FabSugar

Mama Mio! Pampering for Mommys-To-Be

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:12:22 PDT

Mama Mio is a fab new line of pampering products for the pregnant woman who has special needs. It was created by three mothers who all had previous experience in the beauty industry and were looking to invent something specific for the pregnancy era in women's lives when they are feeling awkward in their own skin!

The special fragrance in the products is also the key ingredient. It is called Gravida which is made from ten essential oils and lipids to help keep your skin soft and supple - it also means pregnancy in Latin, how clever! Oh, and don't worry, the smell has been proven to appeal to even those who are suffering from bouts of icky morning sickness.

So far the line consists of ten products: Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil, Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Cream, Boob Tube, Wonder-Full Balm, Moisturizing Shower Cream, Super-Rich Body Cream, Massage Oil, Gravida Candle, The Post Pregnancy Emergency Repair Tummy toner and Stretch Mark Minimiser.

They have also created five different kits which make terrific gifts! I love the one that's called, "It's Time." This is a perfect present to show up with when visiting a new mommy in the hospital. Two of their signature products from the Emergency Repair Line are especially noteworthy.

To read more about the Stretch Mark Minimiser and the Tummy Toner,

Stretch Mark Minimiser, $65, helps fade the appearance of yucky stretch marks that over 50% of women suffer from. Although surgery is really the only way to erase them, this concentrated, facial quality product will significantly lighten the marks and help your skin cells regenerate and renew themselves more quickly.
Tummy Toner, $65, helps restore tone in your tummy. From all of the stretching it's done, now it's time for it to shrink back to the way you looked pre-pregnancy. If only it were that easy! This product works in three stages: to exfoliate, moisturize, tighten/tone your stomach skin. Although you won't see results overnight, this "tummy peel" is clinically proven to help firm and tighten the tone of your belly post pregnancy.

Fat-Proof Your Life

Health — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:06:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Maridel Reyes

It's true that there are certain times in your life when extra poundage seems to appear out of nowhere . . . and settle on you. In fact, experts have honed in on the exact moments when you're most vulnerable to weight gain.

"Life transitions, having a baby, and going through menopause cause many women to pile on pounds," says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The 50 Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them. "But with planning and prep, you can stay thin."

We asked top experts for their strategies to help you ward off weight creep - and even shed pounds - at these tricky stages. Solutions ahead.

Getting married

Heavier ever after? It can be the flip side of wedded bliss: "Six out of 10 of my clients come back heavier after the honeymoon," says celebrity fitness and wellness guru David Kirsch.

Health.com: 25 Diet-Busting Foods You Should Never Eat

Young newlyweds pack on an extra six to nine pounds in the five years after getting hitched compared to singletons, according to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And most of that gain happens in the first year of marriage.

"Couples start to mirror each other's eating habits," explains Albers. "You might be matching him calorie for calorie without realizing it."

Learn how to keep the pounds down postmarriage and in the mommy years, after the break.

3 Common Hair Dilemmas Solved

Guest Writer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 PST

Tabatha Coffey, the star of the much-loved series, Tabatha Takes Over, is known giving the most spot-on hair advice around. And over the next few months the talented hairstylist is sharing her top tips and tricks right here on BellaSugar. We're thrilled to present to you her first post! Take it away, Tabatha.

Hi everyone,
I got so many emails and questions on the below topics after I appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, I thought it would be great to write about them in my first blog. Here are some of my favorite products and tips for combating the hair-problem blues. See more when you keep reading.

Lil Links: Michelle Duggar Says Her Heart Broke Telling Her Kids About Her Miscarriage

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:32:44 PST

Michelle Duggar suffers a miscarriage of her 20th child - Celebrity Baby Blog
Incredible birth photo brings out the worst in jealous moms - The Stir
Matt Damon says his heart grew when he became a dad - Celebrity Baby Scoop
6 things you can only do with older kids - Momformation
20 easy meals for the family to enjoy together – Health
Are fortified foods the secret to a healthy pregnancy? - FitPregnancy
Half of moms hide their Facebook profiles from their kids - Parenting
Weird baby products that really work - The Bump
Ameba TV may be the best streaming service for kids – Tecca.com
What were you almost named? - Yahoo! Shine

Source: Discovery

8 Ideas to Use Up Your FSA Before the Year-End

Emily Co — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:15 PST

Now that it's nearing the end of the year, there are some money chores you need to take care of, such as making sure you've spent the money in your Flexible Spending Account because it will expire before the New Year. You're actually allowed to file an extension if you haven't used up all your FSA dollars, but you need to check your company policy to see if they allow that. Don't fret if you can't extend, here are some last-minute ideas to use your FSA money:

