In Pursuit of a Flat Belly

Today, I was wearing a pair of black shorts and was looking for a top, any top, to wear with it. I grabbed the first thing I saw - a black tank with white ribbon detail from Three Dots. I slipped it on and looked in the mirror. To my horror, the look was completely and totally trashy. With the shortish shorts and the cropped tank, my tummy bulge was horrifically highlighted. Needless to say, I hadn't meant to grab a tummy baring top, and I changed immediately. But the damage was done. I had seen my tummy for what it really was, not artfully camouflaged by tunics and empire tops, and I can't get the image out of my mind. It's time to get serious.

I haven't yet bought the Flat Belly Diet book, the one that's generating all the buzz, though I plan to, but today at the supermarket I bought one of those slim guides from Prevention about eating for a Flat Belly. The key to this diet seems to be something called MUFA's, or monounsaturated fats. And the best places to get them? Chocolate. Yes chocolate, semisweet and dark. Also olives (esp. green), nuts and seeds (esp macadamias), good oils (esp safflower, but also canola and olive) and avocados. ALL of which I love. The key is to eat a little of each of these at every meal. Sounds easy enough. Of course there's more to it than this, but I am going to give it a shot and let you know if it works for me!

Wen Healthy Haircare Review

This review just came in from one of my favorite reviewers, my sister Nelly. Since this product has been so heavily advertised, I thought you might loke to know what she thought: "I was so excited to try this line of hair products, mainly the cleansing conditioner. It's a one step product that cleanses and conditions (hence the name!). Wen claims that ordinary shampoos which lather strip the hair of natural oils and dry your hair out. So with this product, your hair should be bouncy and shiny and beautiful with no products in it at all! Although, he does have a styling creme and texture balm that you can use, too. It's supposed to be great for all hair types. Of course, the informercial had celebrities in it that raved about the stuff. Anyway, I tried it on myself and my three girls. And we never looked worse. Our hair was big, and slightly frizzy, except for Alex's which was just bigger and a little more flyaway because her hair is straight. It did not work at all for us. But it did smell good and our hair was super soft!"

In other words, don't skip the styling products. And if it sounds too good to be true... Fortunately, they have a money back guarantee!

Sending a message?

I remember reading an excerpt from fashion icon Simon Doonan's book in which he discussed growing up with a larger than life fashionista for a mom. He recalls her quest to get her hair as big as possible, and coming to pick him up from school with a fur coat thrown on over a negligee. Potentially devastating to a young boy, but really, how fabulous is that? Many of us remember watching in wonder as our mothers got ready to go out for the evening. The little rituals: the application of lipstick, a spritz of a familiar scent, slipping on some jewelry - all signaled the mysterious rites of womanhood. There was a romance to the ritual of getting ready that made me long to be a woman.
Today, as I quickly applied some mineral powder foundation from a compact, the rear view mirror as my only critic, I pondered what I was teaching Lola. When I told her that I was applying my makeup, she said the word "makeup" for the first time, and I question whether it will hold the same wonder for her as it always has for me. Whenever she catches me applying lipstick in the car, she purses her lips and says "my lips mommy" and I pretend to dab a little on her perfect little pout. She has that girlish fascination with makeup, and with anything that Mommy does. But tonight, I wonder if Lola's earliest impressions of makeup will lack the drama and ritual of my early memories. Will she forever associate getting ready to go out with a hasty swipe of lipstick and an arrangement of hair as we prepare to slip out of the car? I need to make sure I am also sending her an alternate message: that taking care of oneself doesn't always have to be an afterthought, a last minute detail to be rushed through before heading out to face the world. I'd like to show her that it is as essential to our well being as sleeping and breathing, and that it can sometimes be a long, enjoyable ritual as well as a necessity.

