Project Nursery has some stylish Dwell nursery designs! Love it!

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!)

Why are cakes such a symbol of celebration in our culture?

It is definitely a predominantly American thing because I teach students from all over the world and they all express how difficult it is to have their cultures embrace beautiful cakes. I think it is so wonderful to have a larger delicious dessert that everyone can have a piece of that can be decorated in a style that expresses the special day!  (no one wants to blow out candles on a pot roast!)

Hostesses often want their guests to leave with an edible favor. Any tips on packaging, or tried-and-true favorites you would like to share?

Cookies!  I love cookies and really…who doesn’t? Cookies are also great because they can be made and packaged ahead of time, which really helps the hostess plan. The dough can be made a frozen, then the cookies can be baked a few days ahead of time, decorated and bagged all before the actually food has to be prepared for the shower! And you can put them in cellophane bags, tied with a ribbon to coordinate. You can also design/decorate the cookie in the same theme that ties the entire shower together and leaves people with a nice memory of the day!

When selecting a baker to create a cake, what should the customer communicate to make sure they get the cake they have in mind?

When choosing a cake, make sure you go to a place where you can taste their cake and look through their portfolio of previous work. That way you can insure you already like their style and the taste of their product. Try and bring as many images (invite, color swatches, photographs) of the elements you would like to be part of the cake. If it is a custom design that the baker has never made before you should ask for a sketch…just to make sure you are both on the same page!

Thanks, Elisa! Best wishes for continued success. We look forward to your new book, Confetti Cakes for Kids! AListBaby readers, you may want to stop by Confetti Cakes when you have a chance! The site features incredible photos of Elisa’s work.

It is Tuesday, and time for another fabulous AListBaby giveaway!

TWO amazing gifts for one lucky AListBaby reader.

Simply send an e-mail by Noon Eastern on Friday, September 5 with your name to alistbabyblog@yahoo.com, and you are automatically entered to win!

First of all, the sweetest and most comfy little knickers for your baby: Comfy Crawlers from GissyBella. They have pads in the knees (genius!) to avoid bruising, and make the crawling experience a little more comfortable for your tot. The winner may choose either khaki or denim pants, in their size of choice.

I am also so excited about the next prize, because I have often admired these fantastic personalized pacifiers from MyPacifier.net!

They were given as favors at Trista Rehn’s baby shower, and Tori Spelling also loves them…. Larry Birkhead had to grab one for Dannielynn, as well. (Of course, it said My Dad Rocks!)

The lucky winner will receive three pacifiers in the name or “saying” of their choice! Just send an e-mail to alistbabyblog@yahoo.com to enter, or you can also leave a comment below. The e-mail should include your name and the best way to reach you if you win. If you link this blog entry to your blog, you earn two entries! More after the jump….Think about it: no more wondering if your baby’s pacifier was accidentally swapped with a friend. Your baby will stand out with one of these cute accessories…

Two prizes…..Comfy Crawler pants and three personalized pacifiers from MyPacifier.net. Good Luck!

Bratt Decor also has an amazing venetian white wrought iron crib for $966 that would look excellent in a Hollywood-glamour type nursery. (The company offers several additional options for finishes, including gold.) You can make this look modern with bold bedding—or keep it traditional with pastels and a ruffled skirt. I could see this being a family heirloom crib, and Bratt Decor has an excellent reputation for quality. You may recall, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony also chose Bratt Decor cribs for their twins. 

More on canopy cribs, after the jump…. Here is another look at the Restoration Hardware baby & child canopy crib….without the bedding, so you have a better image of the lines.

Finally, the ducduc Cabana Canopy Crib from allmodern is a modern and sophisticated take on the canopy crib. Perhaps this baby has a view of the Manhattan skyline, and likes to kick back with some SmartWater in his/her bottle….. 

The luxe collections are modern yet whimsical. The vibe is stylish, yet still baby. One of my favorite parts of the line is that each design has a name and a description of the theme. I can read each description, and envision the future ”mini-me” running around. For example, when my friend Courtney has a baby girl, the “Greta” style should be her bedding:

Greta is a stunner. She’s a classic beauty with the taste, style and wit of a 1940′s film star. Greta’s driven, too. She’ll get what she wants out of life because she’s not afraid to work for it.

More after the jump…..

And ”Lucy” will likely be her partner in crime…

Lucy is a charmer. She has a mega-watt smile, never met a stranger, and can talk her Dad into (just) about anything. But the best thing about Lucy? She is truly gracious, inside and out.

Gwen and Gavin Rossdale celebrate the birth of their second son, Zuma! He joins big brother Kingston. Watch out, if they are as good-looking as their father—these two little guys will be all sorts of trouble! (Angelina and Brad may want to keep an eye on Shiloh and Vivienne.)

We can really see this ducduc Austin crib in little Zuma’s room. We found it at this great modern children’s store, shopgenes. Photo of Gavin and Gwen courtesy of People.

While I also adore the look of sleek, modern playthings, there is a place in my heart for the retro feel of these four basic toys. They each come in many styles and designs….yet their look is always timeless. These selections are all from Land of Nod.  

More information on each of these toys, after the jump…..

Baby’s first building blocks are so much more chic made out of wood! These are hand-painted and embossed in a small town in Michigan, $45.

Sophie the Giraffe is legendary! In France, she is an iconic baby toy, and she is growing in popularity here in the United States, $21.95. A pefect teething toy, and she is even handmade in the French alps.

The cream bunny rabbit is always a loveable crowd pleaser, $24.95. A great nighttime pal.

Finally, meet Jack. He is a weasel….monkey….well, he plays “Pop Goes the Weasel”, anyway, $29. Love him.

Babies love cozy blankies, with luxurious satin trim to brush against their cheeks. And moms covet these stylish colors and patterns!  They are all machine washable. After more than a year of waiting…the popular pastel dot and chocolate dot pattern is also back in stock this week. More after the jump….

We love how these patterns work perfectly with a modern or traditional nursery. The story behind the Ally Zabba brand is great—it started as a mom who loved to make pretty blankets for her friends…and it has grown leaps and bounds. We would choose the Ally Zabba pink camo blanket–so cute! Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Today is an exciting day at AListBaby.net, as we announce our first READER GIVEAWAY! One lucky reader will get a Smart Mom Jewelry gift set, including a necklace, two bangle bracelets and a card. It is a perfect baby shower gift, and is a $34 value. To win, simply e-mail us at AListBabyBlog {at} yahoo.com

Tori and Dean McDermott’s son Liam is a fan.

Babies love to grab onto jewelry, but hard metals cannot be good for their little mouths. The two creators of this line like the way babies think! 

Instead of removing their jewelry, they created fun looks that are completely safe for infants to chew. The jewelry is made from food safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone; which is approved for baby toys. To enter, please e-mail us at AListBabyBlog {at} yahoo.com by Noon Eastern on Friday, August 15, with giveaway in your subject line. If you also linked this post to your blog, let us know and you will get two chances to win! More photos of Smart Mom Jewelry after the jump…

Winners will be chosen at random. Your e-mail address will always be private! Good luck! Photo of Liam courtesy of Celebrity Baby Blog.