Summer BABIES!!!!!!!

Summer is upon us and to me that means fun with fashion. All year long I look forward to those warm summer days that allow me to frolic around in my tube dresses and funky wedge sandals. It’s even more exciting to play dress up with my chic little 9-year-old daughter. Below are some highlights of my daughter’s favorite styles and mine this season. I would particularly like to spotlight Boden as my top pick for the best summer apparel for kids.

Hotchpotch Sundress $24.00
Made of 100% cotton, here is a completely charming dress, which works brilliantly over a t-shirt in the spring or without when it’s hotter.

Surf Suit $31.00
The sun is fun but being burnt isn’t. This adorable little surf suit is perfect for those summer beach days and provides great sun protection. Not to mention, every boy loves to look like a pirate these days and skulls will always be in fashion.

Baby Surf Suit $28.00
Your baby might not be riding the waves yet but that’s no reason not to invest in this dashing surf suit. Best worn over a swim nappy, the surf suit is exceedingly well thought out, machine washable and providing good coverage in the sun. Provides Sun Protection, UPF 40+ & is quick drying and conforms to EN standards and makes your babies bum look cute.

Summer fashion means more than just easy breezy cottons and bathing suits. As we grow closer to September many of us are planning our back to school shopping. We have our checklists….blouses, dresses, pants, shorts, jackets, uniforms (for some) and last but most definitely not least, the kids need a good pair of shoes. As parents we are inclined to buy the “sensible” shoe over the “trendy” shoe. At Piperlime you will find a huge variety of sensibly trendy shoes, and many of them at a fraction of the competitive cost. You’re children will think you’re the coolest and you can feel confident that you’re money was well spent.

Old Navy is somehow always ahead of the curve when it comes to children’s fashion. Everything they have to offer makes me wish they made it in my size. From tops to shoes to swimsuits to accessories, Old Navy is a one stop shopping experience for the entire family. Just look at my picks below. The best part is Old Navy is so affordable and they have fantastic sales all-year round.

For many years I resisted the coolness that is The Gap. When it comes to decorating myself I tend to flock towards more of the “do-it-yourself” style. Then I became a mom and the rest is history. I can’t deny that The Gap has irresistibly cute rags for the little ones. My daughter struts proudly in her sundresses and mini totes from The Gap. She may not look like me in my cut up t-shirts and restored vintage wear, but trust me, she gets more looks than I do for her sassy get ups.

The little nonprofit that DOES...

It's been our pleasure over the years to meet and work with a variety of nonprofit groups, all of them compelling, all of them passionate and all of them doing good to better the world. This month, we'd like to highlight Ndebele Art Project Africa, an organization whose exuberant optimism and 'on-the-ground' work is reminiscent of the children's story: The Little Engine That Could. With what sounds a lot like the 'I-Think-I-Can' motto repeated in the story, this group is making an impact while managing on a shoestring. Monetizing the resources they do have, this small and devoted team continues to plug away, slowly but surely, turning a love for their dear friends of the Jabulani Village into steady and sustainable progress.

Their challenge is not unlike the awesome ferocity of nearby Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe's political crisis and resulting economic breakdown has led to abysmal access to public healthcare, a collapsed infrastructure, a crushing HIV epidemic, political violence, food shortages, cholera outbreaks, malnutrition, the world's highest inflation rate (at over 231 million percent) and an unemployment rate of 90 percent. Many better known NGO's who've sent doctors and other aid workers into the country have been run out while NAP Africa's stream of under-the-radar support -- coming from a group of seven board members and a handful of volunteers from Orange County, California -- has to date been unwavering and unencumbered.

This story of endurance began in 2004 when Sandy Orrill was inspired to take action after visiting a Zimbabwean village with her daughter Jennifer Kemper, a dealer in African art. They became acquainted with the talented carvers and the families living in the Jabulani village and saw first hand how devastating an impact the economic downturn was having on their new friends' lives. Acknowledging that there were no safety nets in place to support the Zimbabwean villagers during these unstable times, and that an art form was on its way to extinction, the two began dreaming up what would later become Ndebele Art Project Africa while flying home from their trip.

The work this steadfast group has accomplished in a short period of time is astonishing. To date NAP Africa has funded the building of the Jabulani Pre-School, which serves roughly 55 students, 30% of whom are orphans, and employs two phenomenal teachers year-round. Nearby is the centrally located windmill they installed, equipped with six water tanks for clean water that can serve over 500 people's water needs. In addition, the group provides emergency medical aid and food in monthly stipends.

