Ivanka Trump joins Hollywood Baby Boom

Photo by: Dave Allocca/Startraks

Daughter of The Apprentice start Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, 29, is preggers! Hubby Jared Kushner are very excited and announced via Ivanka’s Twitter account this past Friday. What to give the parents who possibly own everything? We think this Le Top Baby ‘Petit Duckling’ gown with mitten cuffs would be perfect to take home her baby from the hospital.

Le Top Petit Duckling gown - click on for link

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Doodle 4 Google? Pretty Cool, read all about it.

Upon waking up at 5:45am this morning to the roar of a New York City garbage truck…I had a good hour to watch the news. I learned about a great program that is put on Google called “Doodle 4 Google.” It is a competition where they invite K-12 students to use their artistic talents to think big and redesign Google’s homepage logo for millions to see. Pretty exciting right? The Google site dedicated to this project states, “At Google, we believe that dreaming about future possibilities leads to tomorrow’s leaders and inventors, so this year we’re inviting U.S. kids to exercise their creative imaginations around the theme, ‘What I’d like to do someday…’”

Encourage your children on a wintery day this month to make a few drawings and submit them. Why not?

So what does it take? Art supplies and a 8.5″ x 11″ paper. One SUPER lucky student artist will take home a $15,000 college scholarship and $25,000 technology grant for their school, among many other prizes. THAT IS WHAT I CALL BIG WINNINGS!

Registration closes at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) on March 2, 2011, and entries must be postmarked by March 16, 2011 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). The winning doodle will be featured on our Google.com homepage on May 20, 2011.

GO HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/

Some fun facts about Doodle 4 Google:

How did the idea for doodles originate?
In 1998, the concept of the doodle was born when Google founders Larry and Sergey played with the corporate logo to indicate their attendance at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert. A stick figure drawing was placed behind the 2nd “o” in the word, Google and the revised logo was intended as a comical message to Google users that the founders were “out of office.” While the first doodle was relatively simple, the idea of decorating the company logo to celebrate notable events was well received by our users.

A year later in 2000, Larry and Sergey asked current webmaster Dennis Hwang, an intern at the time, to produce a doodle for Bastille Day. Pleased with the result, Dennis was then appointed Google’s chief doodler and doodles became a regular occurrence on the Google homepage. In the beginning, the doodles tended to celebrate largely visible holidays; nowadays, doodles represent a wide array of events and anniversaries from the Olympics to the Mars Rover landing.

Over time, the demand for doodles quickly rose both in the U.S. and internationally. Creating doodles is now the responsibility of a team of talented designers. For them, creating doodles has become a team effort to enliven the Google homepage and bring smiles to a myriad of Google users worldwide.

How many doodles has Google done over the years?
The doodle team has created over 300 doodles for Google.com in the United States and over 700 have been designed internationally.

Where can I see all the Google doodles that have been done over the years?
All doodles can be found at www.google.com/logos

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Papillon: PREMIER RETAILER Q&A

We at Le Top always get excited about another premier retailer joining our family of fabulous stores that carry our clothing. We had the privilege of interviewing store owner, Lisa Newberry, about her cool style and being a young mom with one of the hippest boutiques in Southern California. Read more about her store, her inspiration, and parenting advice.

1.    What was the inspiration behind the name Papillon?
Lisa: Papillon, means butterfly in French. This is very significant to me because when my Grandmother Lois passed away, whenever we’d see a white butterfly, we’d know that Grandmomie was there with us. When I first decided to open Papillon, I remember seeing a white butterfly floating around me for several days leading up to my signing on the dotted line. Since then, 4 years later, I still see the white butterfly and still feel her support, just as she supported me throughout my childhood.

Papillon is a wondrous insect that symbolizes new life.  They’re vibrant, brilliantly colored, carefree and very unique. This is how I would describe a child. This is how I would describe Papillon…a unique children’s boutique!

