Agoo's Leg Huggers

Agoo's one of my favorite places to shop for my sons! I absolutely love their clothing... the wicking properties are genius!

Right now we have a fabulous sale on Leg Huggers! Agoo's Leg Huggers are functional fashion for little kids. Made from eco-friendly, 100% sustainable bamboo fibers, they will keep your little one’s legs warm in the cold and cool in the heat. What I love about them, too - if you have crawlers in your house, they protect little knees! A very big deal!


But the best part about our Totsy sale... check out the PRICE! Stock on up!

Berry Ball - Need to Try One!

There's one thing I always wash by hand - my bras.

I've seen way too many of my bras come "undone" in the wash and I'm not going back there - ever.

You know what I'm talking about, right? You pop your bras into the wash to be cleaned, and when they emerge - they're twisted, tangled and completely out of shape. And... if you're anything like me and need a little "something-something" in the padded-bra department, you know how damaged the padding can sometimes get. It can just be a mess. So I started hand-washing everything which isn't the quickest and/or easiest to do. With work and the boys and sports and just the craziness of life with 4 little boys... I need laundry to do quick and easy for me - for every garment.

Which brings me to my bra-saving-grace - the Berry Ball.



You place your bra inside the Berry Ball for washing. What makes the washing of your bra so thorough, is that there's a scrubbing ball that you additionally insert into the Berry Ball with your bra. The holes in the Berry Ball allow the water and detergent to get on in and do its job. Toss the Berry Ball (with bra inside) into your wash - and you're literally good-to-go! It's super easy and you absolutely know you're bra is getting squeaky clean without getting damaged at the same time.

When the load is done, take your bra out of the Berry Ball and hang dry.

And... for your other delicate garments - undies and stockings, there's the Berry Bag, zip shut and wash away!



I absolutely recommend these for any woman... they have really made a difference in my bra-life. Moms... you will really love these because it's a easy and convenient thing to add into your washing routine. We like quick and easy when it comes to anything that has to do with laundry, right!?

Even better, this set comes with a Berry Bag for your panties. Once you're done, hang it up with the attached strap until next time.

These Berry Balls are available at select stores and some e-retailers in the US like: ComfortHouse.com and N-fini.com.

The "Jean Short" Summer Craze

I've been seeing a lot of jean shorts with fringe this summer on celebs...

[caption id="attachment_7615" align="aligncenter" width="169" caption="Jennifer Aniston"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7616" align="aligncenter" width="278" caption="Kourtney Kardashian"][/caption]

It's a hot trend right now... and what I love most about this "look" is that you can take this "sexier" option for shorts and really do a great job at making it look classic and chic. After all, we're not looking to go all Daisy Duke. As I started to look for a pair to buy, I thought to myself... why am I buying when I can make these? So that's just what I did... and I love them!

Pampers offers Cynthia Rowley Designer Diapers

Pampers are my diapers of choice. They've always fit the boys to perfection... and the practical side of me has always been satisfied.

But now they're satisfying my fashionable side!

Popular designer Cynthia Rowley has designed 11 styles of Pampers, including pastels, stripes, madras and ruffles. They're offered in Target stores beginning in July.

"As a mom, I wanted other moms and dads to have more options in every part of their lives -- even diapers," said Rowley. "It's the first piece of clothing your baby will ever wear, and it should be special."



Talk about the perfection combination of practical fashion.

Smart Tan

I have always loved a little glow on my cheeks in the summer. But... as I've gotten older, I've become more aware and much more scared of the sun's rays. I need to be smart, not only with my sons and husband... but with myself, too. I've been scouring for some great "tanning" alternatives this summer. I've done the spray... quite frankly, I'm not happy with the streaks I got. It looked good for a day - and then... NOT SO GOOD. My legs looked like they were peeling and I was orange.

So... I got smart and started trying some other things. Seriously... no pun intended, I tried Smart Tan.

Essentially you build you own tan. The Smart Tan Kit comes with:





Start with the Primer! Prime your skin and moisturize away!

Then cover up any skin imperfections with the Concealing Creme. It comes in skin tone shades... so you can match your skin tone perfectly.