Over-the-counter items: We're not allowed to spend our FSA dollars on over-the-counter medicines without prescriptions but there are plenty of nonmedicinal products that we can still use the FSA money for. For example, band aids, crutches, first aid kits, and rubbing alcohol.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is covered by your FSA, so if you have a condition such as pain, consider acupuncture.
Chiropractic: Your FSA also covers chiropractic visits, so now may be the time to schedule an appointment with your chiropractor.
Birth control: Contraceptives are covered by the FSA, although some require prescription.
Glasses and contact lens: Schedule a vision exam and use your FSA dollars to buy a new pair of glasses or supplies of contact lenses.
Prescription medicine: Buy prescription medicine if it makes sense for you to do so. Most insurance policies will only let you buy a month's supply at a time, so you can't exactly stock up on medicine.
Doctor's visit: Your FSA will cover the copay so if you're due for a doctor's visit, try to go before the end of the year.
Medical monitoring and testing devices: If you need a gadget to measure and monitor your blood pressure or ovulation, perhaps it's time to buy one now. Pregnancy and glucose test kits also qualify.

FSA is best used when it covers items that your health insurance doesn't generally pay for. Remember to use them or you'll lose them before the year's up!

Is the HCG Diet Safe?

Leta Shy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:37:42 PST

Have you been convinced by the constant barrage of HCG diet testimonials? The diet has recently become the talk of the Internet, even though it was developed over 60 years ago.

The HCG diet claims this: HCG (or human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone found in pregnant women, is supposedly responsible for releasing stored fat to feed the baby in utero. By restricting your caloric intake while injecting the hormone or taking HCG drops daily (typically for 23 days, but many people stay on the diet until they reach their desired weight), the hormone encourages your body to release its fat stores to keep you nourished - leading to weight loss that can be as high as a pound a day. Sounds good, but is it safe? We spoke with Adam Bornstein, editorial director of LIVESTRONG.com, to learn more about the diet and its safety.

Does It Work?
Judging by the amount of success stories seen on TV or on the Internet, the answer is yes. Many users have said that the HCG diet is not only effective, but sustainable. Guests on a recent Dr. Oz show, for example, said that they lost as much as 50 pounds on the HCG diet. Dr. Oz's guests also explained that the diet was only difficult for the first few days, after which the pounds melted away without the users ever feeling hungry.

Experts, however, aren't so ready to give the diet a stamp of approval. For one, there are no studies addressing whether there are long-term side effects in using the pregnancy hormone, and there are no studies that illustrate if the hormone actually helps your body burn stored fat. "There's no research that can actually back up these claims. It's all hypothetical," Bornstein said. The fact that dieters lose weight quickly can most likely be attributed only the dieter's ability to stick to a strict 500-calorie diet and not the HCG hormone itself.

Read on to learn if going on the HCG diet is safe.

Q&A: Kristen Stewart's Breaking Dawn Makeup Artist

Jaime Richards — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:39:30 PST

The wedding scene in Breaking Dawn Part 1 is enchanting, and Bella Swan's bridal makeup is one of the most flattering wedding palettes we've seen in recent history. Kristen Stewart's makeup artist for the film, Stacey Panepinto, gives us tips on how to get Bella's exact look, along with a glimpse at what it was like to work behind the scenes of the latest Twilight installment. See it all when you read more.

Lil Links: Does This Anti-Co-Sleeping Campaign Go Too Far?

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:32:33 PST

An anti-co-sleeping campaign is angering many moms! - The Stir
5 ways to eat healthy when pregnant - Celebrity Baby Blog
Pete Wentz is living a double life - Celebrity Baby Scoop
13 tips for saving money on prescription drugs - Health
How to reduce your unborn baby's radiation risk - FitPregnancy
Fun ways to teach tots about recycling - Parenting
Useful, stylish, and fab baby products - The Bump
Doctors make the case for circumcision - Momformation
More hospitals are banning elective C-sections - Yahoo! Shine
A first tool box for kids that know a screwdriver from a wrench - Cool Mom Picks

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

LilSugar — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:24:34 PDT

We're loving these kid-friendly Thanksgiving products and crafts this month!
Let the holiday shopping race begin! Are any of the season's hottest toys on your list?
Geek is the new black, and these wonderfully nerdy onesies are great for geeky babies!
Soleil Moon Frye shared birthday party tips and photos to help relieve some of the stress.
Moms are uniting to help provide clean water and vaccines to kids in Africa.
Lace up your sneakers and see what your postpartum exercise timeline should look like.
Jennifer Garner has been looking great with her third pregnancy. Check out her maternity style.
What to give a fashionable expectant friend? A fashion-inspired diaper cake of course!
We're loving these chic gray nurseries!
Pregnant women love to complain, but there are some great effects we should celebrate!
Finally, be sure to enter our Twitter giveaway to win an autographed cookbook from Mario Batali!

10 Products Most Moms-to-Be Didn't Know Existed Before Getting Pregnant

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:03:18 PDT

Throughout pregnancy, expectant moms are bombarded with advertisements and advice for products that will make them comfortable and provide their lil one's with the best possible start. While some are outlandish and others are practical, a few make an impression that lasts throughout the nine months. Here are 10 that most moms-to-be probably didn't even know existed before becoming pregnant themselves.