We recently had the opportunity to speak with Children’s Room designer and muralist Lou Marshall of Lou Marshall Design and LouLou’s Whimsicals (www.loulouswhimsicals.com) who just lent her talents to the team from ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition for a home remodel in Wilmington, DE.

“Yes, Ty is cute… Paul is great and Paige is a sweetheart. The [stars] were not seen on a daily basis… but working with the Anderson crew and 1000 volunteers was a great experience.”

According to Lou, the Makeover team and volunteers had the old home demolished and the new home completely ready for the family in under 106 hours. Yes, do the math, that is less than five days from old to new. Lou herself, “jumped hard into three kids rooms. Sharks in one bedroom, wood graining in the daughters and graphics on the recreational therapy room for another. I loved every minute of it.”

Along with her recent involvement with Extreme Makeover, Lou’s work has been gaining a lot of attention lately, “I recently received an offer from The Schiffer Book Publishing Company for my own 128 page picture book of illustrated rooms, complete with how-tos and tips. The book will be out Spring 2009 in Borders Book Stores.”

If you would like to learn more about Lou’s work and maybe even have her complete a room in your home in time for inclusion in her new book (your kids could be in the pictures too – Lou reminds us), visit her website at www.loulouswhimsicals.com. You can read more about the Wilmington, DE house at Anderson Homes special project website www.andersonextreme.com.

Appaman’s 2008 spring line has arrived in stores and online. The spring line has an urban metro flare and includes birghtly colored solid cotton polos, boldly printed t-shirts (including racecars, bulldogs, and starfish), and super cool and comfortable track suits bearing the Appaman ape logo. Also included in the release are short sleeve versions of Appaman’s signature plus-minus shirts, proudly displaying your child’s age - a great birthday gift and outfit!

The spring 2008 line is now available at Bugs and Blossoms online boutique in toddler sizes 2T - 4T. Visit http://www.bugsandblossoms.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=389&Click=12477 to see the collection and shop today.

Fast Fact - Did you know that the Appaman brand name was inspired by the childhood corduroy ape carried by the brand’s founder and designer Harald Husum when he was growing up in Norway?

The high cost of in-vitro fertility (IVF) treatments has caused many to explore options including lower-cost IVF treatments outside of the US. IVF clinics and treatement centers in locations such as Canada, Israel, Thailand, and the Czech Republic offer services to potential US patients. One Ohio couple has even created a business (IVFVacation.com) arranging trips to the Czech Republic following their own successful experience with IVF in the Czech Republic.

According to their website, Craig and Marcela Fite, founders of IVFVacation.com, found that a single round of IVF treatment in the US cost between $10,000 and $15,000 with medications - a price that is out of many want-to-be parents price range. However, on their annual trip to visit Marcela’s family in teh Czech Republic, the couple found a more affordable solution at the Clinic of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology in Zlin. The cost for the treatment with medication was $3,800.

Now, the couple assists with arrangement of services and accomodations for other couples, who travel to the Czech Republic for 21 days - quite a commitment, but perhaps small when compared to the affordability… and the results. At the time of this article, the cost of the treatement, accomodations, and Craig and Marcela’s service totals about $6,600 + airfare or about $8,100 + airfare if an egg donor is needed.

Diapees & Wipees are the perfect way to keep diapers and wipes organized in a diaper bag, purse or on the go. Britney Spears was gifted one of these great diapees and wipees for her baby shower. Diapees has released a smart stripe that is great for dads. Makes a great gift for any dad at a baby shower, only $14.95 at Bugs & Blossoms