Organizing before the holidays!

If you are OCD like I am, then the holidays tend to come with a little more then 'cheer'... PANIC is more like it! The playroom and kid's rooms are already packed with toys, books and clothes shoved into every nook and cranny. Puzzle pieces, game pieces and more are all over the place, and not where they should be. Your two year old still has drawers crammed with baby clothes, so how can you possibly make room for what Santa is about to bring... and grandma in our case!

Doing a full on organization can be frustrating and extremely time consuming for some, that is why I offer this as a service! Trust me it is worth every penny :-) Here are some key tips to get you started, especially if you are going at this alone.

PURGE!!! Go into the war zone with 3 bins- Keep, Donate, Toss! This is not for the weak; you must be willing to let go of some of this stuff. If it is broken, missing pieces, or stained beyond fixing, then TOSS it! If it is in semi- good condition, but you will never use it then DONATE. There are several charities (I can help you find local ones) that are in desperate need of toys and clothes! Make sure your KEEP pile is not overflowing, and your other two piles have little to nothing. Be honest with yourself, in a couple weeks you won't even remember it.

Once you have established a KEEP pile, decide what you are keeping for daily use, what needs to be packed away for the future (like baby clothes and baby toys), and what you can rotate out every month or so. Kids are really "out of sight, out of mind" creatures. I like to rotate my little ones toys, every month or so it is like new toys for her! I like to use the vacuum seal packs for clothes and store them in closets or the garage. Cute bins like the ones below are fantastic to put toys and games in! You can line them on shelves, or under a bench in a playroom. Easy to pull out for play and clean up!

My mother use to always say "cluttered spaces mean a cluttered mind" and I could not agree more. Nothing feels more satisfying then an organized space. If you are on a budget you can find plastic bins and baskets at any Dollar store. These are great for medicines, crafts, crayons, coloring books and more! Make your spaces great!!

Call or email me for custom organization of any kids room, nursery or playroom!

J'aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette

Stephanie Antoinette
Founder & M.O.M. (Master of Multitasking) 

Phone- 480-717-2795

Website- www.JLVbebeconcierge.com 
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/byVictoriaAntoinette

Blog- http://victoriaantoinettebebeconcierge.blogspot.com 

Party Flow & Etiquette~

There are two things you must keep in mind for any party at any budget, and that is Party Flow & Etiquette. We have become a society where everything is quick, fast, cheap and in a party, all of those tend to show. Hosting an event is not as easy as it looks, and there are some basic rules that must be followed! Remember, when you invite someone to your event they are taking time out of their day/evening to be there for you. Often they have purchased a gift, or even hired a sitter to come. Be mindful of that, and remember it is not all about you.

Party Flow~

Every party needs a timeline, especially children's birthdays and baby showers. For children birthdays make sure the party is an appropriate length of time... typically 2-3 hours for younger kids. Attention spans do not last, and the excitement can be overwhelming. Have an agenda to keep the kids engaged and the party moving along. There is nothing worse then parents trying to keep their child entertained at your party. Schedule games, crafts, activities, etc... Kids do well with routine and a good flow... and so do adults!

Party Etiquette~

I have been to quite a few events so feel free to call me 'old fashioned' but I am a stickler for proper party etiquette. If at all possible, do not book the parties for smaller children around lunchtime. At the 3 and under stage a child typically needs to nap after lunch, and missing that could turn into a disaster.  Whether you have hired an event planner or have a family or friend hosting, if this is a party for you, your child or at your home, you need to work the room! Make sure you take the time to say hello to each of your guests (assuming a party of 50 or under). Thank them for coming and introduce guests to one another. This creates good conversation and helps people relax at your event. Always send a thank you card to each and every guest after the event, thanking him or her for coming and if they brought a gift. A hand written thank you goes a long way do not skip this rule!

Make your event memorable, you can plan a great event on even the smallest of budgets if you remember these simple rules!

For party planning services & prices please call me!

Stephanie Antoinette
480-717-2795
www.JLVbebeconcierge.com

The working mom...

One of the driving forces behind this business was that I was a working mom who barely had a spare moment to sleep, let alone accomplish anything else. I worked a lot of hours, and I was on call, nights & weekends. My free time was very valuable to me, and rarely did I want to spend it on interviewing nannies, planning birthday parties, organizing my own shower, finding a housekeeper, etc... I needed things done quickly, the right way and under budget. I also wanted to make sure I was getting with the right people, luckily for you; I have already done the trial and error. Had there been a service like mine while I was working, I would have signed up immediately!

