Back to School, Back to Lunch

Ok, so it's official, at least at my house. Both kids are back in school and we couldn't be happier. Ivy has started first grade and loves it, and Dylan makes his way to pre-school full time-time now (*sniff*). Aside from everyone having a schedule, this means one thing - lots of lunches will be packed each week. After a summer filled with various food items masquerading as lunch (cereal, anyone?), it's going to take us some time to whip my lunch-packing talents back into shape. Thankfully, there are some great products out there that help to make it easier to feed my kids healthfully while still keeping convenience in mind.

Santa Cruz Organics Peanut Butter will surely be at the top of your kids' list of favorites. If your child attends a peanut-free school, serve it up for a nutritious after-school snack on graham crackers or with sliced apples and bananas. The dark roast gives the peanut butter a rich flavor that is very satisfying, and moms will be happy with the pure, organic ingredients. Personally, I can't get enough peanut butter and have sampled just about every brand there is. This ranks right up with with the best and makes for a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast atop a whole wheat English muffin with a side of fruit and milk (add raisins for a little fun!).

For a snack or an after-lunch treat give your kids a Santa Cruz Apple Sauce Cup. It's organic and comes in such tempting flavors as Apple-Blackberry, Apple-Blueberry and Apple-Cinnamon. My daughter prefers the Apple-Cinnamon and likes to have extra cinnamon sprinkled on top for a special treat. This is packed with vitamin C and is completely portable for a great snack on-the-go.

Kids love juice boxes, and when you give them Sensible Sippers from R.W. Knudsen you can rest assured that they're drinking pure, organic juice blended with 50% water to cut down on sugar. Every little bit helps, and if the kids are getting what they want without anything they don't need then, hey, it's a win-win. Available in some of kids' favorite flavors including fruit punch, apple and mixed berry, Sensible Sippers have about 40% fewer calories than regular juice boxes. That's something for a parent to sink their teeth into these days.

Shop Your Closet: Wear Your Tanks into Fall

Finding new ways to transition some of our old summer favorites is a fun game for me. As a stylist, I am continually trying new combinations on myself, on clients and online (give Polyvore.com a try and see how it can help expand your wardrobe). But more than just fun, it's downright useful when I can take a summer staple and find excuses to keep in hanging in my closet for a few more months.

Today the look I am featuring is one we all can create our very own versions of. To start, pull out a fave tank (or two). To really make this work select those in neutral shades, or rich jewel tones. Pastels really should be packed up to await the next summer season. Top your tank off with a favorite jacket. The boyfriend jacket is everywhere this season and is a nice finish with a look that says 'upscale casual'. Roll the sleeves up to help keep your cool. Pair this with your favorite jeans, cropped pants or skirt, add some cute booties or flats, and some pretty fall accessories. This look will keep you right on trend and help you get more mileage from what's already in your closet.

To really make this look work for you here are a few pointers:

1/ The boyfriend jacket typically hits at mid-thigh. If this is where you are widest, it will only put emphasis on this spot. Go with a shorter jacket or substitute a cardigan for best effect.

2/ Because the look of the boyfriend jacket is a little boxy, pair it with jeans or bottoms that are a little more body-conscious. Avoid boyfriend jeans with this jacket because the overall look will be oversized and sloppy. Choose one and rock a top or bottom that hugs your curves and shows off your shape.

3/ If the boyfriend jacket is not a flattering look on you (be honest) choose another jacket that is. This typically has a lower stance (where it buttons) making it a better choice for women with a small to average size bustline. Women with a larger bustline would do better in a more fitted jacket with a higher stance to lock and load "the girls".

4/ Have fun with this look! While you don't want your tank to scream summer, wear a pretty ruffled tank or another one with a pattern or texture and it'll make your look pop!

The Romance of Tracy Porter - Half Off

If you've never paid a visit to the lovely website Tracy Porter, then you simply must take a peek at all her gorgeous offerings. Reminiscent of clothing, jewelry and home goods from days gone by, these designs are all created with a modern sensibility. It'll titillate your senses and get your creative juices flowing.

