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Tori Spelling Shares 6 Ways to Preserve Your Children's Artwork

Tori Spelling — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:06:21 PDT

We're happy to share a new post from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori shares some tips on displaying kids' artwork.

Over the years, Dean and I have curated quite the collection of artwork from our kids, and I know all my fellow momistas have many of your own minimasterpieces to exhibit. With the school year around the corner, it's a safe bet that lots of little ones will be adding to their portfolios, and while they might not be ready for the Getty (yet), that's no reason not to display your kids' art with style and creativity. Here are a few ideas on how!

More great reads from Tori Spelling:
Liam's thoughts on a future career
Marital bliss: A guide to anniversary presents
Foodista: 5 tasty brunch recipes
Pattern mixing 101: How to jump on this season's hot trend
tuTORIal: Spray-painting thrift-store finds

Tori Spelling on Staying Bump Chic by Defining the Pregnant Waist

Tori Spelling — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:33:01 PDT

We're happy to share a new post from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori shares her secret for defining a waist during pregnancy.

As your belly grows you lose your waist. But, when it comes to style, I say create a new one! If bump is the new black, then under the boob is the new waist!

Realted: 6 Creative Ways to Display Your Kids' Artwork

Either belt an empire waist dress or take a loose dress with no waist and create one. Stretchy vintage belts are especially great for this or repurpose an old scarf or some rope. Even a cut up t-shirt can make an amazing stretchy belt. Add some beads to it and you’re suddenly a trendsetter. However you choose to belt your bump remember to wear it proud!

What do you think of the waist-defining trick? Share your chic bump tips with me in the comments below!

Here are some examples of my waist-defining pregnancy style at different points of my pregnancies!

Tori Spelling Asks: Are Little Girls Born to Be Mommies?

Tori Spelling — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:53:37 PDT

We're happy to share a new post from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori wonders if all little girls want to be moms.

It's fascinating to me that, from the time little girls can walk and talk, they already have the mommy gene. It's so natural for them to want to be mothering and nurturing. Stella, from such an early age, was obsessed with holding her baby, changing her baby, pretending to feed it, and putting it down for naps. I often hear her calmly yet firmly reprimanding her baby doll for acting up. After she gives her tough love, I see her hug the baby and tell her, "I love you.” It's beyond beautiful!

Related: Liam's World - on S-E-X

So, as women, is it just in our nature from birth to be mommies? Do your daughters play Mommy, too? I’d love to hear your take below.

Tori Spelling Asks: How and When to Talk Religion With Kids?

Tori Spelling — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:36:43 PDT

One of the things I love best about ediTORIal is the community we've built here on the site. I really enjoying reading all of your thoughts and comments - I have such hilarious and stylish readers! So, I decided to make a new blog series titled Momvo (mom convo) so we can all share stories and thoughts about hot mommy topics. Hope you enjoy my first Momvo post!

This morning I walked into the kids' room and I heard Liam and Stella talking to each other. Liam said to Stella "you're a Jewish" and Stella said, "No Liam, you're a Jewish." I walked in and said "technically you are both Jewish."

They both asked why and I said, "because I'm Jewish," to which Stella replied, "you're not Jewish, you are just a mom." I then asked them, without having a completely proper answer prepared, if they knew what being Jewish meant. They both said no.

At what age is it appropriate to start talking to your kids about religion and heritage? And what if you and your husband have different religious backgrounds? I know we weren't prepared to have this conversation yet and still completely aren't. Luckily for the time being they were distracted when they heard Dean call "breakfast is ready" from the kitchen.

Leave me your thoughts on this topic in the comments below!

Lauren Conrad, Jessica Alba, and More Share Their Personal Easter Photos

Katie Henry — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:32:52 PDT

Many of our favorite celebrities were busy on Easter between brunches with their loved ones or outings to church. A few managed to break from the good times to post pictures on social media, with Jenna Dewan snapping her fun at the beach with her pups. Brooklyn Decker had a girls' holiday in Sydney with Erin Andrews and Chrissy Teigen, while Jessica Alba's daughter Haven got into the bunny spirit. Vanessa Hudgens and her Spring Breakers costar Ashley Benson, meanwhile, were colorful as they started a trip. Click through to see other Easter snaps from stars like Lauren Conrad, Victoria Beckham, and more!

