LilSugar

Do You Carry Pictures of Your Children?

babysugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:00:23 -0700

Back in the day, moms didn't dare leave the house without their brag books. These days, parents carry their cell phones, which often have cameras included. At a moment's notice, they can whip out digital evidence of their wee ones adorable mugs.

For months now I have been meaning to buy a book and fill it with snapshots of my daughter's various stages. As number two quickly approaches, I better get on it sooner than later.

Do you have a brag book?
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Burdened by Brag Books, Sonogram and Pint-Sized Pics?

LilSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:00:23 -0700

In the 1980s, families forced hour long home videos of junior taking a bath on their helpless victims. And, while that is truly something only a mother can love, the latest trends for showcasing kids are a bit less time consuming.

It seems everyone has a sonogram snapshot, Flip cam clip or brag book to browse. Along with the easy share capabilities that companies like Shutterfly have opened up for emailing milestone pictures by the hundreds.

And, it's not proud parents, toting and transmitting images of the tykes, it's grandparents and other relatives.

Do you think these methods are awesome or overkill?

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Photographer Sets New Standard For Newborn Portraits

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:30 -0700

Show me a new mama and I'll show you a woman with a brag book filled with precious photos of her newborn. There's no denying that parents love to show off their kids, be it via images on their phones, albums in their Facebook accounts or photo albums bursting out of their bags.

While snapshots on the ol' digital camera may work for some moms, others turn to the professionals for a portrait that can become the centerpiece of their rooms. For years, Anne Geddes' whimsical shots of babies incorporated into nature were the standard by which photographers shot their subjects, but following an appearance on The Today Show, a Nebraska shutterbug with a knack for photographing sleepy newborns in some adorable poses is creating a stir. Tracy Raver's calming photos of weeks-old babes are the result of warm studios and bellies full of milk, allowing the artist to carefully maneuver the tots into her signature poses. Raver told viewers her trick was to photograph babies before they turned one month old, because that's when they get a bit feistier and can throw off a session.

Did you turn to the professionals to photograph your newborn, or did you stick with family snapshots?

Photo courtesy of Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden Photography

Introducing the LilSugar Community!

LilSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:00:51 -0700

Mamas - come one, come all and check out our new lilsugar Community! This virtual playground has everything a mother needs. Pull out your brag book and showcase your Sugarbabies or seek advice from Mommy Dearest. Tell us the tricks your mama taught you and divulge the things you wished you had known!

Our new community also allows you to start your own groups, participate in other member's groups, meet new friends that share your interests, and maybe even be featured on any of the PopSugar Network sites. We have made it easier than ever before to create and share content with your LilSugar friends, so check it out and start having fun.

For those of you that already have an account, you can get started right away. For those who don't, you can browse the lilsugar Community without an account, but to really dive in, register here.

Looking for your unreads? They have gotten an upgrade too and can be found here. Your new profile features all of your content as well as a link to your very own OnSugar blog. If you have any questions or problems you can ask me, check out our Community Help Group, or send a private message to our Community Manager.

We're so excited to share our new community with you - check it out now!

Living in the Middle Place

babysugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

I always loved my mom . . . even when I "hated" her during those fleeting teenage dramatic moments. But, almost nothing can make a child appreciate their parents more than becoming one themselves. Author Kelly Corrigan details balancing her life as a mom, wife, and daughter in her story, The Middle Place. She aptly starts one chapter:

It is one thing to be a man's wife - quite another to be the mother of his children. In fact, once you become a mother, being a wife seems like a game you once played or a self-help book you were overly impressed with as a teenager that on second reading is puffy with common ideas. This was one of many things I had learned since crossing over into the middle place - that sliver of time when childhood and parenthood overlap. One day you're cheering your daughter through a swimming lesson or giving her a pat for crossing the monkey bars or reminding her to say "please," and the next, you're bragging to your parents about your newest trick - a sweet potato recipe, a raise at work, a fix for your ant problem. It's a giant Vin diagram where you are the only member of both sets.

A perfect metaphor for my own familial relationships, I am certain Corrigan speaks the truth for many moms the world over. Perhaps we all share that inner space of the circular graph.

Custom Baby Accordion Books: Ga Ga or Gag?

LilSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:03 -0800

There's no denying these custom baby accordion books are remarkably beautiful, but is having a professionally made brag book worth the $175 price tag? The concept is very simple: you send the company 15 photos and it creates a fan book to match your images, prints it on fancy paper and add pretty ribbons. I am wowed by the look and think they would make the ideal gift for family members, but overwhelmed by the cost. What's your take?

The Gifted Mother: Seasoned Mommy-to-Be

LilSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:11 -0800

A mom who's expecting her second (third, fourth, etc.) bundle of joy has more experience than those pregnant with their first. Forget books on what she should expect and potions on keeping stretch marks at bay; she's already been there, done that. Sure she'd love a few extra hours in the day to catch up on her sleep or a moment's peace, but here are some gifts that will keep her plugging along during pregnancy.

Great Expectations takes the seasoned mom through 24 true stories of labor and delivery. Since she's already experienced the joy of childbirth, she'll appreciate reading other tales from the hospital bed.
The 3G iPhone is modern-day mom's brag book. The seasoned mommy-to-be will love being able to share pictures of her little ones, in preschool and in utero, with the touch of a screen.
She's already got a closet full of maternity clothes from her previous pregnancy, but she still likes to keep her look current. A fabulous pair of flat boots such as the Paige Boots from Frye will rev up her existing wardrobe.

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Are We Breeding Brats?

babysugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:00:17 -0700

Like most moms, I spoil my babe every now and then. By that, I mean I buy her a pretty dress for Easter, she has stacks of books up to her eyeballs and likes a swipe of frosting from a cupcake.

But, I see it more and more where moms dress their kids like lil Paris Hiltons and treat them like queens. The t–shirts that say, "Someday I'll get trashed at prom." really don't make me laugh.

To hear my reasoning, read more.

And while I know they are meant to be humorous, I can't stomach the mother–daughter sets that brag about how "hot" the mother is. Seriously - isn't that just begging for attention? And besides that, what are you teaching your child when the hot factor is revered? It seems like we're breeding a generation of brats before they're even able to speak!

Maybe I'll make a line of onesies that exclaim, "Don't ya wish your mommy was smart like mine?" Don't ya?

What's your take on these tees?

Lil Find: Pendants For Posh Mamas

babysugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:00:48 -0700

Some moms carry brag books while others have baby's name and birthday tattooed on their bods. For trendsetting moms like Kate Hudson, Nicole Richie, and Courteney Cox, a simple pendant necklace is what they wear to remind them of their lil love.

Not on the cheap, these Jennifer Meyer necklaces are crafted from 18K gold- and diamond-encrusted letters. At $1,250 a pop, the eye candy would have most new mums seeing stars.

Lil Find: Dolce Mia Vintage Designs

LilSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:00:53 -0800

Everything old is new again, or so the saying goes. When I first came across the vintage-inspired products from Dolce Mia, the muted tones and cheery images took me back to the nurseries of my childhood.

Dolce Mia hand-cuts decoupage images and then coats them with a deep glossy resin finish so they last. Ballerina, cowboy, farm animal and circus themes are applied to clocks, picture frames, placemats, growth charts, photo albums, brag books and wall decor. These unique products are sure to bring a smile to any new mom's face, or to your own!