Ain't No Mom Jeans

Crazy-Gorgeous: Chinny Chin Chin's New Spring Line For Kids

Longtime readers of this blog will know I'm a huge, HUGE fan of Chinny Chin Chin (aka Esther Croak).  I drooled over her 2009 line, we featured her adorable outfit as a mom uniform idea, and now...her newest Spring line debuted last week at the Hopscotch Hustle.

For those of you not familiar with Chinny Chin Chin, she creates stunning, unique designs for kids from vintage fabrics.  Her new line manages to cross 1940's glamour with a little hint of Victorian preciousness, but does it in a fresh, completely kid-friendly and affordable way.  It simply doesn't get any better than Chinny Chin Chin.  I. Want. It. All. 

Eating: Goeey Chocolate Cakes on La Tartine Gourmand

There's just so much to love about food blogger Bea, of La Tartine Gourmand. She's a mom.  She's French.  She's traveled the world, writes for the Boston Globe Food section, and comes up with utterly amazing recipes like her Goeey Chocolate Cakes.

I know what you are thinking.  Goeey chocolate cakes have been done before.  True.  But this recipe is a little bit different.  It's tiny in proportion, but there's just so much to love.

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2010

  It is so hard to believe how quickly time flies by.  It really does seem like just yesterday my little guy was born.  I'm constantly being surprised by all of the things he can do.  I'm surprised by the sight of his long little-boy legs running, jumping.  What happened to chubby baby thighs? I'm surprised by his newly developed sense of humor, by his serious little looks, by the way he senses when I need a hug.  He is growing in so many ways.  I am just so proud.

This Mother's Day, relish in all that you have accomplished: the sheer number of diapers you have changed, the corrections (and distractions) you have provided, the socks you've put back on (and on and on), the hugs and the encouragement you have given, the jokes you have shared, the tears you have wiped away - these are but a small number of ways you have demonstrated love.  Simply put, we have taught our children how to get along in the world, we have taught our children how to love.  Certainly no small feat.  We are so proud of our children -- we should be proud of ourselves, too.  So congratulations, Mamas.  It is truly is a thrilling ride, no? 

After such a long, hard winter, I think most of us are ready for sun.  For this Mother's Day, get ready to embrace summer with a few little tokens that will help the men/women/children in your lives express their appreciation for all that you do....or just go and spoil yourself.  Here's to a great summer.

I'm having a St. Bart's moment.  Which would be, perhaps, the ultimate Mother's Day gift.  Which is not, however, what my husband has in mind.  So in lieu of actually going to St. Barts, I'm craving gauzy little cover-ups, comfy jeweled sandals, delicate little necklaces, gold bangle bracelets, and something that smells oh-so-yummy, but crisp and fresh at the same time.  You too?

Surprisingly Hard to Get Right: The Basic Flip-Flop

I love flip-flops.  If the weather in Denver would fully cooperate, I would wear them year-round.  The flip-flop, is, in my opinion, the perfect shoe.  And the absolute perfect shoe for moms.  It's comfortable,walkable, playground and pool friendly, it's easy to slip on and off, and when chosen correctly, it looks just as good with a pair of workout pants as it does with a dress.  Seriously.  The Holy Grail of shoe, if ever one did exist.

Ain't No Mom Jeans produced the Hopscotch Hustle, a mom and baby fashion show, last Sunday (pics and more info coming).  Since we were attempting to create gorgeous, yet mom-friendly outfits, we told our mom models to bring a "cute pair of flip-flops" to their fittings.  We ended up seeing roughly 30 pairs of...very interesting flip-flops.  So I did a bit of research...and it turns out that there are only a few pairs of cute flip-flops on the market.  There are tons of gorgeous, uncomfortable sandals attempting to market themselves as flip-flops and there are tons of tacky-yet-sooooo-comfortable flip-flop choices, but only a few pairs that manage to blend the cute and comfort factor correctly. 

So when we at Ain't No Mom Jeans say to "throw this little number on with a pair of flip-flops"...exactly what kind of flip-flops are we talking about?  Let's discuss:

Happy Earth Day! Five Easy Changes to Get Greener

My plight of unrequited green-ness is well documented here, but on this, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, I want to celebrate what I think I am doing right for our planet and for the future of my kids.  Here are five changes that I've found to be really easy. 

Reader Question: What To Wear To A Baptism?

Reader Question:

Hello,
I found your blog via Shana's sister, Scotti, and I must say I love it!  We recently just had a baby boy and are having a baptism in May. I would like to wear something classic, understated and still look amazing after getting my body back. Could you possibly do a piece on what to wear for your baby's baptism?
I'm considering all options but am steering more towards a sheath dress, pencil skirt, or the like. My one requirement is that it must be below the knee, even just slightly.
 
Thanks!
Nell

5 Easy Make-Up Tips to Look Your Best in Photos

We’ve all been there before.  You take extra time getting your make-up *just right* because you know pictures are going to be taken.  You apply powder and lipstick and mascara . . . you look in the mirror and like what you see.   Later, you see the pictures.  You aren’t happy.  Your face is much lighter than your chest, you have raccoon eyes, bronzer issues and your forehead is shiny. These are all the results of common makeup mistakes when you’re getting your picture taken.  I’ve learned the hard way what to avoid when the cameras might be flashing.  If you’re thinking about getting pictures taken this Mother’s Day, or if you just want some ideas on how to look better in pictures, read on! 

What We're Reading This Week: Potty Training Books

OK, yes, I know many of these books have been around for quite some time, but they are, in fact, what we're reading this week. With my sweet potato rounding out his 26th month of life on Earth and preschool starting in September, we're gearing up for the marathon that, apparently, is the feat of potty training a boy child.  We're loving reading these books as we sit on each of the three (yes, 3!) potties hanging around our happy home and wanted to share:       

Step Into My Office: Toddler Parsons Desk

 I have this problem time and again.  Maybe you have it too.  I want to provide a fun, child-friendly atmosphere for my kids, but I loathe, loathe, loaaathe most children's furniture, design motifs and color schemes.  For the most part, they're just so bizarrely saccharine that they seem intentionally designed to assault adult sensibilities.  And, in my experience, despite lending that coveted daycare-exploded-in-my-living-room effect, they're under-appreciated by their target audience anyway.  

Spring / Summer Nail Polish Trends For Moms of All Ages

If any of you have opened a fashion mag lately, there's something new afoot with regard to nail color:  the color.  Gone are the typical reds or rose-colored polishes, and a basic French Manicure?  So passe.  Instead, trends now range from gray (yes, you read that correctly:  gray, the color of a mouse) to neon orange. 

Sheesh.  And I remember when Chanel's Vamp was considered racy.

But despite my initial misgivings, the new nail polish colors are growing on me.  There's something fun about turquoise nails.  However, the last thing I want to do is look like I've borrowed my teenage daughter's nail polish.  There are some trends that should be skipped by anyone over 30.  Luckily, this isn't one of them.  Here's how to pull it off: