BC Magazine Fall/Anniversary 2014 Nikki DeLoach

8th anniversary bc list: Our favorite products and holiday shopping guide for the early bird the best choices for your family

Laura regan

The Atlas Shrugged star talks pumping on set, how her son takes after her klutziness, and reminisces growing up in Nova Scotia

www.bc-mag.com . Fall/anniversary 2014 $7.95US $8.50CAN

Halloween diy {freak} food fest

How to Get in Ali Landry’s ‘Favor’ Thinspiration—the Trend That’s Affecting Our Daughters Amy Weber

The WWE Diva on Coming From an Abusive Home to a Thriving Music Career, and Forgetting Past Hurts as she Mothers her Twins

The Awkward mom states she is anything but—when it comes to loving son, Hudson. The former Mouseketeer on overcoming career struggles, and being grateful for the hard climb

nikki deloach

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INSIDE BC contents

8 laura regan The Atlas Shrugged star speaks up about child-rearing while pursuing an acting career 20 how clean is too clean Protecting our family against germs is one of our utmost priorities, but when do we cross the over-sanitation line?

32 nikki deloach The Awkward star proves she is anything but when it comes to mothering her son, Hudson 36 wrestling with motherhood The WWE fighter reveals her struggles as a DES survivor and shares her motherhood experiences

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INSIDE BC contents 26 d.i.y. freak {food} fest Prepare for fright night with these easy to make delightful Halloweeen treats 48 {mom & baby} hair and skingenuity Tame your tresses and beautify skin with these fall beauty arsenal 57 bc list It’s never too early to shop for the holidays, especially with these delightful products for you and your brood 76 if these walls could speak Osteopathic doctor-turnedchildren’s photographer Remi Lai shares his passion for stills

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On the Cover: Nikki DeLoach with son, hudson

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Available online at select stores and boutiques nationwide.

Visit LaPiccolaDanza.com for a location near you.

Photography by Dana Colwell

BC MAGAZINE BCMEDIA LLC Kariz Favis Editor-in-Chief

Kariz Favis Chairman & President

Martin Favis Creative Director Marilyn Barton Managing Editor

Valerie Anne del Castillo Senior Editor & Assistant to the Publisher

Ahlee Del Rosario Junior Graphics Artist Carlo Paranada Graphics Artist

Martin Favis Vice President & Publisher Diether Pascual Andrew Baltazar Marilyn Barton Directors Dennis Castillo Online Director

Charina Mitra Finance Manager Stephen Seidel Advertising Manager Maricel Bancolita Account Manager

Contributors Mark Cabalang, Soleil Moon Frye, Dr. Michael Gelb, Adam Hendershott, Sylvia Hendershott, Dr. Howard Hindin, Benjamin James, Remi Lai, Annie McElwain, Paul Norton, Meeno Peluce, Aiya Mai Rodjel, Stacey Rowcliffe, Amy Strozzi, Jovan Townsend, Akemi Yagi

BC (Baby Couture) is published by BC Media LLC, PO Box 772619 Orlando, FL 32877. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. For advertising, subscriptions, back orders, or other inquiries, please call 323.798.8502 or e-mail info@bc-mag.com. Visit us at bc-mag.com, facebook.com/bcmagUS, or twitter.com/bcmagUS. Opinions expressed in this publication are that of the writers’ and are not necessarily endorsed by BC Media LLC. BC is not responsible for unsolicited samples, products, work and materials, and submissions are non-returnable. If you wish to submit written work, photographs, artwork, products, samples, other services, etc., please accompany with a self-addressed envelope, postage paid, or a prepaid return label.

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OCTOBER 19.20.21 2014 JAVITS CENTER NYC

11TH AVENUE @ 37TH STREET, NYC 9AM-6PM SUNDAY & MONDAY . 9AM-5PM TUESDAY WWW.ENKSHOWS.COM/CHILDRENSCLUB WWW.ENKREGISTRATIONS.COM /CHILDRENS.CLUB @CHILDRENSCLUB

ka

riz favis

editor’s note

1 Behind the scenes with cover mom, Nikki DeLoach, as posted on her IG page (follow her @nikdeloach) 2 Skype interview with Canadian actress, Laura Regan 3 My birthday girl, Sabina, Now and then (baby photo at our orlando, fl residence)

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How Awkward High school marks some of the most embarrassing experiences for many of us. I am always mortified when I remember an awful rage episode, where, during a school carnival/fair I was invited by a guy to ride the Ferris wheel with him. My friends (including a boy I liked who later on became my first boyfriend) kept shouting and teasing us from the ground. I started going crazy each time the wheel turned (to this day, I cannot explain why, but I think it must have been because I didn’t want the guy I liked to think I was ‘entertaining’ other guys). It got to a point I was even screaming profanities from the top of the ride so that I could get out, which forced the operator to indulge my insanity.

