LilSugar

Plastic Surgery Book: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:00:36 PDT

If mommy's going in for a lil nip and tuck, there's no reason to hide it.

Or so believes, Michael Salzhauer, M.D. who wrote the new children's book on plastic surgery, My Beautiful Mommy! ($20) published by Big Tent Books.

The text is intended to help kids cope with their altered mama -whether she's two sizes smaller, invested in ballooned breasts or a different nose - in a nonthreatening way.

The story and coordinating illustrations walk wee ones through surgery and recovery.

Tori Spelling Asks: Are Little Girls Born to Be Mommies?

Tori Spelling — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:53:37 PDT

We're happy to share a new post from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori wonders if all little girls want to be moms.

It's fascinating to me that, from the time little girls can walk and talk, they already have the mommy gene. It's so natural for them to want to be mothering and nurturing. Stella, from such an early age, was obsessed with holding her baby, changing her baby, pretending to feed it, and putting it down for naps. I often hear her calmly yet firmly reprimanding her baby doll for acting up. After she gives her tough love, I see her hug the baby and tell her, "I love you.” It's beyond beautiful!

Related: Liam's World - on S-E-X

So, as women, is it just in our nature from birth to be mommies? Do your daughters play Mommy, too? I’d love to hear your take below.

A Day in the Life of a Celebrity Makeup Artist

Guest Writer — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:41:39 PDT

We are pleased to present the following post, written by our guest writer Mally Roncal!

Hi, BellaSugar beauties. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Mally Roncal, celebrity makeup artist and president and creator of Mally Beauty. Like so many of you fierce ladies out there, I am an entrepreneur, a mom (to three beautiful girls), and a beauty addict. While I love getting glammed up for my live appearances on QVC, photo shoots, and for TV shows, when you find me at home, I've got my hair up and I'm wearing no lashes - total mommy-mode. My life is not always glamorous jet-setting, big hair, and heels, and I would not change any minute of it. Here's a peek into a non-TV day, giving you an inside look into my very blessed life. See Mally's full-day schedule when you read more.

Down but Not Out: Tori Spelling Shares Her Friend's Perspective on Raising a Child With Down Syndrome

Tori Spelling — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:02:22 PST

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling! Every other week, we're bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle advice from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, which is Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori shares a letter from her friend about her baby who was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Today, I’m sharing a guest blog by my friend Lisa, owner of Evolution Vintage. Her son was born with Down syndrome, and in honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st, she has offered to share her story. When I read this, I had tears streaming down my face - not because I felt sorry for Lisa’s son Blake, but because she inspires me as a mom. I hope you are as touched by her story as I was:

Down But Not Out
By Lisa Graystone

Friday the 13th turned out to be the luckiest day of my life . . . in hindsight. I gave birth for the second time to my son Blake under very traumatic circumstances. He was born blue, lifeless and his first sounds resembled a watery gurgle, not a cry. His birth was fast and as a result he had lungs full of water and had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice. I was unable to hold him before they rushed him to the special care nursery for respiratory therapy and monitoring. We spent six days in the hospital. During this time, due to the shape of his eyes, the doctors suspected Blake had Trisomy 21; also known as Down Syndrome (DS). He fought to live and to be here, only now to be faced with a prospective hurdle he would continue to jump for the rest of his life. The postpartum hormones were swirling as I sat down the hall from my new son who was fighting for his life; quietly smelling the receiving blanket from his NICU nest and pumping my breasts alone in tears. Nine agonizing days later, the test results confirmed the doctor’s suspicions. The joy and relief that my son was alive was immediately shrouded in darkness, sadness, despair and shock. I am under 35 and was not given the option of amniocenteses (the test that can conclusively tell you if your baby has DS). The blood test that was available I opted not to do because of the high false positive rate and the fact that there were no "risk factors" - my first child was healthy and my ultrasounds were normal and we were reassured that everything was "fine." I was surrounded by fear and unknowns, questions with no answers and a baby boy to care for.

