It is about time!  Many of you know that StrollerMama is close to turning three this fall.  Amy and I have grown our little seed of an idea into a blossoming stroller boutique.  We’ve added products that we use and love: diaper bags, baby products and car seats.  The funny thing was that all of these years, Amy and I have been driving around minivans of our own jam-packed with Britax car seats (that we didn’t sell at StrollerMama until now!).  Britax is very picky about their retailers (which is the way it should be), and we finally passed the test and are now an authorized Britax retailer! 

Amy and I have always told our parents how much we love our Britax car seats, even when we didn’t sell them ourselves.  We are thrilled to add their quality lines of car seats to our store.

The most popular convertible seat is still the Marathon which can hold a child up to 65 lbs.  The Roundabout is like the Marathon but for cars with less space in the back seat.  Other models offer True Side Impact Protection and an easy turnable knob for adjusting the height of the straps (rather than uninstalling and rethreading).  The Boulevard (similar in size to the Marathon) and the Diplomat (smaller in size- similar to the Roundabout) are two such models.

The most exciting thing from Britax is the release of their new “Harness-2-Booster” seat known as the Frontier.  The Frontier can keep a child harnessed from two years old and 25 lbs. up to 80 lbs.!  Then it converts to a booster seat that can hold a child to approximately 100 lbs.  According to safety experts, keeping a child in a five point harness as long as possible is the safest way to ride. 

My four and a half year old son was starting to feel “peer pressured” from his friends after riding carpool that he didn’t want to sit in his “baby seat” anymore.  This is pretty common around this age.  I actually had him in a regular booster but never felt great about it because he is pretty small.  So, the Frontier was the perfect solution for me. I told him he was getting a new big boy booster and it had cup holders (that basically sealed the deal….)  We went back to the five point harness (which was also better for me anyway because he can do the buckles himself but he could never master the seat belt) and he loves his new booster (and has no idea he went back to being harnessed!)  Brilliant!

If you’re in the Cleveland area, come on by the store and check out all of the models- we have them all on display so you can compare them to one another.  If you don’t live here, give us a call or shoot us an email and we can talk Britax and what is best for your family! 

Yes, you heard that right!  Amy and I just got back from a two day trip to Atlanta to attend Phil & Teds University.  Select retailers were invited by Regal Lager to attend “PTU”.  We were a small group of fifteen: other retailers, reps and Regal Lager staff.  It was an amazing experience. 

After getting a tour of their beautiful offices, we got to tour the warehouse and see how all of the orders get processed (Amy and I were hoping to see our backordered Black Sport Buggies to no avail….)   We then headed right to the Phil & Teds University classroom itself which was loaded with every single product.  We spent a day and a half going over the ins and outs of pretty much every stroller, accessory and anything else that leaves the Regal Lager warehouse.  We got demonstrations by professors Jeff Durkie (Director of Sales) and Dave Milligan (Sales Development Manager) while being thoroughly entertainted by their quick wit.  We couldn’t have asked for better professors! 

In between presentations, we had “hot time” where we broke up into four small groups to get our hands on the strollers and products.  We folded Vibes with doubles kits on.  We set up Travellers.  We packed and unpacked travel bags.  We finally got our hands on the long awaited Dash.  We saw and played with everything Regal Lager has to offer and it was amazing and educational (and fun!)

I should also mention that the folks at Regal Lager know how to have a good time!  After a long day of school, everyone got to wind down with a rockin’ night of pizza and bowling (where yours truly bowled her first 125, thank you very much!)

And this morning, we concluded by finishing up our lessons, taking our second test (I kid you not!) and then graduating!  I now hold a degree from Phil & Teds University and have been awarded the honorary title of “Phil & Teds Head”!  So, all of you parents out there- if you have any questions about your Phil & Teds, shoot it my way!  I know the history, the ins and outs and the quick fixes.  Phil & Teds strollers questions?  Easy: One buggy, two kids, four positions, six years.  Which inline is right for you?  How about Phil & Teds beyond the buggies?  Easy: Push, Sleep, Feed, Carry, Drive, Adapt.  Phil & Teds has grown so much beyond just the buggies (Push) and we are excited to be adding some new Phil & Teds products to StrollerMama.  Coming soon look for Me Too highchairs (Feed), Traveller travel cots (Sleep), Mini Dittie diaper bags (Carry), infant car seats (Drive) and new stroller accessories (Adapt). 

Probably the biggest news is that we have decided to carry the entire line of Phil & Teds inline buggies at StrollerMama.  We can help you decide which inline is right for you.  Whether it is the Classic (thrifty inline) for its simplicity and value, the Sport (sporty inline) for its ruggedness and proven function, the Dash (urban active inline) for its form and function or the Vibe (uptown inline) for its ultimate style and function, we can help find the right inline for you.  We thought we knew our stuff before, just try us now!

Phil & Teds University was an amazing experience and we are so thankful to the Regal Lager crew for letting us participate!  Our seven kids are happy to have their moms back home but we had a wonderful time in Atlanta!

Any of our loyal followers out there should know by now that PURPLE is the official StrollerMama color.  We love purple and from the day we opened (almost three years ago now!), I have dreamed of having an exclusive StollerMama Special Edition Purple Valco stroller.  Well, my dream has come true and it is here!   Exclusively at StrollerMama, the 2008 Trimode Single in Purple is available for $550.  It comes loaded with a matching footmuff and mama bag as well as a cup holder.  It was made in a limited quantity so it won’t be around long! The color on the website is very true to life- brilliant and bold- perfect for a boy or a girl.  It is all the same quality of the classic Trimode, just with an extra dab of StrollerMama style!

