Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle with Kids

Aspire to Inspire: Meet Libby Chisholm Fearnley, former fashion designer & mother of two who, like me, took a leap of faith to leave her fashion design gig to be home with her babies. "After I gave up designing and was a full-time parent for 4 years, I spent nearly every evening for months in a hot bath with a glass of wine pondering my future." (This 'me time' was assigned by my supportive husband) What I realized is that my measure of success is not monetary.  My own personal satisfaction does not come from stuff. It comes from love, experiences, achievement, knowledge and overcoming challenges" reflects Fearnley.  So, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City to complete a Sustainable Design Entrepreneurs certificate & is currently co-authoring a book on Sustainability in the Textile Industry.

Libby shares some pointers on transforming the way you shop for your children to help you move toward a more a sustainable lifestyle:

Before purchasing new items begin by asking yourself these questions:
1.  Why do we need this?
2.  Can we live without it?
3.  How will it add to the health, safety, education and (insert your own family value) of your family?
4.  Will it last & grow with you and/or your child?

What to look for in a sustainable brand
I am going to have to take this opportunity to get on my soap box before answering your questions directly.  Please, take time to perform the exercise of examining your own values before trying to find the perfect product.  It is much easier to choose the right sustainable products when you know what is important to you.  Is it quality? Price? Fair trade? Community outreach? Most of the time it's impossible for sustainable designers to get it right in every area. When buying something it's important to me that things are made well, locally if possible, and that there is a planned destination for the item when I am finished with it.  Slow Fashioned is a great resource to help determine the quality of clothing you are shopping for."

10 tips on sustainable shopping for kids:

We are crazy about this kitchen set created by Fearnley that's made of cardboard, jar lids, paper towel rolls & water based paint.

1.  Exhaust all options before you consider purchasing new. Get crafty! For example, my child wanted a kitchen.  So, we made one out of a few cardboard boxes, jar lids, paper towel rolls and some water-based paint (above). Not crafty? Leave it as an activity with the babysitter.
2.  Check your neighborhood second hand shops
3.  Most of us are overloaded with gifts at the holidays. Try swapping with friends and neighbors. It brings people together and makes you feel better knowing you are not contributing to the landfill.
4.  Mend holes, loose buttons, holed socks, broken toys.
5. Take advantage of hand me downs and pay it forward when finished.
6. Plastic toys are great, but try to buy used ones and pass on the old ones.  Recycle what's broken if you can't fix or re-purpose it.
7.  For birthday parties give up the goody bag.  Give a small book instead.  The children will briefly give you the stink eye but parents will be relieved.
8.  Buy gifts or toys that aren't very specific. Toys that are multi-functional and gender neutral like Legos and bristle blocks, encourage creativity and imagination.  Classic books are great too.
9.  Carry a large freezer bag in your diaper bag for items left outside that people are getting rid of .  (Depending on the item I wash on hot, put it in the freezer, disinfect when I get home)
10. Pay more, buy less.  Sustainable brands cost more, but they last longer and are made ethically.

"With that said, we don't go dumpster diving at the holidays.  We did cut back a lot this year and decided to spend gift money on activities like swim lessons instead of "stuff".  Also, our son was interested in stringing necklaces.  Instead of buying those cheap plastic beads we bought him a Green Creativity Recycled Paper Beads Kit.

If you MUST buy new check out these talented & sustainable designers to get you started: 
1.  Imps & Elfs                                 
2.  Kids Case                                   
3.  Kallio                                          
4.  FUB Kidswear                             
5.  Itsus.ca
6.  Aravore                                   
7.  Homespun Vintage
8.  Little Bean Sprout
9.  Sugar On Snow
10. YOOX.com

Did You Know:

• Goodwill and Salvation Army are not the most sustainably operated charities.  Check it out.
• You should be wary of "greenwashing"= products with brown paper packaging that claim to be "natural" & "green" with no legal definition.  Good Guide is a great resource for learning how good your personal care products and clothing are.

