host country. Elmo, Big Bird and Snuffleupagus join the rest of the Sesame Street family to perform familiar tunes, as well as original songs from international Sesame Street shows in an array of different languages.

Treasury of 20 Storybook Classics DVD
20 award-winning and classic children’s stories are faithfully adapted and brought to live in this 4-DVD collection. From Karma Wilson’s best-sellers Bear Snores On and Bear Wants More, to the Beverly Clearly Classic The Mouse and the Motor Cycle, parents and children alike are sure to enjoy these storybook treasures, featuring celebrity narration by by Sean Hayes, James Naughton, B.D. Wong and others.

The Night Before Christmas…and more classic holiday tales

This DVD features holiday stories including “The Night Before Christmas,” “In the Month of Kisley,”
“Seven Candles for Kwanzaa,” and “Too Many Tamales.” It also includes three bonus stories - “Max’s Christmas,” “Morris’s Disappearing Bag,” and “The Little Drummer Boy.” A great way for your child to learn about many different holiday celebrations!

The Free Spirit Toddler Tools Series

Clean-up time, bye-bye time, naptime . . . daily routines like these can be a challenge for any toddler, as well as parents and caregivers. These positive books can be shared before (or during) the desired “time,” or whenever toddlers need encouragement with routines. You can read Jenny’s full review of these great books here.

“Make Your Own Someday” by The Jimmies

This CD is so much fun! Trips in our car usually involve a lot of bargaining and compromising between Andy and Kate - he wants to listen to his favorites on his iPod and she wants to listen to Hannah Montana. However, the Jimmies is one we can all agree on! We are also big fans of Austin City Limits, so I was sold when I saw a quote from them about the Jimmies, calling them “Seriously talented musicians who could easily put their collective instrumental and songwriting prowess to use making serious “art” to impress serious grown-ups.. they choose instead to entertain the “shorter set.” I love it!

Clothing from Global Goodie

Global Goodie is a children’s/toddler’s clothing line that features cuisines from around the world on adorable onesies, t-shirts and bibs. From ‘Jumpin’ Japanese’ to ‘Fabulous French,’ this adorable line offers families a new kind of style - a fun and educational way to teach children about new cultures and new foods. My favorite part? They are mailed in take-out containers! So cute.

And… are you ready for this?

Spike and Annie - www.spikeandannie.com

Spike and Annie is a clothing line made of all-natural, eco-friendly materials, even down to the packaging. The line embraces sophistication, yet epitomizes fun, comfort and functionality. It has been featured in an array of blogs and magazines such as Women’s Wear Daily, 944 Magazine, Daily Candy and Lil’ Sugar (and now, Mommin It Up, haha!). It is also a favorite among celebrity moms like Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry and Victoria Beckham. Our lucky winner can choose an outfit of her choice from Spike and Annie for up to $100!!!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling us which of the above products you’re most excited about. If you’d like an extra entry, tweat a link to the contest on Twitter, and then leave another comment on this post with the link to your tweat. The deadline for entry is Saturday, December 27 at 5:00 p.m. and the winner will be chosen by random.org.

Thanks and good luck!!!

P.S. We’re Reviewin’ It Up! Go check out the new look of our review blog, and while you’re there, enter to win the biggest giveaway in our history! If you’re pregnant, planning to get that way or looking to stock your shelves with baby shower presents from now until eternity, you do NOT want to miss this! Click here for details.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Bucks County Courier Times


December 14, 2008
Circulation:73,249


Friday, December 12, 2008

Burlington County Times


December 12, 2008
Circulation: 39,935

Thursday, December 11, 2008

MomToBeDepot Blog



December 11, 2008
Circulation: Not Available
http://momtobedepot.blogspot.com/2008/12/win-serta-perfect-balance-crib-mattress.html

Win a Serta Perfect Balance crib mattress for your Precious Baby



Ho! Ho! Ho! MomToBeDepot is celebrating this holiday season with you by giving away a Serta Perfect Balance crib mattress from LaJobi Inc. - retail value: $179.99.

Congratulations to our winner - Amanda R from Albany, OR who is expecting her baby late Spring/early Summer in '09!

The Serta trusted name in sleep comfort and style now offers the chance for an eco-friendly night's sleep for baby. Serta Perfect Balance, the first environmentally friendly - or "green" - Serta crib mattress is the latest in sleep innovation. Be one of the first Moms in your neighborhood to pamper your baby with eco-friendly comfort that stars like Angela Kinsey (NBC's The Office) and Christie Clark (NBC's Days of Our Lives) do for their babies.