Want to be the “it” parent with something a little different while strolling down the street?  Want something fresh and new with fantastic styling and outstanding performance and quality?  Check out the new 2008 I’coo Targo!

Priced at $699, the Targo includes the chassis, stroller seat, bassinet attachment, universal infant seat adapter, and a free gift- Diapees & Wipees.  It is so new, we are just getting it up on our website but check out the great video that the distributor made on our website.  It shows the great features- our favorite is the reversible seat that actually also adjusts in height so you can raise up the seat and pull the stroller right up to a table in a restaurant for your baby. 

The I’coo Targo comes from the great guys at Grand Touring Baby who have also brought us the ever popular Rock Star Baby Stroller.  The Targo takes the great features of the RSB stroller and take it a notch up. 

We are currently taking preorders for the I’coo Targo which is available in three colors: Mocha, Marine and Houndstooth.  Word is the first container is selling fast so we suggest placing an order sooner than later if this is the one you want!  We are really excited and can’t wait for it to arrive!

Big changes for the 2008 Cameleon.  First, the air tires are being replaced with EVA foam tires.  When I asked why, Bugaboo told me it was because they were replacing too many blown tires and that they felt the EVA foam performed equally as well.  They said they will look no different than the air tires currently on the Cameleon and you will not be able to tell by looking at them.  Second, the adjustable handlebar has been revamped.  Instead of the two twisty knobs on either side of the handle, the adjustment mechanism will be very similar to the handlebar extenders on the Bee.  More of a pop open and pull up and then lock back down.  Functionally, the extension will be the same but a tad easier to move up and down.

Most exciting- I have information on new colors and fabrics!  Bugaboo is phasing out the Bright Blue base and adding two great new base colors- Orange, Dark Blue and Dark Chocolate Brown!  I had heard rumors of the Chocolate base a while back and I am thrilled to hear they are confirmed to be true!  It is the same dark brown canvas that is currently available as a canvas tailored fabric and it is absolutely beautiful.  Rich and warm and will look amazing (I keep thinking how great it would look with my current pink tailored fabric……)  The orange is darker than the current orange and the dark blue is darker than the bright blue but not as navy as the navy Frog.  It is like the blue on the Bee.  The 2008 Cameleon bases in dark grey and sand will be available March 1, 2008, the red will be available April 1, 2008 and the dark brown, orange and dark blue will be available May 15, 2008.

Other big color news are the new tailored fabrics.  Bugaboo is phasing out the current pink and orange Cameleon tailored fabrics and accessories and launching a “new pink” and “new orange” for the tailored fabrics and accessories.  The “new pink” will be the same pink as the pink Bee and the “new orange” will be the same orange as the orange Frog. 

Finally, you asked and Bugaboo listed.  The canvas tailored fabrics will be available in some bright fun colors: “new” pink, “new orange” and dark blue.  They are expected mid-May.  The red, dark brown, sand, dark blue, off white and black are available now. 

For the fleece tailored fabrics, the “new” pink, “new” orange and dark blue will be available mid-May as well as the black, red and sand which are currently available.  The yellow, green, bright blue, “old” pink, “old” orange are being phased out and will only be available while supplies last.

Footmuffs and parasols will also be available in the new colors (”new” pink, “new”orange and dark blue) in mid-May and other older colors (yellow, green, bright blue, “old” pink and “old” orange) are being phased out and only available as supplies last.

Finally, Bugaboo is coming out with a new product- the Bugaboo blanket- which is designed to match your Bugaboo stroller.  They have blanket lines for the Cameleon, Frog and Bee.  The dimensions of the blanket are 30″ x 40″.  One side will be a soft fleece in black and the other side will be a soft microfleece in the coordinating Bugaboo stroller colors.  On the colored side of the blanket, there will be a Bugaboo circle logo in the center and a small Bugaboo logo flag on the bottom right of the blanket edge.  The price will be $59.95.  They will be available March 2008.

Bugaboo also told me that they are working on getting a wheeled board with universal adapter clips so it can be used on the Cameleon, Frog and Bee but it probably won’t be anytime before 2009.

Other than the debut of the Bee, this is big news for Bugaboo lovers since we haven’t seen much change on the Cameleon for a while!  My trusty Cameleon has been getting me and my thirteen month old through the snow here in Cleveland with no problems.  My daughter could not look cuter in her dark grey/pink Bug with matching footmuff, but all of the new color combinations have already got me thinking…..

Calling all parents with one boy and one girl!  We have got the stroller for you!  StrollerMama is proud to announce the debut of BOY MEETS GIRL - The Pink & Blue Limited Edition Valco Tri Mode Twin.  A stroller boutique exclusive with very limited availability, this special edition Valco Tri Mode Twin stroller has the same features of the current Valco Tri Mode Twin with one of kind styling done in half-pink/half-blue.  The Boy Meets Girl comes complete with: pink footmuff, blue footmuff, pink bumper bar, blue bumper bar, zip in sunshade, rain cover, cup holder and tire pump all packaged together for $825.  The stroller is currently in production and is scheduled to ship late November.  We are taking preorders now (you won’t be charged until the stroller ships) so check it out and reserve yours today!