BellaSugar

BellaSugar's Gift Guide: The Mommy-To-Be

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:00:25 -0800

Welcome to the first post of my 2007 Holiday Gift Guide! Every weekday, I'll share a new set of ideas for gifts for your mom, dad, sib, boss, pals, special guy in your life and just about anyone else gift-worthy this season.

To kick off the guide, and to support our dear friend LilSugar, let's celebrate the mommies-to-be. Here are three great ideas for pregnant women who are carrying around those little ones. Since two of my best friends are about to become mommies, this was a lot of fun to put together!

My favorite item of the group is this Wonder-Full Balm from Mama Mio ($25). It's great for itchy and flaky belly skin, and it works quickly to relieve dryness and discomfort. If that's not something you think she'd like, there's also this Mustela Stretch Marks Double Action Cream ($34.49), which will help strengthen skin's elasticity around the belly, breasts abdomen, hips, and thighs to help reduce stretch marks during pregnancy.

Lastly, I love this Henna Vegetable Hair Dye ($1.99) for ladies who prefer to err on the side of caution and steer clear of chemical substances during their first trimester. While hair dying chemicals aren't highly toxic, vegetable dyes are all-natural, safe alternatives. Put it in a basket with some hair accessories, and you've got a great gift.

Got a few great ideas of your own? If so, I encourage you to please share them in a comment below!

Mustela Double Action Stretch Mark Cream ($34.99)

Lustrous Henna Pure Henna ($1.99)

Mama Mio Wonder-Full Balm ($25)

Introducing the PopSugar Network's 2009 Holiday Gift Guides, Recipes, Planning Help, and More!

PopSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0800

Holiday season is officially here and we're getting in the spirit bringing you everything you need - from gift guides galore to recipes, survival tips to budget advice - we've got it all! This year we're blowing it out bigger than ever from now until New Year's. To check out all of our holiday coverage at any time, check it out here and if you're just looking for just our gift guides, find them here! Our coverage has kicked off already so check out a taste of the gift guides and planning help now!

Download Our Thanksgiving Planner!	Buzz Has Gifts For Dear Old Dad	10 Great Gifts For Mom on Any Budget
Gifts For the Fly Fisherman	A Holiday Gift List For Mommy	Etsy Finds For Dad
5 Thoughtful Finds For the Baking Enthusiast	Fab: Mama, Pops, Nana, Dada	Geek's Gift Guide For Dad

What Do You Think of the "Mommy Makeover"?

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:11:39 -0700

Have you heard of the "mommy makeover"? The procedure, the New York Times reports, is marketed toward new mothers. It usually involves a breast lift (implants optional), a tummy tuck, and liposuction. Plastic surgeons are encouraging women to get post-pregnancy surgery to "repair" the so-called damage inflicted on their bodies through pregnancy and childbirth. The surgery costs $10,000 to $30,000.

Of course, nobody's going to deny that pregnancy does change women's bodies, and this can have a profound effect on self-image. Some women feel depressed because they don't look the way they did before baby; others say that pop culture puts more pressure on moms to look youthful and taut than ever before, causing them to need the surgery. “I don’t think it was an issue for my mother; your husband loved you no matter what,” said Sharlotte Birkland, who had the triple procedure done earlier this year.

I understand the desire to look a certain way, but I take issue with surgeons who pathologize the normal body changes that come with motherhood. Plus, what's with calling mothers "mommy" all the time? (Am I the only one a little weirded out by that?) Let me know what you think.

Source

Love It or Hate It: My Beautiful Mommy

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:00:27 -0700

As plastic surgery becomes more common, so do the issues surrounding it. For instance, how does a woman tell her kids about her upcoming tummy tuck or boob job? To tackle this problem, a plastic surgeon has written My Beautiful Mommy, a book for four- to seven-year-olds.

