BuzzSugar

The Dos and Don'ts of What to Say to a Friend Who's Had a Miscarriage

LilSugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:38:13 PDT

Whether you've experienced a miscarriage of your own or had a friend struggle with losing a baby, you know what a difficult and emotional time it is. Knowing what to say and how to react with sensitivity and compassion is an incredible skill to have as a friend. We chatted with Robbie Miller Kaplan, author of How to Say It When You Don't Know What to Say: The Right Words For Difficult Times - Miscarriage to discuss the dos and don'ts of how to react during this challenging time.

Keep in mind that a miscarriage is a death like any other, and the best thing you can do is be a source of patience and compassion for the parents who have gone through the loss. While you can't bring back what was taken from them, you can be a supportive presence on the path to healing.

Source: Thinkstock

Hilary Duff Opens Up About Postpartum Exercise, Postbaby Date Nights, and What Fills Her Phone Now

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:28:45 PDT

Hilary Duff's been one busy mama since welcoming son Luca Cruz to the world 5 weeks ago. The new mama's been sharing family photos with her fans, trying to return to her prepregnancy workouts, and getting back into her daily routine. Now Hilary's about to become even busier as she joins Johnson's Baby and Save the Children for the launch of Johnson's Baby CARES, a new initiative to support the basic needs of families during natural disasters. The actress and recording star took some time to answer our questions about the campaign, as well as her initial thoughts on new motherhood.

LilSugar: What's been the most surprising thing about motherhood so far?
Hilary Duff: How much I fell in love with Luca from the moment I saw him; it's so cool to see your child changing every day.

LilSugar: And the most challenging?
HD: Getting Luca on a schedule that works for both of us, it was tough at first, but he is getting better every day.

LilSugar: Who does lil Luca look like?
HD: A lot like me when I was a baby, but he has his daddy's nose!

LilSugar: How did you come up with Luca's name?
HD: Mike [Comrie, Hilary's husband of a year and a half] and I were just bouncing names off each other and Luca just stuck. We both knew when we heard it - it was unique, but not crazy.

LilSugar: Have you and Mike gone out on a postbaby date yet?
HD: Yes, we've had a few dates since Luca's arrival. At first it was nerve-racking, but the second date went a lot better. It's important for Mom and Dad to have time together.

Keep reading for Hilary's thoughts on postpartum exercise and her decision to partner with Johnson's and Save the Children.

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.

Buzz Blabber: The Verdict Is in For Don't Trust The B---- in Apartment 23

BuzzSugar — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:05:56 PDT

This week's TV got everyone talking on Buzz; it was another big week for Game of Thrones, with a few of you chiming in about the series' second episode of the season, while the premiere of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 got the thumbs up. Meanwhile, the shocking non-elimination on American Idol also gave fans something to talk about.

We might actually trust the b---- in Apartment 23

"I loved it! I am not a fan of Happy Endings so I hope this stays." - hilberkl
"I thought it was pretty funny - I'll keep watching! Krysten Ritter has great comedic timing. And James Van Der Beek's version of himself is hilarious!" - DCBaxter
"Loved it! Can't wait to see where they go!" - Raelee

Game of Thrones is awesome, but a little creepy

"Gendry definitely is my favorite character of this season. I adore him in the books and I love, love, love that they chose Joe Dempsie for the role. He is perfect. Daenerys bores me to death, so no problem with her brief appearance. Same about Joffrey, but I am sad we didn't see a second of Sansa. And [I] can't wait to know what happens to Jon and what's coming on with the babies and the White Walkers!" - pss
"I think it's funny you say the Theon/Asha thing 'could have been avoided if Theon wasn't such a pervy horndog,' when she knew exactly who he was and how they're related. It's a sick, twisted lesson to her little brother . . . actually now that I say that out loud it would have been prevented had he not been such a horn dog. Talk about commitment to the lesson, Asha - I mean Yara." - demarco11
"The tagline for this series should be: If you like incest, you'll love Game of Thrones." - onlysourcherry

See what else was a hot topic after the jump.

