Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Keep your skin safe this summer!




With summer in full swing, we really need to make sure we’re keeping our skin, and more importantly, the kids’, safe from the harsh rays of the sun while we’re out and about at the beach, park, or playing outside on the jungle gym. While reading through the Big City Moms Parenting Center, we stumbled across a really interesting article by a skin care expert. Take a couple minutes to read through the facts and advice that we think is so so important this time of year!

Did you know the skin of a newborn baby can be five times thinner than an adult’s? We had no idea! Because the skin is still developing at this stage in a baby’s life, it is not able to produce enough melanin (or our natural form of sun protection), and therefore is much more susceptible to sun damage. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents try to keep children younger than 6 months out of the sun completely. If you don’t have some article of clothing to cover as much of the skin as possible, parents can apply small amounts of sun screen to the face and other areas of the body. These days, companies have even created clothing that has built in UV protection! My Swim Baby has a ton of cute UV Protection Clothing on their website. We love this iPlay Tie Rash Guard & Swim Diaper! Visit My Baby Swim at
www.myswimbaby.com!



Now when it comes time to pick a sunscreen, there are several things to keep in mind. First, you should decide if you want to go with the more typical, chemical sunscreens, or something more natural. With natural sunscreens, you’re keeping the chemicals to a minimum and still keeping your kids’ skin safe. Mineral-based sunscreens are a little different than chemical ones because the sunscreen creates a reflective layer on the surface of the skin, whereas with chemical sunscreens the ingredients work within the cells to prevent sun damage. After picking which type of sunscreen is for you and the kids make sure you select a product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. The U.S. FDA does not require sunscreens to guard against UVA rays! Crazy, we know. Most experts suggest picking a sunscreen with an SPF higher than 35, which protects for 97% - 98% of harmful UV rays, but you can always go higher!

If you have a second, visit the Big City Moms website at bigcitymoms.com. You can learn about so many great events for families going on in the New York Area. Also, if you want more sun-safe information, the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org has tons of information!

Don’t forget to “Like” our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LuckyLilDarlings

and

Follow us on Twitter @luckylildarling.

Now, go have some fun in the sun!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Three fun and tasty things to do with a watermelon!

During a hot summer afternoon, slicing into a nicely chilled watermelon sounds like paradise! Disney’s Family Fun website has found some fun and creative ways to eat this delicious fruit.

Make a Melon Manor

First, scoop out all of the delicious fruit of the watermelon and place them in a bowl. We like to use a melon baller and turn the watermelon into a bowl of delicious bite-size treats! Second, after you have the melon rind; slice off one end so you have a flat bottom to set your future house on. Third, start carving! Cut out windows and a door with a small knife. If you’re a pumpkin-carving champion, try adding some designs! Lastly, grab some toothpicks and add a door, the roof from the end you sliced off before and even some landscaping if you’re feeling ambitious.

Your kids will have a blast playing with this cute little house!

Cut out some watermelon cookies!

Watermelon cookies? That’s right! All you need is a watermelon, vanilla Greek yogurt, and some sprinkles. First, slice your juicy watermelon into 1 inch slabs as big as you can make them. Second, let your kids take over! Give them some fun cookie cutters so they can make shapes out of the watermelon slices. Last, smear on some delicious Greek yogurt and some sprinkles for decoration. It’s a tasty and healthy snack, and you don’t even have to turn on the oven!

These could also be a great addition to a summer barbeque or dinner party. Your friends will be amazed at your creativity, and how delicious they are!

Mix it up with a Watermelon Banana Split

With watermelon, berries, bananas, granola, and whipped cream… your kids will love this fruity snack! First, cut a banana in half and place in no a plate. Second, scoop out a couple of watermelon balls to place on top with an ice cream scoop to make them extra-big. Last, squeeze a little whipped cream on top, sprinkle some berries and granola, and you’re good to go!

You can even make this delicious treat dairy free by skipping out on the whip cream!




We hope you’re as excited as we are to bust out these yummy watermelon tricks and treats! For more fun cooking ideas visit http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/



Don’t forget to follow us @Luckylildarling, and “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Lil-Darlings/231817833497521


Friday, July 8, 2011

We all know that swimsuit season can be one of the most dreaded times of the year… scratch that it IS the most dreaded time of the year. BUT we’ve found some great advice from Bradyley Bayou, fashion designer and author of “The Science of Sexy”. Bayou has dressed a-list celebs like Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Felicity Huffman, Kiera Knightly, and many others! He has great tips for moms of every shape and size on finding the perfect swimsuit for your body type. Check out some of Bayou’s comments on how these sexy celebs have found a swimsuit that works perfectly with their shape.

