Sheryl Crow’s Eco Baby Shower

Wee Generation presents eco-tips and tricks that made Sheryl Crow’s green baby shower a natural success. Party planner to the stars, Traci Phillips, gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the eco-shower was designed and offers easy-to-borrow elements that anyone can use for their next baby celebration.

Try these tips for your next baby shower or any event you are hosting for family and friends. Remember, nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something!

Click here to see the tips!

10 Questions For Modern Mom Felicity Huffman

Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman is no stranger to the awards circuit with an Emmy, an Obie, a Golden Globe, an Independent Spirit Award, and two Screen Actors Guild awards on her mantle...not to mention countless nods including an Academy Award nomination for Transamerica.

A true modern mom to two young girls (Sofia, 6, and Georgia, 4), the actress, author and entrepreneur tells us about the one award that she never expected

Full article.....

Hot Celebrity Mamas

Admit it: you're obsessed with celebrity pregnancies. You have to love that the bump is the great equalizer -- this is one thing you can't pay your people to do. 2007 is a very productive year for celeb baby arrivals; this article features all the stars we've had on Bumpwatch this year, including the ones who've already delivered.

Along with celebrity moms come celebrity babies. This picture shows Celebrity Baby Dannielynn (the late Anna Nicole Smith's daughter) wearing a balloon flower from Kumquat outfit for her 1st birthday party

Check out other clothing items from Kumquat!

Celeb: How Jessica Seinfeld Sneaks in Veggies

Jessica Seinfeld (yes, that's Jerry's Mrs.), mom of three -- Sascha, 6, Julian, 4, and Shepherd, 2 -- wanted mealtimes to be happy family events. But vegetables were getting in the way. Her kids refused to eat them. She begged, nagged, and pleaded. Then one evening, out of desperation, she stirred some pureed butternut squash she was making for the baby into the family's mac and cheese. It was the same color, and the kids never noticed they were eating a vegetable. "I realized then that I'd never have to say 'Eat your vegetables' again," says Seinfeld. Ever since, she's been mixing healthy vegetable purees -- foods the kids wouldn't touch otherwise -- into their fave dishes. And now she's written a cookbook so you can steal her sneaky tricks!

Read the full article.

Check out Jessica’s book.

10 Halloween Costumes Made by Real Moms

As hard as it may be to believe, Halloween is almost upon us! Don’t get stuck the day before piecing together a less than stellar looking costume for your little one.

This article asked crafty-mom types for costume ideas and they came through, big time. Steal these super-clever ideas, which even non-arty mamas can tackle.

View Kissy Kissy’s Pumpkin Patch Line - Perfect for Halloween!

Diaper Bags That Don't Look Like Diaper Bags

You've been there: trying to stuff bottles, onesies and binkies into your beloved purse to avoid toting around a diaper bag that's boxy, bulky, and way too cutesy. But breast-milk stains on your Marc Jacobs? Not a good look. Instead, show off one of these fashionably functional diaper bags, and just smile mysteriously when your non-mom friends want to know where you scored it.

View the full list of bags here.

Check out ZaraBella.com's hottest diaper bags here.

Parents turn to coaches to help with discipline

She is among a growing number of parent coaches nationally, while barely any existed a few years ago. More parents are seeking personally tailored answers to dilemmas. Many parent coaches follow the executive coaching model, which involves training business leaders to focus on positive leadership styles, and setting and achieving realistic goals. Some stress caution for parents with the dozens of options for coaching advertised online and in parent magazines. Coaching is not therapy. While some coaches are trained therapists or social workers, others simply are parents. Some make house calls, but many offer advice by phone or through online support groups at roughly $50 to $100 an hour.
Read the full article.

Furnish a Nursery In No Time

You're as big as a house, and you can't bear to leave the house. Maybe you've been so focused on getting your ducks in a row (and we don't mean quack, quack) before going on maternity leave that you've run out of time. Or maybe you're just plain superstitious and couldn't bring yourself to make a single purchase for your soon-to-be-born child. Whatever. You've got 37 onesies from your baby shower but no crib, no changing table, no rocker. Worst of all, you have to pee every 20 minutes, and a trip to a sprawling baby emporium might put you over the edge. Don't worry -- Cookie Magazine has scoured the market to find what you need and who will ship it you fast. All you have to do is point and click. Someone else can open the boxes when they arrive on your doorstep.

More information about designer baby clothes can be viewed at www.ZaraBella.com.

