Oscars 2011: Best & Worst Picks

First, I have to say that the show was pretty boring and predictable, so those of you who missed it--didn't miss much. But I know you're all dying to hear my picks for best and worst dressed, right?!! I know you couldn't even sleep last night with the anticipation of what I might say (HAHA). Honestly, I know most of you won't care but here's what I thought of last nights fashion.

Overall, the fashion was pretty simple. Nothing too over the top, no big fashion moment in my opinion, but are the ladies I think got it right....and those who were better of staying home....

The Real Winners: Sandra Bullock, Mila Kunis, Halle Berry.

I thought Sandy looked absolutely beautiful and hit it out of the park in this Vera Wang gown. Mila Kunis probably gets top billing for Best Dressed from me. I absolutely looved this lavender lace gown by Ellie Saab. Halle Berry always looks gorgeous--it's a bit sickening to be honest. Her body looks impeccable (of course) in this nude Marchessa gown.

Fashion Kudos: Helen Mirren and Hailee Steinfeld.

Helen Mirren is a goddess--there, I said it. I love her and she is totally WORKIN' this Vivienne Westwood Couture gown! Hailee looks as cute as button. FINALLY there's a teenager in Hollywood actually dressing like a teenager! This tea length Marchessa princess dress is absolutely adorable on her.

Black Beauty: Camila Alves.


...and the award for "Dress I would most want to steal" goes to, Camila Alves. This dress is absolutely STUNNING-- I can't stand it!! So simple, classic, and modern. Plus it fits her like a glove. Total red carpet perfection in my book.


Nice, But....: Jennifer Hudson, Mandy Moore, Hilary Swank.

I liked each one of these dresses but I think something went a little wrong with all of them. Mandy Moore looked pale as a ghost. Her dress is gorgeous, but I couldn't stop thinking "Man! girlfriend needs a tan!" Hilary Swank looked nice but needed to turn it up a notch. She wore no jewelry and minimal make-up--Yawn. I'm not gonna lie, I really liked Jennifer Hudson dress, but her hair and the boobage situation killed it for me. (see below.)


Fashion Notes: Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon.

I know that these dresses got a lot of buzz on the net, so I wanna put my two cents in too. They're not my favorite, but I don't think they're the worst either.

Gwyneth looked nice, I'm not sure why everyone is going gaga over this dress--it's okay, at best. (oh, another note: Gwyneth, stick to acting honey, your singing was painful. Just sayin')

Cate's Givenchy dress has practically caused a world uproar. Forget the crisis in the middle east, people are talking about this friggin dress! What do I think? hmm..I loved the structure, but I wasn't crazy about the wart-like beading all over. That's it. :)

Ok, a lot of people thought Jennifer Lawerence looked nice but I think all she was missing was a rescue tube and the Baywatch theme song playing in the background. Pass.


Reese Witherspoon wore this black and white Giorgio Armani Prive, and instantly I thought I was having a fashion flashback. It totally reminded me of Julia Robert's vintage Valentino circa 2001-- even up to the retro pony tail, don't you think? I even went to google it to make sure it wasn't the same dress! I might be crazy but I thought she had a little Julia Roberts aura going on.

Go Home Ladies, Go Home : Nicole Kidman, Marissa Tomei, Amy Adams.

Whoever told Nicole Kidman the priest's stole she had sewn on her hips looked chic, needs to be locked away. It's not cute Nicole.

Marissa, why? Why do you have to do this to me? Why must you make me talk bad about you?? You know how much I love you, but that dress needs to be taken off immediately.

I was surprised to hear how many people like Amy Adams? This dress drove me crazy all night. I hated the cut. The hair was a bore, and don't get me started on the necklace I wanted to yank off her and not because it was 1.4 MILLION dollars in diamonds but because it looked horrendous with her dress.

Whew!
Now that I got all of that off my chest, I wanna hear what you have to say! What were you're picks for best and worst dressed of the night?

The Maxi Skirt Trend: Are You On Board?

There's already been a few celebrities rocking what's to be a major trend this spring: The Maxi Skirt. This long and flowy silhouette is the lovechild of the ever so popular maxi dress, but this year it has reinvented itself to be one of the hottest commodities.




