Don't Forget Your Baggu

Weren't able to get your hands on one of Anya Hindmarch's hot reusable shopping bags? Don't despair. Baggu has come out with a great one that we think is pretty chic too.

Baggu bags are designed to encourage shoppers to bring their own tote bags with them to the green market, grocery, drugstore, even their favorite little boutique. Designed by a mother/daughter team, each Baggu can hold up to 25 pounds, and is made to be practical for both city dwellers and suburban shoppers alike. Using for one year can keep as many as 300 - 700 plastic grocery bags out of the landfill. That's reason enough to grab a Baggu and keep it on hand. But we think the style will keep you coming back for more.

Starry-Eyed

The Paramount picture, Stardust, is due to arrive in theatres beginning August 10th. However, you don't have to wait that long to give yourself the sultry looks of Stardust's Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller and Claire Danes. The   e.l.f. and Paramount Stardust Movie Gift Set is available now from e.l.f. and includes 5 great products and lets you create starry eyes in under five minutes. So go ahead, give yourself a starry look inspired by some of cinema's lovliest ladies. At just five bucks, it's a bargain.

Let It Snow!

Yes, we're smack dab in the throes of summer, and our east coast weather is pretty sweltering this time of year. Oh, what I wouldn't give to have a few frosty flakes fall from the sky to cool things down a bit. I may just have to settle for frosty refreshment in a bottle called Snow. Snow is a sparkling alternative to sweet tea that will quench your thirst without expanding your waistline. Sweetened lightly with real cane sugar, Snow will pick you up without any caffeine. Available in such cooling flavors as Cranberry-Lime Chill, Snow Whiteout Peach, Icy Green Tea and Original Mint, Snow will help put a chill on your summer and keep you cool. Available at Target for $1.79/bottle or $22.99/12 bottles.

Friday Blog Roungup

At Coochicoos: A new baby girl arrives!

On Momfinds: Practical finds every new mom needs for her baby and herself in their Baby Essentials Guide for New Moms.

On HealthyBump: No more smelly diapers! Diaper Baggies are a must have for all new Moms.

On Coochicoos: The Bloom Highchair is a European design folding highchair with flair.

On Clever Parents: School Is Coming! Ease Those August School Jitters with Family Fun!

On Boston Mamas: The Gigi Blanki is so luxurious and pretty that mamas will want to curl up and take comfort in this lovely lovey on a tough day.

On Babyfaces: Photo of the week. Sea Green Eyes Glisten for "Squishy".

I'm off to hit the beach with my daughter! We're enjoying a long weekend at the beach with friends. Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!

Spendalla to the Rescue

OK, so you've just gotten an invitation to your high school reunion or a big wedding, where you'll be seeing lots of folks you haven't seen in ages. You want to look your best, of course. But who has time to run around all over town shopping for the perfect outfit(s) when you have to get your hair done, have a pedicure and keep the kiddos happy? Let Spendalla lend a fashionable hand.

Spendalla is a website dedicated to helping women stay on top of the latest fashion trends. Sign up for her "Fashionista Weekly" to get her current fashion tips, hot off the runway or fresh from the magazines. For $20, Spendalla will put together a whole ensemble for you, complete with weblinks so you can buy everything on line (but she does all the searching!). And while Spendalla loves high fashion, she doesn't like high prices. So armed with all her fashion know-how, she seeks out the best choices for you without spending a fortune.

Updating your current wardrobe each season is also a specialty of Spendella. She'll work with you to find key pieces that will give your closet more mileage. So whether it's a hot new ensemble that you need, or just help putting together outfits for everyday, Spendella's your go-to girl. Give her a shot and see how she can help you!

The Great Magazine Deception

Susan from Friday Style fills us in on Redbook's very sneaky photoshopping of the lovely Faith Hill for their July cover. How disappointing that someone as lovely as Faith Hill, a mom herself and inspiration to us all, is tweaked and altered just to grace the cover of a magazine, especially one such as Redbook. Read more...