Working Mothers Want to Stay on the Job, Reporting Favorable Work/Life Balance, Survey Finds

An overwhelming majority of working mothers report that, if there were no obstacles, they would continue working, and most say that their work/life balance is always right or is right most of the time, according to the results of new Accenture research.

In an online survey of more than 700 working mothers in mid- to senior-level management positions, nearly 90 percent of the respondents reported that, if there were no obstacles, they would work either full-time, part-time or under a flex-time arrangement (reported by 31 percent, 26 percent and 33 percent of respondents, respectively). Just 11 percent said they would not work at all.

Additionally, almost three-quarters (74 percent) say that their work/life balance is always right or is right most of the time, and nearly seven in 10 respondents (69 percent) believe that women can “have it all.”

According to respondents, flex-time, part-time and a modified work week are the three most commonly offered flexibility programs (cited by 61 percent, 51 percent and 44 percent of respondents, respectively). But, while 37 percent say their companies offer telecommuting as a work option, that program (at 50 percent) tops the wish list of respondents to whom it’s not offered.

Other programs that respondents want but that are not offered by their employers include flex-time, employer-provided alternative day care and a modified work week (cited by 47 percent, 44 percent and 40 percent of respondents, respectively). Just 17 percent report that their employers do not offer any flex programs.

Today’s working mothers want the ease and convenience of shopping at home, and expect great selection, quality and service. ZaraBella.com delivers all of these, as well as rewarding loyal shoppers with discounts on shipping and future purchases. ZaraBella.com’s mission is to provide visitors with an extensive selection of high quality, designer baby clothes and hip children’s clothing, all in one place.

New school rules help, but kids must learn to choose good foods

Has it happened in your school yet? Have apples and carrots replaced ice cream and brownies on your lunch tray? Have teachers told you not to bring cupcakes on your birthday? If you answered yes, you're not alone. Schools across the country have made tougher rules about food over the past several years. The changes reflect concerns about kids' eating habits and health. Two-thirds of Americans are now overweight, including nearly one in five kids ages 6 to 19. Doctors and parents are worried. Being overweight increases a person's chances of developing serious health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease. To combat the obesity epidemic, states have passed laws requiring schools to develop lunch programs that are nutritionally balanced. Read the full article.

Toy Awards Guide

Remember when toys were just for fun? Now a stroll through the aisles feels like a product Olympics -- rows of fierce opponents lined up trying to outshine and outwow each other. Simply picking out a gift is tricky, when so many of them are boasting various gold and platinum seals as some sort of proof of their superiority over the others. What's the difference? This article from Cookie Magazine deconstructs the four most popular toy awards, along with recent winners.

It’s No Trick: Kissy Kissy’s Halloween Line Is A Treat!

Your little one will look absolutely bewitching dressed in Kissy Kissy’s new Pumpkin Patch line! Made with high quality, 100% Soft Pima Cotton, this print is comfortable, stylish and scare-ific! This line would also make a great gift for your favorite little ghost or goblin.

Be sure to check out the Spooktacular selection at ZaraBella.com, but hurry, since quantities are limited!

Shower Your Baby: 10 Gifts As Useful As They Are Cute

It's just so much fun creating your wish list of baby gear. (Also, it helps take your mind off morning sickness and swollen ankles.) Bedding sets in adorable themes, wipe warmers and baby cleansing products, humidifiers, sleep positioners, Boppies and Bumbos ... with so much merchandise out there, how do parents-to-be decide what they need? And how do well-meaning friends and relatives choose the perfect baby shower gifts? This article presents 10 gift ideas, most of them new to the marketplace, that aren't the same-old, same-old. (Because, really, how many receiving blankets and onesies can one little baby go through?) And don't worry, Dad hasn’t been left out -- he deserves some thoughtful gifts, too.

Back to School Guide: Keeping Kids Healthy

It is that time of year again – back to school time, which for many kids, means their health may be affected. Whether your child is in daycare, preschool, or beyond, this useful guide from Parenting Magazine, tells you what you need to know about how to protect your child and keep him or her well this year. Topics covered range from adjusting to new sleep schedules, school bus tips, better school lunches, not-so-usual ailments and a guide to common illnesses.

Understanding Your Kid’s Distinct Play Style

You know every child is different in looks, temperament, abilities, and so forth. Yet in this mass-market culture, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that those differences extend to the unique ways in which each kid plays. While conventional wisdom might say that “every kids wants a [fill in the most-hyped toy, shoe or electronic product here],” that’s simply not the case. In fact, kids have play styles as unique as their fingerprints. Understanding that will not only help you foster a great play environment that introduces new experiences but also give you ideas for gifts and shared activities.

http://www.kiwimagonline.com/articles/articlepage.php?art_id=63&cat_id=18

Strollers: Fold-up-and-go or baby SUV?

