Twas the Night Before Launch

Remember the feeling that you used to get the night before school started? The one where you were so excited and nervous that you couldn’t sleep, wondering if the outfit you had picked was trendy enough and if there might be a cute new boy in your class? And if people would actually like you and want to be your friend? Well, that’s kind of how we feel! We’re excited, nervous, hopeful and anxious about this little new venture of ours all at once. But we think that you might just love what we have in store for you! So whatever brought you here or however you found us, welcome. We hope that you’ll make yourself right at home and stay awhile, the way that Galatoire’s lunches have a way of turning themselves into dinner. You can take a mom out of New Orleans, but you can’t take the New Orleans out of a mom!

We look forward to sharing this adventure with you!

Monday: Locally Made

Because we are all about supporting local businesses, we’re kicking off launch week with lots of fun items crafted right here in New Orleans. You’ll meet our first contributor, Andie, and we’ll have a $25 gift certificate to Frankly, My Dear (Saints coasters, anyone?), an applique shirt for your little one and monogrammed koozie for mom from Lisey Lu, a precious NOLA ABC toddler tee or one piece  from Storyville New Orleans, a Saints headband for your little girl from Yeaux Yeaux Bows, a New Orleans themed baby scrapbook from lil squirts (what better way to document your baby’s first year of life in the Big Easy?) and your choice of a little girl’s Saints skirt or shorts for your little man from Small Habit. If you’re counting, that’s six separate giveaways, and that’s just day one!

Tuesday: NOLA Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Let’s be honest for a minute. We all love our kids and think that they are pretty much the greatest thing to happen to us outside of Drew Brees gracing the Saints with his presence and winning the Super Bowl. Which is going to happen again in 2013, right? Anyway, as much as we adore our little ones, we still want to get dressed up, enjoy lunch with friends and just get away from it all from time to time. Which is precisely why we are excited to offer a few things just for mom on Tuesday, including a $50 gift card to EllenL (hello, gorgeous jewelry!), a $30 gift card to Tartine (lunch for two, anyone?), a $75 gift card to cafe b for date night (or a girls’ night out if it’s been one of those days) with an accompanying Ralph Brennan cookbook and a $25 gift card to Abeille NOLA, Oak Street’s first fashion boutique. On Tuesday you’ll also have the pleasure of meeting Jennifer, a NOLA girl through and through.

Wednesday: Health and Fitness

So after all that eating, we’ll need to lift some weights, girls! Ever wondered how to get your body back after baby? Or how to find time to workout (since balancing your 25 pound toddler on your hip while trying to cook dinner only sort of counts)? On Wednesday we’ll introduce you to our fitness contributor Sarah and have giveaways for a one-on-one session with Brooke from Yoga Lagniappe ($75 value), a gift card to locally-based tasc Performance (seriously comfortable workout clothes, like Kicky Pants for grown ups!) and goodies from Pure Barre Mandeville and New Orleans. And, as if that’s not enough, City Park Movement & Art is offering one free class per week for the entire fall (a $200 value). Check out their adult class schedule here.

Thursday: The Natural Lifestyle

On Thursday we’ll introduce you to Courtney, our resident expert on natural parenting. She recently reinstated the La Leche League of New Orleans and is a wealth of information on leading a natural lifestyle with children. One lucky reader will win $75 to The Green Fork, which offers delicious prepared meals for busy families on-the-go featuring an abundance of certified organic, local, sustainably raised ingredients. The Green Fork purchases farm-direct throughout the year, and all of its vendors are locally owned and operated. Another reader will win a $50 gift card to ZukaBaby, a natural parenting boutique offering everything from cloth diapers to classes to natural toys.

Friday: Family Fun

Heading into the weekend, we figured it was appropriate to offer some items for old fashioned family fun! We’ll be giving away not one, not two but three sets of free admission passes to the Louisiana Children’s Museum, a basic photography session from Mindy Rathe Photography ($100 value) and a 30 minute mini-session with Little Fish Photography ($75 value). Just in time for holiday photos (yup, it’s already time to think about those), KVR Photography is also offering a 30 minute session at a location of your choice! You will also receive a complimentary print package including 1 8×10, 6 5x7s, and 8 wallets as well as 20% off A La Carte items. Remember City Park Movement & Art from Wednesday? They are also offering one free children’s class per week for the entire fall (a $200 value). Check out their children’s class schedule here. And you’ll also hear from Linzy, another one of our talented contributors.

Saturday: Lagniappe

You’ll meet one of our Northshore contributors on Saturday morning.  Amber lives in Mandeville, is a new mom herself, and also has a private tutoring business.  Have you heard of Body Sugaring USA Day Spa on the Northshore?  Ms. Dora specializes in unique, permanent, and painless hair removal and has generously offered to giveaway one standard bikini line sugaring session, a $70 value, to one lucky reader.  And who doesn’t want their kids to be dressed in the cutest outfits out there?  Another lucky winner will win a $50 gift card from Bean Sprouts Boutique, a clothing & gift boutique in Slidell, LA. When you’re looking for a quick and healthy alternative to fast food, look no further than Fresh Bar, a custom salad and wrap bar in New Orleans.  We have two $10 gift cards to give away to two lucky readers.  What is better than a fabulous baby-sitter, especially when it’s free?!? Teeny, of The Creative Sitter, has her Bachelor’s in Photography and her Master’s in Art and Media Management and is offering two hours of free sitting. The best part is that all the materials and clean-up are provided for and diapers still get changed!

Sunday: Lagniappe

On Sunday, you’ll be introduced to Janie, another Northshore contributor.  Janie has been a certified child safety seat inspector for eight years and will be writing about the leading causes of injuries to children and other important safety issues.  To wrap up our launch week, we have a few more giveaways for our readers.  One lucky reader will win a “highchair to go” from SMUDGENOLA, and another lucky reader will win a 10″ plate designed by Sugar and Spice.  And five lucky readers will each win an invitation design of their choice from Celebrations Paperie. Last, but certainly not least, one mom will win 4 custom headpieces from Brea’s Boutique for their little girl. That’s a grand total of 29 giveaways, and we truly could not be more grateful for these partnerships.

So tell us … what giveaway are you most looking forward to and why? What do you want to read about on New Orleans Moms Blog?