Here’s another beautiful Studio3Music birthday boy, with professional photographer Brooke’s and mom Lisa’s comments. Doesn’t he just look so kissable?

Brooke:  So oh my goodness…if every baby made it as easy as birthday boy Liam! Just seconds from being a real “walker”, happy little Liam was all smiles and love for his Mommy Lori (cooing at him just off camera). Usually, the grown-ups have to shamelessly perform like trained circus animals to get those amazing expressions from our kids, but Liam generously shared them without the usual acrobatics! He’s the type that lures all of use into having more babies…and we all know what happens when the first baby is a dream, right?

Lori:  Brooke is quite professional, does great work and has superb artistic skill. She has a great way with kids, and was very efficient with our quick little man’s attention span ; )

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who encourages you to visit Brooke’s website, and then use your Studio3Music birthday free session gift!

Brooke: I’m setting up in the camera room and I hear a little excited voice from the front lobby yell – “I’m at the studio!!!” (If only every person that came to get their portraits made had as much enthusiasm as these little girls.) We’ve been loving all of the birthday portraits we’ve been shooting as part of our friendship with Studio3Music. Twins, Piper and Casey were at Studio B in celebration of their 4^th birthday and they couldn’t have been more sweet and fun to photograph.

Laura: That was our first session with Brooke and I thought she was great.  She worked with such easy-going finesse and speed, she probably got most of the shots before the girls (and I, for that matter!) realized that she was taking actual pictures!  I can’t wait to see the rest of the shots! Thanks for such a special birthday gift – what a great partnership between StudioB and Studio3!

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who reminds you that if you miss your birthday card in the mail from us and want a complimentary mini-session with Brooke, just let me know.

When I was four, I wanted a pair of white go-go boots. I pined for those boots for at least a year.  Sometime when I was five, my mom bought them for me.  I was in absolute heaven, and wore them everywhere. They were the only (at least that I remember) pair of “non-practical” pair of shoes she ever bought me.

As a mom, I’ve bought dozens of shoes in the past eleven years.  Being a veteran of 5 knee surgeries, 6 years of physical therapy and several pairs of custom-made orthotics, it’s important to me that my children’s shoes are well-made and well fit. (Give me the clothes on sale or from consignment stores!) Going to a high-quality shoe store doesn’t leave a lot of money for anything but “practical” on a relatively tight budget.

However, my third baby was a GIRL. And being a shoe lover myself, you can imagine what visions went through my head. When I went to Nordstrom, I was seriously disappointed in the girl’s shoes “cute factor”. So I did what any internet-savvy mom would do – went online.

I found the most adorable line of shoes (from Italy!) called “Jumpin Jacks” and went on a hunt for them. In the process I discovered The Shoe Zoo. The Shoe Zoo is by far my FAVORITE shoe store ever. They only carry shoes for children – from Vans to Geox, and See Kai Run to Stride Rite. And the prices – about the same as Nordstrom.

But the best thing of all – I’ve needed to buy far fewer pairs of shoes from The Shoe Zoo. The owners are so good at fitting my children (they’ll even make shoe suggestions based on the shape of their feet), that the shoes we buy fit longer than I was used to.

I’ve even gone intending to buy new shoes, and instead of taking the opportunity to sell me new ones, they’ve said, “These still fit. Come back in April.”

As for the Sparkly Red Shoes… Natalie had been eyeing them at The Shoe Zoo for about 2 years, and remembering my long-awaited impractical white go-go boots, I finally bought them. And the look on her face made it totally worth it.

But the thing I love? The owner of the store said, “Buy them a size big, and we’ll put special inserts in them for now to make them smaller, and then take them out when her foot grows. You’ll have the shoes longer that way.”

Wow! What great customer service.

-posted by a nostalgic Miss Analiisa, who recommends you to The Shoe Zoo, located at 2920 NE Blakely Street in Seattle. It’ll be worth the trip.

We recently found out that one of our Kindermusik moms is an owner in The Nest, a very unique play and learning child care center right in Woodinville.

I asked Meredith how The Nest came about, and here is what she had to say: The Nest is intended for parents who need occasional, flexible child care.  As stay-at-home-moms ourselves, Jana and I did not need full-time child care, but occasionally needed someone to watch our kids so that we could attend an appointment, run errands, volunteer, etc.

Realizing that we were in need of this type of child care, we knew there were probably other parents who desired the same thing.  It seemed like a need that wasn’t being met.  After a year of planning and development, we came up with The Nest—a safe, clean, fun environment for children to learn, play and socialize, as well as a dependable and flexible child care solution for parents’ peace of mind.

