LilSugar

Baby Bump: EGG Relief Sniff Box

babysugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:00:10 -0700

Ever been sick to your stomach and wished there was a cure for the horrendous feeling? Well, perhaps there is. Queasy mommies-to-be may find the lemongrass and ginger scents of EGG Relief Sniff Box ($18) intoxicating.

Packaged in a small canister, the sniff box can be tossed into ill-feeling mamas' totes and pulled out when nausea strikes. A few whiffs and the waves will hopefully start to subside. And a dirty lil secret . . . some people say it works just as well for hangovers. If mommy has too much wine (post-baby, of course), the natural morning sickness remedy may do her a bit of unintentional good.

Swap Dyed Eggs With JELL-O Egg Jigglers This Easter

LilSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:00:00 -0700

If you can't stomach the thought of eating baskets and bowls of tinted hard boiled eggs this Easter, consider an equally edible and kid-friendly alternative. Rather than dipping traditional eggs, make JELLO Egg Jigglers. Enlist your tots and gather the ingredients: JELL-O mix, water and the egg molds. Then whip up a few batches so you have an assortment of colors and flavors. After chilling, the goodies will be ready for placement in baskets or to send as a party snack to your child's school.

Donating Eggs to Make Ends Meet?

LilSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:00:35 -0700

If you were in tough financial straits, would you consider donating your future children? A recent CNN article reported that in a time of recession, more women explore the option of selling their eggs. One woman explained her reason for doing so. She said:

"The cost of living is crazy right now, with two kids, gas prices, and rent . . . I'm living paycheck to paycheck," said the 24-year-old, who did not give her last name to protect her identity. "I just really need the money to finish school."

Egg donation can prove lucrative, paying from $5,000 to $10,000. While some clinics have reported a surge in inquiries, skeptics wonder if it is due to the economy or heightened awareness of the option. And the process is intense, involving physical and psychological tests, hormone injections, blood work, ultrasounds, and possible side effects. It's by no means a quick way to score cash. For one 28-year-old mother, the compensation she got from four previous donations may prove useful in the near future. She said:

"I have two children of my own, and I definitely wanted other families to be able to have that opportunity," she told the Sun Times. "For my family, [the money] wasn't a necessity, but it was a nice nest egg if things should get worse. My husband is in construction and . . . that's not doing so well right now."

Would you consider egg donation?

Source

Women Buy Time by Freezing Their Eggs

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:32:18 -0700

The May issue of Marie Claire has babies covered, from Baby Mama star and real-life mom Tina Fey on the cover to a firsthand account of egg banking inside.

In a steady relationship but not ready to have children, writer Sarah Elizabeth Richards bought herself some time and peace of mind by freezing her eggs.

As she approached her 37th birthday, Sarah spent her $13,000 savings to do so. She wrote:

"For once, I didn't have to be that anxious girl trying to beat some fertility expiration date anymore. I could simply admire a baby and wonder what mine would look like someday, the way I used to before the biological clock started."

For information and pictures, read more.

Approximately 220 American clinics now offer egg freezing, though the process is still new, as only about 500 babies have been born of it. For more information on egg banking, check out the latest issue of Marie Claire.

What's your opinion on this practice?

Photos by Erin Patrice O'Brien

View 2 Photos ›

Mommy's Lil Helper: Ped Egg

babysugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:00:20 -0700

Before having babies, I used to pamper my hands and feet every so often with a relaxing mani and pedi. Since becoming a mother, I have hardly had time to sit in a vibrating massage chair with someone else tending to my toes. With sandal season approaching, I needed to find a way to clean up my feet without dealing with spa appointments and sitters.

While waiting in line at the local Walgreens, I spotted the "As Seen on TV Ped Egg" ($10). A sucker for point-of-purchase sales, I grabbed one and decided to give it a go. Ladies, it's all it's cracked up to be. Right after my shower this morning, I tested it and in less than five minutes, my callouses were gone! Smoother than if a professional had done it, I eagerly lathered my feet up with some creamy lotion and slipped on my open toe shoes. Now if I could only figure out how to paint my nails like the pros...

