Dressing Your Little Rock Star

By Brie Gatchalian

Your daughter may be in grade school, but that doesn’t mean she can’t dress like a rock star. She loves Hannah Montana’s style, so why not dress like her idol? Not sure how to turn your little sweetie into a star? Follow these steps for her Hannah Montana wardrobe makeover:

Step 1: You’ll need bling.

Bling is synonymous with rock stars these days. Don’t worry – you won’t have to spend much to give your sweetie some dazzling accessories. She’ll look like a hundred bucks with this Belle Bow Headwrap ($2.80 at www.forever21.com) and 3-Row Necklace ($8 at www.wetseal.com).

Step 2: Wear fun colors.

Sporting bright colors is nothing new for your little girl, but this time around, consider a hot trend like skinny pants. These Isa Skinny Jeans ($27.80 at www.forever21.com) are not only super-funky, but who ever pulls them off is a guaranteed star-in-the-making.

Step 3: Layer

Now here’s a Hannah Montana trick you’re familiar with: layering. Accomplishing the fun-color step 2, layer this Short Puff Sleeve Jacket ($22.50 at www.wetseal.com) with something not-so-colorful like this Collared Denim Vest ($28 at www.mandee.com).

Step 4: When in doubt, belt it.

For Hannah Montana, belts are not for belt loops. For real rocker style, your daughter must wear the belt over her shirts. Consider this Michael Kors Braided Metallic Snake Embossed Belt ($44 at www.nordstrom.com). Or, she can use a sash or scarf – just make sure it’s a different color than her top.

Step 5: Wear fabulous yet comfortable shoes.

Although your daughter won’t be dancing around on stage, she’ll be strutting her stuff at school. Give her the gift of comfort with these Gabriella Rocha Studio Cyra wedges ($99 at www.zappos.com). Not only will these shoes turn heads in the classroom (they’re so fabulous!), your daughter won’t come home with blisters.

Be prepared for anything (and we mean anything!) with these must-have on-the-go baby gear picks.On-the-Go Baby Gear! Perfect parent products in a pinch.

by Vicki Salemi

We know your type: You’re hip. You’re happening. (And let’s say it together now…) You’re super busy.  On the go 24/7, you do what any smart parent would do – you check out cool baby products geared toward helping out parents in a pinch.

Fold Away Potty Seats

Unlike those nasty Port-a-Johns (the outdoor make-shift green little outhouses we’ll use in case of emergency and we do mean an emergency), these mini portable potties for your little one are almost worthy of being called Port-a-Janes; that is, they’re that sweet. For instance, the On the Go Potty by Kalencom is for your little tyke 18 months old and up. With three disposable liners and a plastic carrying case with drawstring, this lightweight potty is geared for your road trip pit stops and fits right on top of normal toilets.

$10 at  Kalencom.com

Dad-Focused Diaper Vests

How much do we love these, let us count the pockets… The folks at DadGear have the hottest invention in parenting gear. Think style. Think purpose. Think manly mangear.  This innovative twist in which the traditional diaper bag meets fisherman’s vest lets fathers grab diapers in strategically placed compartments.  Two large pockets on the interior can be used for diapers or other baby gear, two pockets on the side of the vest may be used for bottles, and as for the right chest zippered pocket? Quick access to baby wipes for spit-up emergencies, of course.

$82 at www.DadGear.com

Portable Snack Trays

Courtesy of the folks at Fisher Price, we’re particularly gaga over their car seat snack tray. Where else could you have a make-shift tray that attaches to most car seats and strollers? There are two clamps for a better fit and get this – it hsold sippy cups, juice boxes, and bottles. The three different sections are fab for snacks on the go like chopped apples or little PB&J triangles.

$11 at www.FisherPrice.com

Travel High Chairs

Picture it: a high chair that’s lightweight, safe, sturdy, and goes everywhere you do! This high chair clamps onto most tables and voila (snap fingers here!) it creates an instant high chair whenever you need it.  The travel high chair from Phil & Ted’s weighs only two pounds and collapses to one inch of thickness. The nylon seat makes it easy to clean and the frame and clamps provide a secure grip.