As Newsweek reports:

[The book] features a plastic surgeon named Dr. Michael (a musclebound superhero type) and a girl whose mother gets a tummy tuck, a nose job and breast implants. Before her surgery the mom explains that she is getting a smaller tummy: "You see, as I got older, my body stretched and I couldn't fit into my clothes anymore. Dr. Michael is going to help fix that and make me feel better." Mom comes home looking like a slightly bruised Barbie doll with demure bandages on her nose and around her waist. . . . The book doesn't explain exactly why the mother is redoing her nose post-pregnancy. Nonetheless, Mom reassures her little girl that the new nose won't just look "different, my dear-prettier!"

While I'm for anything that helps kids better understand changes in their world, this book makes me think of the 12-year-old girl who wants implants because her mom has them. Do you think this book is a smart idea, or does it send the wrong message?

Mama Mio! Pampering for Mommys-To-Be

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:12:22 -0700

Mama Mio is a fab new line of pampering products for the pregnant woman who has special needs. It was created by three mothers who all had previous experience in the beauty industry and were looking to invent something specific for the pregnancy era in women's lives when they are feeling awkward in their own skin!

The special fragrance in the products is also the key ingredient. It is called Gravida which is made from ten essential oils and lipids to help keep your skin soft and supple - it also means pregnancy in Latin, how clever! Oh, and don't worry, the smell has been proven to appeal to even those who are suffering from bouts of icky morning sickness.

So far the line consists of ten products: Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil, Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Cream, Boob Tube, Wonder-Full Balm, Moisturizing Shower Cream, Super-Rich Body Cream, Massage Oil, Gravida Candle, The Post Pregnancy Emergency Repair Tummy toner and Stretch Mark Minimiser.

They have also created five different kits which make terrific gifts! I love the one that's called, "It's Time." This is a perfect present to show up with when visiting a new mommy in the hospital. Two of their signature products from the Emergency Repair Line are especially noteworthy.

To read more about the Stretch Mark Minimiser and the Tummy Toner, read more

Stretch Mark Minimiser, $65, helps fade the appearance of yucky stretch marks that over 50% of women suffer from. Although surgery is really the only way to erase them, this concentrated, facial quality product will significantly lighten the marks and help your skin cells regenerate and renew themselves more quickly.
Tummy Toner, $65, helps restore tone in your tummy. From all of the stretching it's done, now it's time for it to shrink back to the way you looked pre-pregnancy. If only it were that easy! This product works in three stages: to exfoliate, moisturize, tighten/tone your stomach skin. Although you won't see results overnight, this "tummy peel" is clinically proven to help firm and tighten the tone of your belly post pregnancy.

Love It or Hate It: The Braided Mommy Bun

BellaSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:00:00 -0700

The hairstyle of choice for celebrity moms (and moms-to-be)? Intricate braids that lie delicately at the nape of the neck. Gwen Stefani, Jessica Alba and Ashlee Simpson have all been seen sporting this casual and functional hairdo recently. Do you like this look, or would you prefer to see more of the usual buns and ponytails?

Bauer-Griffin Online, Flynet, and Source

Bella Book: You'd Be So Pretty If . . .

BellaSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:00:02 -0700

My childhood is remembered in small snippets, some of which continue to shape me today. One of those moments involved a 12-year-old Bella and her mom, who said, "You'd be so pretty if you didn't have your father's nose." (Guess who grew up to find microscopic imperfections with her schnoz.)

My mom probably wouldn't have said that if she'd read You'd Be So Pretty If . . ., a book on body image written by Dara Chadwick. Although its target audience is the mommy brigade, there's plenty in here if you're not a parent - or if, um, you have lingering issues with the way your parents approached your appearance. Chadwick examines the complex dynamics between mothers and their daughters, encouraging women to help girls develop self-esteem and avoid body-image problems. It's not an appropriate Mother's Day gift - that is, unless you're the queen of passive aggression - but it's worth checking out if you're a mom, an aunt, a big sister, or just someone who wants to learn how to be a little kinder to herself.