For instance, 4 weeks before Ella was due I was planning a pool birthday party at our house for my oldest Kiana. I didn't want Kiana to feel her birthday was getting overlooked because we were about to have a baby. However, I was in NO CONDITION to put this together on my own... so I went in search of some help. I needed someone to clean our home, not only for the party but a deep clean before Ella came. So I searched online, and in the papers then finally decided on someone. It was a few days before the party and she was supposed to show up at 7am. After several calls, messages and freak-outs (on my end) she showed up at 2pm! Since I had somewhere to be a 4pm she only stayed for a couple of hours and then came back the next day to finish. Not only was she incredibly late, she did a horrid job and charged me about 30% more then what she advertised! She even left water stains on the tile!

Then came the research for a photographer... I didn't start looking until late in the pregnancy. Prices varied from 250 to 2500- in the end I knew none of them or their work so I did it myself. In the past couple of years I have made it a mission to find the best of the best, and I have! The pictures I took of Ella were ok, but sadly I wasn't in any of them. I should have learned the lesson of finding a good photographer from my wedding disaster- it just took me awhile to find the perfect ones.

As working moms we feel so much guilt... do we spend enough time with our family? Did I give my child the best birthday I could, what products am I supposed to buy, who can I trust my children to be left with while I work? These are real concerns that almost any mother faces, but especially those who spend the majority of their days away from their kids.

My concierge can provide mothers the resources, services and extra hand they need. What is best about this is you can be rest assured you will not have a disaster like I did. My vendors provide their services at a discounted price to my clients that you would not find if you sought them out directly. Not to mention all the time and effort it would take to compile a go-to list. J'aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette is your one-stop shop for all mommy and baby needs! I work with the valley's top florists, photographers, bakers, venues, and more to provide you whatever you need.

www.JLVbebeconcierge.com

Stop stressing yourself out, take your free time back and hire me for all your needs! My services pay for it-self a hundred times over!

xx,
Stephanie Antoinette 

Be a true friend!

Having two children, 10 nieces and nephews and a surplus of friends with babies I have come to know a few things. One of the most important is to know how to really help out a new mother. Believe it or not, but a lot of friends and family think helping means "take care of the baby"... this is NOT HELPING A NEW MOTHER!! Mothers and fathers want this time to bond with their baby, what they need help is the other stuff. So if you are going to lend a hand, here are some basics to follow.

1. Bring food, preferably something that doesn't require much but opening and heating.

2. Wash your hands upon arrival, and only hold the baby when you are given permission.

3. Do not bring pets or sick children along with you.

4. Offer to help with laundry, cleaning, cooking... or just do it without asking.

5. Call before you come, sleep schedules are not consistent the first few months, so make sure you come during a time when baby and mom will be awake.

6. Do not stay long, typically when the mom says she going to put baby down that is your cue to leave. She is tired and needs to rest when the baby does.

7. This is not the time for you to tell mom that she is doing things incorrectly. If she chooses to bottle-feed then let her. Mothers have enough guilt to deal with on a daily basis, this is not the time to put your two cents in... unless asked!

8. If asked, be honest! Do not sugar coat things for her but let her know it gets easiest and every mom will find a system that works.

8. Make her a play list of good music to listen to while nursing!

9. Let her know that one day she will sleep again!

10. Tell she looks beautiful and that she is doing an awesome job!

11. Make sure to take a photo with her actually in it, candid moments are the best!! So many end up being of just the baby.

12. Offer to keep an eye on the baby if she would like to take a shower, be careful here and do not suggest she NEEDS a shower!

13. If you do bring a meal, make sure you serve it and clean it up. 

14. Offer to walk and feed pets, and if you are really nice clean a litter box!

15. If she is nursing, her eating habits are almost more important now then when she was pregnant. Offer to stop at the store and pick things up. Nutrition bars, water, fresh fruit, yogurt and nuts are all good things to have on hand for her.

If you really want to show how much you care, purchase one of my services! Working moms especially, really want to focus their leave on baby. Not cleaning, cooking, shopping, party planning, childcare placement, nanny interviews, and who to use for a newborn shoot! I have done all the work and research; my packages offer vendor discounts that you will not see elsewhere. I can accommodate any mother’s unique needs so that she can enjoy this time with her baby. So if your best friend from college is having a baby and you cannot drop everything to help her- hiring me will be a godsend! Or if you daughter or daughter-in-law is in need of help... she will love you for this!