I still have a hard time facing ‘Ferris wheel man’, and hope to God he has selective amnesia and has forgotten aforementioned episode, as I cannot forgive myself.

High school was also when I wasn’t able to do a cartwheel during our cheerleading routine finals out of fear that I’ll fall flat on my face. At the last minute I decided to do a split instead in the middle of the gym like an idiot, while the rest were doing cartwheels as intended. Nice. That is why I didn’t want to cheer in university anymore.

Teenage years however, are also some of the most amazing times of our lives—it’s when we form a huge chunk of our identity, and are the most formative years, if you ask me. This is when we decide what to take up in college, form the best friendships we will make, maybe find our partner for life, and where we find ourselves in a way emancipating from our parents. From the ages 0 to 5 children’s brains are rapidly developing, but the personality and self-worth is truly formed during the teens.

I mention the teen years because our cover mom, Nikki DeLoach, plays a young mom to a teenager on the show, Awkward. I always cringe when I remember

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the first season of the show, where Lacey (Nikki’s character) sent her daughter Jenna an anonymous “carefrontation” letter. As a parent to an almost teenager, I see this as one of the better shows out there that exemplifies the dynamics among parents and our growing kids, the hits and misses especially when it comes to discipline, and whether our intentions for our children prove to be the best.

Three other celebrity moms join us this issue, Ali Landry, Laura Regan, Amy Webber. All of them seem to have found their footing as mothers, and inspire us that we can have it all if we look beyond those days where all you want to do is plop on the bed and have so much quiet it is deafening.

I’m always excited to help pick out items for our BC list, as it is always an easy and interesting read. I find myself discovering new things in the process, and am more than happy to share these finds with other parents.

October marks two very special events in our household—my eldest Sabina’s 11th birthday, and Halloween.

You’ll find a cool, ghoul dessert spread in our pages that’s easy to do, so I hope you enjoy it as much as we loved snacking on the finished products.

To my darling girl, Sabina, I hope you never get too old to want to sleep beside me. I hope we always share secrets and laugh at jokes no one but our family gets, that we feel boneless from all the giggling. I hope you keep your heart so tender that you will never be ashamed to cry in movies, and want to adopt animals (even insects) that are orphaned. I love you more than words can say.

To all of you, have a wonderful Fall, and please enjoy our 8th Anniversary issue. It’s been quite a ride for all of us at BC. Thank you for your trust.

kariz@bc-mag.com facebook.com/karizfavisofficial IG and twitter.com/karizfavis

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P h oto g r a p h s b y A i n s l e y C a r l i s l e a n d Ra y a C a r l i s l e i n t e r v i e w b y k a r i z ta n y a f a v i s Make up by Amy Strozzi H a i r b y Pa u l N o r t o n

laura regan

The new Atlas Shrugged lead dishes expert and doable tips on how to raise children who are conscious of what’s going on environmentally in the world today

+ DEALING WITH ADHD...IMPROVING OUR DAUGHTERS’ SELF-ESTEEM...HOME OVER-SANITATION...

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laura regan K: Tell us about your years growing up in Canada, and your best memories from that.

L: I have to say, just running wild—

literally running around with friends, building forts in the woods and just waiting for that, “Dinner!” call from far away. You all sort of think whose parents will call first, and then that they’ll have to go, and they’d be all bummed that they’d have to go first.

K: I remember those...

L: But then the other

parents would call, too. That sort of freedom of—I don’t wanna be too nostalgic or downbeat, but I don’t know that that’s totally available to kids now.

K: Yeah, absolutely.

L: Depending on where

you live. You know, it was kinda different.

K: It’s a completely different time. Like we used to climb up tall trees.

L: Yeah.

K: Now, I freak out if my kids even think about going up one. I’m like, “Oh my God, they’re gonna fall. How many stitches will they need?” You know?