Pimp Your Crib: My Little Nest Egg

babysugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:24 -0700

You'll probably warn your wee one not to put all of his eggs in one basket at some point in time. But, there's no harm in stashing all of his pennies in an eggshell. A twist on the traditional piggy bank, your tot will delight in having his own My Little Nest Egg ($25) for future savings.

The shell stands eight inches tall and reads, "Whether my dreams be grand or small, my nest egg will help me save for them all." A darling gift for a boy or girl, the ceramic treasure can be personalized with the child's name and birthday.

Lil Tip: Eggcellent Use of Egg Cartons

babysugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:00:11 -0700

Egg cartons are good for more than just safely carting raw eggs home. As you prepare your Halloween costumes, consider including them in your design as ears, noses, and other crafty costume parts.

Use one pod and paint it pink with two black slits and attach pink ribbon to tie it around the face for a pig's nose.
Paint two of them black and hot glue them on a headband for a pair of cat ears.
Paint them yellow and wrap yourself up in green for a cute "corn on the cob" get up.
Cut out two side-by-side pods and attach pipe cleaners for a pair of goggles or glasses - punch out the bottom so your wee one can see of course!

The possibilities are endless so think before you toss that handy tray into your recycle bin!
Source

Would You Give Your Sperm or Eggs Without Asking Questions?

LilSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0800

Nadya Suleman, mama to octuplets and a total of 14 children, has caused quite a bit of hoopla in recent weeks. All the media attention has raised questions as to the sperm donor's identity. Denis Beaudoin, a former boyfriend of Suleman's, came forward to talk about the possibility that the kids are his. While in his 20s and dating the now-famous woman, he made several sperm donations on her behalf when she told him she had ovarian cancer. In retrospect, he says he should have asked more questions. Would you give your eggs or sperm to a boyfriend or girlfriend so readily?

Would You Take a DNA Test to Determine Your Fertility?

babysugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:40 -0800

It is a fact of life that women are more physically able to have children at a younger age - hence the biological clock talk. However, today's women are less likely to fall into the role of Donna Reed and take on the homemaker tasks in their early 20s. Instead young ladies are out getting degrees, making a name for themselves in the corporate world and taking the time to enjoy a jaunt or two around the world. While it's wonderful that many women are having fulfilling lives before starting families, it does leave some worried about the future of their fertility because even though the times have changed, biology hasn't much. What has changed is the ability to test one's fertility.

Fearing they may miss out on the window of babymaking opportunities, some ladies are choosing to test their eggs as a sort of crystal ball measurement of their mothering capabilities. While tests like that may offer a glimpse into one's parenting days, there is a decent chance it provides false hope for some while dampening free spirits.

So tell us, would you take a test like this knowing it could change your perspective on life or would you rather go with the unknown as we've done since the beginning of time?

Egg Carton Herb Garden Gives Your Lil One a Green Thumb

LilSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:12 -0700

When a friend's son came home from preschool enthusiastically telling her about the sunflower seeds he had planted and watered in a little plastic cup, I was inspired to teach my tots about the benefits of gardening. My lil ones know a thing or two about the fruits and vegetables we eat from our frequent trips to the farmers market, but I wasn't sure they knew what was involved in making the food grow. By allowing them to plant and care for the seeds themselves, I thought they would gain a greater appreciation for what ends up on our plates.

Given our limited space and overgrown backyard, I started out with a classic egg carton herb garden. Egg carton gardens require little dirt, no weeding and can fit right on your windowsill for easy watering access. After showing my kids pictures of the full-grown herbs, I allowed them to pick three herbs a piece to plant and nourish in our new garden.

To read how we created the garden, read more.

First, I cut the lid off the egg carton.
I had the kids fill each cell of the carton a little more than halfway with potting soil.
The kids then buried two or three of the same kind of seeds right below the dirt surface in each cell.
Using popsicle sticks, we labeled each cell with the type of seeds we were growing
We then gently watered the soil.
The garden was then set on a sunny windowsill to soak up some rays
We then watered the soil on a daily basis and watched for sprouts to appear.
Once the plants grow too large for the egg carton, we can replant them in a larger container.