$49.95 at www.PippinMcgee.com

Take Along Toys

They’re portable. They’re adorable. Better yet, we’re wondering if they’ll make them for adults!  For instance, the Manhattan Toy Company’s dog take along toy is designed to stimulate and strengthen your baby’s new skills. It rattles, squeaks, and rotates as your little one can honk the paws, pull the legs and arms, and wiggle-jiggle the entire body.  As for the best part? The fabric loop allows you to attach it to strollers, carriers, and car seats.  Road trip, anyone?

$12 at www.ManahttanToy.com

Portion Snack Cups

If you sometimes feel like a walking kitchen, you’re not alone. In your right pocket perhaps you’ll find a baggie of Cheerios. In your backpack or purse, perhaps a banana. As for the left-hand coat pocket? A bottle of water. In any event, The First Year’s take & toss portion snack cups allow you to carry customized portion-controlled snacks in a no-spill container that’s sectioned off so your raisins don’t intermingle with your Goldfish. Now that’s what we call smart snacking.

$2.99 at www.ToysRus.com

Throughout your pregnancy, you do everything you can to give your baby all the advantages you can to come into the world a strong, healthy newborn. Now that your little bundle of joy has joined the outside world, you are doing every possible thing to keep him healthy, right?

You may be surprised to learn that the things your baby comes in contact with every day are filled with harmful chemicals that can affect his growth and development, as well as harm to the environment. But, before you go online and order that pure air bubble you want to raise him in, take a peek at some of these natural alternatives that will have even Halle Berry making room for you on the go-green buggy, er, bandwagon.

Nursery

If you’re like actress Laura Dern, her environmentally friendly philosophy is “less is more.” But for the things you can’t live without, here are some green options for your pink or blue nursery:

Crib - Furniture made of pressed wood products can contain formaldehyde, which has been linked to cancer. Try PacificRimWoodworking.com for solid maple cribs and furniture that is finished with natural oils and formaldehyde-free.

Bedding – From the flame-retardant chemicals in the mattress to the pesticides in the sheets and pillows, a good night’s sleep may do more harm than good. Rule of thumb: Always choose organic, untreated materials such as wool or natural cotton.

Flooring – If you have to go carpet, sink your toes into 100 percent biodegradable carpet with wool fibers and no toxic adhesives like Nature’s Carpet by Colin Campbell’s Studio Line. Otherwise, opt for cork, wood, linoleum, or natural material throw rugs. You may find it’s a cleaner way to go for the entire house!

Paint – Older homes may have been painted with lead paint, which is harmful to babies and adults alike. Try using paints with natural pigments, such as clay. Check out GreenPlanetPaints.com for a variety of these earth- and baby-friendly pigments.

Clothing

Dress your tot to the nines like celebs Courtney Cox and Kelly Preston by choosing organic cotton garments, like the ones found at UnderTheNile.com. Or, products made from natural hemp fibers or organic cotton and hemp blend fabric can be found in baby wear and cloth diaper solutions.

Laundry Detergent

Method® (MethodHome.com) makes environmentally friendly products like their HE Compatible Laundry Detergent – Baby, which is free of harsh chemicals and dyes to reduce irritation to your tiny tot’s skin. Or, ALL® makes a Free & Clear product in a Small and Mighty® size which uses a concentrated formula in a smaller bottle, using 50 percent less material for their packaging than their 100-ounce bottle.

Health Care Products

Keep your baby’s sensitive skin soft and protected by Mother Earth by going organic with baby’s health care products. BurtsBees.com offers an entire line of ecologically friendly products called Baby Bee, while Arbonne.com offers a baby/kids line that includes sunscreen, lotion, and body/hair wash that is all natural as well.