Once you order, you won't be disappointed. A recent jewelry purchase arrived packaged up like a lovely little gift - to myself! It made me feel very special and I simply love my pieces from her.

Now you can enjoy all the fall items at Tracy Porter at half price - yes, 50% off! How? Just enter code "happy50" at checkout and relish in your savings. But hurry - it's only good through Midnight, August 27, 2009.

Fall Flats for $30 or Less

Ahhh...fall. Well, not quite yet. We're in the midst of the dog days of summer and one of my least favorite times of year, at least as far as the weather is concerned. We're tempted by all the fall fashions coming down the pipeline but it's too darn hot to wear them. Yet wearing our shorts and sandals for too much longer just doesn't seem right. So how do we transition our summer wardrobe into fall without looking like we're obviously blending seasons and needlessly suffering just to look chic? Flats, of course!

This is the time of year when flats become our heroes - they swoop in and rescue our white jeans, our short skirts and our dresses and carry them effortlessly into fall without much help. Sure, a few accessories offer assistance and bring the look home. But flats alone can single-handedly turn a summer look into a transitional look without much ado.

One of the quickest ways to update our look is to update our shoes. Really, if you update your shoe wardrobe, or even just add one new pair each season, you'll breathe new life into your old clothes with little effort. And the cost could be little as well - we found some of the season's hottest trends in flats at prices that will keep you coming in under budget. If you have money left over, why not treat yourself to a new handbag, a sweater wrap or a chic statement necklace to whisk your jeans and tee shirts into fall?

1/ Today as I was dressing to drop my pre-schooler off, I wanted to get a few more wears out of my fabulous white Elie Tahari jeans (a big TJ Maxx score this summer for just $20!). But I just couldn't bear to put on my sandals yet again. So I opted for my new
Cranberry Ruffpoint Flats ($25) from Target and felt that my look was transported to the brink of fall without looking too heavy. The cranberry color is spot-on and the hint of ruffle adds a little something special. Plus, they're comfy enough that I can wear all day, running errands and with the kids.

2/ If you're in the habit of reaching for your sneakers to get you through the day - DON'T! Swap them out for a pair of comfy Teal Ozella Flats ($20) from Target and you'll look chic while enjoying the cushioned insoles of your hip flats. Instant makeover!

3/ If you're loving the menswear trend this season slip on a pair of these Medina Ballet Flats ($25) and transport your look to the glamorous era of the 1940's. You may find yourself reaching for your pearls to add sparkle to your tee shirt!

4/ To give your black and white look a modern update try a pair of these Odell Ballet Flats ($14) and you'll look comfortable and casual with a shot of style!

5/ Add a hint of rocker chic to your look and it'll be a fun touch to your day. These Embellished Flats ($13) put you in touch with your inner rock-star - but look out! You may be tempted to belt out your favorite tune and embarrass the kids!

6/ For an understated and elegant look these Dexter Charlotte Flats ($25) offer a simple yet contemporary update to your most casual outfits or something a bit dressier.

7/ Rosaline Leopard Print Flats ($30)bring an easy, elegant look to your most simple denim and tee shirt pairings or they look sleek with a pair of black trousers and a brightly hued sweater.

8/ Are you mad for plaid? Add a chic touch of it with these Saniya Flats ($17).

Bamboo for Two

As widely accepted as breastfeeding has become it’s still something that, at times, calls for modesty and privacy. Bamboo for Two ($46) is a wonderful cover-up designed just for breastfeeding mothers and their babies to let them nurse discreetly without distraction. Created as a clever poncho, Bamboo for Two comes in black has a cowl neck so you can easily take a peek at baby while she’s nursing, yet will keep her from being distracted by her surroundings. Made from lightweight, breathable bamboo it helps to keep mom and baby cool and comfortable while looking chic and stylish.

Win It
One winner will receive a Bamboo for Two nursing cover-up. To enter tell us how this would come in handy for you. Don't forget to leave us your email so we can contact you. Deadline is Monday, August 31, 2009.