In 2008 NAP held an incredibly successful village health clinic with sports medicine specialist Dr. Wendy Norman of Laguna Niguel, CA, treating over 90 men, women and children. Dr. Norman will return later this month to conduct a second clinic and to begin health education classes. Awaiting her arrival will be a 1-ton shipment of nutritional supplements and vitamins that she will distribute to the village families to help combat malnutrition.

This year NAP is taking legal steps to form a Trust (Zimbabwe Art Project - ZAP) with local chiefs and community leaders planning a number of new village initiatives. ZAPs first project is a community garden that will help feed villagers as well as allow them to sell product to local hotels and restaurants.

The long term commitment that NAP and its 'engine' of board members, volunteers and donors has made to the Jabulani villagers is to help bring hope, health and economic sustainability back to the village, restoring the majestic 'tall blondes' to the world marketplace and carving a brighter future in Africa through art.

EAT WELL, DO GOOD

Care to help out a good cause? All you have to do is eat. Really.

Dine at Memphis at the Santora in Santa Ana from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday, and the restaurant will donate a portion of meal and beverage proceeds to an Orange County-based nonprofit group working to preserve the Jabulani Village in Zimbabwe, Africa.

The Ndebele Art Project (NAP) is an organization made up of local O.C. women endeavoring to aid the villagers' struggling community, which has been embattled with political unrest and economic devastation.

The Jabulani villagers of tradesmen and women are known worldwide for their "tall blondes" -- 15-foot giraffes carved from the local mucwa hardwood, but that art has virtually vanished.

Last year's NAP event raised more than $12,000 for ongoing village projects, including a preschool, community water, and a health clinic. The goal is to raise $20,000 this year for the preschool, food and emergency medical care and more water projects in the village.

Dinner reservations for the NAP fund-raising event can be made by calling Memphis: 714.564.1064. There will also be an optional fund-raising poker tournament, a silent auction, raffles and giveaways of the village's famous carved giraffes, local artisan jewelry, vacation packages and more.

Click and Give without having to spend a dime...

The Student’s Guide to Mother’s Day…

When you’re young and in college it’s not always easy to find the time to search for the most fitting and affordable way to let mom know how special she is to you. No worries. We’ve done the research for you… Here is our collection of a few special items and/or services that we know your mom will enjoy. They won’t break the bank and they are as much fun to give as they are to receive.

At first you may have to do some explaining to get Ma and Pa to wrap their heads around Skype… as it is straight out of a sci-fi movie. But once they’ve had their first experience, seeing their beloved child’s face while he or she calls – from perhaps thousands of miles away from home - you can guarantee they’re gonna be hooked! Skype offers many different solutions to help people communicate easier and for less money. Even if your Mom is committed to analog, Skype makes it easy and affordable for you to call her landline from your computer (all for the ridiculously low charge of $2.95 a month). Need Skype on-the-go? Pick up Netgear’s WiFi Phone. It lets you make and receive Skype calls wherever you have WiFi access without the need of a computer and with no monthly fees. Now you can afford to just call to say I Love You… anytime.

If your mom is anything like mine, she loves chocolate. And what could be a more clever way to sneak your happy little face and a message of love into Mom’s busy day at the office, then with personalized m&m’s. A message of love on a candy coated lil’ bite sized treat. It just doesn’t get much better than this…

If you think flowers alone just don’t get the full message across. You will appreciate Fleurop and FTD’s solutions to bringing messages to Mom that are loud and clear! Fleurop’s beautiful Speaking Roses for instance say, ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ embossed in gold print on the petals. Send her one of these expressive bouquets and Mom is sure to feel special and loved the instant she opens the box. If you have an inside joke that will make mom’s day, say it in your words and voice, she’ll love it! ‘Say It Your Way’ bouquets from FTD allow your creativity and voice to come alive. With a keepsake heart ornament that adorns the neck of it’s stylish vase. This unique gift will be cherished for years to come.

Moms are sentimental. Without-end they love to look at pictures of their children and family throughout the years. Create a one-of-a-kind book that Mom can proudly display on the coffee table and look at often. Get creative. Make her a personalized cook book interspersed with pictures of you and her loved ones. Write her a story. ‘One Hundred Reasons why I Love You’ could be your title and you could remind her of all the amazing things she’s done for you throughout your life. Whatever direction you take, the fact that you created something so fun, so personal and just-for-her will make it the best gift in the world.

…Truer words were never spoken. Moms these days need pampering more then ever. With Spa Finder you can search through thousands of spas worldwide, find the perfect location local to your mom and send her off with a gift certificate - worth one day of total relaxation! For moms who love retreating into the bathtub after a long day’s work, choose the Chocolate Spa Indulge package. The perfect escape… including lotion, bath gel, bubble bath and bath salts – all scented in rich cocoa and milk. She’ll be sure to float far away into a chocolate paradise! Be warned though you may need a search team to bring her back!

