Fashion-Themed Kids Birthday Party

Written by Lisa M.

Kids love to dress-up and pretend to be adults. A fashion-themed party lets them feel like movie stars and can be a lot of fun. Boys and girls can both have fun dressing up in stylish clothing and walking down a pretend runway. A fashioned-theme party will require some extra effort on your part, but it can definitely be worth it. Here are some tips to help you throw the perfect fashion-themed birthday part for your little one:

1. Make sure everyone knows what kind of party it is.

On the party invitations, you should explicitly state that you’re going to be throwing a fashion-themed party. On the invitations, you should also suggest that the party guests bring two or three fashionable outfits to wear.

2. Get some ties, jewelry, and other accessories.

You should probably have some extra dress shirts and blazers for boys and dresses for girls on hand. In addition to that, make sure you have plenty of pretty jewelry for the girls to wear and ties for the boys to wear. You don’t have to go out and spend money on these accessories, since you probably already have some at your house. However, you probably don’t want to let the party guests wear your most valuable jewelry. You can always pick up some costume jewelry for the party if you don’t feel comfortable sharing yours.

3. Prepare your house for a fashion show.

A fashion themed party isn’t much fun without a fashion show. So, move all the furniture in your living room to the side, and create enough space in the middle of the living room for the kids to parade around in their stylish clothes. You may even want to roll out a long rug in the middle of the room for the kids to take turns walking down. You should also make sure you have plenty of mirrors set up around the house to allow the kids to look at themselves before the fashion show.

4. Prepare for your role as makeup artist/hairstylist.

Make sure you have some makeup for the girls (unless you’re opposed to makeup), hair gel for the boys, and hair styling product and hair spray for the girls. You may also want to have some nail polish on hand. The kids will probably need some help applying makeup and getting their hair ready, so you’ll need to be mentally prepared to help them out. The girls can paint each other’s nails to save you some work. You may want to ask some other parents to stay at the party and help you help the kids get ready for the fashion show.

5. Don’t expect everything to go as planned.  

No child’s birthday party is perfect. Just focus on keeping the kids safe and happy, and make sure the birthday girl or boy has the most fun possible.

About the author: Lisa is a guest blogger on the subjects of children’s parties, life as a working mother, and how to throw a Mario birthday party and other themed parties. 

Online Dating: Tales from a Single Mom

In an attempt to get over my Yummy friend, some of my gals tried to convince me to update my online dating profile and actively look for dates. (Why is it that people think you need to start dating someone new in order to get over someone old? I like to take my time to heal. But I digress...) After a few weeks of blowing them off, I agreed to it. I updated the profile to reflect that I'm the perfect combo of "sweet" and "badass" (thanks to being born and raised in BK).

The first guy that I decided was worth my time (let's just call him "Bachelor #1") was cute and seemed funny and interesting... at first. We spoke all but four times before he decided to get all cray cray on me. Not only did dude tell me that I "make him feel like he's in heaven" (*rolls eyes*), but he also called me his girlfriend and insisted on coming over to my house! (Umm... it's not gonna be that easy for you to get laid, man.) Naturally, a sista had to give it to him straight. Cue Big Pun: "I don't know you, man!" I told him that I thought he was cool at first, but then started to come on too strong, so I was going to fall back (like, all the way back.)

The second guy, "Bachelor #2," was sweet and nice. But... he spelled like he didn't finish the fifth grade. (I'm not kidding!) So, yeah... that was never going to work out. The only problem was, dude just didn't "get it" when I blatantly told him that I was no longer interested. He kept insisting that I give him my phone number so we can "cuntingue dis convo ova textin." (Umm... what part of "no" don't you understand?!) My girls, L, T (the one who lives in Miami), and I now refer to him as "Mr. Thirst."

Bachelor #3 reached out to me a few days later. He appeared to be a good catch -- he looked good in his picture, he was a good speller and his grammar was on point, and seemed like a hardworking dude. That's why I let his initial message of, "I'm sure you get hundreds of these messages a day, but I think I'm worth your time..." slide. (I do get lots of those messages. And they annoy me.) He and I started talking and seemed to take a liking to each other rather quickly.

At some point we decided to try to meet up in person. (That's the only way you can tell if you really like someone anyway, right? Offline?) He's a lawyer and works long hours at the office, and I'm really busy with motherhood, work, and freelancing. So our schedules just wasn't  matching up. We'd plan dates and one of us would have to cancel at the last minute for one reason or another. This went on for like a month, and eventually I was going to give up. (Setting up a first date shouldn't be this hard, right?) But Miami T said I should give it a go. "You really want me to get over Yummy, don't you?" was my response to her.

