Doll House: PREMIER STORE SPOTLIGHT Q&A

This week we interviewed owner Jean Johnston from Doll House boutique in Palos Verdes Estates, California for our “Premier Store Spotlight” this week. Not only is she young and hip, she knows how to keep your child on top of the trend curve and parents in-the-know on the best new baby, children, and tween’s products on the market. Read more to find out about the latest spring trends, Doll House’s upcoming Easter event that is not to be missed, as well as sign up for Facebook to get updates on their cool mommy and me yoga classes!

2325 Palos Verdes Drive West
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
949.439.8333

www.dollhousepv.com

 CHECK-IN and JOIN Doll House Facebook page and click HERE

1.   Tell us the inspiration behind the name Doll House? How long has your store been around?
I opened Doll House almost two years ago. While bouncing ideas around, my father suggested the name Doll House, and I thought it was perfect! Children are our little dolls, they are so much fun to dress up.

Le Top Baby "By the Sea" Romper

2.   Spring 2012 styles are coming into stores and brightening up any family’s winter wardrobe. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent shopping for warm weather items for a nice holiday vacation this winter?
Nautical stripes will transition a wardrobe from fall to spring, which has made Le Top’s ‘By The Sea’ collection very popular in the store.  Quicksilver rash guards have a built in SPF 50 that can be worn poolside or at the beach. Three Martha’s fold up chalkboard mat (comes with colorful chalk and a fun elephant shaped sponge) is a helpful way to keep kids occupied on long car or plane rides.

3.  Any special events that you have planned at your store for spring? Tell us the inside scoop about any special events and especially the fun deals we can expect!
You Don’t Want To Miss Spring Time At Doll House!

Doll House will be hosting a spring event on Thursday, March 29th. We will have a bunny petting zoo, a fun art project taught by a local artisan, face painting and a very special visit from the Easter Bunny!

Doll House has teamed up with Billabong and Zico Water for a great trunk show event for tweens! Doll House tweens will be the first to view and order Billabong’s 2012 fall collection while enjoying Zico Water.

Doll House is excited to start mommy and me yoga classes this spring! Check out our face book and website for updates!

Store owner, Jean, showing her display of the Le Top Tiny Bubbles collection

4.   What is your “go-to” baby shower gift in your store for boys and girls?
I have a huge demand for clothing and gifts made in the USA. Lisa Denver’s growth charts (made in Palos Verdes Estates), Scrumptious Blankets (made in Los Angeles) and Giggle Moon (made in San Diego) are popular gift items. 

Le Top Sun and Sea collection

5.   What are your top 3 children’s movies or books and why?
Doll House’s most popular books are ‘Guess How Much I Love You’, ‘Pinkalicious’ and ‘Casey At Bat’. The hardback books come as a set with matching Pajamas! These make bedtime a little more fun. ($44 set).

6.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Palos Verdes Estates? Did you grow up in the local area?
Doll House is located in Lunada Bay, a surf and beach community within Palos Verdes Estates, California. It is a lot like Newport Beach, where I grew up. The locals are outgoing and take pride in their local boutiques.

Store owner Jean Johnston

7.    What are the hottest trends for kids clothes right now?
Purple, pink, red and bright blue skinny jeans and shorts are going to be a hot trend this spring and summer.

8.    What Le Top or Rabbitmoon Spring 2012 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
Le Top’s ‘Tiny Bubbles’ for girls and “Whales & Sails” for boys have been very popular collections. The prints are a great way to match brothers and sisters, and perfect to wear at the beach club and the 4th of July!

(left) Le Top Whales & Sales boy's collection (right) Le Top Tiny Bubbles girl's collection

Doll House

2325 Palos Verdes Drive West
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
949.439.8333

www.dollhousepv.com 

CHECK-IN and JOIN
Doll House Facebook page
and click HERE

 

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The Purple Turtle Boutique: PREMIER STORE SPOTLIGHT Q&A

This week we interviewed storeowner, Karen Smith, for our 2nd Premier Store Spotlight of the New Year – The Purple Turtle – located in Gallipolis, Ohio. Not only does she have the cutest baby and kids clothes in Gallipolis, but she also throws fabulous anniversary events at her store with local photographers that take pictures of your kiddos (eh, hem, make sure to go!)! Karen’s store is sure to be your “go-to” for the best baby shower gifts in town, and she reveals in her interview her secret reading gift for any new mom, as well dishing on what she swore she would “never do as a grandparent.” Read more about the fabulous boutique, The Purple Turtle below!

 

The Purple Turtle

300 2^nd Avenue
Gallipolis, OH 45631-1163
740.446.1998
www.purpleturtlekids.com

 CHECK-IN and JOIN The Purple Turtle’s Facebook page and click HERE

Model wearing Le Top "My Best Friend" collection

1.    What a cute name for a store! Tell us the inspiration the name The Purple Turtle? How long has your store been around?
I tried to think of a name that the children would remember and maybe connect with, and The Purple Turtle came to mind.  We have purple carpet and pictures of our mascot Purple Turtle on the walls.  Who doesn’t like Purple Turtles?!  We’ve been in business since October 2000.

2.    It’s 2012 and resort and spring 2012 styles are coming into stores. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent shopping for warm weather items for a nice holiday vacation this winter?
We sell many baby shower gifts, so warm blankets and sleepers are very popular.  Snuggly jackets are good for the cold weather.

Wall of Fame

3.    Any special events that you have planned at your store for this New Year or Valentine’s Day next month? Tell us the inside scoop about any special events and fun deals we can expect!
The most exciting event that we do in the store is our “Gallery” opening in the spring and fall.  We work with a local children’s photographer, Melissa Echler, who takes fantastic pictures of our customers sporting outfits found in the store.  The evening before the public sees the new pictures, we have a private viewing for the families of our little models complete with special cookies and drinks.  Everyone loves to see their children/grandchildren on the wall of fame in The Purple Turtle! Check the below photos.