It has pneumatic tires and shock absorbers for an oh-so-smooth glide. There’s a cup holder for Mommy and adjustable handles so she won’t strain her back. To keep the sun at bay and the bugs away, Mom can clip on a nifty parasol or mosquito net for you.The cost for this beautifully bodacious baby buggy? Just $900. A far cry from the bucket-on-wheels that poor Victorian moms pushed, these strollers have big, fat tires so modern moms can stroll off-road on trails and beaches. They have rain covers, cargo pockets, weather thermometers and iPod hookups. That’s what you call fully loaded — some strollers call themselves “SUVs for babies” — and it’s what mommies demand, some retailers say. They want strollers that are compact, lightweight, easy to fold, easy to wheel over curbs and fit through doors, and have at least, at least, one cupholder. As seen in celebrity magazines, strollers have become just as hot an accessory as the babies themselves. The Dutch-designed Bugaboo has been the favored “power toy” of the Hollywood set for several years.

But is it a good idea to buy a stroller just because a supermodel pushes one? The editors of American Baby magazine don’t think so. American Baby’s bottom line on stroller buying? Any model safety-certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association will do.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2007/aug/21/strollers-fold--and-go-or-baby-suv/

Alpha Moms: Tuned In

Marketers and businesses have been courting a new breed of do-it-all moms. These "alpha moms" are the leaders of the pack, keeping up on the newest products and trends and passing the word on to their mommy peers. "Alpha moms are incredibly influential," says Isabel Kallman, CEO of Alpha Mom TV, a new cable TV channel that targets moms. She says if alpha moms believe in a new product, they'll become advocates in promoting it by word-of-mouth. That's why Nintendo tested out the Wii on alpha-mom focus groups months before its release.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2007/september/183020.html

Kissy Kissy’s 2007 Fall Collection has arrived!

Kissy Kissy’s 2007 Fall Collection has arrived!

Your little one will love Kissy Kissy’s new lines for Fall! The Touchdown and Pom Pom Prints are perfect for back to school and football season, and any child dressed in these pieces will score extra points in the cute department.

Kissy Kissy’s new Wee Woof Collection makes anyone forget the dog days of summer and break into a smile – they really are doggone cute!

One of the best things about Kissy Kissy’s lines – besides the great prints - is that they are created with the softest Pima cotton, making them both comfortable and stylish. These high quality pieces also make very popular gifts.

Be sure to check out the latest in these collections at http://www.zarabella.com/

Mom Surfs the Web Surprisingly Often

DoubleClick Performics recently unveiled data resulting from a search usage study targeting the "moms" segment and completed in cooperation with Microsoft and ROI Research, "Searcher Moms - A Search Behavior and Usage Study." The data illustrate heavy search engine usage in support of online purchases, offline purchases, coordinating travel and many other planning activities among moms.

Interesting findings of the study include:

- 70 percent use search engines to gather information before making any online purchase
- 57 percent use search engines to gather information before making any offline purchase
- 64 percent use search engines to find out where to purchase products offline
With regard to purchases made in the eight product categories included in the study:
- 92 percent said search engines were helpful in providing valuable information prior to purchasing
- 79 percent said search engines were helpful in providing valuable information prior to purchasing offline specifically

Regarding consumer packaged goods, respondents reported using search engines:
- To compare prices (72 percent)
- To find retail locations (71 percent)
- To gather product information (71 percent)

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070821/20070821005346.html?.v=1

Top 20 Items To Pack In A Diaper BagBy Danielle Hollister

Top 20 Items To Pack In A Diaper BagBy Danielle Hollister

1. Diapers (5 -7 is a fairly safe supply)

2. Wipes

3. Cream (like Desitin, A&D ointment, Vaseline)

4. Baby Powder

5. At least one bottle of juice or milk

6. A few jars of baby food

7. At least one clean outfit

8. A few bibs

9. A few cloth diapers to clean up spit and other spills

10. Items to entertain your baby (rattles, books, toys)

11. Baby thermometer

12. Teething rings

13. Biter biscuits or similar type of crackers

14. Medicine for fevers, colds, related symptoms

15. Any prescription medications

16. Measuring device for medications

17. Baby Nail Clippers

18. Phone number of Baby's Physician

19. Any stuffed animals or favorite blankets your baby needs to fall asleep

20. Any parenting books you refer to frequently to find answers to unexpected questions

Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp

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