L: Yeah, I know. Are they wearing

a helmet? Everybody needs a helmet now and everything.

K: So, I was told you also have family in the entertainment industry.

L: Not really. Gerald is my father, and

my sister was a newscaster. She was well-known in Canada because she hosted a news show.

K: Okay, that’s probably what it was.

L: I wouldn’t call it so much enter-

tainment... And my dad was a politician—that’s not entertaining people.

K: Not at all, haha! I read you’re from Nova Scotia?

L: I’m from Nova Scotia, but I went

to University of Montreal, and then I moved to New York because I wasn’t a Drama major at Miguel at Montreal

but I wanted to be, and I was kind of in my second and a half year when I realized I wanted to be a Drama major. I did my Junior and Senior year away—I just left. I went to New York, and I made some arrangements with the Dean and I sent him my credits then I started studying acting in New York.

I just forged my own path from there.

K: So you already knew you wanted to be an actress long before moving to NYC. L: Yes, I knew I wanted to learn about

drama. I wanted to try to do plays but I was just saying these words because I didn’t know anybody who was an actress. I didn’t know anybody who had ever been in a television show, or in a movie. It was such a far concept to me.

It didn’t really seem like something I could really do. I wanted to try, but I didn’t have the first idea how. But once I got to New York—I was on a student

visa at first—and right away, I knew that was what I wanted.

K: From Canada to New York, how was the transition like?

L: I’ve always loved big cities, I love

New York, London, Paris. I just felt like I belonged, like a ‘This is where I was meant to be,’ kind of thing. It was not a difficult transition at all, except nobody would rent an apartment to me.

K: That is insane.

L: Because I was

credit.

Canadian—I had no

K: That’s right.

L: The worst

part is the horrible sublets in one corner of somebody’s closet that I could occupy from Monday to Friday. And then every Friday I would be thinking, where am I gonna stay, I don’t know where bc-mag.com { anniversary 2014 } b c

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K: Whose couch am I gonna bum off?

And you were how old at this time?

L: I was 20.

K: When people see you, what do they normally say? “Hey you’re that girl from...?”

L: Sometimes they say Mad Men or

any number of the scary movies I’ve done—usually Dead Silence or They.

But you know what? It’s a very funny business. The first time I had a big movie come out in theaters, I was like, “Oh my God, it just came out, it’s Friday night!” Three days later, I was at a little supermarket in New York, a little deli on my corner, and I went in and a guy’s like, “Hey, I saw you.

You’re...” I was all excited thinking, “Oh my God, he saw the movie!” And he was like, “Uh, you were that blonde in Law and Order.” Or probably worse, like, “Oh, you were in that Tampax commercial.”

K: Thank you for pulling me back to the ground.

L: Yeah, “Uh oh, you didn’t see my

movie.” Oh, okay.

K: Haha! What is it like being in successful shows like Mad Men? What lessons do you take from those experiences? First as an actress, and later as a working mother?

L: Everytime I work, I learn something

new because every project is different and you’re always with different groups of people. Every set has a different kind of pace, a different feel, and especially if you’re arriving as a guest star, you kind of have to find your footing pretty quickly. You arrive and you’re on set with a 150 new people whom you never met before, and you have to be comfortable. I’m constantly learning and reminding myself to find my way around a new set. But as a mother, that’s interesting. There’s not a lot you take from Mad Men about good mothering, really.

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K: In general, what has being in the industry taught you about being a better mother? On time management, or patience?

L: Once I had my first baby, I just felt

like there was an extra dose of fulfillment that I really would miss otherwise. I really love being able to do both.

I love being able to work, and I feel like when I arrive at home, hopefully it’s a working day where I actually get to be home for the kids’ dinner and bath—which isn’t always the case in the entertainment industry, so that’s tricky. When you miss bedtime and bathtime—which is such a great end of day, being able to tuck them in— that’s hard and sad. Assuming that I do make it, then I arrive home with so much more energy. I don’t arrive home like I’ve gone to work all day. I arrive home so much more energized, and the change of scenery is so good for anyone who’s dealing with young children, I think.

K: It’s like you still get to keep a part of yourself— have the best of both worlds.