4.    What is your favorite children’s book that you would recommend to our readers?
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman.  I give this book to many new moms.  They love it!

5.    Although spring 2012 styles are available soon, what would you suggest as the top 3 essentials in the winter that any parent should buy to brighten up their child’s wardrobe this winter?
I think accessories like new tights and leggings, new hair bows and headbands.  Those accessories always brighten up a winter day.

6.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”
….talk about them all the time!!  But I just can’t help it…you know they are SO cute and I just must share all my pictures!

7.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Gallipolis, Ohio? Did you grow up in the local area?
No, I did not grow up here, but I raised my children here and have definitely set down roots.  Gallipolis is a beautiful historic town on the Ohio River with a beautiful city park in the center of the downtown area.  I would love for everyone to visit us anytime.

8.    What is the hottest trend for kids’ clothes right now?
Boots and cute skirts and tops.

9.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
Our lovely city park is the place to be in the summer. You will always see people walking, picnicking and looking at the Ohio River.

10.    What Le Top or rabbitmoon Winter 2011 or Spring 2012 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
The Le Top “Fantasia” Collection for winter was one of my favorites.  Every child who wore it looked so pretty….the colors are so vivid.  Of course, the Le Top Christmas “Candy Cane Cutie” Collection too with the striped or dotted tights that are great.

Model wearing Le Top '"Fantasia" collection

The Purple Turtle

300 2^nd Avenue
Gallipolis, OH 45631-1163
740.446.1998
www.purpleturtlekids.com

 

CHECK-IN and JOIN
The Purple Turtle’s Facebook
page and click HERE

**Photo Credits: Heartstrings Child Photography

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Colorado Rocky Mountain High

 

 

 

 

The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby… Rocky Mountain high” – John Denver

Since 1983 Tracey Owens, owner of Mountain Moppets, has had a beautiful store, located in gorgeous Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mountain Moppets appropriately derived its name from the majestic Rocky Mountains that line the entire western skyline of Colorado Springs. Tracey enjoys meeting the needs of the local ‘Moppets’ – and carving out a place within the community.

Happy Triplets

Fun with glasses

Tracey’s favorite days revolve around communication and interaction with customers in her darling little store – a haven in this beautiful region.  She loves showing off the new styles that arrive for the season and thrives on the wonderful feedback from her loyal customers.  Tracey caters to devoted customers by offering pre-sales; and creates exciting special events in her store, including drawings and contests to reward and give back.  Attractive gift wrapping is available upon request for both Mountain Moppets’ online and in-store customers. So ‘come on home’ to Mountain Moppets for a great selection of le●top’s Fall 2009 collection…and don’t forget to tell Tracey “hello!” from this side of the mountain!

Mountain Moppets Gang

Mountain Moppets is located at:
2532 W. Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 633-3473

M-Sat:  10:00am – 5:30pm
Sunday:  12:00pm – 4:00pm

If you can’t make a trip to the beautiful Rocky Mountains visit Tracey at www.mountainmoppets.com

Tracey loves to chat with customers; you can reach her by calling the store or by emailing mountainmoppets@gmail.com

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Creative Baby Shower Gifts: The Diaper Cake

My cousin, Joslyn, is getting ready to have Baby #2 (a girl, Haven Bella) soon and this weekend, we are holding her baby shower! Since I work at a baby and kids clothing company, it’s no secret that most of my baby shower gifts are going to be our gorgeous baby clothes from le•top and rabbitmoon, but sometimes I like to mix it up a little. “Surprise” is a big thing for me, and because my gifts are generally predictable, I like to throw a zinger in there.

• For Jess’ baby shower gift, I put together a HUGE basket of clothes, along with some great products I have come across since being in the industry (Nookie pacifiers, Baby Legs, Pedipeds, etc).
• For Erin T’s, I did the basket and a Starbucks Frappuccino 4-pack filled with clothes instead of drinks. (Erin T. LOVES Starbucks!)
• For Joslyn (since she already had a similar gift with the first baby), I decided my “surprise” would be a diaper cake.

I have come across a lot of these online, but was never sure exactly how they did it. So the other night, I YouTube’d it, and sure enough there was a cheesy – though resourceful – How-To video. I bought the diapers, the ribbon, the jewels, the rubber bands, and the pins (my variation from double-stick tape), and went to work. I had to roll the diapers slightly differently than the video explained because the cute “character scene” on the front was turning my white cake into a blue one. All in all it took about 45 minutes to roll 92 diapers (size 1 & 2) and assemble them in the cake layers; about 30 minutes to put the ribbons and the jewels on; and 5 seconds to lay the shoes on the top as the cake topper.

Remember, this was my first time doing this, and I have learned some lessons:

1. Use ALL white diapers, if possible.
2. There is an advantage to using the double-stick tape (my ribbons are falling down because I only tautly pinned them — and in one place for that matter)
3. I need to figure out a way to secure the shoes on top (double-stick tape?)
4. Use a circular cake stand to start out the bottom layer. My bottom layer is too big for the cake stand.

Have you done a DIY shower gift? Please share your ideas and/or pictures!

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Baby Shower Gifts: It’s in the Mail!

My baby shower is approaching, and I’m giddy with excitement! Last night, as my husband was checking the doors to get ready for bed, he opened the front door to discover two boxes. I love finding packages at the front door, especially when they’re addressed to ME. It wasn’t my birthday, so I realized that baby shower presents must be arriving by mail.

I ripped open the big box first. Inside were a few of the items from my baby registry: bibs, car seat protector, and a baby sling. SCORE! I appreciate friends and family who purchase off the registry list because those are the things that we need.

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