Stephanie Antoinette 

480-717-2795

byVictoriaAntoinette@gmail.com 

Registry Assistance

One of the services I offer is a "Customized Baby Registry"... trust me, you do not want to waste your money on things you really don't need or won't use!

Here are a few of my favorites~

The Breast Friend nursing pillow as seen below. If you plan on nursing I highly suggest registering for this pillow vs. The Boppy (also seen below).  The Breast Friend gives you and baby a proper angle for breast feeding! The Boppy, or ones like it, are more of a multipurpose pillow. I had registered for The Boppy and the day Ella was born the nurse told my husband to go get the The Breast Friend immediately! It has a flatter surface so that the babies head is elevated to the breast better for feeding. It also claps aroung your waste for a nice snug fit, and if you have to get up and move, you can without unlatching your baby from feeding. Now since I ended up with both anyway, I found uses for the The Boppy. It was good for when Kiana would hold Ella, or to prop Ella up before she knew how to roll over. Get both if you would like, but if you are breast feeding make sure you get The Breast Friend! 

My Brest Friend Pillow

The Boppy Pillow

Blankets... OH MY- the endless selection of receiving blankets & swaddlers! They come in all shapes; sizes, materials and prints which make it a bit overwhelming to know which one is best (and at which age). As Ella got bigger other blankets worked better, but for this blog we are talking about 0-3 month stage. I ended up with an entire drawer full of blankets, and in the end these were the only ones I used for the first 4 months. 

The Miracle Blanket® 

This blanket was fantastic for swaddling!! It takes a little getting used to it since it has the pre-made flaps, but it tucks nicely and gives baby a secure feeling. I would suggest registering for two so you can keep one in the wash! This blanket is really only good for the swaddle, so after the first four months you will not need to use it as much. However, it keeps baby's hands and feet tucked in perfectly!

aden™ by aden + anais® 

I really like this blanket, like the one above, this blanket give baby a great swaddle! It comes in several different prints, and is a little more versatile then the Miracle Blanket. You can use this to cover car seats while out and about, and since it is so big, babies can lay on the floor with it for tummy time! It is very breathable, so if your baby is born during the hotter seasons this is a great options for outside. Again, register for a couple of these!

Both are a bit more spendy then your typical receiving blanket, but it is much better to have 4 blankets that you use, then a drawer full of ones you don't! 

A couple other tips as you register, or for friends and family who want to buy gifts! 

Your baby will not necessarily be in a 0-3 month size for the first 0-3 months! So make sure you don't buy a boatload of clothes your baby could end up growing out of faster then you think. During these first few months your baby really only needs onesies, cotton pants & jackets, and some socks. You end up swaddling them a lot so all those expensive cute clothes I would wait on! Tell grandma to start buying 3-6 months sizes or even 6 months up! 

Burp clothes, I had a stack of the cloth diapers on hand for spit ups, messes etc... But the one I used most was the aden burpy bib.  

A white noise machine!!!!! I cannot stress this enough and I didn't even break down and get one till Ella was one. It is a lifesaver; forget the CD's, the app's on your phone, and the light up musical mobiles! A simple noise machine that can stay where baby sleeps, and you can take it with you when you travel, is all you need!  I got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond as seen here.

Marpac The Original Sound Conditioner™

Registering for baby can be a daunting task for new moms. You get caught up in all the cute stuff, and you get tons of advice (wanted or not) from everyone who knows you are expecting! The thing is, registry does have some basic guidelines, but needs & wants are different for every mom. All of my packages include this service, I also offer this as an A la carté option.

For more information, or to purchase a service please email me at-

ByVictoriaAntoinette@gmail.com or call me at 480-717-2795

www.JLVbebeconcierge.com

Stephanie Antoinette 

What is with the name?

I just wanted to write a quick note about how I came up with the name,  "J'aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette"~


For some, this name was a bit confusing, and then others think I am Victoria. A lot of thought went into this name; so let me share with you how it all came about.

In Jan 2009 I took a position as a corporate event planner. Prior to this I have worked in advertising and the mortgage industries. However, with this last position I wore many hats.  On top of handling every single aspect of the event planning, I headed the marketing, scheduling, and compliance needs for the company as well. Needless to say I worked hard, often, and in the end the job was not personally rewarding.