We think these tips are great! Make sure you “Like” Bradley’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bradley-Bayou/140435025223 and follow him on Twitter @BradleyBayou.

SHORT LEGS OR TORSO: such as Julianne Hough
Choose a suit with a high-cut leg. There are really interesting one-pieces out there now with cut outs—pick one where the leg is exposed as much as possible. Boy-cut shorts are not for you.


STOMACH AREA: KE$HA
Do pick either a high-waisted bikini or a one-piece that will pull you in. Don't pick
a low-rise bikini!

SMALL BUST: just like AnnaLynne McCord
You can go as skimpy as you like up top, but choose suits that have their prints or embellishments on the top rather than the bottom, like ruffles or beading.




BIG BUST: Sophia Vergara
Choose a suit with support—either a bra-shaped or halter top with underwire will work best for you. Choose a darker color on top with a brighter color or print on the bottom. You can choose a bikini or full-piece depending on your midsection, and with either type of suit make sure any embellishments are on the lower half to balance your bustline.

NO WASTE: Sarah Hyland
Choose a one-piece with a V-neck, as plunging as you feel comfortable with a belted waist, preferably in a contrasting or bright color.

LONG BODY example: Miranda Kerr
Tankinis or a one-piece will work well on you—any top with an empire waistline. If you want to do a two-piece just make sure you minimize the distance between your top and bottom. For example, a shorter tankini is okay if paired with a high-waisted bottom.



While your logged on, make sure you “Like” Lucky L’il Darlings new Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Lil-Darlings/231817833497521 and our Twitter @LuckyLilDarling.

Friday, July 1, 2011

TGIF!

We hope everyone is ready for an amazing 4th of July! Lucky L’il Darlings has put together our own little list of the Top 5 Family Fun things to do this holiday.

1. Have some fun in the sun! Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack in the Hamptons is perfect place to spend the day with the kids. The beach there has wide open spaces so your little ones won’t be throwing sand on your neighbor’s blanket when they are trying to dig a hole to China – giving you a little time to sit back and relax. Maybe even read a book! Be sure to check if you need a parking pass before you head out, parking is difficult to say the least! And we all know there’s nothing like driving around in circles with your kids in the back screaming to get out and play in the sun. If you’re looking for a little seaside help, Lucky L’il Darlings babysitters will be in the Hamptons this weekend, ready to help out and make your weekend that much better.






2. Go fly a kite at the Long Island Children’s Museum in Garden City! Who needs to buy a kite when you can just make one! From 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm learn how to make your own kite, for FREE. Use your creativity and make your kite come alive in the sky. This is a great activity for parents and kids!



3. Bring the whole family out for a day of fun at Belmont Park Race Track! Sunday, July 3rd from 1-4 pm in Elmont on Long Island, the Family Fun Day will feature face painting, a petting zoo and fun carnival games. What a fun way to spend an afternoon with the kids!

4. Chow down at one of New York’s best Crawfish Boils! For all you seafood lovers that want to try a Southern-Style Crawfish Boil, The Village Pourhouse on the corner of 11th street and 3rd avenue in NYC is the place to be. For $40 per person, you can enjoy 2 crawfish baskets, unlimited Southern Chicken Sliders, Potato Salad, Corn-on the Cob and other sides. This deal is open from 6 pm – 8 pm on July 4th, giving you plenty of time to catch the fireworks afterwards. To buy tickets check out this website: http://downtownnyc.villagepourhouse.com/?p=events&i=2.





5. Go see the best fireworks in town! Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks never ceases to amaze us. This year on July 4th, beginning at approximately 9 p.m., Macy's will have fireworks being released from six barges in the Hudson River. This year's theme is The Gift of Freedom marking the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, as well as the 235th birthday of the United States. The music will be performed in sync with the fireworks and you can tune in on 1010 WINS to listen.


We hope you like some of these fun ideas for this 4th of July Weekend. We wish you the best weekend ever. Have fun and be safe!