LilSugar

Trendtotting: Chris O'Donnell's All American Boys

babysugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:00:32 -0700

Actor Chris O'Donnell is known for his all-American looks and charm so it seems fitting that he and his wife, Caroline, dress their adorable children in unpretentious, but classic style. The three oldest O'Donnell kids showed up to the premiere of their dad's new family film Kit Kittredge: An American Girl looking like they had just stepped off the yacht and I love them for it. Lily, 8, walked the press line in a darling yellow number, while Chip, 7, and Charlie, 4, went for comfortable, pairing jeans with Crewcuts blazers, Ralph Lauren shirts, jeans and white Converse.

Boys' Noroton patchwork madras sportcoat - $135.00	Boys' two-button schoolboy blazer - $138.00
Converse boys chuck taylor® all star® - $25.00	Bedford Straight-Leg Jean - $45.00
Oxford Blake Shirt - $39.50	Boys 8-20 Classic Oxford - $49.75
Boys' braided web belt - $19.50

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Kit Kittredge: An American Girl: Interview with Chris O'Donnell

LilSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:00:25 -0700

He caught our eye as Charlie Simms, the kind hearted collegian, playing opposite Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman and young ladies swooned when he broke up a Circle of Friends as Jack Foley. Chris O'Donnell is the quintessential American male with conventional good looks, smarts and the friendly disposition of the boy, now man, next door. He's the kind of guy that men and mothers like. And, he's the only actor that made us believe that Meredith might pass up McDreamy.

The real life father of five - Lily, 8, Chip, 7, Charlie, 4, Finley, 2 and Maeve, 6 months - who is married to wife, Caroline, is spending the summer on the silver screen as Mr. Kittredge in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl starring Abigail Breslin. The scenes between the dapper dad and his precocious daughter who face hardship during the Great Depression leave a lump in your throat. We recently had a chance to chat with the actor about his latest film.

There are two moments in the film, when Kit spots her dad in the soup kitchen and the ensuing conversation they have by the tree-house, that have an incredible impact on the audience. It's that notion of a parent not being able to provide for his children. How did you prepare for the scene?

I've got kids of my own; We all love our parents and we love our spouses, but until you have your own kid you don't really know what that kind of love is. It's where you would put yourself in front of a moving train for your kid and I think that you understand what that must have felt like. Mr. Kittredge's trying to protect his daughter as most parents do and not have her worry about the hardships of what was going on in their time. And when she sees him in the soup kitchen, he's forced to tell her a little bit more about what the realities are and what they are going to have to do. He tries to put the best spin on it or prepare her for it by telling her that story about his car - don't let it beat ya, and as parents that's about all you can do. It's a situation where he has to go off to find work.

To see the actor's fears as a father, read more.

In that same vein, as the father of five who found early success much like Mr. Kittredge, is being able to provide for your children a legitimate fear of yours, or do you have others?

What's tough for me is when I'm away on location because in my business it's feast or famine when it comes to spending time with my kids. I either have more time than I know what to do with or I don't have any time with them, so I try to maximize my time when I'm with them. But when I'm away on location, thank God for Apple iChat because I can see them on the computer. It's scary - part of being a parent is trying to teach the kids the lessons they need to learn. And sometimes, the kid comes home and asks you a question and you're kind of stalling thinking what's the answer that I am supposed to give here. I'll be calling my older brothers or sisters and asking what do we tell them about this again? Because you realize they are coming to you for all this information and most of it is instinctual, but every once in a while they'll come up with something and you'll think that's a tricky one. You know, let me get back to you on that one.

It's been said that you did Batman for your sons and this movie for your daughters? Is Lily a fan of the American Girl series?

She is a fan and I knew about it because I'm from Chicago and I had visited the store before with my nieces and now with my daughter and we've got a lot of the dolls and that sort of thing. I was highly aware of the whole American Girl phenomenon and I think that for people that do know about the dolls they are going to be so excited about the movie. And, for everyone else that wants to take their kids to a movie on the weekend, they are going to be really pleased because there's so many times that kids want to go to a movie and I can't tell you how many bad family movies I've sat through. This one really works; It's a great ride. It teaches kids a great lesson and they don't even realize they are being taught a lesson. When I left the theater with my daughter, she started asking me all about the people who lost their houses and it was great to have brought that subject up especially now - it's going to be so timely.

Do you think there's a difference between the way kids are said to grow up fast today versus the way they did during The Great Depression?

We've had an incredibly successful run in the economy for the last however many years. I mean obviously it's stalled and heading in a recession now. Then, the economy starts to get tough and that trickles down and you kind of get back to basics. Certainly anyone who lives through a depression and my father did, they don't forget the lessons they learned the same way that the men and women that fought in WWII don't. People don't always have an appreciation of what happened unless they were there and I think that's what's so great about films and books. If you saw Band of Brothers you have such an appreciation for what these guys went though in that generation. And not to compare this to Band of Brothers, but I think it's a great way for kids to get some understanding of what the depression was about, what people went through in a way that they will be excited to see and learn about it.

