Music That's Just Plain Good!

I've been very into acquiring music lately. It's exciting to me when certain artists come out with a new album, and while I don't have the time to keep up with music the way I used to, I still relish a great album just like I do a decadent piece of deep, dark chocolate. I don't want it to end. And when it does, I want more.

This is exactly how I felt when I stumbled across this Norah Jones album, New York City, with Peter Malick. Now, it's been out since 2003, but it's just a great album (I love her others too, but this is my fave). It's up there in my top ten and I still listen to it as much as I do new releases, so I had to tell you about this one. It starts out smooth and melodic, and builds to a more full sound. A few songs would be great to slow dance to, and others to do more of a blues-y style swing dance. I like to just sit and enjoy a good cup of tea and relax at the end of a long day. To me, this one ranks right up there with Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. Nothing complicated, nothing offensive. It's just a feelgood kind of album. Enjoy!

Your Child's Own Book

Children just love to see their own names on things. It's always so exciting, especially when it's unexpected. So you can imagine how my daughter lit up when we came across her name (both first and last) in a book she recently received. It's the cutest book called My Very Own Fairy Tale. Open it up and you will find little girls in a magical garden where flower and berry fairies crown your special daughter as their fairy princess. Enchanting fairies bring letters one by one to spell out the child's full name, while describing character traits that make the recipient alone the perfect princess. The sunflower fairy brings an S and says she knows a smart girl who would be a great princess; the hollyberry brings an H and says she knows an honest girl, and so on. At the end, the fairies crown the special girl as their fairy princess in a grand celebration.

Boys love to see their names too, so there's a My Very Own Name Book just for them, only it's filled with animals instead of princesses.

So next time you're in search of an extra special gift, think about a personalized book. It's a keepsake gift that's perfect for babies through age 12.

Cropped Hair is Hot for Spring

Looking for a new ‘do? Why not give short hair a try? This spring, short, cropped hairstyles for women are all the rage. From pixie cuts to modified bobs, short hair is everywhere. One of the great advantages of short hair is that it can be easy to wear and doesn’t require a lot of styling to look great. So crop off your locks and give yourself a fresh new look for spring. You’ll love the change!

Saving the Environment One Lipstick at a Time

I just love it when beauty products are good for our skin, and when they also happen to tread lightly on the environment, even better. Sephora has just introduced an exclusive new lipstick that not only looks good on your lips, but on the ecosystem as well. Cargo Plantlove Lipstick has the first-ever 100% bioegradable tube that is made from a corn-derived polymer, and the box is made from a flower paper that sprouts wildflowers when planted. The lipstick itself is a botanical blend that nourishes your lips and comes in five great shades created by and named for celebrities such as Mariska Hargitay, Sarah Chalke and Lindsay Lohan. And the best part is that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

A Glass of Whine, er, Wine

Love a good glass of wine at the end of the day? I sure do. And when it's time for one, I don't like to be disappointed. Yet finding the time to seek out wines that I like can be challenging, especially if I don't want to take the kids along. It sure would would be nice to have someone choose the wine for me, and deliver it to my doorstep, where I would be waiting eagerly.

My Wines Direct takes the guesswork out of buying wine. They offer wines that are carefully tasted and selected by experts, and they ship them to your doorstep. You can go to the website to peruse their selection of reds, whites and sparkling wines, take a look at what others members have to say about the wines, and order a single bottle or a mixed pack. And best of all, they offer free shipping to your doorstep everyday. Stock up in time for the Oscars and save 10% by using code:OSCAR (through 2/21 only). Miss the Oscar special? Use code:WINESPCL to save 5% on your entire order. Cheers!

Nanette Lepore for Keds

Looking for some hip yet comfortable shoes that can whisk you from the bleak mid-winter right on into the heart of spring? Try on a pair of Keds designed by Nanette Lepore and you're halfway there! These are not your typical Keds, but cute ballerina flats in leopard print, or a flirty lace layered over canvas in lovely hues, all with the comfort of a sneaker. Just think about it. Shoes that have the design sensibility of reknowned designer Nanette Lepore coupled with the comfort and durability of Keds. Sounds like a winner to me!

