Heading to Los Angeles meant we had to call on our friends, the beautiful Lonni Paul and Tiffani Theissen, co-founders of PetitNest. Our booth featured their Noe dresser and crib along with the Paon crib set. It was a real treat to catch up with the other “Team PN” during the show.

From Left to Right: Rebekah Dempsey, Nicole Benitez, Tiffani Thiessen, Lonni Paul, Pam Ginocchio, Melisa Fluhr

What began as a virtual friendship with party stylist Rebekah Dempsey, of A Blissful Nest, resulted in a stunning, baby shower sweets display for all to enjoy. Cleverly themed around “Look Who’s Coming,” the real star was the owl—a beloved baby shower icon and no-fail, gender-neutral look for any party or nursery.

Faux bois owls were the inspiration, and all the little details fell into place naturally.

Of course, none of the magic could have been pulled off without the talent of a few ladies with a knack for baking and genuine artistry.

A large fondant owl sat perched above the tablescape. Fondant master Brittany Rumohr of Edible Details, stole the show with her attention to detail and impressive fondant toppers.

We’re convinced that Alejandra Morin of The Marshmallow Studio is forging a new industry. Her inventive marshmallow designs brought real wow factor to our display.

Hand decorated cookies by Lisa Stone of The Cookie Jar were showcased next to the equally delicious PetitNest linen glider, where tired moms took a moment to rest. Lo and behold, thirty minutes into the event, the cookies had been gobbled up. We believe that makes for an impressive testimonial!

Pearl-like sprinkles had everyone circling the precious (and oh so tasty!) chocolate cake pops made by the Los Angeles based ladies of The Gourmet Pop.

A Blissful Nest’s charm also extended itself beyond just our booth space. Rebekah created signs and circle punches, paired with vintage striped paper straws, to adorn the evening’s food and drink displays.

At the end of the day, the quality of vendors is what makes an event’s reputation. Here’s a glimpse of Big City Mom’s recipe for success.

Featured above: Oopsy daisy, Fit Pregnancy, Babyletto and The Gruncles as guest speakers

Featured above: Magnificent Baby, The Honest Co., Sage Spoonfuls, Skip Hop, Dapple, Buggy Love

Lastly, OpenSky graciously offered a huge swag bag of incredible brands and products showcased within our curated collection to one lucky winner just for stopping by our booth. And if you didn’t win the raffle, the $15 OpenSky gift cards we distributed are guaranteed to come in handy.

We had a blast and want to thank both Big City Moms and all the thoughtful vendors who worked with us to make us look good—we’re talking to you dear Nicole, of Nicole Benitez Photography!

We can’t wait to meet more wonderful moms next month in Miami as Big City Moms takes on Jungle Island, Monday, April 2nd! For tickets and information, visit The Biggest Baby Shower Ever Miami event page. For a limited time, Project Nursery readers will receive $5 off tickets using coupon code: NURSERY. See you in Miami!

My cousin introduced me to this line a few years ago. This was, of course, after I had my first baby and had already finished nursing. Now that I’m on my second baby, I can’t wait to get a few of Milkstars’ fashionable and functional pieces.

The tops have two layers—all you have to do is lift up the top layer to reveal a hidden inner panel with cutouts on the left and right side. Pull one of the cutouts over your breast to access your nursing bra and begin nursing as usual. While you’re feeding your baby, your entire back and stomach are covered. Pretty genius, right?

I’m a big fan of the Jolie Drape Neck (below left), which will work great for all the working mommies out there. It would look just as nice alone as it would under a jacket. And their newest style, the Jackie Sleeveless Swing Top, is perfect for summer, and it works well for both maternity and nursing.

The Joan is a flutter sleeve tee that has been spotted on celebs like Kourtney Kardashian. It’s an easy style that could be worn with a cute skirt or your favorite jeans.

The Randa Dress is a go-to, easy nursing dress for any season. So, if you have your little one at a special event, you aren’t limited to a nursing top and pants. This dress gives you the access you need to nurse and still look pretty! And if you are staying in for the night? Cozy up in their pajamas! We all know what it’s like during middle of the night feedings—the last thing you want to worry about is fussy nursing tank straps. The top is a crisscross style that pulls down, so you can easily feed your baby, even if you’re half asleep.

This crib set is appropriately named Royal Palace, and it certainly belongs in one. Designed by Little Bunny Blue, this set retails for $980. Keeping on trend with the love of metallics, this gold and ivory set is elegant and sophisticated.

When Gwyneth Paltrow wore this gorgeous pink gown to the 71st Oscars, she won best dressed hands down in my book. This Lulla Smith crib ensemble reminds me of that flowing pink gown. It’s the perfect shade of pink.