Build Your Working Wardrobe

As the kids get ready to go back to school moms everywhere get ready to enter, or re-enter the workforce. Aside from transitioning your days from changing diapers and picking up Cheeri-o's to sitting through meetings and having to be somewhere on time, one of the biggest issues moms face is what to wear. Staying home with the kids, or even working at home, allows for a certain luxury in the way of comfort clothing, no footwear and little or no makeup. But get ready, moms, the times they are are a' changin'.

Whether you're going back to a career you love or going to work for the first time to help bolster the family income, putting together a working wardrobe from scratch doesn't need to be intimidating or budget-blowing. Here are some great pieces that work to create the foundation for a chic, office appropriate wardrobe, along with some ideas for putting your own personal stamp on it:

1/ Macy's is featuring some great office staples from Rafaella at prices that are too good to be true. The blazer pictured above is just $59.98. Snap up a matching pencil skirt or a pair of boot-cut pants for just $39.98 each and you've got the beginnings of many outfits. But hurry - quantities are limited.

2/ Busy moms can never have enough pants, so stock up at New York and Company. These chic sharkskin pants are a sophisticated look for the office - and when you buy one at $46.95, you get another pair FREE. So why not grab another pair of trousers for work or a pair of jeans for the weekend and save yourself some serious cash!

3/ Chadwick's of Boston has a great Three-piece Ensemble that includes a jacket, a shift dress and a pair of trousers with a free belt for $99.99. Try the chalk stripe for an elongating effect.

4/ Back to work doesn't have to mean boring. Try a few fun items like this Draped Jacket (right, $49.99) in a fun shade to bring a shot of color and style to your little black dress, pants or skirt.

4/ This belted tank (left, $19) is the perfect choice to layer under a jacket or cardigan for the office, or wear on its own with jeans for the weekend.

5/ Working moms need a bag that does double-duty while still keeping its cool. This chic Croc embossed laptop bag (sale, $29.99) holds your laptop, extra makeup, even a couple of diapers and looks chic in the process.

Keep your accessories understated and go with a simple, unfussy hairstyle. A little makeup is better than none at all, so allow for a few extra minutes in the morning for some tinted moisturizer, a little blush, mascara and a neutral lipcolor to keep you looking polished. Now your ready to go back to work in style!

Rockin' School Year's Eve

Are you counting down the days until school starts? We sure are at our house. Ivy got her teacher assignment yesterday and was on pins and needles awaiting to find out whose class she'd be in. Dylan has been asking about his friends and I know they're both as ready as I am for them to get back to class.

But before they get back in the groove we're going to be doing a little celebrating. Cookie Magazine, along with several other sponsors are giving us all a reason to have a party. A School Year's Eve party, that is. Want in on the action? It's simple, just host a School Year's Eve bash of your own and you could win $1,500 for your school's PTA. Before you start to stress about adding one more thing to your to-do list, keep in mind that your SYE bash could be as simple as you and the kids with a few noisemakers, or the whole class piling into your house for make-your-own pizzas and a toast of sparkling apple cider. The deadline is September 30, 2009 so you've got time to plan. If you need some ideas, check the School Year's Eve Party Planner for recipes, invitations and templates to make your own party hats, placecards, napkin rings, etc. Get the kids in on the action and have a Happy School Year's Eve!

Your Guide to Wearing Cropped Pants

Cropped pants, capris, clamdiggers. They may be known by many names but these short pants have become known and loved by women of all ages, shapes and sizes, and with good reason. Cropped pants offer a cool alternative to full-length trousers or jeans and are perfect for when the weather starts heating up. As popular as they are, wearing cropped pants can be a bit trickier than you’d think. Here are a few tips to help you select the best style for your figure:

1. Make sure the hemline ends at the narrowest part of your leg. If it stops at the widest part of your calf, your legs will appear larger and shorter.

2. Pleats? Please, don’t. They only serve to add volume where you want to minimize it.

3. How about cuffs? Cuffs are best on those with long, nimble legs and should be avoided on those with short legs.

4. Opt for cropped pants that have straight or barely flared legs. They’ll balance out hips and keep you proportional.

5. To create an elongated leg line pair your cropped pants with heels or some of the season's hottest wedges. Flat shoes can give this look a dowdy appearance.

