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Your Life. Your Body. Your Style. www.thehipmom.com Working Girl Chic Looks like a handbag, organizes like a briefcase: the Audrey Expanding Eight-File Tote neatly houses paperwork in eight tabbed pockets. Choose from glossy white or black with a choice of four types of leather handles. $60; russelandhazel.com Summer Makeup Try these secrets to beat the heat After you moisturize and before putting on makeup, apply sunscreen – at least SPF 15 – that is formulated for the face. Fresh’s Top Protection Layer SPF20 ($48, fresh.com) works with all skin types. To allow for foundation to have a smoother look and longer wear, apply a dime-size of a primer – it acts as a screen between moisturizer and foundation. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch ($26; us.clarins.com) minimizes shadowy areas, fine lines and enlarged pores. Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer ($30; lauramercier.com) stimulates skin, increases circulation and gives complexion an added glow. Look No Further The Perfect Summer Bra Playtex’s “Seamless Stretch Foam Soft Cup” bra comes in hard-to-find half sizes. The soft and stretchy materials, combined with its low V-neck, are bonuses not usually seen at this price. $25; playtexbras.com. HIP mom tip: Clutter Buster Choose an area that needs attention – your spice cabinet, a junk drawer, anything. Set a timer for 20 minutes and begin straightening it. Don’t stop until the timer dings. Repeat this every day for two weeks in various spots. You’ll be impressed on what you can accomplish in just 20 minutes of devotion. Weekend Getaway Packing Bag It: There is nothing worse than opening your bag and finding your clothes drenched in spilled lotions. Gallon-sized, freezer-weight Ziploc bags are the obvious – but Sephora has a niftier version that includes travel spray bottles, jars, spatulas and a mini funnel to consolidate your full-sized products. $14; sephora.com Throw Chic, Simple Summer Parties 1. Have a ball: Skip store-bought ice cream and instead have mega amusement with this cool Ice Cream Ball. Dump in cream, sugar, vanilla, ice and rock salt and have a ball with your guests! Rattle, roll and shake the ball vigorously for 20 minuets and you’ve got ice cream. $34.95; icecreamrevolution.com 2. Space Cream: These fun freeze-dried treats never melt and magically retain that sweet and creamy taste of Neapolitan and ice-cream sandwich. $6 for two, fredflare.com. 3. Condiment Flair: Need a foolproof hostess gift? For a mere $6, we love the idea of bringing your next BBQ host a set of three retro-squeeze bottles already filled with ketchup, mayo and mustard. plumparty.com 4. Tutor Yourself: Jennifer Rubell’s “Real Life Entertaining” breaks down entertaining to its simplest form, revising traditional hostess rules to suit our contemporary lives. The recipes are simple and the ingredient lists are short – with no hard-to-find items – so you can whip up sophisticated, delicious fare in mere minutes. Tips cover how to create atmosphere, a checklist of whom to invite, a list of what your guests should bring, ultimate beverage suggestions and more. $27.50; area bookstores or amazon.com WORKING OUT WITH BABY After committing to the idea of regaining your pre-pregnant figure, a fun exercise program is just the thing to help you get back on track. But chances are, the last thing you want to do is leave your baby in childcare while you spend time in a stuffy gym. What better way to exercise than outdoors with your new baby? Lisa Druxman, a fitness expert, author, and speaker, created a nationwide fitness program for new moms and their babies called Stroller Strides. The program is simple; all you need is your baby and a stroller. Each hour-long class provides a total body workout consisting of power walking and toning exercises using the stroller and exercise tubing. The program allows you to improve your cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility while working out with your baby and meeting other new moms from your area. All of the class leaders are not only certified instructors, they’re moms as well. The class is designed so that you can tailor the workout to your desired level of intensity, so moms of all fitness levels can participate. Visit strollerstrides.com to find the class located nearest to you. Your first class is free; you can even earn more free classes by introducing Stroller Strides to your friends. After the first class, a single class is $15, or $100 for 10 classes, or become a member for $75 to receive the best fares. - By Carlin Schneider THE BALANCED MOM Whether it’s picking up the kids from soccer practice, volunteering at their schools, or making their lunches everyday, many moms feel defined by motherhood. Mothers give up so much of themselves in taking care of their families that they sometimes forget about their own needs and individuality. But is it possible to live a truly balanced life, caring for your family full time while still caring for yourself? According to Bria Simpson, author of “The Balanced Mom: Raising Your Kids Without Losing Yourself,” there is a way for mothers to be fulfilled as individuals and continue their role as magnificent moms. She offers a few suggestions in her book to help moms create time for personal growth: • Slow down. Include some quiet time in your days to live peacefully. • Analyze your time. Write down everything you do for two full weekdays and a weekend – how much of your time is spent taking care of yourself or engaging in activities that are meaningful to you? • Make a highest priorities list. Make sure you include time for self-care, passions, interest and quiet time. • Learn how to say no to things that aren’t high priority. Simpson stresses the importance of holding on to your individual self, outside of motherhood. Continue to do the things you love whether it’s working outside the home, gardening, entertaining, painting, studying literature or taking classes. You’ll be a happier person and a happier mom, and everyone in the family will benefit from that! -By Carlin Schneider |
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