Benefits of Simplifying:
Less stuff will make it easier for your child to focus on what they do have. When they tire of a toy, they will need to think creatively to find a new game.  They will thank you for molding them into the resourceful little buggers they become.

Vote with Your $$ and reinforce the positive changes that mainstream retailers are implementing: 
1. Patagonia 
2. H&M Conscious
3. Levis Waterless
4. Nike
5. Target

"Figure out what matters to you and apply it to every area of your life. Consciously living your life with a purpose makes decisions so much easier.  When you are clear and passionate about what matters to you, it will become a part of everything you interact with.  I had spent a decade designing for a habit I didn't really believe in or understand the effects of.  That's why I wasn't finding fulfillment.  Now that I have identified what matters most to me, everything seems pretty clear.  I don't want a big house or cars or walk-in closets (though an extra bathroom would be superb).  I want to make a difference. I want to make sure I leave this place the way I found it, or better.  I want to learn and learn and learn.  I want to love and be loved. I want my children to find something that they are passionate about and go after it, no matter how daunting it is."

Thank you so much for making that difference Libby.  Bebe Birds loves ya!  Look for Libby Chisholm Fearnley at the Park Slope Food Coop on Sunday, February 2nd 2014 at 12pm discussing the global impact of clothing manufacturing and what consumers can do to help change the current business model.

The Fearnley Family

From One Mama to Another-Meet Natalie

Natalie & her two daughters, Gisele & Charlotte

Meet Natalie Rooney, a mama, children's wear designer and former New Yorker now living in the South of France with her two daughters Gisele & Charlotte.  She's also the creator & designer behind the whimsical children's line Océane Manon, lounge wear for girls and babies with an old world charm.  

Océane Manon's cotton apron, $52 & cotton dress, $65, both at oceanemanon.com

Why we love her?

She inspires us!  She's a well traveled mama not afraid of taking chances.  About a year and a half ago she took a leap of faith moving her daughters 5 years and 10 years at the time from the Untied States to the South of France. "When it comes to dreams, I feel we must try to follow them in order to wake them into reality." 

Gisele's Time Out children's book, $25 at oceanemanon.com

On the Move: 

A long time believer that she would never leave Manhattan Natalie found inspiration after a trip to Florida and realized that " Living in Manhattan seemed to hold a lot of gravity and it felt like it was holding us within it's skyscrapers.  Once we moved out, living in the warm weather, near the beach, in a house rather than an apartment was a lot easier with a toddler.  We enjoyed breathing in the fresh air, noticing flowers, the stars at night, nature in general."

Then, a few years after the birth of her second daughter, Charlotte, Natalie decided to follow a life long dream to move to the south of France with her children while they were young enough to easily acquire a new language.  She goes on to explain, "Sometimes it feels like windows of opportunities come open, moments perhaps, and I worried we might let the chance go by and never do it.  So I made a push, I did lots of research for schools and different towns until I felt I found the right one, Uzès. I took a leap of faith and decided to try it for 3 months.  You see, 3 months was affordable enough without having to risk everything in case we didn't like it."  

Natalie's home in Uzès

Greatest joy since moving to France: 

"The biggest joy has by far has been hearing my kids speak French, not only with their friends shouting playfully during recess, but even little arguments between them in the back of the car! And being able to travel so easily.  We've already visited so many countries .

Gisele in Avignon

                                                           

Climbing ruins instead of monkey bars

Why we love Océane Manon? 

We simply love the sheer white cotton that make up many of Océane Manon's clothing.  We find it to be both dreamlike & charming. Each garment is hand stitched in India using techniques passed down from artisans who made clothing for the Rajas.  The fabric is called Khadi, and was made known to the world by Ghandi.  It is extremely light, but also strong.

