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Today we have an interview with Elisa Strauss, the talented owner of Confetti Cakes! Her confections are truly masterpieces.

Your cakes are so gorgeous! They could inspire a theme for a baby shower or birthday party. What themes do you predict will become more popular over the next year? Do you have a favorite shower idea or theme?

Thank you. Well, for all parties I love when there is a consistent theme no matter what it is. You can draw on the idea of the honoree’s favorite colors, flowers or even a stuffed animal or hobby. I think the more you can make it about the person the better it is! In our new book, our safari gift box cake idea came from a baby shower we had done a few years ago, The bumper in the new nursery had a safari theme so we replicated those colors and animals in sugar.

Do you have advice for someone planning a baby shower? Where is a good place to begin?

Start with a color scheme (usually two or three colors work best) and then decide on where you will grab you inspiration from. It can be based on the invitations, the paper goods (if you aren’t using fine china!) or even the theme of the nursery if there is one. (Interview continued, after the jump!) Read the rest of this entry »

Katie Cruise and daughter Suri are shielded from the Manhattan rain with this cute ladybug umbrella. You are in luck, the same style umbrella is on sale for $10.50 at Macy’s! This is truly affordable A-List style.

We featured the TrendyTwinShop previously on AListBaby, and we are thrilled to announce their free giveaway! One AListBaby reader will receive a personalized Yeni Apron, a $40 value, in the color of their choice. A Yeni is a terry apron designed to keep you dry when bathing your baby, toddler or pet. The apron protects your clothes during bath time because it is super long and extra absorbent. Once bath time is over, you can use the bottom of the towel to wrap up your little one while you dry them off. We think it is a genius idea! To win, please send us an e-mail at AListBabyBlog {at} yahoo {dot} com by Wednesday, November 12. Please include your color choice, and the name or monogram you would like on your apron. Good luck!

Congratulations to Jodi M. in Laguna Niguel, CA! She is the winner of the Baby Bella Maya blanket and booties. Baby Bella Maya is a great source for fabulous Christmas presents! Jodi chose the Precious Pink blanket, $70 and Missy Mink with Pink Ribbon booties, $14

This January, “first children” will once again roam the halls of the White House. Malia, 10 and Sasha, 7, will spend at least the next four Christmas seasons in the most high-profile home in the country. This reminds me a little bit of my very favorite first family, The Kennedys. I love the photo, above, taken in 1962. Below are some holiday dress ideas for the girls. They both look great in bright colors!

Burberry, $280

Little Marc, $216

My heart melted just a little bit when I saw this Lucille Baby Bedding collection from Posh Tots.

It’s fresh, feminine and fun…and reminds me of Lilly Pulitzer!

Moses Basket, $330

Chandelier, $578

I see baby girl wearing this cute little Lilly romper, $148, hanging out in her crib on a sunny day.

We have a special guest post today from The Jet Set Girls! With the holidays approaching, Hope is passing along travel tips that will keep both parents and baby happy!

With three children that have traveled across country more times than I can count from our home in D.C. to places like Sante Fe, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, and Hawaii, I’ve developed some rules to travel by.  First of all, if they can’t walk bring a stroller and check it at the gate. I use a Techno XLR by Maclaren because it’s super lightweight and folds up small, plus you can use it from newborn to big kid.  The heroics of carrying the baby in a sling while towing a toddler and a 50 lb. diaper bag are gone. 

Which brings me to the next rule, if they’re big enough to walk they can carry a backpack.  Fill it with electronics (Nintendo DS scores big points on the plane), books, new crayons, coloring books, and Playdoh.  A new pot of Playdoh works wonders for a bored kid.

I used to carry a LeSportsac as a diaper bag, they’re light as air and you can run them through the wash machine.  They may not have as many bells and whistles as the run of the mill diaper bag; but with some organization they’re great.  I never dealt with bottles (what with a baby attached to my chest for the duration of many flights), that the scaled down LeSportsac was great.  Now that Stella McCartney is designing for them, the bags are even swankier.  I love the Classic Carryall in Silence which is the same plum color I’m addicted to right now. (More tips after the jump!) Read the rest of this entry »