I personally ♥ love it ♥, but I know it's not for everyone. So I want to know....

Deal Of The Day: Disney Fleece Blankets.

Disney has their character fleece blankets for only $5.99 (originally $19.50). You can even personalize them just for a few bucks more!

The down side: they don't have too many to choose from--but if you're kids love Tiana, Repunzel, Tinker Bell, or Jack Skellington then you've scored you're self a sweet deal!

A Simple Day To Night Look.

I know we're all busy bunnies--running around doing a MILLION things at once, and sometimes we don't have time to change into a whole new outfit for date night or dinner with friends. So just spray on some perfume, slap on some lipstick, add a few accessories and completely change your boring day outfit into a hot night outfit in a matter of seconds!

Striped Shirt: $14.99 (Target)
Cropped Jeans: $38.00 (Nordstrom)
Hobo Bag: $39.95 (Nine West)
Ballet Flats: $59.95 (Steve Madden)

Striped Shirt: $14.99 (Target)
Cropped Jeans: $38.00 (Nordstrom)
Military Jacket: $230.00 (The Outnet)
Papaya Chiffon Clutch: $98.00 (J.Crew)
Gold Metallic Wedge: $119 (Bluefly)

Chipotle: Buy One Get One Free Coupon.

Love Chipotle?

I know I do! Right now they have an exclusive offer on the America's Next Great Restaurant's Facebook page. All you have to do is watch the video and after it will display a coupon you can print out for a Buy One Get One Free Burrito, Bowl, Taco, or Salad! Valid thru March 3rd.

I got minez already. ;)

Fancy Nancy Body Lotions & Powder Set {Review}

Want to make your little girls feel extra fancy? SJ Creations has just the thing. A whole line of Fancy Nancy beauty products!! After all, nobody knows fancy like Nancy, right? :)


They were kind enough to send my daughter, Arianna the Ooh La La Body Lotions (don't you just love the name?) in Strawberry Parfait and Glamorous Grape, and WOW did she love them! She instantly went crazy slathering them on and fell in love with their Strawberry Parfait lotion telling me it smelled like "yummy strawberries and creeeam". Not only do they smell scrumptious but their packaging is just a sweet and their smell!



The Shimmering Body Powder is just as adorable. It smells utterly delightful and comes with it's own fluffy powder puff (what little girl wouldn't love that?). The powder itself has glitter in it which your little ones will love because it makes them sparkle. But Moms you might want to be careful with this one--the powder can get a little messy.


Overall, I think they're great products that will make all little girls feel just as Glamorous as Fancy Nancy!

If you want to see more of SJ Creations Fancy Nancy products make sure to check out www.sjcreationsinc.com

Right now they're offering my readers a 15% off any order of $20 or more by simply using the Coupon Code: SAVE-15. You might also want to take advantage of the free shipping offer for anything over $35.

Mimi Boutique Clutch & Scarf Giveaway!!--CLOSED.

Ladies, I have a great online accessories boutique for you to check out! Mimi Boutique has an incredible selection of jewelry, handbags, accessories and more. Plus for you beauty junkies, they even offer body scrubs, soaps, and fun flavored lipgloss, like their 100% natural Mojito lip balm or Creamsicle Pop lip balm. Yum!

I found them scouring the internet for fabulous finds, and I'm glad I did! They're the perfect fit for us moms who love to stay on top of trends but don't have (or want to) spend a ton of money updating our accessories. If you have champagne taste on a beer budget (ahem, like myself) they're definitely what you're looking for.

Their Philosophy:

"Mimi Boutique was founded upon the principal that women of all walks of life ought to be able to accessorize their wardrobe with affordable fashion items."

Just check out this amazing Chole designer inspired bag. The real deal would cost you over a grand to acquire and for $82 bucks you can get the same look!


One of my personal favorite's is this Mulberry inspired satchel that I included in my Sarah Jessica Parker's Look For Less post for only $62.


Like what you see? Make sure to check them out at www.mimiboutique.com to find more fantastic finds, and keep reading for a special treat they have in store for one of you!

Giveaway:
Mimi Boutique is graciously giving one Babblings of a Mommy reader this super cute Bow Clutch Wallet and stylish Leopard Print Scarf. (a $65 value!)

