Category: For Moms

Fifth Avenue is home to New York’s most prestigious shops and historical buildings, as well as some of the city’s sexiest men. A brand-new trilogy from Harlequin Presents explores Fifth Avenue’s stories of sex, scandal and the Upper East Side.

The Fifth Avenue trilogy includes:

• Avenge Me by Maisey Yates (available June 2014)
• Scandalize Me by Caitlin Crews (available July 2014)
• Expose Me by Kate Hewitt (available August 2014)

The Fifth Avenue trilogy follows Austin Treffen, Hunter Talbot Grant III, and Alex Diaz through their efforts to avenge the sudden death of their good friend Sarah Michaels. Sarah committed suicide after enduring months of harassment and blackmail at the hands of her employer, Jason Treffen. Together, the three men hatch an elaborate plan to ruin Jason’s law career and destroy his reputation.

Austin’s perspective is given in Avenge Me, Hunter’s perspective is given in Scandalize Me, and Alex’s perspective is given in Expose Me. The stories are definitely tied together, but each book also manages to stand alone based on the strength of the characters. This is an impressive feat for a trilogy with three different authors!

Although all of the books in the trilogy are intriguing, I found Avenge Me to be particularly interesting.

Austin is Jason’s estranged son, so his efforts to avenge his friend are complicated by the fact that he knows he’ll be placing his mother and sister under a great deal of strain if his plan is successful. Austin also begins an unexpected romantic relationship with Sarah’s sister Katy, which leaves him further questioning his motives and struggling with feelings of disloyalty towards Sarah.

If it’s steamy romance you’re looking for, Fifth Avenue doesn’t disappoint. Austin, Hunter, and Alex each have a love interest to contend with during their quest to gain justice for their Sarah. The scenes are sexy, but tastefully done. Even though none of the couples meet under ideal circumstances, you can’t help but find yourself rooting for them to get the happy ending they so desperately want.

Not convinced? Here’s a short excerpt from Avenge Me, courtesy of Harlequin Presents.

Katy let out a long breath and started walking back down the empty corridor, back to the party. Back toward Jason Treffen. Talking to him had just about made her lose her mind. It had taken everything in her not to grab his glass from his hand and pour it over his head. Then break the glass on his face. She considered the man as good as her sister’s murderer, so she was short on charitable feelings where he was concerned.

The door to the ballroom opened, and she froze. Oh. Her breath left her in a rush, a current of electricity washing over her skin. It was him. The man whose eyes were like an endless black hole, drawing her in, a force she couldn’t deny or control. When he had looked at her, she’d felt as if she were grounded to the spot. She’d felt like he had looked and seen her. Seen everything. More than that, she’d looked back and she’d seen him.

Had seen a grief in him. An anger. It had been, in some ways, like looking into a mirror.

“It’s you,” he said, his voice deep, smooth. Like really good chocolate. “I was hoping to run into you.”

“Wh-why were you hoping to run into me?” she asked.

“Because you’re the most beautiful woman here. Why wouldn’t I want to see you?”

“You’re a flirt.”

“That’s the thing, I’m not really.” He put his hands in his pockets, a wicked half smile curling that sinful mouth.

“I have to get back.” She started to walk past him and he took her arm, stopped her progress. She looked up and met cold, dark eyes.

“To who?” he asked, his voice gentle, an opposing force to the hold he had on her.

There was something about that grip. Commanding. It spoke to every secret fantasy that lived in the dark shadows inside her. The parts of herself that had looked at every man she’d even tried to date and found them lacking. But not him. He wouldn’t be lacking. Something shivered inside her, a whisper. He would know what you wanted.

Want to learn more about the Fifth Avenue trilogy? Book Trib is sponsoring a live chat with Maisey Yates to discuss Avenge Me. The chat will be held on June 26 at 4PM Eastern.

Since I work at home and live in a very small town, I seldom have a reason to bother with shapewear. The next time I do, however, I think I’m going to replace my current shapewear with HookedUp Shapewear.

HookedUp Shapewear is designed to hook to your favorite bra so it can’t roll down. In addition to being more comfortable to wear throughout the day, the fact that it will stay in place eliminates the dreaded “muffin top” that so many of us moms struggle with. There’s also no gap between your bra and your shapewear, which takes care of the problem of back fat accidentally popping out and ruining the look of your favorite outfit.

HookedUp Shapewear works with nursing bras, minimizer bras, or sexy push-up bras and comes with an assortment of hooks so you can customize the fit to your needs. There are no layers or visible straps, so it is invisible under your clothes.

Sizes are available up to 3X in high waist brief, high waist mid-thigh, and high waist slip styles to accommodate a wide range of body types. For the best fit, it is recommended that you order based on your hip and waist measurements.

Designer Tara Cavosie says her own busy life was the inspiration for HookedUp Shapewear. “I have one husband, two kids and a million responsibilities,” she writes. “I like to eat. I hate to exercise. I love to look good. I needed shapewear but nothing worked for me…so I designed HookedUp Shapewear.”

