Posts from — August 2011
Around The Web
It’s Friday! Take a break this afternoon and check out these links:
- Meet Tia Mowry‘s 8-week-old son Cree Taylor – Us Weekly
- How to sneak healthy ingredients into kids’ favorite treats – BabyZone.com
- Can parents be their child’s friends? – ModernMom.com
- Utah court prevents father from regaining custody of illegally adopted daughter – TheStir.com
- Is your child’s school prepared for an earthquake? – Yahoo! Shine
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August 26, 2011 No Comments
5 Tips to Create a Celeb-Worthy Nursery
 Courtesy Petit Tresor |
Designers to the stars and owners of luxury baby boutique Petit Tresor, Nina Takesh and Samantha Winch, are seasoned veterans when it comes to creating one-of-a-kind nurseries.
This designing duo has worked with Hollywood A-List moms including Rachel Zoe, Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes.
But as mothers themselves, Nina and Sam understand that not everyone has a lot of money to spend on home décor especially with a baby on the way.
So no matter your budget, they’ve put together five simple design tips to consider while creating your dream nursery.
Check them out below:
Start from the ground up. Pick a rug as the focal point for the room. It could be one you already own or one you find at an affordable local store. But once you’ve chosen that piece, it becomes easier to select the colors and textures you want for the room.
Watch the scale. We strongly favor pieces that are well proportioned. Since scale is so important to your design concept, make sure no one piece is completely overpowering another.
Mix things up. We love incorporating chic subtle elements into a modern nursery. This classic blend of traditional and modern is truly reflective of our signature style. To do something similar, figure out what periods and styles speak to you most. And don’t be afraid to mix and match furniture styles, just make sure pieces are authentic to their particular time period.
Color is key. First, take a look at the hues that surround your home so you can play off them in your baby’s nursery. Making sure that your child’s room complements the rest of the house is extremely important. Don’t introduce a new color palette because it won’t appear harmonious and will seem out of place.
And consider picking a transparent (lucite is big right now) or neutral (brown, white, etc.) crib so the room looks great whether you opt for pastels or bolder hues.
Stay true to you. You want your baby’s room to feel like an extension of your home. Yes, it’s a special place for baby but the overall look should really reflect your personal style.
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August 26, 2011 No Comments
Sneak Peek: Baby Phat’s Fall Girls Collection
 Courtesy of Baby Phat |
Your little girl is growing up, which means she’ll want more say on what fashions you buy for back-to-school.
If you’re looking for on trend clothing that doesn’t scream inappropriate, we suggest checking out Baby Phat‘s hip girls line.
Available in sizes 2T to 16, the fall collection is a stylish mix of classic (denim mini skirts, plaid shirts, striped cardigans) and fun (lace print tees, skinny cargos, velour anoraks) pieces that you and your mini me will love.
Ready to shop? Fall styles aren’t yet up, but you can still get great deals on summer stock at babyphat.com.
Added bonus: Enter code: 2babyphat5 for 25 percent off your total order
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August 19, 2011 No Comments
‘I regret having you’
I saw this article and thought it would be interesting as sometimes as a single parent when you are stressed or upset with the other parent all sort of things come to mind and out of your mouth:
‘I regret having you’
And 4 other things you should never say to your child
By SIMONE MORGAN All Woman writer
Monday, August 15, 2011
IT’S not unusual for a parent who’s stressed to say hurtful things to a child without putting much thought into what he/she says. However, saying hurtful things to a child can leave scars that could last a lifetime, many experts have warned. Therefore, whenever things happen that make you mad, take a time out before unleashing your fury on the child, family counsellor David Anderson said.
“When you take time, even to count to ten, you’re less likely to say hurtful or inappropriate things,” he said.
Below are five things you should never, ever say to your children.
1. ‘Why cant you be more like your brother or sister?’
“I’ve talked to people, big people, who still remember being compared to a sibling, and still have pent-up hurt from the experience,” Anderson said. It’s important that parents accept each of their children for who they are and never compare them in any way. Comparing them will only reinforce that they aren’t as smart/funny/pretty/talented as their sibling, and this can cause rivalry and hurt that lasts for years.
2. ‘I regret having you.’
“I wish you were never born”; “I should have aborted you”; “I should have given you up for adoption”; “Your ruined my life”. It doesn’t matter how rebellious your child gets, these words should never escape your lips, even if you’re thinking them. “No one forced you to have them, but if you made that decision, live with it, and don’t blame the child for your failures,” Anderson said.
3. ‘You are just like your worthless father/mother.’
As a parent, this may sound harmless but in the ears of a child it is destructive. It is extremely uncomfortable for kids to hear their parents saying negative things about each other, and if a child has been labelled as being “just like” his/her dad, he/she will feel anger and shame when dad is criticised. “If you’re constantly being called worthless, that’s something you will believe,” Anderson said. “Parents help shape their children’s self-esteem, and so if you kill the self-esteem, they’ll have a wall of trouble trying to gain back confidence.”
4. ‘You will never become anything in life.’