Seriously Considering Botox

For years I've been bothered by the tiny lines around my eyes. I am especially self-conscious about them when I smile. I've always been interested in Botox, but with pregnancy and everything that goes with it, I've found myself postponing it. I am especially intrigued by the idea that Botox can prevent wrinkles from forming by keeping those muscles relaxed. Love that idea! Now, only recently, I've become troubled by another set of lines on my face - the nasolabial folds, as their called, or the "marionette lines" that run from the nose to the mouth. I know I've had them for a while, but they are just starting to bother me. (It's amazing how we fixate on one thing, sometimes to the exclusion of others. I'm sure the nose-to-mouth wrinkles are probably more noticeable to most people, but I've just started to find them annoying!). Anyway, so now that my pregnancies are over, I've decided to make an appointment to get my wrinkles looked at, and to do some skincare treatments in general. So I am going to report on my progress right here, and let you know what works and what's not worth the time and money!

Beauty Sleep

Sunday night, after my mom returned from an overseas trip, I went over to see her. She took one look at me and asked me what was wrong. Apparently, the stresses of the weekend were written all over my face, and I was wiped out. And worst of all, I looked as bad as I felt. Dull skin, dark-rimmed eyes, frayed nerves. Yes, a tough weekend with two sick babies was part of the story, but only part of it. The main story was that I needed sleep. Desperately. My six month old angel Eva is still waking up 3x a night, and I was not going to sleep early enough to make up for it. After several months of 4-5 hours of interrupted sleep a night, I was dragging, and it showed. That night, I went to bed at 10 - virtually unheard of for me. My usual bedtime is midnight. Now my goal is to go to sleep at 11pm every night. After all, all of my well-intentioned efforts to beautify myself would be undermined by lack of sleep. Hopefully, at some point in my life, I will be able to revert to my night-owl ways, but for now, my babies, my sanity, and my skin all need some sleep.

Baby Lust: Shoes, Glorious Shoes

This month, due to my self-imposed shopping diet, I am only shopping in my dreams. And my dreams always involve shoes. These days, however, I am as obsessed with shoes for my Lola as I with Christian Louboutin. I don't see the appeal, aesthetically, of Crocs, so those ubiquitous plastic clogs don't make my list. Here, my top five favorite shoe brands for toddlers.

1. Pedipeds: Practicality and style meet in these fun, fashionable shoes for little ones. With velcro closures and soft soles, these are among the only shoes my Lola could wear without socks - a must in Florida. www.pediped.com

2. Spring Flowers: This isn't a brand at all, but a website. I have never seen such an unbelievably stunning assortment of baby girl shoes in my entire life. But be prepared to pay. They start at $68 and go up above $200. My verdict? If you can swing it, they're worth every penny. LINK

3. Preschoolians: These might be my new favorites! Form meets function in these adorable shoes that are designed to feel like walking barefoot. I love the color combinations and fun styles, and you can even design your own! Love! www.preschoolians.com

4. Zapppos: Again, a site, not a brand, but I can't help but mention it here. Free overnight shipping, free returns, and a vast selection of styles. I just bought the most beautiful black patent leather t-straps for Lola from a brand called RSVP, and these sparkly silver shoes that, sadly, I had to return because they were already too small. www.zappos.com

5. Yoox: Another site. I always loved this discount designer site for myself, and I just recently discovered that they also carry children's clothing and shoes. Check out their selection of girl shoes from Simonetta and Naturino, and don't say I didn't warn you! www.yoox.com

Low Maintenance Americans?