Finally use the bronzer on your face (and body if desired) to create a natural glow. This bronzer is amazing! It doesn't go on too strong, so you can really "build" it on your face as you want to. Just stay away from getting too orangy looking! Big summer fashion don't!

The BIG KAHUNAS for me:

• Waterproof


• Smudge Resistant


• Long Lasting

I'm VERY happy with my Smart Tan... I love the safe and great alternatives to getting a long lasting tan without damaging it.

Celebrity Baby Scoop - Dishing It Out Daily

I love being ‘in the know,’ of celebrity gossip, don’t we all? Whether it’s from entertainment news on TV, gossip magazines or straight from the internet it’s hard to get enough! With sites like Celebrity Baby Scoop the news just keeps on coming…daily!

Celebrity Baby Scoop was created in September 2006 by Lisa Weber. During this time, Hollywood was beginning its craze of pregnant celebrities. Through reparable websites such as CelebrityBabyScoop.com you are able to get up-to-the-minute gossip on all your favorite celebrity Moms, Dads and babies. The site uses only the most trusted Hollywood insiders such as reporters and other sources to dish the latest stories.

Fans agree - having over 1.2 million unique visitors a month, CBS has powered through the competition to deliver only the best of mom and baby fashions, products and news. Posts are updated throughout the day so visitors have no choice but to stop by all day long. Celebrity Baby Scoop also offers friendly links to other websites who are dishing about other topics related to the baby world, making it very easy to stay ‘in the know,’ with all celebrity and baby news!

Celebrity Baby Scoop also has exclusive giveaways for all their subscribers! To enter a giveaway, it is as easy as signing up for Celebrity Baby Scoop’s news letter! In their ‘Get the look’ section you are able to see who wore it and where to get it; displaying the latest brands and the cutest celebrity kids wearing them. They also provide a collection of photos with each article covering the latest news we all are dying to read about.

CBS is the one-stop-know-all for all things baby with your daily celebrity updates…don’t miss out on being the first to know! Visit CelebrityBabyScoop.com, I promise you will not be disappointed!

Exclusive Deal for all our Totsy Members: Sign up for Celebrity Baby Scoop newsletter and you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a $235 baby gift prize pack! Baby Gift includes a Momma Couture Diaper Bag, Bebe Au Lait hooded towel and a Freehand Baby Carrier.

- Jennifer Little

Activities for Rainy Days

I also serve as a mom ambassador for Land O'Frost... they have an amazing section on their website for moms called - Land O'Moms. Each month I contribute an article for them. I don't know how it's been where you are... but it's been raining here in Rhode Island the last couple of days - and my sons don't know what to do with themselves because we've been so used to the HOT SUN! I compiled a list of 10 things to do on rainy days that we've been doing. I wanted to share my list today on Totsy!!

ENJOY!!

1. Cookie Cutter Sandwiches. This is one of the boys favorite. We make sandwiches (they love PBJ) and then we cut them with cookie cutters to make some cool shapes. They love the dinosaur ones!

2. Finger Painting. I lay out sheets of paper all along the dining room table. I put “old” tees on the boys and just let them go to town with the finger paint! I usually will see if they can make certain letters, shapes and numbers. It keeps them smiling and laughing.

3. Sock Puppets. The boys love it when I go through their dad’s sock drawer and weed out the old socks. We take them downstairs and turn them into puppets. We use paint and pom-poms and try and create the silliest creatures.

4. Movie Day. The boys would have movie day every single day if they could… but, it’s the summer – and if we don’t have to be inside, we won’t be! I turn the lights off… close the shutters and curtains… and actually pretend we’re in the theatre. I make popcorn and we have an actual movie day.

5. Restaurant. This was one of my favorite activities as a child. I take out paper plates, paper cups, plastic silverware and napkins. We make menus and actually play “restaurant.” The boys get a kick out of it. We call it “4 Brothers!”

6. LEGOS. If there’s one thing I’ve realized about having sons is that they love to build! We have bins and bins and bins of LEGOS. I usually only let them play with one bin at a time. But… on rainy days, I take them all out and we create massive castles and buildings.

7. Alphabet Cupcake Making. My sons love to bake, I really think they’ve gotten this from me. When I was a little girl my mom and Nana would bake with me all the time. My sons love to make “mini” cakes (otherwise known as cupcakes). We actually make 26 cupcakes and write one letter of the alphabet on each cake. We call it our Alphabet Cakes.

