Janet Gray Muniz

We Have a Winner in the OMAs!


Premiere Organized Mom Awards sponsor Stuck On You donates $1000 to Regina Food Bank for Local Mom

When Kathryn Lavallee was growing up, her family didn’t have much money. Often, she and her siblings were convinced that they would run out of food. “No child should ever have to feel that fear,” she says.

Kathryn is the newly crowned winner of the Organized Mom Awards 2012 (OMAs) –an exciting new way for moms to share tips, favorite things and fun stuff that makes life easier for families everywhere. And as part of this honor, Kathryn is presenting a check of $1000 to her favorite charity –the Regina Food Bank in Regina, Saskatchewan, her hometown. “Thanks to the Food Bank, children are able to sleep knowing there will be a meal waiting for them the next day,” Kathryn says. “It’s not just about providing food to families, it’s about giving children the feeling of security that so many of us take for granted.”

With a total cash prize of $2000, OMA sponsor Stuck on You also presented Kathryn with $1000, donating a second $1000 to the charity of her choice on her behalf. “To be able to give such a wonderful gift to a cause I support so strongly is going to be an incredible experience and I am honored that the Organized Mom Awards has given me the chance to do that.”

Entries came in from families of all descriptions and all sizes, all with an organized mom at the center.

100 Words or Less. Throughout the summer, moms from all over Canada and the United States entered the OMAs by explaining in 100 words or less what makes them feel like an organized mom, sharing their top three tips for organization. Friends and family were able to vote for their favorites on the OMA Facebook page. “The common thread was that moms are doing the very best they can and have developed the most inventive and creative ways of managing their families and keeping organized,” says Carrie Felton, Stuck on You owner and mom of  three boys. The Award judges enjoyed reading all of the wonderful entries and were overwhelmed by the hard work, dedication and care that so many moms are providing to their families. “We loved Kathryn’s entry because it was genuine, had the perfect balance of humor and humility … and we all agreed that we will be using her tips.”

Kathryn is a mom of two boys and the editor of Mommy Kat and Kids, a blog offering solutions that make life a little easier for busy moms and their families. Here’s a little of what Kathryn shared in her OMA entry:

I am nominating myself not because I am the most organized person in the world; I am not. But if improvement is considered, I’ve got this one in the bag! I went from total slob to Manager Mom after the birth of my boys and while I’m still learning as I go, I can’t help but be proud of how far I’ve come!

Read Kathryn’s Top Three Tips here.

Children’s Retail Today is a very proud media sponsor of the OMAs, where I shared a few of my favorite children’s companies that also support charitable causes with panache. In addition to Kathryn’s prize, the top 30 entries who received the most votes will also receive a voucher from Stuck on You.

Stay tuned for some exciting news from Stuck on You later this fall!

  • 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!

Punypixel


Peculiar name, profound promise.

Eco-cool and especially hip, Punypixel™ is a brand of 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic baby clothing, bodysuits, rompers and kimonos ranging from newborn to 4T. Which makes them incredibly soft.

And they’re obsessed with spreading their puny footprint in a big way.

Punypixel garments are manufactured and printed with absolutely no harmful chemicals.

Founded in 2011, the core belief at Punypixel is a commitment to social change, including funding organizations that empower children and building strong ties within our communities. For every purchase you make, Punypixel gives one dollar to a selected organization committed to empowering children.  And every four months, the company features a new company to care for.

We take pride in partnering with manufacturers and suppliers whose business ethics are aligned with ours: high quality products crafted with high social responsibility.

The Puny Promise. The company promises Punpixel products are Super Soft, Super Pure and Super Socially Responsible.

And there’s nothing puny about that.

  • Another Rachel Florio PR client! 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!

Nina Kids Shoes


It all started with a fabulous fashion clog, which graced the feet of stylish women everywhere, including Miss Universe contestants …

New York, NY-based Nina Footwear Corp. is one of the most widely-recognized footwear brands in the United States. And for almost 50 years, the Nina Kids division has been one of its cornerstones.

Known for the perfect fit, Nina Kids shoes are stylish and sturdy at the same time – with comfortable, kid-tested designs made from quality materials. One of the most trusted brands among children’s shoes, moms love ’em, too. They appreciate the extraordinary selection as well as the narrow and wide widths in select styles.

