Karen Barski lives “The Secret” philosophy and is living proof of how positive thinking, goal setting, and drive to have an abundant life and healthy family can shape your livelihood in so many ways. So, how did this all start?

Karen grew up in Southwestern Connecticut with her parents and two sisters. Her career began as a Registered Nurse after graduating from St. Vincent’s College of Nursing and Sacred Heart University in 1994. Karen excelled in her nursing career for 19 years and simultaneously started her own business, KB Designs, LLC, in 2007 when she invented the Woombie baby swaddle. In the middle of the night – and on her grandmother’s sewing machine – the first Woombie prototype was created out of frustration that her newborn was not sleeping. And it worked! At that time Karen just had her third child Bella’Mar (with twin boys on the way just a year later!).

Karen resides in Trumbull, CT with her husband, Stash, and their five children: Morgan – 17, Kaia – 10, Bella – 5 and Bryce and Brody – 4. Her family is everything to her and they are all an active part in KB Designs.

The Woombie brand has over 25 innovative products that help parents and babies. KB Designs offers a variety of Woombie swaddles such as the Original, Organic, Winter, Summer, Houdini (a firmer swaddle), Deluxe (fancier version), Wrap & Snap, Summer Onesie, Convertible (arms can come out), Leggies (swaddle with legs), and Convertible Leggies Combo. Additionally, KB Designs offers Baby or Toddler Eco’Donut cushions that fold into a bag, Mo’Mo Friends pacifier blankets, baby blankets, Ultra Sleepers, Beanie Knot Hats, after bath Cozy Dry towels, Infant or Toddler Mox Mittens, and MommyTime and DaddyTime Dolls that have a built in timer – designed to help your child understand “time” and “patience” in a fun natural way.

KB Designs launched its newest swaddle brand called Mod’Swad – an upscale, eco’friendly and functional baby swaddle with designs made from heathered bamboo, Muslin, Cotton and 100% Australian Merino Wool. Also, its signature look is a fashionable knot to customize length as baby grows.

In 2011 Karen left her full time nursing career to focus more on her business, continuing to identify the needs of parents and babies which always brings her to the drawing board to design new innovative, eco friendly products. She, however, still remains a nurse and educator as a Certified Newborn Infant Care Specialist & Instructor, Infant Sleep Consultant and Parenting Consultant, assisting thousands of new parents on everything from post pardon hormones to bringing baby home, nutrition and sleep scheduling. Her blog is Karen & Co. found here: www.woombie.com/blog.

In an effort to sustain the environment and promote social equity, KB Designs 100% supports fair trade, has an eco friendly philosophy and uses natural, sustainable resources such as bamboo to bring the highest quality products to the consumer. Undoubtedly, Karen’s drive, ambition, and creativity have shaped her business to what it is today.

To learn more on the unique story about how the Woombie was invented, read “A Peek Inside the Barski Home Where the Woombie was Born” by clicking here.

Michelle is the author of “Hands on Baby: A Guide to Baby Massage”, “Hands on Feet: The New System That Makes Reflexology A Snap!”, “Hands on Sexy Feet”, and “The Little Book of Reflexology” (all Running Press). She’s the massage expert for the award-winning Gaiam/Living Arts Massage Practice dvd series; including, Infant Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Reflexology, Acupressure, Couples Massage, and Therapeutic Touch.

Michelle’s goal is to help people achieve optimal health and well-being through the healing power of touch. A graduate of Columbia University, Phillips Academy Andover, and the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing in Los Angeles, Michelle is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (C.I.M.I.), an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association and the International Association of Infant Massage, and the Reflexology Association of America.

Michelle lives in Montecito, California with her husband, record producer Luke Ebbin, and their three sons: Jackson, Cassidy, and Tanner.

http://www.basicknead.com

Mocktail Mimosa – Moms Relaxation Area
Baby Shower Expo Signature Drink- Shower planning workshop

and several more…

After 2 decades in the hospitality industry, Natalie Bovis developed a passion for mixology and founded TheLiquidMuse.com in 2006. She is the author of Preggatinis™: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be (2008); The Bubbly Bride: Your Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Guide (2009) and Edible Cocktails: Garden To Glass Seasonal Cocktails with a Fresh Twist (2012).

During the course of her career, thus far, Natalie has judged cocktail competitions worldwide; served as a jury member for the 2010 Spirited Awards; and taught seminars at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans and the Bols Academy in Amsterdam, as well as sat on panels at the Nightclub & Bar Show in Las Vegas and Arizona Cocktail Week; and taught The Liquid Muse Sustainable Sips® organic cocktail classes to consumers around the U.S.

Natalie has consulted and / or developed recipes for brands such as Tropicana, Welch’s, Nestle, Sutter Home Wine, Beam Global, Skyy vodka, Camarena tequila, Knob Creek bourbon, Pinky vodka, among others. She is the co-developer of OM Cocktails hitting retail shelves in Spring 2012.

