LilSugar

Jessica Alba Is Primped for Labor

babysugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:00:35 -0700

For the last month of my pregnancy, I went to the nail salon weekly to pamper my fingers and toes.

In the delivery room, my nails looked so fabulous that the nurses kept complimenting me on them. And, it was nice to have manicured nails for all of the photo ops that came with having a new babe.

To see which expectant star is doing the same, read more.

Jessica Alba pampered herself at Beverly Hills Nail Design and stopped by Champagne restaurant for some take–out. If I had one morsel of advice for the expectant mama, it would be to sit and enjoy meals out while she can!

What pointer would you pass on?
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Does Pampering Send the Wrong Message?

babysugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:00:05 -0700

I remember getting my first manicure before my eighth grade dance. It was a big deal and I appreciated how special the gift was from my mother. I didn't notice my eyebrows were bushes to be reckoned with until my first year of college. Thankfully, while growing up I never felt the need to excessively beautify myself as I had confidence. For kids these days, it's a different story.

To see what the latest underage beauty treatment is, read more.

Now, lil ladies as young as five are lined up for manicures and pedicures at spas. The owner of hair salon Ouidad in NYC told ABC:

I have children as young as six and seven come into the salon. They do a chemical treatment.

It is definitely becoming a trend to tend to oneself at a younger age. Some resorts like the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio cater to the crowd with a youth spa called the "SPAhhhT." Since girls wax their bikini lines in 6th grade and get nail treatments in elementary school, the worry is that they will put too much emphasis on their looks and lose their self esteem.

Stressed Out Girls author Roni Cohen-Sandler says:

The earlier that girls begin to see themselves as objects that are appealing to the opposite sex and worry about how they look - that is harming them psychologically. They're not able to feel good about themselves.

When my daughter is old enough, I will gladly spoil her with a mani–pedi for a momentous event. As for the waxing and chemical peels, she can pay for those herself.

Would you allow your child to start such beauty regiments at such a tender age?

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...

Lourdes Leon: Expresses Herself With Dark Nail Polish

LilSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:00:54 -0800

Madonna's mini me, daughter Lourdes Leon recently took a break from her brothers, Rocco and David and got girly at a Beverly Hills beauty parlor.

The dark haired preteen seemed to enjoy the perks of being a material girl as she indulged in a mani-pedi. And, wearing a skull hair band and black leggings, the eleven-year-old opted for dark polish to finish off her look.

These days tons of tots are primping since some businesses cater to child clientele. Lil ladies and gents as young as two are heading to salons to get their nails filed or painted.

What do you think about the trend?

To see more pics of Lourdes getting primped, read more.

View 9 Photos ›

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Did You Use Self-Tanner While Pregnant?

babysugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:00:58 -0700

Vain mamas-to-be maintain their appearances during their nine months by keeping up their hair color, exercise routines, manicures and pedicures. When it comes to their complexions, some expectant ladies shield themselves from the sun as the skin becomes more sensitive and prone to burn. Self-tanning cream can accelerate the motherly glow for those women. While some may question the dangers of applying such lotions or sprays while carrying a child, others deem them safe. What's your take on self-tanning lotions during pregnancy?

Lil Links: Paris Jackson Weeps Good-Bye

babysugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:01 -0700

Paris Jackson loves her daddy - Celebrity Baby Scoop
School bans pro-life tee - ParentDish
Honor Warren ditches the band for a bow! - Celebrity Baby Blog
Painting the nursery black - MOMformation
Your dad didn't do this - Fit Pregnancy
How to host a rainy day birthday party - AlphaMom
Have you named a guardian for your child? - CafeMom
DIY pedicure - Cookie
9 ways to make your baby laugh - Parenting
Get your kids in on the taste test! - YumSugar

Lil Links: Gabrielle Reece Shares Her Wellness Secrets

LilSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:00:57 -0700

Gabby Reece talks balance and perspective with CBS - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Skip the spa, DIY pedicures - Cookie
Cate Blanchett's sons are her secret stylists - Celebrity Baby Blog
Highly effective habits of the alpha mom - Alpha Mom
Pregnant and surviving the barbecue - CafeMom
Do you let your kids go to slumber parties? - Momversation
Special kids get a special prom - ParentDish

Mom-Me Time: Mani and Nanny

babysugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:00:27 -0700

The good old days of dropping into your local salon are over, or are they? Mani and Nanny makes having a tot and nail touch up possible.

The swank nail salon caters to mothers who are in need of sprucing up their pretty appendages with the kids in tow. Starting at $10, a well–trained nanny will watch one child while mama has her fingernails polished. If she's got another babe, it's an additional $5. Pampered moms can relax as they watch their children on a flat screen television or through a one-way mirror. Not too shabby. The actual manicure runs $20 while the pedicure is $30. The ability to conveniently do it all at once in your child's company may be worth the extra dime in the bucket.
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Guide to Four Great Baby Shower Themes

babysugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:00:19 -0700

'Tis the last day of April, which means our April Baby Showers must come to an end. But before you go off to plan your own festive bash, here's a quick recap of our ideas.

Good Things Come in Small Packages
We gave you ideas for invitations and then dished on what to serve up and what to serve it on. Guests will delight in the lip balm favors and clothespin game and the hostesses will love the manicure and pedicure gift idea.

To see the rest of the clever notions, read more.

Tea Party Shower
Create your own invitation using supplies from a paperie like Paper Source. Dress up the table using floral filled tea pots and festive assorted tea cups. Once your guests have gobbled up the mini sandwiches and tea, send them on their way with decorated sugar cubes or a package full of candy.

Bedrest Baby Shower
Send out edible invitations with the announcements on a Hershey's type wrapper. In keeping with the sweet theme, bring a diaper cake for a perfect centerpiece. Keep things simple by ordering in the food and prepping a soda bar station for the pajama bash. Add a fun factor to the party by playing a few fun but low key baby games with the mama–to-be.

Couples Baby Shower
Send out some funky fresh baby shower invitations in the form of a concert ticket. Sass up the place with pink or blue cigars and bottles full of peanuts or candy. Offering up creatively named mocktails and appetizers will add to the baby chic atmosphere.

Recapping the whole month of showers, I used some of our own lilsugar ideas when I hosted a baby shower this past weekend. I crafted the diaper cake, a candy wheel and made some nursery themed Paper Source invitations. Thankfully, it was a cinch to plan and a huge success.

Mommy's Lil Helper: Bed Rest

babysugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:00:24 -0800

One of my best friends is 24 weeks pregnant and on bed rest.

Since I went through 41 weeks of near blissful pregnancy, I can't imagine being laid up on my back for that long so I thought of things a friend could do to help a bedridden buddy.

To see my list, read more.

Make sure she has a comfortable robe.
Purchase cozy socks and slippers.
Bring lotions and stretch mark creams.
Dress her in nice sleepwear.
Load her up with exciting books, magazines, DVDs.
If she doesn't have a laptop computer, see if you know someone who can lend her one so she can surf the net, email in bed, and get her dose of lilsugar.
Buy her a plentiful pregnancy journal so she can jot down her thoughts. Writing can be therapeutic and a good way to kill time.
For a pal who doesn't have a television in her bedroom, spoil her with a Slingbox.
Arrange for a beautician to come over and give her a manicure and pedicure.
Bring dinners, snacks, and flowers on occasion.
Offer to pick up groceries or do some laundry.

If you're not able to supply these yourself, get a group of friends to pitch in on a group effort. And if these are all a bit too much, a phone call or visit is always appreciated.
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