Visit the HookedUp Shapewear website to learn more or to purchase shapewear for your next big evening out.

Photo credit: HookedUp Shapewear

If you don’t work in an office, Belly Bands are an awesome way to avoid having to purchase a ton of expensive maternity clothes.

They provide much needed tummy coverage so you can keep wearing all your favorite casual shirts as your baby bump grows. You can also use the Belly Band to make it easier to transition back into your pre-pregnancy clothes after your little one arrives.

There are several different companies that sell Belly Bands, but Belly Armor’s Belly Bands have the added benefit of being lined with patented RadiaShield technology to protect your unborn baby from radiation exposure due to the use of cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices.

The full extent of the risk of radiation to your unborn baby is unknown, but in May 2011 the World Health Organization reclassified cell phone radiation in the same potentially carcinogenic category as chloroform, engine exhaust, and lead. If you’re going to buy a Belly Band anyway, choosing one that provides a little extra peace of mind seems like a no brainer.

Visit the Belly Armor website to learn more or to order a Belly Band. The Belly Bands come in black, nude, and hot pink. There’s a form-fitting style for women who want a little extra lower back support and a looser style for expectant moms who are just concerned about keeping their baby bump covered.

They are described as similar in weight to a cotton t-shirt, so you don’t have to worry about the RadiaShield fabric adding extra bulk.

The Belly Armor Belly Bands are available in sizes XS through XXL. They can be machine washed cold with similar colors, but should be air dried.

Photo credit: Belly Armor

If you enjoy photography, you’ve probably noticed that most camera bags aren’t exactly what you’d call stylish. THEIT aims to offer fashion conscious women an alternative to lugging around their photography gear in a boring bag.

THEIT is a new line of couture-worthy camera bags for fashion mavens who want to live their dreams in style. The company name is a clever play on the fashion industry term “the it” bag.

Designer Nicole Fajardo came up with the idea for a collection of fashion-forward camera bags while working as an international flight attendant based in Dubai. She was an avid amateur photographer, but struggle to find an attractive looking bag that could protect her gear.

“We’re super excited about our latest collection and the showpiece Lula camera bag which is new this season and a collaboration with a hand-picked clutch of THEIT’s favorite fashion bloggers via The Style mentors,” she said. “Available in two colors, it’s the perfect marriage of form and function with haute features such as the totally luxe quilting and on-trend color duo of coral – set to be the hottest hue of the year and–and sophisticated chestnut. With a satchel silhouette and gorgeous hardware, it’s a true piece of arm candy on the outside and designed to safeguard any snapper’s most treasured possession, the camera, on the inside.”

The Lula has fully removable inserts so it can be customized to fit your needs. It should fit your camera body, lens, battery, flash, cell phone, and other essentials. Decorative features include a zip tassel, a cool clasp closure, and cute front pockets.

At the moment, I’m stuck with a bland black canvas camera bag. I absolutely adore the coral version of the Lula bag and would be thrilled to be able to store my gear in style.

What do you think of the THEIT collection of camera bags?

Photo credit: THEIT

Do you hate ironing? If so, Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus is a must-have addition to your laundry room. Instead of digging out your ironing board, you can simply spritz the fabric-relaxing spray onto your clothes and gently smooth out the wrinkles with your hands.

The product works by coating fabric fibers with silicone to allow wrinkles to relax and slide apart instead of being frozen in a crease. As an added bonus, the spray also works to help eliminate static cling in the process.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus does a great job removing wrinkles from most of our casual clothes and it dries very quickly, but there are a few dressier items in our closet that I found still required an iron. However, you can also use Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus as an ironing aid. It is a better aid than than plain water and leaves none of the residue of starch.

What I like the most about Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus is the pleasant light fresh scent. A quick spritz helps remove odors, which is especially helpful if you have pets at home or your clothes smell smoky from roasting marshmallows around a campfire.

You can buy Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Publix, Kroger, and other mass market repeaters. A 1 liter bottle sells for $6.99. A 500 mL bottle sells for $4.19. A 3 ounce travel size sells for $1.99. Visit the Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus website for additional information.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus

I’ve only recently started growing my own herbs, but I love this Williams-Sonoma Chalkboard wall planter. I think this would be an awesome way to grow fresh herbs without taking up a lot of space in your home.

My current method requires a great deal of shelf space, while this wall mounted planter has 10 planting cells in the space it takes to hang one large photo. I think you’d have to hang it fairly high up, however, to keep it out of reach of curious pets and/or toddlers.

To use the planter, fill the cells with the herb of your choice. Water as needed through the top irrigator. The moisture mat technology ensures even distribution of water in each planting cell and the hidden collector tray catches excess runoff. The irrigator holds one quart of water.

The chalkboard paint finish makes it easy to label the herbs, if you can’t easily tell them apart on your own. If you don’t need to label the herbs, you could use the frame as a space for writing little notes to your family members.