2.    Describe the neighborhood where your store is located. Did you grow up in the local area? Is it the same as it was growing up?
Lisa: Papillon is located in Marina del Rey, CA. Marina del Rey is an upscale beach city that borders on the areas of Venice, Santa Monica, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. I grew up in Santa Clarita, California but since graduating from UCLA (a few years ago), I’ve moved around a bit, but always managed to make my way back to the Marina. It’s a beautiful community to raise a family, go for a walk, ride a bike, eat out and of course, shop.

3.    Spring break is coming up in the next few months – with Southern California always being on the warmer/sunnier side, what are 3 vacation essentials a parent should buy for their child’s wardrobe? For a boy or girl…
Lisa: Three vacation essentials a parent should buy for their child are:

• a floppy hat
• white linen or organic cotton pants or dress (with a light sweater for layering)
• and flip flops or a neutral color tennis shoe.

Oh, and of course 2 -3 swimsuits. I’ve found that when we vacation, the most important thing on Sasha’s agenda is to be in the water; whether it’s a pool or the ocean. She could careless about what she wears any other time. As much as we want our kids to look fashionable at all times, it matters more that they are comfortable, fuss free, and can spill an ice cream sundae on whatever they’re wearing without us moms stressing out about it. Did I mention I’m a stress case/Virgo sometimes when it comes to being a mom?

4.     Let’s talk Southern California…where are your favorite family hangouts?
Lisa: My family and I live in Marina del Rey, so we have the luxury of biking down to Venice Beach or the Santa Monica Pier on a whim.  What we love most though, is to do family dinners and BBQ’s at the house with all of our cousins, parents, everybody! If we do go out, we love 26 Beach (huge burgers that Sasha LOVES), Cheesecake Factory (great outdoor seating on the Marina where kids can play in the sand & on the jungle gym), or the local bowling alley, where we all, as a family, can enjoy hours of silly fun. Of course that doesn’t mean I win, but we still have a blast!

Owner of Papillon, Lisa Newberry

5.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?” Please share!
Lisa: Before I became mommy to Sasha, almost 9 years ago, I swore I’d never make her wear something she didn’t want to wear.  When I was growing up, I hated wearing dresses. But I didn’t have a choice. Of course now, I love dressing up in fancy, hip, unique clothes, including a tutu that Sasha & I both love to rock sometimes when we go out. Sasha doesn’t particularly like to wear dresses, or pink, but if she can add her own little style & flair, then all is good.

6.    Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Cupids and all, would you dress your little girl or boy in for Valentine’s Day?
Lisa: I love all holidays…Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, birthdays, and the tooth fairy. Valentines Day is just another excuse to do something fun with my daughter (and of course my significant other). I’d dress Sasha in a red or pink tutu (well, since she hates pink, let’s go with red), leggings, converse and a rocker tee shirt. She’s a tomboy, I’m a musician, so this would be a nice compromise for both of us.

7.    With all of the celebrity pregnancies going on from Natalie Portman to Kate Hudson to Nicole Kidman’s surprise baby….which celebrity mommy would you want to meet and why?
Lisa: What’s funny is, just last weekend, I met a mommy-to-be that I’d been wanting to meet for a while – Denise Boutte. She plays Dr. Sasha Brown on “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns.” I always enjoy Denise’s acting and she has a style that is fierce that I’m sure she’ll carry on to her daughter, who is due to arrive in April. My daughter’s name is Sasha Brown. Denise said to us, “The real Sasha Brown.” What fun it was for Sasha and I to meet her. She was so pleasant and appreciates things that are unique and fabulous. I’m sure she’ll be a regular at Papillon and she’s going to love Le Top!

8.    Any special events or fun New Year traditions that you have planned at your store for the next few months?
Lisa: Every month at Papillon, we offer special events, such as book readings & signings, jewelry making parties, trunk shows, holiday bazaars, mom’s night out events, Monday Madness days and more.  Shopping at Papillon is always a fun and unique experience!

