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OnSugar Blog: My Favorite Nursing Bra Style

OnSugar Blog — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 03:31:10 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and CWTMommy is one of them. She is on a mission to find the best nursing bra on the market. Here's her latest review from her My Experiment With Nursing Bras blog.

Drum roll please . . . and the winner is . . . a classic underwire bra! The specific one I tried from Leading Lady is style J126640 ($26).

I've always been an underwire kind of girl from as long as I can remember. It all comes down to support for me. They need to be tamed and framed. So naturally, when I decided to breastfeed I was so scared about what to do with my bras. Everywhere you go in the mommy world you hear about horror stories of infections and complications with mastitis. If I couldn't do underwire I didn't know what I would do. But I am lucky, so incredibly terribly lucky.

I'm not going to give another total review on it. If you'd like to read the original one here's the link to it. I will, however, give you some of the highlights of why it's my favorite. The support is super fabulous. Naturally it would be because of the underwire, but it is a really well made bra. The cups are molded and supportive all on their own. The straps didn't fall down off my shoulders either. The lace is just an added bonus. It's so pretty and it makes me really feel like a woman again.

Now, I know that most of you reading this probably can't do underwire, so I'm going to share my second favorite: no wire molded cup sport bra (The one I tried was style 4388.)

No, this is not the most attractive bra in the world. No, this is not the most supportive bra in the world. However, being a no wire it's pretty darn close. This is my second favorite because this is the most supportive no wire bra I've ever tried. Granted, besides this experiment there haven't been many, but I am really impressed with it. The cotton is soft and kept me dry through leakage or sweat. I really enjoyed the familiar feeling of having dedicated cups rather than a squishy compression bra that hurts like no other with sore milky boobs. I personally would need a little more from it to use it as a heavy activity sports bra, but it's pretty great for light stuff like cleaning the house or walking with a stroller. It's also decent enough to go out in public for those of you who are self conscious about that kind of thing.

I'm done! Now that this experiment has concluded, I'm currently coming up with ideas for what to focus on next. I would love any feedback you have for what direction to go now. But stay tuned because I just might have something else up my sleeve.

Want to see more? Start following My Experiment With Nursing Bras, or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just might feature your content on our site.

Kidz Bop Can Sing Rock Ballads

LilSugar — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:36:36 PDT

Kidz Bop has recorded everything from Christmas carols to the biggest hits of today, but can it pull off rock ballads? If your kid aspires to be a rock star one day, these kid-friendly versions of rock hits will introduce him to classics like Peter Frampton's "Wind of Change" and Cheap Trick's "The Flame."

As it turns out, Kidz Bop Sings Monster Ballads ($10) is a winner. The songs are catchy, the guitar riffs are well executed, and the kid singers are fairly talented. The highlight of the CD is "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," which features Bret Michaels of Poison on guitar with the vocal accompaniment of his daughters Raine and Jorja. So pop Kidz Bop in, educate your lil ones on rock ballads, and enjoy the kiddie classics too.

Taking a Closer Look at Vibrant, Plush Fresco Towels

Elka Karl — Fri, 06 May 2011 11:40:23 PDT

Note: I've updated this review to reflect Fresco's most current line of towels. Please click through to read my thoughts on the new line!

I've been admiring the colorful designs from Fresco Towels for a while now. The towels are available for purchase through the company's website and major retailers like Anthropologie. The designs are so fresh and unusual - I'm hard-pressed to think of anything on the market that has a similar look.

Fresco Towels is based in Los Angeles and produces bath, beach, and hand towels, as well as terry bags, pillows, and other products that are all created by a family of artisans. Made with long-staple, Turkish cotton, all the products are prewashed, preshrunk, and feature designs inspired by fashion, architecture, and nature.

Fresco sent over some products for review, and two editors excitedly snapped up the pretty towels to try out. See what they thought of the towels and terry bag.

Udi's: Finally, a Good Gluten-Free Bread

Michele Foley — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:40:02 PDT

I love bread, something that became very apparent to me while doing the Remove diet. Since gluten was off-limits, I tried my share of gluten-free bread, and from my own experience, most of it is not good. Store-brand gluten-free breads are rock hard and are really only edible when toasted, but even then, they're still pretty bad. It ended up being easier to give up bread altogether than eat the gluten-free stuff. That was until I found Udi's Gluten Free Foods - a line of bread products that could easily pass for having gluten in them.

The first thing that you notice about Udi's is that it's not sold in the frozen-food aisle with all the other gluten-free bread. Udi's has somehow managed to come up with a bread that is shelf-stable and can be eaten directly from the package; no heating necessary. Then you'll notice how light Udi's is - it's airy, moist, and looks like bread. It also tastes good, and for those living with celiac disease, it's a chance to enjoy good bread, muffins, bagels, and pizza crust without having to make them yourself. Udi's will also fool your gluten-eating friends. It was weeks before my boyfriend realized that he was eating gluten-free bread. Compare that to the previous gluten-free bread I had that he promptly spit out.

Months after ending the Remove diet, I'm still eating Udi's bread. Partly because it's good, and because it's good for me. Having learned that I'm sensitive to gluten, I now pick and choose when and what gluten-based products I eat. Having Udi's makes it easy to enjoy toast with my eggs, a healthy pizza for dinner, or a sandwich for lunch. And while I don't know how they make it unlike any other GF bread on the market, mu guess is it's because Udi's comes from a group of artisan bakers. Udi's already had several cafes and bakeries in Colorado before coming up with a bread for their gluten-intolerant friends. I'm just glad that they eventually made their way into stores.