You've gone from being the naive character in Scent of a Woman to the father in American Girl. Is that transition hard to take or a natural transition?

It felt like the role was easy for me to relate to because I've got an 8-year-old daughter and the emotions that Mr. Kittredge is feeling for his daughter - I just understood and connected with that. But it was the first time I played a parent and I've been doing this for a long time and you start to play different roles. I'm not the kid anymore and I'm a dad so it's just kind of a natural evolution.

The Kittredges lived by the motto, "Don't let it beat you." Do the O'Donnells have a motto?

I don't know that we have a motto. That's a pretty good one right there.

So you'll adapt that one?

We might have to.

We're celebrating Kit Kittredge: An American Girl with a special giveaway next week. Stay tuned for more details.

Source and Cylla von Tiedemann

Hollywood Goes Gaga For American Girl

LilSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:17:22 -0700

It was a night of guys and dolls and American girls. On Saturday, the popular dolls that lil girls love so much came to life on the silver screen when Kit Kittredge: An American Girl had its World Premiere at The Grove in Los Angeles. Check out the slideshow to see pictures of attendees, from the star Abigail Breslin to the proud papa of a cast member, Will Smith. Source

View Slideshow ›

Are Big Families Making a Comeback?

LilSugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:00:59 -0700

Back in our parents' and grandparents' days, having half a dozen children wasn't all too unusual. In fact, some moms and dads had offspring into the double digits. Now, it seems that those instances are far and few between, with many couples maxing out at two kids.

But when we polled readers about having lots of tots, 34 percent said they'd welcome the idea, while seven percent said they would even like as many as their bodies would bear. Brad Pitt has intentions for a soccer team, Chris O'Donnell currently has a party of five, and Pete Wentz recently said that he wants a band, football team, or a geometry club.
Source

Lil Links: A Nautical Room For Wee Sailors

babysugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:00:56 -0700

Sail away in this Navy room - Momologie
LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell dish on (big) family life - Celebrity Baby Blog
What is the meaning of motherhood? - Parenting
Toronto sets breastfeeding record - CafeMom
Pregnant ladies can drink carrot juice to ensure veggie liking - ParentDish
Another lil eagle on the way for QB Donovan McNabb - Celebrity Baby Scoop
The 40-year-old bucket list - Alpha Mom
2 safe and natural ways to rid the tot's cold - Health
One mother's tale of airplane toddler terror - MomLogic
An iPhone app for free kiddie eats - Cool Mom Picks

Lil Big Screen: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

LilSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:00:51 -0700

Women may have Sex and the City this summer, but girls have Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. While the former blockbuster is all about love and labels, the latter release focuses on history and the homefront. And, for every Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha - there's been a precocious character like Kit Kittredge who paved the way.

The movie, based on the popular American Girl books and dolls, is a must see for families looking for a flick with a message and entertainment value. Played by Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin, Kit Kittredge is a nine-year-old girl growing up in Cincinnati during the Great Depression. As the comfortable world she has known falls apart, she relies on her family's motto, "Don't let it beat you" and the support of her parents and friends to pull her though.

In order to hang on to their home, Kit's dad (Chris O'Donnell) sets out to Chicago to find work while Kit and her mother (Julia Ormond) take in boarders, an array of characters that include a dancer, a librarian and a magician, and befriend hobos. Laughter and tear inducing scenes ensue. Kit's an aspiring reporter whose fact finding missions lead her to solve a series of robberies. While many young ladies grow up with Barbie or Bratz, American Girl offers more than those sexy plastic dolls. It speaks to the minds of lil women with its array of independent characters that are intelligent, inventive and principled. And, I'd prefer that for my daughter any day.

Lilsugar had the opportunity to chat with Chris O'Donnell about this poignant picture, so check back tomorrow for our interview with the real life father of five.
Source

Celebaby Style: Go Casual Like These California Casual Boys

LilSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:00:58 -0800

Celebrities dress up their little guys to the nines more than your average child, but famous tots still know how to have fun and relax in California casual duds. Here's some inspiration for keeping your kids comfy and casual but trendy.

Moses Martin's Warm Cool-Kid Look	Chris O'Donnell's All-American Boys	The Beckham Brothers Do Flannel
LA Casual: Baby Zuma Dons Burberry	David Banda Rocks Comfy	Kingston Rossdale Has Big-Slope Style

Lil Links

LilSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:00:21 -0800

Singer Lily Allen is pregnant - PopSugar
Babysitters have to eat too - The Poop
Who knew Chris O'Donnell had five kids? - Celebrity Baby Blog
Tie-dye tissue wrapping paper - Parent Hacks
Dads push for family time at work - USA Today
Phillip Lim holiday fashion - Tot Snob
Daily confession - True Mom Confessions

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