8. Scavenger Hunts. The boys love to do this outside… but it can be just as fun inside, too. I go throughout the house and hide 10-15 items. I give them easier type clues (so Henry can play) and they dash around the house, working together and finding all the items “mom” has requested.

9. Family Tree. The boys love to ask “who is your dad’s dad?” and “what is grandma’s mom’s name?” Just family curiosity. We made a family tree the other night, using their hands as leaves. We dipped them in paint and had them press down their hands on a piece of paper. We started to label each leaf a member of the family. We’ve been building onto it. I know the boys don’t grasp it 100%, but it’s interesting to teach them that I’m from 4 children… their dad is from 3… etc.

10. Obstacle Courses. Oh, man. This one is the ONE they LOVE! I make obstacle courses with our furniture, with the toys and with cushions and pillows. They then have a blast trying to “get through” everything. They LOVE this!

Hair Tips from Hair Stylist Sarah Potempa

I love to wear my hair down... but with 4 sons, it's not always the most practical! Especially when it's hug and cuddle time! With my hair being on the long side, ponytails and buns are usually the easiest thing in the world for me. If you caught me at any given time in my life at home (like right now!) you'd see me with a huge bun on top of my head! My sons have always gotten a kick out of this "look."

When it comes to finding some chic and practical ways to do my hair, I turn to Hairstylist Expert, Sarah Potempa.



Sarah has extensive experience as a freelance stylist including editorial work for renowned magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Real Simple, and Seventeen. She has been requested for press events and photo shoots for such celebrities as Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Emmy Rossum, Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley and Chase Crawford, Glee’s Lea Michele as well as advertising campaigns for Converse by John Varvatos, Sephora, and Levi’s.

What I LOVE about Sarah is that she has an amazing website with tutorials videos on how-to-do some amazing hair styles (all on your own!). The beauty for me is that she's doing them on herself as she walks you through it. I love it... she's amazing! She's easy to understand and she really gives you a user-friendly approach to some difficult hair styles.

Many women are attempting this 2-Strand Braid right now... made popular by some hot celebs! Here's how you do it...

Men's Fashion at PITTI

Jenn continues her European fashion summer series this week! I love this post because it's about men's fashion. As a mom of 4 boys... and married to a man who loves fashion, I was very intrigued by this post!

Men's Fashion at PITTI...

Blazers are definitely going to be a huge trend for guys this year, as well as ankle boots! Both are easy to wear with just about anything….jeans, khakis, or chinos. (Especially white pants!) ;-)
*Make sure the material of the blazer does not clash with your pants…casual is best for this look!

LOVING white pants on men! It’s definitely a hard look to pull off but if done right, go for it! These men at Pitti sure knew what they were doing! White chinos or jeans with a colored button down or polo, and matching moccasins or you can just stick with your classic black or brown shoes.
*Only wear light tan shoes with white pants (3rd picture) if you have a tan belt or shirt that matches! For warmth (and/or fashion) you can always throw a blazer into the mix as well. ;-)

Dark blue jeans (with belt if tucked-in), white button down (tucked-in or out) and moccasins to match belt or add color.

Dark Gray suit with colorful tie and tan oxfords.

Check out ShopStyle Looks for Men by Jenn!

Fashion/Beauty MUST-HAVES for the Beach

I've been to the beach and/or pool almost every single day this summer. With the heat wave the way it is, it's essential to stay cool and refreshed with a nice pool and beach. My sons make fun of me for packing the largest tote at the pool... OK, I have 2 of them that I bring. But... I have some summer fashion/beauty items that I need to make sure are packed.

This is my top 10 List of Fashion/Beauty Items You NEED for the Beach:



1. Sunglasses
2. Lip Balm (different from just plain lip gloss)
3. Rake Comb
4. Baseball Hat (easy to loop hair through the back of it)
5. Sun hat (Coolibar is my fave!)
6. Strapless Sundress in bright colors
7. Extra Pair of Flip Flops
8. Hoodie (if it gets cold)
9. Extra tee shirt
10. Sarong

**Bathing suit and Sunscreen are absolute ESSENTIALS.

The Importance of BPA-Free Products

Before I had children, I never really was concerned about BPA or anything like that. I even remember being pregnant with my oldest son and having a close friend of mine ask if I would be using glass bottles instead of plastic. My initial thought was - "Glass aren't safe... would if I drop it!?" And - well... then you become a mom and start reading everything because the safety of your child is the most important thing in the world.

