Great Big Mother's Day Giveaway!

How to Enter

Win this fabulous prize pack by answering the following question on Facebook.

What was the best Mother's Day gift you ever received? 

Post your comment at EACH of the four companies Facebook pages below to qualify for the random draw.

Zoe Organics - Facebook/ZoeOrganics

Playpants - Facebook/Playpants

Emily Press Labels - Facebook/EmilyPress

Wean Green - Facebook/WeanGreen

Contest ends on Mother's Day - Sunday, May 8, 2011.
One (1) winner will be chosen at random using Random.org on Monday, May 9, 2011. Winner must have commented on each of the four companies Facebook pages to qualify. Open to US and Canadian residents. Only one entry per person.

Behind every picture is a story.

For us, photo shoots can be tough. Not only do we need to worry about getting a great picture, we need to make sure our little ones are up for the challenge which means they cannot be hungry, tired, teething, dirty or generally uncooperative. With six kids between us, let me tell you - we've seen it all. And it certainly doesn't always go as planned.

This is our very first sample that I frantically sewed a few minutes before this photo was taken. It was so snug on Thea that we needed to remove her diaper in order for it to fit. Notice anything? Hint: Look under her left thigh.

Of course, she didn't seem to mind. Needless to say, we kept going. 

Yes, we were overcome with joy at the news Zoe's daughter Hazel had arrived. But, more importantly, did she get a product shot. You bet she did. A true mompreneur, Zoe took this photo just hours after her birth...

and continued to take advantage of having a newborn in the house. Perfect timing for the launch of our Born Original newborn gift packs.

This pic of our big girls made it into last year's summer issue of UrbanBaby and Toddler mag - without that temporary tattoo!

And who can forget our big boys. Grant was already in underpants by the time we launched our product line (but clearly, still eager to get in front of the camera).

And Dex was always on hand to help. 

Meanwhile, Thea still hadn't learned to walk...

And when she was finally able to stand, she didn't always do what she was told.

What makes this all so wonderful, is that we've gone from all of that to this. 

 

Our baby girls photographed just yesterday. How sweet are they in matching tops?

And these babies are becoming big girls themselves.

This is how every photo shoot should be.

As our brand continues to grow, so does our family. And we beg you, please, just don't ask us to provide another newborn.

xx Rachel

Lights, Camera, Action!

It was a big week for Playpants as we headed down south for our Hollywood close-up! We mentioned earlier this month that we received an exclusive invite to take part in celeb event planner Jayneoni Moore's Pre-Oscar Studio alongside other baby and kids brands for what would be the ultimate Oscar weekend playdate - and it was.

It was a whirlwind weekend of making friends, making contacts and making the most of a five-day girls' trip! Over the course of the two-day gifting event, our Playpants made it into the hands of such celebs as Christina Applegate, Minnie Driver, Nancy O'Dell, Autumn Reeser, Laila Ali, Rachel Zoe, Angie Everheart, Christina Milian, Samantha Harris just to name a few. We also chatted with O Magazine, Daily Candy Kids, OK Magazine, Fashion TV, Fit Pregnancy Magazine, MTV's Susie Castillo and Babble who posted this post-event coverage. 

Here are some of our moments caught on film. 

Our Hollywood Headquarters. 



This photo takes the award for Best Group Performance.



 Entertainment Tonight's Samantha Harris just five weeks after she gave birth to daughter #2 Hilary. Amazing! 

Our friendly neighbours, Heather and Lee of Zoe Organics. (We're loving their lip balm!)

Christina Applegate's fiance, Daddy to one-month old Sadie Grace, Porno For Pyros bassist and awesome guy all around, Martyn LeNoble with our organic styles Sugar Bowl and Laundry Day.

 Everybody's childhood crush, Winnie. 

Dot Jones was gleeful (of course). 

The adorable (and pregnant) Autumn Reeser loved Poppy Lane.

A trip without kids meant leisurely shopping and return trips to the Beverly Hills Anthropologie 

and night out at Vinoteque on Melrose. 

 Entertainment Tonight's Nancy O'Dell took home a pair of Easy Breezy for her daughter Ashby Grace. 

 Cheers from the Trader Vics bar after a long first day.

 The legendary Beverly Hilton Hotel.

How often is it that you get a chance to have your walk critiqued by the one and only Miss J? Oh yes, we did.

The best part? We're just getting started! We returned to a flurry of online and wholesale orders that are being filled as we speak! We've also got a "little black book" that will keep us busy with celebrity shower and baby gifting for months to come. 



Rachel and Zoe with Rachel Zoe.
The conversation went like this:
R: "Hi, I'm Rachel."
Z: "Hi I'm Zoe."
RZ: "No way. Honey, did you hear that?"

And what did the most famous celebrity stylist in the world take with her? Laundry Day, Sunday Brunch and Poppy Lane (she has great taste, what can we say?). Hooray for Hollywood!


xoxoxo Anna, Rachel and Zoe


An Oscar Worthy Performance! Playpants headed for Hollywood

It was a dreary day, cold and wet, with my two children in the back of the car, when I got the phone call. Answering my handsfree phone call from Anna while trying to jam a pacifier into Hazel's mouth and answer Violet's questions about what we're having for lunch because she has informed me 18 times that "mommy, I have an insatiable appetite."

