My respect, admiration, and affection for Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks is multidimensional. I met them for the first time in real life at BlogHer Chicago in July, but I have “e-known” them since the early CMP days, followed their hilarious personal blogs (Mom-101 and Motherhood Uncensored, respectively), and interfaced with Kristen through Parent Bloggers Network and also via Kristen motivating me to become one of the original wave of Shredheads. Liz and Kristen are such talented, generous, and funny women, and for the thirteenth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, I’m thrilled to share their savvy shopping tips to help you survive the last minute holiday shopping crunch.My respect, admiration, and affection for Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks is multidimensional. I met them for the first time in real life at BlogHer Chicago in July, but I have “e-known” them since the early CMP days, followed their hilarious personal blogs (Mom-101 and Motherhood Uncensored, respectively), and interfaced with Kristen through Parent Bloggers Network and also via Kristen motivating me to become one of the original wave of Shredheads. Liz and Kristen are such talented, generous, and funny women, and for the thirteenth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, I’m thrilled to share their savvy shopping tips to help you survive the last minute holiday shopping crunch.
It's no secret that I’m a bit obsessed with kids wearing properly fitting, comfy shoes. And what I dig about Stride Rite is that though they are a household name, they continued to push the fit and comfort envelope; most recently through their Sensory Response Technology collection. The structural support, comfort, and flexibility are evident if you handle the shoe, but the hidden coolness is that these shoes feature a built in sensory feedback system in the sole to help kids feel the ground better, which helps reduce trips and falls. Also no small matter: these shoes are super cute (I especially love the hip styling for boys) and use eco-friendly materials.
One of the great things about BlogHer Boston was that it gave me the opportunity to emerge out of my blogging cave and meet fabulous local bloggers in real life. And one of those bloggers was Roxanna of Miguelina. Roxanna is a lovely person; smart, kind, and funny, and mysteriously, she always manages to look perfectly assembled despite tweets that might otherwise suggest she’s unraveling (to her credit, she’s allowed some unraveling…she just delivered her third son in October). Perhaps that’s why she’s so adept at blogging beauty. I’m thrilled that today, for the ninth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, Roxanna shares a wicked easy makeup routine so you can spend less time fussing in the bathroom and more time enjoying time with family and friends.
Pursuant to her fit your shape denim guide, Sarah follows up with guidance on how to navigate trends:
“Now that you know what shapes to look for to suit your figure, it’s time for some trend navigation. But you have to know your comfort level. Are you willing to push the envelope, stylistically speaking, or would you rather play it classic? This season, you’re in luck, because the denim world is full of a little something for everyone.
Today, Kate shares a skin care PSA:
“Born with various skin sensitivities and a preternatural tendency to sunburn, I have spent my fair share of time in dermatology offices. I work hard to take care of my skin with a complicated (and expensive) regimen of creams and ointments, and now pride myself on having entered my mid-30s with healthy and happy skin that rarely feels direct sun and generally rewards me by looking decent even on days when my daughter wakes in the middle of the night.
I met Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant this past summer at the T.J. Maxx/Marshalls event; she’s one of these people who exudes a lot of wonderfully happy mojo, whether it’s in person, through her blog posts, or via Twitter and Facebook. As a blogger, I particularly love Allison’s keen eye for style and her desire to offer ideas for a range of budgets. I’m subsequently thrilled that today, for the sixth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, Allison shares simple guidelines and great ideas for easy accessorizing.
Today, Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses shares some tips for staying healthy during the flu season:
“Expecting mothers or moms of young children have more than just themselves to worry about this flu season, particularly with the added threat of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. Pregnant women and young children are particularly susceptible to complications related to the flu.
Today, Kristin shares a review of the M. Lekkakos Spa in Wenham:
“When I lived in LA, I found that what most people consider life’s little luxuries back East were a necessity out West. For example, I always managed to find time for mani/pedis, I bought expensive sunglasses because they were not just a fashion accessory but mandatory eye protection (that I wore every day without fail), and with all the smog, I always found the time and money for regular facials. Facials are my favorite thing, but as a working mother of two boys, I find it near impossible to get them done these days. Plus, finding a good aesthetician is no small task.
Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations is one of these women who is insanely busy and has a bajillion people in her life, but when you’re with her, you know you have her warm and loving undivided attention; she's a wonderful friend and I feel so fortunate that we overlap with some regularity at blogger events (I'm also sort of hoping Laurel marries one of her lovely sons someday...). Audrey’s charisma and keen eye for style have transformed her into a top fashion blogger, and I’m thrilled that today – for the third in my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series – Audrey shares ideas for getting the most mileage out of your favorite little black dress.
Though I’m not worried about aging per se, at some point during the last decade I started listening to my mother’s advice to stop sunning and start taking better care of my skin. I’ve heard a lot of people extol the virtues of Arbonne (including a few girlfriends with lovely, creamy skin...), but it wasn’t until late in the summer that I started using Arbonne FC5 products, thanks to Michelle Lenaghan. Read on for my thoughts about Arbonne’s FC5 facial care products, as well as for information on how to get free samples and a great shopping discount.
Today, fashion addict Sarah shares the first post in a series focusing on denim. Perfect for those of us who love and live in jeans (um, that’s all of us, right?), Sarah offers tips on finding the right denim to fit your shape, as well as what to wear once you’ve found your perfect pair of jeans.
Davis Square’s bargain retail profile recently kicked it up a notch with the addition of Buffalo Exchange (on the same block as Poor Little Rich Girl and Good Will). Giving national chain a good name, Buffalo Exchange allows for direct sale or trade of used clothing and accessories, and carries both classic pieces (such as the J. Crew print dress I scored for $23.50...sweet!) and quirkier ones. The two-level store currently offers more goods for women (including rows upon rows of shoes downstairs), though there are some racks for men. Laurel loves treasure hunting with me in Davis; she only requests that this and other stores start carrying used kid’s clothing.
Buffalo Exchange, 238 Elm Street, Somerville; 617-629-5383
Last month I guest posted about baby activities in Boston for the lovely ladies behind Rookie Moms. And today I’m thrilled to share some clever craft ideas from Rookie Moms co-founder Whitney Moss. Whitney offers three easy ideas to help you reinvent stained, outgrown, or simply worn out t-shirts. These solutions are perfect for breathing new life into old faves. Make it work.
In light of September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, today, Sarah candidly shares her story, as well as important information for women to consider:
“I always assumed that by the time I reached the ripe old age of 35, I’d have a husband, two kids, a house in the ‘burbs, and a dog. What I didn’t expect was the minivan. Oh, and the cancer.
Every time I visit Coolidge Corner I let out a sigh of appreciation for the variety of shops, restaurants, amenities, and T access (even if it is that pokey green line) that truly makes it one of Boston’s ideal car-free neighborhoods. And now I’ve discovered another reason to frequent Coolidge Corner – Rosaline’s Skin Care & Spa. Read on to learn more about Rosaline's services (which include expertise in treating the skin of women of color), and enjoy a special offer for Boston Mamas readers.
Pursuant to my report on treasure hunting at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, here’s my report on shopping at AJWright. Having never stepped into an AJWright prior to the blogger tour and shopping event, I didn’t have the same experienced eye for layout and inventory as I did walking into the T.J. Maxx and Marshalls event. Even so, it was interesting to learn about a business that has been right under my nose but off my radar for so many years...not to mention fun to discover a few treasures along the way.
There’s something to be said for paying for an experience; say, first class airline tickets, a meal at a chic restaurant that will stow luggage while you shop (as did Stephanie’s on Newbury, where I took a visiting friend yesterday), or spa services that create a truly calming environment (compared to the bargain nail salon where I bang away on my Blackberry so I can work while getting a pedicure). But when it comes to clothing and accessories, generally speaking, I’m all about getting the best bargain. And that’s why I was intrigued to learn about treasure hunting at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and AJWright last week. I’ll address T.J. Maxx and Marshalls here and AJWright in a follow up post, given that these were separate events.