We Can't Get Enough of Little Giraffe!

In case you have been hiding somewhere, we are VERY excited to share one of our favorite brands with you, Little Giraffe. Notoriously known for being a favorite of Suri Cruise {daughter of Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise}, Jessica Alba's little babes, and new baby to Beyonce and Jay Z, Blue Ivy, Little Giraffe is one fabulously luxurious company specializing in many items for baby. Our personal fav? The Little Giraffe Luxe Baby Blanket! This is by far the softest blanket to ever touch our hands! 

We had the pleasure of chatting with Trish Moreno, the President and CEO of Little Giraffe. Trish shared with us her insights on building a business and managing her personal life including her own little babe. 

the momAHOLIC diaries: Tell us about yourself and Little Giraffe.

Trish: Little Giraffe was founded in 2000 to fill the void in the market for luxury baby blankets. The brand garnered immediate success with faux fur and chenille baby products, and over time, grew to be known for it's uniquely soft products. When the company was purchased in 2009, I was brought on board as CEO and Creative Director. Little Giraffe has maintained it's reputation for creating the softest, most luxurious baby products available. I bring 20 years of experience in branding and merchandising from the fashion industry, and I am supported by an amazing team. We have succeeded at transforming the brand, adding new categories and extending the product offerings. Our reach has grown from the best baby shower gift to establishing relevance with new moms, and a powerful celebrity following that includes A-listers like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, and Victoria and David Beckham. We developed home products like throws and pillows to satisfy the request of parents who wanted larger size luxury products with our well-loved label. We are committed to providing products that are true to the brand, and opening new categories to further serve our discerning customers. We are carried by Nordstrom Baby and Home departments, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's, Fred Segal, and 1700 select baby and home boutiques worldwide. 

the momAHOLIC diaries: How have you developed the brand since you came on board?

Trish: We have launched our own website, where we are able to tell our brand story directly to the customer. We raised the aesthetics of the brand immediately. Little Giraffe is more than just blankets, it has become a luxe attitude and way of life. Once babies attach to our super soft blankets, they are calmed and soothed. We tend to get a lot of customer loyalty from that, and want to make sure we are always true to them. We really listen to our customer feedback and let it inform our product development. We spend a lot of time perfecting the softness of the fabrics... it's our "Secret Sauce".

the momAHOLIC diaries: Do you have a favorite item or best seller?

Trish: We have been reinventing muslin in exciting prints and fabrics. My favorite is the Muslin Circle, which is the most luxurious muslin blanket on the market today. It is a fabric that we developed and it is super soft and chic at the same time. It can be used as a swaddler, a nursing veil, and a sunshade for the stroller.

I call Little G my "second baby". My real baby, Ruby, is 14 now! Little G is our iconic plush toy, and was born of a year and a half of research, development, and design. Now it has been named the number 1 plush toy by Perez Hilton on Perezitos.com and is loved by babies worldwide!

Lastly, I don't think I can rest until our Classic Chenille Blanket is in every nursery in the world. It is our most popular and best-known item, and is super soft and comforting. It is one of the most coveted baby gifts in the market. All babies should get to have some Little Giraffe LOVE in the form of our Chenille Blanket. 

the momAHOLIC diaries: What can we look forward to in the future from Little Giraffe? Anything new coming up or plans to further expand the line?

Trish: We are developing so many new categories that follow the original inspiration of the line, to make the softest products in the universe! There are socks in many colors - in solids, dots, and stripes. We have the coziest baby leg warmers that will melt your heart! Our plush toy category is expanding into rattles and blankies. We have the most wonderful skin softening bathtime products, made from organic Calendula oil, and other natural soothing ingredients for baby. The wash and lotion set have the added benefit of protecting mom's pregnant belly from stretch marks and increasing elasticity. We have throws and throw pillows in our coveted luxe faux fur, so parents can enjoy the softness too. We are in development now on a whole new line of ultra-soft blankets, but stop me now or I will give away all our secrets! You will have to wait for those!

the momAHOLIC diaries: What advice do you have to offer other working moms when it comes to time management and the basics for where to begin?

Trish: I have worked before and after my own sweet child was born. Somehow I have managed to give energy to both. I approach everything I do with LOVE. I try to be a kind and encouraging force in both my work and my home life. I guess you would have to ask them all if I succeed at that! I try to focus my attention on the moment. Of course technology can be either a blessing or a curse. I can be home cooking dinner and answering questions from suppliers on my iPhone. That can be a huge advantage. On the other hand, if it is time to focus on your kids and you can't unplug, that is a disadvantage. Balance is everything. I don't claim to have the answers, believe me. I think you just have to take every day as it comes, do the best you can, make some eye contact with your loved ones, and appreciate your team. That's worth a lot!