L: It is the best and it is tricky—I’ve

been a pumping mother for the last 10 and 1/2 months now for my little girl—which is a whole other thing because everybody thinks that you go to your trailer and get maybe half an hour to eat lunch. Well, you gotta pump and clean your pumping stuff, clean the bottles and freeze the milk, and sterilize it. By the time you sit down and you’re with the fork ready to take a bite of lunch, that’s when then they go, (knocking) “Touches!” Then they take you back to the makeup trailer. Everybody’s like, “Did you have a nice lunch?” and you’re like, “Yeah, had a nice lunch.” The movie Atlas Shrugged I did when my baby was just 3 and 1/2 months to 5 months old.

She wasn’t eating food, just sort of thriving on me. That was time management—boy, I had to be on top of it because I was the lead of the movie.

I was practically in every scene, and

laura regan

“[Children] are such little sponges, they want to do exactly what we do. You just have to say something one time and your kid will repeat it, pick up on it.”

—on teaching her kids to live a conscious, green lifestYle

they didn’t have spare time. Luckily, I had help from a girl who became my assistant—she was amazing. I’m just sitting there, pumping away, people were coming in, and the minute I was finished, I just put everything down and she would deal with it. The next time I worked, I wasn’t the star, so I had to do it all myself. I was like, “I really miss Tiffany. This is really hard.”

And no one knows what you’re doing either. They’re kind of just sitting outside thinking, “Ugh, she’s taking so long. This actress is such a diva.”

Another thing from the entertainment industry I would take is, you just meet such a wide variety of people all day

long, so many women have done it differently. My hairdresser on the last thing I did, she had 5 children and her youngest was 14, and I asked if she needed to be home for dinner, or will the older ones take care of the youngest. You hear everybody else’s story of how they made it work, and you take a little bit from everybody— and you feel empowered to be back in the world, creating something.

environment could be about her. So there was a lot of sending milk home...

K: You mentioned that your baby was about 3 months old when you were filming. Did your kids get to be on set with you?

L: My son was 3 at the

K: That’s funny. Your son, Tadius, is now 3 and 1/2. What’s it like raising a boy?

L: It is wild, and full of injury and bru-

time, he came to visit and he loves that. He just came one time because he hadn’t really done a lot of set visits before, and he’s a little bit of a loose cannon. What are you gonna say to your 2-year old? “Be quiet, we’re rolling...”

K: I totally understand because my 2-year old son is all over the place.

L: My son thinks I drive a truck,

basically. He saw all the trucks and rode up the hydraulic grip thing, he loves pressing the buttons...But I didn’t bring the baby to the set because it was too disruptive for her. A 4-month old does a lot of napping, and she needed to be in an environment where the

K: That’s nice to hear. Is your husband also an actor? How did you meet?

L: No, he’s a producer and director. We

met at a play in the Flea Theater in New York, and they were doing a production of a Japanese Kabuki Theater.

We met through a friend who brought him along, and I think she may have had in mind that we would hit it off.

Neither of us really watched the play, mostly we watched each other in the audience kind of, like, trying to eye each other in the dark and see what each other looked like.

ises. People will ask, “Where did he get that bruise?” I’m like, “I don’t even know which one you’re talking about.”

It’s getting on your knees, playing with cars in the dirt, yeah. I think raising a boy is the biggest adventure. It’s high octane. It really is all about trains, cars, building sites, and tractors...Oh, and my son had just entered this stage where he just wants hugs like every 4 minutes. I think, “Oh my God, I’ve gotta have him as much as I can now, because he’ll get to a stage where he’ll be like, ‘Ugh, stay away mom.’”

K: They say boys are sweeter to their mothers.

L: You know the funny thing about my

son is that he has a trait I have, which is not that great—I am a real klutz, a real spaz. I’ll break my toe on a coffee table that hasn’t moved in forever, or bc-mag.com { anniversary 2014 } b c

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bc report I’ll bump into a wall or door jamb that’s always been there. My son is like that, he can fall down just standing there. The baby is creeping around on the floor, and he would fall down. It’s never boring.

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K: Same here, I’m very clumsy. I was told you have a huge passion for green living. How did this come about?

