FabSugar

Matching Mommy and Me Style: Gaga or Gag?

Kate Stahl — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:11:42 PST

The idea of buying matching outfits for you and your daughter might make fashion-conscious mamas cringe, but admit it: you've picked out your lil one's outfit one morning, only to realize midafternoon that you're both in red sweaters, leggings, and boots. Or perhaps in bold navy stripes, like Jennifer Garner and Seraphina (how cute?!). Call it a coincidence, mommy brain, or just plain sweet. So what do you think: does wearing a matching outfit with your little girl make you giggle or gag?

Is Your Mom Fashionable?

FabSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:12:22 PDT

Source

Could You Parent the Way French Moms Do?

LilSugar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:37:41 PST

You've met the Tiger Mother and the Free-Range Mom, but now there's a new maman in town.

When American journalist Pamela Druckerman had her baby in Paris, she became acutely aware of the parallel parenting universe that exists there and turned her experience into a book. Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (out today) explores the decidedly more laid-back French approach to child rearing. Parental guilt is almost nonexistent in France, and weekends are dictated by what mom and dad want to do, as opposed to soccer games and birthday parties.

Wondering where you fall on the parenting spectrum? Take our quick quiz, and find out which parenting style suits you best.

Your 5-year-old's snack of choice is:

Celery sticks

Pain au chocolat (in moderation)

Whatever he threw in the cart on your last trip to the grocery store

Your son fell at the playground and ended up with a bruised forehead and a seemingly endless stream of tears. You handle the situation by:

Handing him an ice pack and encouraging him to get back out there

Telling him where the ice packs are

Scolding him for being at the playground in the first place - he's over his limit for playtime for the week

The TV is on at your house:

Never (unless PBS is running something relevant or there's a State of the Union address)

When the kids put it on

Only when mom and dad's shows are on

A typical Saturday for your family consists of:

A family jog through the park, two hours of silent reading time, a trip to the museum, two hours of music practice, and a trip to the symphony

A leisurely brunch with (adult) friends then browsing through a few boutiques - little ones in tow

Nothing on the agenda! Hopefully it'll be nice out, and the kids can go do something outdoors

College is still a good 10 years away. You think about it:

Never! So much could happen in the next 10 years . . .

Constantly. Anything short of early preparation would put your children at a disadvantage

Now and again. You'd love your son or daughter to study abroad and see the world

Lil Links: Stop Counting Sheep and Embrace Insomnia

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:27:37 PST

Ten reasons it's awesome to be an insomniac - The Stir
Kate Winslet raises awareness for autism - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Steal Nahla Aubry's thermal shirt style - Celebrity Baby Blog
How pregnancy can boost your health and happiness - FitPregnancy
The no-panic guide to lice - Parenting
When to move on to fertility treatments - The Bump
Do you meet these suburban mom stereotypes? - Momformation
Preview Gucci Kids's Spring collection! – Child Mode
Turn off the TV and turn the kids on to these 15 adorable pet videos – Tecca.com
Willow Smith shaves her head: how would you react? - Yahoo! Shine
A packing list for young families - Real Simple

Ben Affleck Brightens Up His Weekend With Violet, Seraphina, and Flowers

Lauren Turner — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:01:28 PST

Ben Affleck was all about his daughters during a farmers market outing in Pacific Palisades yesterday. He took Violet and Seraphina to check out the produce, and the trio picked up grapes, strawberries, flowers, and more. Ben showed love for Violet, who was toting a monogrammed handbag, with a kiss. Jennifer didn't join her family for the shopping excursion, but she was busy with the girls on Saturday. Jennifer, Violet, and Seraphina went to the beach in LA to take advantage of the sunny weather. Violet and Seraphina played in the sand while their pregnant mom watched nearby. Jennifer's maternity style has been on display as she steps out for errands, and there's even more pregnancy fashion to come since she's not due until this Spring.

Jennifer Garner's Pregnancy Style

LilSugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:37:54 PST

Since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced that they are expecting the couple's third child, Jennifer has been snapped by photogs as she shows off her laid-back maternity style. Since this is her third pregnancy, Jennifer knows how to glam up her bump for promotional engagements for her film Butter, or keep it comfy casual for running errands with the kids in tow all around town. Take a few pregnancy style tips from this veteran mom and check out Jennifer's pregnancy style!

Lil Links: Parenting Advice You Might Want to Skip

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:32:49 PST

Ten terrible pieces of parenting advice moms should ignore - The Stir
It's twin Tuesday for Tabitha and Loretta Broderick - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Steal Knox Jolie-Pitt's cool, casual style - Celebrity Baby Blog
Home births jumped 29 percent! - FitPregnancy
Sanity-saving tips for pumping at work - Parenting
Trying to conceive? You might want to spend more time in the sun - The Bump
Three simple lunch ideas for kids - Momformation
Can you love your children too much? – HuffPost Parents
Why you won't catch Katherine Heigl watching Dance Moms - Yahoo! Shine
The new CMYK Zen and Monochrome Zen Strollers are colorful! – Child Mode
Nine things to know about maternity leave - Real Simple

Jessica Simpson Gears Up For Baby With Eric and Jewel

Molly Goodson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:37:12 PST

Jessica Simpson gazed at her fiancé Eric Johnson as they stopped for provisions at a convenience store in LA on Saturday. Jessica's maternity style has meant lots of maxi dresses, which leave room to grow as she gets further along in her pregnancy. Jessica and Eric have been sticking close to home and the Simpson family in California as they gear up for the arrival of their first baby. Jessica and Eric's little one is lucky to have such a musical mom, but she apparently has other artists who will be helping in the lullaby department. Jessica tweeted about buying a Jewel song, writing, "I can't wait for my lil one to enjoy her voice!"

20 Cool, Modern Mobiles From Etsy

Kate Stahl — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:23:56 PST

Finding a cool mobile that adds style to your nursery, but is also appealing to your baby can be a harder task than most new moms realize. Go with those ubiquitous big-box store mobiles and you'll get the lights, colors, and sounds that just might make your newborn fall in love with his crib - which for some new moms can feel like an impossible goal - but you're stuck looking at a plastic monstrosity in your otherwise-chic baby's room. Scour the upscale baby boutiques, and you'll find some incredible mobiles, but they can come with some equally outstanding price tags. Not to worry! We've scoured one of our favorite sources for creative decor, Etsy, and have found 20 gorgeous mobiles at a range of price points. The only problem now? Choosing just one!

The Benefits of Homeschooling Your Kids

LearnVest — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:05:49 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

In the past, LearnVest spoke to parents who chose not to use diapers with their children and dove into the stay-at-home parent debate. This time, one mother shares why she has decided to homeschool her children.

In 2002, we had our third child, 10 years after our second was born. Our eldest two boys were in a private school, but we began to consider the best way to educate our newest addition. Although we loved the school our boys attended, each year cost us about $10,000. We questioned how feasible it would be to put additional kids through there, too.

We had three more children in the following years for a total of six, and with each new baby came further confirmation that putting our four youngest through private school was out of the question financially. Our two eldest were approaching college age, which put even more pressure on us.

The decision was simple. We elected to educate our four youngest at home.

Why Public School Wasn’t an Option

We always knew that we wouldn’t send our children to public school. Parents who opt out of public school do so for many reasons: safety, quality of education, religious conviction, and many others. My husband and I both went to public school, but that was a long time ago, and I don’t know what schools are like today. For us, religion was the main reason. We believe that God gave parents the responsibility to raise, train, and educate their own children. Many parts of the Bible talk about training your children - to us, that includes education.

For more, read after the jump.