(US ONLY)

-High quality faux leather
-Bow and padlock accent
-Detachable shoulder strap
-Clutch measures approx. L10" x H5" x W3/4"

-Soft light weight leopard print scarf
-Tones: Tan, Brown and Black
-70% Cotton, 30% viscose
- Measures approx. L 78" x W 24" with a 4" fringe


Mandatory Entry:
"Like" Mimi Boutique on Facebook or follow them on Twitter

For Extra Entries:

• Become a new GFC Follower (If you're already a follower let me know you are)
• Subscribe to my feed HERE
  
• Become a Facebook fan and "like" my page. Be sure to leave a comment about the contest!
  
• Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs and Picket Fence Blogs
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this to me: "I hope I win the Bow Clutch and Scarf from @mimiboutique at http://babblingsofamommy.blogspot.com @babblingofmommy"
• Add my button to your site.

It's that simple! Remember each one counts as a different entry so be sure to enter them separately. Giveaway ends March 13th . A winner will be selected by random.org and will be announced on my blog, so be on the lookout for your name!

*I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Love It Or Leave It; Bumble and Bumble, Yes To Cucumbers, & Pantene.

Hey everyone! I haven't done a Love it or Leave it post in a while, and I thought I'd share with you some new products I've tried over the past few weeks. Some I've really, really liked and some...not so much. Find out why:

Bumble and Bumble: Does It All styling spray.

OMG. I looove this stuff!! This is probably the best hairspray I've ever tried! I'm dead serious. It's very lightweight, it leaves your hair soft and touchable but it's still holds. It doesn't leave your hair sticky or icky (like most hairsprays do) and you can pretty much use it for anything! You can use it before styling, or after, or even for BOTH, and it still won't weigh down you're hair at all.

I used it before straight ironing my hair and after curling my hair and it did an amazing job on both. My hair was completely soft and manageable even after building it up with a lot of product. I know that some people mention that it has a slight odor, but I don't find the smell offensive or strong at all. Maybe for people that have sensitive noses, it might bother you, but as far as I'm concern the smell is perfectly fine. I find that most hairsprays have a strong smell anyway and this is by far one of the lesser evils out there.

www.bumbleandbumble.com

Verdict: Love It!
Price: $25


Yes To Cucumbers: Facial Towelettes

I love me a facial towelette and these are all natural and infused with cucumbers. Sounds great, right?

Wrong.

I thought I'd be getting a mini facial with these incredible ingredients, but all I got was a serious burn after using it. It did remove all my make-up, including my eye makeup, so I'll give it that. But I don't know why the hell it has to burn so much! It's not even like a nice "tingling" feeling after, no it's a straight up BURN, people. I don't even have sensitive skin so I would hate to see what this does for you people who do. I would stay clear of this makeup remover.

www.yestocarrots.com

Verdict: Leave it.
Price: $5.99


Pantene: Beautiful Lengths

I can't tell you what an amazing transformation this product line has done for my hair. It's left it super shiny and 10x's healthier! Especially their replenishing mask. I looove this thing. You leave it on in the shower for about 5 mins and I'm telling you--you WILL see a difference.

The only down side I see is that the packaging is smaller than the regular sized bottles. The shampoo is about 8oz and the replenishing mask is about 7oz. When a regular sized bottle is about 12oz--so you do get robbed a little bit there. Also, I know it says it's specifically for "long hair", but I really don't see why it wouldn't work for shorter hair. If you're looking for a new shampoo, I would definitely give this a try.

www.pantene.com

Verdict: Love it!
Price: $5-$7

Have you tried any of these products?
What's your opinion on them?
Let me know!

5 "Mom" Bags For Spring. {Under $60}

As you know, a great bag is an essential for a mom on the go. These fabulous spring bags are not only stylish, but also big enough to lug around our daily necessities.

Delilah Convertible Tote-$59.95

Hazel Satchel-$59.95

Tasha Convertible Satchel-$54.95

Executive Convertible Satchel-$59.95

Aphrodite Shoulder Bag-$49.95

Mr. Porter: For The Fashionable Men In Our Lives.

