Month: May 2011

Categories
Products

Product Review: KRLY Kids shampoo, conditioner and styling spray gel

If you have a child that has really curly hair you know how hard it is to get them to comb it after washing it!  Especially during the summer season with all the chlorine, salt water and sun, it makes it even more difficult to wash and wear their curly hair.

Our friends at Ouidad sent us some samples of their KRLY Kids No Time for Tears Shampoo, No More Knots 2 in 1 Conditioner and Pump n’ Go Styling Spray Gel to test out.

I loved the smell of all the products and the comb went right through my younger daughters’ very long, wavy hair.  I have naturally wavy hair and tested the products the other night after a day at the pool and no more dry, tangled hair for me! I am sure if you buy this for your curly haired kids you will be using it at some point!

Ouidad created these products to gently cleanse, condition and style children’s curly hair.  The KRLY Kids line is gentle, moisturizing and easy to use.  Known as the curl expert Ouidad has been designing products specifically formulated for those with curly hair. The products are lightweight and water soluble leaving the hair free of residue and product build up.  The line is available here at their web site, Ouidad certified salons and Sephora.

Categories
Products

A Bedroom Makeover

My kids need a room makeover. I need to paint the walls a fresh, fun color and they need new dressers. I can’t even begin to talk about my disappointment about their dressers. We bought large white dressers at a baby furniture warehouse and within 2 years the knobs came off as well as the paint! Ugh!

Anyway..they love blue, blue, blue and blue. The comforters they have are pink, pink, pink which they love as well so a compromise may have to be a light sea blue which each comforter has tiny bits of this color in it.

I wanted to jazz it up with some fun zebra sheets like these from become.com. They even have them in pink! How fun.

When my kids were little it was all about the pink. But lately the trend for girls has been lavender.  If you have or are planning to have a baby girl lavender is the way to go – so sweet and different!  These lavender crib bedding sets are so cute and modern. The Sweet Potato by Glenna Jean LuLu Crib Bedding Collection is very cute.

Hey even the red comforter set for the adults can jazz up any boring bedroom.  Check it out.

Categories
Products

Identity theft – what a family needs to know

As a mom you worry about so many things with the kids and extended family. No one really thinks about identity theft….until it happens to you. It can be a pain to deal with and does the worry ever go away?  IdentityHawk has some great solutions.   You can even get an accurate, up-to-the-minute assessment of your current risk to indicate how vulnerable you are to identity theft on this web site. The site has information monitoring so you can check potential threats to your identity.  The protection tools on the site provides an ideal solution for identity theft protection. They also have a great article, “4 Things You Need to Know About Identity Theft” which is a must read! Check it out.

Categories
opinion

The Orpah Factor

Everyone’s been talking about it – the last few episodes of Oprah. What I am most surprised about is some people have been very negative in their words (and writings) about the last few episodes. It seems everyone has an opinion on Oprah.   You have to admit she had a lot of clout and introduced us to some interesting people and products.  There were many events we cannot forget (hello Tom Cruise) and she has inspired many, many women throughout her years in broadcasting. So…in my opinion……I will miss the favorite things episodes, the tearjerker stories of gloom turned into success and yes, the many movie stars that were interviewed.  Yes, I will watch today’s show along with millions of others and say goodbye to a broadcasting icon, familiar face, woman warrior and great interviewer!

Categories
fashions

Age appropriate dressing

So I was laughing after I saw this story on The Today Show about how old is too old to wear…bikinis, short skirts and high heels.  Leggings after 45??? This survey said no way. What?? I love leggings and will continue to wear them!  The Today Show even did its own survey.  It was funny to hear people’s opinion on when you should retire wearing certain clothes.

I totally agree with the panelists on The Today Show.   It’s not about age. You have to understand what fits your body.  I say wear what you want when you want as long as you feel comfortable.  I am all about age appropriate-ness.   If it’s hot outside I will wear shorts.  Since I am short I relish the high heels.  Since my legs are skinny I will wear short skirts. The bikini on the other hand I will pass on since covering my middle is a priority and no I am not revealing my age!

Categories
Clothes

Summer dresses and footwear from BCBGMAXAZRIA

I can’t wait for the summer weather to arrive here in Boston – it has been chilly these last few days and I am glaring at fashion magazines wishing to wear some of the fun clothes. On my list of items to buy this summer are some fun shoes and a tank or two!

Our friends at Bluefly have the best clothes. Check out one of my favorite designers bcbg on Bluefly. If you love flirty, feminine dresses and stylish separates this is the collection for you (and oh the shoes!). I have a black BCBG skirt that I bought years ago that I still wear to every occassion and everyone complements me on it!

Here are some of my favorites I spotted on Bluefly.  This lime neon burnout cotton racer back tank combines two trends in one – bright and a sheer, almost lace looking tank – love the sheerness of it.