So now your only real dilemma with wearing cropped pants should be choosing a color! Go for one of the season’s pale neutrals or a darker color if your bottom half is heavier than your top. You’ll look chic and keep your cool too!

Hydration for Your Skin

Good things come in small packages. At my last visit to my favorite day spa my aesthetician turned me onto to Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel ($43.20), a small vial that seemed, well, like no big deal. Well let me just tell you that this is one very huge deal packaged up in a tiny little vial. It all started because I had some really dry skin on my face. She thought it might help to clear that up. So it tried it, and it did not disappoint. So I began to wonder what else this magical elixir could do. After getting a little too hands-on with a blemish I applied a little Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel for a few nights in a row and not only was there was no more redness, there was no sign of a scar. This stuff works wonders, I thought. Let me just tell you that this powerful gel, formulated with hyaluronic acid, can be used directly on your skin (avoid eye contact) or mixed with your regular moisturizer to stretch it out a little - it's like an extra hand in keeping the wrinkles at bay. As busy moms, we need all the help we can get from the few beauty steps we're able to perform daily and this, dear mommies, is worth its weight in gold!

Look Fabulous in Your Jeans

With fall right around the corner our relaxed summer clothing is about to be gently nudged aside. In come comfy-but-chic knit tops, snuggly sweaters and, of course, jeans. You may have had a chance to slip into your favortite pair of jeans over the summer and have a pretty good idea how well they'll fit. If not, you may want to go ahead and try them on now so you won't be shell-shocked.

To prepare for said jeans, now's a great time to take a look at stylist Kami Gray's latest book, The Denim Diet. And before you get any big ideas, I'll tell you right now - it's NOT a book advising you to drink tons of diet soda, eat only a cracker for lunch and a breathmint for dinner for an entire month. Kami (a mom herself) offers an approach that seems less like a diet and more like a way of eating for life. With an eye towards reality, Kami offers up some real world suggestions for eating well and eating real food, as opposed to anything "diet" or artificially sweetened, imposters that do little to nothing to satisfy our cravings.

The foundation behind the The Denim Diet is two-fold: eat whole, organic foods, and eat them in moderation. Enough said, right? But Kami goes into great detail to explain why we should shun all the white stuff (sugar, flour, salt, etc) that puts us on a roller coaster in favor of foods that nourish us and fill us with lasting energy (something we all could use more of!). She gives thoughtful suggestions for afternoon snacks and goes so far as to recommend that we indulge in chocolate regularly - YES! Kami also offers delicious recipes to keep us sated while slimming us down. With a focus on eating locally, as well as organically, her approach is not only good for our waistlines, it's good for the planet!

But enough about diets. What about jeans? If you're in need of a new pair of jeans and want to look fabulous, Kami offers up her suggestions for the five best “Have you lost weight?” jeans.

1. Hudson Dakota Wash Jeans fit most body types and can be especially helpful if your backside could use some enhancing. ($187)

2. True Religion Becky Jeans are bootcut with a bit of stretch. The quintessential “LA” trendy, yet flattering, designer denim. ($172)

3. The 4-way stretch of the DL 1961 Milano(1185) is nothing short of a miracle. These are my go-to pair.($158)

4. Levi Eco Skinny Boot Jeans are Flattering, eco-friendly, and you can’t beat the price at $69.50.

5. Perfect Boot Jeans fit most body types and make for a good everyday pair of jeans without looking like mom jeans.(Sale $49).

But remember, no matter what the price or the label, buying the best fitting pair of jeans (or getting the perfect fit via alterations) is going to make you look fabulous!

Only 135 Days Until Christmas!

Summer's beginning to wind down and it's about time to get the kids ready for school. It's also a great time to start planning for the Christmas holidays so that once the seaons rolls around we can take a deep beath and just relax and enjoy ourselves.

