Celebrity Parent News

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LÍLLÉbaby & The Guncles


A new baby carrier that celebrates adoption – Benefits the Independent Adoption Center

Popular baby carrier maker LÍLLÉbaby and The Guncles (aka Bill Horn and Scout Masterson) are collaborating on an original, new, limited-edition baby and doll carrier to celebrate adoption. The bold geometric print is available now on LILLEbaby.com and Amazon.com. A portion of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Independent Adoption Center (IAC), a national non-profit adoption agency.

Who are The Guncles®?

100715_CRTPost_LILLEbaby The Guncles doll carrier Simone2For six seasons, millions tuned into reality TV’s Tori & Dean and saw the couple’s good friends who became known as The Guncles (the words gay + uncles combined) to their kids. Throughout the years, fans tuned in to be a part of Bill Horn and Scout Masterson’s commitment ceremony as well as their efforts to adopt a child of their own. In 2010, with the help of IAC, daughter Simone Lynn became part of the family, which grew again in 2014 with the addition of son Bosley Jo.

100715_CRTPost_LILLEbaby The Guncles All Seasons Bosley“When our friends at LÍLLÉbaby suggested we create our own custom print to be featured on their popular carriers, we knew we wanted to design a bold, geometric print that was cheerful, sophisticated, and unique,” The Guncles say. “We are proud to be able to use this project to benefit a charity near-and-dear to our hearts – the Independent Adoption Center.”

With a fresh box of crayons and a blank sheet of paper, The Guncles created the colorful print by hand, an expression of the joy and love that adoption has brought into their lives.

“We are excited to announce this beautiful new collection and love this bold, one-of-a-kind print created by Bill and Scout,” LÍLLÉbaby President Lisbeth Lehan says. “We followed their adoption process last year, and it feels very special to be able to assist them in giving back to the organization that made their family.”

Benefits of Babywearing

100715_CRTPost_LILLEbaby The Guncles Airflow

“Wearing your baby is an amazing experience that serves you and your baby in so many ways,” Lisbeth says. “There are many benefits of babywearing, not the least of which is that it promotes bonding and attachment. Many social workers recommend babywearing as an effective way for new adoptive parents and children to bond. LÍLLÉbaby is thrilled to be a part of that essential bonding process and further support it through this collaboration.”

100715_CRTPost_LILLEbaby The Guncles Airflow Product ShotAll proceeds that The Guncles earn from the sale of this limited edition run of LÍLLÉbaby carriers will be donated to the IAC and LÍLLÉbaby is matching their donation. IAC plans to use the donations to assist adoptive parents with above expected or anticipated expenses, such as legal and medical fees.

“What a great and creative way for Bill and Scout to pay-it-forward to other adoptive parents with the help of LÍLLÉbaby’s wonderful products,” says Ann Wrixon, IAC Executive Director.

IAC is the largest open adoption agency in the country, facilitating adoptions in 49 states, and fully licensed with offices in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, and Texas. Since opening in 1982, the IAC has successfully placed over 4,000 newborns with families in the United States. “The IAC is so grateful for their generosity.”

Good news for fans, too – The Guncles are currently in development on their own reality TV show.

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Kardashian Kids


I’m just sayin’ …

The lovelies at The Rose Garden/NYC say, “The Holiday Collection is a Must See!”

Launched as a Babies R Us exclusive brand, then retailing at Nordstrom, now branching out to boutiques and independents, Kardashian Kids has also expanded from girls in sizes newborn to 5T to boys sizes newborn to 24 months. The still-value-priced line is also taking over Instagram accounts everywhere, just like Kardashian sisters do. Or can.

Everyday Style. Staple pieces with a twist… tutu skirts, camo pants, boho chic, harem pants, graphics-inspired prints in fresh color combos. Special details and fabrics that are soft enough for sensitive skin, yet affordable.

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Bella n Beau


062514_Bella-n-beau-infographic-01Stylish. Trendy. Exclusive. Infographic courtesy of UK-based Bella n Beau, an online fashion boutique for you and your stylish babies and children up to five years old.  Find a unique, trendy and exclusive collection of clothing and accessories from around the world – plus what owner Shane likes to call “an unforgettable online shopping experience.” International shipping available. Thanks, Shane!

BambiniWare


121713_BambiniWare_01Mompreneur brings new line of innovative gear for mommies + babies to star-studded pre-Golden Globes event.