Océane Manon's embroidered cotton lounge dress, $122, at oceanemanon.com 

Life in America vs. Life in France: 

• On Parenting: In France there is a strong sense of a united culture. It is a much older country and has a lot more history.  This creates a more unified culture with perhaps less differences than we are used to in the States.  France respects its traditions, the order of life, when to eat, how to eat, what to do in certain social situations, how to respond to common behaviors from children.  There is a lot less room for error within the framework - limits are already set.  A lot less guesswork.  You raise your kids not too differently from the way you were raised.  I find less imagination, less freedom, less open mindedness, less tolerance, fewer educational options, and a lot less thinking outside the box.  In America, particularly in New York, there are many varying ways to raise children.  We take it for granted that our neighbor has different rules about table manners or jumping on furniture, politeness, and so on.  I like the freedom to make my own rules as a parent, and to follow my maternal instinct.  All that being said, i do find French moms chic and sophisticated, and their children probably do have better manners than American kids.  And for sure the French kids outdo Americans in their wardrobe!
• On Food: The French have a lot of respect for food, there are certain ways and times to eat certain things. And no doubt about it, French kids eat all kinds of foods American kids would never even look at.  It seems to be adult food is given as early as possible.  Mixed up, with all the flavors, and certainly not with veggies on the side, separated from the pasta for example.  It would not surprise me to see a French 3 year old eating escargots.  I do have to admit I have seen New York kids eating sushi.  
• On Work:  "The town I'm in, Uzès is extremely creative.  The attitude towards work and money is much more casual than in New York.  That's actually an understatement.  They close down everything for 2 hours at lunch and are also less service or success oriented.  The customer is not always right here.  It is less motivating in terms of financial success, but helps to balance joie de vivre with work life."

Traveling with children: 

• Get a passport right away for everyone in the family and book a trip immediately.  One step at a time and you will eventually get to where you are going. 
•  Be more flexible with the baby's schedule and let them sleep on the go whenever they want.
•  Pack less clothing because traveling is not a fashion show. Plus, most places may have anything we might forget.
• Let the kids choose something fun to play with at the airport shop.
• Try to choose non-stop flights.
• Each kid gets her own carry-on and is responsible for pulling it around and not forgetting it somewhere.
•  Don't be afraid to let them sit on their own on the plane.  They are less needy and cranky seated next to strangers and do surprisingly well.
•  Let them eat junk food on the plane.  I used to pack fruit and carrots and stress about that.  When we travel I let them eat whatever they want till we arrive in the hotel.  The next day they know we have to eat salad, drink water, and clean up our insides a bit.  It is such a big relief to let go of anything I can when traveling.  
•  Skip activities with long lines.  Don't expect things to go smoothly or over schedule the day.  Sometimes a good activity is just getting a gelato in Italy and watching people go by while the kids chase pigeons.  They will remember that more than the museum visit.  You all probably will.

What's Next:
Our plans for the future are to move onwards and have a new european experience.  Starting in September, Océane Manon will be based out of England.  Nothing should change much regarding the business except for some adjustment in shipping.  You see, my two children are very different from one another, as with most siblings.  They will follow very diverging paths.  I've begun to question education so much that I wonder why certain information is chosen as the "right" information to teach kids, and why they each need to learn that same information.  I want to trust my childrens' interests and natural inclinations enough that it is reflected in what they learn, as well as how they learn it.  This nurturing of out of the box thinking is something I feel is not valued much in France, or at least is not something I found in any schools.  So, we are moving to a town in Devon, England.  It's also in the countryside, rural, but with progressive, forward thinking towns where we can find this kind of flexible education, organic markets, and open minds.  I'm looking forward to seeing the kids blossom when their schooling will allow for this kind of new growth.  It will also be fun to have a new adventure and meet new people.

Océane Manon's cotton jumper, $tk & Indian cotton towel, $53 at oceanemanon.com

Thank you Natalie!  Bebe Birds loves ya!  To get your little one these beautiful cotton pieces, perfect for summer visit Océane Manon. 

Laugh! Rock! Play!

    Rock Star in the making! 

