If you have any connection with the blogging community I’m sure you have heard about {and want to go to} the BlogHer 09′ conference this July in Chicago. If you know nothing about what I speak of, check it all out here. Needless to say, over here at BabyLuxe, we have already begun to make our plans for a mommies weekend away! Not a blogger, just a mommy who needs and wants online resources, BlogHer.com has that for you too on their Mommy & Family topic page. Considering homeschooling your kindergarten age child, this post is educational as you consider your options. I love this article about one adoptive mother and her daughter. Enter into our world, the world of bloggers and all we have to say!

How excited we were to receive a invite to participate in a BlogHer 09′ contest just by answering one super simple question, and from a company we support and use on a daily basis. Mabel’s Labels is sending one blogger to the BlogHer 09′ conference paying for their flight, their hotel accommodations, and their conference registration fees. Sweet deal for any blogger!

{ If you are not familiar with Mabel’s Labels you need to be! Especially if you have children who “misplace” EVERYTHING, hint hint Blake Boys! Check out our feature of them last year here on BabyLuxe}

Here is our submission to this clever contest! If you are a blogger and want to enter Mabel’s Labels BlogHer 09′ contest as well, check out their website for complete details! If you are not a blogger and have the time to write about anything and everything, look into it, and here’s why:

“What have been the rewards and benefits of participating in the blogging community?”

{If you are a blogger you know why I said this is a Super Simple Question}

Simply put, the relationships that are built with fellow bloggers, sponsoring companies, public relations firms, readers, and networking friends is the best benefit you can receive from joining this fast growing community. Having that connection with some of the most passionate, generous, and fabulous women and men on the internet is beyond satisfying and rewarding!

You put your trust in the bloggers you “meet”, helping each other grow and expand, learning the ins and outs of blogger etiquette together, leaving no new friend behind. The companies, designers, products, and services you promote instill the utmost trust in you the blogger as well. Without a strong relationship, how can you trust someone you have never met to give you the press you deserve? And what about the readers, your peers, your fans; they trust you to be honest, accurate, and informative, to entertain them yet educate them, and they stick around, coming back day after day for more and more because of the relationship you have built with them and others.

Blogging is about connecting with the public, with anyone and everyone who will listen, thousands, MILLIONS. We would never know any of the wonderful networking people we know today if it wasn’t for our relationships through the blogging community. Basically, your “competitors” are your friends. There are several blogs that we read on a daily basis that do the same thing we do, but there’s not one ounce of negativity or envy amongst us. It’s such a pleasure to start and end each day “reading” with our friends.

Our life’s are rewarding because of what we do; it’s a passion we share with so many, and we look forward to it everyday!

My little Aidan is going through so many milestones this month! Crawling, eating his snacks on his own, moving on to some “big people” food, first words, all that, this is the best time for my family, watching him grow out of the infant stage and into a trouble maker like the other two!  To help with one milestone, we have Baby Human Play & Learn Spoons for easier self-feeding and less mess for mommy.

A bit funny looking right?  But try to see them through your babies eyes:  two feeding ends not just one {and for you mommy this means no choking or gaging}, an easy to hold arced grip handle {mommy, this means the food goes right from the plate to the mouth, less mess on the way there.  Also, no need for baby to do the constant hand shifting they do with regular spoons}, bright colors and so fun to chew on {these spoons are healthy for your baby to play with and chew on as they learn the concept of feeding themselves with utensils instead of their hands}.

No reason to get cutesy with your toddlers silverware right now {“themed” eating sets can wait}, it’s all about the learning process and developing the skill {yes it’s a skill, which I must still be perfecting as I still dribble on myself at least once a day and stain everything I own!}, so stick with what works and what is best for your baby.  BabyHuman would make a perfect Valentine’s gift or Easter basket item for your little one, especially since a pack of two is so affordable!  Or for all those baby showers coming up this year, a great gift topper!

OR, try to win one, five of our readers will win a set of BabyHuman Play & Learn Spoons!  Thank you BabyHuman for a fabulous giveaway!   Check out the BabyHuman site, along with their Amazon purchase page, and let us know which feature you like the best on these spoons.  Contest ends in one week!  Good luck!   

Simple yet elegant, classy and cute.  Lexbaby can turn even your wild woman into a sophisticated lady with a beautiful rhinestone tee-shirt.  Just pick out your princess’ name or initial along with the size and Lexbaby will create a personalized light pink treasure with just the right amount of baby bling. 

If a gift is what you are looking for, Lexbaby’s packaging looks as pretty and ornate as the little lady it is for.  For all of us who were born without a gift wrapping gene this is an added bonus!       

LexBabywill give one lucky Babyluxe reader a tee with their choice of initial or name.  To enter just post to us what you like the best about these fabulous shirts.  The contest will run for one week.  All Babyluxe readers will be able to shop with a discount of 20%.  To claim your discount just contact Alexis through her site with the the discount code BabyLuxe 20!  Happy Shopping!

Can you say ADORABLE?  Cuckooboo is an amazing kids boutique with the most beautiful apparel and matching accessories especially for babies who enjoy that put together look!  Babyluxe gave you a preview of Cuckooboo this Christmas season in the Sunday Stocking Stuffer edition and if you didn’t have a chance to shop their site yet now is the time to get started. 

Now can you tell why I used the word adorable?  What’s even better and even more adorable are the matching hair accessories and binky clip that goes with this elephant…  I mean onesie.   Onesies and Tee-shirts are available in many different sizes and styles for both boys and girls. 

In this day in age it is not just the medical profession that has to wear an ID badge in the workplace.  If a badge is part of your daily ensemble take a look at these unique badge holders.  When you are ordering for you kids don’t forget to add some personality to a normally mundane part of a daily routine.  There are many other styles to choose from on Cuckooboo’s site.  

Need some cupcakes for your cupcake?  Cuckooboohas hair accessories grouped into themes.  Pick out a pony tail holder to match a new onesie or stock up on your daughter’s favorite storybook characters.  Again, how absolutely adorable!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner Cuckooboo is running a contest on their site to win a collection of hair accessories.  Enter before February 14th for your chance to win!