Cute Tops Make Post-partum A Little Easier

As we all know, when you've just had a baby 2 or 6 or 14 months ago and are carrying a little excess weight, you just don't want to go out and spend a lot of money on clothes. Why invest in a lot of great new pieces when you haven't gotten your body back yet? And if you're nursing, you won't want to risk milk stains on an expensive new top, so you stick with inexpensive, easy to care for knits. Fortunately, finding flattering knit tops can be pretty easy.

Here's a great Heather Stripe Henley from Old Navy that's perfect for post-partum wear. It's a semi-sheer knit that comes in a light grey charcoal heather. It's got a snap front placket for easy nursing (wear a long layering cami underneath for a little more coverage), and the best part? It's on sale for 10 bucks! Even with Old Navy's $5 shipping charge, you're still getting a steal! Snatch this one up before it's too late.

Flavored Butters Spice Up Dinner Time

Mmmmm...Garlic bread. Made with real butter, real garlic and really good bread (from a local Italian bakery, preferably). Both adults and kids find garlic bread hard to resist, and when you make your own flavored butter ahead of time, it's fast and easy too!

One Chic Mama's recent discovery for making really easy, really good garlic bread, is to make flavored butter and keep it on hand for those garlic bread cravings or dinner in a flash. Just soften up some butter (or non-hydrogenated margarine) and add a few pressed cloves of garlic - how much is up to your discretion (and that of your kids). Blend well and keep in a sealed container in the fridge. When it comes time to make the garlic bread, simply slice up some bread (use sandwich bread in a pinch and it'll still taste delicious) and spread with your pre-made butter. Place on a baking sheet and run under the broiler until lightly brown and crispy, about 5 - 7 minutes.

Flavored butters are a wonderfully quick way to add an easy and interesting touch to meals. Try making honey butter by blending softened butter with a little honey. It's great with fresh cornbread or warm biscuits, and your kids will love it. For an interesting and savory combination, blend rosemary and garlic. Or try sundried tomatoes (re-hydrated and finely minced) with garlic and some fresh herbs, mixed with softened butter. A pat of one of these atop grilled fish or steak, or tossed with pasta, adds an intriguing layer of flavor and is a great finishing touch. The combinations are endless. And when you make the flavored butters ahead of time, you can store them in the fridge or freezer so that they're ready at the drop of a hat. Spice up your dinners with a little flavor! It's easy when you plan ahead.

Happy Valentine's Day Moms!

So Valentine's Day is here again. I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with reminders of your loved ones, and all the love you share with your family and friends. I also hope you get to indulge in some great chocolate, or whatever you're passionate about. For me, it's chocolate all the way!

Celebrate Your Family

These days we're all moving at the speed of light, and rarely take time to come up for air. We sometimes need to be reminded of what a wonderful family we have and how lucky we are. One way to make your family feel special, and to remind them of how much you love them, is to create a family tradition that is all your own. Creating a new tradition doesn't need to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. It can be as simple as or as complicated as you'd like to make it. The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays & Everydays by Meg Cox is filled with wonderful suggestions for creating your own family traditions, rituals and celebrations for both holidays and for everyday.

One simple suggestion Meg offers for Valentine's Day is to serve a red (and pink) food dinner. This can be simple and fun. Think red grapes, raspberries, ham, beets (cook one with your mashed potatoes for a gorgeous ruby hue - and great flavor!), pasta sauce, red corn tortilla chips, and red herbal iced tea. Then serve something chocolate and yummy for dessert. Or create a "What's Sweet About You" Poster. Take a sheet of poster board for each child and decorate with a dozen colored hearts. Inside each heart write one trait about your child that you love. Make it specific to the child, focusing on aspects of the child's personality. This is a great time to praise behavior you want to reinforce. Prop the poster up against the kitchen chairs for the kids to find when the come down for breakfast or come home from school.

Celebrations don't have to be elaborate to give your family your own special time together. When you create your own ways of celebrating, whether it's for a holiday or just to commemorate something special to your family, you're creating memories. And who knows? Your children may even continue them with their own children.

Share The Love!