Mother’s Day Gifts Fit for a Queen

In our perfect world, the one that lives in our head, wouldn’t it be wonderful to shower the people you love with the most luxurious of gifts? This Mother’s Day you can and we’re here to help you make some important, and maybe impulsive, decisions. So go ahead, browse our selections and treat mom like a Queen – she deserves it!

If diamonds are truly a girl’s best friend than show that special someone in your life how much you care with exquisite jewelry that’s sure to leave her feeling beautiful, precious and loved. At Diamond.com, you’re bound to find something to please all tastes and styles. Every mom deserves to be treated like the Queen that she is!

The store that has it all! Saks Fifth Avenue brings the best in luxe living home, anywhere that might happen to be. Over the top designers, fabulous shoes, jewelry, fragrances and gourmet items like you wouldn’t believe – there’s nothing wrong with spoiling mom!

Who wouldn’t feel special with a special delivery from FTD’s Vera Wang collection? Elegant, fashionable and beautifully designed, this collection will make any woman feel incredibly indulged. So what’s stopping you?

Nothing says extravagance like Dean & Deluca. Their candies, cookies, extraordinary cakes, meats, cheeses, seasoning collections, wines, and kitchenware – do I need to go on? If the woman in your life enjoys a sumptuous meal or exquisite desserts, this is THE one-stop store to make all her culinary dreams come true. Best benefit of all – I’ll bet she’ll share…

Honor Thy Mother …Our Green-Guide to Celebrating Mom

Honor Thy Mother …Our Green-Guide to Celebrating Mom

Celebrate Mother’s Day and our Mother Earth by shopping online to help reduce the environmental impact of traditional brick and mortar retail. What a smart way to honor those that continue to nurture us all and take advantage of e-commerce’s green benefits in the process.

Give your mother a gift this Mother’s Day that is not only stylish but smart too. Reluminati’s Reware line fuses green ingenuity with everyday practicality and fashion. Their solar beach tote is the Prius of beach bags. While at the beach, you won’t be the only one soaking up the sun’s rays, your cell phone or ipod will be charging up their batteries while you work on your tan. Another great item from their line is their awesome everyday plastic bottle purse – what? Carry plastic bottles? Yep that’s right – this chic hobo bag is made of recycled plastic soda bottles. Roomy and versatile, it’s a great carryall and the perfect green accessory for mom.

Have an active mom? Get her on the road with style and comfort. The Novara Mia women’s bike has everything she needs. Easy-handling with a step through frame, 24 speeds, and sassy color scheme with a retro feel – all the while optimizing her comfort by placing her at a fully upright position. Accessorize her with the Haiku faux-leather and embroidery detailed messenger bag and the Hula Lounge bike helmet - and away she goes…

For moms of all ages classic design and comfortable fabrics are essential. This is greenloop. They represent the fusion of aesthetics and ethics, of style and sustainability with their look good AND do good sense of style. Surprise mom with the springtime tunic/shirt dress, which can be dressed, up or down. Or, if you know she’ll love something more sophisticated that’s comfortable too — the Beth dress is a perfect pick. If your mom loves feminine and pretty, greenloop’s delicate batik silk dress with spaghetti straps is ideal.

For items that say home, love and comfort, Acacia is your store. Everything is unique, beautiful and adds a little warmth to your life. From clever and stylish reusable shopping bags or recycled glass votives to the coziest of bamboo pajamas, Acacia knows that mom enjoys her simple pleasures. Rounding out the range of Mother’s Day gift ideas, Acacia is also a great yoga and wellness resource, making it an easy go-to for any occasion.

Bring life and creativity to mom this year with Organic Bouquet’s wide array of eco-conscious flower arrangements and plants. She’ll enjoy the exquisite perfection of the live grapevine Bonsai for many Mother’s Days to come. Or send her something elegant like the Everlasting Love wreath made with sweet-smelling Lavender, Oregano, Myrtle and Daffodil. For the mom who loves a good cause, Organic Bouquet’s Flowers for Good program gives 5% back to their selected non-profit partners. Choose from an assortment of charitable bouquets and double up on your giving!

It’s true, everybody did learn how… even your mom! Since the Baby Boomers first got grey, their ladies have been reinventing the word GRANDMA! For those of you with who’s moms still got a little Gidget in them, Becker Surfboards will help you create the perfectly tailored Mother’s Day gift for your awesome mom. All her surfing gear can be found at Becker Surfboards along with a great selection of bathing suits and beach blanket fashions. What better way to honor mom and the environment then by spending time together in our planet’s most beautiful playground!