Month: March 2011

Categories
jewelry

Spring Cleaning – Jewelry Storage

You know I love my jewelry but keeping it organized can be a real pain. To hang or not to hang?  To put in a tray or not?  Here are some neat solutions to solve that jewelry storage problem.

 The container store has some great storage solutions like the Green EVA Jewelry Store.  It is made of dense foam to help protect the jewelry and can be stored in a drawer. This is great for watches, earrings and rings.  The Green EVA Modular Drawer Organizers are so inexpensive you can buy a whole bunch and customize it as you wish as they are stackable.

 I do have the Pottery Barn Teen wire storage trays but instead of using them for jewelry I use them for my bath products!

I like this tray from Bed Bath & Beyond as it keeps sterling from tarnishing.  The trays have a dark brown faux leather exterior, a tan faux suede interior, and a lining treated with what the web site calls – Eliminox –  which keeps sterling tarnish resistant for up to 30 years with normal use.

If you have a ton of earrings try this folding earring rack from get organized

For those with tweens the Bling Hangit jewelry hanger is cute and you can store earrings and necklaces.   

Here’s to spring cleaning with our jewelry!

Categories
makeup Products

The New “it” Color: Honeysuckle

I am a bit behind on my trends.  Pantone named Honeysuckle the Color of the Year for 2011.  Just now it’s everywhere – in makeup, in clothes, in home decor. 

It’s a pinky orange or as the Pantone web site says, “Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting” They are even offering a Pantone visa card so you can purchase all those lovely Honeysuckle items. 

You know we love any pink!  If you don’t want to go full blown with a dress or shirt try a scarf or makeup like the following:

My favorite line of nail polish is OPI and of course they had to have the latest trendy color. This fun pink color is called Party in my Cabana.

We love Bloom cosmetics and their lip color called Honeysuckle is just great.

Kate Spade has a cute scarf with white and pink that will perk up anyone’s pasty skin this season. 

There are just a few items. 

This great blog called the plastic diaries did a fantastic blog post on this color and it was just so comprehensive and chock full of fun stuff so check it out!

Categories
makeup Products

The New “it” Color: Honeysuckle

I am a bit behind on my trends.  Pantone named Honeysuckle the Color of the Year for 2011.  Just now it’s everywhere – in makeup, in clothes, in home decor. 

It’s a pinky orange or as the Pantone web site says, “Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting” They are even offering a Pantone visa card so you can purchase all those lovely Honeysuckle items. 

You know we love any pink!  If you don’t want to go full blown with a dress or shirt try a scarf or makeup like the following:

My favorite line of nail polish is OPI and of course they had to have the latest trendy color. This fun pink color is called Party in my Cabana.

We love Bloom cosmetics and their lip color called Honeysuckle is just great.

Kate Spade has a cute scarf with white and pink that will perk up anyone’s pasty skin this season. 

There are just a few items. 

This great blog called the plastic diaries did a fantastic blog post on this color and it was just so comprehensive and chock full of fun stuff so check it out!

Categories
kids shoes

Fitness Shoes for tweens?

This must be a new trend I am not aware of – fitness shoes for girls.  While I have talked about my FitFlop sandals on a number of occassions I was surprised to see they came out with fit flops for kids. I personally think fit flips sandals are very comfortable. While at first I thought that is so cute, my next thought was, do my girls really need a sandal to tone their legs?  The fit flops web site says their shoes are “footwear with a gym built-in. FitFlop. Get a workout while you walk” Do kids really need a workout?

Their web site does say “FitFlop footwear protects kids feet without limiting movement, and let growing feet stretch and flex, with more foot-to-midsole contact than stiff and structured-soled shoes”  But the top part of this section still says get a workout while you walk.

Then as my girls were watching TV a commercial came on for Shape-ups for girls. Really?  What message is this sending them?Just some thoughts…..What do you think?

Categories
Health

Boston Baby Beginnings – the new premier childbirth classes taught by registered nurses

Boston Baby Beginnings is the Boston Area’s premier childbirth classes exclusively taught by registered nurses. Founder and Registered Nurse with an extensive obstetrics background, Raeanne Brazee, began a mission to thoroughly educate parents-to-be about all aspects of childbirth education while keeping in mind affordability, flexibility and a relaxed small group environment.   Now THAT is a way to start a business – find a need and offer a solution!  Here is more from my conversation with Raeanne.

When did you first come up with your business idea?

As a high risk maternity nurse, I have had the pleasure of caring for many pregnant women from many different OB practices. It was apparent to me, that many of my patients that had taken a childbirth class at a big franchise where receiving more information about products and less information about childbirth.

As I did more research, I soon began to realize the flaws in childbirth education. As of today, there are no childbirth licensing standards and most certifying companies do not require instructors to have a medical background. As an obstetrical nurse with over 10 years experience, I feel it is so important to get correct information from educated professionals in their respective fields.

A very reputable Obstetrician in Boston asked if I would be interested in teaching childbirth education to her patients and the classes began to fill as other Obstetricians found out I was teaching. We take into consideration the most relevant and current course content, intimacy, affordability and flexibility. Our classes are purely educational, not geared toward selling products.

What do you wish expectant moms would know before choosing a childbirth class?

Be open minded and choose a class that is the geared towards delivering at your hospital.

Any advice for working moms? How do you balance it all?

Working as a nurse 20 hours/week, owning my own business and caring for my family has been a challenge. I sometimes have to take a step back and remind myself, I am NOT Superwoman. My best advice to other Moms/Business Owners is to be organized, flexible and do not expect others to read your mind. If you need help, just ask!

