If your Memorial Day plans include entertaining guests with an outdoor barbecue, look no further than this classic, all-American celebration from Celebrations at Home for red, white, and blue inspiration. A basic BBQ menu paired with old-fashioned games and fun makes this a great way to kick off Summer with the entire family.
Happy Memorial Day!
Circle of Moms
Want to know what we really love about Trips With Tia, the brand-new web series exclusively on Circle of Moms by POPSUGAR? Not only do you get to see the All New 2014 Kia Sorento in action while hanging out with reality TV star Tia Mowry and her friends as they share parenting stories and tips, but also, it offers the chance to win fun, family-friendly prizes!
Watch this week's webisode, featuring Tia, Diane, and Lizzie chatting about all that goes into being a mom. Then check out the pictures above for behind-the-scenes photos of this funny and insightful segment. Pin your favorite image to one of your Pinterest boards for a chance to score $250 courtesy of the All New 2014 Kia Sorento — perfect for putting towards a spa day.
Celeb families were on the move this week, taking their kids on planes, world tours, and even just down to the local lake. Lucky for us, their smartphones were in hand to capture the sweet moments and share them via Instagram, Twitter, and personal websites. Click through now to see this week's cutest celeb tot candids, and don't forget to follow POPSUGAR Moms on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!
We all know those parents of 2-year-olds who claim they've got the terrible 2s under control and their kid is perfectly disciplined because they have the secret behavioral formula. But for most moms of toddlers, it can be incredibly frustrating trying to keep under control a child who is at an age when he is not exactly a rational human being.
That's why moms like Danielle P. want to know what is reasonable when setting behavior standards for toddlers. She says she's tried and failed at "everything" to try to discipline her "independent, determined, stubborn, and adventurous" 22-month-old daughter. Lisa A. feels similarly frustrated, noting, "Sometimes I feel like I'd get more of a response talking to/disciplining a rock."
So what do you do when you're pushed to the limit and feel like nothing is working with your misbehaving toddler? While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to discipline — some moms maintain a good spanking is the key to disciplining a toddler, while others are adamant about avoiding spanking — many Circle of Moms members agree on the following tried-and-true strategies for helping tots learn good behavior and helping moms not feel so frustrated in the process.
When you're pregnant, it's exciting to buy everything you might possibly need for the new baby, but once your little one is born, you realize just how quickly these kids outgrow their once-special items. Some of us don't really think about holding onto baby jars, cribs, puzzles, or even kids' shoe boxes, but other moms have found crafty ways to reuse them. From swinging benches to cute votive candles, we're sharing 48 amazing (and easy) things to make from the outgrown baby or kid stuff you may have considered tossing. Take a gander before you call the garbageman for an extra pickup — you won't be disappointed!
When it comes to style, Halle Berry's look is best characterized by the curve-hugging gowns that she favors on Hollywood's red carpets. Never one to shy away from a fashion risk, Halle's most daring looks have included dramatic cutouts, plunging necklines, and sky-high slits. When she's "off duty," though, it's a whole other story. The actress can credit her impressive physique to an active, laid-back lifestyle that includes plenty of casual activewear.
When she announced that she is expecting her second child last month (daughter Nahla is now 5), there was no doubt that the 46-year-old mom-to-be would cruise through this pregnancy with as much panache as she did her first. Here, see some of the highlights of the beautiful mom-to-be's best looks so far — from gym gear to glam gowns!
Circle of Moms
With graduation season at hand, many young women are beginning new chapters of their lives and thinking deeply about their futures, including if and how motherhood will fit into their lives. So we asked women who are already in the thick of motherhood to offer words of wisdom for graduating women who want to be moms someday. Here is a selection of their heartfelt and encouraging advice for future moms.
Graduation is the telltale sign that announces the next wave will soon be leaving for college! Parents become wistful, hoping and praying that their child's self-esteem is high enough to weather any of the life storms they'll have to face without their parents nearby.
Can't relate? That's probably because you're in the beginning of the process, the stage when you're helping your children discover just how capable they really are.
Over the last few years, several books have emerged sharing new research regarding a child's self-esteem, what works, and what doesn't work.
Prior to this new research, it was believed that copious amounts of praise would magically increase a child's self-esteem. As Circle of Moms reader Beth W. suggests, "Praise your daughter lots, which will help her self esteem/confidence as she grows up."
However, the new research shows us that there is more to the story. It's the way a parent praises a child that is the key to whether or not a child achieves high self-esteem.
Patty-cake, patty-cake! We're not talking about sweet cakes here, but the juicy patties that come fresh off the grill onto a waiting bun. With this being National Burger Month, and the unofficial start of grilling season kicking off this weekend, we turned to some of our favorite kiddie chefs for their takes on the ever-popular burger. With input from Weelicious, Jessica Seinfeld, Annabel Karmel, and Cooking With My Kid, here are 18 recipes to try with your tots during the Summer grilling season!
Children may be big fans of Pixar's Cars, but an inflatable pool decorated with the movie characters may be dead in the water once parents get a close-up view of the product's packaging. Reddit user Matenbock has discovered that the image on the box was (presumably) accidentally photoshopped so that it shows a mom with her hands in her son's pants, The Huffington Post reports.
