Recently in Mom Snobs Category

One of the most inspiring moms I know is my dear friend, Shannon Hori (CBS Evening news anchor in Miami!).  Shannon gave birth to beautiful twin boys, Colt and Cade, last year and was told that Colt had to undergo immediate open heart surgery for a rare heart defect.  Imagine watching your newborn suffer (including having a cardiac arrest in your arms!) yet feeling utterly helpless-- but through it all, Shannon remained strong.  Her baby boy (now perfectly healthy!) endured in his first few months more than anyone should have to in a lifetime and I believe he made it through because of Shannon's unbreakable faith and love.  Shannon's positive outlook on life has touched her friends as well.  When we first met (at a wedding 5 years ago, I'd just given birth and was feeling fat and tired.  Of course the most gorgeous woman in the room decides to sit next to me!  Luckily she was also the nicest woman in the room and we've been close friends ever since.) I'd complain about missing my friends in LA and wanting to leave Texas.  She'd always tell me "You can not think like this or you will never be happy.  You have to change your attitude and choose to be happy regardless of where you live!".  Wise words that I still adhere to today-- I miss you, my friend! 

I am excited to introduce you all to Shannon.  Read on for her tips on rearing twins!  

Mornings are tough for moms. Do you have any tips or advice on how to look put together with no time to spare?
9-month old twin boys leave their mark - under my eyes. I have huge, dark circles. The one thing I try to put on before leaving the house is concealer. And if I can manage to run a brush through my hair too - then it's a great day. I feel very lucky that I get my make-up professionally done every day before I go on the air to anchor the news at 5 p.m. (a couple of times I've even fallen asleep during the application.)

Do you have efficient and tantrum free travel ideas? Special gadgets, toys or treats?
When we travel in the car the boys have constant entertainment in the form of a live person. When I'm driving, our nanny sits in the back and talks and sings to the boys. When my husband drives, I'm in the back with them (and I can put on quite a show.) I wonder when I'll actually sit in the front seat next to my husband again?

I have depended on the trusted advice of my good friend, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, for years now. Kim is one of the first people I think of calling when I have an "uh oh" moment. She somehow always knows the right thing to do!  I have no idea how she juggles her life as an author (of four books-- check them out here), radio personality, lifestyle expert, her many national speaking engagements and mommy to JR (a bouncing soon to be two year old!)!  Read on to find out how this busy mom stays sane and chic!  Follow Kim on Twitter here!
 
Mornings are tough for moms. Do you have any tips or advice on how to look put together with no time to spare? You can always tell when I have had a hurried morning when my hair is in a pony tail! I love the look and I am always thrilled that it doesn't seem to go out of style! I keep a stock of simple rubber bands that are the same color as my hair in a drawer and I grab and run when I need to. I also love to buy dresses because it is so much faster for me to throw on a dress than it is to select a top to go with the pants then maybe a belt or a scarf...I could play dress up all day and I lose all sense of time in my closet! I also keep a stash of LuLu Lemon outfits to throw on. They are tailored in a way that most exercise clothes are not and, somehow, they seem a bit more polished than typical exercise clothes.

We've all asked our pediatrician this question about breast feeding, well at least I have, "How much alcohol can I drink without getting my baby drunk?" The answer that I got was, as long as you have eaten something with your cocktail, very little gets in the breast milk. Really? I find that hard to believe and there must be a limit to this because let's say I have 3 martinis, at least one of those martinis is going straight to the boobs, right? Of course I would never have 3 martinis while breast feeding but let's just say I did for sake of argument. That's when the Breast Milk Alcohol Test Kit would come in handy, give me peace of mind and make me feel like a better mom. Everyone metabolizes alcohol differently so you really want a definite answer when it comes to this. at Amazon for $19.99 for 20 test strips.

Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress $90 (new is $149.99); James Stretch Jeans for $111 (new is $168)

I love the community pregnant women are immediately a part of. Like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, maternity clothes get passed around and is lovingly worn knowing that some parental knowledge must surely get passed along with it, perhaps through osmosis. For me, I wasn't so lucky since the girlfriends who were pregnant before me were all itsy bitsy size 0 and 2. I wanted the designer jeans and the nice dresses and I hated having to spend so much on something that I knew would only be worn for a couple of months. That's where In Style Belly becomes your secret source. It is a high end consignment store for gently worn clothes (aren't all maternity clothes gently worn? Well, except for the daily uniform sweat pants, of course) like James and Citizens of Humanity jeans and DvF wrap dresses. And if you have splurged for the inevitable wedding or other special event, now you have a place to sell it so it doesn't sit in your closet taking up valuable real estate. Go to In Style Belly to buy or sell.

Valentine's Day is when moms get to settle the bill so that we can regain balance for the rest of the year as we continue our work as Supermom and Superwife, and if you are also a Super Career Woman, well, this list might need to be more extensive.

The most obvious gift is a bag, which is really an extension of our womb if you think about it - this is where we carry our most precious! There are so many to choose from, Bag Snob has a nice list, but I like this bright red Miu Miu Crinkled Patent, $1295 at Net-a-Porter. It is functional and big enough for moms but more importantly it is on-trend and not the typical mommy bag. Dear god, never wear mommy jeans and NEVER walk around with a diaper bag when your kids are no longer in diapers!!

Another expected option is the sentimental jewelry. I love Jeanine Payer for the customization, I have the Shirley Necklace with my tots' names engraved on it and I wear it daily (it has not left me since I got it, it is small enough to layer with other jewelry). This Rosa photo necklace is an updated version of a locket. You can also have the plate engraved with your tot's name, birthday and well wishes. It is $730, the plate is 18k gold.

All moms deserve divine beauty products. If you are skipping facials to attend PTA meetings, it is an absolute must! If your skin needs serious nourishment, Créme de la Mer, $230 at Saks Fifth Avenue, will restore your moisture and keep your skin supple and happy. But make sure you need that degree of moisture. Chantecaille and Natura Bisse are other great options for essential luxuries.

No one need sexy shoes like moms! We have to try harder to get our groove on and look sexy and nothing does that the way a pair of killer high platforms will. The YSL Tribute Sandals $760 at Saks Fifth Avenue (also black and navy) will take you through many seasons and will certainly spike any outfit you have on. That not so extraordinary black dress will now bring your sweetie to his knees! Email me if you need me to not so subtly email these suggestions to whom it may concern! =)

You may have read The Shoegoddess blog, the highly addictive site about our other favorite accessory, shoes (and if you have not, you must click over asap!) But I bet you didn't know the force behind it is a generous and kind woman (and my dear friend!) who has dedicated her life to her family and her charities. Florence Azria (The Shoegoddess) was born in Paris and currently makes her home in Beverly Hills with her husband, Serge,and her three children. I met Florence two years ago at one of her famous dinner parties; we hit it off immediately-- both of us loved pink and one of us (me) loved the homemade cake (hers). If you have ever experienced Florence's culinary creations, you will know why I beg her to fed ex me cake all the time!

But Florence is known for more than her vast shoe collection and culinary skills, she is a huge supporter of A Place Called Home-- a privately funded organization that keeps children off the streets in South central Los Angeles. She teaches cooking there and has opened a forum for women eager to express themselves and find comfort and support in keeping their children out of gangs. All proceeds from The Shoegoddess blog goes to A Place Called Home. Now isn't that a cause worthy of new Louboutins?

Angelina Jolie photo courtesy of Instyle.com

Of course celebrities have super human bodies and that includes their skin but don't think they don't use help where they can. That includes Angelina Jolie, who by all accounts is not human at all but is Wonder Woman and all the other women on Atlantis combined. I mean, seriously, she not only has 6 kids but she looks damn good! I can't even get my make up on in the morning if I have to dress the kids, make breakfast, pack lunch, feed the kids and do drop off. At least two of the five tasks has to be assumed by my husband if I am going to brush my hair and get a full face of makeup on. I got 2 of these bottles and used one on my sadly wrinkled tummy and after one short month, I see signs of them disappearing! The other bottle I gave to my young 11 year old cousin who has a scar on her face. She has also been using it for a month and although it has not totally faded, it has dramatically decreased in size. The oil includes vitamins A and E, Calendula, Lavender and Rosemary oils and Chamomile extract - which makes it smell so so good!! But not only that, it gives you a nice shimmery glow - perfect for the summer so I use it all over just for that! It is not greasy so you don't have to worry about being uncomfortable and it sticking to your clothes. All this can do is help with those stretch marks, the last 10 lbs on your hips, sorry but you're on your own there. Bio Oil with PurCellin Oil - 2 Oz available at Amazon for $10.45.

