Time to Bump the Bumper Stickers

Okay.  So I know right now I'm totally going to offend some of you with this post, but I digress, I simply just MUST get this off my chest!

The family bumper stickers.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  The ones with the Dad, Mom, 3 sets of twins, 4 dogs, 1 cat, 1 parakeet and 8 tiny reindeer.  Okay, well, maybe not the reindeer, but you get the picture.  Tell me, oh, please, oh, please, tell me: just what is the point of these?  I'm still trying to figure it out. Is it a lame attempt to elicit in fellow drivers the same feelings as those "Baby on Board" stickers {that is, "Hey, Mr. Lead-foot! Drive with caution around me!  I've got 12 children to feed here!!"}?  Or do these people just want to "brag" to everyone else about how many people are in their family?  And if so, why?  Why do people think others {namely, strangers} will care about how many kids, dogs & cats they have?

Okay, well now that I got that off my chest, I'm feeling better.  But, seriously, if you have one of these stickers, please post a comment and let me know the reasoning behind it.  Enlighten me!!  It just may change my mind.  So much so, in fact, that maybe even I, too, will be sporting one of them around!  Okay, well, maybe not.  :)  But at least then I wouldn't be so miffed & perplexed by this whole thing.

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

DIY: Make Your Own {File/Index Holder}

I have to confess that I did NOT come up with this idea on my own, but saw it and KNEW that I must make one.  And RIGHT AWAY!

These are just soooo crafty and have an urban, vintage feel...I think once you see it, you're gonna run right to your book shelf to make one!!  And did I mention the best part?  They're practically FREE to make and would be just the right gift to give to that person you never know what to get.  Oh, and time to make? About 10 minutes.  Yep, that's right. Read on. :)

{the STEPS:}

*All you need is a book you don't want any more.  I'm sure most of us have that lying around the house, right!?  Remove the front cover of the book, and then begin folding each page in half, long-length-wise {see picture}.

*Go through the whole book, and then remove the back cover, and THAT'S IT!!  The doubling up of the pages makes it thick enough to keep things put without using anything else.  And the whole book/file just fillets open perfectly ~ nothing else needed!

{Decorative OPTIONS:}
You could also find some pretty little alphabet or numbered tabs for this {check your scrapbooking stores for pretty ones}, as well.  OR make your own tabs with stamps, your cricut maching or just by hand and then just tape them on, and use the fil e as a recipe holder or anything else your crafty little mind comes up with!

I have mine sitting on my home desk right now and use it for orders, receipts, my "to do" list and business cards of stores I still want to check out online. It's Simple. Chic. Mod. LOVE.

I have another paper craft tutorial that also uses a book coming soon, too!  Hopefully by next week I'll make it and get the pictures posted for you all. :)

Happy crafting!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{BLACK FRIDAY} SPECIALS...A LITTLE EARLY...ENJOY!

Let's get your shopping game on!

Here's the scoop to score some major savings on Adam's Blankie couture this year!

{{BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS 11/20-11/28!!}}

**ALL HAIR COUTURE - BUY 3, GET 1 FREE!!
**BUY THREE BIBS OR BIB/BURP SETS, GET 1 FREE!!
**FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $100!!

use code: BLACKFRIDAY in "notes to seller" when checking out, and leave the 4th hair item and/or bib/bib&burp set that you'd like free there, as well.

Oh, and, YES! There are no minimums here.  So, if you buy 6 hair items, you get TWO FREE, or 9 hair accessories, you would get THREE FREE!  {yahoo!!} 

thank you!!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?
Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.com
www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{Vintage Collection}

So I've been so inspired lately to create a {Vintage Collection} for Adam's Blankie.   And I'm so thrilled to introduce to you the very first piece from it!

It's our Cream Organic Vintage Triple Rosette Headband with Pearls...very natural...very inspiring...very, well, vintage.  And, I don't know about you, but I just {love} this piece!  It would make the BEST prop for doing those old-fashioned photo shoots, or for pairing with baby in the nude and absolutely the PERFECT addition for a baby baptism or christening.

Up next?  {I'm sooo excited for this one!} Vintage BIBS!  Can't wait...you'll be the first to know when they arrive... {A sneak peek into them will arrive here on the blog soon if you just can hardly wait!}.

P.S. Some stellar BLACK FRIDAY sales coming to Adam's Blankie soon {and, by the way, they'll start BEFORE next Friday!} :)

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{Update on HOME PARTIES!}

Sooo....as I know some of my readers do not have kids of their own {or not that small, at least}, it's been requested that I also offer parties for JUST hair items.  ABSOLUTELY!

So, here are the alternative FREEBIES you can earn for hosting an Adam's Blankie party!!

*Host a party with 12 in attendance, and score a FREE bib OR hair clip/headband of your choice!

*Have $300 in sales, and earn a FREE bib AND burp cloth of your choice OR TWO hair items of your choice!!

*Have $500 in sales, and earn 15% off your total order AND the free bib & burp cloth OR TWO hair items!!!

*Have $1000 in sales, and earn 15% off your total order AND a bib, burp, binkie & lovie set OR THREE hair items!!!!

ALSO....even if you're not local, we can host an ONLINE PARTY! You just send me the email addresses and names of those you want to invite, and we'll send the EVITE.  Your friends/family will have 7 days to shop, and we'll take all the totals from that 7 day period to help you earn your goodies! :)

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

Ooooohhhh baby!!

Soooo...if you're a local lady, then you're in for a TREAT!

Adam's Blankie is now offering HOME PARTIES!  And heeeeeeeeeere are the details!!

*Host a party with 12 in attendance, and score a FREE bib OR hair clip/headband of your choice!

*Have $300 in sales, and earn a FREE bib AND burp cloth of your choice!!