Cute Designs for Big Babies

When Pamela Kramer's first child grew so quickly that he was wearing a size 2T by the time he was just one year old, she grew frustrated with finding clothing to fit while providing easy access for diaper changes. She decided to take matters into her own hands and design a line of cute clothing made just for bigger babies called Happy Panda Baby.

Babies grow so fast, and when they have a growth spurt it can be hard to get a lot of wear from favorite outfits before they become too small. The concept behind Happy Panda Baby is to help dress bigger babies, and to still fit even after being washed. Happy Panda Baby tees and onesies are made to accomodate larger sizes and their high-quality baby wear is crafted using environmentally friendly fabrics and printing methods. Plus, their things are just plain cute. With a panda printed on the tushie of each onesie, and a sweet little pillow box wrapping, these make great gifts for the big babies in your life!

Now through August 31st, get free shipping plus gift wrap on orders of $25 or more. Use code OCM0831 at checkout.

Friday Blog Roundup

On Boston Mamas: Perfectly Packed. The fully (and organically!) loaded Birth’s Bag makes for an amazing baby shower or thank-you-for-bearing-my-child gift for expecting moms.

On Celebrity Moms: My name Is Earl actress Jaime Pressly has gone against the grain and admitted that she did not enjoy being pregnant.

On Classy Mommy Reviews the MediBag: First Aid Kit for Kids
This first aid kit for kids is fabulous, fun, and a Classy Mommy favorite find. The company is mom owned and EVERY purchase made helps disabled people as all MediBags are assembled by the disabled community. Check out the latest Classy Mommy Video Review here.

On Clever Parents: Play BabySmarts at Your Next Baby Shower. Planning a baby shower and hoping to steer clear of cheesy games? Pick up a deck of BabySmarts for a fun new twist on old baby shower games.

On Healthy Bump: Bouquets for Babies Giveaway. Enter to win the Welcome Baby Layette Bouquet, a Beautiful Customized Bouquet of Flowers for Mom and Newborn Clothing for Baby.

On MomFinds: Guide to Throwing a Fabulous Baby Shower. Baby shower invitations, decorations, party favors and tips on how to pull it all together.

On The Stylish Child: Fun and Funky Footwear Designed to be Worn. Livie and Luca has created a fun and funky line of European inspired kids footwear designed to be worn.

On mod*mom: notNeutral Giveaway. Win a notNeutral area rug or toybox ($250 value).

Bull's Eye for Libertine

Target really has been spot-on this time with the current iteration of their popular GO International collaborations with top-name designers. This installment features a line from Libertine that is full of arty-punk looks with preppy overtones, yet still sophisticated for a very wearable line. This fabulous jacket was a find I treated myself to the other day. As a former dressmaker, I was attracted to the six-button closure and the detailing at the cuffs. But the cropped length and the fact that it was a great fit (a challenge for me at times, with very broad shoulders and a still-in-the-throes-of-nursing bustline) were a no-brainer. This will be nice to wear on cool summer evenings, if we ever get any, but I really got it as a transitional piece to go into fall. This will be great with some wide-legged jeans, a cute tank and my sexy red boots! And at only $39.99, it was a splurge that didn't eat into our budget too much. Get it while it's hot!

Schoolhouse Rock

Do you remember Schoolhouse Rock from your childhood? I sure do! I remember enjoying these cute little informative videos disguised as cartoons with great music and a catchy feel. Last night my daughter and I sat and watched several of these and she was fascinated! It's nice to see something that was popular 30-some years ago still has appeal with the kiddos today!

Beet It!