Here it is the awaited second-half of our interview with the Queen Magazine MILF and founder of Magazine MILF! Her MILF-ness dishes on embracing your own MILFness, how to keep-up a smockin' bod, her fav mags, and more!

Any tips for shy mothers who are having a hard time embracing their MILFiness?
Go to Pepper at Paul Labrecque in New York. If you feel great about your hair, you can do anything.

How do you keep your body worthy of MILF?
I know it’s boring but you’ve got to eat right and exercise. I am partial to the French eating model – portion control, soup, tea and some dessert everyday. I have a major sweet tooth, so when I need to go beyond Fudgsicles, I cut back a bit on dinner.
Find healthy foods you like to cook – if you are cooking, you get to be around food without actually consuming it. Fish is delish and super-easy to make seem gourmet. Mr. MILF says my fish is better than restaurant fish; he no longer eats it out. Mark Bittman at The Times has lots of fast, easy recipes. Just make sure you get a list of low-mercury species.

More after the jump!

I had the chance to interview MILF expert and founder of Magazine MILF the other day to get the lo-down on what exactly a MILF is from a real-life one and daughter, she says, of the original MILF. Unfortunately her identity must be kept top-secret as she is a power player in the publishing world, but rest-assured after speaking with her, this lady most definitly knows her stuff – Read-on for Part I of Snob's tongue-and-cheek look at what it is to live the life of a MILF.

Can you explain what a MILF is?
In the most generic and G-rated terms, MILF is a synonym for a hot mom or, if you are British, a yummy mummy. The word MILF is actually an acronym whose exact meaning you can find on urbandictionary.com.
While many people think of a MILF in purely surface terms, I consider it largely a state of mind. For example, I bestowed upon Julia Child the title of Honorary MILF, after reading her amazing book, “My Life in France.” Although she never had children and she wasn’t a conventionally beautiful woman, her self-discovery and late-bloomer career trajectory are an incredible inspiration to women everywhere (and men too – my hard-to-impress husband was floored). She had such great personality and joie de vivre, you can understand why a handsome man like Paul Child was smitten.
I think MILFiness is also about taking care of yourself once you have a baby. I understand the tendency to let things go. E.g., How can you possibly perform expert makeup application when a screaming child is demanding your attention? Or exercise when you have been awake since 4am? But I think it’s a sign of self-respect, rather than indulgent vanity, to keep up appearances. If you don’t have time or energy to keep with your pre-mom routine, head to your nearest makeup counter and commission a makeup artist to devise a new routine for you. If you can no longer wear heels, invest in cute flats. If you can’t get to the gym, get a running stroller. And so on.

More after the jump!

Let's just cut to the chase here, this stuff WORKS!! I have heard that this is a favorite among models but how much help do models need really? I need the strong stuff, not the superficial cream for minor blemishes, I've got serious problems here! That is why I haven't tried it until it was given to me to review. After having 2 kids, the skin on my stomach looks like something out of a sci-fi alien movie, it was certainly not the human skin I was born with. I don't mind sporting my pooch but I stop at wrinkly, bunchy, wavy skin. It is enough to make me phone a plastic surgeon. I've tried every kind of cream, very expensive ones, and they had some positive results but none like this one. After 2 weeks of use, the skin on my tummy is visibly smoother. I can't say much for the actual loss of fat but it definitely makes me look nicer and therefore in my mind skinnier. The main ingredient is L-carnitine which is natural in the body and metabolized fat into energy. It comes with dietary supplements that will help this process but I am taking other vitamins already so I did not take these (and I still had results!). Nivea Good Bye Cellulite with 30 day supplements at Amazon for $20.47.