*Have $500 in sales, and earn 15% off your total order AND the free bib & burp cloth!!!

*Have $1000 in sales, and earn 15% off your total order AND a bib, burp, binkie & lovie set!!!!

If you are in the Phoenix metro area, and would like to set this up, please email me at adamsblankie@gmail.com.  These are FABULOUS if you're pregnant, and would like to give some HINTS to your friends/family about what you'd like for you & your couture baby from Adam's Blankie!  ALSO a great way to score free baby shower gifts for yourself to giveaway AND if babies aren't in your life, what girl doesn't love HAIR COUTURE!

See you soon!!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

Fight For Preemies.

This date, November 17th, has been deemed a day to raise awareness of the crisis of premature babies.  Babies who are born to early...many of whom, die.  With nearly 1 in 8 babies born prematurely, chances are you know someone who has battled this issue.  I, for one, have a good friend who has endured this.  Thankfully, her story had a happy ending {her son was born 9 weeks early}, but not all of them do.


Here are some links for helping to deal with and raise awareness for this epidemic:
Information on Preemies - including:
*Who's at increased risk
*Why does it happen
* Treatment for Prevention
and more!

For moms who are pregnant {to help have healthy, full-term baby}
For families spending time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU}
To create a band to honor or remember.

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{Couture}.

Thought you all might like a relaxing thursday...no words...just pictures to peruse. Enjoy!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?
Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.com
 www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{NEW LOOK!}

If you're a long-time follower, when you checked in yesterday or today, you probably stopped for a minute and thought, "Wait. Am I at the right place?"  Yes. Yes, you are.  We're just freshening up our look a bit, and consolidating a little, too.  As we moved our Haute Tot & Baby Couture store to our Adam's Blankie store, we thought it only appropriate to adjust the look of the blog, as well.  For now, the blog address will stay the same, though {www.hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com}.  I'll be the first to let you know if and when that will change, though. :)

Also, we have a NEW GIVEAWAY up as of yesterday, so don't miss it! You can win a $25 gift card to Oompa.com ~ where you'll find European toys, baby gear and more!

And lastly, if you haven't already done so, be sure to check out our MONTHLY COUPON CODE at our Facebook page!!  Get ready and do some fabulously couture holiday shopping for any little ones you know {or prep for baby showers that you KNOW will be coming next year!}

Have a fabulous Wednesday, everyone!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{Lunchboxreviews} AND WIN A GIFTCARD! *GIVEAWAY CLOSED*

I have to admit that I'm not a parent who generally likes all the lights and gimmicks that a lot of electronic childrens' toys out there exude.  {I mean, come on, that's why I started Gourmet Play!!}.  That being said, I do understand that there are times that you just simply must offer up something to your child to keep them occupied.  Particularly if you're doing some long-distance car ride, waiting at the airport or a doctor's office, etcetera.  And for those reasons, I fully support finding something to "entertain" your children to keep them out of your (or others'!) hair.

So.  Did you know that there are apps out there just for your kids?  All of you tech-savvy moms out there are probably going, "Heck yeah! I couldn't go a day without them!"  While others (like me!), are going, "Really?!"  Yes. Really.  But here's the kicker:  which ones are good?

This is where www.lunchboxreviews.com comes into play.  They offer a one-stop shop to see which apps are actually worth your investment.  I mean, 99 cents a pop isn't a bad deal, but they can certainly add up.  And there's nothing worse than "wasting" money...especially in this particular economy.

Lunchboxreviews has sorted them by platform (iPhone, iPad, etc.), age, educational vs. games, books, creatives, for mom and dad, and for special needs.  The creator, Milanie, writes some of the reviews herself, but also relies on other reputable sources to write reviews for the apps. So once you find what you're looking for, you can simply see how it's rated (using a simple 5 star system) and read comments (from users and/or critics).  It's that simple.  And presto! Your "research" is now complete, and you know if it's going to be worth that buck or not!

I give a "thumbs up!" to this clever site!  It's a worthy source for any tech-savvy mamas out there to utilize!  The research is simple, fast and won't cost you a penny.

WIN AN OOMPA GIFTCARD!

The same creator of lunchboxreviews.com has also generously offered up a $25 gift card to www.oompa.com to one lucky Haute Tot and Baby Couture reader! They offer European toys, baby toys, modern gear and more for children!

BONUS! 

Be sure to check back to our blog soon for your chance to WIN SOME FREE APP CODES!!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Oompa and come back here to tell me what you'd get with your gift card if you won (1 entry)! YOU MUST BE A HTBC BLOG FOLLOWER {VIA GOOGLE FRIEND} IN ORDER TO ENTER!!  SO IF YOU'RE NOT YET, SIGN UP AT THE RIGHT!! Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through  December 1st. Winner to be chosen December 2nd.

Additional Entries!

Once you've completed the mandatory entries, do any of the following for more chances to win! {Again, please be sure to leave your email address in each entry!}

*Subscribe to our blog (2 entries possible; 1 via google and 1 via email feedburner (must be activated to count as entry)).

*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL (1 entry).

*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry) and score coupon codes!

*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet, (1 entry - can be done daily):

"Win a $25 giftcard to oompa.com @adamsblankie! Enter at www.hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com!"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s!).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).

*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post AND a picture of the prize!! (3 entries).

*Enter any of our other current giveaways for one entry each (up to 3 entries possible) and leave a comment letting me know which giveaway/s you entered.

*Email up to 3 friends about this giveaway ~ be sure to copy me on the emails! adamsblankie@gmail.com (3 entries possible).

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly my own, and no one or nothing else has influenced me in my review.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

WINNER:JOANNA@FEEDINGTHEPRICES

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com