Consumerist's Chris Morran says one possible explanation for the inappropriate image is that it is a composite of multiple stock photographs. "You can tell as much from the above image because the woman's crudely cut-off legs are floating in the foreground when they should be behind the pool," he says. The original image of the mom also was used for a different product, he adds.
Disney hasn't said whether anyone from the company got into hot water for publishing the image, but the product manufacturer appears to have cleaned up its act. People seeking to purchase the pool on Amazon are privy to a more family-friendly image.
Circle of Moms
We've been following Kate Middleton's flawless maternity style since she first announced her pregnancy, and we are loving her polished look. The royal mom-to-be was recently spotted attending a friend's wedding in a black and white polka-dotted Topshop dress and black jacket, a youthful, fun ensemble that we absolutely loved.
Inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge's mod dots, we've rounded up seven chic polka-dot maternity finds that every mom-to-be can work into her own Summer wardrobe. Click through and "spot" your favorite!
Earlier this week, we had the good fortune to pay a visit to Serena & Lily's exquisite new shop on the east end of Long Island with Serena and Lily themselves. The store officially opens its doors Memorial Day weekend, and our sneak preview uncovered a treasure trove of beautiful, beachy finds.
While the brand's been in business since 2004, this is its very first retail location, and it's positively breathtaking. If you live in the New York area, we strongly encourage you to check out the beautiful store in person, and regardless of where you are, you can shop Serena & Lily's signature California-chic style online.
In celebration of the start of Summer — and our excitement over our afternoon with Serena and Lily — we've rounded up 10 of the brand's best Summer finds for kids. We can't think of a better way to get the entire family into the spirit of the season!
For every child who's had a great school year, there's a teacher (or two!) who deserves some gratitude and thanks. Tap into your creative side and gift them with something really thoughtful this year. We've come up with eight ways to say "We appreciate you!" that they're likely to enjoy both in and out of the classroom.
As teens blossom into young adults, their bodies change, emotions run at an all-time high, and peer pressure is immense. So it's little surprise when some start to question their self-worth. Nevertheless, no parent wants their child to be self-conscious. "How can I help a young teen girl who has low self-esteem?" Circle of Moms member Lois asks the community for advice.
Moms Tracey O. and Maureen P. seek similar feedback: "Anyone know how to boost your teen's self-esteem?" "My 16-year-olds have very little," Maureen explains. Her teens will not wear shorts, go swimming, or join any groups or sports. Plus, they don't believe they are smart, and they don't have many friends. "Help!" she implores. If you, too, want to boost your child's self-esteem, here are five key recommendations from Circle of Moms members
We see a lot of adventurous birthday party themes for little boys, but who says girls can't also get in on the action? For little Reese's first birthday bash, her parents decided a safari theme was the only way to go.
"Reese's first birthday was a very special day," says Lisa Hanson of A Little Savvy Event, the party planners hired to execute the kiddie event. "The safari party inspiration came from the birthday girl herself. Reese loves animals, so her parents wanted to incorporate fun, live animals into her celebration.
"Being that Reese is very girlie, the color scheme was pink leopard print," Lisa continues. "The children had bean bags to play on, a binocular-making station, different food stations, and a dessert station featuring safari animal cookies. But the greatest activity of the day had to be the live safari animals. Reese loved seeing the snakes and baby alligators, and it added an unexpected and lively aspect to the day." Keep clicking to see all the sweet safari details!
I'm a stay-at-home mom, and most of the time, I love it. In the two-and-a-half years I've been a mom, I've worked full-time, worked part-time, and finally took a second maternity leave that hasn't ended. I'm coming up on my first anniversary of that transition from working mom to stay-at-home mom.
I adore my girls. For our family, this was the best possible scenario. I'm thankful we could make it work.
However, my new full-time job comes with long hours and very little time off. My bosses are sweet but extremely demanding. I thought I'd have more time to keep up with the house, but with two little girls home full-time, it is actually more difficult to keep up. By the time they're in their cribs, I'm exhausted. I realized a few weeks ago that since the birth of my first daughter, I have been completely alone in the house once. Once. In two-and-a-half years.
That was a revelation.
There's nothing like some good arts and crafts to get kids using their imaginations — and keep them entertained for hours. Before you think it's too much of a hassle (the supplies! the mess! the cleanup!), consider these genius ideas straight from Instagram. They're creative, they're fun, and they're low-maintenance; it really doesn't get much better than that.
Organic is healthier, right? That's why you and your kids should be eating organic. But is it really worth the added cost to feed your family organically? Though a study out last Fall suggested that, kids might not be healthier due to an organic diet one of the key doctors of the study, Dr. Joel Forman of the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center is convinced that developing brains are vulnerable to chemical exposure, and that eating organically can reduce their risk of coming in contact with pesticides.
I was lucky enough to hear Dr. Forman speak about the benefits of organic eating at the Mount Sinai Greening Our Children luncheon this week (I was a guest of The Honest Company, as Jessica Alba was being honored with the organization's Champion for Children Award). His reasoning, and easy tips for doing so, were enough to make me change my shopping habits. Keep reading for five reasons to ditch pesticide-ridden food and seven steps you can take to make healthier shopping choices.
