July 2010

Shopping For Boys’ Clothes

July 22, 2010 at 4:16 pm , by Sue Erneta

As you know by now, I am mom to two of the most fashionable little ladies on the east coast. And I love shopping for them! Pairing together silk bubble skirts with ruffly tops and necklaces makes me so happy to have girls. But sometimes I see a little boy’s elbow-patch sweater in the Mini Boden catalog and I long for a little dude to dress up to my heart’s content. OK Moms-of-boys: I know, I know—boys’ clothes are nowhere near as fun as girls.’ Not fair, I know. That said, there are lots of cute boy clothes to be had. (Why else would I dress Sophia in a unisex Peter Beaton tee and Vans like in this picture? I could get away with the androgynous look when she was 3. Now it’s all pink tutus and gold wedge sandals and “don’t I look glamorous?”)

Anyway, here are my picks for best boys’ clothes with a little help from my good friend, fashion writer and mom-of-a-stylish-boy, Selene Milano Angel.

Crewcuts – You know I’m obsessed with all things J.Crew and their boys clothes are no exception. All of the clothes are perfection but my favorite item is the MacAlister boot—but don’t forget the neon laces. (Those laces make me crazy. They almost make me want to try for a third…)

Mini Boden – The aforementioned elbow-patch sweaters, supersoft graphic tees (with the best designs), and a little bit of kooky fun stuff like this shaggy lined hoody make this one of the best boys’ resources.

77Kids – The store that made boyfriend jeans for my little girl has equally cool skater-type stuff for your little man. And coming soon near you, they’re opening free standing stores that’ll have lots of fun kid activities to keep ‘em happy while you shop.

Egg Baby – Selene swears by this brand for cool button downs, cute little trousers and shorts for her hip two-year-old.

Cool sneakers – From pink Converse high-tops to checkerboard Vans, my girls have always had cool kicks. Selene recommends black and white Adidas Sambas as a boy’s must-have but she also likes Puma. These tiny suede ones are adorable for the little guys. And I especially love Converse’s Dr Seuss collection and Vans’ Crayola collection for boys and girls.

See moms-of-boys? It’s not that bad out there. And just think about how much you’ll be saving in the teenage years when my girls are busy putting me in the poorhouse!

So tell me…where do you get clothes for your little man?

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Country Spotlight: Joe Nichols

July 21, 2010 at 11:14 am , by Ron Kelly

He may have scored big with the success of his chart-topping country single “Gimmie That Girl,” but Joe Nichols certainly knows what we here at Ladies’ Home Journal have been touting on our cover for years: “Never underestimate the power of a woman.”

“Absolutely! I agree with that motto because I’ve seen it first-hand,” Nichols told me when we met during this year’s CMA Music Festival down in Nashville. The deep-voiced singer was gearing up to perform at his official fan club party at the Country Music Hall of Fame when he revealed that the most powerful lady in his eyes is his wife, Heather Singleton. “She’s a very strong woman. She’s tough as nails,” says the Arkansas-born singer, who’s been open about his past substance abuse treatment and Heather’s role in helping him to face his demons. “I’ve seen her take a very impossible situation—me—and work with it. She’s actually tough enough to look me in the face and say, ‘No, you’re not going to get away with that.’ So intestinal fortitude—she’s got a lot of it. And I think a lot of my success, especially my latter success, is because of her.”

If that’s true, Heather just might be Nichols’ lucky charm. “Gimmie That Girl,” off his Old Things New CD, dominated the top position on country radio earlier this year for three consecutive weeks, helping to land him guest appearances on The Tonight Show and The View. And Nichols’ gut tells him that his new brand new single, “The Shape I’m In,” is ready to climb the charts as well. “It feels like a good song,” he says. “I listen to it and think, I would buy a record because of this song. The lyric is a very likable lyric that doesn’t offend anybody. It’s about a guy that comes out of a breakup and says, you know, I’m hanging in there, I’m doing alright and getting better.” It doesn’t hurt that the single is written by the same team—Rhett Atkins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip—that penned its chart-topping predecessor. “The combination is there again for more success,” says Nichols. “Hopefully the fans react the same way.”

