FREE KinderMusic Class at bella stella June 12

Free Kindermusic Clas this Saturday!

Come bring your little-little for some fun exploring music with a free Kindermusic class this Saturday from 11:00-11:30!

Help Us Find Kyron Horman!

Portland Sunday Parkways North East This Sunday!

Sunday Parkways in NE Portland!!!

The six year old in the house is riding her own bike now, and the baby is big enough for the bike seat this summer! We’ve been waiting all year for bike riding heaven, and here it is! Will we see you there?

A 2-way route of city streets open to walk, bike, roll, run, jump and skip – without having to watch out for cars! The 5.8-mile Northeast Portland Sunday Parkways route will have two loops, connecting Woodlawn, Alberta, Fernhill and Wilshire Parks.  Food, music and activities are located in the parks and along the route.

Check out the Sunday Parkways website for more information!

Baby Sling Safety: bella stella in NW Kids

bella stella in NW Kids May issue

Have you seen the May issue of NW Kids? It’s particularly good if I may say so. It features a full page of bella stella tips for safe babywearing, and fantastic articles from Kimberly Bepler of ABC Doulas and Amy Watson of MamaBabyChiro.  If you have a baby or are pregnant, it’s a must read.  Pick it up just about anywhere you go with kids!

Amy Watson of Mama Baby Chiro

We LOVE the Playground Gym

Portland Babies LOVE the Playground Gym!

We have been having SO much fun lately at The Playground Gym! Open gym, toddler classes, big kid classes, we can’t stay away- especially on these prolific rainy days.  The full hour classes are truly challenging, and the kids are really getting a work out. The coaches are really coaches, not glorified daycare providers.  At the end of the class, the kids are flushed, proud, sweaty and begging for more.  The little guy has really been enjoying it too.  It turns out you have run toddlers like dogs, and this is just the space to do it.  They also just added the “Gro” class, specifically for kids with high-functioning autism and sensory integration disorder.  I’m adding the Playground Gym to my list of why Portland is the best place to live with kids!

Do I Look Illegal? May Day Sale!

Do I Look Illegal?

That’s right! Just bring in a stamped envelope (stuffed as you like it) addressed to Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
and get 25% off any one item!

Happy May Day!

I’ve got a new go-to Birthday Gift

When it’s time to order toys for the store, I have to check with my consultant.  My 6 year old pours over the catalog and predicts what the must-have toys for the year will be with bone curdling accuracy.  This year it was the huge new line-up of wooden cutting food baked goods from Melissa & Doug: cupcakes, apple pie, cake and brownies.  IT took a while for some of them to roll out this year, for which I got berated (frequently) by said six year old.  Well, the brownies have just arrived, and I thought you’d want to know.

Little Love-y Sessions with Amy McMullen Feb 6

Amy McMullen at bella stella

Valentines has always been a crummy holiday in my opinion.  An awkward child with “off” social skills, I  was the recipient of some very non-committed valentines from classmates under duress to provide a card to everyone in the class.  As a romantic holiday, it never quite worked out.  It could just be me, but I tended to have dramatic breakups in late January.  Most of my life I have feared, worried about or righteously ignored Valentines Day.  Until I had kids.

Being a parent is crazy hard, but it does have its perks.  For one, you’ve got yourself a built in Valentine.  A really cute one.  “Be Mine Forever” on a candy heart seems perfectly appropriate.  Finally.

So in that spirit, bella stella is going to be celebrating this much-more-awesome kind of valentine.  On Saturday, February 6 from 12-4 Amy McMullen will be at the baby store (2751 NE Broadway) to photograph your little love with their special love-y.  We will have a free craft table in case they would prefer to craft a valentine to hold instead.  Prints will be available for purchase on the Amy McMullen website should you want one.  If you have seen Amy’s work before, you know you will surely want one.  And then you, like me, shall finally have the Valentine of your dreams- suitable for framing, and keeping. Forever.

Portland Businesses Help You Help Haiti

We have joined an effort spearheaded by Milagros to reaise some cash to bring relief to the victims of the Haiti earthquake.  Want to help your favorite local businesses and Haiti at the same time? Time to shop this weekend Portland!

• Black Wagon – Donating 10 percent of all sales through Monday.
• Bella Stella – Donating 10 percent of all sales through Monday.
• Townsend’s Tea – Donating 10 percent of all sales through Sunday MONDAY! Yay!
• Clementine NW – Donating 10 percent of all sales Monday.
• Löyly Sauna -Donating $10 for any massage booked through Sunday.
• Buttons and Bows – Donating 10 percent of  all consigned clothing sales through Monday.
• Clever Cycles – Donating 10 percent of all sales through Monday.
• Green Bean Books – Donating 10 percent of all sales through Monday.
• AM-Living – Donate 10 percent of all sales through Sunday.
• Mother Nature’s – Donating 10 percent of all sales through Monday.
• Back to Eden Boutique Bakery – Donating 10 percent of all sales through Sunday.
• Cellar Door Coffee has joined us! They are donating 10 percent of all sales through Sunday!
• Butterscotch is donating 10 percent of all sales today (Thursday, 1/14)
• Alma Chocolate is donating 10 percent of all sales through Monday!
• Spielwerk Toys is donating 10 percent of all sales Fri-Monday.
• Baby Star is donating 10 percent of all sales through the end of January.
• Munchkin Designs is donating 10 percent of all sales through next Thursday (1/21)
• Parenting Unplugged Radio is making a donation and will be talking about Haiti on their show tomorrow (Laura has spent a lot of time in Haiti, it should be an interesting show.)
• Urban Bliss will donate 10 percent of all sales through Monday.
• Spirit Body Massage has joined in! They are donating 10% of all sales this next week!

Portland-based Mercy Corps works to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression throughout the world by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. We have been proud supporters of Mercy Corps work around the globe for years.

We encourage you to provide direct support to Mercy Corps for their emergency response to the earthquake in Haiti.

Clearance Sale!

bella stella anniversary sale

It’s that time of year again! Now we are seven and everything everything (escept for baby carriers and crafters goods) is 40% off.  So what is on sale?   Resale children’s clothing! Resale maternity clothing! Resale baby clothing! Sophir the Giraffe! Aden and Anias Swaddle Blankets! Plan Toys! Melissa and Doug Toys! Books! Art! Crafts! You get the picture!