This new addition to the Serta Baby mattress line is distributed by LaJobi Industries, Inc. and available exclusively at Babies "R" Us, the nation's premier baby products retailer. LaJobi Industries, Inc. manufactures and distributes five top brands of juvenile furniture including Bonavita, BabiItalia, ISSI, Europa Baby and Graco, as well as Serta Crib Mattresses.

Made with organic cotton fill, the Serta Perfect Balance crib mattress cradles baby in a healthy, natural environment. Designed with comfort and durability in mind, the mattress features continuous heavy coils, flex mesh support and six-gauge border wire. A heavily laminated cover made without Phthalates protects from dust mites and bacteria, and there are eight air vents to keep the mattress fresh while providing a safe sleeping surface.

The crib mattress also fits a toddler bed This contest is open to legal residents of the United States. Limit one (1) entry per household. Entries in excess of stated maximum will be disqualified.

Entries must be received by December 26, 2008 12:00 a.m. EST for drawing to be held on or about December 28, 2008. One (1) prize will be awarded. Winners will be notified by phone or email.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Cincinnati.Com







Drawing for free crib

Bonavita, a children's furnishings company, is funding a drawing for one lucky baby to receive its eco-friendly La Madre crib, which retails for $800.

Register for the drawing at the Treehouse Kids Co., in the Cincinnati Mills Mall, through Wednesday.

The store will draw a name on Thursday.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Post-Crescent




November 16, 2008
Circulation: 64,965


















Monday, November 10, 2008

San Antonio Express-News





November 10, 2008
Visitors per month: 617,358
http://mysanantonio.ctwfeatures.com/homestyle/home_20081110_ecoright.html

Eco-Right Furniture

From FSC-certified wood to repurposed materials, furniture is in on the green game. Here's what you need to know to select an eco-wise piece

By Margraret Littman
CTW Features

















A new hue: Dark, modern and natural, this dining room set makes a different kind of "green" statement. Image courtesy Benny Chan/Environment Furniture, Inc.

As is the case with almost anything, there's a stereotype associated with eco-friendly furniture. Even just hearing that phrase, you're probably picturing something in a light-colored wood, perhaps bamboo, that looks sleek and good-for-you, sort of in the same way that many health foods have their whole grains out there for everyone to see.

And, as is the case with most stereotypes, there's a grain of truth to it. For years, sustainable furniture worked to achieve that specific look, and if your style didn't match it, then you were not likely to ride the green wave.

Johnny West, owner of Carlsbad, Calif.-based Maku Furnishings, says there is no longer one particular design aesthetic associated with sustainability.

"It is nice to see that it runs the gamut from contemporary to traditional. There is starting to be something for everyone," West says. Maku works with sustainable plantation-grown teak wood and the company expects to have a line made from 100-percent recycled aluminum completed soon.

Recently, Directions East unveiled its Tre Bamboo Lounge Chair and Ottoman, an Eames-inspired green piece. Other manufacturers are using tagua nut instead of ivory, and even twigs and other forest scraps rather than cut wood, as raw materials. Jensen Leisure Furniture recently switched from Australian Jarrah to a Bolivian wood called Ipe.

Jamestown, N.C.-based Furnitureland South stocks pieces from more than 400 different manufacturers. Elizabeth Moya, a sales and design consultant with the company, says she has seen the number of green offerings increase exponentially in the last nine months.

"In terms of aesthetics, anything you can create with the old methods, you can create with non-toxic glues and other eco-friendly methods," she says. Even better, she says, is the fact that not only do today's eco-friendly furnishings fit any number of different design schemes, they fit different budgets, too.

"There are now a couple of manufacturers who are doing eco-friendly at a more moderate price. You can accomplish this with a smaller pocketbook," she adds.

In fact, there are even companies, such as Cranbury N.J.-based LaJobi Inc., that specialize in green furnishings for kids and babies. The La Madre Collection, which was launched in August, uses environmentally safe finishes and glues in addition to sustainable woods.

With all due respect to Kermit the Frog, buying green isn't necessarily easy. As concern for the planet has become fashionable, the number of companies claiming to be green has increased exponentially. While much of boom is legitimate, some, unfortunately, is what experts call "greenwashing": the marketing of products that just look sustainable when they are actually lacking any legitimate eco-chops.

For someone who simply wants to buy a new couch that treads lightly on Mother Earth, researching a company's validity can be time-consuming. But there are simple things to do to see if a company has a "cradle-to-grave green philosophy," says Charlie Geiger, "The USA Green Lady," a Nashville, Tenn.-based green expert with radio shows nationwide.