Using strong yet subtle colors, like silver, in simple silhouettes works well in bedding and gowns. Kate Winslet is perfect at the 2010 Oscars in a classic silver YSL gown. My choice to complement this look is this elegant Bellini exclusive crib set I designed. Using opposing fabrics like linen and silk creates a dramatic effect while keeping the set simple and clean, just like Kate.

So excited to see how this year’s Academy Award fashions translate into nursery design—what were your favorites?

Honest.com offers affordable (and downright cute!) non-toxic diapers and eco-friendly family products delivered right to your doorstep. “I’ve spent way too many hours researching products and driving around, trying to find safer, eco-friendly options for my kids,” explained Jessica Alba, President and Founder. “I knew that most people didn’t have that kind of time, nor the means to pay the premium prices. We had to make it easier.”

Parents are able to curate bundles online for delivery. Diapers are available for less than $20 a week, and a monthly supply of the body care and home cleaning essentials comes in at just under $9 a week. It’s awfully convenient, and from what I’ve gathered from their bustling Facebook fan page, the customer service is outstanding.

I had the opportunity to meet the beautiful celebrity mom of two and hear more about her freshly launched company with fellow Co-Founder, Christopher Gavigan. Christopher is a renowned environmentalist, author, former CEO of Healthy Child, Healthy World and father. The evening was hosted and moderated by the fashionable Nicole Feliciano, of Momtrends, and most of New York City’s top mom bloggers were accounted for. Jessica and Christopher graciously passed out their personal business cards and shared insight into their brand’s mission, personal stories and more.

Left to Right: Christopher Gavigan, Nicole Feliciano, Jessica Alba, Risa Goldberg, Leslie Venokur, Melisa Fluhr

The lovely evening concluded with a handful of lucky attendees winning very cool Honest Company Diaper Bags. Jessica explained how she designed the diaper bag herself and that she did it with her husband in mind. As multi-tasking moms, we know what it’s like to juggle the baby, the kids and their stuff all at once. And when Jessica’s husband offers to help her, let’s just say carrying her girly diaper bag probably isn’t his first choice. While I did not win the gorgeous, gender-neutral bag, savvy Project Nursery friend Julia Beck, of Forty Weeks, offered her winnings to our wonderful PN readers. How awesome is she? (Meet her on Twitter @TheJulia Beck.)

The Honest Company diaper bag, designed by Jessica Alba, is a slate gray messenger-style bag with hip yellow stitching and a “feels like” suede fabric. It’s roomy, and it’s stocked with samples of Jessica’s new line. Even my husband walked into my office and said, “Hmm, cool bag,” and then walked out. So do we have any takers?

WIN IT! One lucky Project Nursery reader will win The Honest Company Diaper Bag complete with a sample kit of their products.

HOW TO ENTER: To enter, comment below to let us know that you visited Honest.com and give us your take—would you try it? Contest ends Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.

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I entered the store and had to stop a minute to take it all in. I couldn’t decide what I liked best—the modern bedding sets, best-in-class highchairs, cool toys or gifts—even the dedicated “stroller parking” for our fancy Bugaboo made me realize that parents everywhere were thanking founder Ali Wing for finally bringing hip and smart to the baby world.

It’s been six years since Ali and her team opened that flagship store in Soho, and now Giggle boasts 14 locations nationwide, including their most recent addition, Santa Monica. In honor of the store’s grand opening, Ali hosted a night of shopping to celebrate and to kick off their Great Giggle Giveback program. Giggle has teamed up with non-profit Baby Buggy, founded by Jessica Seinfeld, to help families in need by providing essential baby items like gently used furniture, gear and clothing.

Watch Ali in action as she talks about the Giggle philosophy and how they have committed to making a difference through the Great Giggle Giveback.

Inspiring to say the least! Want to get involved too? Melisa and I had the pleasure of attending the event where we met up with Ali and chatted about how the Project Nursery community can get involved. We will be sharing more information about Baby Buggy and where you can make a donation, so stay tuned for more details.

The store was buzzing with celebrity parents and local Giggle fans, who were on hand to support the cause and, of course, browse and buy the most fantastic baby products on the market.

Our friends Tiffani Thiessen and Lonni Paul came out to support and co-host the event. Bill Horn and Scout Masterson, aka The Gunkles, shopped with their little girl Simone in tow, and we chatted nursery design with James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly who just announced they are expecting their second child. We want to thank team Giggle for including Project Nursery in this fun and motivating night. We have been loyal fans from the beginning, and we are sure our readers will be hooked now too!

Nursery Design for Laila Ali by Little Crown Interiors, featuring the HOPE Crib

Since we worked hand-in-hand with Newport Cottages in designing the HOPE Crib, we got a special backstage peek at how these beautiful cribs are made. The wood is absolutely stunning, even before the gorgeous pink paint goes on.

