I happily received Ingrid & Isabel’s organic BellaBand this week and tested it out on Lisa Murphy of Mill Valley, CA who is due in just a few weeks! She fell in love with BellaBand right away. The two advantages that stood out for her was the length of the band and the softness of the material on her skin. She also mentioned that she could use the BellaBand in combination with her gym wear so that she wouldn’t have to buy a whole new gym wardrobe.

Ingrid Carney, President of Ingrid & Isabel, created the BellaBand during her pregnancy when she wasn’t big enough to fill maternity wear, yet there was no possibility of buttoning her pants. Safety pins were bulky, rubber bands were uncomfortable, larger sizes looked sloppy, and when her blouse rose it exposed her poor attempts to hold up her pants. Finally, she tried a tube-top over her waistband. It was thick and not sized properly for a growing belly, but it worked! She un-tucked my blouse, left for the office and no one knew her pants were undone. Hence, the BellaBand was born!

The BellaBand also works very well after pregnancy, while you are still unable to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes.

I think the BellaBand is wonderful and very hip.

For more information or to purchase one for yourself or loved one, please visit: http://www.ingridandisabel.com/

I received three product samples from CSN Baby’s Go Green line, a retailer based out of Boston who sells baby gear, baby toys, and nursery furniture.

The first item is the Baby Star – Quick Change Pouch in Spring Green.

To be honest I never thought I’d be needing a baby quick change pouch or using one, however this is fabulous. It’s easy to take in and out of my bag without having to dig through all my things, and it’s environmentally safe.

The next item is Wonderworld’s – Peek-A-Boo-Ball

The features include:

•Bright blue wooden baby toy with multi-colored faces
•Smiling faces pop in and out when the ball is rolled
•Helps to develop hand-eye coordination
•For ages 12 months and up
•Made from environmentally friendly rubberwood and non-toxic water-based paints

Bella loves this ball and has a fun time playing with it.

Lastly, I received Wonderworld’s – Duck Family Pull Toy

A fun and safe toy! I think the picture says it all

Features include:

•Pull toy with three bright multi-colored ducks
•Ducks are flexible twisting as they move
•Encourages young child to walk and exercises arms and legs
•For ages 18 months and up
•Made from environmentally friendly rubberwood, non-toxic water-based paints and biodegradable fabrics

For more information or to purchase these items visit http://www.csnbaby.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mary Oscategui
707.332.9924
press@thebabyplanner.com
www.thebabyplanner.com

THE BABY PLANNER ANNOUNCES NEW BOOK, CERTIFICATION, AND ACADEMY.

San Francisco, CA— September 25, 2009 CEO and founder of The Baby Planner, Mary Oscategui will be releasing a new book at the end of October, titled “The Baby Planner’s guide to becoming a baby planner and starting your own baby planning business”.

The book was born naturally as Mary saw the tremendous need to establish a set of standards and credentials in the new and emerging industry of baby planning. “There is still a lot of confusion to the defined role and credentials of a baby planner, so I thought it was only appropriate to formally establish one through a book. As a baby planner there needs to be a clear scope of practice.” says Mary.

Mary has also decided to raise the bar in her industry by being the first baby planning company to offer a baby planner certification. “An education process by where a certification is earned will help build the respect and credibility that our industry deserves.” says Mary.

Lastly, she is in the process of developing The International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals, due to launch in February 2010.

Mary Oscategui, is a single mom, and mom-preneur, who has a passion and love for empowering women and families to reconnect with their powerful and intelligent nature. Prior to her career as a baby planner, she managed, coordinated, and arranged a variety of operations, including supervising and training a large staff of employees in the health and fitness industry. She also owns her own fitness company, EcoFitMom. She lives in Tiburon, CA with her nineteen month old daughter, Bella.

The Baby Planner, founded in 2008, assists, directs, guides, informs, educates, and supports new and expecting parents through their pregnancy or adoption process. The Baby Planner’s mission is to empower new and expecting parents to know their options, and make the most suitable decisions for themselves and their baby.

For more information on The Baby Planner, certification, or book, please visit:

http://www.thebabyplanner.com

I am really excited to be receiving sample products from CSN stores eco-friendly line at

http://www.AllModernBaby.com

They also carry eco-friendly nursery furniture including chaning tables, high chairs, wall art, bassinets, and much more.

Stay tuned!!!

Today I met an amazing woman in the San Francisco North Bay Area, named Michelle Salas, who has a beautiful and elegant baby couture line of clothing and accessories named Bella Blue Baby Couture.

All her clothes and accessories are hand knitted by a group of special women in Peru, who because of Michelle, are able to provide for themselves through her business. The teddy bear above was made by her top knitter Valeria. Michelle was kind enough to give my Bella this teddy bear.

