LilSugar

Designer Diaper Bags

babysugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:00:30 PDT

Being a mom doesn't mean you have to give up your labels. Design houses like Louis Vuitton, Prada and Gucci aim to shift the expectations of what a diaper bag should look like with special mommy-friendly bags sporting their signature style. Of course, it will cost you.

The Louis Vuitton monogram Mini Lin Diaper Bag, $2,120, is one of the most pricey baby bags on the market. It comes with a separate diaper mat, but is essentially just a large Louis with a few extra compartments. Would you be willing to pay the price for designer mommy style?

Louis Vuitton Monogram Mini Lin ($2,120)	Prada Nylon Diaper Bag ($1,110)
Gucci Diaper Bag ($910)	Chole Chloe Diaper Bag $800

Beyoncé Returns to the Stage With True Style, Grace, and Sequins

Katie Henry — Sat, 26 May 2012 11:23:00 PDT

Beyoncé took the stage at the Revel resort and casino in Atlantic City last night, ready to put on a high-energy show for the sold-out crowd of 5,500 fans. In her first major performance since giving birth to daughter Blue, she pulled out all the stops and changed into four jaw-dropping costumes. Ralph & Russo created Beyoncé's couture looks, which are encrusted with more than 500,000 Swarovski crystals, and took into account her high-energy dance routines when coming up with the designs. For her part, Beyoncé delivered a two-hour set of her hottest tracks. From "Run the World," one of her more recent hits, to "Single Ladies" to "Halo," she kept the crowd on their feet all night. Perhaps one of the most surprising moments of the night came at the end of the show when Beyoncé shared new personal photos and film clips, including an image of the singer holding baby Blue in her arms.

Lauren Conrad Shows Us How to Sweeten Up Our Jeans

Hannah Weil — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:35:00 PDT

Seeking sweet weekend style? Lauren Conrad showed off the easiest way to style up denim with a little seasonal charm while out in LA. With a white baby-doll blouse, ballet flats, and a touch of leopard print, the reality-star-turned-designer outfitted her staple skinny jeans with polish. Add in oversize shades and your favorite tote, like Lauren's Balenciaga, and this pretty play on denim could take you to just about anywhere on your long-weekend agenda. Feeling inspired? Shop our editors' picks to channel Lauren's chic everyday style.

5 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Paying For College

LearnVest — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:15:23 PDT

Paying for college is such a complex issue. LearnVest helps simplify it by answering some key questions in regard to paying tuition.

If you believe everything you read, then you might think you need to be a Rockefeller to have kids.

That, of course, isn't the case.

Yes, kids are expensive, and thinking about paying for a college education can be scary and frustrating . . . but that's where we come in.

As with everything else in life, figuring out what to do about your kid's college savings is all about the planning, says Stephany Kirkpatrick, CFP, LearnVest's director of financial planning. Depending on where you are in life right now and how old your kids are, you may have questions about how to set up a 529 plan (which is an education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs), what to look for, and when to start saving.

If you're pregnant or have a newborn and are starting to think about this, then good for you! The earlier you get started socking away cash for their college, the easier it will be. You'll learn a lot in this article, but you should also check out our Baby on Board Bootcamp, which will tell you everything you need to know - financially - to be ready for a baby. It includes 529 advice, as well as financial tips on everything from putting together a will and picking out a life insurance policy to buying nursery basics.
If your kid is slightly older and you’ve done your research but haven’t yet started saving in a 529 plan, then first read the four mistakes to avoid when choosing a 529 plan, and then check out the different college savings plans available to you.
If this is the first you’re thinking about it, no matter your kid's ageI, then don't worry about it. You have to start somewhere!

Read on for more.

Victoria Beckham and the Boys Go Along For David's Big Night

Allie Merriam — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:40:45 PDT

Victoria Beckham wore a dress of her own design to accompany her husband David to the annual Sports Spectacular benefit at LA's Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The gala raises funds for the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute, which researches genetic birth defects. The couple brought their three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz, along for the event, while baby Harper stayed at home. It was the latest fun outing for the Beckham boys, since earlier in the afternoon, David, Cruz, Romeo, and Brooklyn checked in at the Staples Center to watch the Los Angeles Kings take on the Phoenix Coyotes.

David was honored at the evening event for his work. On the press line, David spoke about his future with soccer. He said, "People always ask me what I want to do when I've finished playing, and they say, 'Do I want to go into management?' To be honest I've never wanted to go into management. I love coaching kids, I love working with kids. They're amazing people. They're amazingly truthful, young people, and that's what I love doing."

The entire Beckham clan is together on the West Coast after a busy period of travel for both David and Victoria. He stopped in Washington DC for an event with the president and first lady to honor the MLS-winning LA Galaxy team. David was then off to Athens and proudly helped transport the Olympic flame to London ahead of the Summer Olympics. Victoria returned for a long tour of Asia on behalf of her namesake collection. Things keep growing for Posh's business - Victoria Beckham will open her first store, possibly in Hong Kong, but more likely in London.