The company recently ran a Back To School contest on Facebook – each day for two weeks, several lucky fans won a featured pair of Nina Kids. From school shoes to play shoes and dress shoes, Nina Kids puts fashion where the foot is – for girls from infants to teens.

“Moms are raving online about Nina Kids comfort, fit, ease and quality,” publicity director Mary Robertson tells me. “And we have some exciting children’s news I’ll be able to tell you about soon!” Stay tuned.

  • 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!

Bobinette – It’s All About Boys


A little cosmopolitan style -with a French touch- especially for boys.

 


Lorraine Le Tac has been around the world. From Paris to Portland, with Vegas in between (yes, Vegas!) she has soaked up the eclectic vibes of urban destinations, letting them inspire her to design fresh and versatile fashion for boys.

In fact, Bobinette is all about boys –and their clothes- shirts, tees, shorts, pants, jackets and accessories from 6m to size 10.

Made in the USA. Mom to her own two boys Spencer and Matisse, Lorraine has settled in Brooklyn, where Bobinette is based. All Bobinette garments are Made in the USA, and Lorraine’s girls line, Ses Petite Mains, is made in San Francisco.

Bring style and color to all the little boys around the globe!

  • 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!

Elegant Baby: high-style, high-quality design


The folks at Elegant Baby® like to say that babies deserve style just as fresh and unique as they are.

And if you’re a trendy, hip and stylish parent, chances are your kids are trendy, hip and stylish, too. And … you’re exactly the kinds of customers who love Elegant Baby.

From baby blankets and baby clothing sets to piggy banks, picture frames and rubber ducks, this family-owned American business gives style-conscious families the choice of affordable baby gifts featuring the very best in quality, design, craftsmanship and tradition.

Our beautiful keepsakes, stylish fashion apparel, baby blankets, nursery items and more all feature the hottest patterns and colors inspired by runway fashion and interior design.

Celebrity Favorite. Famous faces like Angelina Jolie, Tiger Woods, Gwen Stefani and Tom Cruise give Elegant Baby gifts to their children, but so do everyday moms all across the country.

Founded in Burlington, NC by Fred V. Hooper, Elegant Baby was designed to serve the higher end of the baby product industry. Its parent company, Baby Needs, Inc., has been around since 1967, and is known for the Grow Time brand of children’s products. Since 2002, Fred’s son Yates Hooper had led his family’s company, bringing years of experience in the international fashion industry and his own unconventional vision to Elegant Baby. Now, the company is known for affordable, sophisticated baby necessities that are stylish and fun.

The collection has taken off in a really exciting direction, but we’re still honoring tradition. We’re going to make sure Elegant Baby® offers the best of both worlds – the old and the new.

  • Another Rachel Florio PR client! 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!

Finn + Emma’s Organic Picks for the Nursery


Planning a planet-friendly nursery is now effortless, thanks to Finn + Emma’s organic collection.

Green Gift Ready. From bedding to rattle booties, nursery products from Finn + Emma use 100% certified organic cotton, natural fibers including wool, and fresh designs- think scooters, stripes and flowers to outfit nurseries the green way -without toxic chemicals or synthetic materials- simply.

Finn + Emma’s soft organic cotton nap sacs make naptime a breeze with snaps at the bottom for quick diaper changes. The comfy cotton fill provides extra padding for a peaceful slumber.

Babies love to cuddle up to a soft blanket, made from 100% organic interlock cotton. Finn + Emma offers crib sets with and without bumpers to complement nursery decor and coordinate with their blankets and nap sacs. Made in Peru, the bedding sets feature a 100% organic cotton interlock fitted crib sheet and poplin crib skirt.

We live in the balance of stylish and sustainable, whimsical and sophisticated, classic and contemporary.

With fresh prints, modern colors and heirloom quality construction, Finn + Emma is creating a new world for what they call “the organically grown baby” -adorable, wearable, remarkable designs made from organic cotton that virtually wipe boring designs and toxic chemicals off the face of the planet!

  • Another Magnolia PR client! 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!

Denise Richards loves the Ba


Actress and author Denise Richards signs on to endorse The Original Baby.

Denise Richards may be a popular actress and author, but first, she’s a mother of three. And she discovered the Ba –made by The Original Baby– about a year ago, when she adopted baby Eloise.

I couldn’t help but be drawn to the design. It was this color-popping, cool and easy-to-grip addition to Eloise’s standard bottle that made it fun for her, and easy for me because she is in control -as a baby.

