After 20 years of creating whimsical children’s apparel, Zutano is a leader in the market. It really isn’t hard to see why. With a strong mission, fabulous quality and uniquely bright and fun designs, it no wonder people flock to Zutano.

Part of their mission:

We are committed to creating exceptional product designs, as well as manufacture superior quality products for the love, uniqueness and diversity of all children. Our wish is that the clothing we create has the honor to be the first garments to be worn by a child. The beginning of expression, style and uniqueness, they will continue to explore throughout life.

Once again, just a glance at the girl’s line makes me wish I had a little girl. And can you blame me? With vivid colors, layers and accessories that give the perfect finishing touches it is no wonder I covet them.

And for all of you out there feeling bad for me at this moment, please don’t. Not only do I have a little niece, but their boys selection is also just too stinkin’ cute for words!

We received two outfits for the boys and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I immediately noticed the amazingly soft the fabrics. So soft in fact that it reminded me of my favorite loungewear or super cozy pajamas. After just playing with my boys in our playroom I noticed how comfortable and free they were.  They obviously were enjoying their new clothes and I became a fan of Zutano.

It is hard to describe but I love how the clothing didn’t restrict their movement in any way. My boys were free to move and I know they like being as comfortable as do I. I wasn’t disappointed after washing since they came out looking great and best of all, no wrinkles!

The Zutano Itzy Bitzy line focuses on preemie and newborns and all items are available in their online shop, the Itzy Bitzy Boutique. With sizes for babies from 4-8 pounds and 9-13 pounds your new bundle of joy will be as cozy in this meticulous designed line, just for them!

Really, how can you resist? Writing this post is giving me all kind of baby fever just looking at the adorable clothing options!

Buy it: The Itzy Bitzy newborn line is available directly from the Zutano shop along with a smaller selection of toddler clothing featured in the press. To view other online retailers, including giggle.com, check out their full list of online retailers.

{ Giveaway}

Zutano would like to give one of my very lucky readers a $150 gift certificate to spend in their shop including the Itzy Bitzy line and select toddler apparel!

(Please note: Due to a fire that affected their distribution center, this gift certificate can not be redeemed until September 1st, when their online shop reopens.)

MAIN ENTRY: Visit Zutano and me an item that you absolutely love and would have to buy with your gift certificate if you won!

Want more entries? (Are you joking? Of course you do!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Spring into Spring! Enter the lillebaby carrier giveaway at The Shopping Mama & tell me below!
-Join the Zutano mailing list
-Follow Zutano on twitter
-Like Zutano on Facebook
-Like Baby Loving Mama on Facebook
-Follow my blog publicly
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can do this daily!)

Win a $150 gift certificate for fun Zutano Children’s Apparel up to 4T! @babylovingmama from @zutano http://bit.ly/abv6YI #giveaway PLS RT!

-Add my button to your blog
-Add my Spring into Spring event button to your blog
-Blog about this contest and link back here and to Zutano (3 entries)

This contest will end on 6/2/10 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S. and Canada residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to winning notification email before I draw another winner or do a live giveaway.

Disclosure: I received samples for the purpose of this review but no other type of compensation was received. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

No one likes talking about cancer. Certainly nobody enjoys trying to explain cancer to small children and yet in 2008 alone over 1.4 million cancer cases are diagnosed. Undoubtedly those people had family who loved them, some of them young children who were confused by the word cancer.

Someone I Love is Sick was created by The Gathering Place, a well-respected cancer support center in Ohio.  It is a customizable binder book with removable pages which adapt to multiple scenarios and allow you to add to the book over time, depending upon what your family is currently experiencing.

After a series of focus groups in October 2008 among professional caregivers, The Gathering Place had found that parents were often too preoccupied with their own diagnosis and overlooked the emotion needs of their children. They felt an ideal book for helping children would be customizable, age appropriate and emphasize visuals. Parent panelists appeared most concerned about their ability to communicate without creating fear or uncertainty. The books they had found were too grim or not age appropriate. Thus, Someone I Love is Sick was created to fill this void and was made with both a version for parents and grandparents.

I received the parents version to review. Thankfully we have no use for this at this time but I look forward to donating it locally to someone in need. This is a very well made book that will certainly stand up to hard times. The pages are laminated and won’t be easily ripped and are simple to add and remove.  A vinyl sleeve is also included to store unused pages. It is intended for ages 2-6 but the age range could easily be extended.

This book is illustrated with very simple images of children of all races who are sometimes doing very simple things like bringing Mommy some juice (above) or heavier subjects like picking out something of Daddy’s to keep (below). Subjects vary from treatment and hospital stays to missing their parent and noticing everyone is grumpy.

I will admit reading this wonderful tool was a bit heartbreaking. Cancer is prevalent in my family and imagining my children having to bear this heavy burden is heavy on my soul, especially with the last page stating “I will always have wonderful memories of Daddy.”  I wish that not a single child should have to go through this but the truth is, they do. They do every day and as hard as it may be, a child needs to understand and not feel scared. I think Someone I Love is Sick is a blessing for both the child and the parent who won’t have to wonder how to address a heavy subject like cancer.

This book has been endorsed by Lance Armstrong and members of the healthcare community. It would be fabulous for anyone you know currently in this situation or for donation at your local cancer center.  All proceeds support benefit those touched by cancer.

{ Giveaway }

I have a copy of Someone I Love is Sick for one of my readers in their choice of the parent or grandparent version.

MAIN ENTRY: Visit Someone I Love is Sick and tell me something you like about the book or site.

Want more entries? (I know you must!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Tell me what you would do with this book if you won
-Follow The Gathering Place on twitter
-Follow my blog publicly
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway

Win “Someone I Love is Sick” a tool for kids to understand cancer @babylovingmama @touchedbycancer http://tinyurl.com/yhyq3wx #giveaway RT

-Fave me on Technorati
-Add my button to your blog
-Add my It’s in the Bag! event button to your bog
-Blog about this contest and link back here and to Someone I Love is Sick (3 entries)

This contest will end on 10/23/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S.  residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org. The winner will have 72 hours to respond to winning notification email before I draw another winner or do a live giveaway.