We’re looking for some testers to try it out! If you’d like four free hours of childcare (used however you wish), contact Kim at kim@studio3music.com to learn how to become a tester.  You must be willing to write a brief review of your experience afterwards for posting on our blog and Facebook. Check out The Nest’s website here.

January 26 update: The idea of being a “Nest” tester has proved so popular, that we have already filled the tester spots. However, we are always looking for testers for other products, so please email Kim if you’d like to participate in the future!

Want a free hour at The Nest? Just mention “studio3music” when dropping your child off, and they’ll credit your account with a complimentary 60 minutes.

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who thinks this is the best idea she’s heard in a long time!

We recently asked several Studio3Music moms to use a product called Belli Acne Clearing Facial Wash for 2 weeks, and then to give us their honest opinion.

Here’s a little more about the Belli Skin Care line:
At Belli, we support expectant and new mothers through this changing time by providing soothing, balanced skin products that pamper and protect. Our collections – Belli Pregnancy, Belli Motherhood and Belli Baby – address the specific needs of each stage, with thoughtful attention to the safest formulations.

Belli Pregnancy has set a higher standard for prenatal safety, as the only skin care line in the world that is teratology screened.  We search through over 16 million medical research articles in over 5000 international journals, and use this information to exclude ingredients with even remote links to birth defects or other problems with pregnancy. 

Belli Motherhood is LactMed screened to avoid ingredients linked to harmful effects during breastfeeding. Belli Baby is screened for xenoestrogens—chemicals which can act like hormones that interfere with normal development of the reproductive system.  So no matter which Belli products you use, you can have peace of mind erring on the side of caution.

At Belli, our love of pregnancy and motherhood guides everything we do. Our goal is to support and encourage new mothers, inspiring self-confidence and greater safety in both pregnancy and parenting.

Here’s what our moms had to say:
In the past, I’ve visited dermatologists for help with a mild acne problem. I would always stop using the acne soaps and lotions within a week or two because of the scary warnings and mystery ingredients. “Never use this product if pregnant” or “Stay out of direct sunlight” they would say. That made me so nervous that I couldn’t keep using the products (on my face of all places!).

I have been using Belli’s Acne Cleansing Facial Wash for the past few weeks and it is so wonderful. It smells lemony and feels refreshing on my face. The best part about it, though, is that I feel totally safe using it while breastfeeding, or even while pregnant. It uses lactic acid, which kills germs safely, along with soothing cucumber. I wish I had known about this product line sooner. I will definitely be using their Elasticity Belly Oil during my next pregnancy, too!
- Erika Ellis

So for the past 2 weeks I have been using Belli’s Acne Cleasing Facial Wash.  I was pleasantly surprised with the results!  I have 2 boys ages 2 & 4 and I am NOT pregnant, but giving birth and being a mom does take it’s toll on your body.  I have been having the worst problems with my skin and I just didn’t want to spend a lot of money of cleansers with chemicals!  The Belli facial wash was just what my skin needed.  

After the first 5 days I really noticed a difference in the skin texture of my face.  It was smoother and softer.  The blemishes were less “angry” looking and clearing up.  I also stopped getting new blemishes.  By the end of 2 weeks I still have a pimple here and there but am not seeing the excessive breakouts that I have been getting for the past 18 months.  I will definitely continue using the Belli acne facial wash and I’mloving it withOUT being pregnant!
- Heidi Forrester

For all the reviews, visit our Facebook page. Belli is offering a 20% off discount to Studio3Music families through December 10. Enter promo code: music when on their website or at their retail store in Gilman Village. Only applicable online or at main store.

I’m about to begin shopping for “stuff” to put in my children’s Christmas stockings. Why is it that “little stuff” is so expensive? But in order to fill each stocking to the acceptable level of fullness and equality (according to them), I don’t want to have to spend a lot of money, or purchase junk. (Meaning, it lasts about 2 days before it breaks.)

I discovered the dollar store when Nathan was a toddler. Now, there are lots of cheap plastic things at the dollar store that will last just a couple of days before they fall apart, and there may be a time and place for that. But, there are hidden treasures, too!

Anita gives this good tidbit – Not all Dollar Stores are the same.  Some are better than others so it’s worth trying several to see which ones you like. I have an awesome pair of fleece gloves that I have been wearing three winters!  Now that was a dollar well spent.

What tops our list of best buys?

army men

-posted by Miss Analiisa, with thanks to Miss Anita and Miss Jesikah, all of whom wish you happy treasure hunting, stocking filling and money saving!