"The key," Geiger advises, "is to look for certification with phone numbers and Web sites to double check. Many times products will have cute little logos that make it look as if it is certified, but the logos to look for are from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Rainforest Alliance, MBDC C2C (Cradle to Cradle), and Rediscovered Wood Certification."

West, a surfer-turned-eco-furniture manufacturer, agrees. Buying products made from sustainably grown wood is great, he says, but knowing whether the company recycles, whether it has water reclamation processes in place, whether it buys carbon or wood offsets, uses soy inks on its labels, or has other eco-friendly policies is a crucial step in supporting the green movement.

At Maku Furnishing, the company sells the wood shavings from the factory floor, a byproduct that cannot be recycled, to a local Indonesian market, where it can be used for bedding for livestock. The proceeds from those sales are used to take factory workers on trips to the beach so they can see the positive ecological impact they are having.

The company is also a member of 1% For The Planet, a consortium of businesses who donate 1 percent of their net revenues to environmental organizations.

Mona Ying Reeves, a San Mateo, Calif.-based interior designer, says harried consumers can narrow their questions about eco-friendliness to three broad categories:

-origin (where did the raw materials come from?);

-construction (how is the piece made?);

-design (will it stand the test of time?).

These categories will help you figure out, for example, if a piece made with renewable materials was topped with a laminate or finish that would prevent it from being recycled later on.

Finally, Reeves suggests, think about how the piece will get to you. If it is designed to ship flat, for example, it may take less fuel to transport it to your new home.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

WE TV



October 28, 2008
http://www.wetv.com/photo-galleries/top-five-cribs/bonavita-la-madre-crib.html?num=2
Top Five Cribs:

Bonavita La Madre Crib



Bonavita La Madre Crib
Cost: $600 dollars and up at specialty furniture stores. Other styles of Bonavita cribs are available at Babies R Us, Baby Depot and Target.
Just the facts: This stationary crib is part of the company's "Lifestyle" line, meaning it converts to a toddler, day and full bed. Bonavita has a wide variety of finishes ranging from "Licorice" to "Crackled Cream."
Worth noting: You'll enjoy not only the crib's looks, but also knowing that its built from sustainable wood using environmentally-safe finishes and glues. To up the green quotient, all of the crib's outer packaging contains recycled materials.
What the experts say: Consumer Digest calls Bonavita's "Lifestyle Cribs" a "best buy," while Baby Bargains (7th edition) gives the brand an "A-".
Raves: While reviews for this particular model weren't available online, users give other Bonavita "Lifestyle Cribs" high marks - citing sturdiness, rich colors and easy assembly as plusses. One Babies R' Us reviewer even said "If this crib is on your list, move it to number one."

Rants: Some buyers complain the thick rails make attaching crib toys difficult in some Bonavita models.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Philly.Com






How to buy eco-furniture
Margaret Littman

As is the case with almost anything, there's a stereotype associated with eco-friendly furniture. Even just hearing that phrase, you're probably picturing something in a light-colored wood, perhaps bamboo, that looks sleek and good-for-you, sort of in the same way that many health foods have their whole grains out there for everyone to see.

And, as is the case with most stereotypes, there's a grain of truth to it. For years, sustainable furniture worked to achieve that specific look, and if your style didn't match it, then you were not likely to ride the green wave.

Johnny West, owner of Carlsbad, Calif.-based Maku Furnishings, says there is no longer one particular design aesthetic associated with sustainability.

"It is nice to see that it runs the gamut from contemporary to traditional. There is starting to be something for everyone," West says. Maku works with sustainable plantation-grown teak wood and the company expects to have a line made from 100-percent recycled aluminum completed soon.

Recently, Directions East unveiled its Tre Bamboo Lounge Chair and Ottoman, an Eames-inspired green piece. Other manufacturers are using tagua nut instead of ivory, and even twigs and other forest scraps rather than cut wood, as raw materials. Jensen Leisure Furniture recently switched from Australian Jarrah to a Bolivian wood called Ipe.

Jamestown, N.C.-based Furnitureland South stocks pieces from more than 400 different manufacturers. Elizabeth Moya, a sales and design consultant with the company, says she has seen the number of green offerings increase exponentially in the last nine months.

"In terms of aesthetics, anything you can create with the old methods, you can create with non-toxic glues and other eco-friendly methods," she says. Even better, she says, is the fact that not only do today's eco-friendly furnishings fit any number of different design schemes, they fit different budgets, too.

"There are now a couple of manufacturers who are doing eco-friendly at a more moderate price. You can accomplish this with a smaller pocketbook," she adds.

