You guys have helped me tackle lots of issues on this blog, from nursing to napping—from bathtime to travel tips.

Today, I’ve got a question that seems small, but is actually turning out to be a daily wonder for me: How the heck do you burp a baby?

I’ve seen tricks where you sway her from side to side and the sit her down and pat her back; I’ve tried the over-the-shoulder technique. And these work—mostly. June often spits up with her burps, so we have little cloths all over the house and I have very few shirts without milk stains on them (can I get a witness here?).

The real issue is that she often falls asleep for naps while nursing, and then I move her into the crib. But her burp needs aren’t met unless I fully wake her and move her around. And then, the crying starts and she can’t get to sleep. But if I put her down without a burp, the gas will bother her before she truly gets a good nap. It’s a dilemma!

I’d love to hear any naptime burping ideas (or just some tales of commiseration).

It’s a daily puzzle, right?

Well… last night was the 84th Oscars ceremony and the fashion goddesses were out and looking fabulous! I like to concentrate solely on the celebrity moms. They’re the ones who attract my interest because—well, they’re moms! I can only imagine how crazy it must be getting ready with kids in tow for the BIG day. I mean, you really have to go through a beauty and fashion transformation. You need to look your very, very best.

So I wanted to call out 5 celebrity moms who just looked off-the-charts FABULOUS at the Oscars last night!
________________________________________

Angelina Jolie looked stunning in this black strapless Atelier Versace with a severe slit up the leg… I’m sorry – love her or hate her, she looked FABULOUS!

________________________________________

Gwyneth Paltrow looked like a classic beauty in this white Tom Ford dress. I have to be honest, when I first saw her on the red carpet, I wasn’t a fan. But it grew on me… it really did. She looks gorgeous and let’s face it, not every woman could pull off this look.

Tina Fey just knocked it out of the park! I mean, there’s nothing funny about this magnificent one-of-a-kind Carolina Herrera navy gown. She really was one of my faves last night and I love how this dress just accentuates all the right places of her body. HOME RUN!
________________________________________

Penelope Cruz looked sweet and elegant in this soft lavender Giorgio Armani gown. I felt like this gown embodied what it meant to be on the red carpet for the Oscars. It was OLD school glam all-the-way! I absolutely loved it.
________________________________________

Michelle Williams dazzled in this gorgeous coral colored Louis Vuitton gown from head-to-toe. She looked exquisite and just set the red carpet on fire! Everyone was talking about her dress and it was gorgeousness.
________________________________________

I’ve always been a big traveler, and I had no intention of giving up my wandering ways when I had a baby. I still want to see new places, visit friends and generally spend most of my disposable income on experiences far and wide. Pre-baby, I imagined that any infant of mine would be a great traveler too—adjusting to air travel, new sights and sounds, and all different locations with aplomb.

That said, now that the reality of “having a baby” is part of my daily life, I do understand why staying closer to home is more… comfortable.

I’ll be taking baby June (almost 7 months old) out west in a week or so, and I’m nervous! We’re all set with supplies—we’re visiting friends with two kids who have all the requisite “stuff.”

But while we’ve traveled with her before, we haven’t done it since she’s gotten into a routine around naps and bedtime. We’ll be away for five nights, and in a different time zone. I want to keep things as easy as possible for her, especially since she gets very cranky if she hasn’t slept enough. I guess that’s a common baby trait, right?

I’ve heard people say they keep their babies on the home time zone’s hours to make things easier, but I can’t see putting her to bed at 4pm… that seems like it’ll hamper our activities. Also, it would mean that she gets up around 4am—which is not the type of “vacation schedule” we’re hoping for.

Does anyone have any tips for keeping things as calm for her as possible (while we still enjoy the trip)?

PS-Thanks for bath tips—this week I got a minute of splashing before tears, so we’re making progress!

I was excited to do a recent segment on The Rhode Show in Providence about a quick and fast morning beauty routine. With 4 little boys I need to be in and out of the house in minutes in the morning. So I wanted to share some of my favorite tips and products that I love!

Morning routine tips for moms on-the-go: wpri.com

I’ve been dishing on some fabulous Spring trends throughout the last month, and I’ve got a new one for you today. Sometimes it’s all about the accessories that you pair with your perfect outfit, right? It can’t always just be about the clothes!

There are just some Spring colors that are going to be much hotter than the rest… yellow is one of them. I hear from many women, “But I look horrible in yellow!”

Guess what? I do, too.

