It was action packed ENK weekend in NYC. Highlights included a little spring shopping (dresses all around ) and quality hang with Soho Parenting’s Lisa Spiegel. A trek over to City Bakery and then to Javitz (seriously, why is that location necessary?) with Lil Dipper’s Adam Agensky. I was certainly feeling the love – seeing lots of my nearest and dearest industry pals including Uli and Michael Belinky and Mary Admasian from Zutano, Chis Pegula from Diaper Dude, Oopa Amy and co, Jennie and Sal from Bumble Bags, Allison Abreu from Nest (what a beautiful baby she had — Julian was the happiest face in the whole place and Allison looked stunning in a red, silk Oopa Sling on Sunday), Skye Hoppus along with her super-gal Heather from Childish, Steve from Fluerville, Ellen from Skip Hop, Lynn from Appaman, Caroline from Burwell and many more.

Monday included a quickie with Jackie (she and I have a good thing going) at Blow before another full day on the floor at Javitz. Part was with our new Andrea and then the balance of the day with CBB’s Danielle Friedland. After our tired feet could not take another moment (my right one actally has a nasty beyond blister) – we made our way back to Blow for her moment of mama chic for Danielle and to Tracy Reese (where I do so adore Spring 2) for me, Jeffrey for a little peek and then, of course some coffee. When we were good and spent – we joined Steve and Skye for a fun-filled dinner with old friends and new at The Spice Market where we cozied into some major cush seats, enjoyed the wine and company and super delish dinner.

All’s well…and I will sleep well tonight!

As the fashion side of the industry makes their way into NYC for ENK, I am (freezing) totally feeling the love. The March show marks the arrival of not only a new season but also the freshman class of exhibitors. These are the first-timer lines that have been doing it outside of the tradeshows (Oopa Baby, for example will exhibit for the first time – yet she has already made a huge mark) or lines that are just seeing the light of day. Some come fully locked and loaded, others with concepts and notions and some samples – though not much more.

Walking ENK in March is in many ways a reunion (so many wonderful business associates in one place, so many good ideas in motion) and like spring – it is a renewal. It reminds me of why Forty Weeks is here and the powerful space we fill. We are not a “PR firm” (that is where so many try and place us) We have spent over eight years in on the front end (front lines???) of the maternity and juvenile world – with a clear mission to support and advance the industry through raising the bar of the people who occupy it. This is meant to elevate us all. And so far, so good.

Above and beyond the myriad of established clients we serve (I have been working on some exciting stuff for In Style this AM, for example) we have always been committed to spotting and nurturing the next generation of products and services and frankly helping these eager entrepreneurs make their way to their dreams. It is more than spotting a trend - it is spotting a viable business model. Not all will make it. And over the years, we have been able to (this part is hard, actually) spot the ones who likely won’t make it in seconds flat. We take fewer and fewer start-ups these days – this based on life’s lessons learned. But then, every so often we fall madly, deeply, truly in love with a line, with a founder’s vision, with the angle and then – well then it when it happens!

Yes, I did say this would continue to be the season of the multiple…twins galore – good times. And this latest rumor about Tom Brady having been the big old baby daddy to both Bridget Moynahan and Gisele Bundchen – not so much. Maybe the two-time Super Bowl MVP is just used to doing things twice? Maybe he is living out the mathematical equation on his Pats jersey - 12 (1 X 2 = 2)? Stay tuned on this one….only a rumor and still something to consider….

Page six reports that Maggie Gyllenhall spent yesterday afternoon in the Meatpacking district shopping for gifts for boyfriend Peter Sarsgaard. I took a little time in the MPD myself yesterday afternoon – for a late lunch at Pastis with a much loved old friend (we have been hanging since I was 15!) and a quickie at Blow where Jackie totally gets it right. And per usual, I digress. Maggie ended up buying a bag for Peter to use as a diaper bag with daughter Ramona. I can not resist the urge to mention that what Peter really should be gifted is a Diaper Dude…for several good reasons – cool bag – for sure – but really, could line founder Chris Pagula look anymore like Jake Gyllenhall? So much so in fact, Chris will share stories of getting in to various hard to hit haunts based on the assumption that he is indeed Jake. We did test this theory back in January at BLT Burger, but there was no line and yeah we got a table (along with Lit Agent Alex) no problemo. Did I just digress again?!?! OK, OK – Maggie – get Peter a Diaper Dude. And to Chris and Skye and the girls from Tea and all the other West Coast industry people making the trek in for ENK – welcome!

Our friend Danielle is up to something…check it out!

