LilSugar

My Kid Is Not Up For Adoption!

babysugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:00:00 PDT

Posting photos online has pros and cons. Families separated by mountains and seas can share photos and stories instantaneously, but there are hazards to the free space as well. A Massachusetts mother recently discovered her son was being falsely advertised on Craigslist for adoption. A good Samaritan of sorts notified the woman that her kid's photos were being used by a scammer.

Following up on her lead, the curious mom emailed the poster and asked for a picture of the child that they looked to place. Much to her surprise, the mommy was horrified to see her own child staring back at her. Safe in his home, the impostor pulled off his stunt by swiping the picture of the youngster from the family's blog with hopes of collecting a $300 fee to start an adoption process. This is a red flag for the many women sharing their experiences on mommy blogs. Do you openly share photos of your family online?

Do Mom Bloggers Take It Too Far?

LilSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:00:05 PST

When moms blog, we often broadcast aspects of our lives including stories about our partners and tidbits about our children similar to how women swap stories (or vent) at the playground. Do you think it's appropriate?

Mommy Bloggers and UNICEF Unite to Wipe Out Tetanus

LilSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:00:46 PDT

As mothers, it is our instinct to help those we see in harm's way - the fallen child on the playground, the lost lil one in the supermarket or the tot running toward traffic, but it's hard to assist those that we do not see, people who struggle just to survive. At the Pampers Mommy Blogger Event earlier this month, I had the great pleasure of meeting Caryl Stern, the President and CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF. She is both an inspiring woman and a mother of three who is committed to wiping out tetanus, which killed 140,000 babies and 30,000 mothers last year. These deaths are preventable with a vaccine that costs five cents.

Pampers has partnered with UNICEF on this cause and allowed us to screen an internal video they made for their employees. After watching this footage of Bryan McCleary (director of external relations for P&G baby care) in Angola, there was not a dry eye in the room or a blogger who wasn't committed to making a difference. We asked that Pampers release this video so we could share it with our readers and inspire them to join the movement to help fellow mothers and babies around the world. Please be warned that there is an image of a baby who contracted tetanus in the tape.
To find out how you can contribute to wiping out tetanus,

Mommy Bloggers Get Pampered

LilSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:00:00 PDT

Aside from incredibly cute commercials of sleeping babies or offering my kids amazing leak protection, I've never given much thought to Pampers. When Proctor & Gamble invited me to be their guest at a mommy bloggers event in Cincinnati, I kept an open mind, but knew the two days could end up being a corporate panel of suits trying to push us to peddle their wares on our websites. Curious to see why they were summoning women of the web and which, if any, environmental practices the company had adopted, I boarded the plane. In Ohio, I met fourteen amazing mothers that blog from across the country - New York, Hawaii, Georgia, even Appalachia. We were warmly welcomed by fellow parents, the Pampers executives, who shared the reasons why they are committed to children. To hear their stories,

. One big wig spent time in an orphanage as a baby prior to being adopted, and another staffer traveled to Asia to adopt her two daughters. As the execs shared tales of their global efforts from taking long winter walks with mothers in Moscow to exploring inserts for children's split pants in China, it was clear these people were impassioned by their work.

My whirlwind jaunt to Ohio turned out to be incredibly informative and in regards to the company's charitable efforts, moving. Stay tuned for more posts on everything from indicator diapers to our meeting with the CEO of UNICEF and her efforts to end infant death from tetanus around the world.

Hunger Games Tattoos, Mad Men Makeup, and More

BellaSugar — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 06:00:53 PDT

Check out our latest BellaTV episode and some of our favorite stories from the week:

See mockingjay tattoos inspired by The Hunger Games.
Mad Men is back, and so are the retro beauty looks we love.
Figure out the trick to avoid cakey concealer.
Learn how guest blogger Mally Roncal balances a life of makeup with mommy time.
Are you prepared? Why you should use two primers instead of one.
Discover these beauty products for an Aries birthday girl.
How to keep your short hairstyle versatile (inspired by Ginnifer Goodwin).
The secret is out: Celebrity hair stylists reveal their techniques.
Get Lily Collins's red lips from the Mirror Mirror premiere.
Glimpse the Kate Spade and Poppy King nail polish before it hits stores.

Introducing Guest Blogger Soleil Moon Frye

LilSugar — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:21:11 PDT

We are thrilled to introduce our latest guest blogger, Soleil Moon Frye! The former Punky Brewster actress is now a mom of two - Poet, 6, Jagger, 3 - the owner of the hip, eco-chic Little Seed baby boutique, a Mommy Ambassador for Target, and the author of Happy Chaos, a parenting guide for moms who don't quite fit into the picture-perfect lifestyle many other books idealize.

After giving birth to Poet, the spunky mama felt lost in the world of spit-up and collapsible strollers that other moms seemed to "get" so easily. She turned to Twitter and Facebook to share her frustrations and ask questions, quickly building a loyal following of new moms feeling the same way.

Now she's joining us to share how she's learned to embrace the chaos life throws her way and see what tips other mothers can contribute. Tune in tomorrow for Soleil's first post for LilSugar!

What Can I Do to Make My Skin Less Prone to Sunburn?

Real Beauty — Thu, 12 May 2011 06:00:00 PDT

We're excited to announce our new partnership with one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty! Each week we'll be bringing you some of their best advice, news, and how-tos. We're kicking things off with must-read information on preventing sunburn:

Q:

Is there anything I can do to make my skin less prone to sunburn in the summer?

A:

Obviously applying sunscreen is a must. Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water resistant formula with SPF of at least 30 to all exposed areas, including your scalp. Apply enough to fill a shot glass to your body and 1/2 a teaspoon to your face and reapply every two hours.

RELATED: Summer skin tips

In addition, wear protective clothing that is tightly woven and dark in color along with a hat and sunglasses. Several companies now make UV-absorbing clothes that have a high Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating, indicating the amount of rays it absorbs. A 50 UPF fabirc will only allow 1/50th of the sun's rays to penetrate.

Last, if you use any products with retinol or glycolic and salicylic acid, consider taking a break from them as they can make you more sensitive to the sun. You can also take Heliocare supplements (available OTC at most drugstores), which have antioxidant properties and if taken before sun exposure can help maintain the skin's ability to protect against sun damage.

Photo credit: Izvorinka Jankovic

OnSugar Blog: Back-to-School Checklist For College Moms

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:15:32 PDT

Being a mom and a college student means double the work . . . and finances! OnSugar blogger the college mom gives tips on how moms can juggle their mommy and student duties when they are enrolled in school.

Even traditional aged students get the jitters when it comes to back to school time. So if it's been awhile since you've been in the classroom, you're certainly entitled to be a bit nervous. While going back to school as a parent with home, work or family obligations can be a bit scary, some pre-planning can help you to feel a bit more ready and confident about your new educational path.

Get Your Finances in Order

Money's tight for many of us these days. Be sure you have your financial aid in order before starting back to school. Though it is possible to find last-minute financial assistance, you'll be more likely to qualify for everything you're entitled to if you begin the process early. Whether you qualify for loans, grants or scholarships, you'll feel much better knowing the bulk of your education costs are taken care of. If you could still use a little cash in your pocket, check to see if your campus has any part-time jobs for students or work-study programs, These are often convenient ways to make some money.

Read on for more tips.

Beautiful Idea: Vintage Americana

Real Beauty — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:31:32 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty:

We love new technology and trends, but when it comes to packaging, nothing is as refreshing as vintage-inspired products and their retro-chic inspirations.

More stories from RealBeauty.com:
33 Best Mommy Blogger Beauty Tips

Source: Flickr User queenie13