So… I go for the next best thing – accessories. Bring the yellow in through your jewelry!

Start with some earrings. Earrings really are a staple piece when it comes to accessories because they’re the accessory people always see first. I love adding in dashes of bold, beautiful color because it’s such a gorgeous way to bring in this trend!

Not to mention, you can easily match yellow earrings with many different outfits and colors.

Bring on the yellow and have some Spring fun!

Here’s what I found today on Pinterest pinned from thebeautydepartment.com…

… very cool and loving it!

I remember loving the bath as a kid. Rubber duckie, squirting seal, mermaid dolls and warm bubbles… delightful. I’m sure my memories are from age three or later, but for some reason I imagined that all little ones like the bath.

Not baby June.

When we registered for baby things, I didn’t pay much attention to toys, except for the aquatic ones. We have the cutest little tub filled with spotted ducks that light up in the water, silly dolphins that squeak and fish that blow bubbles—but we never get to play with any of it.

In the tub—a safety tub complete with soft froggie seat—she wriggles and screams and cries so much that we’ve taken to hurrying things along, just getting her remotely clean before we rescue her in a swaddle of soft terry and apologetic noises, assuring her, “You’re okay, you’re okay.”

I have friends who have a daily bedtime routine with their babes that includes a bath. Every night. I cannot imagine. We do it twice a week and I can hardly take the shrieks.

I’ve recently taken to getting in the bath with her and holding her, but she clings to me, afraid, and though she doesn’t scream, she’s certainly not in a dreamy, bubbly mermaid-land.

Is it just too soon for her to enjoy the bath (she’s 6 months old)? Are other babies like this? I’d love to hear any ideas or experiences you have!

PS-Thanks so much for the advice on finding the right formula. We bought some to try, so we’ll see how it goes—glad to hear it’s a process for others too.

I’m terrified of snakes. I mean, TERRIFIED. When I first (first, first) met my husband back in college, I remember him and his roommate telling me a snake had gotten out of its cage in their room. My reaction, “Why is there a snake in your dorm room?” (And why am I sitting in this dorm room with a snake on the loose?)

The guy loves snakes, what can I say.

And yes, over the last 14 1/2 years of being together, he’s begged me for a snake and there’s just NO WAY.

NO WAY.

He’s even got our 4 little boys trying to give me heat and I will just not cave.

Not ONE single bit. I won’t ever sleep again if I know there is a snake in my house.

But… (and this is a BIG BUT)

I will cave over shoes and handbags.

This Spring PYTHON PRINT everywhere. I mean, EVERYWHERE. I don’t own anything python print (and remember, this isn’t real python), so I’m excited for the new trend this spring for my closet. I love seeing things hit the stores that I don’t own because it really allows me to branch out on my fashion and bring some true new items in. Python will be in my house this Spring, just on my own terms.

My mom fashion advice today on zulily, join in on the Python FUN!

Szzzzzzz….. !!!

I received a bunch of emails yesterday asking me what to pair with different items from our Kayce Hughes sale, so I thought it would be fun to share some of my ideas:

If you’re interested in this…

I would pair it with items like this…

If you’re interested in this…

I would pair with items like this…

If you’re interested in this…

I would pair with items like this…

If you’re interested in this…

I would pair with items like this…

Love it!!

ENJOY!!

It’s the day to celebrate love… ooh-la-la!

I’m always worn red on Valentine’s Day, I think it’s such a beautiful and easy way to show your passion and love for the sweet-day.

If you happen to be lucky enough to be heading out tonight or celebrating at home with your lovey (as I am!), I wanted to share some fun ways that you can still bring on the red — even after work and after a day at home with the kids. And if you’re just reading this and don’t have any plans yet, make some (but just make sure you include some red!)…

Hanging out at home tonight (watching American Idol!)…

Relax at home with your red jammies! Be comfy and cozy with your loved one!

Dinner out with your sweetie…

I love a fabulous and easy red dress with a black belt. Be classic and elegant in this outfit, you could go ANYWHERE!

Basketball and swimming practice with the kids (and then dinner afterwards)…

I wanted to find something easy and on-the-go ready. Tonight I’ll be at practice with my kids, so I thought a gorgeous scarf could act as the red for the Day!

Coffee shop and art night…

Something trendy and chic for a fabulous night out! I love the red jeans, they’re so fabulous!

Classic red blazer…

I love this look for a concert or extra-special night out. The pencil skirt is my go-to for anything dressy.

Love the RED…