Happy Mother's Day from Fluerville!

Fluerville is offering a fabulous gift to moms - 35% off everything on their site until May 11th -- use code 4MOMS35 --- happy shopping!

Visit www.fluerville.com

Appoint yourself the "Good Fairy" and pass it on!

Do something good today.

This morning, I was the recipient of a RAOK (Random Act of Kindness). I was having a rough morning, things just were not flowing as they should have, my plan for the day started off badly and I was in a funk. The RAOK was simple, but it made my day. I didn't know this person or them me, but I know that she made my day and I want someone else to feel that moment of bliss and good will.

With so much negativity around and being publicized -- make it a point to "Play Nice" and make someone's day.

Pass it on!
Teia

Local DC Area Weekend Happenings...

This weekend, Capitol Moms will hopping around the area. Some fun events will be:

* A Day for Every Busy Woman, a day of pampering and education, at The Waterford at Fair Oaks

* Rock'n'Tot, local kid's dance party, at DC's Ultra-Bar

* Thomas Jefferson's Library has been recreated and is on view at the Library of Congress

* Alexandria's Earth Day at Ben Breman Park from 10-2pm

Good tastes at Urban Tastes

As a mama with a healthy appetite, I want to share Urban Tastes by local chef Megan Adams.

Each week, Megan crafts a rotating menu with healthy, locally grown and organic ingredients. We tried the Fish Stew and it was full of spicy, yummy-goodness, but my absolute favorite was the Mesquite Chocolate Chip cookies.

Look for a unique variety of tasty options at reasonable prices to be helpfully, and thankfully for the busy momma, delivered, twice-a-week to your door.

To order, visit www.urbantastes.com

Help us write our book...

Capitol Moms founder, Teia Collier, and Julie Belgard of Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington are teaming up to edit a book of bump to baby stories. We need the whole range of stories from the warm, funny to the touching and dramatic to create a balanced book. Here's our letter to moms.

Dear Moms,

Every mom has a baby story--from finding out they are pregnant to the actual birth and beyond. These are wonderful, bonding stories, both funny and dramatic, and we realized that there are very few formats in which to share them.

We are working on editing a book of bump to baby stories--particularly how you found out you were pregnant, how you told your partner/family/friends/boss.... and then what came next, and are collecting the stories of mothers around the country to be featured.

We would love to share your story along with our own. Please feel free to email your story at: bumpstories@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Julie and Teia

Sample Sale Alert: Petunia Pickle Bottom -- April 22-28

Who doesn't love a great bag, and I have to admit PPB makes some fabulous ones. The Semi-Annual Sample Sale is a great way to grab one at a great price. Pre-register and note that styles run out quickly, so stop in early.

To register, visit http://www.petuniaoutlet.com/register/

Coming April 28th - Capitol Moms Members Connect

Shhh...we've been keeping a project under wraps, but I wanted share our upcoming baby.

Capitol Moms Members Connect.

We are creating an exclusive community where mothers can share, network and celebrate their motherhood journey while getting tips on the latest and greatest, partake in special members-only events and have access to Capitol Moms personalized services at a discounted, members-only rate.

More details coming soon....

EVENT: A Day for Every Busy Woman, April 26th, The Waterford at Fair Oaks

Fun Event Alert!!!

The creators of the quarterly Every Busy Woman Guide are having their fifth annual "A Day for Every Busy Woman". There will be shopping, massages, education -- 2 separate tracks one for personal and one for business development. It's gonna be fun and I can't wait.

Here's a blurb from their site:
You need a day just for you!
If you’re a busy woman who could use a day for yourself and your gal pals, please join us April 26, 2008 for everything you love – all in one place! The 5th Annual A Day for Every Busy Woman conference is the one day a year you’ve looked forward to – all your favorites plus more shopping, seminars to help you focus on business and personal areas of your busy life, and pampering!

To register for the event, visit www.adayforeverybusywoman.com

Also, as a special treat, women in the military, along with soldiers wives and mothers receive a special discount pay only $5 for the whole event.

Five minutes with Debbie Jacobson, Baltimore Mama and Producer of What's Next?