9.    Tell us your best parenting tip you know or would want to give to a new parent.
Lisa: As a parent of an 8 year old, I still feel like I’m learning…from my parents, my friends and my twin brother and sister-in -law who are parents of 5 children – 4 under the age of 12. BUT, I will say I have learned that parents should be patient with their children and realize that no matter how young they are, they are still individuals and have their own little mind about certain things like what they want to eat, decorating their room, how to fix their hair and of course, what to wear. As a storeowner, and a fashionista since I was a young girl, it can be a challenge at times, but realizing that Sasha has her own style and flair has made me appreciate fashion even more. It just makes things more fun having Papillon, and makes it more challenging for me to find unique lines (like Le Top) that she actually enjoys wearing.

10.    What collection or piece from Le Top or Le Top Baby line or Rabbitmoon do you love from the Spring 2011 or Fall 2010 collection?
Lisa: Le Top Baby is a new line for Papillon.  When I first saw it in the showroom and online I just had to have it. It’s fabulous! We’re looking forward to launching it this Spring!

Papillon
4712 ½ Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
310.301.1711
papillonkids@verizon.net
http://www.papillonbaby.com/

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Don’t turn out the lights? Are your kids afraid of the dark?

Many kids are afraid of the dark – whether it be from watching a movie, monster in the closet or a boogeyman under the bend…here are some tips on how to conquer those fears and why millions of kids feel that it is so real to be afraid of the dark.

Fears
Fear is a normal part of life for all of us, including our children. It tends to start when you try something new, something that you’ve never experienced before, something that is an unknown.

For small kids, especially toddlers, this happens almost every day, so fear has a lot of opportunity to pop up – especially at night. It tends to be that ‘the fear of the dark’ begins when children are old enough to have a sense of imagination and around 2 or 3-years-old. Kids at this age are old enough to imagine, but sometimes not able to decipher between real and pretend, which can then turn to “scary.” This fear suddenly becomes ‘real life’ when a shadow in the dark can get very scary!

VISIT OUR LE TOP HOME…
www.letop-usa.com

Why Fear of the Dark? Where does it come from?
Some of the worst offenders of ‘fear of the dark’ is the TV! Many parents don’t recognize how the TV affects their children, especially parents who tend to use the TV as a form of babysitting when they are busy. If you do not regulate what shows they watch or what time of day in the child’s sleep pattern, it can be very stimulating and expose your kid to things that might seem  scary. Another common reason is younger siblings watch TV with their older sibling and it might not be age-appropriate, such as a scary cartoon.

Another root to the fear can actually be books! Yes, the age old books. Images can be intimidating and provoke a child’s imaginations depending on the content. For example, a drawing of a monster in a fairy tale book or witches from a Halloween book.

Scene from Monsters Inc.

A last reason of these fears can come from older siblings or even parents where someone might say to your toddler, “You better brush your teeth or the boogeyman fairy might get you!” Although it is intended as a joke, these simple light-hearted phrases can be a reason by a nighttime fear or nightmare.

Dos and Don’ts

Do:

• Communicate, be respectful, and show that you understand your child.  Don’t tell them their fear is silly, because not only does it not help and they’re still scared, but now they feel guilty and ashamed of their fear.
• Ask your child what he or she feels when he or she is alone in the dark. Even if your kid’s apprehension seems ridiculous to you, reassure him/her with concrete information. For example, say, “You’re right that the house makes funny sounds at night. Let’s listen to them together, and I’ll tell you what each one is.”
• Teach your child to calm himself by saying, “I’m safe in the dark; my mom and dad are nearby” or “That sound was just the heat coming on.”
• Gradually decrease the light in the room, starting with a lower-watt bulb in his lamp, then leaving a light on only in the hallway. Offer praise each time he goes to sleep with less light.
• Help your child avoid scary TV shows and movies, since nighttime fears can be greatly intensified by what a child is exposed to during the day.
• Reassure your child that his fear of the dark is normal.
• Arm your child with comfort items, whether it’s a blanket, a stuffed animal, or a night-light, to help her sleep soundly.

Don’t:

• Do sleepovers. Although it may be tempting to let your little one crawl into bed with you, resist the urge.
• Say to your child, ‘Let me make sure there aren’t any monsters under the bed.