I recently read, cover to cover, a fairly recent issue of WWD Beauty Biz. In it, they covered the booming beauty markets in Vietnam and Russia. I learned so much about the attitudes towards beauty of the women in these countries. In Vietnam, regardless of income, most women consider a weekly trip to a spa for facials, massages, etc. to be essential. And in Russia, wealthy women spend a great deal of time to look their best, not unlike their American counterparts. The difference? They have no desire or interest in making it appear as if it comes naturally. Making an effort is not considered negative; it's considered mandatory in certain circles. As one woman said: "Looking good is extraordinarly important." Russian women have among the most involved beauty regimens in the world.
All of which led me to start thinking about how far I've fallen on my own list of priorities. As a Suave ad put it, to paraphrase, moms care more about cleaning the floors than caring for their hair. And it's true, in a sense. I miss the high maintenance woman I once was. And if weekly manicures and monthly visits to a day spa are temporarily out of the picture, taking pride in my appearance doesn't need to be. There must be a balance.
Maybe I will take a cue from my cousin, the mother of twin girls and a soon to be 5 year old daughter (Happy Birthday, Lilliana). She gets up an hour before the kids every morning so she can shower, get dressed and be ready to face the day. Even though I've never been a morning person, I love this idea.Getting showered, dressed, and even eating breakfast, all before noon, sounds enticing. So that will be my new goal. I want to take the time every morning to look good enough to face the day, no matter what it may bring.

Gold Rush in Unexpected Places

These days, since I have little time to leave the house to actually go shopping, I love to peruse catalogs at night after the babies are in bed. Usually, I have the best luck with catalogs from stores I know and love, like Neiman Marcus and Anthropologie, but I look through most of them, because you never know what you might find. Recently, I found some unexpected finds at Spiegel, not a place I generally turn to for fashion-forward fashion and accessories. Metallics are a huge trend for summer, and so wearable and versatile. A metallic shoe or bag can add instant glamour to any outfit. Spiegel has some fabulous, budget-friendly pieces to add some sparkle out your summer wardrobe:

1. This Pleated Bow Clutch is right on trend for $29. LINK

2. Metallic sandals are a must for summer, and they're only $29. LINK

3. These woven metallic ballet flats look so much more expensive than they are, at only $49. LINK

4. These metallic wedge slingbacks are low, comfy, and super-versatile. LINK

5. I rarely wear belts, but this enamel flower belt could change my mind. LINK

6. Love the shape of this metallic linen jacket. LINK

7. Another great shape, this jacket really stands out. LINK

Testing my resolve...

Monday, very early in my month-long shopping fast, I received a stack of catalogs as thick as a phone book. A test? Must be, but so far I've resisted the temptations of some of my favorites: Anthropologie, Chasing Fireflies, Williams Sonoma, Horchow... Sigh. Then, this afternoon, we took the girls to the mall to walk around, grab a snack, and ride the little kiddie "rides." Again, I resisted temptation, even in the face of the most difficult odds. Words like "sale!" and "40% off" leapt off the racks and onto my consciousness, but I didn't budge, even in the face of tempting embroidered tunics and THE perfect pair of khaki shorts.
Again, sigh...
It's going to be a long month!

Mommy Gear: Getting it Together

I tried every diaper bag out there, from the functional, no frills Skip Hop Duo (deep and narrow and black, so it's impossible to find things in the dark abyss. Plus, let's face it, it's just blah-looking) to My Flat in London's Queen Bee (absolutely adorable, but too rigid to be expandable and too small to function as my main diaper bag at this crazy stage!). I even looked into the Louis and Gucci bags, neither of which impressed me in terms of style or function. And Chanel doesn't make a diaper bag, or anything that can serve as one. Trust me, I checked. Different bags serve different purposes, from the scaled down versions for quick trips to the boring basic that your husband doesn't mind carrying.
But, after endless searching, I finally found my dream diaper bag: The Mia Bossi. It's the ultimate posh mommy accessory. It's luxe, stylish and super-practical, with a canvas body and beautiful leather trim. They've thought of everything, from tons of inside pockets to two brilliant side pockets for sippy cups, bottles, etc. It's absolutely my go-to, can't live without it, can't believe I didn't spot it sooner bag. It's roomy enough to hold everything you need for a plane ride with two babies, but light enough that you won't mind toting it around town, carrying just the essentials. It even comes with a totally glam changing pad backed with faux fur. I have the Maria in Exotic Pink. I like the Maria style the best, but they also have several, including smaller versions, a backpack style, and even one for dad, the "Rex." Love it. They even have bottle insulators and stroller clips available. $470 LINK