Production of the Hope Crib by Newport Cottages and Little Crown Interiors

We’re both also admittedly sugar-a-holics (especially Gerri!), and we enjoy all things party-related. So we’re pretty excited about these pie pops by Cakewalk Desserts—they’ll be in the gift boxes. Even though we can’t wait to chat with friends, family and fellow Project Nursery contributors, when paired with the perfect wine—courtesy of Cameron Hughes Wine—we might just spend the evening with our mouths full!

Pie Pops by Cakewalk Desserts - photo via Cakewalk Desserts

We also love our online shopping! The trendsetting finds on OpenSky are really fabulous, and among the other great items, our gift boxes have $50 OpenSky gift cards. If you don’t already follow Project Nursery on OpenSky, it’s time for you to start!

Fun Stuff in the Gift Bags!

Over the weekend, we made some adorable pink neckties for Gerri’s two adorable sons to wear (and, of course, found a little time to find really glamorous dresses with lots of pink for ourselves). We can’t wait to see those cute little guys dressed up for their mini-portrait sessions by Full Spectrum Photography. David is the genius photographer behind some of our best project photos, and we can’t wait for him to work his magic on our families too!

Photo via Little Crown Interiors

Each year, October reminds us of the family and friends we’re lucky to call breast cancer survivors, but also of those we’ve lost. While the spirit of this party is celebratory and fun, there’s a little voice in our hearts telling us we have to fight harder. We hope you’ll join us for the fun and help find a cure. To learn more about the HOPE Crib, please click here.

Our wonderful partners at Newport Cottages, Little Crown Interiors and Full Spectrum Photography invite you to an evening of celebration, benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

It’s sure to be an evening not to disappoint! Meet celebrity mom Laila Ali, and view the gorgeous Hope Crib conceived by Little Crown Interiors and beautifully crafted by Newport Cottages. Receive complimentary mini-portrait sessions by Full Spectrum Photography, chat with the trendsetting team of Project Nursery and experience Cameron Hughes Wine. Enjoy a live DJ, gourmet food, luxury raffle and more! The first 50 attendees to make a donation for Breast Cancer Research will receive a glamorous gift bag.

We hope you will join us for this incredible cause. Kindly RSVP here.

Should you wish to be invited to future Project Nursery sponsored events in your area, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

The major buzz after last year’s show was new kid in the nursery world, Petit Nest. Their gorgeous line of furniture and bedding took the show by storm, and it was great to reunite with the celeb design duo, Lonni Paul and Tiffani Thiessen—love them! We were excited to get a chance to catch up with the ladies and see the additions to the line firsthand. Petit Nest is known for their intricate, ultra-hip paneling, and now they have added a more mid-century modern look to their repertoire with a new dresser and crib.

Bloom Baby made a splash because they were the only company to integrate metallic and neon into their collections. Their Fresco highchair was amped up with new colors, like a sleek and shiny black with contemporary mock croc fabric, and the Luxo crib got a makeover with a new, softer, whitewash finish. The biggest news to come from Bloom was the introduction of their new Zen stroller. It has tons of bells and whistles, including a zip down recline, foam wheels that unlike regular tires won’t go flat, LED lights and those cool neon accessories we mentioned. And…the whole unit folds compact enough to fit in the back of a Mini Cooper—urbanites take note!

On the second day of the show, we were able to focus a little more on gear, so we had to make a stop to see 4moms. They added new prints and comfy fabrics to their cornerstone product, the mamaRoo infant seat. They also debuted the second generation of their take on the baby stroller, the Origami. This is the first ever power-folding stroller, complete with LCD screen and LED headlights.

We were most intrigued to see the brand new Breeze, 4moms’ solution to the pack-n-play. Unlike other portable cribs on the market, the Breeze doesn’t require fussing with any locks and is literally a one-step open and shut method. One of the moms behind the 4moms creations, Jenn Daley, gave us a live demo, and we liked what we saw.

The team behind the essential Boppy pillow have unveiled a brand new “travel” version of the best seller. Nursing mothers everywhere can rejoice because the Boppy has finally gone mobile! Bye bye are the days of lugging the big version in rental cars, on the airplane, and all around town for that matter because as many nursing mothers know, that pillow is just that important. Boppy has come out with a solution that is easy, stylish and, may we say, a lot more discreet. You can start to see the travel version in stores early 2012.

Getty Images

So, thanks to Mrs. Tom Cruise, we have pulled together some of our favorite nursery pieces in the lovely shade of cobalt. Girls, don’t be fooled—cobalt blue can be used in a girl’s nursery as well…just pair it with a lighter shade of peach or even lavender.

1. DucDuc Austin Crib 2. Linvin Little Queen of Love Child’s Armchair 3. Large Blue Anthropomathy, original painting by Yves Klein 4. The New Traditionalists Savannah Changer 5. Linvin Little Prince of Love Child’s Ottoman 6. Robert Abbey Piero Marine Blue Floor Lamp