I recently just shot this segment for FOX News Providence on BRA-Free Products...

The Legging Jean...

The GAP is all about the denim.

I thought Skinny Jeans were skinny enough... and now these...

Truthfully, I don't know what to think about these jeans...they're called Legging Jeans.



That's right - jeans as tight as leggings.

Pros:

Super soft.

If you have the legs for these - you'll look smashing!

Cons:

They're TIGHT. Very tight.

If you're under 6 feet, they may look silly. ;)

European Summer Fashion Series: Women's Fashion at Pitti

In continuing our fabulous European Summer Fashion series with Jenn... today Jenn brings us fashions from the women at Pitti!


WOMEN’S FASHION AT PITTI:

HUGE trends walking the streets of Florence…I must say people were dressed sensationally at Pitti. Most were dressed casual but you could tell they put a lot of thought and effort into their selections.

Best of all- their ensembles are easy to recreate here in the States!


Tan boots in the summer with a dress and tan belt (Great Fall look, too!).


Baggy dress with a hat and a super cute pair of flats (and obviously an oversized bag)!



Button down, shorts (not too short), moccasins (or boat shoes), a scarf and an oversized bag.


Boyfriend jeans, white tank top, metallic blazer, sandals and a straw bag.

Also... mix these looks up with some accessories!!

Check out some of Jenn's looks here at ShopStyle.com!

American Girl Shine On Now Campaign *GIVEAWAY

American Girl has an incredible campaign this summer - Shine On Now - starting TODAY (July 13th, 2010) thru July 31st to donate $1 million dollars for food, clothes, books, dolls, and money to 4 amazing charities - Kids in Distressed Situations, National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, National Wildlife Federation, and Save the Children.



I'm thrilled beyond thrilled to be a Parent Partner to help promote this campaign. As a mother of 4 boys, I haven't been able to purchase any American Girl Dolls yet... but I have seen my nieces love the brand for years and years. Actually, I remember when American Girl "hit" the scene years and years ago. I used to babysit for a little girl who just loved her Samantha Doll. I fell in love with the brand when I saw how they were teaching young girls about history, I thought it was remarkable. When they approached me to be a Parent Partner, I jumped at the opportunity because I think it is wonderful that American Doll is giving back. I've seen the power of their brand throughout the years, and I am captivated by their push right now to do more good.

Head over to Shine On Now to contribute a free ‘star’ to the effort. The goal is to collect one million stars by the end of the program on July 31, 2010. In addition, every star contributed (you can donate up to 100 each day!), your name will automatically be entered in a daily drawing to win a new My American Girl doll. Amazing, right!? You'll also be able to see how close American Doll is to their goal!!



I personally love spreading this message... as a GIRL myself, I think it's so essential and important to allow girls to SHINE!

American Girl is letting me giveaway one for their American Girl Doll's!! How incredible is that!!?? Leave me a comment letting me know you went over to Shine On Now donated a star(s)!! A winner will be chosen Wednesday, July 21st!!!

Make sure you have the little ladies (and older ones!) SHINE ON NOW!!

Tips for Color-Treated Hair

I'm getting my hair highlighted today... oh, my... thank the heavens! My hair in the summer grows so fast. And by looking at my root right now, you actually may mistake my hair for having a black hairband in it. No joke...

[caption id="attachment_7154" align="aligncenter" width="283" caption="Look at that root! "][/caption]

When I make that sacred hair appointment, I literally starting counting down the days. Please tell me I'm not alone! Truthfully, I naturally have dark hair. I'm naturally a perfect mix between a dirty-blonde and a brunette. As I've gotten older, I've even noticed some grays popping in there (ugh....). Getting my hair highlighted really does "change" my look. I prefer myself with lighter hair - it hides my grays and makes me feel like I look better. I'm sure every woman has that I-look-so-much-better-with-this "color" for her hair. I've gone dark before and I just don't like it on me... it's not a "pretty" dark.