Capitol Moms founder, Teia Collier, spent a few minutes chatting with the inspiring and highly-motivated, mama of 4(soon to be 5) Debbie Jacobson, producer of Retirement Living's new lifestyle reality show, What's Next?. With our parents getting older and heading toward this new stage in life and already rolling around in it, I found this interview particularly interesting.

Here are a few highlights:

Tell me about What's Next?
It is inspired and started with my dad. He thought he had it all figured out, a plan laid out and then he abruptly got there. And it was all different. It was like someone changed the rules and he was left answering the question, "How do you spend then rest of your life?" What's Next? is a reality show where we walk with a retiree and help them answer that question for themselves. We cover topics like how navigate the complicated Social Security system to learning how to downsize. Every episode leaves the participant (and viewers) knowing a little more and armed with some tools to make their lives easier.

That's incredible, so you're a producer and a mama of four, soon to be five. How do you balance?
Honestly, sometimes the balance is blind. But it does help that most of kids are in school and you do your best. With a 12, 10, 5, 2 and a new one on the way, I depend on my husband as well. He's awesome and my compliment - he does the things that I don't love like dishes and cooking. But I really love working and want to make it work -- I think that having the desire there is really important.

What's your favorite tips for mamas and moms to be?
Be flexible and have patience. Every day will be different, and that's fine. Also read the cues from your own baby -- know that everyone will have advice and not every chart will apply directly to your baby.


What's Next? airs on Retirement Living on Friday's at 2pm, locally on Comcast Channel 8. They also have a supplement website at www.rl.tv with clips and other resources.

Sasha B Designs: Little Nursing Luxuries

Recently Capitol Moms stumbled upon a really special company out of Portland, Sasha B Designs. Makers of sweet nursing covers and dreamy soft blankets, Sasha B Designs has found a home here at Capitol Moms.

We tried out the Sage Curly Nursing Cover and the Mint Chocolate Chip Baby Blanket. First thing out of the box, we fell in love with the beautiful presentation, then when we opened the bag out fell two beautiful products. The snap style, curly nursing cover was swiped by my two year old with an "oooh Mommmy" to be claimed as a snuggly. I knew it was a winner when a second reviewer friend commented on its silky, creamy texture as well.

In a variety of colors and in your choice of minky or cotton, you are sure to find a practically, luxurious, hand-crafted favorite at Sasha B Designs.

Also, special for members into the upcoming Capitol Moms Members Connect, launching April 28th, we will be giving away a sweet Sasha B Designs mint chocolate chip blanket -- to enter now and get your first 90 days membership free (a $22.50 value) sign up for the CM newsletter to the right.

This Momma Likes to Eat -- Delia's Online

Anyone who knows me, knows my love of food, cookbooks and tasty treats.  I bake, broil, try to grill -- though my husband is much better -- and have an affinity for food network and old Southern desserts.  They just make me happy, and I have recently been re-aquainted with an old friend.  The British favorite, Delia Smith.

At Delia's online home you will find, fast dinners, classic treats, elaborate showpieces made simple with helpful tips that have made me look like a rockstar hostess with minimal effort...and who doesn't love that.

Be sure to check out the recipe of the day, the Cheats tips and the How To Cook series (there is a mean buttermilk scone recipe that has bribed many a child.)

To see, what I mean visit, www.deliaonline.com

Capitol Hill gets a toy store -- Groovyland Toys and Treats

Here's news from their release:

Groovy dc cards & gifts are happy to announce the Opening of GROOVYLAND toys & treats located at 425 8th St. SE on Barracks Row. Please join us for the Opening of Groovyland on Saturday April 12th, located directly across the street from Groovy dc. Groovyland will offer a fun new shopping experience with toys & treats for all ages. Stop in for fun and excitement all day long and Mollie The Clown will be at Groovyland from 1-4 pm to entertain the kids. Groovyland will be participating in Second Saturday so we will be open late with treats for all ages.


Look here for a fun giveaway for Groovyland in the near future.