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Sabàto Jr. Expecting Another Jr.

Photo by: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup

Actor Antonio Sabàto Jr. and his girlfriend, singer Cheryl Moana Marie, announced yesterday that they’re expecting a son in the spring.

They plan to name the baby Antonio Sabàto III after his father and grandfather — both actors — and one of his middle names will be Kamakanaalohamaikalani, which means “a beloved gift from the heavens.” (The other middle name is Harvey.) This Winter 2010 Le Top Baby plush carriage blanket from the “Puppy Park” collection would be perfect for the new baby to snuggle up to! 

Le Top Puppy Park carriage blanket

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Le Top Darling of the Day: Jade

This little buttercup, Jade, is sweet as can be and is as serene and beautiful as the stone that shares her name. Congratulations to Jade on being crowned the Le Top Darling of the Day!

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Owen Wilson a Dad and Alicia Silverstone Expecting

Photo by: John P Iblis/JPI

With so many births and announcements in Hollywood, we didn’t get a chance to congratulate actor Owen Wilson and girlfriend Jade Duell on the birth of their son last week on January 14th in Hawaii. ALOHA! This Le Top Baby “Playtime Pups” blankie would be a great item to swaddle their new son in.

Le Top Playtime Pups blanket

 

Also last week, actress Alicia Silverstone announced she was pregnant! Silverstone, 34, is expecting her first child with husband Christopher Jarecki later this year. “I’ve been wanting to have a baby since I was 2 years old — I’m destined to be a mother,” Silverstone said in April. This Le Top Baby “Petit Duckling” gown with mitten cuffs would be a nice addition to the baby-to-be’s wardrobe.

Photo by: Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage

Le Top Petit Duckling gown with mitten cuffs

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Football Sunday Kid-Friendly Recipe: PB & J Sushi Rolls

These entertaining “sushi” rolls reinvent the classic PB&J sandwich for kids and make it fun for the whole family to watch football with daddy on Sundays! I sometimes like to recommend almond butter instead of peanut butter because it has a thicker consistency, good flavor and can be A LOT less messy than regular peanut butter. You can use any kind of jam, but try to use whatever you kids’ favorite flavor is or even experiment with new flavors and let your child pick it out a the grocery store. I always try to use jam that is 100% all-natural fruit and organic.

INGREDIENTS:

-        whole grain bread
-        peanut butter or almond butter
-        jam (any flavor)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Take 2 slices whole-grain bread and remove crusts.
2. Spoon out enough almond butter or peanut butter to spread a thin layer on bread.
3. Spoon out enough 100 percent all-natural fruit jam to spread a thin layer on bread.
4. Flatten bread with rolling-pin.
5. Spread a thin layer of almond butter or peanut butter on one slice of bread.
6. Top the almond butter or peanut butter with a thin layer of jam.
7. Roll up bread tightly.
8. Slice into four pieces with a serrated knife. Repeat with second slice of bread.

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Cheers to Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom’s new baby boy!

Photo by: Courtesy Kerr/Bloom Family

Son Flynn arrived January 6th weighing 9 lbs., 12 oz., model Miranda Kerr confirmed on her Kora Organics web site yesterday and added a photo of herself nursing “[her] beautiful little son.” She quoted, “I gave birth to him naturally; without any pain medication and it was a long, arduous and difficult labour, but Orlando was with me the whole time supporting and guiding me through it. I could not have done it without him. We are so happy and are enjoying our time together as a family. He is our little ray of sunshine. Thank you everyone for your beautiful well wishes and your lovely thoughts.” We think this Le Top pre-spring onesie footed coverall from our Playtime Pups collection would be adorable on him. 

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Le Top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

A mother and father were discussing employee issues at the dinner table when their son gave them a suggestion…

I think you should have cards in your office like we have at school. Make them turn there cards to blue when they’re in trouble. That means they need to go to your office, Daddy, and call their wives. Then there won’t be anymore problems.”

–Patrick, age 4

Editor’s Note:
Please spread the giggles by sharing your funny quotes with us!

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