Valentine's Day is coming up on us. Are you ready to share the love with the man in your life? Sure, it's great to sit back and hope he remembers to send a dozen red roses. But in the meantime, set yourself up for a steamy evening that will help you and your partner in parenting reconnect and rekindle the spark in your relationship.

It takes two to tango, and in love, it takes two to keep your love alive. This becomes even more true after having children. You're no longer able to make love on a whim, indulge your fantasies on a school night or greet him after work wearing your sexiest lingerie. It takes strategy, forethought and planning. A few tricks up your sleeve won't hurt either.

Bring the spark back into your lives and you two as a couple will reap many benefits. Your family will also benefit, because when you and your husband are connected, that connection will resonate and harmony will ensue. You'll be setting a wonderful example for the kids, and you'll both feel great!

But what a challenge it can be, finding the time alone together when you're both feeling good, the kids aren't sick, etc. Make it happen! Call your favorite sitter and find out when she's available. Then book a hotel room where the two of you can escape and focus on each other. A jacuzzi tub in the room is an added bonus. Send your husband a sexy email, or leave him a seductive note letting him know you have a "date". Order carry-out, bring a good bottle of wine, and something sexy to change in to. Then just enjoy each other's company (and having an actual conversation), play out a fantasy or two, and luxuriate in the fact that this time is all about (the two of) you. You don't even have to spend the night (unless you can find an overnight sitter you trust). Just a few hours together can feel like so much longer, and will go a long way in keeping the romance (and the lust!) alive in your relationship. Your husband will also really appreciate the fact that you organized this, and will feel indulged. Who says he always has to make the plans? You go, girl!

It Might As Well Be Spring

This is the time of year when I start longing for spring. Our winter has been pretty mild this year, with many sunny days that just make me want to put on a cute top and pretty spring skirt with a great new pair of sandals (haven't decided which ones yet) and go have a picnic with the kids. Or walk around the arboretum and see all the lovely flowers in bloom.

One thing that can easily remedy my longing for spring is a pretty new piece of jewelry, especially a necklace. This gorgeous necklace from Kelly Meeker Designs combines lovely petite faceted Moonstone briolettes with Peruvian Opal briolettes to create a long cascading cluster of glow green teardrops. When you wear this, it might as well be spring!

Hable Construction Does It Again

There are some things that I just can't help but love, and anything that's handcrafted with great attention to detail gets me every time. That's why I love everything from the artistic girls at Hable Construction. They have such a great eye for detail, crafting beautiful, yet functional items from hand-printed fabric, and a ruff-hewn quality that is just so appealing.

The tomato poppy weekender is a perfect example of great form meeting function. This is the largest bag in the Hable Basket family. It has a single strap handle and a large body to give it maximum carrying potential. Use it for home needs like storing towels and laundry, then take it to the beach, family outing or grocery store. You'll be able to carry your essentials in style. And, even better, it's on sale!

Ta-Da: It's that Simple!

Want an easy way to record your to-do lists? Try Ta-Da Lists, a free online list-making tool that lets you create, manage and share your lists to help you keep track of all you have to do. You can create multiple lists for different aspects of your life: a grocery list, gifts to buy, phone calls to make, household projects, work tasks, etc. And you can share your lists with your family, your friends, co-workers or the world (i.e. favorite movies, music, etc.). Ta-Da Lists makes it easy to check things off your list too. And your lists will be recorded, so you can access last week's grocery list if you need to.

So sign up to Ta-Da Lists and manage your life.

Pucker Up!

Hold the phone! One of my faves, e.l.f., is having a sale! For 3 days only, they're offering 30% off any e.l.f. Plumping Lip Glaze!, Hypershine or NEW e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15!. Know what that means? Yes, make-up for under a buck!

So get your kisser ready for Valentine's Day by trying out e.l.f.'s Plumping Lip Glaze! e.l.f. proudly presents a revolutionary lip plumper, infusing Natural ingredients that awaken your senses for fresh, volume enhanced, and moisturized lips. This dual sided Plumping Lip Glaze has a tinted color for a subtle plump or a clear gloss that power plumps your lips, use together and instantly feel the lip enlarging effects!

Use coupon code PUCKER at checkout.