Organic Food

What goes into your baby can be Earth-friendly as well as good for your baby. Many products on the market like Gerber Organic’s Tender Harvest® are preservative-free and made with food that is pesticide-free. Stars like Gwyneth Paltrow prefer to use a food mill to control what goes into her kiddies, but if you’re not the from-scratch type, check out stores such as Trader Joe’s Markets (TraderJoes.com) and Henry’s Market (HenrysMarkets.com) for organic food options. Or, browse the local farmer’s market for more home-grown favorites, but make sure you ask if they meet the USDA’s organic standards.

One-stop Shop to Save Planet Earth

Actress Soleil Moon Frye co-founded a store and Web site that gives you everything you need to go all-natural with your tot. TheLittleSeed.com features clothing, bedding, toys, and furniture to “help make our planet a little greener, and our children’s lives a little healthier.” Just be prepared to break out the greenbacks (products range from $4 for smaller toys to $795+ for furniture).

Whether you completely refurbish your abode or change some simple habits, you’ll not only be giving your precious babe a healthier environment, you’ll be saving the environment, too.

Your lives are crazy. Married with kids has a ton of advantages, but even more work. The clock never stops, but sometimes you both just want to say “Enough!” and lie back while your butler makes it all go away. Not likely? You might be surprised.

When you’re Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, deciding to “make some time for mom and dad” isn’t too hard. You just let the live-in nannies know you’ll be gone for a few days, hop on your private jet, and wing it to Italy where your good friend George has generously offered the use of his palatial palazzo (the key is under the mat). It’s nice to be rich and famous.

Why can’t I be famous just once?

But what if you’re merely average? A simple Jane or Joe who lives in a world of tanking stock markets, shrinking savings, and gas prices rocketing directly to the moon. Even if you had the cash you don’t have the time. Gramps and Gran can’t handle the kids for more than a day so your freedom is limited. You could throw up your hands, admit your life sucks, and hit the video store.

Or you could try something else.

A top-line vacation to Hawaii would set you back several thousand dollars and take a week or more of time but, if you can afford to spend up to $500 for a super-fantabulous indulgence for just the two of you, there’s no reason you can’t share an experience that will redefine the word “memorable.” All you need is a little planning, a sense of adventure, and a desire to have some fun.

5 Super-cool Mom & Dad Splurges

1. A picnic, with a twist – With a simple phone call, you can arrange an event the Great Gatsby would be proud to attend. Hiring a private chef is easy these days and most are more than ready to set up, and host, a fantastic picnic for two. Pick your location, arrive on time, and enjoy the pampering. When you’re done you walk away knowing everything is taken care of. A perfect picnic.
2. Drive-in movies, first class – Most cities still have at least one drive-in movie theatre within a couple hours drive. Hire a limo to drive you to the movie, snack on wine and appetizers while you ride, and arrange for the driver to set up chairs in the field so you can enjoy an open-air movie under the stars. When your eyes start to droop, retire to the comforts of your upholstered chariot and snuggle together in back while your driver returns you home safe and sound.
3. Visit a new restaurant, by airplane – There was a time that air travel was considered upper class and fancy. The indignities we endure these days are a modern-day crime, however, if you book last minute flights to any city less than an hour’s flight away you can probably get affordable round trip tickets for two that leave and return the very same day. You won’t need luggage, making security a breeze, and if you fly out that afternoon you can have dinner at a groovin’ restaurant and be back in your own bed that night. An unforgettable experience and a heck of a great story to tell.
4. After-hours anything – Going to the museum is one thing but calling ahead and arranging to come in after-hours makes you feel like a superstar. Most places are more than willing to open up for a private visit if you’re willing to pay a fee. You could hit a winery, maybe an antique store, or even an art gallery. VIP treatment and you don’t have to be freaky like Michael Jackson to get it.
5. Best hotel room ever – When you have a budget of $500 to blow on lodging for one night, you can get yourself a pretty amazing room. By staying in your own town you can skip the luggage and arrive unencumbered, ready to experience the exhausted-parent luxury of spending the night in a room you don’t have to clean the next day. It’s as close to heaven as some of us may ever be.

Going big on a budget is easier than you think. If you plan ahead and get creative you might even be able to pull it off a few times a year without breaking the bank or even abandoning the kids for too long (no matter how much they might deserve it).