Launched in October 2013 by Washington, D.C.-based attorney-turned-entrepreneur Riche Holmes Grant, BambiniWare™ is a new line of smart, stylish baby products designed to make life with baby easier and even a little more glamorous in the process.

BambiniWare is heading to Hollywood January 10-11, 2014 to exhibit at LA’s exclusive, invitation-only Boom Boom Room Pre Golden Globes gifting suite, which showcases the latest in baby and kids’ gear for celebrity moms and dads.

I am thrilled to showcase our new gear on such a grand stage. I created BambiniWare to provide functional and fashionable solutions to the everyday dilemmas that I faced as a new mom and I’m excited to share our products with celebrity mommies and babies who confront the same challenges.”

-Riche Holmes Grant

121713_BambiniWare_03The Boom Boom Room, considered “Hollywood’s Biggest Night for Famous Tots,” is the first and only all-baby and kids gifting suite during Hollywood’s awards season. Celebrity nursery designer and fashion television personality Jayneoni Moore reached out to Riche shortly after launching BambiniWare to attend this special event.

121713_BambiniWare_02Mommy Designed. Made in the USA. Designer bibs, burp cloths and unique baby gifts feature vibrant, bold colors and modern prints to soft palettes and timeless classics. Sold online and sold exclusively at Daisy Baby in Bethesda, MD, BambiniWare is mommy-designed and tested, features materials that are safe and friendly to babies and is manufactured in the United States.

“For a long time after the birth of my daughter, I felt like I was stuck in a fashion rut because I paid so much attention to her needs that I neglected my own,” Riche says. “The products in BambiniWare’s inaugural Burpa™ line reflect my effort to help other moms tackle the various spills and thrills that babies bring with tools that make sense and look great. Featuring modern prints to timeless classics, we’ve got something to fit every mommy’s style from Hollywood to Hometown, USA.”

  • 121713_BambiniWare_logoChildren’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Backstage Bag Gifting Opportunity


Attention children’s designers – Backstage Bag has an opportunity for you!

Backstage Bag, a celebrity product place company specializing in gifts for celebrity parents, babies and kids, announces an opportunity to participate in the next Celebrity Baby Baskets event!

120413_BackstageBag_01Product Deadline is New Year’s Day. Want to have your product be included in Celebrity Bag’s VIP gift basket for soon-to-be celebrity parents? Backstage Bag’s Celebrity Baby Baskets are going out to A-list celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Kelly Clarkson, Kerry Washington, Gwen Stefani, Ginnifer Goodwin, Soleil Moon Frye, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kristin Cavallari, Kendra Wilkinson, Olivia Wilde and others on January 5, 2014. Media coverage is scheduled in Pregnancy and Newborn magazine.

Sponsorship benefits include:

  • Product inclusion in 12 VIP gift bags for targeted celebrities and media Professional photo of your product with the gift basket and contents
  • “As Seen In…..” logo to use for marketing, website, etc.
  • Inclusion in featured giveaways via magazines (TBD)
  • Inclusion in social media announcements
  • Inclusion in press release

Past sponsors include Target, Vera Bradley, True Religion Baby, Evenflo, Mustela, Quinny, Phil and Teds, Petunia Pickle Bottom and many more.

120413_BackstageBag_logoAmy Boatwright is the mind behind Backstage Bag, designing custom gift baskets for high profile celebrities and awards shows. She is also part owner of Secret Room Events, known for producing the most exclusive gift suites for Hollywood’s elite talent and media.

The deadline for product is January 1, 2014. If interested, please contact Amy or Ralph for a full proposal:

Backstage Bag
943 19th St Suite 4
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Email: backstagebags@yahoo.com or Amy@backstagebag.com
Website: http://backstagebag.com/
Tel: 310-403-3384/310-890-0263

The Honest Company


111413_HonestCompany_logoWhat you may notice first about The Honest Company is that celebrity mom and actress Jessica Alba is the founder.

When I became a mom, I finally became the person I am, that I always should have been. It’s the most satisfying job in the world. But, it can also be overwhelming and confusing. I created The Honest Company to help moms and to give all children a better, safer start.

Compassionate Collaboration. What you may not realize is Jessica’s co-founder and chief product officer is Christopher Gavigan, father of three and former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World (a national nonprofit empowering parents to protect their children from toxic risks), author of a best-selling book and instrumental in educating people through a collaboration with WebMD.

The two make diapers, wipes and baby products, bath and body essentials, cleaning products and vitamins for babies and homes that are effective, safe, eco-friendly, beautiful, convenient and affordable. Not to mention good for babies and families alike. HONEST!