Proud Mom Hilary Duff Shares a Sweet Family Portrait With Baby Luca

Allie Merriam — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:46:39 PDT

Hilary Duff's son Luca is the center of attention in a new picture she posted on Twitter. The little guy entered the world three weeks ago on March 20, and last week, we saw the first pictures of Luca Cruz Comrie. Hilary has been spending lots of time with her son, but also stepped out not long after his arrival to visit her salon and even the gym. She's shared all sorts of sweet sentiments about motherhood. Last week, she mused, "No better feeling that a peaceful baby sleeping on your chest. . . wonder what he's dreaming about?" The love continued yesterday when Hilary tweeted, "Almost home to feed my little bambino! Nice to get away for an hour to do something good for myself, but I miss his little face when I'm gone."

Link Time: How Sarah Burton Kept Kate's Dress a Secret (Even From Anna Wintour)

FabSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 07:30:11 PDT

Sarah Burton's Fall 2011 McQueen collection was a cover for Kate's wedding dress - Styleite
Arizona Muse says having a baby made her thinner - The Cut
Who's gone missing from Time's 100 fashion icons list? - HuffPost Style
Espadrilles: seven Jackie O-inspired pairs for Spring - Stylelist
Herb Ritts’s new exhibition L.A. Style brings celebrities into the natural world - The Daily Beast
Five famous artists who influenced fashion designers - College Fashion
A little Miami sunshine, coming to a Target near you - Style.com
Wrist wars: our favorite friendship bracelets for Spring - FashionIndie
Olivia takes us shopping in Ireland - Olivia Palermo
The perfect birthday gift? A diamond handbag, of course - Purse Blog

LilSugar's Baby Registry Essentials

LilSugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:56:34 PDT

It's amazing just how much stuff a person as tiny as a newborn baby needs. But as anyone who's gone through it before can tell you, babies are high-maintenance little people! If you're lucky enough to have friends and family who want to gift the new addition, they'll likely be looking to rely on your registry.

Consider registering at a larger, all-inclusive baby store, like Giggle or Buy Buy Baby in addition to a smaller, local specialty shop to provide the greatest variety in terms of projects. Sites like MyRegistry.com and AmazingRegistry.com allow you to create a customized registry from a variety of different online sources, making them a great option when family and friends are spread out around the country. Make sure that you get the most out of your registry by following our guide to everything you need to bring home baby!

LilSugar's Registry Must Haves
Every mom (and every baby) is different, and while we recommend using our list as a starting point, it really helps to see products in person, and talk to other new parents to find out exactly what worked for them. While this list encompasses what we believe to be the essentials, don't be shy about adding on some "just for fun" selections as well. If there's a piggy bank or stuffed animal that you've been coveting, go ahead and put it on there - people love gifting pretty presents. Happy registering!

At Home and on the Go
The amount of living/storage space that you have available should be a factor when making your decisions about whether you need a bouncy seat, playmat, and swing. When it comes to selecting a stroller, think about how soon you may be considering baby #2 - if it's within a year or two, you'll want to check out double strollers or convertible options. And now's a good time to think ahead to a toddler car seat (if you have room to stash it).

Stroller (or two)
Stroller Blanket
Footmuff or Bunting
Infant Car Seat
Toddler Car Seat
Swing and/or Bouncy Sea
Portable Crib
Carrier or Sling
Tummy Time Mat or Blankets

Layette (and Beyond)
You'll quickly learn that people love buying itty bitty baby clothes . . . but the 0- to 3-month wardrobe doesn't last very long! Register for a variety of outfits for baby's first year, but not beyond that. Since you don't know how quickly he/she will grow, it's hard to forecast what your needs will be for more than a year out.

Receiving Blankets
Swaddling Blankets
Side-Snap Undershirts
Coming Home Outfit
Onesies
Rompers
Sweaters
Sun Hats and Beanies
Socks
Sleep Gowns

Keep reading for the rest of our registry essentials!

Is There a Perfect Place to Raise a Family?

BabyCenter — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:58:30 PDT

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Dr. Gwen Dewar about ideal places to live.

Where should I live? I've known this question was coming for a long time, but couldn't do anything about it. I spent the last 18 months fighting my mother's cancer. Now she's gone, our family is irrevocably changed, and I want to find a new place to live.

Part of me wants adventure. I am finally free. But I'm still a mother. My children's well-being comes before anything else.