Precious PortaMEe Baby Carrier

BellaSugar — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 15:33:33 -0800

PortaMEe is the latest and greatest revolution in baby carriers. I know what you are thinking: why is this on FabSugar - because this new mommy accessory is where style meets function! Only sold in high end specialty department stores and boutiques, PortaMEe, $198, is for the chic Mom who wants her hands free so she can hang with baby and browse through shopping racks.

After speaking with the passionate and enthusiastic Jennifer Gilbert, founder of PortaMEe, I was able to get a much better sense for each of the well thought out and practical features on the carrier.

This hands free, stylish and noninvasive carrier has unique ergonomic lumbar support made from steel rods to reduce back pain. It's like wearing a weightlifting belt.

This simple feature immensely helps distribute the weight of your child away from your shoulders and tender ta ta's. It also promotes bonding between mommy and baby because unlike other popular carries, it allows you to see your child's face. The carrier can be used for children up to 35 lbs.

To read about the rest of the fabulous PortaMEe features, read more

A honeycomb gel padded shoulder strap provides comfort. The strap also includes a pocket for easy access to your cell phone and keys.
A hooded cape adds additional warmth for your baby. All you have to do is unsnap the cape when you get inside if your child becomes hot. This is unique because unlike other carriers, you don't have to remove the baby to remove a layer.
Attached to the center of the carrier is a zippered flap that securely holds valuables such as your wallet or Blackberry.
A bottle carrier accessory that attaches onto the back of the carrier holds 6, 8 and 12 oz bottles including the extra wide Avent bottle. This is available for purchase separately ($15).

If Your Mom Got Plastic Surgery, Would You Want to Know?

BellaSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:00:41 -0800

Ever since the death of Donde West last month, I've been wondering if Kanye knew his mom was going to have plastic surgery beforehand. We'll never know, since such things are private, but I'm not the only one thinking about it. This weekend's LA Times explored how some patients tell their families about their surgery-or don't.

My mom hasn't had any surgery, because she's happy with herself as she is. (And heck, she is lovely as ever!) But I'd like to think that if she were to go under the knife, she'd talk with me about it-and at the very least, I'd want to be there to hold her hand through a potentially scary process. It's a little trickier when you're the parent, though: How do you tell a child that Mommy is going to have a new nose, for instance? According to plastic surgeon Dr. Stanley Frileck, you should be honest and consider bringing kids into the office to discuss the procedure:

"The biggest mistake you can make is to try and fool a child. . . Sit your 7-year-old down, and tell him that you're having an operation and that you're going to be swollen afterward and will need some help."

In theory, this sounds like a reasonable plan, but I can't help but think that kids that age would be scared or worried. Plus, it's gotta be difficult to raise a child to be content with his or her appearance if you're dragging them to a plastic surgeon's office at that age. What do you think? If your mom were going to get surgery, would you want to know? And should potential patients tell their kids?

Source

Welcome, lilsugar!

PopSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:00:45 -0800

We are so excited to welcome the latest member of our Sugar family, lilsugar!

Delivering everything from pregnancy and parenting tips to celebrity baby news and product reviews, lil offers a virtual playground full of information and grown up fun. Check out the latest toy, clothes and book trends, revel in mama drama and share stories with future and present parents.

Our baby bag is loaded with features like:

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me: Lil will share the kind of secrets and tips you can only get from your best girlfriends about pregnancy and parenting.
Pimp Your Crib: From posh furniture to plush toys, we'll keep you up to date with the must-haves in pint-sized decor.
Sugarbabies: You can share pictures and stories about your lil ones and we'll spotlight them on the site! You can also add your kid to your TeamSugar profile!
Bedtime Story: We'll share zany and sweet stories about our munchkins that will leave you laughing out loud. And, we'll ask you to do the same.

We want to be there to celebrate your pregnancy, take you through infant training, and watch you as you toddle through the wonders of kiddie wonderland.

Check out lilsugar - we're mommy's lil helper.