The pine frame is made by an Amish Community in Goshen, Indiana. Some assembly is required, however.

The chalkboard wall planter sells for $144.95 on the Williams-Sonoma website. It’s a Williams-Sonoma online exclusive product.

Shipping for the chalkboard wall planter is free. The item is shipped from the Williams-Sonoma warehouse by UPS and should arrive within five business days of the company receiving your order.

What do you think of this idea? If you’ve ever tried a vertical herb garden, how did this compare to traditional herb growing techniques?

Photo credit: Williams-Somoma

If you’ve been wishing for a mother’s ring, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, Silverado Jewelry makes lovely rings starting at just $24 for one to four birthstones. You can get up to nine birthstones on your ring for just $37.

These rings would be a great budget-friendly treat, especially if you’re still thinking about having more children and want to wait to buy a fancy ring until you’re positive your family is complete.

The mother’s rings from Silverado Jewelry are made with Swarovski birthstone crystals and wrapped with sterling silver wire. They come in sizes 4 through 11, including 1/4 sizes.

The rings are packaged in a velvet gift bag, which would make them lovely gifts for Mother’s Day. I’m thinking about getting one for my mom, simply because her hands are swollen from arthritis and most of the ring styles I’ve seen don’t come in a size 10 or 11.

Silverado Jewelry is owned by Stephanie from Newton, IA. She’s been designing jewelry for six years and is the proud mother of three young boys. In addition to selling personalized mother’s rings, she also makes birthstone jewelry, awareness jewelry, sports jewelry, and Christian jewelry. I think the autism awareness bracelet with a puzzle piece charm is especially pretty.

Silverado Jewelry charges a flat rate $5 shipping fee for all orders. Most orders ship within three business days. Shipments are sent through the United States Postal Service and will include tracking at no extra charge.

What do you think of Silverado Jewelry designs?

Photo credit: Silverado Jewelry

I bought this little compact during the summer when my skin was closer to normal than dry, and I wanted a quick and easy-to-use, all-in-one product with a healthy dose of SPF. I wasn’t wowed. First, what I don’t like:

It’s $42 but if I were to use it every day, I’d only get about a month, maybe a month and a half out of it.

After the first use, it gets this white film over the top that probably has some simple, not gross explanation, but it still doesn’t look like anything I want to swipe my sponge over and apply to my face. I’m guessing it has to do with the sunscreen.

The finished look of it was inconsistent on my skin. Some days it made my skin look absolutely flawless. Other days, it picked up on all the little flakes I couldn’t even see until I applied the makeup. It didn’t matter if I had exfoliated my face or not. I couldn’t really make sense of it.

Now for what I did like:

• I never got a sunburn while wearing it.
• It was quick and easy to use, and sometimes it did look amazing.
• The compact stays shut, so it’s easy to travel with.
• My skin didn’t feel dried out with it; it felt like a fairly moisturizing product, but I still wouldn’t wear it while my skin’s firmly in the “dry” category.
• It does a lot of the things it claims: provides natural coverage (not so sure about “buildable”), cut down on redness, cut down on dullness, and (often) gave me fresh looking skin.
• It didn’t irritate my skin, even when I wore it every day for several days in a row. With some foundations, I have to rotate them or my skin gets angry.

I’m on the fence about whether it plumped and disguised fine lines. It really did depend on the day. Sometimes the flakiness the makeup picked up seemed to outline fine lines in my forehead and make them look worse.

I think there are enough pros to recommend this to someone with oily or combination skin, but I’m not sure about recommending it to someone with normal to dry skin. If you have a Sephora near you, I do recommend giving it a try there.

Photo credit: Sephora

If you are a CNA, nurse, or other healthcare provider, FIGS is a website worth checking out. This company offers affordable scrubs and the chance to make a difference with your purchase.

For every set you buy, a set is donated to a healthcare provider in a low income county like Kenya or Botswana. To date, FIGS has donated over 5,000 sets of scrubs to healthcare providers in 10 different countries through its Threads for Threads program.

In low income countries, healthcare providers are often poorly paid and struggle to afford the proper uniforms. Wearing clean scrubs is essential, however. Clean scrubs reduce the risk of a patient going home with a hospital-acquired infection rate by 66%. They also result in millions of dollars saved from unnecessary treatments, which lets the hospitals focus on treating people who really do need help.

The FIGS women’s scrubs come in XS through 3XL. Available colors are black, burgundy, ceil blue, cement, and midnight blue. They have scrub tops, v-neck t-shirts, regular scrub pants, and cargo scrub pants to choose from. All items are designed to be comfortable, lint resistant, soft to the touch, and tailored to be flattering to a woman’s figure.

Scrubs for men are available as well, if your husband is the one in need of work attire.

Visit FIGS to check out the company’s scrubs and to learn more about their charitable giving initiatives.

Photo credit: Wear FIGS