The Celebrity Baby Blog is offering a shopping event tonight, in partnership with price comparison site, Jellyfish.com, in order to offer our readers a chance to save up to 100% off on baby/kids/family stuff that they’re going to purchase anyway (though the average is 44%). We’ll be offering a special evening of shopping of products at a deep discount tonight only at 10 pm EST. (It’s like Woot on steroids.)

Items that may be offered will include: Britax Marathon, Orbit Stroller, Bugaboo Frog, See Kai Run Shoes, Pediped Shoes, Mustela Skin Care products bundle, Fleurville Mothership, Peg Perego Prima Pappa Diner high chair, Signing Times DVD Set, iPod Nano, Video iPod, Strollometer, Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper, Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Home, Fisher-Price Little People Zoo, cases of Huggies and Pampers diapers, Aquadoodle Mat, Leapster items, baby slings and pouches.

Until 6 pm EST, you can vote on the products you want to buy. The most popular products will be offered. Click here to check it out…

First, let us first establish that I believe Ben and Jerry are capable of almost anything. They are super-dudes – strong and alluring. They are my loyal and ever-sweet partners in crime. I believe in the power of da boys…well, it turns out – I was right!

A study out shows that an increase in high-fat dairy foods (Ben and Jerry can do that!!!) will help a woman to conceive. According to an article published this week:

Eating fatty dairy foods such as ice cream and heavy cream may help a woman become pregnant, say researchers in a report published in Human Reproduction. Likewise, consuming low-fat dairy foods may hinder reproduction.
Specifically, the more ice cream a woman ate, the lower her risk of infertility. This may be due to increased insulin sensitivity, which promotes ovulation.

Next we can look for people to name their babies after the flavor of the month (ha!) – ya know – Chunky Monkey (that would have been Lila) or Half Baked (Sam)!

Less you thought that the East Coast, or New York in specific had the lock on “intimate relationships” with the gurus of the parenting world – behold the Styles section from today. Soho Parenting protégée Jill Spivak, who has her debut as an author scheduled for later this month, (see my post from Thursday) scores her second hit of the week in the Grey Lady in this very New York (though set in LA) story of powerful Mamas and the people who support them. One big noted shift is the “more hands on aspect” – i.e. working in partnership (under the strict direction) with the consultants and looking to please to consultants rather than simply outsourcing. And, of course, the fact that Puffy is totally down with one of his (Mommy) peeps decision to parent for the weekend rather than work….

Ms. Waldburger of Sleepy Planet said that even busy parents with high-pressure jobs are getting extra points for being intimately involved with their child’s potty and sleep training. “I had a client who was shooting a video with Puffy,” Ms. Waldburger said. “I’m on the phone with her, and I hear her say: ‘Puffy, I can’t shoot your video this weekend. I’m sleep-training the twins.’ He completely respected her decision.”
That people like Sean Combs think, “Wow, that’s really impressive,” wasn’t the case five years ago, she said, and this has given the consultants a status bump as well.

I am going to guess that this combined with Thursday’s piece is going to create some mightily fueled fire – let’s see…

AND

PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE FOR WHAT I PREDICT WILL BE A RETURN TO MATERNAL INTUTITION IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

An update on the NYT piece from yesterday featuring Soho Parening – it is the top e-mailed story on NYT.com with over 400 reader comments…Opnions they say…everybody’s got one…if you have some time and some patience - take a look. Talk about polarizing!

Our dear friends and clients at Soho Parenting were the centerpiece of an article in the NYT Home Section today on, of course, sleep! Lisa Spiegel and Jean Kunhardt are truly the pioneers in the area of working directly with parents and have helped a long and growing list of grateful families over the past two decades. They have made a difference in countless lives and deserve to be recognized as such – kudos! We are thrilled for this piece.

One of Lisa and Jean’s first protégées, Jill Spivak of Sleepy Planet is also in the article and discusses the sleep consulting business from the left coast. Jill was trained and mentored at SHP under the careful guidance of Lisa and Jean (lucky Jill!). I am so happy to see how well she has encompassed the SHP philosophy and brought it to the sleep deprived parents in LA (with great success). This really speaks volumes to the power of Lisa and Jean how they have cared for families both in their backyard and across the country over the years.

Danielle and co. over at Celebrity Baby Blog report that Jenna Elfman and husband Bohdi are the latest to join Club Multiple! Talk about a dominating trend for the year!

I hear from our LA team that she looks as long and lean as ever; carrying beautifully (she is quite tall). Jenna is all ready getting into the sprit of things. She recently picked up the new “it bag” - a Bumble Bag in Pink Latte.