Finally all the stars aligned and we were both free on the same night. And there were no cancellations. Score! It was a month in the making and the anticipation was making me feel really excited. We met up at this swanky bar in Midtown Manhattan where the music was good and the drinks were better. Still, I made the decision to sit at the bar just in case it turned out to be a total bust and I'd have to make an excuse to get the heck outta there. (I'm just saying...)

The date? How can I put this nicely? This guy... was a snob and a half! Ugh! Within ten minutes of sitting down at the bar, dude tells me that not only does he make $200K/year, but that in five years, he wants to make $500K/year. (Ummm... strike 1. No one cares how much money you make -- it's a first date, not a marriage.)

Within thirty minutes of sitting at the bar, dude starts telling me how much he loves girls in short skirts because he's a "legs man." (Ummm... strike 2. Not only is that more than a little offensive because I was wearing a skirt above my knee, but it was also more than a little creepy. Eek!)

Before the hour was up, dude managed to tell me that he must not be as smart as me because I went to Columbia for undergrad and grad school, and he went to Duke for undergrad and NYU for law school. (Ummm... strike 3. Duke and NYU are both good schools and he should take pride in where he went to school! Dude obviously has insecurity issues or something like that.)

By the end of the date, I was laughing at him and not with him. At that point, I could see why some people date online -- because they're awkward, and dating offline must be really hard for them. When the waiter brought us the check, dude pulled out a wad of cash (even though he only had two drinks and I had one cocktail). He also made it a point to show me the hundred dollar bill in his wallet. (FYI: that doesn't impress me. Pulling out a Black card, however, might do the trick.)

As we were walking out of the bar, he exclaimed, "Maybe we should go bowling next time!" (Ummm... there's not gonna be a "next time," buddy.)

I know that I resolved to go out with different types of guys this year, but this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Sigh. I guess it's back to the drawing board... for now.

When Co-Parenting Fails...

This week I was over on The Young Mommy Life talking about lessons that I've learned thus far in my 20's and how I'm applying them to my life. (If you haven't checked it out, feel free to do so.) One of the things that I spoke about is not co-parenting with Aiden's other parent. That's when I started receiving the messages about the benefits of children having both parents (like I don't know this already...)

When Aiden's other parent and I broke up, in my mind, I thought I was going to be the poster mom for "How to Make Co-parenting Work." I thought that I'd compose these amazingly inspiring posts that'll include tips on getting along with your ex, coordinating schedules so that the child can see and spend time with both parents, effectively communicate... the works. 

If you've been reading this blog, you know that no such posts have been written. Hopefully, though, you still get the inspiring posts. Hopefully. 

The thing is, Aiden's other parent and I are not co-parents. We don't coordinate anything and I make the decisions that have to do with all things Aiden. Co-parenting means when two parents work cooperatively. Simply put: that ain't us.

When I asked him to move out, he made the decision not to be around for Aiden's third birthday party (although he was invited). He made the decision not be around for holidays (although I tried to encourage him to visit). He made the decision not to clear his schedule on the days we agreed would be his days to take Aiden (although I gave him tips on child-friendly places he could take Aiden).

I'm not trying to make him look bad or make myself look good. I try not to write about him or our situation unless I can do so gracefully and with a clear mind. I'm simply stating facts. And simply put: I take care of Aiden. Without him. He hasn't been in Aiden's life at all for the past few months and before that (after we broke up), the time he spent with Aiden was few and far between. I'm okay with that now. I've made peace with the situation.

But then again, he's not my father. And so, I'm putting things in place so that Aiden will be able to deal with this loss or void (or whatever you'd want to call it) in an effective way. 

Co-parenting may be ideal, but when co-parenting fails, the only thing I can do is make peace with the situation, move forward, and teach Aiden that life is about making the best of what you have.

Aiden will have a good life. I will make sure of it. Heck, he already has a full and happy life. At 4-1/2-years-old the kid has traveled to several countries and states and learned about life outside of NYC. In NYC, his schedule is filled with joyous and enriching activities. In the fall, he'll be going to a great prep school that'll help shape him into a socially competent and model citizen. He's destined for greatness. And I'll be damned if I let someone come in and shit all over it. Simply put: he's my baby and it ain't going down like that. Rest your understanding on that. 

Oh, and Happy Easter!

"The Biggest Loser" Host Alison Sweeney Talks Fitness and Nutrition {Interview}

I've been a fan of Alison Sweeney since her bad girl days on "Day of Our Lives" when her character Sami Brady was planning and plotting to keep Austin and Carrie (Sami's half-sister) apart. That was in the mid '90's, and although I was a teenager at the time and the show aired during school hours, my foster mother would tape them and we'd watch it in the evenings. It was that good! Sami was a badass and I loved her.

