My 10-year-old son has suffered from chapped lips since he was 6. Not just the chapped lips we all get once in a while: he looks like a clown from October to March. Once the dentist actually stopped working on his filling, stood up, and asked me: "What are you going to do about his lips? They're getting infected." Talk about embarrassing... after trying every lip balm around (and having to chase after him with the dreaded stick as soon as he saw it), I brought him to the doctor. His diagnosis: "lip licking." All I had to do was get him to stop. Okaaaay...I needed another solution.

I found it: Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy. It really did work overnight. And he doesn't mind putting it on -- it's light, creamy without being greasy, doesn't burn, and has no smell. It'll be the first Thanksgiving in years my mother-in-law doesn't walk in and announce: "What's wrong with his face? Don't you take care of him?"

They also have a daytime product that I think you're supposed to use with the nighttime one, but to be honest, the nighttime worked so well, I didn't even use the daytime one. Just wanted to share this find in case any of you are dealing with the same thing! It costs around five bucks and you can find it in most drugstores and supermarkets.

Here’s a new kind of Thanksgiving dressing...clothing made to wear on your annual holiday shopping sprint. God bless the legions of moms who rise before dawn and make their way, coffee in hand, to Toys R Us, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart.

I confess, I have never had the energy, since I always host a whopping big dinner the day before -- or should I say the night before, since the last relative rarely leaves before 10:00 p.m. But I have a friend who goes every year with her neighbors, and they try to make it a girls’ morning (night? It’s still dark when they leave) out.

If you, too, make a tradition of dashing to door-buster sales with your pals, donning these celebratory duds will add to the fun. Or at least, squash the temptation you must feel (admit it) to bag the whole thing when the alarm goes off. ("We bought outfits! We have to go!")

Head to Black Friday Apparel for the dish.

 

Fashion, celebrities, and an amazing cause are the basis of Pediped’s Stars for a Wish online auction of autographed little kicks. Together, Pediped and over 50 celebrities have teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in hopes of fulfilling children’s dreams and improving their overall quality of life and happiness. Celebs include Halle Berry, Jennie Garth, Faith Hill, Charlie Sheen, Shaquille O’Neal, and 100% of the proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

Pediped's minimum goal is $25,000, and you only have until November 5th to place your bids! The highest bidder will receive not only one-of-a-kind footwear for their little star, but also a plaque and a certificate of authenticity.

 

 

 

I know, “green” cleaners smell good and look pretty and you want to use them. Trouble is, most of the time they don’t really work (at least the ones I’ve tried). But I just stumbled upon BabyGanics. The line was created by two dads who worked hard to make their cleaners truly natural, organic, and non-toxic...and guess what...the cleaners really clean!

I’m addicted to cleaning wipes, and theirs took every last smudge and scuff off my white table, the kitchen counters sparkle...my mother-in-law was visiting when I was using the products, and even she was impressed. And she’s never impressed, believe me. Plus the wipes are nice and big and stretchy; you’d have to really try to rip one. And the prices, though of course higher than traditional supermarket mass brand cleaners, are totally reasonable.

 

All right, moms of little girls. How much willpower do you have? Today's temptation comes in the form of amazing, OMG-she’ll-be-the-cutest-one-at-grandma’s dresses. Now, I know we’ve all discovered fortitude we didn’t know we had in these economic times, but as the mom of a 6-year-old little diva myself, I know sometimes...you just have to. This may be one of those times.

Meet Cupcakes and Pastries, a trendy, chic, versatile line with an ethnic flair. Though they debuted this past spring, they are still under the radar…but not for long, I’m sure. The fabrics, patterns, and trimmings will make her the star of the show this holiday season, a standout in a sea of traditional velvet and plaid. And after the holidays, the frocks live on as tunics that are just as stylish over jeans. Sizes run from 12-18 months up to 8.