Have you heard “The Shape I’m In” yet? Think it’ll be as big as “Gimmie That Girl”? Either way, read on after the jump to find out Nichols’ takes on LHJ’s Can This Marriage Be Saved? column, fellow country artist David Nail’s baseball skills, his fertility-treatment hijinks and his message to anyone that couldn’t make it down to see him at CMA’s Music Festival.

Read more

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Go Ask Gab: The Right Shades for You

July 20, 2010 at 3:00 pm , by Gabrielle Porcaro

I have a hard time finding sunglasses that look good on me. Got any tips? — Anna

You’ve come to the right place—sunglasses are my personal favorite accessory (second being bracelets, third being hats). I’m pretty much either always wearing a pair on my face or on the top of my head. (I also like to be photographed in them—check out my photo on our About Me section).

A good place to start is to figure out what shape face you have. You can do this by asking a friend or by looking in the mirror and outlining on the mirror with lipstick (obviously not your favorite shade) the shape of your face. It’s a bit messier but it works!

If you have a square face… Oval and cat eyes help add some curves and give you a softer appearance. These retro tortoise frames from Persol are very chic.

If you have an oval face… Lucky you! Everything looks good on you! Try a fun pair from Norma Kamali.

If you have a round face… Pick shades that are at least as wide as the widest part of your face. Don’t choose anything narrower or it will just accentuate the width of your face. An oversize rounded rectangular pair like these from Simply Vera are a good example.

If you have a rectangular face…  Try sunglasses that are narrower than the widest part of your face to make your face appear more balanced. Ray-Ban original wayfarer are classic.

If you have a heart-shaped face… Rimless and half-rim glasses are good. Aviators, like these from Banana Republic, are especially fabulous.

But these are just guidelines. Like any fashion item that you may not be sure about, my tip is to always take your time, try a bunch of options on and then buy what you love. Go to a department store, Sunglass Hut or Solstice Boutique with tons of sunglasses at a variety of prices. Bring a friend who’s honest and leave your sensitivity at home!

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DIY: Ace of Cakes

July 20, 2010 at 10:32 am , by nicole

Neither Devon nor I had ever made a cake before.  While we were very excited to spend the afternoon learning about Ace of Cakes Chef Duff Goldman’s new baking products, we were a little hesitant to do it ourselves. The Astor Center in New York City was set up like a kitchen with hundreds of personal cakes waiting to be covered in buttercream fondant and frosting.  We were given the choice of chocolate, vanilla or yellow cake, and handed an apron to aide us in our first semi-professional cake decorating pursuit.

With the Food Network star only a few steps away, we struggled with the first simple step of merely placing the fondant in the microwave to soften it.  Luckily, the cake master himself didn’t see us! Instead of just ten seconds in the microwave, it took about thirty-five, and from there it was a piece of cake!  Rolling fondant is a lot easier than we thought.  After a few attempts, we learned that small imperfections can easily be reversed with a smidge of water, a touch of frosting or Chef Duff’s edible cake tattoos–the kind parents would prefer to the real ink!  We opted for the flower patterns over the animal prints and other graffiti inspired designs.

In less than an hour, our finished cakes looked like they could be displayed in a bakery window.  With just one flower-shaped cookie cutter and blue sprinkles, our black and red fondant cakes bloomed to life.  No one would have guessed this was our first time!

For more Ace of Cakes insight, check out Food and Entertaining Editor Tara Bench‘s interview with Duff himself!

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Amy Grant: Better Than A Hallelujah

July 20, 2010 at 7:00 am , by Lisa M. Gerry

We’re so excited to be premiering your video on LHJ.com. How did you choose “Better Than a Hallelujah” as your first single?
The first time I heard “Better Than A Hallelujah” I was completely blown away by it. A lot of hard things were going on in my life at the time, and I found so much comfort in this song. It’s all about honesty, vulnerability and not being afraid to come as you are—it’s okay to be broken.

What do you enjoy most about the process of making a video?
When it’s over. (Laughing) I’m being silly. I love making music. I love providing songs to be a part of people’s lives.

Can you share a funny behind-the-scenes story from filming the video?
The studio where we filmed had this unbelievable wig collection. I’ve always wanted to have long, blond hair. So, after we were done shooting, our guitar player Gene Miller and I enjoyed trying on the wigs. (laughing)

Your 17-year-old-daughter Sarah sings on one of the tracks of this album, which is very cool.
Yes! I’m excited.