At first I take the high pitched squeal on the phone line to be a bad connection, before realizing it is a conference call with Anna and Rachel screaming in unison that we've been invited to attend the celebrity gifting suite for Hollywood moms and babies, better known as "The Boom Boom Room". I am attempting to navigate the rainy back roads near my home with my partners talking a mile a minute and Violet now asking "Where is Hollywood? Can I come?! Please mommy? Fancy Nancy lives there!"

For the last year, we've been working so hard to grow our little business outside of Vancouver. We've had such incredible local support from customers and retailers alike, but we know that bloomers are still considered a seasonal item (eventhough we disagree since they keep up winter tights perfectly!), and the sunny season here is appallingly short compared to more southern climes.

Perfect for holding up tights...

And so the journey begins. After a great deal of excitement, followed by more serious number crunching (and more giddy excitement), and a round of logistical planning to ensure Anna can sneak away from her Maui vacation for a weekend in LA, and Rachel doesn't have to confront her fear of flying alone, we have booked our flights to Hollywood. The spring styles are being neatly packaged for the lights, cameras, and celebrities.

As a team, we see this as an opportunity for our business, but also for ourselves as hardworking moms who know how rare a treat it is to get a weekend getaway to Beverly Hills in February with some of your best girlfriends (with a mutual affection for spa treatments, fine dining and late night karaoke!).

Wish us luck and we'll be sure to post our photos, stories (and maybe a video or two of an Air Supply serenade). Watch out Hollywood, we're ready to show off our bottoms to the world! :)

Spring into Style

Well it has been quite a busy winter for the Playpants team since our successful Create Change fundraiser in December. After raising over $700 for our cause (enough to send four girls to secondary school for an entire year!), we found ourselves juggling holiday plans, our spring line production, and for me personally- an infant with no interest in sleeping for more than a couple hours at a time.

Now, two months later, I can see the proverbial light on the horizon. Hazel is 8 months old, crawling and cruising (still not so keen on sleeping), and providing us with the perfect model for the bloomers that have just arrived from our fabulous local production shop. We really took our time with this latest run, gathering all the fabulous feedback from our customers and refining the fit for our dressed bloomers. We've added more "give" for a slightly more generous fit that allows older children to enjoy our products. The size 5 now easily fits toddlers and preschoolers, including my 4.5 year old daughter. Every bottom is different of course which is why we suggest our fit is best up to 3T, and still offer our 30 day return/exchange policy to ensure you get the perfect fit for your own little one.

Our spring line is all about being feminine with modern florals, soft linens, pink hues, and crisp frills. I'm in love with the lightweight linen feel of "Easy Breezy" and my eldest, Violet, naturally gravitates toward the lavender shade. Thanks to the new fit, both my 8 month old and 4 year old are able to showcase their frilled bottoms. With the cotton blended into the linen, I can still wash and dry my bloomers without too much concern, though I have taken to laying them flat to dry for an extra crisp look.

Of course, we've kept our bestselling organic denim Laundry Day and hemp Sunday Brunch as part of our spring styles. I really like having the option of a sturdier fabric for days when I'm in the garden with the girls and they just might get a bit dirty (in fact, the sun is shining and Hazel's wearing them now as I type!) ;)

Thanks to all of you who have supported Playpants in its inaugural run, and thanks to my amazing partners Anna and Rachel for supporting me personally as I've struggled to be functional (awake) for the past few months. It's been a great journey together and I'm so ready to bloom into spring.

xoxoxo

-Zoe

The Playdate of the Season... Join us December 7th to Create Change!

You're Invited!
{ Join Chill Monkeys & Playpants Modern Bloomers for the playdate of the season }
 
During the holiday season, as busy moms ourselves, we know it takes a lot of effort to shop for gifts, fit in a playdate for the kids, celebrate with friends, and support local charities.

So we decided it was time to throw a party that includes it all! Get families out for a fun afternoon to enjoy good food, new faces, play time for the kids, and the chance to score some amazing gifts for the holidays - all in the name of charity!

Date: Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location: ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLATBREAD CO.
1876 W 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC
( between Cypress & Burrard)

Please join us for an afternoon of snacks, sweets, and the chance to take home great prizes, including a gift basket packed full of local products and services.
Our event is free to attend, and kid-friendly, with a well-appointed play area for children and plenty of highchairs.

With every prize raffle ticket you graciously buy ($5 each or 3/$10) you support a very worthy cause that we are extremely passionate about. Our goal is to raise $1000 to help Create Change send five young women in Northern Ghana to secondary school. Watch their moving stories and learn more about this fantastic charity here.

If you're planning on joining us, please RSVP here!

Wondering what you could win? We've had an amazing response to our request for donations. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win fabulous gifts from our growing list of supporters:
Chill Monkeys
Playpants Modern Bloomers
Vancouver Canucks
goop & goob
Dandelion Kids
My Monkey Moo
Clippopotamus
Gymboree
Little Jots
Raspberry Kids
Danielle Christopher Kids Books
Charval Jewelry
Kiboomu
Fully Managed
Twizzle Hair Salon
Much love,
Anna, Rachel & Zoe
xoxo

We're Blushing!

Blush magazine has included us in their giveaway blog and is giving away a pair of Playpants to a lucky reader. Enter by sharing your favourite style (and go ahead, tell us how cute they are - apparently you can't resist!).