The Liquid Muse cocktails – with and without alcohol – have been featured on national TV such as E! Entertainment; WE Network’s “Platinum Babies;” and on Martha Stewart Radio, and in multiple publications including Pregnancy Magazine, US Weekly, American Way Magazine, The Bump.com, Daily Candy, People.com, among many others. Natalie has also created drinks for celebrity events ranging from the Playboy Mansion to her signature Preggatinis™ at Brooke and Charlie Sheen’s baby shower, and Kendra Wilkinson’s baby celebration at Bel Bambini in Beverly Hills.

Subscribe to Natalie’s weekly podcast “One for the Road” on iTunes; her video series “Inspired Sips” on SmallScreenNetwork.com, and The Liquid Museletter to keep in step with cocktail trends. She currently lives in Santa Fe and presents monthly Mixology segments for New Mexico Style morning show.

Host of the GIANT DIAPER PARTY

Kia Morgan Smith is Atlanta Diaper Relief’s Founder and Executive Director .Kia is a former education Reporter and worked as a foot soldier on the front lines of critical education issues for 15 years before deciding to become an educator in 2001. She understands what each child needs and what it takes to help them reach their full potential. Kia dealt with education on such an intricate level as a reporter that she became a teacher in hopes that she could somehow make a difference in the lives of children.

Kia has served as an elementary school teacher for the Philadelphia School system and for People for People Charter School in Philadelphia for five years before moving to Douglasville Georgia from her hometown Philadelphia.

In 2008, Kia served as the Director of Preschool at the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA in Atlanta, but stepped down from the demanding job to give birth to her son and spend the next years as a stay-at-home mom and blogger. She is mom to five children and understands how difficult is it at times to constantly have to supply diapers while living on a budget.

In 2003, Kia earned a Master of Arts degree in Education from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.(She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 1997 from Norfolk State University).

She started this diaper bank after her son was left in a wet diaper all day at daycare. That situation ignited her passion to help parents who have no choice but to stretch their child’s diaper because they can’t afford to buy more. Realizing how prolific this problem is across the globe and how hard it is for low-income parents to buy diapers, she founded Atlanta Diaper Relief in 2011.

Kia loves children and has five of her own. She is married to Rudolph Smith, an Engineer

Creating a Positive Birth
Early communication using gestures/signs

Hi, I am Nicole King HCHI, HCHD, and ICI. My own adventure began in August 2008 when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I chose Hypnobabies® Childbirth Hypnosis to prepare for her natural birth. That class, along with the awesome birth of my little Marlowe on April 5, 2009 changed my life…I became a Hypnobabies® Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor & Doula (#135) in July 2009 and started this business to help equip all Mamas & Families with

*Knowledge, Power & Confidence* during pregnancy, birth & beyond. I have recently returned to teaching Hypnobabies® after the wonderful planned homebirth of my second child (a son, Zephyr) born in January 2011.

You can take Group Classes (max. 5 couples) in or near Metro Atlanta, Gwinnett & Athens, GA or Private Classes in your home (you can even Create-a-Class). I also offer HypnoDoula services to Hypnobabies® Students. Browse through a lending library, community resources, local support & special offers from a network of professional affiliates. Birth Professionals and Doulas can participate in a Hypnobabies® Hypno Doula Certification Training. Doulas that are seeking Certification through DONA can audit a class series, also. Additional services include Baby Signs® Program Parent Workshops, Sign, Say & Play® Classes and Potty Party® Presentations. I am looking forward to expanding my services in the future, as I grow with my new ‘families’. I will soon be pursuing Certifications as a Lactation Educator and Infant Massage Instructor. So, keep yourself posted on additional upcoming classes and services by joining the Adventures In Childbirth Mailing List!

www.adventuresinchildbirth.com

• Us: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships That Matter Most

Throughout her life, Lisa Oz has centered much of her focus on the mix of health well-being and spirituality. It is perhaps because of this knowledge and practice that she is able to accomplish as much as she does.

A multi-talented writer, producer and entrepreneur, Oz manages the business ofher husband, Dr. Mehmet Oz, author and host of the Dr. Oz Show. Lisa has co-authored three New York Times best selling books, including the “YOU: The Owner’s Manual” series and she is co-host of The Dr. Oz Show on Oprah & Friends’ on XM Radio. She is also a mother of four.

Us: The Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships That Matter Most, offers an enriched and fulfilling vision of friendship, marriage, family and spiritual progress.

• How to Choose a Newborn Photographer ranging from topics of personal style to newborn safely

Andie Freeman is a photographer in Athens, GA that specializes in the beauty of newborn photography. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she became a professional motorcycle photographer in 2007 specializing in racing, motorcycle lifestyle and fine art photography. However, after getting pregnant in 2008 with her daughter Zoe that quickly came to a halt. They really should call morning sickness “all-day” sickness .Confined to the couch for the majority of the first 16 weeks, Andie put the camera regrettably away.

Then, in August 2008, tragedy struck. Andie’s husband, Sean, was in a near fatal motorcycle accident. Since he was the driving force behind the fine art photography (i.e. the bike mover), the camera was forgotten. Andie focused solely on helping Sean get back to health and delivering a healthy baby girl.

