Fashion & Gear - Cool stuff for adults

Mamapedia.com/Credit: Mike/Splash News Online

Play dates aren’t just beneficial for kids — they’re also an opportunity for stay-at-home moms to interact and exchange ideas and tips about child-rearing, marriage and everything in between. For working moms, these crucial mom-to-mom heart-to-hearts are often hard to come by. With that void in mind, Mamapedia launched earlier this year.

Boasting more than 2 million users – including Minnie Driver, mom to 14-month-old Henry Story — the site has clearly struck a chord. Celebrity Baby Blog recently interviewed founder Artie Wu who said inclusiveness has been the biggest key to Mamapedia’s success.

“If you set up a community where moms don’t feel like they’re going to be judged, they ask their questions,” he explains. “That’s the biggest priority for us.”

Click below to learn about how Mamapedia works, and who it’s helping.

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Too busy with the baby for pampering?

Try out Mustela’s Bebe line of skin care products on yourself for a little pick-me-up.

Made in France, the hypoallergenic and alcohol-free products not only hydrate and protect the delicate skin of babies, but work wonders on overworked moms as well.

I especially like the PhysiObebe No Rinse Cleaning Fluid ($14.50/10 oz) with aloe vera, for removing make-up or stubborn dirt. It left my face feeling super clean, yet moist and fresh.

In addition to the bottles of the cleanser, Mustela also sells Facial Cleansing Cloths with PhysiOBebe ($7.50/25 wipes), which can be used for cleaning the faces of both mom and baby, or for a quick sponge bath for infants.

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My neighbor was recently searching for a gift for her nanny who is moving away and I was able to wholeheartedly recommend the Memory Maker Share Your Heart line. Each necklace, bracelet, keychain and bookmark has a chunky heart or square charm that can be personalized with photos or a message.

I wore the toggle bracelet with 4 braided cords and a heart charm ($15) for my daughter’s second birthday party and received several compliments. It is also casual enough that I could wear it to a pool party, which is important as I chase a toddler around during the summer. Not all of their jewelry is made from genuine silver but they still look great and it keeps the cost down — between $8 and $16 for most items. They also make an elastic, adjustable bracelet that kids love!

CBB Deal: Save 20% with coupon code CBB2009.

– Ann, NJ mom to persnickety and playful 2-year-old Lia and child psychologist, appreciates functional and smart designs

Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker

I have wanted an ice cream maker since I was a kid. Seriously. I know, I know, you can just buy a pint of ice cream at any corner store… but I like a challenge. So you can imagine my glee when I got to take the Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker ($30) for a spin (literally) this summer — and found it easy to use.

Just mix together your ingredients — the machine comes with a bunch of recipes in the manual — and 20 to 40 minutes later, the entire family is enjoying delicious, creamy, homemade ice cream. No cranking, no rock salt. Just turn it on, pour in the ingredients, and you’re good to go. Sure, the noise might drown out your dinner music, but it’s worth it!

The biggest convenience is that you can control exactly what goes into your kids’ ice cream. Organic? Easy. Less sugar? No problem. Fresh fruit, maple syrup, nuts … whatever you want to add to keep your ice cream healthier is up to you. And ultimately, it’s cheaper, too. Turns out kid-me was really onto something!
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I’m a sucker when it comes to anything personalized. And this is especially the case when it comes to things I wear. After all, don’t we all want to be unique in some way or another? Luckily for me I found the Fleur di Lis Tag Necklace from BlissLiving.com ($395). Yes, it’s a small fortune but it is so totally gorgeous and amazing that I will wear and treasure it the rest of my life. Click to continue reading »

Original Mama Necklace by Tali Gillette

Have you had your eye on the gorgeous Original Mama Necklace by Tali Gillette? For a very short time you can save 30% on all of her pieces. Included in this exclusive sale are all Mama necklaces that celeb moms like Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, Bridget Moynahan and Joely Fisher are proud to wear.

To place your order, email tali@taligillette.com or call 917.576.1205 and mention Celebrity Baby Blog. But hurry up because the deal expires Friday, July 17, 2009 at 2 p.m. EST.

– Danielle

How do you “manage the chaos of modern motherhood?” With help from Mommy Track’d! The site — a one-stop place for parents that includes stories on celebs, real-world moms and more — is used by CBB faves like Brooke Shields, Felicity Huffman, Tori Spelling and Courteney Cox. A social-networking component includes groups and forums in which to dish on parental life, and a “store” offers up reader deals and discounts.

One of our favorite parts of the site? Free downloads called “Tools for the Tired and Time-Starved.” The ‘cheat sheets’ are a great way to create to-do lists based around meal planning, grocery shopping, chores and family schedules. Check it all out here!

– Kate

Throughout pregnancy, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, weaning and weight loss, our bodies go up and down in size and dimension (yes, stuff shifts around!). Generally, you can get away with wearing a smaller or larger clothing size and looser or more fitting styles to account for the adjustments, but when it comes to bras, fit really matters. Once you’ve had a bra-fitting, you’ll understand why — simply guessing your size or eyeballing doesn’t work — you need to be measured. A great fitting bra really is the foundation for the rest of your clothes. But, as moms, we rarely have time to shop for ourselves, let alone take the 10 minutes that a bra-fitting takes. That’s why the new Macy’s Fit Matters video series is a fabulous resource for moms — it helps you get a near-perfect fit without leaving your home. All you need is a tape measure. Click to continue reading »

I have a weakness. Soda. Seltzer. Bubbled beverages that can’t be gotten from a tap, and therefore have to be purchased. So, I am guilty of indulging in plastic bottles that a) cost money, and b) though they can be recycled, it would be better if I didn’t have them at all, and c) the schlepping is a drawback in and of itself — the sheer annoyance of knowing that it’s on my list that week and I’m going to have to lug it all home.

All three weigh on my mind when I am purchasing bottled beverages, especially when my alter ego just snidely reminds me that there is an alternative that, though it doesn’t have bubbles or taste, comes right from the tap and avoids all of these pitfalls.

Enter SodaStream ($90+) — a sleek and powerful counter top device that carbonates chilled tap water into seltzer right in my kitchen, and also provides me with a variety — over 60 choices — of flavors to add, recreating almost all soda varieties available in any supermarket — caloric, diet, and flavor essence.

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You know that mom who shows up at the park or the beach and always seems to have everything she needs? Well, it isn’t me, I’ll tell you. At least it wasn’t. But now that I have my awesome new Allerhand Reef Carry-All Beach Tote ($85), oh, how the other moms are going to envy my preparedness! Click to continue reading »