Thinking about Christmas now allows us to start stashing away gifts and making our lists (we can check them twice later), and saving us some money in the process. Here are a few tips to help you begin to prepare for this major holiday and make it more of a celebration rather than an exercise in exhaustion (both physical and financial):

1/ A Penny Saved - If you haven't opened up a Christmas Club account at your bank it's almost a little too late in the year to do so as most of them cash out during October (less than two months away). This is best started at the beginning of the year (take note for next year). What you can do to make things easier on yourself is to take advantage of some of the great sales going on right now. I had a great opportunity to buy an American Girl doll for my daughter at half price so it's stashed in our closet until December 25. This saved me $50 and is one less thing I'll have to purchase come December. Many stores are offering end of summer sales, back to school sales and, pretty soon, Labor Day sales. Make a list of anything you can purchase now and start shopping. You'll save yourself both time and money as the holidays near and you'll feel ahead of the pack as you relax and enjoy the weekend after Thanksgiving instead of feeling panic stricken because it's already Black Friday.

2/ Buy Early - If there's something you know your child wants for Christmas and you have an inkling it may sell out quickly, buy now and save yourself the frustration and desperation of trying to track down the last Wii or the last Cabbage Patch Kid (remember that drama?).

3/ Well Traveled - If you'll be traveling during the holidays it may be wise to consult your travel agent and book now. Airline fares are down and cruise prices have dropped to all-time affordability. Perhaps you could plan a Christmas getaway. If you start planning now perhaps your entire clan could exchange gifts and sing carols while cruising to Alaska at a fraction of what it would normally charge.

4/ Plan Ahead - Make the holidays easier on yourself by setting up a timeline and working backwards. Mark your calendar with deadlines. If you set goals for yourself such as when to have presents bought, wrapped or shipped, you'll be way ahead of the game and can treat yourself to a hot toddy and get to bed early instead of staying up until the wee hours after fighting the crowd at the mall.

5/ Well Fed - If you know you'll be extra busy around Christmas-time, plan to make a few extra meals and pop them in the freezer. Whenever you find yourself making a big batch of soup or a casserole, why not double the recipe and freeze half? As the festivities near and your family's schedule ramps up you'll at least know you can feed your family without having to rely on takeout. That's always reassuring.

6/ Dress Up - With the holidays come parties, open houses and special events. If you start planning your wardrobe now you won't be caught rushing around at the last minute. Take advantage of sales and purchase a few items such classic dresses, bejeweled tank tops and layering pieces that can jazz up a simple outfit. Fall clothing is starting to hit the stores and the deep, rich tones are just right to take you through fall and into the holidays. And keep in mind that sometimes just adding a special piece of jewelry or some fabulous accessories can take your staples and turn them into something stunning!

When you take time to plan ahead it'll only help to free you up later and really be able to enjoy holiday parties, tree lightings and other activities with friends and family, which is what's really important. For more tips on preparing for the holidays see OrganizedChristmas.com and make this Christmas the best ever, regardless of your budget.

Are You In Need of a Date Night?

Ok, mamas, 'fess up. When's the last time you and your man had a date night? Taking time out with your husband or partner can be so important to keeping our marriages running smoothly, as well as to give ourselves a little time off from putting the kids to bed, but can often get lost in the shuffle. Why not get out a calendar and set a date? If hiring a sitter is cost prohibitive (we all know how quickly that can add up) call a relative or make plans with a neighboring family to take turns watching each other's kids. Whether you go all out for a fancy dinner or just go and sit at your favorite coffee shop, it's time together with your husband to connect, one-on-one, that really counts.

McCormick and Schmick's is a wonderful seafood restaurant that has been around since 1972. Offering the finest in seafood, along with steaks and gourmet desserts, it's a wonderful location for a romantic evening out. Take a peek at their menu and see if your mouth doesn't start watering! You can order a la carte, full dinners or dinners for two that even includes chocolate lava cake and make for a wonderful evening. Through the month of September McCormick and Schmick's has a Reel to Reel Promotion going on where you can get a movie ticket for just five dollars (that's about half price here in Raleigh). It helps make dinner and a movie a little more affordable!

Win It
To help make date night a little more accessible we're giving one winner a $25 gift certificate to McCormick and Schmick's. To enter, tell us where your nearest McCormick and Schmick's is, as well as what you'd order from the menu. Deadline is Sunday, August 16, 2009. Please don't forget your email. Good luck!

* Congratulations to our winner, Katie A. We hope you enjoy a delicious night out!