It comes as no surprise that one of the the coolest hang outs for toddler's happen to be located on the waterfront in Williamsburg, Brooklyn -home of the hip! Frolic!, a 5,000 square foot rock-n-roll themed membership based indoor play space that by definition means to play & move about excitedly, cheerfully or energetically which is exactly what you will witness when spending time in this enriching environment. Equipped with an authentic child friendly VW Bus decorated with shag rug to a lip & tongue slide inspired by the Rolling Stones graphic.  Rock is everywhere-from classes, play structures, birthday parties & day camps. And truth be told you may even catch Suri Cruise jamming out on the drum set when you first walk in.  Oh, and then there's a coffee lounge for parents who need a lil' recharge-which in my case is always needed appreciated now a days.

An Authentic VW Bus turned play structure

                             Bebe Bird takes the wheel in Frolic!'s VW Bus-Free Spirit!  

Frolic! began when two chic Williamsburg neighbors, Julia Dawson-a fashion designer & Carey Balogh-a luxury fashion publicist, became mamas. "When our boys were born there was no place really to go" Julia mentions.   "MamaLu's, which everybody loved, closed down."  Since Carey lived in a duplex she decided to transform her basement into a playroom and began hosting play dates. "My husband would come home and there would be strollers up and down the hallway" Balogh recalls.  During these play dates ideas would run rampant as classic rock blasted in the background.  One day Julia came to Balogh and said "I want to get out of fashion."  And Carey did too as she was pregnant with her second (her two boys are 18months apart).  "We knew somebody was going to start a play space in the area.  So, we took a leap of faith."

Bebe Birds (BB):  What was your inspiration for a rock-n-roll themed play space?

Frolic!-Carey: My husband is a concert production manager and we have pictures of Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osborne and signed memorabilia everywhere.  During those play dates the kids would play around on the guitars while listening to classic rock on the radio.  Everyone-parents, nannies & kids alike, would bond through music. There was such a great energy and vibe.  When Julia and I decided to open Frolic! we asked ourselves: "What's going to make us unique and special? What do we love?" The answers were simple-we love going to concerts, Julia at one point was going almost every week, and we love music and good coffee.  We wanted to create a space that was aesthetically pleasing for parents too.  A place for the whole family not just the kids.  We wanted a community.  That's why we made Frolic! membership based-to create this community.  Anyway, the rock-n-roll was a big inspiration and we wanted the kids to learn about rock.  It's also something everyone could relate to.

Lip & Tongue Slide inspired by the Rolling Stones 

BB:  Frolic!'s play structures are so fun and unique? How did you come up with their design?

Frolic! (Julia):  Well, we knew we really liked rock-n-roll but didn't want it to be another Hard Rock Cafe.  We wanted Frolic! to be very artsy and creative.  We thought, what gives you that feeling of freedom and rock-n-roll? A VW Bus! So, that was number one.  We wanted proprietary items. Things that no one could buy at the store. Things that were museum type quality.  Our number one was being in line with safety and quality.  We did a ton of research & went with the experts who already had a track record, Roto, a studio that worked with the children's museum's and science museum's in Manhattan.   They were able to give us the best materials.  We sent the bus to them and they turned an authentic VW bus into an interactive play structure using only the highest quality material & safety standards.  Every structure at Frolic! has a story.

BB:  Can you share the story behind the creation of  the interactive video wall ?

Frolic! (J):  For the video wall we asked ourselves again "What would you find in a museum? What could we call our own that would be Frolic! ?"  We found these video artists who created the graphics for us and the music and the whole technology around it.  These artists also exhibited at Moma. We  looked for top quality partners so that everything we offer is that special-'wow' factor!

               Frolic!'s one of a kind interactive video wall definitely possesses that "Wow" factor!

Carey Balogh on the left and Julia Dawson on the right owners/creators of Frolic! 

BB: Being the owners & creators of Frolic! must make you the coolest mamas on the block.  How do your sons feel about the play space? 