111413_HonestCompany_productsBundled for Brilliance. The growing product line is also available in groupings or bundles, where the merchandise can be customized, personalized and shipped anywhere. The company also makes things such as free trials, shopping incentives –oh yes and bundle savings- available to its growing list of customers, too.

Healthy, Happy Homes. The Honest Company strives to offer its customers the safest products, the best service and the most useful tools that help create healthier, happier homes. It’s a one-stop-shop for parents to give a better future, not only to their own children, but to kids all over the globe. How? The Honest Company gives back by donating product, money and time to finding solutions for health and social issues affecting children and families.

Giada De Laurentiis’ Recipe For Adventure


The New York Times bestselling author and Food Network star cooks up a little something for the kiddies –and for their moms.

090313_RecipeForAdventure_NaplesGiada De Laurentiis knows a little something about travel. Not only was she born in Rome, growing up in Los Angeles where she now lives with her husband, Todd and their daughter, Jade, she attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris and works for a television network based in New York’s Chelsea Market.

Giada also knows a thing or two about how to fill the hours riding on a plane. In addition to perhaps working out new recipes for her incredibly popular television series, Giada at Home, she’s written a few stories about two kids who travel the world, learning about food and culture.

090313_RecipeForAdventure_ParisOn Sale Today! Giada De Laurentiis’s Recipe for Adventure children’s book series transports readers to famous food cities around the world. The first two books in the series, Naples! and Paris!, go on sale today; a third, Hong Kong! is also available.

090313_RecipeForAdventure_HongKongIllustrated by Francesca Gambatesa, the books introduce kids to Zia Donatella, who comes to live with the Bertolizzi family. And when she does,  little do Alfie and his older sister Emilia know what’s in store for them. Zia Dontella is determined to show the kids how a home-cooked meal is better than even the best take-out pizza or burrito. And when Zia’s plan actually transports Alfie and Emilia to famous food cities around the world, they learn first-hand how food can not only take you places but can also bring you back home. Each book includes recipes for those home-cooked meals.

Available on Amazon.com.

090313_RecipeForAdventure_GiadaLogoA Little Something for Mom, Too.  With the recent launch of the digital publication Giada, the very popular chef is re-imagining the very notion of a weekly lifestyle publication, with an editorial package that allows for on-the-spot content and is responsive to reader input.

The new media offers a blend of original and curated lifestyle content focused on food, beauty, fashion, home décor, health and fitness, travel and family life. In addition, there’s  Giada’s “hotlist” -what she’s listening to, reading or watching and  “Feel Good Food,” her weekly column devoted to her secrets for eating well and staying fit (she’s also written a new book by the same name, coming out this fall).

090313_RecipeForAdventure_GiadaIn addition, each issue will include recipes that readers can collect and save in a personal “Recipe Box” and share with friends via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and email, as well as tips to up their style quotient and ideas for places to visit and products to buy. Upcoming issues will feature reader-generated content as well as editorial features created in response to reader feedback, making it a truly interactive experience for subscribers and Giada’s fans.

Giada has always had an exceptional level of engagement with her fans through social media. By publishing weekly and in a digital format, Giada is able to deepen that engagement, providing a more immersive experience for her highly mobile audience while maintaining the authenticity that is a hallmark of her brand. Giada is redefining what a magazine can be by creating an experience that has the immediacy of a social platform with the functionality of an app. We are thrilled that she has chosen to explore this exciting new space with us.”

-Pam Krauss, Senior Vice President and Publisher, Clarkson Potter

The inaugural issue of Giada is free. Available now for downloading from Newsstand on iPad; iPhone and web-optimized versions will be available later this fall. Future issues will be published every Thursday. Giada is powered by Paragraph’s publishing platform, that lets authors, publishers and other organizations create beautiful magazines for tablets, mobile devices and the web.

I bring all this up because I know a lot of my Children’s Retail Today readers are exceptionally creative and innovative –and Giada’s new products can really inspire new business opportunities!

Spoiled! Fashionz


082013_SpoiledFashionz_02What better way to get your hands on designer duds for kids at a fraction of the cost!

From Ralph Lauren, LaCoste, Armani Jr., Burberry Children, Baby Dior, Moschino Baby/Kid/Teen and Gucci, all kids need to have that outrageous outfit for special school and family functions.

Spelling Bees, school plays, field trips and recitals, and with the holidays just around the corner, kids need clothes that are age-appropriate and super stylish.