Source

A Review of 23andMe's DNA Testing Kit

Heather Dale — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:05:52 PDT

I finally bit the bullet, saved up my pennies, and purchased an item that's been on my wish list for the past year - a DNA Testing Kit from 23andMe.

This innovative contraption made it onto our February Must Haves list, but let me refresh your memory on the details of the test kit.

For $199 (down from their original price tag of $499), 23andMe mails you a kit, which includes detailed step-by-step instructions and the necessary materials. First, you create an online profile at the site and register your kit; then, you just need to spit in the provided tube, and mail it off to a fancy lab for analysis. From just a tiny saliva sample, using the latest DNA technology, scientists extract DNA from cheek cells in your saliva. From there, the DNA is copied multiple times so that it can be used in the genotyping step. Here's a more in-depth, scientific explanation on how the entire DNA analysis process works.

Here's what happens when you get your DNA results.

Review: Motorola Atrix 4G and Accessories

Kristen Hawley — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:30:13 PST

A lot of gadgets cross our desks at Sugar HQ, but rarely does one pique the interest of everyone - even the IT guy. The Motorola Atrix 4G and its optional accessories are like nothing I've seen before, most notably because it essentially turns into a fully functioning PC and home entertainment center. The phone runs on AT&T's new 4G network and connects via a dock to either a laptop or to your TV, complete with keyboard, mouse, and remote control, enabling you to view HD video.

What's in the box:
The phone, laptop dock, and TV dock are sold separately. The Atrix starts at $199 for the phone alone with a two-year contract. The laptop dock costs $499, but apply an instant $100 rebate and additional $100 mail-in rebate to bring the price to $299. The HD dock will run you an additional $130; $190 for the dock bundled with keyboard and mouse.

Find out more, including my take on the Atrix after the break.

Shoe Review: New Balance 890

Susi May — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:00:29 PST

The barefoot running trend is, ironically, creeping into sneaker design. Inspired by the phenom of running sans shoes, many popular running shoe brands are bringing lighter weight running shoes to the market this Spring. New Balance, a company that built its reputation on well-cushioned, fortified sneakers, is introducing the revamped 890 running shoe ($100).

It's a bantam weight sneaker - one shoe clocks in at 7.75 ounces according to my little electronic food scale. Shoes this light are usually pared down racing flats, but the 890 is a neutral training shoe, meaning it still offers cushion. New Balance has created the midsole with a new foam, christened REVlite, which weighs nearly one third less of equally durable compounds.

But how does the shoe feel? Well keep on reading

Gnomeo & Juliet: Family Film Tops the Clever Chart

Heather Maddan — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:29:05 PST

Go gnome this weekend! I'm not a fan of watching movies more than once, but I've already seen Gnomeo & Juliet twice (Disney flew me down for the premiere). And I can't wait to take my kids and see the animated musical again from their perspective. As a mom, I take a chance every time I head to the theater with my three children - ages 6, 4, and 1 - and cross my fingers that my littlest guy sits still. If any film can create the glue to keep him in his seat, it's this movie. Based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, this quirky 3D version involves British garden gnomes, Elton John cameos, and an upbeat soundtrack, but it also artfully delivers the message that love conquers all in a more positive and age-appropriate fashion than the penned original. Gnomeo & Juliet does so by being clever.

The highlights of this movie are all in the details - from the clinking sound that occurs when the adorable gnomes touch to a well-choreographed, romantic ninja scene. The film fully embraces the entire family because as much as it caters to children with its animated eye candy, there's also plenty of over-their-heads innuendo to keep adults laughing heartily. I don't want to give anything else away, but if you're looking for a feel-good and engaging family flick, buy tickets.

5 Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bars Compared

Angelica Marden — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:30:41 PST

I aim to eat fresh real food whenever possible, but early morning workouts and a rushed commute to work means I occasionally reach for energy bars on the go. My flavor of choice is peanut butter and chocolate (because how could you not love the salty and sweet combo?!) and I've tried more varieties than I care to admit. Some are protein-filled and a delight like candy, and others taste like cardboard. It's hard to pick a winner, but my recent go-to has been the Think Thin Chunky Peanut Butter Bar, which packs 20 grams of protein and no added sugar but somehow satisfies my sweet tooth.

Are you a choco-nut too? Check out nutritional breakdowns and reviews of some of other popular choices.

Zen Home's Meticulous, Eco Cleaning Services

Elka Karl — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 04:10:55 PST

New York-based green cleaning company Zen Home recently launched a branch in San Francisco, providing services including cleaning, organization, green living consultations, and eco painting services. The company's New York branch has received praise everywhere from Time Out New York to Daily Candy, and I admit that I've been interested to try the service. So, when Zen Home offered me a complimentary cleaning service, I jumped at the chance.

The company uses nontoxic and eco-friendly cleaning products exclusively, and also includes essential oil aromatherapy in the service, including jasmine, lavender, and lemongrass. Unlike many other cleaning companies, Zen Home uses each individual home's mop and vacuum, to avoid cross-contamination between homes. One fun touch is the service's turn down service, which includes making your bed, misting freshly changed sheets, and leaving an organic chocolate and packet of herbal tea on the pillow.

While I was actually at work while my house was being cleaned, my husband had Monday off, and reported back to me on the service. See what I thought of the service, as well as a few photos of the service's work.