For some time I had wanted to start my own venture, but what that venture was going to be was something I struggled with. There are so many challenges when starting a business, a lot of it boils down to plain old fear. Nonetheless, it literally hit me this past summer when I was getting scolded for the millionth time from my boss, because I had to take a morning off to take my little one to the doctor I needed a career where not only did I set the pace, but that I could do with my physical ailments and with my two kids. I also needed to start a company that would help other moms like me that are busy with work, family, and life in general! A mommy and baby concierge that not only would help new mothers, but us veteran moms as well.

I have already gone in detail about what my business is in other blogs (read them if you haven't) but this is about the name.

My mother was "Victoria" and is my daughter Ella's middle name. She passed away from cancer in November 2007. Not only was she my mother, but a best friend and my biggest fan. My mother was supportive with any crazy idea or venture I wanted to tackle (even when she knew they wouldn't work). My mother used to say that she raised all of her kids to be someone she would adore as a friend, not just her child and I loved her dearly for that.

"Antoinette" was my maternal grandmother, and Antoinette is my middle name. My grandmother was a tiny little thing and so strikingly beautiful all the way into her 80's! Maybe it was the era she grew up in, or the Estee Lauder creams she swore by (that I use), but I swear she barely had a wrinkle or blemish on her face EVER! Antoinette spoke with eloquence, and walked with grace- however like me, she spoke her mind when she saw fit. My grandmother passed away in Jan 1997 after living with us for 3 years. She had breast cancer and a full mastectomy in her 50's (if I remember correctly), she suffered heart issues and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in her 70's. This woman raised my mother on her own with the help of family after my grandfather left her during World War II, she was 8 months pregnant with my mom at the time.

I could not think of a better way to pay tribute to these two powerful mothers, then to name my mommy & baby concierge after them. Since their names are French I decided to continue on with the French theme... "J'aime la vie" means I love life, and what could be more true when it comes to children!

So alas!!! The name was born, "Jaime la vie by Victoria Antoinette"- a mommy & bébé concierge

Stephanie Antoinette~

More 'Must-Haves' for the pregnant mama!!

So I touched on a few of my favorite 'Must-Haves', but here are just a few more.

A good pair of leggings can go a long way, you can pair this with a nice blouse to dress it up- or a comfy knit top for a more casual look. I had the same kind in a few different colors and wore them all the time!!

Here is what I had, I went with the crop leggings but you can go for full length as well!

Secret Fit Belly® Jersey Knit Maternity Crop Leggings

Pregnancy body pillow, if you are pregnant and do not have one of these you are missing out! During the last trimester it becomes incredibly difficult to get comfortable. It is recommended that you sleep on your left side, and having a body pillow can really help with getting a good night sleep (again if only you didn't have to get up to use the bathroom 20 times). When I was pregnant with Ella, I had extreme back pain. I am not referring to the normal pregnancy back pain due to weight gain, I actually had a bulging disc that herniated and was pushing against nerves. It wasn't until after I had her that I realized how bad my situation was and when she was 9 months old I had to have surgery. So for me, if I could sleep for 30- 45 minutes at a time without having to shift, it was a miracle! This pillow was my saving grace and worth every penny!!

The Snoozer Full Body Pillow- $60 at Motherhood Maternity 

Since it is not recommended you take any sort aspirin or pain relievers during pregnancy, I sought out some other products to help with the immense back and leg pain I had. I tried several different kinds, some that really smelled, others that left my skin burning. In the end I did find one that worked really well, I highly recommend it. Biofreeze- Get a tube, it is inexpensive and sold at most all pharmacies, Target and Wal-Mart if you are feeling brave! 

I had talked about "Belly Bars" in my last blog, but I wanted to go into a bit more detail on that. This all-natural bar is full of folic acid, omega 3's and iron. It is sold at Whole Foods and I have seen them at Motherhood Maternity (boy do I plug them a lot ha). Anyhow, the nausea in the first trimester really does a number on me! I can barely keep the prenatal vitamins down, so I would take them at night. With Ella, the only thing I could stomach was fresh fruit, nuts and bread... until the end when I had an obsession with chilidogs and guacamole. The Belly Bars were a great way to get some goodness in me, and they tasted really good! 

I encourage any feedback, and let me know what some of your favorites are!!

Stephanie Antoinette