Categories
Holidays opinion

The truth about the leprechaun, the easter bunny, santa, etc.

My 9 year old lost a tooth. Yes she still has a baby teeth.  When she came home from school with a little treasure chest for her tooth she was so excited. I guess when you lose a tooth at school it is a big deal. In the lower grades you get a felt shaped tooth to store your lost tooth. In 4th grade I guess they still give a little holder. She was then pondering how much money she would receive from the tooth fairy (I hope she did not mention this at school!)  Yes, the tooth fairy is alive and well in this household. Which got me thinking about when do they figure it all out or when do I tell them – no questions yet. I have friends who love the phrase “if you don’t believe you don’t receive!”

As I was told by friends with older children that you MUST tell your child the “truth” about Santa, the easter bunny, the little leprechaun the comes on this day to drop off candy in your shoes (who started THAT one?). They cannot go to 6th grade knowing, I was told (I still have a few years!) My heart breaks and I know it’s part of life. As I recall a close friend from grade school telling me her story about how she told her 10 year old about Santa. He began to cry and then he figured it out – well than what about EB? What about TF? and then he broke down even more!  Such as the reality of kids getting older we need to have those tough conversations. I just read her The Care and Keeping of You Book, the Body Book for Girls and yikes she’s still losing teeth how can THIS be just around the corner too? But it is and like other moms I answer questions as they come up but tend to avoid telling – only when asked. That is my policy and I am sticking to it – at least for now! So tonight I will have them put their shoes out (forgot to last night) put in a little candy (er…the leprechaun did it) and enjoy the magic for a while longer!

Categories
Clothes

Free online baby clothing exchange

The following is a sponsored post – a free online kids clothing exchange service.

Have a pile of baby clothes that you wish you could exchange for the next size up?  There is a great web site called Baby Clothing Network,a free online trading service for kids clothing.  It’s a easy way to trade clothing fairly because it uses a trade-for credit system. No money exchanges on the site but rather if you trade a box of items you earn equivalent credits based on the value of the goods. What a great idea!   Check out my video.

Categories
Clothes

Free online baby clothing exchange

The following is a sponsored post – a free online kids clothing exchange service.

Have a pile of baby clothes that you wish you could exchange for the next size up?  There is a great web site called Baby Clothing Network,a free online trading service for kids clothing.  It’s a easy way to trade clothing fairly because it uses a trade-for credit system. No money exchanges on the site but rather if you trade a box of items you earn equivalent credits based on the value of the goods. What a great idea!   Check out my video.

Categories
purses Travel

Mom Travel Tips

I was so excited to be traveling yesterday for a presentation and I thought I was prepared. That was until I was stuck at the airport for 4.5 hours!  Of course I had my hand sanitizer and wipes and a change of clothes and comfy shoes. After realizing I did not have the proper bag to fit the accumulating magazines and chocolate I kept buying (how many chocolate stores can one airport have?) I found myself wandering through those travel stores to see what’s in store.  Here is what I wish I had with me.

A bag on wheels.  Even though I only went for the day shelping though the airport with a bag that I just kept adding stuffy to only weighed me down. Here is a cute one from baggallini – a rolling tote! I like how it has three separate compartments: one designed for your clothes, one for cosmetics and a center compartment for your laptop, paperwork and room for accessories and additional clothing! The company was founded by flight attendants so they know a good bag.  The day tripper bag is also perfect.

I am a stickler about bringing on a carry on bag that has a FULL zipper. At some point in my life I must have lost items on a plane and was tramatized.  Can you believe out of the many bags I own only one was big enough? Geese I think I need a new bag!

Here’s a tote to go from Brookstone, If you are like me and tend to accumulate stuff in the airport – but I just had to have that Oprah mug – this one is great!  I like it as it folds down to a tiny square so you can put it in another bag and use it when you need it.

Of course if you hate to dig in your bag to locate an item try one of the purse organizers. I love purseket. I also adore this purse to go by purse bling.  

Happy travels!

Categories
purses Travel

Mom Travel Tips

I was so excited to be traveling yesterday for a presentation and I thought I was prepared. That was until I was stuck at the airport for 4.5 hours!  Of course I had my hand sanitizer and wipes and a change of clothes and comfy shoes. After realizing I did not have the proper bag to fit the accumulating magazines and chocolate I kept buying (how many chocolate stores can one airport have?) I found myself wandering through those travel stores to see what’s in store.  Here is what I wish I had with me.

A bag on wheels.  Even though I only went for the day shelping though the airport with a bag that I just kept adding stuffy to only weighed me down. Here is a cute one from baggallini – a rolling tote! I like how it has three separate compartments: one designed for your clothes, one for cosmetics and a center compartment for your laptop, paperwork and room for accessories and additional clothing! The company was founded by flight attendants so they know a good bag.  The day tripper bag is also perfect.

I am a stickler about bringing on a carry on bag that has a FULL zipper. At some point in my life I must have lost items on a plane and was tramatized.  Can you believe out of the many bags I own only one was big enough? Geese I think I need a new bag!

Here’s a tote to go from Brookstone, If you are like me and tend to accumulate stuff in the airport – but I just had to have that Oprah mug – this one is great!  I like it as it folds down to a tiny square so you can put it in another bag and use it when you need it.

Of course if you hate to dig in your bag to locate an item try one of the purse organizers. I love purseket. I also adore this purse to go by purse bling.  

Happy travels!