To be referred to as failure can also ruin a child’s self-esteem, especially when it comes from the lips of a parent. “Although some persons believe that criticism will motivate the kids to succeed, this is not necessarily the case,” Anderson said. “Whenever they face challenges, normal life challenges, they may draw for that, those words that came from the parent, and focus on that,” he said. “After all, ‘if daddy says I’m dumb, and I can’t understand math, maybe he’s right’…” he added. In the long run, these insults will only make your child less capable of making the right decisions.
5. ‘I’m disowning you.’
Even when your child gets on your last nerve and you feel like giving up, those words should be avoided completely. This is an angry threat which will leave your child feeling isolated. Remember, a child depends on his/her parents for love, emotional and financial support so when this statement is made it is rather frightening for the child who will lose all sense of who he/she is.
// < Courtesy Tommee Tippee |
There’s no way around it: pumping sucks (pun always intended).
Considering most women just want to get through it as quickly and efficiently as possible, it’s wise to invest in a pump that gets the job done.
But that doesn’t mean it has to be torture either.
Known for their well-made bottles and sippy cups, UK-based Tommee Tippee has just released their Closer to Nature Single Electric Breast Pump ($150), designed for a more comfortable experience.
Check out our review below.
Things We Like:
With its small size and portable container that holds the pump, pods, expresser and bottle, this system is great for when you’re on the go.
For easy and comfortable milk expression, the soft BPA free silicone cup is designed to mimic a baby’s feeding with four suction settings that you control.
While you’re expressing, you can either attach a bottle attaches for quick feedings or the pods, which are perfect for storing.
Things We Didn’t Like:
Only equipped with a single expresser, this is not the ideal option for women hoping to relieve both breasts at the same time. In addition, although gentle, it didn’t seem to have the same gusto as other pumps, which could ultimately require a longer pumping session.
Moms & Babies Rating:
This particular system is not the best choice for moms looking for an efficient session. However, the silicone cup is a much more gentle way to express yourself and that added comfort could be worth the draining (ahem) trade off for some.
– Chelsea P. Gladden
Added bonus: The company is offering moms-to-be a cool way to collect and capture moments during their pregnancy up to the birth of their baby with their free digital storybook, The Day Baby Was Born™. To see how it works, go to thedaybabywasborn.com.
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August 15, 2011 No Comments
Online Maternity Clothing Store
August 15, 2011 No Comments
Around The Web
It’s the start of a new week! Check out Monday’s afternoon links:
- VIDEO: Elisabeth Röhm dishes on the response to her CBB blog – Better.tv
- Would you get a 3 or 4D ultrasound? – TheStir.com
- VIDEO: Your best bets for feeding kids a healthy breakfast – CBSNews.com
- Is “stepmom” a bad word? – Babble.com
- Funny photos: Stuff my kids ruined – Parenting.com
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August 15, 2011 No Comments
Tia Mowry: Motherhood Is ‘More Emotional Than I Expected’
 Jill Johnson/JPI |
Good things come to those who wait — except in Tia Mowry‘s case!
When son Cree Taylor arrived on June 28, five days earlier than his expected due date, the actress was thrilled to finally see an end to her pregnancy.
“I was told to be prepared for him to come before or after my due date,” Mowry, 33, tells BET.com. “I was excited to get this baby out of me.”
And although she was prepared for the possibility of welcoming baby early, Mowry admits she didn’t anticipate the sudden wave of feelings after meeting her son.
“It’s a lot more emotional than I expected. I knew it would be emotional, but I didn’t know it would be this emotional,” she says. ”People always say you never know love until you have your own child and all of that is true.”
Completely “obsessed” and “involved” with Cree, caring for a newborn is already taking a toll on the new mom.
“I didn’t know I’d be this exhausted. I’m so sleep deprived,” she reveals. “When I talk to other mothers about it they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, honey, and it doesn’t change. Your body just gets used to it.’”
Fortunately first-time father Cory Hardrict is happy to step up to the plate when it comes to baby boy.
“He’s changing diapers, he’s feeding, bathing, all of it,” Mowry shares. “At night I pump bottles so he can do feedings.”
And with Mowry — who has shed 25 pounds “from breastfeeding” — returning to the set of The Game in September, life is about to get a whole lot more hectic.
“[Cree] is definitely coming with me,” she explains. “I’m excited, but very nervous about how I’m going to balance things out because right now I get no sleep and I’m gonna have to memorize lines. Lack of sleep and studying don’t go hand in hand for me.”
Despite her busy schedule, Mowry couldn’t be happier with her timing of starting her family with Hardrict, noting the decision to wait “when you’re older helps you emotionally. You’re much more stable. I’m more stable in my life.”
Ecstatic to be a mother, Mowry is ready for her Tia and Tamera co-star — and twin sister! — Tamera to share in the experience.
“At her wedding I said in my speech that she needed to get on it — now!”
– Anya Leon
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August 11, 2011 No Comments
Viola Davis Adopting a Baby
 Sara De Boer/Startraks |
Viola Davis and her husband, actor Julius Tennon, are in the process of adopting a child, the couple tells E! News.
Speaking from the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of her new movie, The Help, Davis, 45, confirmed: “Yes, we’re about to adopt a baby.”
Davis said she and Tennon are planning to adopt “domestically,” but did not elaborate.
This will be the first child together for the couple, who have been married since 2003.
Tennon has two children from previous relationships.
– Liz Raftery
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August 11, 2011 1 Comment