Related: Children With Swag

I have no time to be on the "why me" program being the ambitious mompreneur that I am. I had to force myself to say: "WHY NOT" and bring it on to my already full plate. There seemed to be no other alternative than to take it head on and realize that the only thing I can control is my attitude, approach and perspective. I feel very lucky to have been given this boy and with him the opportunity for personal growth, education and evolution.

I introduced Blake to my family and friends (many who live 3,000 miles away in Canada) via this letter written from his perspective:

Keep reading to see Blake's letter and for more facts about Down Syndrome.

OnSugar Blog: 5 Must Haves For a Clean, Stylish, Happy Baby and Mommy

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:15:36 PDT

Lots of moms and mommies-to-be like to think out loud, and Nicole Pearl, the Beauty Girl is one of them. She recently posted about her favorite products for baby and mom on her The Beauty Girl blog.

It's only Tuesday and it's already been a big week of celeb news: Kim K's divorcing and Jessica Simpson's having a baby! Breakups suck, but personal experience proves they make you stronger. Babies, on the other hand, are the biggest gift of love. I can't believe my little man Rex is already 8 weeks old! I admit, the past couple of months have been grueling between the sleepless nights and never-ending bouts of spit up. But they've also been the most rewarding, magical moments of my life.

Jessica's announcement got me thinking about how far I've come as a mom. Like, I went from not knowing what a breast pump was to being able to put the parts together in the dark. And the full five minutes it once took me to change a diaper has been shaved down to seconds. In just two months, I've become fluent in baby from gadgets to products. I still have a lot to learn, and I've been grateful to all the moms who have shared their tips with me. Now, it's my turn to pay it forward. I've listed a few of my favorite finds (more installments to come!). Hopefully these will come in just as handy for baby Simpson and all the future tots-to-be.

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash: After washing Rex's hair and body with this, he smells just like a baby should - fresh, clean and yummy all at once. I've been sent a lot of baby bath products from a bunch of different companies and will report back on the others as I give them a try.

Kicky Pants, Ralph Lauren and Splendid onesies: A onesie is the baby equivalent of a dress. Just slip it on and the look is complete. From preppy to hipster, I love dressing Rex up in stylish looks, and I've fallen in love with the fashions from these three brands. Kicky Pants onesies come in fun prints and are made with a bamboo fabric that's so soft, I wish they made clothes for adults. Rex may as well be a model for Ralph Lauren because every other thing he wears is RL baby. From the most precious white nightie to a velour jumper, there's a wealth of adorable options, especially for boys. Splendid wins for creating mini versions of fashions that you'd wear yourself. Like the brand's adult line, the clothes are comfy and cute. Check out Rex in the lower photo with his teddy. He's rocking a Splendid hooded onesie.

Baby Aquaphor: I oil Rex up from head to toe every night. I keep a tub by his changing table and a tube in my diaper bag. I swear by this ointment. It's kept his pretty baby face acne free, has fended off diaper rash and stopped the first signs of cradle cap in its tracks.

Keep reading to see the rest of The Beauty Girl's recommendations.

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: Preggo Products I Can't Live Without

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 03:46:11 PDT

Lots of moms and mommies-to-be like to think out loud, and Nicole Pearl, the Beauty Girl is one of them. She recently posted about her favorite pregnancy products on her The Beauty Girl blog.

I'm having a baby! I'm in the final weeks and am happy to be able to say I'm still feeling good. I haven't gotten swollen or stretched out to the point that I'm miserable. Perhaps I can attribute this to my diligent application of skin softening products that relieve me every time my tummy feels itchy or so big it's going to burst. For the past nine months I've slathered on balms, oils and creams day and night like a champ and have whittled it down to the ones I just couldn't live without. Here they are . . .

As you can see from the above picture, I used every last drop of this incredible salve. It's thick and waxy and melts into skin, but don't be surprised if the Bella B Tummy Honey Butter gets stuck under your nails. I used this religiously before bed. If you're slathering on during the day, be sure to give it at least 10 minutes to fully absorb or else it could end up on your clothes. I learned this the hard way.