Multitasking Botanicals

AHAVA skincare is a natural and botanical based line that’s infused with the exotic properties of Dead Sea minerals. With the creation of their new Mineral Botanic line AHAVA brings its signature minerals and plant extracts to their cream body cleanser ($19.50), infusing it with botanical goodness and making it a great multi-tasker. Try the orange and frangipani scent; the orange adds vitamin C and antioxidants and the frangipani tones skin, leaving it soft and supple. This scented body cleanser also helps to strengthen collagen and improve skin’s elasticity, leaving you with fresh, youthful skin and a scent that is divine. Free of parabens, AHAVA's products are ideal for sensitive skin and are a great way to start your day!

Back to School Beauty

As the kids gear up to get back in gear it's time for us mamas to start swooning over the latest in fall beauty and fashion. E.L.F. Cosmetics wants to help make indulging ourselves in a few new beauty treats as easy on the budget as possible. For a limited time they're offering help for lips, including Super Glossy Lip Shine, Conditioning Lip Balm, Luscious Liquid Lipstick and Feather Proof Lip Liner all free with a $10 purchase. E.L.F. Cosmetics stocks everything from eye-makeup remover pads to brushes to the hottest in nail colors. Now you just have to decide what to choose! Use code "ECflips" at checkout.

* Editor's Note: I was shopping in my local Target recently and discovered that they are now carrying E.L.F. Cosmetics. This is fabulous! The price is still $1 and there's no shipping! I only found one product online, so check out your local Target next time you're shopping and see what you can find.

Get Your Glow On

I love finding out about new products hot on the market, but it's always wonderful finding out about an oldie-but-goodie. A client recently turned me onto a fabulous product and I've fallen in love. Sally Hansen's Luminizing Face Primer goes on like silk to create a smooth, non-greasy base that helps to smooth my skin and makes my foundation glide on like butter. I love that it imparts a subtle glow without creating a shimmer. It's perfect for daytime or evening and just enough to boost my complexion when it's looking a little dull or I've stayed up a little too late. Find it at Ulta for $9.99 each (buy 2 and get one free), or look for it at your local drug or superstore.

Nicole Richie for A Pea in the Pod

Nicole Richie is one stylish mama so it comes as no surprise that she was asked to design a line for maternity mecca A Pea in the Pod. Nicole created a 14 piece collection that includes such trendy items as maxidresses alongside more core items such as her black tank dress, leggings and tank that can take a mama-to-be through several seasons and morph into multiple looks. With prices starting at $48 and topping out at $148, this collection won't break the bank.

I love this Open Front Cardigan ($118) and think it's the perfect item to layer over a black tank and a pair of jeans, or pull it on over a maxi dress when the weather turns chilly. It's a versatile piece that will take you through until spring and go with virtually everything in your wardrobe.

Kudos to Nicole! She nailed it. Incorporating her signature peasant blouses into the collection she managed to create a grouping that is both trendy and timeless and will have many pregnant mothers looking fabulous through all nine months.

Kicks Customized for Your Kids

Although I've never owned a pair myself I've been a fan of Vans for quite a while. It seems they were the shoes that all the "cool" boys used to wear when I was in high-school, college and even into adulthood. I dated many a boy who sported Vans in my day, so the shoes have fond memories for me. When we were offered the opportunity to create a pair customized just for my son I was thrilled! We have a friend who is a "cool" dad, as well as local rock star, who rocks his Vans regularly and my son, Dylan, has always loved them. So when the time came to create a pair for him I reminded him that these are like what Sam wears. It was his turn to be thrilled.

Since 1966 Vans has offered an option to customize their shoes. Sure, you can purchase a pair of Vans that are already designed to have a hip look. But for those of you who like to express your individuality, this is the option for you! Our experience creating the shoes was such a fun one. My son, Dylan, is 2 and his favorite color is orange. We knew that slip-ons would be our starting point. The hardest part was deciding where the orange would be placed. We played around with several different color combinations and finally came up with orange on the top and the gray checkerboard on the sides. I knew we had to have some of their classic, old school checkerboard pattern in there somewhere. Designing his very own shoes was a fun activity that we spent the better part of a rainy afternoon doing. Sure, it could have been completed in a matter of minutes, but we made it into a much longer event and enjoyed every minute of it. It was fun for me to see his face light up when his choice immediately appeared on the shoe on the screen. It was fun and easy, and the end result was fabulous!