During her fall 2007 shows, designer Diane von Furstenberg sent her models down the runway wearing a lovely shade of lipstick - a vibrant fuschia tone called "Beet". This is a great color that works well on many different colorations. There are many variations on beet, and surely one will look lovely on you! To get this look yourself, try a pretty shade from
Stila in Dominique for a daytime punch of color. For a more dramatic evening look, slick on Trans Siberian from NARS. For a sheer blast of color that's great when running around with the kiddos, try Lip Gel from DVF in Love Knot or Ruby. It's a fast and easy way to slick on a wash of radiant color.

Remember, when wearing dark shades of lipstick, choose one that's packed with moisture to avoid cracking and feathering. Also, prior to applying anything, buff your lips with a dry washcloth to slough off dead skin and make lips a little fuller. Apply a lip pencil for definition and fill in with your favorite lipstick using a lipbrush for a precise look. Darker shades are harder to put on perfectly straight from the tube, as mistakes are much more noticeable. If you must, choose a sheer shade that stains your lips rather than a matte cream lipstick.

Whatever your shade, beet-stained lips are all the rage this fall, and they'll give your face a happy lift.

She's Crafty

This fall, arts and crafts are the trend du jour. Not projects for the kids, mind you, but for your wardrobe. Many designers are adding a touch of patchwork, handknit trim or crochet to their lines to create a homespun feel.

A cute Patchwork Cap puts your hair under cover when you haven't had time to wash it, and keeps you looking chic.
This cute crocheted clutch will surely add a homesupun touch to your outfit, and it's fashioned out of grocery bags, so it's helping the planet too.


For a sophisticated approach to down home elegance, try a bag from Coach. From their weekenders to their wristlets, there's a shape that works for you.

Adding a little bit of arts and crafts style to your wardrobe can be as easy as incorporating one of these pieces, or adding crocheted scarf, flower pin or headband, or going full out for a lovely patchwork jacket. This look is everywhere, and may be found at a local craft fair or at your favorite high-end boutique. Whatever your style, there's a little homespun touch just right for you.

Be A Rock Star Momma (Or Just Look Like One)

Skye Hoppus is one chic momma. As wife of rocker Mark Hoppus (of Blink-182 and +44 fame), designer of the clothing line, Childish Clothing (for both mamas-to-be and their kids) and a mom, she knows a thing or two about looking hot all through pregnancy and beyond. Skye, along with Mandi Norwood and Amy Denoon, now offers up tried and true tips in Rock Star Momma: The Hip Guide to Looking Gorgeous Through All Nine Months and Beyond so we can all look like rock star mommas.

Let's face it: being pregnant is the most amazing thing our bodies will experience. Yet for all the bliss that comes with the onset of motherhood, homones create a roller coaster out of our emotions, not to mention wreak havoc on our bodies. Everything changes - our hair, our skin, our waistline. Skye offers some fabulous suggestions for making the most of those changes, and for dealing with the ones we just can't control. She helps us navigate the world of maternity lingerie with finesse, and gives us advice on how to look great through all nine months and on into motherhood.

While not all of us strive to be rock star moms, Skye offers up some great information that can help us to keep our sense of style during pregnancy, and to ease gracefully into motherhood. A great baby shower gift!

Bath & Beauty from the Earth

Ava Wilder was born in Poland and has fond memories of the women in her town using natural ingredients such as chamomile tea, yogurt and vegetables to make their own skincare products. As she grew to be a teenager, she spent much of her time experimenting with her very own homemade treatments and loved the results that these brought. Ava has now brought her expertise to America, through her new line called Earthwise Beauty so that we too can indulge ourselves in her wonderful natural products.

All of Earthwise Beauty's products are made with naturally based ingredients such as herbs, flowers and natural butters. There are products for adults as well as for babies that treat the skin and the environment gently. Products such as Safe & Calm Baby Oil are wonderful for soothing babies with eczema or sensitive skin, without any yucky petroleum-derived ingredients. With sweet almond oil and healing chamomile, its natural goodness is perfect for baby's soft skin.

Free Shipping on orders of $60 or more.