VERY wise words from Trish Moreno of Little Giraffe! We are absolutely in love with the line and know that it is being run by the best of the best. Trish's advice can help many other working mom's/mompreneurs be inspired to better manage their time so as to produce success both in business and home life. 

Little Giraffe was introduced to us by Jeneration PR! Visit the Little Giraffe website to shop their amazing products for your little babe! Don't forget to "LIKE" Little Giraffe on Facebook and follow on Twitter to be the first to hear about the latest product launches and company info!

If you're not already a fan of our Facebook Page and following us on Twitter {@momAHOLICd} make sure you do! We have all of the latest and greatest product info from our favorite brands and tons of giveaways so you can enjoy the luxuries too!

Behind the Scenes at Puj

From the desk of | Debbie Watts

If you remember, we once shared with you our love for the Puj tub {see here}. Since reviewing their product, we got a chance to look further into the company and found out there is an outstanding mom-preneur behind this amazing brand! We LOVE mom-preneurs and feel that they are nothing short of fantastic therefore they deserve for their fabulousness to be shared with the world over and over again! This is why we jumped at the opportunity to interview Katie, the founder of Puj and designer of the Puj tub. Katie is one seriously multi-tasking mama who took a passing idea, like many of us have on a daily basis, and turned it into a reality, building a company and following her dream! Here is what we found out about Katie...

Katie & her husband Ben

{Tell us about yourself and your company, Puj.} 

I am a mother of three boys and also a product designer. There is a lot of chaos that comes with being a parent, and I saw many opportunities to simplify parenthood. Children grow up so fast and I want to be able to enjoy this precious time I have with my children. That is what Puj is all about. Our focus is your child (your "pudge") Our products are free of complications and distractions and focus on doing their job really well. The Puj Tub is a perfect example of this. It is so easy to bathe your baby that now you and your baby can enjoy bath time together.

Katie & her family

{When did the idea come to for the Puj tub and what inspired the name?}

The idea for the Puj Tub came after the birth of my second child. I said to myself, "I don't want to use this hard plastic tub again, it doesn't even work well" So I put together a list of the ideal baby bath.

• easy to use
• safe
• cradles baby
• better on my back & knees
• one handed set-up
• minimal storage
• dries quickly
• not bulky

The brown paper bag was my inspiration. It can hold volume and then stores flat. I started with paper prototypes and then after much research landed on a medical grade closed cell foam. The design is brilliantly simple and solves all of the bath time complications.

{What can we expect in the future from Puj? Any new product ideas?}

As a mother and product designer I have a long list of product ideas. We are currently expanding our bath line. But Puj is more than bath products. If it simplifies your life as a parent then I will make it.  The Puj Unos for example are a symmetrical shoe that is never on the wrong foot. The design is timeless and they look absolutely adorable on your babies feet. 

{Being a mom, how do you balance your home life and running a company?} 

I am committed to making time for myself. "Water cannot be drawn from an empty well" (M. Russel Ballard). And so I wake up every morning at 5:30am and swim, run, or bike. This gives me the energy and enthusiasm to be both a mom and entrepreneur. And when it comes to work and family, I choose to put my family first. If we are happy at home then it makes my company stronger and more successful. 

{What is your favorite part of owning your own business?}

The opportunity to learn and grow as a wife, mother and woman is the best part of owning my own business. I am living my dream and my family is a BIG part of it. This fall we took our boys (3,5 & 7) on a business trip to Taipei Taiwan for 30 days. It was an amazing experience for all of us and I learned that I was capable of doing more than I ever thought possible. 

{What tips do you have for other mom-preneurs out there who don't know where to begin or how to manage it all?}

I would tell other mom-preneurs to put your fears aside and take that first step. Every day I step into the dark, but as I move forward the path becomes more clear. You have to act and put your thoughts into motion. Otherwise they will forever remain your thoughts and never your reality. 

Katie is so truly inspiring! We absolutely love her and her amazing creation in the Puj tub and of course the Puj unos and cannot wait to see what her genius mind will bring us next! If you haven't already, be sure to head over to the Puj website and purchase their amazing products for you or as a gift for a new mommy-to-be. Be sure to "LIKE" Puj on Facebook and follow on Twitter to be the first to know about all of the latest company information and new product launches!