So as soon as we were finished my son declared that the "orange shoe truck" was going to come to our house to make a personal delivery just for him. Sure enough on the day UPS arrived with our package our driver played along and told Dylan for that day he was the "shoe truck". You should have seen the big, happy grin he got! (I get the same way when the shoe truck is paying me a visit!) Dylan put on his new Vans immediately and has wanted to wear them just about every day since. They have been dubbed his "new kicks" and he loves them. I think what he loves most is that he had a hand in the design process - something every two year old wants in life - and now he gets to enjoy the fruits of his labor. So he's happy with his new customized orange kicks, and I'm happy that he has a new pair of shoes that are perfect for his Montessori classroom where lace-up shoes are not allowed, and that both look good and are comfortable for running on the playground. It's a win-win!

Susan Boyle Gets a Makeover

One thing's for sure - Susan Boyle, the contestant on Britain's Got Talent who stirred up a heated controversy about her appearance as well as her voice - is one heck of a late bloomer. Unleashing her amazing voice on the show after having barely ever sung in public brought a fury of questions: Who is Susan Boyle? Where did she learn to sing like that? and probably most often asked, "Why doesn't she get a makeover?" Well, it looks like she finally did get a makeover and has never looked better!

Betty Confidential went behind the scenes to witness Susan's makeover and see her go from ugly duckling to graceful swan on the pages of Harper's Bazaar magazine. I use the term "ugly duckling" loosely. It is my belief that all women are truly beautiful, it just sometimes takes some assistance to help us bring out our true beauty and be our best selves. With the help of a talented staff, Susan Boyle has shed her frumpy coccoon and blossomed into a lovely woman who shows the world an image that matches her gorgeous voice, and she does it in a way that spotlights her assets and leaves her looking like a more refined version of herself. Bravo, Bazaar! Susan looks amazing and surely her confidence will soar after this. Many of her fans argued that she had a very natural look that didn't need to be changed, but after seeing the results, I have a feeling those fans are going to be very pleased. What do you think?

Customize Your SIGG

There are so many reasons why investing in a reusable water bottle is a great idea. First of all, think of the money you'll save over time. Bottled water may be relatively inexpensive, but that cost adds up over time. Another great reason is that plastic water bottles are not very environmentally friendly. They get used once, then left in the landfill to sit for a very long time (unless they're lucky enough to get turned into a very cool fabric, which happens to only a small percentage of bottles). Another great reason is style. Drinking from a plain plastic water bottle may be functional, but there's real style to it. Drinking your water from a customized reusable Sigg water bottle from Cafe Press, ($27.99) on the other hand, shows off your sense of stylewhile keeping the environment in mind.

With it's fun, user-friendly design tool Cafe Press allows you to design and create a water bottle for yourself or your family. Super easy to use, you can create a water bottle for everyone in your family that's perfect for taking along to work, to school, to soccer practice...and the customized design ensures no one will accidentally walk off with the wrong bottle. Create one or a hundred, these make great gifts or giveaways. Upload your child's picture, add your logo or create a design that's just pure fun and you'll have a one-liter reusable aluminum water bottle that's as much fun to use as it is functional.

Tote Your Gear in Style

Busy moms on the go don’t have to sacrifice style just because they carry the world on their shoulders – or in their gym bags. Now there is a stylish solution to keep everything in its place while helping mom look chic as she moves through her day. Crafted from waterproof twill and trimmed with Italian leather, each Physhion bag features a waterproof lining and comes equipped with compartments for your cell phone, iPod, gym pass, diapers, bottles and even a programmable lock for your locker. Big enough to serve as a gym bag, diaper bag, and hand bag all in one, Physhion bags are available in Fashionista, Vixen, Siren, and Hipster styles to keep you fashionable while you stay fit! Prices range from $225 - $350.
Pictured: Fashionista, $225.