L: I’ve had it ever since I was probably

15, in high school, in a World Issues class. I was an avid recycler, and I’d say to my parents, “How many miles per gallon does that vehicle get?” When I was 15, I said I’m never getting a car and I might get a solar car. I didn’t totally hold to that because I got a Prius when I was about 25, or something. I had to buy a car because I was in LA, and it was pretty hard to get around. I’ve always been kind of like a running joke—like if you get a letter from me, you’d have to wonder what’s on the back of it because everything I do is on recycled paper. It comes to me as second nature because I think about it. It bothers me. Every time water flows from the tap, I think, where is this coming from? How are we so lucky that we have clean water, and how can I help if we use a drop more than I should? I’ve always kind of been like that, even when it wasn’t really cool, you know? When I was a teenager, we were aware of stuff like that and I am concerned about the teenagers now kind of aren’t. We didn’t throw things away. When we were in high school, we didn’t get a throwaway cup. We had water bottles that we carry. We had metal cans. I’ve been the person on set, who, if there’s no recycling and I’m on a movie,

I’ll do the recycling. One time, I had a driver I overheard talking to one of the other drivers. He was like, “Ugh, it’s so annoying, my car always gets so smelly because she carries recycling.” I’d like to be like Kyra Sedgwick—she runs a very green set. She’s the star of the show and she leaves a box inside the stage for scripts for you to dump them and she recycles them. In our business, you can have vehicles idling as if gas was nothing, as if emissions weren’t anything. I’ll knock

on the window and I’ll be polite but I’ll say, “Excuse me, would you mind not idling your vehicle.” Now if it’s their job to sit in the car and it’s -30 degrees Celsius, then you know, I understand they have to have heat on.

K: So you’ve got two kids, Tadius and Alma Rose. Do you think it’s possible for busy mothers to still have that lifestyle?

L: Definitely. I think you just teach the

children. They are such little sponges, they want to do exactly what we do.

“My son had just entered this stage where he just wants hugs. He wants hugs, like every 4 minutes he wants a hug. And I think, ‘Oh my God, I’ve gotta have him as much as I can now, because he’ll get to a stage where he’ll be like, ugh, stay away mom.”

—laura, on tadius’ personality as a 3-year old

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laura regan You say something one time and your kid will repeat it, pick up on it. You say, “No this is a recycling bin and when we have a yogurt container, it goes in there.” Or whether it’s about running the water too much.

My son knows, he’s 3 and a half, and he’ll say, “Yes, mama, the drought.” Sometimes he likes to play with the water a little bit too much, you know?

They wanna behave the way you behave, so you really just lead by example. If you do things and explain to them why you’re doing it, that’s even better because they’ll understand that it’s real—they’ll take note, and they’ll really do it.

some struggles going through the final stages of toilet training. Just fine on the peeing, but not so happy about pooing in the toilet. As an example, I

that she did that! Making a big deal about it and my son said, “I’m so proud of that little girl.” And we’re like, is he ever gonna do it himself? He wants so much to be an adult. And then I’ll say, “Tad, when are you gonna be comfortable using the toilet all the time?” And he said, “Oh when I’m Dada’s age I’m definitely gonna use the toilet.”

Oh, that’s great.

K: Good to know, haha! So adorable. Nowadays, what’s in your mommy purse?

L: I am terrified. Literally,

crumbs in every crevice—you can dump the thing upside down, and you probably have a meal out of what came out of it—but it would not be very clean. There’s always a package of wipes, you know, for the disaster. A kid-friendly spray hand sanitizer. I don’t switch purses very well, so if it’s my purse I’m using at the moment, the mommy stuff goes with me. I’m in an audition trying to find a highlighter, and I pull out cookies and crackers and little toys that vibrate, or a baby teether, something for emergency starvation, stuck in traffic, and something for cleaning hands and dirty faces.

K: Absolutely. Any funny kid stories you care to share?

L: My son the other day said—it

was the day after we did the photo shoot—he kept saying, “Smile for the camera.” We had some bees around that day, and we were talking about how bees are in decline—how they are important because they make honey and go for the nectar from the flowers, and so on. He was watching them do that, and then he felt something buzzing around his head and he said, “Hey bee, there’s no honey in my eye.” I thought that was just a funny little comment.

K: So cute!

L: My other

funny one is kinda shameful if my son ever reads this, finds out that I said it in 20 years. He’s having

just take my daughter the minute she starts making that face, I pick her up and even though she’s not walking yet, I’ll take her and sit her there. Later, I told my husband that she was so good

K: I love that. Lastly, if there are three virtues that you want your kids to have, what would they be?