These days, Alison is still pretty badass, but in quite a different way. Now she's enjoying motherhood, hosting NBC's "The Biggest Loser," gracing the cover of Shape magazine, and penning a book on fitness and weight loss for moms. Oh yeah, and she's still playing Sami Brady on "Days of Our Lives." Pretty badass, huh?

Last week, I chatted with Ali (who, by the way, is an absolute darling!) and she gave lots of tips and tricks to help us get and stay in shape. Here's what she had to say:

Mommy Delicious: Ali, I saw you on the latest cover of Shape magazine, and, my goodness, you look fabulous! Like, hawt!
Alison Sweeney: Oh, wow! Thank you. Thanks so much!

Mommy Delicious: How did you lose all that baby weight? Like, how did you find the time as a busy, working mom?
Alison Sweeney: We are all so busy and all have a million things to do, but I'd say two things to answer that question:
1 -- Decide it's a priority. I would want my kids to make that same choice when it comes to they're health and nutrition. We have to get our kids to understand how important it is. That way, you won't feel guilty [when you away from your kids exercising].
2 -- Put it in your calendar. (What a great suggestion... see why I love Alison?!) Bring your gym clothes to work with you. The same way you'd bring your heels to work with you if you have a dinner date afterwards, bring your gym clothes. That way, you won't have any excuses.

MD: Ali, do you have any tips on how to tone up after losing the baby weight, or weight in general?
AS: New mommies, treat your body like it's an injury. Your body has been through a traumatic event. You have to work yourself back up and work from the inside out. Even your posture is traumatized by carry a baby [for nine months]. But using your stomach muscles to hold up your back and stand up straight helps a lot. Also, toning comes from getting your cardio in so it's important to have a well-rounded workout. I always do cardio -- four-five times per week -- and strength training twice per week.

MD: You know, I hear a lot from people who start exercising, but then they stop after a month or two and go back to their old ways. Do you have any beginner tips for people who are just starting to exercise?
AS: Start from ground zero and build yourself up. Walking is a great way to start. And, after a while, pick up the speed a bit until you're running. "Can't" is not in the vocabulary. You have to commit to making the effort. It's a big time commitment, but you have to commit to just doing it.

MD: Do you have a least favorite workout?
AS: Well, I do like to run, but the 2nd or 3rd hour is hard because it gets boring. But... I kind of embraced the hard parts. You have to embrace why it's tough for your body and just do it.

MD: The reason I asked is because I absolutely hate doing crunches. I mean, I do them... but it's not something that I enjoy.
AS: Well, let's talk about you and your crunches... why don't you like it? (See why I love her so much?!)
MD: It's just... well, boring.
AS: I think you should shake it up a bit. Like, instead of doing a basic crunch, why don't you try something else instead. You can try something fun like squatting with your back against the wall, but be sure to keep your abs tight. Then, throw a ball against another wall, stand up, and then squat back down to catch the ball. It's something that'll get you in a rhythm. And it's fun.

MD: Wow, thanks so much! Any quick tips on nutrition?
AS: Set yourself up for success.
1 -- Pack your own lunch. That way, you never feel trapped in a situation where you're forced to eat fast food or something unhealthy from the vending machine.
2 -- Don't have a lot of artificial sugar because you don't want your system to crave that, but you want it to adjust to a natural palette.
3 -- When you have a craving for sweets, try fruits. They're much healthier and they have natural sugar.

Pick up the latest issue of Shape magazine where Alison is sharing even more tips on how she lost her baby weight and worked her way out to be a healthier woman. Also, check out her book, The Mommy Diet, which includes loads of information on all things nutrition and fitness.

Thanks so much to Ali for all these great tips! Who's feeling inspired to work it out?!

Accessorize for Motherhood with Pamela Pekerman! PLUS, An iPad Case Giveaway!

Last week, I had the pleasure of stepping out in style (always!) when I attended Accessorize for Motherhood hosted by Pamela Pekerman. Pamela is a Lifestyle Correspondent, Host, Accessory Expert, and Spokesperson (talk about multi-tasking!) and she was able to provide guests to the event with the latest and greatest spring trends designed to keep us sane, sexy, and sassy.

Located at the Bollare NYC Showroom, the event featured hairdos by Conair, gel manicures by Senses NY Salon and Spa, mimosas, mingling, and all things accessories.

I was feeling particularly flirty that day/evening so I wore a classy and equally sexy black dress that featured a V-neckline. I covered the dress with a bold pink blazer, and finished the look off with patterned tights, fun heels, and natural makeup. Shout out to the gorgeous Nichelle (aka @StyleMom) for taking this shot of me!

