When Tony-nominated singer and Broadway veteran Melissa Errico releases her newest CD this Mother’s Day, a collection of children’s songs entitled “Lullabies and Wildflowers,” it will be as much of a professional triumph for her as a personal one for the women of the Bowery Babes. Formed in 2005, when the first-time mom and wife of tennis pro Patrick McEnroe realized that her downtown neighborhood lacked even a preschool despite its rapidly gentrifying influx of families, the Bowery Babes is a support system and activity group for soon-to-be and new mothers. Growing from the original twelve members Errico met at a prenatal yoga class, to now over three hundred families with three additional spin-off groups, it has become so popular that even uptown and Brooklyn mommies and tots have joined, commuting to events from as far away as Park Slope.

“I hate the idea that when women get pregnant, they feel like they’re leaving something. I want them to feel instead as if they are joining something,” she says of formation of the group. “And I wanted to keep people from thinking they have to move to the suburbs or the Upper West Side to raise a family. Besides, it would be such a cliché to be a Broadway actress living on the Upper West Side”, she adds laughing.

Although Errico doesn’t consider herself a community activist, she has successfully campaigned for and put together activities that take advantage of what resources that the Bowery does have.

Whether celebrating Mother’s Day or the blossoming of springtime in the city, these items honor the fruits of Mother Earth. Pick the ones that suit you best for the spring of things or for your favorite earth mama.

Kiehls offers a scrumptious Gardenia Collection for Mother’s Day, rife with the fresh, intoxicating scent of the gardenia flower. Inspired by Kiehl’s classic essence collection, this limited edition collection includes hand and body lotion, liquid body cleanser and a scented candle. Aloe and wheat protein round out the cleanser, and olive fruit oil, jojoba and squaline enrich the lotion. Also, new and expecting moms will love the Kiehls New Mom Gift Basket, filled to the brim with luxurious essentials. Find it at www.kiehls.com or order it at 1-800-KIEHLS.

‘Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz’ entertainer extraordinaire Hayes Greenfield pays homage to the planet with his new release, Music for a Green Planet. Adults and children alike will sway to Alouette in Green, Brahms Green Lullaby, This Green Man and other songs crafted to instill responsibility across the generations. Find it at www.musicforagreenplanet.com.

Auromere’s Mud Spa literally renders you one with nature – and glowing with health! It contains four types of clay from India and twelve herbs to purify and rejuvenate skin. Slather it all over for an at-home spa experience, and find it at www.auromere.com. If your child’s skin is sensitive, itchy or problematic, have your little one use Auromere’s chemical-free Neem Ayurvedic Soap or Balm.

There’s no one better to salute, celebrate, and pamper than your own dear mom, so pay tribute to that tireless lady this month with something from this Mother’s Day roundup. The woman who tucked you in at night deserves extra special treatment, along with every excited new mom-to-be.

Nahui Ollin’s gorgeous, eco-friendly bags blend whimsy with ethical global fashion and the result is a perfect Mother’s Day gift. In addition to the eye-popping, candy wrapper bags that are meticulously hand-made by artisans in Mexico, Ollin offers organic canvas bags, pillow cases, Artesanal handbags, Nude Ollin bags, change purses, and much more. Visit www.nahuiollin.com and prepare to be dazzled. Mothers everywhere will want to tote around a little bit of sunny Mexico this summer!

The universally appealing spring lineup at www.effiesheart.com is sure to please metro mothers and moms all across the globe. With a mix of vintage, radical, modern and practical styles, there’s fashion for all types of moms in the distinctive Effie’s Heart collection. The Billy Dress is ideal for warm weather and comfortable for burgeoning tummies, and the Sasha Jacket is a timeless piece that will last for decades – perhaps even handed down to daughters! Shop online at www.effiesheart.com.

Oovoo handbags are handmade in a range of styles and lavishly embellished with hand-stitched embroidery. The careful selection of color, cotton, leather and silk renders each bag unique and therefore, ideal for mom! Oovoo is an artistic collaboration between Pauline Lewis in Virginia and a group of women in southern Vietnam. Oovoo’s Vietnamese artisans are paid 15% above market rate and given a month’s salary as a bonus during the Vietnamese New Year. Support this impressive collaboration by ordering a beautiful, one-of-kind bag at www.oovoodesign.com.

They’re chic, intelligent, always in motion, and most important: they’re loving mothers.

Can Cynthia Rowley do any more in a day? Ms. Rowley is an innovative fashion and accessories designer, home and entertainment expert (her line Swell is fabulous), author, reality show judge (loved her on Project Runway), AND will appropriately launch her first collection of fragrances for Avon on Mother’s Day.

One of media’s movers and shakers, Lesley Jane Seymour is a groundbreaking Editor in Chief of magazines that have motivated millions of women –from teens to women 40+. Lesley Jane is the former Editor in Chief of YM, Redbook, and Marie Claire and now brings her talents as Editor-in-Chief to More, which recently ranked #5 on Adweek’s Hot List.

Both of these dynamic women attribute a key ingredient to their professional success is motherhood. Ms. Rowley and Ms. Seymour each have two children, prefers stilettos to sneakers, and balance a hyper-drive professional life with quality family time. How do they do it? They share their secrets and personal frustrations and joys in this Beauty News exclusive look at two ‘hot’ metro mamas.

Lesley Jane Seymour, Editor in Chief of More magazine

BN: Would you be where you are today without being a mom?
LJS: Being a mom means I can do any high-powered job, period. Without the support system from my family (even if my daughter is constantly berating me as a typical 12 year old), I wouldn’t be where I am now, since I rely on them for love and care. The job is a job. A great one, but having my true loves in my life at home—my kids and husband—means I can keep the job where it belongs, in its place.

BN: You have been at the helm of a teen magazine, a young women’s fashion magazine, a magazine for young moms and are now you are spearheading a magazine targeted to women over forty. Is this path parallel to your own life stages?
LJS: My career has moved from talking to teens (I even wrote a book for them: I Wish My Parents Understood) to young moms when I was one, and now to women over 40 (I’m one!). It’s nice to progress with your age and interests. For More, I can roll out of bed and have ideas. I can go to lunch with a friend and get a spin on an article. It’s really delicious when your life and your work are so in sync.