082013_SpoiledFashionz_logoLos Angeles, CA-based Spoiled! Fashionz is an exclusive e-commerce consignment retailer* for brand name, luxury designer clothes for children ages 12 and under. This virtual shopping destination features high-end, just-like-new apparel and accessories donated from not only celebrities but fashionable moms everywhere … some clothes still have tags on them, never been worn!

Find everything from jackets, pants, belts, jeans, shirts, tops, dresses and shoes, everything to spruce up your little one’s wardrobe –at an affordable price. There’s even an app for that!

082013_SpoiledFashionz_01Entrepreneur “social light” CeCe Hendricks founded Spoiled! Fashionz while raising her young son Jordan.  A fashionista at heart with a keen eye for style, CeCe came up with the idea to solve a common dilemma most parents have when their children grow up so fast, they don’t have a chance to “wear through” items in their wardrobe.

082013_SpoiledFashionz_04At first, CeCe relied on donations from her personal Hollywood celebrity friends whose kids’ closets were replete with “never been worn” designer styles. The response was so overwhelming that moms everywhere not only shopped the site, but began contacting CeCe to donate “like new” or “unused” pieces from their own kids’ closets.

We’re a new company, but it is important that our business model incorporate an initiative to help those in need, especially the children.

082013_SpoiledFashionz_03Spoiled! Fashionz not only gives “like new” clothing another chance, but a portion of the net proceeds goes to the Jenesse Center, a domestic violence intervention program.

*As a consignment retailer, SpoiledFashionz.com shares 50% commission with the donor.

Red Tricycle


The buy local/shop local movement has inspired a cottage industry of resources to help you find what you’re shopping for locally.

From trend to craze to legitimate movement, buying local is catching on and fast becoming a preferred way to shop. With this spirit, this week I’m focusing on a few children’s specialty resources in my own locality.

020713_RedTricycleSeattle_logoLocal Family Fun. Described as a digital city guide for parents, Red Tricycle is an online resource for parents. CEO and founder Jacqui Boland and her team are dedicated to helping parents have more fun with their kids, delivering a hot list of local things to see, kid-friendly places to eat, fun ideas for family experiences in the neighborhood and more. The free bi-weekly email newsletter is dedicated to a neighborhood, in fact –in my case, Seattle- as well as Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, SoCal, Chicago, New York … and counting. The company is on its way to becoming “the leader in local family fun in every major metro market,” expanding to almost a 500, 000 readership and poised to offer a mobile app.

020613_LittleQuadooConsignment_redtricycleawardFor Jacquie, Red Tricycle originally filled a need to connect with other parents who were experiencing the newness of parenthood. The company is always looking for those must-have recommendations from “hip people who happen to be parents, too” – from where to stage fun birthday parties to ideas for kids rooms, travel, Moms Night Out, Daddy DIY and Crafty Mama projects, where to eat, recipes and more.

Known for the Totally Awesome Awards –where users can nominate their “favorite kid everything,” and win prizes, too – Red Tricycle was named the Best Parenting Web Resource, Seattle Magazine in 2007.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

The Magic of Pippen Lane


Over a decade ago, Anna Beth Goodman envisioned a child’s emporium inspired by what she calls “the whimsy of youth,” right in her hometown on New Orleans, LA.

Today, as one of the premiere shopping destinations in this unique city’s Garden District, Pippen Lane offers cosmopolitan and traditional Southern styles -including Lylian heirloom dresses- as well as exquisitely selected European fashion, gifts, toys and nursery décor for little boys, girls and babies.

Earlier this year, Anna Beth introduced her own signature clothing label featuring fashion-forward, bold designs. The Pippen Lane Collection  débuted in January and pays homage to the Big Easy with fresh and whimsical prints intertwined with classic, wearable styles available in sizes newborn to size 10.

All of my collections may not always have a direct New Orleans reference, but you can always count on the city giving me the ultimate inspiration.

-Anna Beth Goodman, wife of actor John Goodman and mom of Molly Evangeline

The Spring/Summer collection features styles inspired by unique New Orleans neighborhoods, streets and wildlife- including Garden District Floral, Arabella, Peacock Feather and Fancy Bird. Signature layettes feature the iconic fleur-de-lis, as well as bee, crown and bear embroidery on footies, polo shortalls, skirted one-pieces and blankets. For older children, Pippen Lane features rompers, capris, shorts, tunics and ruffled tees in lively patterns including carnival beads and vibrant florals.

The Pippen Lane Collection is available at the retail store, located at 2929 Magazine Street, and online. Wholesale is also available.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!