Blog Posts by LilSugar

LilSugarSource: Pregnant, Now What?! What to Do With a Positive Pregnancy Test

Whether you saw two lines, a smiley face, or a plus sign, the results are in, and you've got the very beginnings of a baby on board! For some moms-to-be, the immediate instinct is to scream, for others it's to cry, and for still others, it's to sprint to the pharmacy and take 10 more tests. Once the reality has sunk in (or at least started to), you'll probably wonder, "Well, now what?" Pour yourself a glass of sparkling water, cheers the dad-to-be, and read on for the "what's next."

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LilSugarSource: 9 Baby Beach Bag Essentials For a Successful Day in the Sand

Remember when deciding to head to the beach for the day required little more than a blanket, some sunscreen, and some good music? Once there's a baby in the mix, an afternoon at the shore is still an option, it just requires a bit more planning! Before nixing the idea altogether, check out our nine baby beach bag essentials - blankets, towels, and umbrellas are still part of the plan, but here are a few other things that will make your experience one worth repeating throughout the Summer!

• A Sturdy Beach Bag: It all starts with your beach bag. You'll want a sturdy one, because now that you have kids, you'll be toting more than you ever thought possible. Lands' End's canvas totes have been hauling goods since 1977 - they can easily handle your load too!
• Sunscreen: It's not easy decoding the language on a tube of sunscreen. Given the FDA's soon-to-be-released regulations on sunscreen, beware of lotions

LilSugarSource: 5 Simply Fun Apps For Kids This Summer

School may not be out quite yet, but the kids are already thinking about Summer! While there are plenty of educational apps out there to keep lil ones from escaping the Summer brain drain, sometimes they just need some time to relax. With that in mind, consider downloading some of these kid-friendly apps - they may not reinforce multiplication tables, but they'll certainly add some fun to their Summer days!

• Kidz Bop Karaoke (Free): There's nothing like some good Summer tunes to spice things up for the season. If your lil ones love singing along to the hottest songs on the radio, Kidz Bop Karaoke will be right up their alley. This app is packed with songs from the Kidz Bop library (clean versions of the most popular songs on the radio). Simply download the songs (the first download is free) and record your own version of them. Need help with the lyrics? No problem - you can select to have them run across the screen while you sing!

Source: Space-Saving Decor Tips For Kids' Rooms From Design Expert Kelly Edwards

We recently caught up with design expert Kelly Edwards, who has been featured on HGTV's Design on a Dime and Style Network's Tacky House for her scrappy style and ability to transform ordinary rooms into incredible spaces, even on a budget. Kelly's decorating and design expertise apply to any room in the house, but we were eager to hear her ideas specifically for lil ones, and she didn't disappoint! Read on for five of Kelly's best tips for making your kids' rooms organized, creative, and playful spaces that can grow along with them.

Kelly Edwards's 5 Pieces of Design Advice That Every Mom Can Put to Use

1. On Space Saving and Storage: Look for furniture pieces that your kids are going to grow into. Stay away from the typical bins and baskets, and instead opt for some really cool furniture for a more put-together look. Whether it's a midcentury modern credenza that's been in your family for years or a

LilSugarSource: 7 Truisms From What to Expect When You're Expecting

When What to Expect When You're Expecting hits theaters this weekend, moms and those on their way to motherhood will find themselves nodding in agreement with Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, and Brooklyn Decker, who play five women entering the sisterhood of parenthood in five very different ways. But while the women may be the stars of the flick, much as we are of our pregnancies, it's the men - Chris Rock, Thomas Lennon, Rodrigo Santoro, Dennis Quaid, Ben Falcone, and Rob Huebel - who walk away with the best scenes. While the men spend plenty of time poking fun at their wives' pregnancy ailments and helicopter parenting, Rock's thoughtful (and probably ad-libbed) monologue about the joys of fatherhood is the highlight of the flick.

Based on the advice found in the widely popular self-help book of the same name, the new film takes us through five different paths to parenthood, watching the

LilSugarSource: 12 Ways to Stay in Your Regular Wardrobe While Pregnant

As previously flat bellies turn into baby bumps and an expectant mama's clothes grow tight, a woman in her second trimester may try just about anything to extend the life of her prepregnancy clothes before diving into the world of maternity wear. Celebrities may opt for purchasing looser clothing in bigger sizes, but there are plenty of tricks for staying in your current clothes for a few weeks longer than expected. Check out our favorite tips for staving off a trip to the maternity store.

• Conspire With the Empire: Empire-waist tops and dresses work wonders for accommodating burgeoning and full-term bellies.
• Unbutton Blazers: Leaving an overcoat open allows for an expectant woman to warm her arms and back and leave breathing room for her belly.
• Bella Band: When the tummy starts to pop and tops just don't cut it, layer on a Bella Band to split the difference. The seamless knit band also hides

Source: What to Expect Author, Heidi Murkoff, Shares Women's Biggest Pregnancy Surprise

It's hard to imagine a time when Heidi Murkoff's What to Expect When You're Expecting wasn't a staple on nightstands of expectant moms. But 28 years ago, when Murkoff was unexpectedly pregnant with her first child, she didn't know where to turn for information about how her baby was growing or what she could eat. Being an information hound, she gobbled up information and turned her research into a book that has become the go-to source for newly expectant mothers. Fast forward a few decades and her nonfiction resource is now receiving a big-screen adaptation with Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, and Brooklyn Decker playing five women on the brink of parenthood. I sat down with the author to discuss the state of pregnancy today and how things have changed since she was a first-time parent.

LilSugar: It's been 28 years since the first edition of What to Expect When You're

Source: Dog, Meet Baby: The All-Important First Introduction

You've done everything you can to prep your pup for that major life event on the horizon. Now all that's left is to play your role as mediator during the crucial first meeting of your beloved canine child and your newborn. A baby who's just a few days old is unlikely to have any reaction to his new four-legged sibling, but the dog? That's another story. To ensure that the first introduction goes as smoothly as possible, follow these easy guidelines from the one and only dog whisperer, Cesar Millan.

• Get Rid of Excess Energy: Take your dog on a long walk to use up energy before bringing him or her in to meet the new baby. Before returning to the house, wait at the doorstep for a minute, and make sure the dog's mood is calm and submissive.
• Scent-sational: Give your pup a minute to sniff around. He'll instantly recognize the new scent in the house, and if you've introduced an item of the baby's beforehand, then