- A $500 shop credit to DockaTot 
- A $500 shop credit to Bumbleride
- A Mari Backpack ($295 value) + $200 shop credit from Parker Clay
- A $500 shop credit to shop Rachel Pally
- A $350 shop credit to Max Wanger Print Shop
- A $250 shop credit to Yoga Sleep
- A $250 shop credit to Mercimilo 
- A $250 shop credit to Baeo Baby

You can enter here!

And then take a peek at her son’s darling nursery, as photographed by Max Wanger…

- A $500 shop credit to DockaTot 
- A $500 shop credit to Bumbleride
- A Mari Backpack ($295 value) + $200 shop credit from Parker Clay
- A $500 shop credit to shop Rachel Pally
- A $350 shop credit to Max Wanger Print Shop
- A $250 shop credit to Yoga Sleep
- A $250 shop credit to Mercimilo 
- A $250 shop credit to Baeo Baby

You can enter to win all of this awesomeness by clicking here! Good luck, mamas!

The post A fresh nursery giveaway! appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

Hiya mamas! Today we’re talking with one of our vendor guide members, and super awesome lady all around, Alison Bernier, about family photos. They are soooooo wonderful once you have the final photos, but getting ready and going through a session with kids (who frankly don’t care about family photos in the moment!) can be stressful. Alison is sharing 10 tips to make your next session more enjoyable here, AND… more importantly, we’re giving away a 45 minute, mini session to one of you Southern CA families! Be sure to enter at the bottom of the post.

1. Choose a location that suits your family best.
If your little one hates sand then the beach might not be a good idea. In home sessions are often best for itty bitty subjects but an open field is fun for older kids who like to run and explore.

2. Try to book your session during your child’s best time of day. If that’s at sunrise then lets do it! The light is pretty then too!

3. Bring snacks and drinks,
hungry kids are grumpy kids. Same goes for Dads!

4. Wear clothing that you can play in.
Short dresses for Mama’s and little girls alike are often hard to sit in. Also avoid clothing with large logos and graphics, they are distracting and can draw attention away from the sweet faces we are trying to capture. The whole point is to capture your family having fun together, playing around and interacting, try not to let your clothes get in the way.

5. Mamas, treat yourself and get a blow out
or your makeup done. It relieves the stress of having to do it yourself and when you feel like you look good you are much more comfortable in front of the camera.

6. Loosen the rules a little,
if your kids are acting up – run with it. Laugh at their silly jokes, tickle them, throw them in the air and spin them around. Have fun with your kids and let them be kids. Sometimes this means letting them behave in a way you wouldn’t normally but usually that means they will be enjoying themselves and be smiling. Those are the moments that feel most genuine and candid.

7. Realize that not all portraits need to be of everyone looking at the camera
and smiling. As a mum myself, I love being able to look back and remember how my little one tried to kiss my cheek or would laugh uncontrollably when her daddy put her upside down and tickled her tummy. I love being able to capture the interactions between each of you. The natural way a Mother will fix her child’s hair or the way a Father can so casually throw their toddler over his shoulder. It is nice to have those classic portraits of everyone looking at the camera but the beauty for me, really lies in the little details. The little things you want to remember later on when your kids are big and grown.

8. Don’t be scared to bribe.
You’re happy to come out and have your photo taken because you’re getting rewarded with pictures that you will treasure afterward. Give your kids (and husband if need be!) a treat to look forward to at the end. If you do bring candy… choose something that wont melt in Dad’s pocket

9. Be yourselves and try not to stress too much.
I know that’s easier said than done but kids feed off our moods. Begging a kid to look at the camera and smile doesn’t usually work, it’s better to play games and be silly with them to try and coax out the natural smiles and giggles.

10. Have fun!
You’re all dressed up in a pretty location wearing your best clothes. Enjoy it!

Now, the fun part… the giveaway! The mini session include:

- A 45 minute Mini Portrait Session with Alison Bernier
- Location of session must be within 45 miles of Costa Mesa
- Session includes 8 retouched digital images for you to print however you wish
*Session is for a group of six family members or less.

If you’d like to enter, fill out the form below! We’ll choose a winner on Monday.

The post 10 tips for your family photo session from Alison Bernier + a giveaway! appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

Bestowe is offering up one gorgeous curated gift box in our giveaway at the end of this post, and until then, get inspired by their gift guides for baby, mom, and your bestie, too!