In fact, there are even companies, such as Cranbury N.J.-based LaJobi Inc., that specialize in green furnishings for kids and babies. The La Madre Collection, which was launched in August, uses environmentally safe finishes and glues in addition to sustainable woods.

With all due respect to Kermit the Frog, buying green isn't necessarily easy. As concern for the planet has become fashionable, the number of companies claiming to be green has increased exponentially. While much of boom is legitimate, some, unfortunately, is what experts call "greenwashing": the marketing of products that just look sustainable when they are actually lacking any legitimate eco-chops.

For someone who simply wants to buy a new couch that treads lightly on Mother Earth, researching a company's validity can be time-consuming. But there are simple things to do to see if a company has a "cradle-to-grave green philosophy," says Charlie Geiger, "The USA Green Lady," a Nashville, Tenn.-based green expert with radio shows nationwide.

"The key," Geiger advises, "is to look for certification with phone numbers and Web sites to double check. Many times products will have cute little logos that make it look as if it is certified, but the logos to look for are from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Rainforest Alliance, MBDC C2C (Cradle to Cradle), and Rediscovered Wood Certification."

West, a surfer-turned-eco-furniture manufacturer, agrees. Buying products made from sustainably grown wood is great, he says, but knowing whether the company recycles, whether it has water reclamation processes in place, whether it buys carbon or wood offsets, uses soy inks on its labels, or has other eco-friendly policies is a crucial step in supporting the green movement.

At Maku Furnishing, the company sells the wood shavings from the factory floor, a byproduct that cannot be recycled, to a local Indonesian market, where it can be used for bedding for livestock. The proceeds from those sales are used to take factory workers on trips to the beach so they can see the positive ecological impact they are having.

The company is also a member of 1% For The Planet, a consortium of businesses who donate 1 percent of their net revenues to environmental organizations.

Mona Ying Reeves, a San Mateo, Calif.-based interior designer, says harried consumers can narrow their questions about eco-friendliness to three broad categories:

• origin (where did the raw materials come from?)
• construction (how is the piece made?)
• design (will it stand the test of time?)
These categories will help you figure out, for example, if a piece made with renewable materials was topped with a laminate or finish that would prevent it from being recycled later on.

Finally, Reeves suggests, think about how the piece will get to you. If it is designed to ship flat, for example, it may take less fuel to transport it to your new home.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Cincinnati Enquirer


October 11, 2008
Circulation: 195,028
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081011/LIFE0801/810110328/1035/LIFE&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL

Find: The 'mother' of green cribs

Eco-conscious parents can sleep easier while their infants slumber in the new La Madre crib from Bonavita.



This "green" crib, which converts to a toddler bed, day bed and full-size bed, features sustainable wood and an environmentally safe finish and glue.

Made of harvest cherry wood with a natural golden bamboo inlay, the clean-lined bed complements any nursery décor.

$799 at Treehouse Kids Co. in the Cincinnati Mills Mall, Forest Park.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Farmington Shopper

Farmington Shopper
October 8, 2008
Circulation: 5500

Friday, September 26, 2008

Celebrity Baby Blog



September 26, 2008
http://www.people.com/people/celebritybabies/gallery/0,,20229211_1,00.html

TEN BEST: Cribs

Best Convertible

Name: Bonavita's Metro Lifestyle Crib
Price: $550
Why It's Great: A convertible crib is an excellent way to really extend a nursery budget. When one piece, like Bonavita's Metro Lifestyle Crib, converts from crib to toddler/daybed (just by removing four bolts!) to full-size bed (with the addition of a full size mattress, of course), you're getting a lifetime of investment. (Just be sure your child's room is large enough for a full size bed!) This particular model, with its stylish and cosmopolitan lines, is perfect for parents who want modern and traditional, as well as 18+ years of use!

We also like: Bonavita's La Madre Lifestyle Crib ($430), which combines bamboo veneers with sustainable wood, is handsome and sophisticated. We also like the dramatic angles of Jardine's Rubbed Black Claremont Lifetime Crib ($350).

Best Budget

Name: Graco by La Jobi's Ashleigh Convertible Crib
Price: $170
Why It's Great: Any convertible crib will give you value for your money, but Graco cribs are more than just affordable. They're made by La Jobi, a respected nursery furniture company. The Ashleigh Convertible Crib has a sophistocated sleigh design with wainscot detail, and converts to a toddler bed, daybed and full-size headboard.