Do you think you two will sing again together?
I hope so. I just saw the movie The Karate Kid, and I just kept thinking about Jaden Smith and what an amazing opportunity he has because of his mom and dad. And I thought, Isn’t that what we all do? When we have children, we try to give them opportunities to do the things that have mattered to us. Even if it’s a hobby, like when my Dad took me fishing as a kid.

But how would you feel if she wanted to get into the music industry? Obviously it can be a tough business.
Yeah, I know. She has been exposed to really talented people that still couldn’t pay the rent with their skill. I feel like she’s kind of seen it all and there’s no mystique there.

Do you and your husband Vince Gill sing together around the house?
Sometimes. It just depends if one of us is working on a song. He came home the other day, and I was working on a song and he said, This is what the house should sound like. Sometimes I’ll be putting my youngest daughter, Corrina, to bed, and Vince will be downstairs playing. And she’ll say, Momma, leave the door open so I can listen to Dad. And that’s when I think, Okay, this is the greatest thing in the world.

** Watch the exclusive premiere of Amy’s new video on LHJ.com now!**

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Martina McBride Wants You…To Be Heart Healthy!

July 16, 2010 at 7:46 pm , by Joy Armstrong

Award-winning country singer Martina McBride is the new face of Cheerios’ “Love Your Heart” campaign, which encourages women to eat heart-healthy meals and live their lives passionately, words we live by at LHJ.

And they’re offering a sweet deal: Enter the “Do What You Love” contest by sending your photo and a short essay on the activity you love to do most, and you could win two roundtrip tickets to Nashville, a three-day, two-night stay at a luxury hotel, and an exclusive chance to hang out with Martina McBride at her recording studio, plus more.

Jump on it! The contest ends on July 23rd!!

I had a chance to chat with Martina about life on the road and keeping her ticker healthy:

LHJ: Why is the message to stay heart-healthy so important to you?

Martina: As we know, heart disease is the number one killer of women in America, so I think the topic should be important for everyone. But I want to set a good example for my three daughters, who are ages 15, 12 and 5. I want to be around a long time to see them grow and do things together as a family.

LHJ: How do you stay on top of your health while you’re on the road?

Martina: Well I try to eat organic whenever possible and have plenty of healthy options on hand. On the road, there’s usually a salad bar and some kind of soup, fish and lean beef or chicken, and a nice selection of healthy side dishes. I love that our catering company is so health conscious. That helps too.

LHJ: What do the girls like eating at home?

Martina: They actually like healthy food. Really, they do! But I’m not restrictive with what they eat. I mean, they’re kids. Sometimes they complain to me and say, “There’s nothing to eat in this house.” And I’ll say, “Yes, there is. There’s a bowl of apples and there’s cheese and crackers.”

LHJ: How do you stay so fit?

Martina: Mostly, it’s the way I eat. That’s the biggest thing. I don’t really like to workout either. It takes a lot to get me to set aside time to do it, but I try. I might workout three times a week, 30 minutes a day. A little cardio, a little weight training. We ride bikes on the road, so we’re getting in good exercise.

LHJ: I know that Nashville is still healing from the floods. Have you or anyone in your family been effected by it?

Martina: No, we were lucky, but I was very excited to be a part of some of the benefit concerts they’ve had for flood relief. One concert, called Nashville Rising, raised over $2.5 million. It was just a great evening of music with other country artists.

LHJ: What’s next for you?

Martina: I’m starting to work on a new album, looking for new material and writing a lot — actually writing more for this album than any other I’ve done, so it’s an exciting time.

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The Pioneer Woman’s New Gig

July 15, 2010 at 3:24 pm , by Sonia Harmon

Our favorite city-girl-turned-country blogger is LHJ’s newest columnist! Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, has a number one ranked blog, thepioneerwoman.com, and is the author of a best-selling cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Starting with our August issue, Ree will regularly contribute to the magazine—you can find her first column on The Dish, where she talks tomatoes and shares a new recipe with us. To learn more about Ree, take a quick look at her blog—you’ll find beautiful photography, tasty recipes and her funny observations on life. We’re excited for her to bring that and more to the pages of LHJ. Welcome, Ree!

Check out our Ladies We Love interview with Ree and her first column from our August issue, which is on newsstands now.

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