Bestowe’s Relax and Restore Box / Marisa Mason Lunar Earrings / Asmara Stripes Cotton Scarf / Morrow Emerson Alpaca Throw / Artifact Uprising Brass Easel Photo Desk Calendar / SollyBaby x Jenny Pennywood Dashes + Moons Wrap / Custom Macarons from Jenna Rae Cakes

If you’re unfamiliar with Bestowe, that sweet gift at the top right is the Relax & Restore rejuvenation box. Don’t all of those words just scream “mom”? Mhmm. It’s chock full of self-care goodies: luscious bath salts, a soft Turkish towel, fragrant palo santo incense, a ceramic dish, and rose hip oil. Pretty neat to have so many sweet products from artists and designers that you might not otherwise find (at least in a reasonable amount of time!) for loved ones to enjoy. Maybe throw in some custom macarons like the beauties above, if you can!

BZR Clay Ombre Tights / Bestowe’s Just Perfect Clutch & Lip + Cheek Stain (with different style options to choose from) / WKNDLA Coba Mobile Earrings / Sands Ojo 1 Wall Hanging from West Perro / HIMOART Tassel Wall Hanging / MQuan Bell… any one will do!  / Block print scarf (look out for it in Bestowe’s upcoming Valentine’s Day box!)

The bestie gift guide is heavy on the wall art, because isn’t *everyone* looking for the most unique way to adorn their walls right now? From decorated tassels to beads and bells, sometimes the best gifts are ones our friends would never think of buying themselves.

I Say, You Say Opposites board book / Coyuchi Pebble Stripe Organic Changing Pad / Urb Apothecary Baby Balm from Bestowe’s Welcome Baby Luxe Box / Hazel Village Max The Raccoon Doll / Bestowe’s Bundle Up Baby Blanket, Rattle, & Room Spray / The Pop Pacifier from Doddle & Co / Woodland Play Mat by Grounded

Now for a giveaway! One lucky Cakelet reader will win one of Bestowe’s curated gift boxes for themselves or to give this season. Enter using our widget below!

PS Everyone who who signs up will also get $10 off their first order on bestowegifting.com with code CAKELET!

*Head’s up! By entering this giveaway you’ll also be signed up for the Bestowe Gifting email newsletter.

The post Gift guides for baby, mom, and your bestie + giveaway by Bestowe appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

Have you seen the Nuna Pipa? It’s so super deluxe. The design is spot on, the fabric is beautiful (if car seat fabric can be such), and more importantly it’s ultra safe for even the tiniest passengers. It comes with a standard newborn insert that gives your brand new baby a super snug and secure spot in the car with the rest of the family. (It’s easily removed as baby grows.) And the dream drape canopy lets you quickly cover baby up with premium SPF 50 breathable fabric while he or she is sleeping. It’s really pretty genius all around! Plus the base is super substantial, and has a handy leveling feature that lets you know when it’s installed perfectly.

Should we go on? Don’t think we need to. To enter to win a Nuna Pipa for your own bebe, use the widget below. We’ll email the winner tmo morning!

The post Nuna Pipa giveaway! appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.

We’ve got so many of the essentials covered for you mamas. Crib mattress, carseat, baby carrier, nursing pillow, swaddles, sleep help, body care, clothes, and more. It’s just sooooo good! Below is a list of everything our winner will take home.

1. Nuna Pipa Infant Carseat
2. The Happy Sleeper, by sleep consultants Heather Turgeon MFT and Julie Wright MFT. (PS they also offer sleep consultations!)
3. $150 gift card to Flora + Henri for the most beautiful French baby clothes
4. Natursutten natural rubber pacifiers
5. Newton Rest non-toxic, breathable, washable crib mattress.
6. Miffy Milestone Baby Cards for photos of your baby’s first year.
7. $150 gift card to Paige Lauren Baby. They have the softest clothes for little babes!
8. The always genius Puj tub.
9. Ergobaby 4th Trimester Nurture Pack, including their swaddlers, wrap, and new nursing pillow.
10. Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Essentials Bundle
11. Belly Armor belly blanket
12. Tubby Todd Bath Co. natural, plant-based, extra gentle gift set (obsessed with their soap and lotion!)
13. FridaBaby Nose Frida and Windi
14. $75 gift card to Chasing Windmills for super soft merino wool clothing for this cozy time of year.

Amazing, yes? Use the app below to enter. You can unlock 12 additional entries once you complete the first step. GOOD LUCK!

The post New Mama Baby Bundle Giveaway appeared first on 100 Layer Cakelet.