We also like: IKEA's Gulliver crib ($99) is a fabulous bare bones modern style crib that is extremely popular among hipsters and belt-tighteners.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Toy-tma.com



September 16, 2008
http://www.toy-tma.com/toys/abc-kids-expo-wrap/

ABC Kids Expo Wrap Up

We didn’t get a chance to attend the ABC Kids Expo last week in Las Vegas, but initial reports are out that the event had a lot of creative new toy manufactures, …. as well as a sluggish attendance.

For a great review of some of the most innovative products, check out Lisa Casinger’s review. She writes that,

As for news tidbits–I learned that Kaloo is now making all of its furniture in Canada rather than
China; Fisher Price has another complete line developed exclusively for independent retailers; Netto is planning on expanding into toddler furniture and a bunk bed in 2009; Crown Craft has the license for Major League Baseball for toddler bedding; LaJobi is moving away from drop side cribs; and more companies are adding organic or eco-friendly products.

Meanwhile, Heather Nolte from Startup Nation commented that sales are low for many manufacturers, which may be why many of them didn’t show up in the first place.

I couldn’t help but notice a reoccurring theme throughout the five day show.Nobody wanted new.The manufacturers I spoke with all commented that sales were down about 35-50% and that the customers that were still buying were existing customers.I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the newcomers that ventured out to the show for their big launch, as many left with no orders written.It seems the economy has left the buyers skittish and I can’t blame them.

Yikes! Well, the economy may not be dazzling, but at least there are still plenty of creative toys being thrust out into the marketplace.

Personally, one of my favorite toy products at the expo that has been the subject of online toy talk is Pilloroo pillows. Each pillow comes with a tiny stuffed animal that lives in the pillow’s secret pouch. It’s so cute I don’t know what do with myself. The pillows are hand-sewn in the United States and available at select toy boutiques.

Do you have any stories from the ABC Kids Expo? Feel free to join in on the conversation about your experience.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Richmond Times-Dispatch


September 14, 08
Circulation: 214,971



Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Kids Today



September 9, 2008
Circulation: 54,900

Live from the ABC Kids Expo
September 9, 2008

We're halfway through the ABC Kids Expo and it's been a whirlwind week. Saturday we got a sneak peek at new products; Sunday JPMA awarded its 2008 Innovation Awards and we've seen a plethora of neat products. All of the winners were exceptional, but the one that really stood out was 10-year-old Tharon Trujillo (the youngest JPMA award winner ever) for his safety gate from Cardinal Gates.

Though we still have two days to go, I thought I'd share with you some of the trends and products we've seen. We'll have a complete wrap up in our October issue, but so far we're seeing butterflies and monkeys in abundance as well as a vintage design trend emerging.

One thing I've mentioned before that we're seeing even more of is vendors branching out and offering one-stop shopping lines. Bedding vendors are offering everything from coordinating gifts, wall decor and rugs to lighting, car seat covers and more. I think the vendors really are trying to offer everything a retailer might need to woo their customers.

I'd love to be able to say I've seen everything at the show, but I haven't. There are three of us from Kids Today covering the show--me, Gerri Hunt and Tanya Merritte. Our game plan was to divide and conquer, so we each have designated sections we're covering.

Here are just a few of the things I've seen so far that stand out in my mind:

Bloom's new table and chair set, Otto

Creations' Surrey metal crib--it comes in nickel and vanilla (I love the nickel finish)

Bassettbaby's Baybridge collection--the Driftwood finish is perhaps one of the freshest I've seen in awhile

The Bumble Collection's new Honey couture diaper bags--Jenny pulled out all the stops on these bags

Halo's new prints, especially its organic separates, are very sweet

Stokke--finally came out with a pink Tripp Trapp (yeah!)

Delta's Jessica McClintock Cradle Me--it comes in black and off-white finishes, really beautiful

The Rug Market's new graphic print rugs--my fave is the dragon fly in white and turquoise

Baby's Dream's Cube collection--the crib converts to TWO full size beds and you've got to see the changing table/dresser/desk unit

Kids Line--I have a soft spot for bedding and they have so many new, great looking collections

Bananafish's Pixie collection blew me away

Green Frog Art's "exhibit" of its new wall decor is like walking through a local art gallery

As for news tidbits--I learned that Kaloo is now making all of its furniture in Canada rather than China; Fisher Price has another complete line developed exclusively for independent retailers; Netto is planning on expanding into toddler furniture and a bunk bed in 2009; Crown Craft has the license for Major League Baseball for toddler bedding; LaJobi is moving away from drop side cribs; and more companies are adding organic or eco-friendly products.

What did you see at the show that knocked YOUR socks off?