She She Me Sponsors: Endless and eLUXURY

The Stylish Mommy: Streamlining Your Style

The advent of summer is exciting for a mom of young children. It means that there are so many more options for entertaining the wee ones, since you can actually go outdoors without bundling up like a Sherpa, and go hiking, swimming, riding trikes, flying kites, playing ball…But the one evil that casts a pall over the glorious weather is that soon SCHOOL WILL BE OUT. Hours of togetherness can get really old, really fast, especially when you’re trying to get your usual litany of checklist items completed and there’s always someone at your ankle saying, either, “I’m bored,” “I’m hungry,” or “Can I help?”

My solution: streamline your life. Look to the effortlessness of the season for cues as to how your world can be simpler in just a few steps. You don’t want to miss the whole summer while you’re fussing over your usual process-heavy tasks, do you? Cut out a few steps and get outside!

Storage: Take the time to rotate everyone’s closets and dresser drawers. You’ll have a much easier time getting the short people (and yourself) dressed in the morning if you don’t have to wade through the turtlenecks and corduroys to find the sporty polos and shorts (not to mention preserving the delicate skin on the backs of your knuckles when stuffing in the clean laundry and trying to shove the drawers shut!). Sort out the bulky winter items and load them into plastic or canvas storage bins with lids and hide them away on the high shelves in the closets until next fall. Take the opportunity to separate those items your kids have outgrown, and store them separately until the next child will grow into them, or give them away. (And if you shopped well for name-brand items, you can consign them for a few extra bucks to put towards the next round of fantastic kidswear!) Don’t forget to label the bins clearly to save yourself time in October.

And since I am chock-full-of-tips today, I wanted to share an adorable little gadget from Cupcake Cuddles to help store your little tike's toothbrush easily and hygienically. The Flipper comes in a variety of animal shapes, even an adorable dino egg style! Your little angel's toothbrush will snap in and snap out quickly and easily, and no more searching through drawers and holders when it comes time to brush!

For your own clothes, take your delicate silks and rich cashmeres to the dry cleaner before packing them carefully away: any food, body oil, or perspiration left in your sweaters or fine blouses will not only discolor but also attract moths and other nasties. Stuff some lavender or cedar sachets in the bins to keep clothes smelling divine and drive away intruders. (Can you believe anyone ever used mothballs?)

Kitchen: Who on earth wants to stand over a hot stove in a hot kitchen in a heat wave to cook every night? Aside from endless rounds of takeout (because, let’s face it, restaurant dining with small children is no fun), what’s a busy girl to do? Okay, yes, teach her husband to cook, but how about grilling? Nearly anything can be cooked on a charcoal or propane grill, as easily as roasting it in the oven, but with far less clean-up. Soak ears of corn in cold water for thirty minutes, then place them, still in their husks, on the grill next to your burgers until their kernels are soft, about ten minutes. Throw pizza dough on a hot grill until it’s stiff enough to pick up, then flip it over, top however you like, and put back on the grill until the cheese bubbles. Let the kids each decorate their own. Impress the neighbors at your next barbeque by grilling a whole filet of salmon, then serve with mango salsa and a frosty Cuban beverage. The key is getting maximum results with minimum effort, while keeping your cool. (Don’t want to perspire in the new threads!)

And Speaking of Threads: Thank goodness for the designers who seem to have come to their senses this summer! Focusing on hot colors and easy silhouettes, it’s a breeze to get dressed quickly and easily and still look fantastic. I’m loving all the sundresses out there: cool, polished, comfortable (and yes, it is possible to play on the floor with a toddler while you’re wearing a dress, esp. one of the floaty, full ones) and quick! Choose a wide strap or a short sleeve if you’re still carrying extra fullness in the bosom (to cover your bra straps), and steer away from shift-style dresses. Look for cuts with either empire or waist detail or seaming to define your figure, and a shirred or pleated skirt to balance your lower half. Smaller-chested moms can choose shift dresses and spaghetti-strapped sundresses, and look for shirring or detail in the bust to emphasize it. Try a button-front shirtdress with a bright belt—time yourself one day to see whether it takes longer than getting dressed in your grungy old tee shirt and shorts. The best part about these dresses is that you can wear most of them with stylish sneaks, fabulous flats, or trendy flops for daytime, but if you put on heels (high or low) and some great jewelry accents they work beautifully for evening as well. Just in case you ever find a babysitter.

Keep your day trips simple, too: One great tote can schlep all your stuff to the zoo, beach, park or picnic. Get hats and shades for the kids, and don’t forget a stylish chapeau for yourself as well. A couple of books, some tunes for the road, decent snacks and a can of any-direction spray sunscreen are absolute musts (have you ever tried to grease a moving eighteen-month-old with the lotion kind of sunscreen???), as well as a stick for little faces and lips. Treat the kids to cool reusable water bottles to cut down on the trash and encourage them to stay hydrated. And have your honey meet you all at the weekly concert in the park tonight. But don’t bother with an elaborate picnic: let him bring the takeout.