Tori Spelling Opens Up to Us About Her Surprise Pregnancy and Her Favorite Birthday Parties

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:37:48 PDT

You may want to call her the mother of reinvention. In the public eye since she was a teenager starring her dad's hit teenage soap opera, Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling has more recently been known as an innkeeper, a reality star, a best-selling author, a boutique owner, and a jewelry designer. But the role that's giving her the most attention these days is mom. Currently pregnant with her fourth child - who was conceived just one month after Tori gave birth to daughter Hattie in October (the family includes son Liam, 5, and daughter Stella, 3) - and due in September, the busy mama is taking all of her roles in stride.

At a party celebrating the release of her first party planning book, celebraTORI, at NYC's craft shop Make Meaning yesterday, we laughed as Tori revealed that her current pregnancy was a bit of a shock. She said, "All my friends keep asking me that: 'Was it planned?' Seriously, Hattie was 1 month old. Do you think it was planned? I was up all night with feedings. I don't know how he got that . . . to make this [pointing at her baby bump]!"

We sat down with Tori to talk about one of her favorite subjects, party planning, and how this pregnancy compares with her previous ones.

LilSugar: You are known for going all out for your kids’ birthday parties. How much input do you allow them to have?
Tori Spelling: They plan the whole party with me. I have always vowed not to be that person that was like, "Oh, you want that, oh, gosh, ugh, no, that’s not going to be very chic." We just had [Liam's] SpongeBob party. He said, "I want SpongeBob," and I was like, "OK, great" [rolling her eyes], then I was like, "Well, that's cool. I can make mini-sliders and call them krabby patties. I can make these big jellyfish and fish," and I was going on and on. I [said], "OK, hold it . . . Liam, what do you want?" He looked at me and said, "Mom, I just want a piñata." I was like, "Keep it simple, stupid. What are you doing? The kid wants a piñata." And it's true, we need some cute little things at the party, but he was all about the piñata. It’s not my call - whatever they want, they get . . . within reason! I mean, budgetary reason!

LS: So Hattie’s first birthday is going to sneak up on you right around the baby’s birth! Have you thought about her party at all?
TS: Yes, for sure! I have not thought about the theme, but I have thought about what I should do. Should I plan the party before I give birth? Because am I going to be freaking out! The baby is going to be born roughly a month before her birthday. I’m going to be walking around with a newborn at my 1-year-old’s birthday party! Crazy town! She loves to dance, so that did cross my mind. When she hears music, she goes nuts! I mean, her version of dance is like jump, jump, jump! Maybe we will have Hattie’s dance party.

LS: What was your favorite party as a child?
TS: Oh, my gosh, I think it was my 8th birthday party. That's the one I talk about in the book. That’s when I got my first opportunity to plan. It was a roller-skating party, so that was really cool. My mom let me pick out my outfit, and I totally looked like I was in the movie Grease. I had the spandex, hot pink leggings or whatever they are - they are now sold at American Apparel, but when we were younger, they were hot! I had a tube top and a little tied shirt that said "Tori" in rhinestones, white roller skates with neon pink laces, and hair out to here with little clips . . . It was awesome!

Keep reading to see how Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott told the kids they were expecting again, and her favorite baby shower idea!

Tori Spelling Asks: Do Kids Belong in Mama's Bed?

Tori Spelling — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:11:29 PDT

We're happy to share a new post from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori asks for advice on children in the master bedroom.

When it comes to the bedroom, I say the more the merrier . . . No, this is not taking a turn for the obscene; I'm talking piling the whole family - chickens included - into the bed.

I've already shared my love of TV time in the bedroom, but now Dean and I are onto another debate: whether or not kids and furry family members in the bed create a boundary between us.

Not surprisingly, I love having the kids in our bed to cuddle, and I think the bigger the bed, the better! Dean, on the other hand, wants to up the romance and downsize us to a queen bed! He even put down blue tape on our current bed to show me the size of a queen vs. king. In his defense, we actually did have a queen bed in the beginning, honeymoon phase of our relationship, so I can see why he'd associate that with romance. But now that we have three kids jumping in and out of our sheets that would never work!

Right now, our usual routine is to let the kids fall asleep in our bed, and then move them to their own rooms. So here's my question for you: do you ever let your kids sleep in your bed? What are your bedroom boundaries? And, does a smaller bed equal more hanky panky?

Weigh in on this topic in the comments below!

More great articles from Tori Spelling:
Foodista: Pudding Parade
Mompreneur of the Moment: Katie of KT Steppers
Love Ever After
Baby Makes 6!
To Juice or Not to Juice

Tori Spelling Is Pregnant With Her Fourth Child!