Denise and Eloise appear with the Ba in a recent video and pictures shot by renowned photographer Yu Tsai for The Original Baby. “Working with Yu Tsai was a very real experience. He captured us -Eloise and me and the way we interact, our relationship,” Denise says. “It was an experience with my baby, and it was captured, beautifully.”

Compatible with most baby bottle brands, the Ba’s design encourages the simple steps of grasping and feeding as early as three months old. It is also designed affordably, retailing at just $14.99.

Founded in 2011, Portland, OR-based The Original Baby makes the Ba, which was initially invented by rock-n-roll dad Travis Hendricks, who wanted something to help his daughter better hold her own bottle. Travis sought the help of three other dads –a designer, a lawyer and a single father- in producing The Original Ba, recipient of multiple awards including the 2012 RedDot Design Award -one of the world’s largest and most distinguished design competitions- as well as the Bronze IDEA 2012 Award.

Committed to designing unique, functional products, this innovative company is now working to improve other important baby accessories including utensils, pacifiers, bottles and others.

These self-proclaimed dad-preneurs are creating products to make life a little easier, and a lot more fun, for both parent and child.

Thanks Lisa Orman, for introducing me to The Original Baby!

  • 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!

iMommy Fun


This new app is a fun game for kids.

After months of research, Kathy Shimmield created iMommy with her own kids’ imaginative play in mind. The iMommy app lets kids pretend to be parents.  This game is ideal for kids ages two thru 10, and is suitable for any age.

iTunes TOP 100 in Family Category. Players get to choose from four different ethnicities and interact with baby by changing their hair, eye or outfit color. The toy is also a tool, teaching kids how to take care of their baby. They learn what makes baby happy and what upsets the baby. They have to feed, play, bathe and even change baby’s diaper!

Young children who love to care for their dolls and stuffed animals will enjoy having their own virtual baby to take care of through the iMommy app. Dragging and dropping items is a way to interact with the baby in the various playrooms or bathtub and when the baby is tired, children can take their baby to the bedroom where the crib is located and tap the icon to rock it to sleep. Another nice feature of an automated message that will appear after a certain length of time suggesting a break from game play.

-Parents.com

Kathy has a hot new game app out there now – Wolfie. Check it out.

Another Rachel Florio PR client! 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!

Help We’ve Got Kids


Parents in Canada have a little helper, and it’s online!

Tracie Wagman and Deb Beatty are two moms who enjoy finding fun activities for their two children so much, that they decided to bring their fun factor to market and share it with other families.

Eighteen-year-old Help We’ve Got Kids first started as a print directory for parents and caregivers, listing products and services for kids and families in the Greater Toronto area. When the company expanded to HelpWeveGotKids.com, it became a “Bible” of sorts, with lists and articles, contests and blogs about activities and services for kids, parents and families all over Canada, including  Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo, with more cities to follow. “We know that the internet and mobile browsing are hugely convenient for parents (and moms),” they say.

Our website also offers thousands of dollars in local coupons, a listing of local family friendly events and tips from local experts.

Tracie and Deb say they enjoy hearing from parents and caregivers, often incorporating their suggestions into both the print and online version of Help We’ve Got Kids. I particularly like the company’s name –it’s already fun!

Organized Mom Awards Supporter. Help We’ve Got Kids is also a proud partner of the Organized Mom Awards – where moms can enter to win $1,000 by sharing three tips that help her to be an organized mom. Have you entered? Enter here. You’ve got until August 19!

  • 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!

Perry Mackin Lady Chic


Frumpy family is definitely out, as these chic diaper bags declare.

Perry Mackin has come to the rescue of every mom who needs to refresh her fashion image. The company designs diaper bags in a high-quality, water-resistant fabric –worthy of the runway, really. They’re beautiful, versatile and so packed with helpful stuff, anybody would be happy to dress them up … or down.

Perry Mackin was born to allow you to be a busy and committed mother without losing your sense of style or fashion.

Two moms decide to combine practicality and affordability with the specific needs of a diaper bag -baby gadgets, toys and essentials can be stored conveniently in the many inside pockets- and they came up with a bag that’s not only versatile, but it lets mom focus on all the excitement of motherhood in style.

Lady chic!

  • Another Rachel Florio PR client! 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!