Enjoy your summer together!

xoxo,

Pretty Mama

Fantastic Specials and Savings for She She Girls in the She She Mall!

Check out the wonderful stores, new products
and great promotions currently in the She She Mall.

Simply Soles, a designer shoe catalog and online boutique offering free returns on all orders of their carefully edited collection from Tory Burch, Frye, Delman and more. SimplySoles also offers exclusive styles found only at SimplySoles from Bettye Muller, Missoni, and our own line, lillybee. Shop now for great savings on the fall/winter collection. Or shop for spring 2008's sassiest sandals now in stock.
Avenue You. We at Avenue You know and understand that it is always "All About You." Knowing this we have put together the finest and most exclusive hair, nails, skin, and makeup lines, and brought them together under one website for you to fully learn about and experience.
Twisted Silver. Fun, Fabulous, Funky jewelry! Twisted Silver —ultra-modern jewelry with an unexpected Twist. Vintage inspiration and retro-contemporary elements send fashion forward in an abundance of chain, copper, gold, brass, silver, steel, and aluminum, and dual-use pieces called "convertibles."Each piece designed, not to compliment, but to create a look.
ShopManhattanite.com is the premier online destination for fashionistas and trendsetters. You'll find everything from women's designer clothing, accessories, jewelry, home and beauty products to gifts for moms-to-be, babies, and pets. Shop from favorites like Amanda Uprichard, Voom, Harkham, So Low, Kasil Denim, Siwy Jeans, Shoshanna, Yumi Kim, Three Dots, Sweetees, Mackage, Betsey Johnson, Adina Reyter, Leila, Vita, PJ Salvage, Scanty, Cake Beauty, Jaqua Beauty, Kwigy Bo, Fou Fou and Haute Diggity Dog. Shop the latest must-haves!
Boutique 33. Hand designed, hard to find, sometimes one of a kind. Boutique 33 Jewelry. Shop online at…www.boutique33.com Check out new press,Celebrities in Boutique 33 and designs at…www.myspace.com/boutique33
Karen Curtis. The must have for 24hr. chic Looking for something to turn your outfit from ordinary to extraordinary? Karen Curtis, known for her unusual color-combinations, creates for the individual who is looking for something unique that simultaneously turns into an instant classic. She incorporates vintage Swarovski crystals into each piece.
ThermaClear Home to the revolutionary acne-treatment device that is clinically proven to treat blemishes in seconds and clear them in as little as 24 hours. ThermaClear is an easy-to-use beauty tool that uses heat technology, similar to the laser treatments you'd receive in a dermatologist's office, only on a much smaller scale, to fight mild-to-moderate acne. With ThermaClear® you have professional-level power at your fingertips.
Velvet Maven. Fabulous, simple elegance, classy and chic are just a few words that describe Velvet Maven. Velvet Maven is a mix of all that I think most women feel, beautiful. Velvet Maven loves to blend and mix styles and brands in conjunction with the love of fashion, hip-hop, rock and roll, the 80’s and all things couture. Velvet Maven offers a marvelous selection from some of the world’s top designers including: Velvet, Splendid, Tart, Rebecca Norman, James Jeans, Vita and A Common Thread just to name a few. Velvet Maven is focused on the customer and their specific needs as well building a great long-term relationship with each and every customer. Velvet Maven is driven to deliver superior personalized service with the latest in contemporary fashion.
At B.Dazzled!, we believe the perfect gift is something that is totally unexpected, yet positively practical and always appreciated. Our funky, hip boutique is packed with plenty of ideal choices for any gift-giving occasion. Many come present-ready in beautiful gift packaging. Custom services and orders are also available. Contact us for all your gift-giving needs.
Stylish Bridal Our 2008 wedding gowns have arrived! Be sure to check out the new bridal gowns and accessories at Stylish Bridal.
Vibe the boutique is THE destination for Hot, Trendy, Sophisticated, & Hard to Find Designer Clothing. Vibetheboutique offers an unbeatable selection from designers such as True Religion, Vince, Seven for all Mankind, Ella Moss, Joie, J Brand, Hudson, Rebecca Taylor, Susana Monaco, Kooba Bags, Tammi Lyn, Norma Kamali and much more. Whether you are heading for a night out on the town or a day in the city, vibetheboutique has what you need. Stop by for a visit online www.vibetheboutique.com or check out our store in Arizona. 480-358-4350

Check out the Ask She She Blog !

This is where She She Girls go to find the latest styles and the hottest trends; where your fashion, beauty and lifestyle questions are answered, and the thoughts, ideas and comments of all She She Girls are encouraged and welcomed!