Her line of clothing is so beautiful. You need to check it out.

Her website is still in the process of development, but you can preview the Bella Blue collection by calling her at 415-233-2264, or emailing het at michelle@bellablue-babycouture.com.

Baby’s First Journal by Glow Baby is an elegant, simple, and easy to use feeding, sleeping, and diapering log developed by mom, Lindsay Harris.

As a mother of two young daughters, Ainsley and Juliet, Lindsay quickly came to appreciate the difficulties of caring for a toddler while at the same time making sure the needs of her newborn were met.

Glow Baby’s comprehensive log book enables parents to track the eating, sleeping and diapering schedules of their newborn in an effortless fashion.

Glow Baby will also soon be launching a full suite of scheduling tools designed to help parents of newborns and families simplify their lives.

Thanks Lindsay and Glow Baby for helping to make moms lives easier

For more information, please visit http://www.glowbaby.ca

I am happy to share exciting news about The Baby Planner. All of you can have the amazing opportunity to share this business with me and provide the support I need while earning 100% profits in your local city. I love what I am passionate about my vision, design and creation and now I offer you the opportunity to be part of The Baby Planner family!

The Baby Planner Presents the Three Month training program to become a Baby Planner or a representative for The Baby Planner!

If you’d like to be a Baby Planner in your city, contact me at mary@thebabyplanner.com.

Space is limited – to ensure a place in the program we encourage you to apply early. I am only accepting 8 applicants at this time and only a few spots remain.

The Three Month (100 hour training program) consists of a total of eight hours per week through tele-conference right from the comfort of your home. You will receive outlines, guidelines, literature, and resources throughout the 12 weeks. The eight hours are broken up into one weeknight and one weekend day of 4 hours each day per day.

The program begins on September 20th, and ends on December 20th.

The 100 hour training program prepares you to start your own baby planning business or represent The Baby Planner in your city.

The training includes:

• Knowledge of The Baby Planning industry from start to finish (pre to post natal)
• Setting up your business from start to finish
• Generating profits and preparing for succes
• Marketing and Advertising for your business
• How to sell and network your business
• Website Page Design tips and services
• Coaching, Communication, Listening and Verbal Skills for your clients
• Knowledge and Prep for Pre/Post Natal Health and Fitness,
• Going Green and Toxic Free with Baby
• Nutrition for Mom and Baby
• Preparing for Baby Showers, Registry, and Preggo Party Makeovers

Other benefits include:

• A lifetime ongoing membership with The Baby Planner
• A free page listing on our website including your bio and location
• A chance to review a product or share advice on our blog
• A chance to appear on The Baby Planner TV
• Free media exposure
• A chance to be included on our monthly newsletters to our current clients.

Tuition for the Three Month Program is $1900 if you register by August 31st , $2300 by September 5th, and $2500 by the deadline of September 10th. A deposit of $850 will reserve your spot.

Deadline for full registration is September 10th.

contact mary@thebabyplanner to register.

Okay so not only did Facebook reconnect me with a dear old friend from grammer school today, but then to my sweet surprise I find out that her and her mother in-law hand sew and sell hats, headbands, children’s aprons, girls dresses, jumpers, and a new addition: The Cozi Cover!, an ideal cover-up for mothers and babies while nursing.

Nancy and Michele Mahoney are a mother/daughter in-law team with 50 years sewing experience and Michele, the daughter-in-law, an eager apprentice of three years. Their shared love of sewing combined with an artistic eye for color and design joined them together to start Sew Special Hats. Using their imagination they designed and sewed colorful and playful brimmed sun hats for Michele’s two young sons. Soon their Family and friends all wanted the hats! As the friendship and teamwork grew so did their line of Children’s hats. They now create and sell an assortment of adorable cotton knit hats w/flowers, sunhats, winter fleece headgear, headbands and dresses, all made with love, by hand, at home.

For more information, visit: http://www.sewspecialhats.com

The Baby Planner’s sister fitness company, EcoFitMom presents ERGO-cise, a new and innovative class for mom and baby. Classes will be held at The Parents Center located at Heller’s for Children in San Rafael, CA beginning in September. Stay tuned!

The Parents Center is dedicated to providing families in and around Marin County with education, resources and support. Our goal is to make classes on and resources for Childbirth and Parenting accessible and affordable for all who endeavor to improve the health and well-being of their families.

The founding director, Georgia Montgomery, (CD, CBE, CLE) is an educator of Childibirth Preparation, Newborn Care, Breastfeeding and an Infant/Child CPR & First Aid Instructor.

I have to say that she runs an amazing center and her passion is truly an inspiration to me. She is so welcoming and very supportive. I feel blessed to offer our services through her center.

Much thanks and appreciation to Georgia and The Hellers!