L: Patience, generosity, and fairness.

That’s what came to mind. The ‘patience’ thing isn’t going so well yet, haha! bc

Laura’s Fave baby buys: Laura prefers to shop, “Joe Fresh, they have it here [in the US] now.

In Canada, they sell it in the supermarkets. And when I visit my parents, I’ll spend half my time in Joe Fresh.” Long-sleeved shirt by joe fresh, $12, joefresh.com

For nappy areas, Laura swaers by Diaper Rash Balm by skinfix, 2 oz. $8.50, 4 oz. $14.95 skinfixinc.com

“Everybody needs to know about the NoseFrida,” Laura states. Nasal aspirator by nosefrida, $15 nosefrida.com

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experts say ADHD is preventable with improved breathing October is ADHD Awareness Month, and physicians offer tips for restoring restful sleep to the brain for developing children

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WORDS BY DR. MICHAEL GELB AND DR. HOWARD HINDIN

hat you don’t know can hurt you,” say integrated health specialists Dr. Michael Gelb and Dr. Howard Hindin. “Ninety percent of our brains are developed by age 12, so I’m asking parents to think about how a recurring decrease in the flow of b c { anniversary 2014 } bc-mag.com

oxygen and restful sleep to their child’s brain would affect his development,” says Dr. Gelb of The Gelb Center in New York, a holistic dentist known worldwide for pioneering integrative treatments.

“Pay close attention to your kid’s breathing; if he or she is suffering from

a sleep disorder, it may very well be obstructed breathing, which has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, that’s causing the problem,” says Dr. Hindin of the Hindin Center for Whole Health Dentistry, who partners with Dr. Gelb in an interdisciplinary approach to treating chronic disease.

o v e r c o m i n g o b s ta c l e s

“Medical literature suggests that up to 80 percent of ADHD diagnoses have an airway/sleep component.”

months, 18 months, and 30 months of age, doctors can predict which ones are likely to develop disorders due to poor breathing.

October is the awareness month for ADHD—a non-discriminatory, brain-based medical disorder affecting people of every age, gender, IQ, and religious and socioeconomic background. The good news, Dr. Gelb says, is that many such disorders are preventable. When children are 6

The doctors say sleeping problems are serious and could very well require medical consultation. Additionally, they offer athome, do-it-yourself tips for children and adults to promote better breathing during sleep, which is when obstruction typically manifests.

Promote nasal breathing.

Prevent obesity.

Sadly, many people who suffer from breathing problems don’t even realize it’s a problem until something serious occurs, such as a car accident.

Obstruction often occurs in the nasal cavity. An easy way to experience deeper sleep and potentially curtail a developing problem is by using nasal spray. Apply the spray 15 minutes before bedtime.

Excessive weight and obesity are the most common causes of sleep apnea—pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while sleeping.

Obesity has more than doubled among children and tripled among adolescents in the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The best medicine for prevention is a healthy diet—fewer processed foods; less sugar, salt and fatty snacks; and regular exercise.

Create an ideal sleeping environment.

Turn your bedroom into a sleeper’s paradise with cozy, high thread-count sheets, new pillows, soft lighting, and soothing noises from a sound machine. Add to these aesthetics a couple helpful, practical tools. If you tend to grind your teeth when sleeping, a dental night guard can help you awake refreshed and with no jaw pain. Eyeshades help people who relax best in complete darkness.

If these home remedies are not proving effective, it’s time for a doctor to screen a patient’s tonsils and adenoids, which may be obstructive and need to be removed, Dr. Gelb says. Then, myofunctional therapy will help assist palatal expansion for better breathing, he says. bc

About Howard Hindin, D.D.S.

Dr. Howard Hindin is trained in all aspects of general dentistry.

Since the 1990s, his practice has also focused on cosmetic dentistry, tempormandibular joint disorders, and craniofacial pain.

He is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry.

An acknowledged pioneer in the relationship between dental issues and whole body health, Dr. Hindin is president (2000-present) of the Foundation for the Advancement of Innovative Medicine (FAIM).

He is also the co-founder of the American Association of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD).

About Michael Gelb, D.D.S., M.S.