But... coloring. That beautiful little hair activity! It's fun to have done... but it's not always easy to maintain color-treated hair. You really need to make sure you're taking care of the color. Whether you're doing it yourself or paying for someone to do it for you - there are certain things you can do to enhance and make sure the color stays for as long as possible.

1. Don't just use any shampoo and/or conditioner on your color-treated hair. USE color-treated Shampoo and Conditioner. This one may be obvious, but it's really important to make sure you're doing this. There are shampoos and conditioners at every price point that offer this benefit in their mixtures. Make sure you're buying them and using them! Also, make sure all hair care products you're using have the same benefit, too.



2. Don't wash your hair every single day! I know this may be tough for some people, but washing it every single day isn't good for the color. Try every other day. Believe me, when I first got this advice I thought to myself, "There's NO way!" But then I started to try it... and, I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I wash my hair every 3-4 days now.



3. Don't blow dry your hair, flat iron your hair and/or curl your color-treated hair on the highest heat! Stay on cooler settings. If you use the hottest settings you'll get some heat damage on your hair - you're talking split ends and frizz!

Nautical Trend for MOMS

I recently wrote about the Nautical look for kids, but it doesn't just stop with them!

Oh, NO!!

Living in Rhode Island - the "Ocean State" - I've always been near the water. Growing up, I loved about 1/4 of a mile from a beach. In college my parents moved to another town, and still... we loved about 1/4 (maybe less!) from a beach. And now, as an adult and mom of my own, we lived about 3 miles from the water. Personally, I love it! Ask any Rhode Islander, the farthest one could probably actually even live from the water can't be more than 15 miles or so.

This all being said... I've been noticing the nautical trend really emerging this summer. It's funny, the "nautical" trend is always "in-style" in Rhode Island. If you drive down to Newport or Narragansett for the afternoon - you'll see this trend year-round. You just usually don't see it among the tourists visiting, but this summer - it's everywhere.

I love this trend because it's REALLY EASY to do. I know as moms, especially in the summertime with the kids out of school, the last thing we really have time to focus on is fashion trends and styles (bless my father for buying me some fashion magazines for the beach yesterday - 4 boys at the beach, I didn't get a chance to eat lunch, never mind read!), so I've really been trying to share some doable and practical fashion trends/styles lately on MomGenerations.com. We can still be moms andbe in-trend throughout the summer!

Here are some GREAT Nautical Trends for the summer that are chic, trendy and affordable!

Dresses...

More Lauren Ralph Lauren...

Tops...

More Splendid...

Accessories...

More The Limited...

European Series: Shopping Children's Boutiques in Paris

Jenn's 4-week European trip has been so inspiring to read about! She got such a great sense of the people, the culture and the fashion. I was so excited when Jenn told me she was going to document her trip through some posts for Totsy. It's been such an incredible treat! Here's another post from Jenn... all about Children's Boutiques in Paris!


Walking the streets of Paris I was amazed by how many pregnant women I saw. Not that there isn’t your fair share of pregnant women walking the streets of New York but they were coming by the dozens in Paris. I was only into my second day there and I had already counted 35 (Yes I counted, it was overwhelming!)

My hotel was in the center of Saint Germain, a very nice area in Paris. Everywhere I walked I saw tons and tons of boutiques’ catering to either babies or maternity. Having my own extraordinary obsession with baby clothing and babies in general, I kept a sharp eye out for cute, little children’s boutiques. I even took a few pictures and walked into every one I saw.

Here is a little synopsis of the best children’s stores in Paris:

• C de C, founded by Cordélia de Castellane, she uses fresh designs that are economically priced while combining old-fashioned elegance with modern simplicity-very eye catching.
• Molli has beautiful hand-knitted baby outfits.
• L’Oiseau de Paradis is great for traditional toys. (Perfect baby gifts!)
• Marie Laure has the most beautiful hand-embroidered christening gowns.
• Jacadi is idyll for representing Paris chic (clothes, accessories, and linens) but at great prices. • Petit Bateau is classic for pajamas and underwear.