Katie Henry — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:57:45 PDT

Tori Spelling is pregnant - again! - People
Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen visit Ellen - Lainey Gossip
Jon Hamm says playing Don Draper can be tricky - HuffPost Entertainment
Is Britney Spears planning a baby shower and a wedding? - D-Listed
See AnnaSophia Robb dressed as Carrie Bradshaw - JustJared
Which Hunger Games star is the hottest off screen? - BuzzFeed
Ashley Tisdale tweets sexy bikini photos - Hollywood Tuna
Alabama declares an Octavia Spencer Day - Pink Is the New Blog
Is Miley Cyrus engaged to Liam Hemsworth? - The Superficial
Nicki Minaj to perform on American Idol - Zap2it
Katy Perry rocks the Echo Awards in Paco Rabanne - TooFab
Fergie likes Josh Duhamel's mohawk - I'm Not Obsessed
Watch a sneak peek of Matthew Perry on The Good Wife - ET Oline
Will The Situation's stint in rehab mean big changes for Jersey Shore? - Popbytes

Tori Spelling Talks Family Vacations: Have We Made Our Lives Too Kid-Friendly?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:04:50 PDT

We're excited to bring you a new post from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori shares her thoughts on American vs. European vacation styles.

Mamas, I want your take on something. Dean and I have been going back and forth on whether or not we should go on a vacation alone - he wants to, and I refuse to go on any trips without the kids. I’m wondering, do you always bring the family, or do you ever go on vacations without the kids?

Our conversation made me reflect back to a trip I took to Europe years ago. It seemed like Europeans did everything with their kids, and their children were also much more cultured than American children. Unlike American kids, they really engaged in conversations with adults and had no need for Game Boys or iPads. In Sardinia, I saw two kids playing chess on the beach next to their parents who were reading!

European kids are treated more like little adults: no kids menus, no kids pools. It makes me wonder, why do we, as Americans, seem to create a separate culture for our kids? Have we made our vacations family-friendly at the cost of being relaxing for the adults?

It seems like Europeans bring their kids everywhere so effortlessly. Is there a way to blend a family vacation while still feeling like you’ve had your adult time?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic below!

More great articles from Tori Spelling:
Foodista: Pudding Parade
Ski Trip PicTORIal
Bring It Back: Vintage Lunch Boxes
Reinventing Traditions: Shabbat Dinner
Fashion Forward: NY Fashion Week Street Style

Down but Not Out: Tori Spelling Shares Her Friend's Perspective on Raising a Child With Down Syndrome

Tori Spelling — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:02:22 PST

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling! Every other week, we're bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle advice from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, which is Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori shares a letter from her friend about her baby who was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Today, I’m sharing a guest blog by my friend Lisa, owner of Evolution Vintage. Her son was born with Down syndrome, and in honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st, she has offered to share her story. When I read this, I had tears streaming down my face - not because I felt sorry for Lisa’s son Blake, but because she inspires me as a mom. I hope you are as touched by her story as I was:

Down But Not Out
By Lisa Graystone

Friday the 13th turned out to be the luckiest day of my life . . . in hindsight. I gave birth for the second time to my son Blake under very traumatic circumstances. He was born blue, lifeless and his first sounds resembled a watery gurgle, not a cry. His birth was fast and as a result he had lungs full of water and had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice. I was unable to hold him before they rushed him to the special care nursery for respiratory therapy and monitoring. We spent six days in the hospital. During this time, due to the shape of his eyes, the doctors suspected Blake had Trisomy 21; also known as Down Syndrome (DS). He fought to live and to be here, only now to be faced with a prospective hurdle he would continue to jump for the rest of his life. The postpartum hormones were swirling as I sat down the hall from my new son who was fighting for his life; quietly smelling the receiving blanket from his NICU nest and pumping my breasts alone in tears. Nine agonizing days later, the test results confirmed the doctor’s suspicions. The joy and relief that my son was alive was immediately shrouded in darkness, sadness, despair and shock. I am under 35 and was not given the option of amniocenteses (the test that can conclusively tell you if your baby has DS). The blood test that was available I opted not to do because of the high false positive rate and the fact that there were no "risk factors" - my first child was healthy and my ultrasounds were normal and we were reassured that everything was "fine." I was surrounded by fear and unknowns, questions with no answers and a baby boy to care for.

Related: Children With Swag

I have no time to be on the "why me" program being the ambitious mompreneur that I am. I had to force myself to say: "WHY NOT" and bring it on to my already full plate. There seemed to be no other alternative than to take it head on and realize that the only thing I can control is my attitude, approach and perspective. I feel very lucky to have been given this boy and with him the opportunity for personal growth, education and evolution.

I introduced Blake to my family and friends (many who live 3,000 miles away in Canada) via this letter written from his perspective:

Keep reading to see Blake's letter and for more facts about Down Syndrome.