Friday Blog Roundup

Here's what's going on around the blogs this week.

On Boston Mamas: Build a fort (or spaceship, tunnel etc.) anywhere and inspire countless hours of creative play with The Happy Kid Co.'s amazing
Fortamajig.

On Classy Mommy: Video Review of Kid O Mine Art Smock. Check out Mackenzie fingerpainting for the first time in her adorable by Kid O Mine sold at Momtique. handmade Art Smock.

On MomFinds: Win a Cute and Clever Boon Frog Pod. We’re giving away two of these jolly green helpers. Just leave a handy bathtime tip for a chance to win.

On Clever Parents: Don't Take that tone with me! Q. I’m struggling a bit with my 5-year-old speaking in a way that pushes my buttons. It’s that sassy, sing-songy with a strongly grumpy undertone way of speaking. Think “hands on hips.”

As Graceful As A Svan

When we first got our Svan High Chair a few days ago, I was immediately smitten. It is a compact, versatile chair with a sleek and modern style.

The Svan, at first glance, looks like it might be a little tricky to figure out. Not the case at all. With just one use we found it to be easy to get Dylan in and out of. The tray simply pops into place or pops off, and there's even a place to clip the tray onto the back of the chair. To top off all this functionality, the chair can be used from 6 months on through several years. The Svan morphs from a high-chair with tray, into a high-chair without tray that can be pulled up to the dining table (the fact that it's shorter than most high-chairs makes it the perfect height to do this), then when your child is a little older, you can take the front support off so that it converts into a youth seat (with or or without lap belt). With the Svan, you get so much more than just a baby high-chair: you get a versatile chair that looks great at your table.

The Svan comes in five wooden finishes ranging from a whitewashed birch to a dark cherry to an espresso, so there's a shade to fit all decors. The washable seat cushion comes in several lovely colors. We chose the Svan in whitewash and a sage cushion to compliment our decor.

Babble just named the Svan one of their top five best high-chairs, and many moms swear by this Scandi-designed chair. If you're in the market for a new high-chair, try a Svan. It'll bring grace to your table.

The Svan is distributed by Scandinavian Child and available from Amazon.com.

Give Your High-lights a Boost

During the summer months all the sun, sand and sea can make your high-lights look more like low-beams. But going to the salon more frequently can be tricky - you've got to work around your hubby's schedule or hire a sitter - not to mention, expensive. Instead of more frequent touch-ups, give Louise Galvin Sacred Locks a try. Formulated for fine hair, Sacred Locks products are designed to help your high-lights last a little longer. Their low pH and no artificial fragrance formulas come from London's hottest colorist and help make hair more "color-ful". Available in Hair Cleanser, Treatment Masque and Moisturizing Conditioner. You get more bang for the buck with each use!

Meet the Neds

Who are the Neds? They are a new family of figures who are no one in particular, but are like every one of us. Created in watercolor, Neds come in all shapes, sizes and colors. There are boy Neds and girl Neds. Big Neds, little Neds, and Neds for all kinds of people.

Neds were created by Susie Lubell and come in the form of note cards, greeting cards, journals, art prints, and original art. The prints create a whimsical look when hung in a baby's room, and with their bold, colorful lines, Neds are artwork that your kids won't grow out of. They're great for kids of all ages (including those who are still kids at heart)!

Cute as can be, we think the Neds are just right. Perfect for all occasions, they're bound to brighten up someone's day and make them smile.

Use code:onechicmama for 15% off all Neds (except originals).

Just Baby's Size

Babies just love soft things. It seems that rubbing a soft blanket against their smooth cheeks can really soothe them. But dragging a big blanket around with them can be cumbersome at times. How about a small blankie made just for babies on the go?

The Gigi Blanki Co. knows a thing or two about babies. Started by the mother of two lovely girls, Heather wanted a stylish alternative to the department store blankets out there, and she also wanted something small that her girls could take with them for comfort. So she created these sweet loveys that are the perfect size for babies.