In an ideal world, I'd live next door to a parenting ally: A like-minded friend or relative who also has young children. The kids would play together. We would help each other in a crisis. We would watch out for each other's kids.

It sounds like utopia to some people. But it should be the norm. For most of human history, families lived in precisely this way.

People lived in small bands or villages. It wasn't perfect. There were personal conflicts and soap operas. But parents weren't isolated, and kids had more autonomy to play and explore.

Now I'm finding it difficult to recreate my own village. In the modern economy, my friends and family are dispersed all over the place. So I'm taking a step back, and thinking first about the locations themselves.

What are the most family-friendly places to live? Like everybody else, I want a place where the cost of living is low, the schools are good, the job market isn't terrible, good health care is available, and the neighborhoods are relatively safe.

I've also got these personal criteria:

I'd like a university town, or at least a place where research is happening and science-minded people can be found.
I want a little rugged natural beauty. If there are no hills or mountains of any kind, I may go bughouse. Ditto for trees. If the winters are cold, there had better be some evergreens, too.
I want some ethnic diversity. It doesn't have to be a dazzling Mecca of international culture, and what really matters most is that people be open-minded. But I'd like there to be more than one important cultural influence in town.
There should be wildlife. Of the non-human variety.
I need a good public library.
There must be places to walk, and I'd like to walk to school without getting hit by a car.
Please let the gods arrange things so that school doesn't start before 8am. At this point, my family would regard an 8:30 starting time as heaven on earth.
I want a natural science museum. A real natural science museum. With dinosaurs. Or at least some extinct mammals.

I know the last demand is iffy. There aren't many museums like that world-wide. But bizarre as it may seem, I pine for a museum. It doesn't have to be next door. I'd probably settle for two hours away. And if there were a really good zoo nearby – or wildlife park – or aquarium - I might be able to make do.

So help me out, please. Does any place fit the bill? Have you struggled with your own criteria? And have you succeeded in finding your own, family-friendly place to live?

More great posts from BabyCenter:
7 Popular Nursery Designs on Pinterest
Remember to Keep Some of Your Non-Mom Friends
10 DIY Spring Home Projects
Is Enjoying Childcare a Woman Thing?
10 Recipes For Cleaning Green

6 Tips to Spend Less on Health Care

Kiplinger — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:15:48 PDT

Many people pay a lot of money for medical expenses. Kiplinger shares a couple of ways to cut your health bills.

Spend less on drugs

Switching to generic drugs is one of the easiest ways to save - especially now that some big-name medications, such as Lipitor, have gone generic (see Brand-Name Lipitor at Generic Prices). Some brand-name drugs don’t have a generic clone but do have a therapeutic equivalent, which is in the same class of drugs but is a little different chemically. You can look up generics and therapeutic equivalents at www.drx.com (or through your insurer’s Web site) and also see how much you can save by using mail order. Ask your doctor about lower-cost alternatives.

Spend less at the hospital

Physicians often work at outpatient surgery centers as well as hospitals, and the cost of treatment can vary widely by location even though you’re getting care from the same doctor. Before scheduling a procedure, ask whether the doctor works at any other facilities. Then call the hospitals or outpatient centers to compare costs. Fees for the doctor and the anesthesiologist might be the same, but you’re likely to save on the facility fee.

Read on for more.

Charlize Goes From Mom Duty to Talking Fassbender Nudity as Breathtaking New SWATH Trailer Hits

Molly Goodson — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:20:53 PDT

Charlize Theron looked every bit a movie star in her sleek black skirt and sunglasses as she stepped out after an interview for the Today show in NYC this morning. New mom Charlize, who just last week announced that she adopted a baby boy, was up bright and early today coming off a busy weekend promoting two movies at the star-studded WonderCon in Anaheim, CA. Charlize joined Kristen Stewart to talk Snow White and the Huntsman, which just had an exciting new trailer released. Charlize also sat on a panel with her Prometheus costars, including Michael Fassbender.

Charlize and Michael spent their Saturday evening together as well, attending the Human Rights Campaign Gala, where she made a few risqué comments about his revealing full frontal nudity scenes. Charlize said, "I have to say that I was truly impressed that you chose to play it big. Most other actors would have gone small, trust me. I know because I've worked with them."