Lilaguides free at www.Lilaguide.com for a limited time

For a limited time, the makers of the new parent survival and review guide Lilaguide, are giving away free copies for new members to their online site.

For more information, view the full post at Capitol Moms Maternity Edition and to sign-up and receive your copy at www.lilaguide.com

Chatting with Petunia Pickle Bottom Founder DaNai Jones

Capitol Moms founder Teia Collier spent a few minutes chatting with fun, laid-back, new momma and founder of the wildly popular diaper bag and accessory company Petunia Pickle Bottom DeNai Jones.

Here are some of the highlights:

Why Petunia Pickle Bottom? With the encouragement and support of my husband, I sought to fulfill a dream and a void in the market for a diaper bag that was functional, stylish and designed for the mama to serve the needs of the baby, rather than the other way around. There wasn't anything like what we created and after some convincing the stores picked us up -- from there it all began.

How do you balance running a successful company and motherhood? We have a lot of help; our family is here. They help with the boys (she has a brand-new little one) and get to build special memories with their grandparents. Balance is always something that you work at, but it helps that we put our family first.

What's next for Petunia Pickle Bottom? We always have something new on the horizon to keep things interesting and to give our fans something new and exciting. (There are also a new line of slings in coordinating fabrics launching in stores this month.)

What are you carrying now? The Crosstown Clutch. (a CM fave)

What are some of your favorite products that you use with your little ones? I love our swaddling blankets (especially now with a newborn)

To view the new slings and take a look at the stylish Crosstown Clutches that make traveling with a baby a snap, visit www.petuniapicklebottom.com

Loving Summer and Spring at Peanut Shell Slings

Every Spring, the colors come out and I can't seem to fathom using the old ordinary baby carriers in bland, neutral shades of beige, navy and black... and that's why we love Peanut Shell Slings for pouch baby carriers.

Granted there are lovely neutral shades, but I choose Peanut Shell for the fun, designer patterns in great bold shades, the padding that is not bulky, but ups the comfort level and the sweet pocket that lets a busy mom drop in a cell phone and a card and travel hands free.

We tested the pink couture (pictured above) and the retro blue that reverses to a seriously yummy chocolate -- on trend and versatile. Both earned rave reviews from our reviewers (and random bystanders)-- most loved the colors, the comfort and the fact that the babies we tried, seemed all snug and cozy.

To see Peanut Shell's line of pouches, wraps and nursing covers, visit, www.goo-ga.com.

To schedule your personalized consultation and to select products to fit all of your baby needs, visit www.CAPITOLMOMS.org/motherhood.html

Smelling the "Lavender Vanilla and Comfort"

The other day while at Target, I discovered something new, Febreze in nifty decor-ready bottles that are gorgeous enough to leave out, rather than hastily hide under the kitchen cabinet.

It comes in 3 soothing scents, but our personal favorite is Lavender and Vanilla Comfort -- think subtle, clean and soft. We love it at our house. It does all the great things of Febreze, without the industrial bottle.

To get special offers from Febreze, visit www.febreze.com

Baby Star sale ending today

A Capitol Moms favorite, BabyStar makes several lines of seriously luscious textured blankies, burp cloths and bibs. Featured in People, InTouch and Pregnancy, the lines are loved by celeb and local mamas alike.

And I know, it's last minute notice, but at 50%-80% off, you can't miss their customer appreciation sale. It's a great time to try out the products, if you haven't yet.

Shop at http://www.babystar.com/customer-appreciation-sale.php

DC Metro Mommy: Warehouse of Mommyista Goodness

Mommyista: (paraphrased -CM style) a rockin' mommy that loves fashion, life, and takes her role as a mommy seriously. She can be found in search of great gear, happening events to share with her little ones and a fun place to hold a mom's night out.

The other day while on Facebook, I stumbled across a post for DC Metro Mommy. I followed the links and was in for a treat. Local mama Claudine Kurp has crafted a fabulous site, full of tips and resources, helpfully organized. I found myself happily wandering from category to category, picking up tips and fun places to visit along the way.

To check out, DC Metro Mommy, visit www.dcmetromommy.com