Gigi Blankis are made from a lovely soft, puckery fabric backed with a silky satin that is gentle to the touch. My son, Dylan, just loves his. I love it too, because it's such a great size. I've used it several times as a mini nursing blanket, as well as a lovey. And we've gotten a ton of compliments on it. Even the guys seem to notice the cool fabrics. I think they're on to something here!

Travel In Style with a Classic

When I go away for the weekend, I usually just throw everything into our nice, basic, functional duffle bag with wheels and I'm all set. Although the duffle is a bit large for just me, my husband and I can share it with no problem. Or I can stash the kids' extras in there. But what about for those romantic weekend getaways or a moms' weekend away? Wouldn't it be nice to have a sleek, stylish overnight bag to throw all the essentials in? Le Sportsac has lots of great options for bags perfect for your next trip that will keep you looking chic. With styles ranging from extra large weekender bags to roomy cosmetics bags, Le Sportsac has you covered. You can choose from one of many hip prints for these durable styles (they guarantee them for a year!). Now you can travel in style!

First Aid for the Kids

The other day my daughter and I were at the park and she cut her finger. We went to the car to get a band-aid and yikes! We didn't have any. After that I vowed to always be prepared (that was our Girl Scout motto, and one I continue to use as a mom) and to keep a first aid kit handy for life's little emergencies.

Sheba's Secrets has created a Kid-Friendly First Aid Kit for Kids that's got everything we need and then some. Their medibag first aid kit is recommended by doctors and was created by a mom. Made right here in the US, each bag gives back to people in need. This clever bag is "not your ordinary box of bandages". It contains things such as eye wash, an instant cold pack, crayon bandages, gauze, even tweezers for those pesky splinters.

The medibag is a great kit to keep at home, in your car and especially to take with you when traveling. All prodcuts are hypo-allergenic and recommended for kids 6 months and older (with the help of a parent). Kids can personalize the front of it with their own name. At only $19.99, this bag is a steal (it contains $80 worth of products, and has a mail-in offer for $45 worth of refills - WOW!) These kits are great to have on hand, but why not get one for birthday gifts too? It's never too early to start teaching kids the importance of First Aid! Available now through Shebas Secrets.

Have A Happy and Safe Fourth

As many of you probably are, we're at the beach enjoying a relaxing week over the July Fourth holiday. We'll plan to have a nice dinner and then go to the beach to see an amazing fireworks display. As you and your family plan your own celebration, please keep safety in mind. Sparklers, those fun sticks of sparks that we all loved as kids, and love to see our kids enjoy, can be the source for many an injury. I recently found out that they can reach upwards of 1000 degrees (yes, that's 3 zeros) at the tip and can burn little fingers very quickly. So keep your kids safe this year by foregoing the sparklers, or by sticking them into a flower pot filled with sand. They'll still be fun, but will be much less of a risk.

Be A Healthy Mom!

So you've just had a baby and want to get back into shape, but you can't seem to make it to the gym and don't want to leave your little one with a sitter. Plus, you want to have some social time and meet other mothers. Then get out and take a Power Stroll with Healthy Moms and you'll meet both your goals, and then some!

We all know the benefits of exercise. Yet once you become a mom, that can fall to the bottom of your priority list. Why let it? It's more important than ever for you to get exercise, not only for your physical health but your mental health. Plus, if you're a new stay-at-home mom, you know the importance of getting out and interacting with some other adults during the day (especially those who also have small children and can relate to you).

Healthy Moms Fitness offers great solutions to keep you fit, both before and after pregnancy. They offer such classes for moms that include the baby, so you don't have to worry about finding a sitter or dropping them in daycare. It's a great way to get or stay in shape, and to help strengthen your back, which becomes so important once you become pregnant and on into hauling around a baby. Plus, you get to meet other moms. So get out and get moving. You and your baby will both benefit.