Jessica Alba Adds Some Glamour to the Business World in a Photo Shoot Celebrating The Honest Company

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:51:57 PDT

She's much more than just a pretty face! Jessica Alba knew she was on to something when she couldn't find a cute, affordable, and eco-friendly diaper after Honor Marie, 3½, was born. And it looks like other people are on to her now too. Jessica, through her founding of The Honest Company, was just recognized as one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company magazine. The actress, activist, and mom of two (lil Haven is 9 months old) posed in a beautiful photo shoot for the magazine, both with and without her daughters, and spoke about the inspiration for her latest venture. Among the parts of the interview that didn't make it into the magazine were her desire to shake up kiddie design and the obstacles she's overcome to get this far.

On incorporating modern design elements: Your baby is so cute, and you have to put a diaper on, and all of a sudden, it's like, wait, there's a paper bag on my baby's bottom! So once we got the effectiveness of our diapers down, I was like, "Why not make it cool?" I have tattoos, I have piercings, I grew up on MTV, I am a global citizen, I've been connected to the Internet pretty much my whole life; I feel like there's no company that speaks to me as a modern mom. I wanted to appeal to different types of aesthetics out there. So for boys' diapers - my partners thought I was completely cuckoo bananas - but we have skulls on a diaper, because I'm obsessed with Alexander McQueen and he makes skulls beautiful. And they were like, "Skulls on babies? No way!" And it's been one of our number one sellers, because people even like them on their girls, believe it or not. So we had anchors, as well, for the more traditional mom, and gingham.

On the whirlwind of creating a new company: I've been through lots of trials and tribulations, and I've learned a lot, and I now appreciate the uphill battle and struggle, because it forced me to be more tenacious and more focused and more passionate than I ever imagined that I could have been. I think that was probably the biggest lesson that I've learned.

Keep reading to see the entire photo shoot!

Photo courtesy of: Fast Company

Lil Links: It's the End of an Era for The Wiggles

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:32:40 PDT

Oh, no! The Wiggles are retiring! - BabyCenter Blog
Did this expectant mama deserve to be tasered three times? - The Stir
Reese Witherspoon is keeping her serve in line during her pregnancy - Celebrity Baby Scoop
10 prenatal eating tips for a healthier baby - FitPregnancy
Suri Cruise loves her Little Giraffe stuffed animal - Celebrity Baby Blog
Just how gross is it when your tot drops his pacifier on the floor? - Parenting
Are your kids ready for the Olympics this Summer? - Yahoo! Shine
7 easy nursery decor ideas - Circle of Moms
Truly affordable, design-worthy nursery furniture - LearnVest
What are the most common birthdays of the year? This cool infographic will tell you! - HuffPost Parents
5 family-friendly backyard games - Momtastic

Need Inspiration For Designing Your Nursery?

Sponsor — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:00:00 PDT

Designing a nursery can be tough - it's up to you to create an inspired space to spend time with your new baby, and that can be overwhelming. But not to worry! Check out this video for tips from Glidden® Paint about celebrating your baby and customizing your nursery space. Here's a hint - have fun!

While you're at it, be sure to enter the My Dream Nursery Giveaway. You'll have a chance to win a $2,500 Walmart gift card towards painting and furnishing a new room for the newest, littlest addition to your family.

Official Rules

MagicBath Baby Hot Tub: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Lisa Horten — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:03:26 PDT

We all want to give our little ones the very best that money can buy, right? Sometimes, though, there's a fine (or not so fine) line between what's within reason and what's absolutely ridiculous.

Enter the MagicBath Baby Hot Tub from BluBleu, an Italian company that specializes in high-end whirlpools and stylish tubs. Ten air jets spew out bubbles, while underwater LED lights emit "chromatherapy" light rays. The tub is designed for newborns to 6-month-olds in a reclining position and for 6- to 12-month-olds in a sitting position.

Wondering what the MagicBath will set you back? A whopping $2,186. While the absurdly high price tag probably takes the tub out of range for most of us, we wonder if any of this year's new celeb moms will treat their little ones to the at-home spa (Maxwell Drew and Blue Ivy, we're talking to you!)

Drew Barrymore's Mum's-the-Word Maternity Style

Kate Stahl — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:16:29 PDT

While Drew Barrymore hasn't confirmed she's expecting her first child with fiancé Will Kopelman, her growing baby bump tells its own story. The actress was photographed holding a sonogram image in February, and ever since, she's been sporting a laid-back style, featuring belly-hiding t-shirts and oversize jackets. But Drew is no style slouch, and she's amped up her casual clothing with designer pieces (loving her printed Dries Van Noten jacket!) and on-trend accessories, while hanging with her fiancé in LA, NYC, and Paris (a babymoon, perhaps?). We're still on the lookout for an official announcement, but for now, the proof's in the bump.