I remember years ago I was invited to a white party – where you wear all white (I did have a hard time deciding what to wear ) This white striped chiffon one-shoulder gown would have been just right!  So pretty.

For shoes I am craving a flat and a wood heel. Love the bcbg shoes! These beach leather ‘Agreice’ buckle platform sandals are the perfect summer accessories for cute shorts and dresses. The pewter leather ‘Betsy’ cluster flats would look great with jeans and some silver jewelry!

Categories
makeup Products

Must have sunscreen, hair accessories and a zip-up mini bag

What do these have in common? Beside being on the list of my must have’s this summer season they are all going in my summer tote bag for the pool and beach!

Our friends at Kiss My Face sent us the sunscreen items to review.

Categories
opinion personal

5 Tips for a Happy Mother’s Day

Mother’s around the world rejoice – it’s your day!

Here is a suggested way to enjoy this day or get ready for requests for next year!

1.  Tell the hubby what you want – you can interpret this anyway you want! If you want to relax in bed for a few hours (alone!) , go to the salon for a few hours of you time or spend it outdoors with the kids and hubby, plan it, say it and let them know that this is what you want to do on your day!

2. Think of what you did for your mom on  this day. Although my mom is not with me I think back to what we did for her and it makes me smile. Traditions are always the best gift.

3. This is the best day to have people do stuff for you so be creative! “Kids, Please pick up and put all your clothes away, it is after all Mother’s Day” “Honey, can you clean the garage? That is what I want most!”

4. A favorite meal cooked or a hot fudge sundae delivered to you – whatever your favorite treat is enjoy it. Although my idea of a new recipe backfired this morning, it was the thought that counts right? If you look closely at the picture my kids tried to hide the fact that the pancake was charred as they added some sprinkles and a little cheerio to the top of the pancake (how cute are they?) The pretzel crumbs were a nice touch.  YES, I did eat it and believe it or not it was not that bad! (at least that is what I told them)

5. Relax, relax and relax and enjoy your day!

5 Tips-Happy Mother's Day


Categories
food

Mother’s Day Morning Recipes and Give-a-way!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and our friends at Stop & Shop sent us a great recipe for granola pancakes. What was your mom’s or your current favorite breakfast treat? (I am thinking breakfast in bed would make a great surprise for this Mother’s Day!)

As a special gift we are giving away a gift basket with the ingredients for the Granola Pancakes as well as a $25 gift card to Stop & Shop!

Simply comment below about your favorite recipe, tweet it (@trendymommies)  or send us an email!

Good Luck!

Stop&Shop Granola Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 egg, 1/2 cup natural granola cereal, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 3/4 cup skim milk, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt,  ADD all ingredients

Steps:

Beat egg until fluffy, beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth. For thinner pancakes stir in additional 1/4 cup milk. Grease heated griddle if necessary. To test griddle, sprinkle with a few drops of water. If bubble skitter around, heat is just right. Pour about 3 tablespoons batter from tip of large spoon or from pitcher onto hot griddle. Cook pancakes until puffed and dry around edges. Turn and cook other sides until golden brown. Makes about 9 4 inch pancakes.

Categories
books

A chat with award winning filmmaker and author

As I have mentioned before I find inspiration in other’s stories of turning their passion (or their problem) into success. It’s Q&A time!  This week Andrea Buchanan, author of Live and Let Love, Notes from Extraordinary Women on the Layers, the Laughter and the Litter of Love answers our quick Q&A.

Q:  Tell us in a nutshell about your career and how you became a writer.

I write books as well as television and film and I’m a director and a producer.  My work has been mostly in the non-fiction/documentary area, however, over the last four years, I’ve been doing more scripted television and co-directed a short film with Jennifer Aniston which I wrote called “Room 10”.   I always wrote poetry and journaled, and just took that interest to the next level in non-scripted shows: The most famous is Behind The Music, where I honed my writing chops.

Q:  What would you tell other writers who are struggling?

There’s not a writer who isn’t struggling, so just know that you are not alone. It’s a very isolating business and there are days that are less productive than others. But if you sit down and work everyday, at least for an hour, something will come from that hour.  Something I learned from one of my writing mentors, is that there’s no such thing as a crappy first draft.  Write it, get it out, let someone read it, and then improve upon it.

Q:  Any advice for other women owned businesses?

Try to be kind to yourself every day. Stay present, have goals set, put them up somewhere so that you can see them. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up instead of tear you down.

Award Winning Filmmaker and author Andrea Buchanan’s new book is called Live and Let Love, Notes from Extraordinary Women on the Layers, the Laughter and the Litter of Love. It’s an essay of love written by some of America’s most fascinating and vibrant women.  Find out more here.Â