That was easier said than done in Andie’s case. After a c-section at 38 weeks due to high blood pressure and then heart failure 4 days later, things slowly got back to normal. And Andie picked the camera back up to photograph Zoe at 8 days old. You can say that she was the baby that started it all. From that time on, Andie decided to leave the motorcycle photography behind and pursue a career in portraiture, specifically specializing in newborns.

Over the past 2 years, Andie has photographed over 100 newborns ranging in age from 3 days to 4 weeks. She has even been present at the delivery of several of her special babies. She feels that it is such an honor to be a special part of each family’s lives as they welcome their new addition into their home and family.

www.andiefreemanphotography.com

• Real Moms Love to Eat: Make it All About You. Happy Healthy Moms= Happy Healthy Families
• The Pleasure Principle (Discovering the healthy and sensuous side of foods)

Beth Aldrich, Healthy Lifestyle and Nutrition Expert, engaging speaker, media personality and author of the book, Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous (New American Library-Penguin Books www.RealMomsLovetoEat.com imprint, January 3, 2012), delivers health and nutrition fundamentals through keynote addresses, lectures and as a media spokesperson. As an expert health and nutrition columnist for Diet.com, SocialMoms.com, HotMomsClub.com, 30SecondMom.com and RealMomsLovetoEat.com,

Beth shares her wisdom, experience and knowledge about all things food and wellness. From health coaching, and living a balanced life to, the energetic of food and finding your passion, Beth delivers her message in a charismatic yet compassionate way.

She is the founder of For Her Information Media, LLC (FHI) established in 2003, with productions such as the PBS TV series, For Her Information (aired in Turkey, Israel and 60 cities, nationwide), the radio shows, A Balanced Life with Beth Aldrich, and Real Moms Love to Eat with Beth Aldrich, and the online magazine and newsletter, FHI Online. Her company’s mission is to be a life guide for conscious-minded women. Beth is also the founder of Restoring Essence Nutrition, LLC and a Certified Holistic Health and Nutritional Counselor through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). Beth received her education from Columbia University’s Teachers College and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City.

She studied under natural health and nutrition experts such as Dr. Mehmet Oz, Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weil, David Wolfe, Dr. Walter Willett and Barry Sears. Her work with Restoring Essence and FHI is a perfect blend of offerings, giving clients the opportunity to find happiness, learn, and become accountable for their own health and wellness.

Beth also holds a B.A. in English/Journalism from Kent State University and Christopher Newport University in Virginia. With more than 25 years of on-camera experience, as well as training at the Second City Training Center in Chicago and the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Beth has developed the enigmatic wit and kindness to engage and captivate audiences and groups during her speaking engagements, workshops and seminars. She held the lead role in all of Delta Airlines on-board videos for five years, appeared in several commercials and has been featured on numerous radio shows and media outlets.

Having completed four marathons as a mother of three, including the coveted Boston Marathon (with a personal best time), Beth learned a lot about her own body, nutrition and the body/mind connection. Due to running injuries, she was faced with the challenge

of working through her pain to find healthy solutions that supported her body rather than medicating it. Her natural instinct to research and delve into nutrition and wellness topics brought her to a place of health, happiness, and a personal best marathon time in Boston.

Beth is a Luminary Circle Member of Step Up Women’s Network, Chicago chapter, where she serves as a mentor for young up-and-coming businesswomen. She also served on the original Executive Committee and developed and created the guidebook for Cool Globes, an artistic global warming exhibit that appeared on Chicago’s lakefront in the summer of 2007. Beth regularly volunteers at her children’s schools, often donating nutritional and media-based projects for the parents and classroom projects.

Beth’s publishing debut in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series book, Power Moms (Simon & Schuster 2009), recounts her touching story about her serious car accident and recovery and how it impacted her as a mother.

In her free time, Beth runs, swims, knits, enjoys yoga, plays golf with her family, is challenged by Sudoku, prepares raw food recipes and has a passion for the Indiana dunes. Beth lives with her husband, Tom, three sons, and two Tibetan Terriers in Chicago’s North Shore.

• Benefits of homemade baby food
• Introducing your baby to solids
• Foods to avoid
• Which foods to buy organic
• How to make homemade baby food with ease

Liza Huber has been both a busy working mom and a busy stay-at-home mom taking care of her 3 children. She has been making homemade baby food for many years and has seen the enormous benefits it has given her own children. This inspired her to create a system that gives moms all the tools they need to make fresh, healthy and delicous food for their babies. Drawing from her own experiences and the guidance of a leading pediatrician, she designed Sage Spoonfuls to fit the needs of all moms and their busy schedules.

In addition to launching Sage Spoonfuls, Liza has been appointed an Ambassador Mom for March of Dimes and will be raising awareness about premature birth. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Before creating Sage Spoonfuls, Liza starred on the NBC daytime drama Passions. She also had the honor of being Miss golden Globe in the year 2000. Her mother is Emmy-Award winning Susan Lucci of “All MyChildren”. Liza and her husband, Alex, have been married since 2004. They have 3 children, Royce 4, Brendan 3, and Hayden 7 months.

www.sagespoonfuls.com