I've come to love the feel of oil on my belly. Erbaviva stretch mark oil and Mama Mio Tummy Rub (shown above) are two of my favorites. I pour a quarter-size amount into my palm and rub it on in sweeping circular motions. This has become part of my morning ritual, which is really relaxing for me and baby. And whenever I need some mid-day relief, I usually reach for Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter (shown above). The lightweight cream spreads evenly, dries fast and doesn't feel greasy.

By the way, I have no clue what to do once the baby comes, but at least right now I know I'm doing something right - I'm proud to say I'm stretch mark free!

Want to see more? Start following The Beauty Girl blog or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just might feature your content on our site!

Fab Exclusive! Gwen Stefani Talks L.A.M.B, Trends, Trousers

FabSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:46:14 PST

Gwen Stefani left her LA life behind temporarily to attend the Fall presentation of L.A.M.B. at New York Fashion Week. How cool is this shot of her with her models? But before we check out her latest rockin' chic designs, let's hear what one of the coolest mommies in Hollywood said about her Fall inspirations, her favorite trends, and design aspirations. Be sure to also hear Gwen's thoughts on red lipstick and her new fragrance.

Her design aspirations:
I just want to make stuff that I want to wear . . . Stuff I want to wear every day that's to the left enough that it makes you feel unique and individual, but also you can wear it. That's my ultimate goal . . . I think the collection has a lot of that in it . . . That's the hardest thing to do. It's easy to make some glamorous dress and put all of your energy into that. To make that T-shirt that you just throw on that's actually cool and funky and makes people go, "Whoa!" When they're jealous, that's what I want to do.

To hear what else Gwen said and to see her Fall '10 line,

On the Fall collection:
The collection is kind of based on this vintage, naughty Hollywood girl - starlet girl, and then a little bit of a modern, futuristic girl, and a little bit of a soldier girl . . . What I've learned is that you kind of have the inspiration, you have the picture, you have an idea, and what I love about fashion and about doing it is that it just sort of evolves into whatever it's going to be . . . A lot of things drop out, a lot of things don't make it, but at the end of the day it's like the creative process of that picture and that drama that makes you very creative and come up with things that you wouldn't. And some of my favorite looks of the show are things where we were like, "There's nothing on this rack!" And then you put it together, and there is actually something on the rack. I can't wait to see it all together, with the music, and the girls, and the girls look so beautiful. They blow my mind.

On trend she's looking forward to:
I just love when things that I love come back into trend. It's funny because it does recycle, doesn't it? I don't really know what the trends, are; obviously my team kind of does that thing and I listen, whatever I like I just kind of go for.

Current trends she's loving:
My whole life I always wore men's pants, trousers, and would be that look. And I had to fight for years to try to get people to like want me to - and now they're in. They're gonna always be in for me. Like when they're out, I'll still wear trousers.

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Tunes and Texts: Munro Leaf Books

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:00:00 PST

I had the chance to peruse some seriously trendy children's stores and boutiques on Beverly Drive in Los Angeles recently and noticed many of them had the somewhat old school Munro Leaf books, Manners Can Be Fun, Brushing Your Teeth Can Be Fun, How to Speak Politely and Why, How to Behave and Why and Reading Can Be Fun (all about $15), on display. Leaf is known to most as the author of the controversial children's book The Story of Ferdinand, but published about 40 kitschy guide books for children in the '30s and '40s, many of which have been reprinted in the last few years. Aesthetically, the books are beautiful, bright and fun to look at (I couldn't help but think they'd look very matchy matchy with a Reading Is Cool poster!), and hidden inside are messages that ring true no matter what the decade. The series features stick-figure illustrations and wholesome, verse-y text aimed at teaching children the rules of thoughtfulness and etiquette. My mommy gift meter says these could help add a serious tone to a goofy present and would be a nice addition to any bedtime story lineup.

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Guess the Musical Mama!

babysugar — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:00:25 PDT

Many musically talented ladies share their beautiful voices for our listening pleasure and some have even bared their baby bumps on magazine covers to appease our voyeuristic minds. Like many working women, these moms have kept up their singing careers while being mommy all the while. Take my quiz to see if you can guess the musical mama!

Question 1 of 6

Which mama often likes to sport sweat pants when she's not on stage?