Dr. Michael Gelb is an innovator in airway, breathing, sleep, and painful TMJ disorders pioneering Airway Centric. He has studied early intervention for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) specializing in how it relates to fatigue, focus, pain and the effects all of these can have on family health. He is the former director of the TMJ and Orofacial Pain Program at the NYU College of Dentistry and is currently clinical professor in the Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology at the NYU College of Dentistry. He is a co-inventor of the NORAD, or Nocturnal Oral Airway Dilator appliance that reduces snoring by positioning the patient’s tongue and jaw so that airways stay open.

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“With this kind of mindset, a girl is never skinny enough and often results in anorexia, bulimia, and an imprisoning sense of never being good enough.”

how ‘thinspiration’ is killing the self-esteem of young girls Get familiar with the “skinny” mindset and how it negatively affects young women today, and find out helpful tips on how our kids can be kept safe from this new “culture” w o r ds by S ta c e y R ow c liff e

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onventional thinking has flown out the window for advertisers who want to attract women to their product, according to a new report from the University of Manitoba and University of Michigan.

The report is based off of three studies that conclude blatant, in-your-face content featuring thin, young models actually turn off a woman’s desire for the product; subjects saw the pitch as too transparent. This recognition alerted an individual’s defense mechanism, which actually boosted self-esteem. But when an idealized model was used to sell a product with more subtlety, subjects were more prone to want the product and be the woman in the advertisement.

“So, this study has some mixed good news, but there’s still an avalanche of negativity pulling down our girls and young women; according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, roughly 70 percent of girls in middle and high school, and even as young as fifth grade, say idealized images of women in magazines guide their sense of the perfect body,” says women’s advocate Stacey Rowcliffe, author of Female Fusion: Different Flowers from the Same Garden.

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Rowcliffe says the primary influence on a girl’s life is the older woman raising her; she offers three perspectives in which older women may offer advice to girls and young women: Past pains shape character and provide inner strength:

Many people may think of Christina Aguilera as a pampered pop diva; however, in reality, she has worked hard and endured a difficult home life as a small child. As a 10-year-old, she had already gained a reputation as a little girl with a big voice. Later, after having become a world-famous celebrity, she cited domestic violence in her home as a reason for her enduring drive and passionate voice. Just as muscle is developed and built with tension, so too challenging situations builds and defines character.

Keeping it real …

Young women need to understand that much of what is seen on television and internet ads, billboards, and in magazines has been altered far beyond what is real. Digital imaging has made it possible to remove cellulite and other flaws before an image is finalized.

There are videos available that show just how much a model is transformed before being photographed, and the

before-and-after images are drastically different. Additionally, cosmetic surgery plays upon the fears of young and beautiful women who still feel the need to implement botox, breast implants, facelifts, nose lifts, cellulite removal, tummy tucks, butt implants and the like. Women were created to be beautiful; once that is realized, her inner beauty will shine.

Relationships (among family, friends, boyfriends & sisters):

Every issue, belief, attitude, or assumption not only shapes the relationships between you and other human beings; it shapes the relationship you have with yourself!

The above points—accepting past pain and being honest with yourself and others—are intimately linked to your relationship with others. How you treat others is a measure of who you are. If you are obsessed with trying to be the prettiest and thinnest girl in class, it’s a clear sign you are not comfortable in your own skin.

“There’s even a blog called ‘thinspiration,’ or ‘thinspo,’ which features young women and girls writing about ways and experiences in losing massive amounts of weight. With this kind of mindset, a girl is never skinny enough and often results in anorexia, bulimia, and an imprisoning sense of never being good enough.” bc

About Stacey Rowcliffe Stacey Rowcliffe is nearing completion of her master’s degree in clinical psychology.

She lives in Billings, Mont., with her two children, Brittney and Ryan, who both have Type 1 diabetes. Female Fusion is her second published book. Rowcliffe believes that no matter what people are battling, their mindset and response determine the paths their lives take.

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how clean is too clean?

We all know and agree that a clean environment is beneficial to our health. But where do we draw the line between being just the right kind of clean to over-sanitation?

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he hygiene hypothesis is a medical theory that posits that lack of exposure to dirt, germs, and other microorganisms makes you more susceptible to allergies and other diseases. Just as a vaccination makes you immune from future diseases by introducing you to weakened strains of the disease, being exposed to pathogens can also strengthen your immune

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system.