Frolic! (C): They love it!  They are there almost every single day. What we found is, Frolic! created a community for the kids. You know, kids are so social and they get to play with other kids here. They learn about sharing and they definitely get a lot out of it. Actually, when all of the 2 year old members started preschool this past fall so many parents came to us and said 'We just have to tell you, our kids had no separation anxiety.  They are so used to being around other kids.' You see, the kids all know each other from this community and have become really social, which is cool.

BB: Who are some of Frolic!'s most most memorable customers? 

Frolic! (C):  Well, we've had some celebrities such as Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise.  We've also had Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy.  They came for over 2 hours with their son Bing.  Then there's Jemima Kirke from the T.V. show Girls.  She also happens to be the daughter of Simon Kirke,  the drummer from Bad Company.  I'm actually not excited about Girls, I just love that there is this connection to this great classic rock band.  That's cool!

BB: Owning a cool rock-n-roll play space and having a love of rock who are your favorite children's rock band?

Frolic!: We actually have our own band, The Little Rock-Its by Frolic!. It is run by Tim Kubart from Tim and the Space Cadets.  The Little Rock-Its by Frolic! has 13 classes a week. There is a 3 piece band in every class. There could be a signer, guitarist, keyboardist and/or drummer.  We have our own album and every week is a different artist.  So, for example this week is Aerosmith.  They may play 3 to 4 Aerosmith covers in between the kids songs.  The parents love it too.  One week we had Paul Simon, the next Ray Charles and after that Stevie Wonder. In addition to our band and Tim and the Space Cadets we had the Not-Its from Seattle perform in our space. They are really good too.

BB: What are some of Frolic!'s future plans?

Frolic!: We just confirmed that on May 19th from 11am-2pm Frolic! will be hosting a Rock-n-Roll Carnival at Brooklyn Bowl with Mario the Magician.  There will be carnival activities for the kids, variety shows, jugglers and some special rock star guests will be making an appearance.  There will be some really top people but, I can't announce who it is quite yet.  Our goal is to create high end children's events that are enjoyable for kids and parents. At our Holiday concerts what we did that was different is create a mini stage in front so the kids could go up on the stage and rock out.  We really focus on every little detail to make this a memorable and comfortable experience for everyone.  Ticket's will go on sale at the end of March.  Check back with the Brooklyn Bowl roster to purchase your tickets.

We are also hosting a Summer Camp for children 3 to 5 years that run for 10 weeks. You can choose a 2 week minimum.  Every week has a different theme.  The kids will do arts and crafts, signing and dancing all based of the weekly rock-n-roll theme.

Finally, we are working on this really cool new vertical play structure that we will call either "Stairway to Eleven" or "Highway to Yell" for kids 3 and up.


BB: Super exciting! Before we finish, can you share some advice for those wanting to start their own business?

Frolic!: You have to be soooo passionate about whatever it is you decide to do.  It takes a lot of sacrifices and something you really have to want. You can't just go in half way.  For example, we didn't know how we were going to find the backing for Frolic!.  We we were trying to figure out how we were going to finance this.  But it was something we were so passionate about that we put it out there and knew the stars would align.  We told everyone we knew and people introduced us to people.  And you know, the best advice we were given is to simply follow up when people say "you should meet my friend so and so." Don't dismiss it!  We followed up with every single person.  So, take every single lead and go for it!  Get out there! Meet as many people as possible.  That's how we found our investors and lawyers and partners.  If you really want it, it will happen!

Nina Bird hits the stage

One evening when Frolic! was closed, the two entrepreneurs were lying on the floor looking up brainstorming the new vertical play structure while rock music was playing in the background.  Julia and Carey were busy sharing new ideas and inspirations.  It was a surreal moment, Balogh reveals, when she stopped and looked around and thought "This is great! There we were just visualizing in this space.  And everyone, Julia & I & the set designers, were all really excited while creating." And I guess that's the beauty of taking that leap of faith & owning your own business.  You have the opportunity to bring the extraordinary to kids where they have freedom to laugh, rock and play daily! Kudos Frolic! Bebe Birds loves ya!  To learn more about becoming a Frolic! member visit them here.

