Milestones and Your Baby

Celebrities can be parents too, right? Of course they can! Even though these moms have help (we’re jealous), we can still admire their dedication. After all, parenting is a full time job!

Halle Berry – Have you seen her beautiful daughter, Nahla?

Sandra Bullock – After a rocky divorce, she’s expressed her desire to adopt. And that’s just what she did. Adoption is a noble and amazing route! Just as some adults longing for children they don’t have, children are longing for parents that they do not have.

Kate Hudson – With a son from her previous marriage, Kate has managed to keep things amicable between she and her ex-husband. That’s pretty great, Kate!

Michelle Williams – With the passing of her child’s father, Heath Ledger, Michelle has been tackling parenting on her own, and it seems as though she’s doing a really great job at it. Doesn’t Mathilda look happy these days?

Katie Couric – After her husband lost his battle to colon cancer, she was left to raise her two girls on her own.

Denise Richards – After divorcing Charlie Sheen, Richards was awarded custody of their two children Lola and Sam. Denise is one of the most normal celebrity mothers around.

Britney Spears – You can say what you want about Brit, but she’s an excellent parent.

Who is your favorite single celebrity Mom?

The secret to beautiful hair can go both ways. If you’re looking for one right answer, this may not be the article for you, but if you’re looking for helpful tips, we just might have the tips for you!

1. Condition! Don’t let your hair dry out. Dry hair = breakage
2. Nix the chemicals! Chemical treatments are okay in moderation, but just remember not to overdo it. Your hair can break off from this as well! Be super careful and stingy about what you put into your hair. If it’s color, might we suggest a semi-permanent dye?
3. Trim! Have your ends professionally trimmed every so often to promote hair growth!
4. Shampoo! Be mindful of the kinds of shampoos that you put into your hair. Some of them are actually bad for your hair!

Ask your hair stylist for insider tips! They always have great home remedy to offer if you’re low on funds or looking for a new project. And don’t forget to deep condition!

Okay, so you’ve finally reached your savings goal to remodel the living room. You’ve finally painted the room a fantastic color, and you’ve just purchased great electronics. What’s missing? Oh, did you grab furniture? You know the stuff that you can actually sit on? No worries. We’re here to save you. Here are the best places to shop…no matter where you live.

1. Overstock.com – This website is great place for just about anything you need for your home. They usually have a great free shipping promotion going on. Check them out. We love them!
2. Macy’s – You can shop in-store or online. Either way, you can find some pretty stylish and affordable items here.
3. Apt2b.com – If you’re furnishing an apartment you should check out this website. They have a great collection of things that will fit perfectly in your small space.
4. Urban Outfitters – Yes, the clothing store. They’re the best kept secret! They sell hipster and vintage looking pieces. You might even find some whimsical accessories and artwork!
5. Crate & Barrel – If you don’t have one of these stores nearby, you can always log onto the internet and have some pieces shipped to your front door!
6. Restoration Hardware – It’s a little pricey, but just remember, you get what you pay for. Restoration has beautiful furniture for every single room. They even have lighting and tableware. Oh, are you living in an apartment? Don’t worry they’ve got you covered too!

Try these furniture stores if you’re in a rut! We promise that you’ll find (at least) one piece that you really love!

First of all, let us say…woe is me! You have too many people that want to come and support you on your special day. It must be so hard being so loved. Okay, now that we’ve gotten our jealousy out of the way, let’s begin with some solutions. (Sorry about what we said before.)

1. Consider other cutbacks – Maybe you don’t have to trim your guest list. Maybe that ice sculpture of a swan spreading its wings and wrapping them around a heart that symbolizes your love for each other can go instead.
2. Category split – Split your guests into categories. Separate your immediate families from your extended relatives to your friends and their kids.  Consider all of your options and try cutting out people that way. Here’s a suggestion: Small children will not remember this day. Maybe they can stay at home. After all, most children don’t know what’s going on and will get bored after the first five minutes.
3. When have you last seen these people? – If they don’t know your fiancé, chances are, they don’t need to share in your special day. Think about childhood friends, extended family, co-workers, and so on.
4. No Kids – Enforce a “no kids” policy. This will cut down at least HALF of your guest list!

It’s pretty harsh, but kids don’t really need to be there. Unless they’re your kids or dear to your heart in a very special way, they should stay at home. They won’t remember, and you will be put at ease! Congratulations on your special day!

How many days a week do you wear jeans and a simple t-shirt? More often than not, we’re guessing. It’s hard to really get into fashion when you have to be up so early in the morning for work. It’s just hard to wrap your brain around when it’s 6:00am. We totally get it, but let’s make some gradual steps forward!

Shoes – What shoes do you normally choose to wear? Well, let’s start rotating. Pick 4 to 5 pairs of shoes that go with just about any outfit and start switching it up during the week.

Face and Hair – It’s one or the other. Either you do your hair or you do your makeup. Of course, you can choose both, but if you simply don’t have time…pick one and move on.

Clothes – Okay, you can keep the jeans, but pair it with a killer blouse. Make it stand out. You want to still look cute. If you think about it, you’re spending 40 hours a week looking like a hot mess.

Start gradually and work your way up to what you’re most comfortable with. After all, you want to be presentable at your place of work. It is important that people see you taking your job seriously.

1. Take it Easy: If you have a great head of hair, you don’t need to overdo it with tons of unnecessary makeup. Less is more in this case.
2. Neck Care: Just as you try to keep up with your face’s beauty, do the same for your neck. Think about how many older ladies mention something about their necks. Get a head start.
3. Moderation: You can stay thin by utilizing your knowledge of portion control.
4. Don’t Touch: Try to keep your hands (which are full of germs and oils) away from your face! You’ll be less prone to acne this way!
5. Stay out of the Sun: If you do go in the sun, use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
6. Pamper: No excuses. Take one day a week to yourself to do your nails, deep condition your hair, use a facial mask, or whatever it is that makes you feel beautiful. After all, beauty starts from within. It’s all about how you feel about yourself.
7. Don’t Over-tweeze: Full brows are beautiful, and they will always be in!
8. Blush: Everybody needs blush! You just need to find your perfect shade!
9. Less is more: Try to stick to neutral tones and less caked on makeup. Your skin, as well as your self-confidence will thank us later.

While these may not be the beauty tips you were looking for, there is a theme. Less is more. We’re not saying you should do the absolute bare minimum, but we promise the outcome is incredible…not to mention that huge confidence boost that you’re about to gain in 5, 4, 3, 2…

First things first, getting married is a joyous time in both the bride and groom’s life. It marks the beginning of a new life and journey together. The two of you are meant to be, and that’s very special. However, planning your special day will get frustrating (notice that we didn’t say might). A bride will want to have her closest friends by her side for the ultimate support, AKA bridesmaids. But, let’s look into this for a second. Is this a rude proposition?  Studies show that more and more women are growing more and more offended when asked to become a bridesmaid. Why is this? Bridesmaids have a lot of responsibility. They have to purchase a bridesmaids dress, plan your bachelorette party, other pre-wedding festivities, and on top of that they have to buy you a gift (as if the rest of it wasn’t enough).  On average, your bridesmaid will spend about $600.00 on your special day. That’s right, let’s remember that you’re getting married, not them. So, if there’s any way that you can alleviate the financial stress that comes along with asking your besties to support you on your special day, do it! Trust us, you’ll thank us later when you still have friends.