GoodyBlog

Umbrellas for the Sun

I spent a good part of my Sunday waiting in a long line. Our neighborhood park offers free concerts—which sound deceptively line-less—but the organizers count the crowd by slowly applying a wristband to each entering wrist.

It was hot and sunny. People-watching was getting tedious and my iced coffee was running out when I saw what seemed like a mirage. She was pale (like me) but not sweaty or bent over awkwardly reapplying sunscreen (like me). Teetering above her cool head was a lovely red parasol. She was all but singing Jolly Holiday. That night, still envious, I bookmarked a few options.

From left to right, the Harmony parasol, the Lace parasol, and the Stroller parasol.

   

But before I jump on the parasol bandwagon, I wonder: Is the sun umbrella graceful, practical protection, or just one more accessory to keep track of?

Sun-Protective Stroller Blanket

Before you and your kids head outside to enjoy the warm weather this spring, you might want to get your hands on some sun-protective gear - like the Eclipse Solarveil from Secure2Me. This stroller blanket is made from a lightweight, breathable material that blocks 95% of the sun's harmful UV rays, which makes it a great extra layer of sun-protection (remember to always use sunscreen as the first layer!) for your child while you're out on your stroll. And what's even better is that the Eclipse is designed to clip directly onto strollers (not to mention baby carriers, car seats, slings and more) so you don't have to worry about droopy blankets getting caught in stroller wheels or falling along the roadside. Get your own here.

Baby Your Baby's Skin

You know what cold, dry winter air does to your complexion—imagine what it does to your baby's delicate skin. Now that the temperature's dropped, I've resumed toting around Erbaviva's organic lip and cheek balm. Rub it on your baby's chapped spots to heal his skin and protect it from the elements. It's worth snagging a second tube for yourself—it's soothed my cracked lips better than the average "adult" lip balm! (And I'm a sucker for the adorable packaging.)

Watch Your Mouth, Young Lady

I am the whitest white girl ever, so you’ll never catch me forgoing sunscreen. But I always forget to cover up two crucial spots: the part in my hair and my lips. I’ve been getting better about my part, but my lips? I always space out and end up in pain. I bought some lip gloss with SPF once, but it wore off so fast that it was useless. Never again. Instead, I’m bringing an Alba TerraTint with SPF 18 with me when I go on my Miami vacation this week. They actually last and are refreshing too, thanks to added peppermint. Nab one (or more!) of the 5 pretty shades at drugstore.com for $3.99 each.

Rainy Day Cuteness

It's a dreary rainy day here in New York, the kind of day where you have no chance of staying dry unless you walk around in a wetsuit. (Fortunately, my beloved Target boots that I raved about did a stellar job protecting my feet during my emergency coffee run.) It makes me long to be a kid again, when you could wear a whole rain ensemble. Seriously, how cute is this dinosaur rain collection from Kidorable? If your kid isn’t dino-crazy, there are fireman, ladybug, and butterfly themes too. Check them out at macys.com. And moms, have any of you found a cute raincoat that didn't cost a fortune? There seems to be no such thing!

Under My Umbrella (Ella ella eh eh eh)

If rain is on your local weather forecast or your kids just need a break from the hot summer sun, bring the fun indoors with the Color a Funbrella activity kit. Not only will your child have a blast doing this unique arts and crafts project, they'll actually be able to use their personalized umbrella on the next rainy day. (And hats off to the creators for giving kids a reason to get excited about rain!) If anybody knows where to find ready-to-decorate rain boots or other fun indoor projects definitely spread the word!

It's Raining Gifts

Do you ever feel like you just don't have any gift ideas left in you? My friends and I have been exchanging birthday presents for so many years that I just can't buy another scented candle, pair of dangly earrings, or fun t-shirt. This weekend I was feeling so fed up with all the options, when I happened into one of my favorite stores, Pylones. This place has the most fun, random, colorful gifts that are perfect for adults and kids. I picked up one of these funny little character umbrellas for my friend, Laura, and was on my way. Another store I love: Mxyplyzyk. Yes, that's how it's spelled. (And, if you want to know, it's pronounced Mix-ee-pliz-ik.) It's stocked with lots of really cool, well-designed toys, gifts, and home products for kids and grownups.
What are your favorite gift shopping sites?
 

Stock Up On Sunscreen

There are so many great kinds out there now—sprays, sticks, non-greasy lotions—there's bound to be one that your kids won't balk about. It's a good thing: Kids get burned surprisingly quickly (on cloudy days too) but even a tan causes damage that can lead to skin cancer. Test your sun-safety knowledge by taking the American Academy of Dermatology's "Rays Your Grade" quiz. Kids (and parents) actually need sunscreen all year long (I got scorched sitting on the sidelines at my daughter's field hockey game in April)—but it's hard to find a wide selection of brands and SPFs after Labor Day, once the "seasonal" shelves have been filled with back-to-school items. So stock up on your family's favorites now.

Photo via

Bug Zappers

Has anyone else almost forgotten that it's nearly July 4? This whole Wednesday holiday thing is really throwing me off this year. Even if it's last-minute, it's downright un-American (jk) not to spend some time outdoors in the next few days. (Note to self: plan BBQ.) I'm a mosquito magnet so I love Thrifty Mommy's list of cheap ways to fend off the little suckers. My fave: Wear light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothes. Who knew?

[Photo via]

Plug of the Week: Clinique Clarifying Makeup

Not so long ago, I raved about my beloved MAC foundation, and I haven’t fallen out of love with it. But there is one drawback: It’s not quite mattifying enough for summer, when my pubescent-like complexion gets shinier than seems biologically possible. So I’ve run back to an old favorite—Clinique’s Clarifying Makeup. Despite the fact that the humidity is at about 110% in New York City today, my face actually looks quite matte thanks to this oil-control foundation. Trust me, I’ve tried a lot of oil-fighting makeup in the past couple of decades, and this is still the one to beat. And I don’t even have to re-apply it—I just whip out one of my other summertime essentials, Clean & Clear’s oil absorbing sheets—for occasional blotting.

I do have a favor to ask of my excessively-dewy brothers and sisters out there: Have you found a great mattifying lotion? It’s my one skincare quest that remains incomplete. Help a gal out in the comments if you can!