Designer Mariu De Andreis wanted to create clothing for chic and fashionable Parisians to dress their kids in. The mini creations are those in which stylish Parisians could even see themselves wearing, however, sizes only range from newborns to 12 years old.

Zef clothes exemplify the perfect French bobo (bourgeois-bohème) look for kids’ clothing. Each collection displays classical sophistication using the best quality fabrics, elegant patterns, with a hint of ethnicity. 
Here is where to find them:TroiZenfantS was established in 2004 when fashion designer Valerie Herbet met model Virginie de Gemini. At this time, they were collectively mothers of 3 children (concludes the meaning behind their brand name). Both women found it difficult to buy original, affordable and easy to wear children's clothing. To solve this problem, TroiZenfantS was created. Each collection focuses on creativity, fabric quality and maintaining competitive costs. They offer a Baby Line: 3-24 months and their Kids Line ranges from 2 to 12 years old.

To shop and learn more visit their website: http://www.troizenfants.fr/english/collection.htmIn 1992, the concept of Charabia was created by Lena Henriksson-Barenton, a Swedish woman’s fashion stylist and Eric Barenton, a Parisian advertising agent. Together they launched the idea of a children’s boutique that catered to gift collections for newborns.

Today, Charabia has expanded their target markets to ages 0-12 years old and is one of the best high-end, specialty boutiques in more than 15 countries.

To shop for the perfect baby gift: visit their e-boutique here: http://www.charabia.com/index.php



In 1975, Marie-France Cohen was inspired to create children’s clothing with “savior-faire” and a modern point of view. This new vision brought smart, chic, stylish designs that were amplified by the use of color, cuts and fabrics. Size range from Newborn: 0-12 months, Baby 3-24 months, and Girl/Boy: 3-12 years.

Bonpoint also has individual stores for all their categories—one for girls, boys and one just for shoes! The clothing is reasonably priced; displaying an assortment of colors, classic materials, and a bit of French cheerfulness.

Bonpoint continues to grow globally while also launching their own online boutique to share with their customers. http://www.bonpoint-boutique.com/en/look/look-boy-23/

With so many cute choices to choose…it’s no wonder the Paris women are booming! ;-)

Nautical Trend for Kids

The nautical trend isn't just for adults this summer... there are some adorable kid fashions utilizing this chic and classic trend.

For boys...

More J.Crew...

For girls...

More J.Crew...

DON'T FORGET!! TWITTER PARTY TONIGHT!!!!!!

Twitter Party - Tuesday, July 6th at 9PM (EST)

You're invited...

TOMORROW NIGHT we're having a TWITTER PARTY!!

We're talking Back-to-School Basics... !



Where: On Twitter! Follow us by using the hashtag - #totsyparty

When: 9PM (EST)

Who: We'll be discussing brands like kidorable, EGG, Thames & Kosmos, Mack & Co, Rebelle, Sage & Creek, soft and so many, many MORE!! It's Back-to-School time!!

MAKE SURE YOU'RE FOLLOWING @AudreyMcClellan and @MomTrends

RSVP: You don't need to - just show on UP!!!

4th of July Fashions

Every year I get a little 4th of July fashion happy! I always, always, always wear red, white and blue! It's my "thing." I've been getting some emails lately asking me to share some "red, white and blue" fashion ideas for the 4th (and 5th!).

[caption id="attachment_7095" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="As casual as can be..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7096" align="aligncenter" width="216" caption="Dress it up a bit..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7097" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A tad trendy..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7098" align="aligncenter" width="253" caption="Utilize those accessories!"][/caption]

Have some fun... add in as much red, white and blue as you can! It's FUN DAY! Go FOR IT!!

Happy 4th everyone!

4th of July Totsy.com Blowout SALE!

It's what you've been asking us for... a HUGE BLOWOUT SALE!!

We thought the 4th of July would be a good time to celebrate in style!!

Incredible savings of 70-80% off over the July 4th holiday weekend on all of your favorite brands of apparel, accessories and toys. We have lots great values but shop early, this is a warehouse sale special and quantities per style are limited!

I have been stocking up on tees for the boys and gifts for my nieces! You really don't want to miss this, the prices are so low. Buy now for the Holidays!

Let me give you a little taste of the sales...



Stuff is selling out! So get over there QUICKLY!!