Ok, listen up you fashion savvy men (and women who love them). Net-a-porter has now launched it's brother site: Mr. Porter. They feature fabulous selection of mens clothes, shoes, and accessories! From Ralph Lauren to Burberry--they got you covered. Even if you're not in the need to buy anything, they have great editorial content such as 32 essentials every man should own and the monthly Man & Boy column which teaches you how to pass along great style to your son--I love that!

Make sure to check out this great find.

www.mrporter.com

Kids Shampoos: Which One Do You Use?

Hey moms! I wanted to ask you about what kind of shampoo and conditioner you use on your little ones? Once my daughter's hair started growing out, I used L'Oreal kids shampoo for a millisecond. I really liked it, but for some reason it's hard to find in my area, so I switched to Suave Kids.

It's okay. I like that they have a wide variety of scents and that they're affordable, but I feel like they don't leave hair shiny or really moisturized. (Especially for my daughter who has long, thick hair--I need something that will actually keep it healthy and nourish it.)


So I recently switched to an "adult" brand and I'm now using Dove daily moisture shampoo and conditioner. So far I really like the change. It's made her hair much softer, it looks healthier, and less frizzy, plus I don't know if you've smelled Dove, but it smells wonderful. The less frizzy part might also be because I started using the Dove Frizz Tamer Cream on her hair. This is something that I actually use on my own hair and decided to use it on her and see if it made any difference, and BOY did it!

Do you guys do this too?

Do you use "adult" shampoo on your kids or do you prefer to use kids shampoos?

Dora & Friends Magazine Giveaway Winner!

Thanks for everyone who entered the Dora & Friends Magazine Giveaway. It was short and sweet, and we now have a winner!!

Congratulations to...

Rebecca, I'll be contacting you shortly.

For those of you who didn't win this time--I have a GREAT giveaway lined up, so stay tuned!

Deal Of The Day: Walgreens Beauty Items.

Have you checked your weekly circulars yet? You might want to head over to Walgreens and check out their beauty sale...Maybelline new FitMe collection, Neutrogena cosmetics, and Olay skin care are all Buy 1 get 1 50% off! Plus they have discounts on Olay, L'Oreal Youth Code and more. (Sale ends 02/26.)

Go to www.walgreens.com to find a walgreens near you.

1 Pair of Shorts. 2 Spring Looks.

When it comes to spring, you never know if it will be hot one minute or breezy the next, so I find it best to either have a sweater or jacket on hand--and use it to make your outfit! Take these olive Banana Republic heritage shorts for example, mix in a few other pieces and you have 2 different looks to wear this spring!

New Dora Fashion Dolls.

(Btw, don't forget to enter my Dora & Friends Magazine Giveway!!)

Ok, I'm completely jealous of anyone who attended the 2011 Toy Fair in NYC this week. (That's where you get a sneak peak at all the cool toys coming out this year.) Having a girl, one of the toys that definitely got my attention was the new line of Dora fashion dolls named The Dora Dress-Up Collection. They feature four stylish fashion packs that enable girls to dress Dora for whatever adventure comes her way. Each fashion comes with a 32-page storybook themed to the outfit and features a unique art style new to Dora books.

How awesome are these?!

It's 'bout time Dora got a little of a fashion makeover too! Haha. This collection debuts in the Fall.

To see other great toys featured at the Toy Fair 2011 go to iVillage.com

Get The Look & The Look 4 Less {Rachel Bilson}

How sassy does Rachel Bilson look in her cheetah print blouse, studded bag, and gray suede boots? I Love it.

Love it too?

Her blouse is the Speeding Cheetah Roll Up Shirt from C&C California and you can get it through revolveclothing.com for $97. Her boots are a little pricier at $450 (since they're Giuseppe Zanotti's). You can get these babies through farfetch.com


But wait, hold the phone! I found her same exact blouse @Bloomies for an even better price of $55!! If you girlies are looking for alternatives for the rest of her outfit, check out the look for less version below.

Black Denim Leggings: $30 (Tilly's)
Sunglasses: $5.80 (Forever21)
Studded Bag: $49.50 (Roxy)
Gray Suede Boots: $25 (Alloy)