Gift List Day 28: 'Tis the Season for Adorable

Aspire to Inspire: OMG! These too cute for words critters don't just have good looks going for them. Nope, with every purchase of OMG Friends! a portion of the proceeds will go to various children's initiatives, like the children's hospital in Portland, helping children in an orphanage in Ghana and facilitating donations to Oxfam, a humanitarian organization working to create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice.  Each OMG Friends! Holiday Bundle (above) comes with a set of three temporary tattoos and a booklet with description of each's critters personality. In the words of Ryan Weisgerber, creator of OMG Friends!, who left his graphic design job to pursue a dream that combines all of his passions while making a difference "Try new things often, because you never know what nugget of awesome might come out of it."

From Top: OMG Friends! hypo-allergenic felt set of 3 Holiday bundle critters, $24.99; journal, $5.00, all available at OMG Friends! 

Gift List Day 26: 'Tis the Season for Footwear

In 2006 Blake Mycoskie came up with an innovative concept of the ol' "one for all and all for one" motto, when he developed the mission for TOMS, where every shoe purchased a new pair of shoes will be donated to a child in need.  Today, TOMS has given away more then 2 million shoes.  Why not make a difference with your gift giving and hook your little bird up this holiday season with these cool sneaks that are helping children globally. 

From Top: TOMS canvas, corduroy, cotton and wool sneaker, $42; silver swirl with suede insole, $34, all available at TOMS, toms.com

Gift List Day 24: 'Tis Teddy Bear Season

Aspire to Inspire: As children we are taught that sharing means caring.  So, why not show a bebe bird you care by gifting them a soft cuddly bear from the Teddy Share Bears collection where each bear purchased benefits the lives of children around the globe.  Currently, the Teddy Share Bears is made up of three bears.  The Teddy 2 Bear, above, in partnership with the Theodore Roosevelt Association Teddy Bear for Kids Program donates an identical bear from each bear sold to a sick child in the hospital. God Bless!  And the FEED 3 Bear, 8" tall, will provide PlumpyNut treatment, a therapeutic paste providing nourishment, to three children. There is also the Feed 5 Bear, currently sold out, that offered 5 children PlumpyNut treatment. A gift of a teddy bear is the gift of a forever friend.  In the words of Peter Bull, "To a child, Teddy is a bridge between a human and an animal.  He doesn't mind being dressed in ridiculous hats, or even being read to.  You can blame him for anything, and he wont deny it.  His marvelous face expresses anything a child wants to feel or hear." 

From Top Down: Teddy Share Bears plush Teddy 2 Bear, $28, at Teddy Share Bears; plush FEED 3 Bear, $35, at FEED

Gift List Day 10: Holiday Hands

Asprie to Inspire: Maybe in your life time you've been in a position of need or maybe your cup has runneth over.  This holiday season one of my favorite authors and blogger Glennon Melton of Momastery and her team of "Monkees" created Holiday Hands, a place where, if you have a need (like a new furnace, gifts for your children, a dress for your daughters formal, even a sponsor for your spouse) you can share it.  Holiday Hands is a place that if you have a little extra to spare and wish to fulfill another's need you are given the opportunity to do so here!  Holiday Hands truly encompasses the spirit of the season of giving! As quoted by Buddha, "Thousands of candles can be lighted from one single candle." Bebe Bird's would like to thank you Holiday Hands for being that single candle helping light up thousands of others this Holiday season. Bebe Birds loves ya!
Holiday Hands will go until the New Year. Look, learn and share!

Gift List Day 2: 'Tis the Season for Scribbling

Today, in honor of "Small Business Saturday" we'd like to introduce Scribbler-The Drawing Robot by Makers Toolbox.  The Scribbler is an awesome electronic device where children 8 years and older can construct their very own drawing robot. The Scribbler is currently sold at one of our favorite independent toy shops,  Norman & Jules, located in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  The best part about this purchase is having the ability to give a gift that gives-10% of sales of the Scribbler will be donated to Red Hook NYC Recovers, an organization focused on rebuilding Red Hook, Brooklyn after the damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. So get out there and support small businesses.  And remember you don't have to be a resident of Brooklyn to purchase Scribbler-The Drawing Robot from Norman & Jules.  Simply give them a call and they will take care of the rest.  Credit information below.