{Dress and blazer: H&M; Shoes and tights: Aldo's;
Necklace: Michael C. Fina;
Make-up: MAC}

The fashion was on-point, but can we talk about the beauty treatments for a mere moment? I usually wear my hair straight, but I'm totally feeling the loose curls in my hair that was created by the Conair Infiniti Pro curling iron. Are you?

And, it's official... my latest beauty obsession is the gel manicure. It's like magic! It's been five days and my manicure looks as good as new. I've cooked, cleaned, done laundry, and did some other questionable things, and the manicure is still going strong -- no chipping, no dullness. It's totally giving me life right now!

{Love the deep purple --
OPI Lourve Me, Lourve Me Not}

I'm not one to brag, but the gift bag was pretty dope. But because I love you (and I'm all about sharing the wealth), I'm giving away one of the sweet items from the gift bag -- a FREE personalized iPad case from Confections! Visit the website and you'll see that you can (1) chose from many different styles, and (2) personalize the case by adding your name on it. Pretty neat, huh? Just leave a comment below and one person will be chosen via random.org on Friday, April 6th.

Who's ready for a fashionable, fabulous, and delicious week?!

{Disclaimer: Event attendees received a gift bag at the event, including the Conair Infiniti Pro and a Senses NY Salon and Spa gift card. It was a pretty big bag. Later that night, I had a first date with this guy that I've been trying to coordinate a date with for about a month. I showed up to the date with a the huge gift bag. It made for a funny introduction. (More on that in a later post... stay tuned!)}

Seeing Your Ex For The First Time After A Breakup

Breakups can suck big time — we all know that. What sucks even more is when you have mutual friends with your ex, which means that you’re bound to run into said ex at one social event or another. Keep these things in mind if you think a run-in may take place:

1. Decide if you should sit this one out.
How can you know for sure that you’re ready to see them again? I mean, what if your fingers just happened to type in your ex’s name when you were logged on to Facebook, and you just happened to see their new default picture is with a potential new flame? Can you handle seeing your ex being lovey dovey with someone else? And what if, during your Facebook stalking (I mean, “research”), it appears that your ex is still single? Can you handle being in the same place and space with said ex while the both of you are unattached? If the answer is yes, then you’re good to go; if not, find something better to do that night. Yeah, you don’t want to let your ex ruin your social life, but if you’re not over it, it’s not worth it.

2. Remember the goal.
Obviously your main goal for going to any social event should be because you want to show your support to the host(s) and have a good time. But in the case where an ex will also be present, you now have a new goal: getting through the event gracefully. Without fumbling. And without slipping back into “that place” where you end up spilling your guts to your former lover about how much you still love them/need them/can’t live without them.

Head on over to HowAboutWe's The Date Report to read the rest of this article where I'm dishing about how to get through a party with your former looovvveeerrrr present.

House of Consignment Helps with eBay Selling

Fashionistas, I hope you've been tuning in to VH1's latest 10-episode reality show, "House of Consignment." If you haven't, it's not to late to play catch up.

The show features a Chicago entrepreneur and fashionista Corri McFadden, who's main mission is to improve the way women shop (and make money... hold off on the comments -- you'll see what I'm talking about in a mere moment). In the show (and in real life) Corri and her team of 20something fashionistas take in thousands of dollars worth of high-end brand items into their Lincoln Park retail store, eDrop-Off. Then, they sell the items for big bucks on... you guessed it... eBay!

{Corri McFadden}

The catch? They only take fashion items and accessories from top designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, Chanel, Versace... you get my drift. If it's not couture and if it doesn't come from an exclusive designer, then it's not for eDrop-Off. Sounds kind of high-maintenance and stuck up, right?

Not quite. Corri had humble beginnings and this entire concept began as her senior project in fashion design school. Now, it's turned her into a young and successful business woman and the owner of a multi-million dollar company. Which brings me to my original point: Corri can teach us all a thing or two about how to make money on eBay. (I'm just saying...)

So... in addition to tuning into "House of Consignment" to see what the fashionistas are rocking each week and for the drama that is reality TV (let's not forget about the drama!), we can tune in to it to see just how Corri and her team does it. We can see how they take photos of items, how they list items on eBay (their choice of words for listing items, etc), how they price items, and how they ship it off. We can also see what's hot -- what's currently selling and what's not selling. Corri's no rookie. She knows her eBay stuff and it's made her some big bucks. (Not to mention that it's landed her on VH1 as well.)

Time for us to learn what Corri already knows. (And if you're new to selling on eBay, visit this post where I share basic tips for newbie eBay sellers... you're welcome!)

Who's in?

Also, eBay will host a live auction for fans to bid on one, special item that was featured in each episode. Pretty neat, huh?

Again... who's in?

{Disclaimer: As an eBay Parent Panel Ambassador, each post that mentions eBay is sponsored by eBay. All opinions expressed herein are my own.}