On days when I'm leaving the bag behind, I love the SkipHop Diaper Changing Wallet: I got this at Target for about $20, and it's such a steal for something I use every day. It's got one of those retro modern graphic designs in a chocolate brown/pink combo (other colors available too, of course) and inside it holds just the essentials: wipes (it comes with a wipes case that is clear, so you can see when you've run out - genius), diapers, and a changing pad (included). When you open the flap, one side is mesh for storing diapers, but the other side is zippered, with the pad and wipes case, so you can stash a couple of other little things in it. I always have one of Eva's pacis in it, just in case. There is a little ring that you can use to hook it onto your stroller, the outside of your diaper bag, or to hold like a bag. I love it for quick trips, and I love not having to dig through my diaper bag, which in my Bugaboo is buried under the seat, just to get a diaper or wipe! LINK

Baby Lust: Toddler Accessories

It's no secret that I love to accessorize, and it seems that Lola has inherited this trait. She loves to play dress up with litle toy accessories: candy-colored plastic mules, faux jewels, sparkly tiaras. When it's time for her to leave the house, however, I prefer to leave the plastic shoes behind. Here, some of my favorite accessories for my spunky little princess!

1. Love this little bag, and I think Lola will adore it! It's shaped like a little house. Love it! It's sort of a take on the iconic Lulu Guiness bag, but for little girls. LINK

2. I love accessories that are whimsical, with a dash of humor, and these mary jane boots are perfect. They totally brighten a rainy day. LINK

3. So many things with UV protection built in are so ugly, but these hats are stylish and safe for fun in the sun. LINK

4. This site has the most gorgeous, decadent children's shoes I've ever seen, and the priciest. These flowered sandals are so stunning, I might just have to splurge!
LINK

5. Lola has all the Baby Lulu outfits on this page, but for some reason, I missed the adorable matching necklace! I love that this line makes jewelry to match each collection. : )) LINK

I'm Back...

Sorry for the unexpected leave of absence. I didn't have as much access to my computer while away on vacation!

Now that I'm back, though, I'm filled with new resolve. I feel like it's the first day of school or something. : ) Since this is the first day of my self-imposed shopping fast (yikes - no shopping for one month!!!) I plan to put that extra time to good use: working on my book, organizing my home, spending time with my babies, and taking care of myself!

Speaking of organizing, I am feeling very motivated to clean out my closet, which I desperately need to do. The clothes that I wear regularly are crammed into a couple of drawers while an entire dresser is devoted to pre-baby bras and panties that I can't wear now that I'm nursing. I just really need to reorganize, and to get rid of a lot of things so that I can see the clothes I do want to wear. If I lived in a big city, I would call a wardrobe specialist, like Jesse Varga of Visual Therapy (he's in Chicago, and I came this close to using him but never got my act together!) to help me out. Even though this is the kind of thing I've done for other people, when it comes to my own wardrobe, it really helps to have an objective eye! But, since I'm stuck doing it myself, I am going to do it bit by bit, drawer by drawer. I've already gone through my shoes and my bathing suits, but mounds of things await my attention, so I have lots to keep me busy!

My sister had an old friend visiting last night, a sorority sister of ours, and she looked amazing. Exactly like a blonde Posh Spice, down to the cute haircut and superslim body. What's more - she's the mother of two, a 3 year old son and a 10 month old daughter. Always stylish, she was wearing an adorable orange, one-shouldered Juicy Couture dress with a smocked bodice and a ruffle across the top. Even though she is so sweet, I have to hate her a little, because she has amazing abs and doesn't work out. She claims it comes from lifting her baby all day. Oh, well. Still, she's an inspiration that you can be a mommy and still look fabulous. Go Sonya!