From Top: Scribbler- The Drawing Robot by Makers Toolbox, deluxe set $45 which includes a wooden box, glue gun and robot kit; standard set $25 which includes a robot kit-you can purchase a hot glue gun for an additional $7 both available at Norman & Jules, 347.987.3323.  

An Egg'traordinary Brand

                                    Bebe Bird rocking some Egg by Susan Lazar gear at a recent birthday bash)

Aspire to Inspire: In 2003 designer Susan Lazar created a stylish children's brand, Egg, for the fashionable mother and child. As a mama bird with a fashion background I find great delight dressing Bebe Bird in these simplistic modern threads where he seeks pleasure in being able to romp and play in the soft organic cottons that many of the pieces in this collection are made up of. We are such fans of Egg that we (Bebe Bird & I) picked up some Egg gear for my twin (a la best friend's) new October arrival-(hoping she doesn't read this post as it is a surprise-Shhhh!)

"An egg is the symbol for life and purity-and nothing is more important than that-creating life and family." 

We love Egg not only for it's cool designs but also for it's involvement with children's charities.  Currently when you purchase one of their Peruvian pima cotton "Charity Tee's"15% of the proceeds go directly to the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, an outpatient treatment facility for childhood cancer and blood disorders. The Hassenfeld Center offers treatment to patients regardless of their ability to pay.  Which is HUGE for me personally considering my brothers medical experience in Mexico, where patients are not able to leave the hospital until paying their medical bill in full (or selling your car-whichever you can swing)  He is now in the States and getting quality care here in NYC and doing well-thank goodness! Now, that's not here nor there. What is here, is that Egg is doing great things by teaming up with such a wonderful medical center catered to helping children and their families during a challenging time.

We were lucky to catch up with with creator Susan Lazar and learn more about Egg, her experience as a new mama bird and Egg's involvement with Stpehn D. Hassenfeld Center at NYU Lagone Medical Center.

Bebe Birds (BB):  What was your inspiration when creating Egg?

Susan Lazar (SL):  I wanted to create a line/collection/brand with a soul- An egg is the symbol for life and purity-and nothing is more important than that-creating life and family.  That is what we aspire egg to represent.

                                                Susan Lazar & her Bebe Bird

BB: We understand you are a new mother. Are you designing differently since your new role in motherhood?

SL:  Yes!  Now, I am focusing a lot on practicality!  Also, beautiful fashion for babies and kids but its got to be easy to wear and wash.

BB:  How are you finding the balance between working and motherhood?  Any advice for mama's out there?  

SL:  Lot's of organization!  I believe I am a better mom when I set aside some time for myself as well. Then, I'm not stressed out and can just enjoy my baby.

BB:  How did you team up with The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Center at NYU?

SL:  Egg is very involved in supporting children's charities.  It is a priority for us.  The Hassenfeld charity is amazing and was presented to us by someone in our management team.  Hopefully Egg can make a difference-raising awareness and funding.  And to continue to support this wonderful cause.

BB:  How long will the Charity Tees be on sale? 

SL:  Until they sell out!  At which point we will evaluate if doing a second program would be beneficial.  Or we will team up with another children's charitable cause.

BB:  What should Egg fans look forward to seeing from the line in the future?

SL:  Lots of toddler looks.  We may start to increase our size range, as well as grow our layette and newborn offerings.  We are focusing on retail, as well.  This is a very exciting time for the company.

Thank you Susan and Egg for creating cool & comfy children's wear for our bebe birds to rock while making a difference in the lives of kids.  Bebe Birds loves ya!

For more information visit Egg to find a store near you or shop online.

What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love

Aspire to Inspire: Coca Cola's security cameras catches the world doing good for one another. In a new ad spot afrom Coca-Cola Latin America, they showcase and capture love and good instead of hate and bad. It's fun and touching and a great way to start off a Friday.


                    (Sung by Roger Hodgson's solo version of "Give a Little Bit)

Globe Trotting

Aspire to Inspire:  buildOn is my favorite non-profit.  They do so much for children in the United States and around the globe. This organization develops after school programs in urban communities for high school students.  The program is designed to educate these students on the social and global issues affecting the world they live. They are encouraged to help solve these social issues through community service, such as feeding the homeless and visiting senior citizens.  In addition, they raise funds for construction materials to build schools in developing countries.  BuildOn's program, also, provides students with the opportunity to go to the developing country (Haiti, Malawi, Nepal, Mali & Nicaragua) to build a school alongside the people of that community.  It is an incredible organization that empowers children through education and example.

On September 27, 2012, a short documentary, Haiti 18, chronicles the journey of 18 high school students building a school in Taverne, Haiti.  The film will be showing at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.



Thank you buildOn for helping educate children around the globe. Bebe Birds loves ya'!

Random Acts of Kindness

Aspire to Inspire: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."-Aesop



American Bear Films partnered with Guerrilla Goodness to organize the guerrilla kindness event. The event was held simultaneously in 6 cities: Syracuse, New York City, Dallas, Boston, Seattle and Richmond.The purpose of Guerrilla Goodness is to create intentional, anonymous acts of kindness performed in a playful, creative way for strangers, friends and family.  Enjoy! Thnx American Bear Films and Guerrilla Goodness Bebe Bird loves ya!

Feed-A Purpose to Your Purchase

 Aspire to Inspire: "Feed the Children of the World" is one of the slogans that this wonderfully generous organization stands behind.  Their sole purpose is to "create good products that help feed the world." I was first introduced to FEED in the winter of 2010.  I received my first FEED bag as a gift from Conde Nast.  In addition to the bag, Conde, made a donation to the organization under my name.  Cool!  I loved what FEED stood for.  I was inspired, moved and empowered knowing that my purchase can make a huge difference in the life of another.  Having a child, then, propelled me to become more conscientious and aware of what I was buying.  Bebe Bird proudly rocks his FEED Our Small World Onesie ($39) and I (Mama Bird) proudly transformed the FEED 2 Bag into a stylish diaper bag.  

On July 31, 2012 FEED launched their first resort collection, FEED India-where each purchase will provide the children of India with 25-50 school meals. 

This collection of pouches, sarongs and tote bags is designed by Indian Aristans and laced with vibrant colorful patterns.  Prices range from $32-$75.  Thank you FEED, for creating a reason to fill more bellies. Bebe Birds love ya!

Tane Organics-Fall/Winter 2012

Aspire to Inspire: One of the greater things about being a children's market editor was being paid to discover some hip baby gear and meet designers behind these unique lines who were creating beautiful products while making a difference in the lives of children.

It was in December of 2010 that I discovered Tane Organics.  A modern yet sophisticated children's line designed in pure organic cotton and natural fibers.  The line consists of everything from homemade toys to amazing soft kimono onsies, blankets and children's ponchos-all incredibly soft to the touch and perfect for a bebe birds skin. In addition to this beautiful children's wear Tane also launched the I am the World Campaign, where you can purchase the I am the World Globe and 100% of sales will be donated to Remote Classroom International (RCI), a foundation committed to providing an education for children in rural areas. I loved this idea so much that I bought a globe for my impending bebe bird and wrote about the positive difference Tane is making in the lives of children for W magazines blog.

In addition, Tane Organics will be launching their Fall/Winter 2012 collection inspired by camp with whimsical stripes sweaters (my fave) to sweet ponchos and blankets.  Hues run in dusty rose, sky blue cream, browns and gray. Prices range from $18-$163.  Kudos to Tane Organics for making a difference for children while designing some remarkable threads!  Bebe Bird loves ya!

For more information check out http://www.taneorganics.com/