But for mothers, exposing our children to dirt and grime goes against our instinct of protecting young ones from harm, especially with today’s heightened levels of air and environmental pollution in and outside our very own homes. So how clean is too clean even for kids?

S a n i tat i o n d e pa r t m e n t how much is too clean?

Too much hand-washing.

Everywhere we go, we now encounter dispensers of sanitizers, reminders for us to wash our hands, and mini alcohol gel bottles hanging from everyone’s bags.

While the risk of infection diseases is high, studies have shown that the cleanest kids have the highest risk of eczema and asthma. Moreover, a study done at University Hospital’s Case Medical Center in Cleveland showed that among 60 health care workers who washed their hands 10 times a day, 63% of them developed hand dermatitis, a condition in which one’s hands develops dry and irritated skin, itchy bumps, blisters, scaling, cracking, and swelling skin. To avoid this, one must avoid irritants such as soaps with irritating ingredients, detergents, solvents, paints, oils, acids, and glues.

Use mild soap for yourself and your family and apply moisturizing cream to your hands. Use gloves when handling raw food, acidic fruits and vegetables,

and while doing manual labor such as cleaning the house or gardening.

Exclusively indoor culture.

The internet, gadgets, and hovering parents mean that fewer kids play outside than they did 10 years ago.

Outdoor kids aged three and below consume an average of 500 mg of soil a day, and despite its myriad bacteria, regular dirt is harmless and can even benefit kids’ immune systems. In addition, nature deficit disorder (a term coined by author Richard Louv), has negative health effects, such as a higher risk of obesity, cancer, heart disease, anxiety, and depression. Kids who stay indoors too often and do not get a taste of nature and sunlight are prone to Vitamin D deficiency and breathing problems, due to lack of fresh air.

Hypersterile environments.

Aside from obsessively washing hands and staying indoors most of the time,

children may not be as exposed to allergens when their environment is hospital-like and sprayed with antiseptic every hour.

Skin and food allergies have risen steadily in the last 14 years in developed countries, where kids’ environments are generally cleaner.

LiveScience reports that according to pediatric allergist Marc McMorris of the University of Michigan Health System, “We’ve developed a cleanlier lifestyle, and our bodies no longer need to fight germs as much as they did in the past. As a result, the immune system has shifted away from fighting infection to developing more allergic tendencies.” He further explains that because of our cleaner environment now, our natural immune system isn’t as proactive as it once was, because we’ve already taken extra precaution in keeping ourselves and our kids germ-free.

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hen it comes to drinking water for our families and especially for our babies’ formula milk (if you’ve weaned your child), choose a brand that is approved by certifying bodies such as the National Sanitation Foundation, thereby meeting standards of safety and cleanliness that mothers would approve of. Make sure that your water bottles, containers, glasses, and refrigerators are also frequently cleaned to keep germs away from water and food.

While we want to keep our homes and environment clean for our family, we mustn’t forget though, to let our kids be kids and play outdoors, discover, learn, and have fun—and worry about cleaning up afterwards. bc

“While we want to keep our homes and environment clean for our family, we mustn’t forget though, to let our kids be kids and play outdoors, discover, learn, and have fun— and worry about cleaning up afterwards.” bc-mag.com { anniversary 2014 } b c

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d.i.y. freak {food} fest Recreate BC’s spooktacular party table for your family in this quick and comprehensive, do-it-yourself gory guide c r e at i v e d i r e c t i o n B Y K A R I Z TA N YA FA V I S P H O T O G R A P H S & S ET D E S I G N B Y M A R K C A B A L A N G and ahl e e d e l rosario A S S I S TE D B Y V A L E R I E A N N E D E L C A S T I L L O , ahl e e d e l rosario , A N D A I Y A mai R O D J E L

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pumpkin surprize These little goody bags can serve as party snacks or take home treats for your kids and guests.

Materials assorted candy and chocolate (Note: individually-wrapped is best) orange and green crepe paper glue scissors

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut your orange crepe paper into circles around 10 inches in diameter. Cut the short end of your crepe paper 1 cm thick. This will create a string of green crepe paper. 2.

Take half a handful of assorted candy or chocolate (around 5 to 7 pieces, depending on the size) and wrap it with white Japanese paper. Roll it gently in your hands to create a circular shape. 3. Place this on top of 2 orange crepe papers (cut into circles). Take the edges of the crepe paper to form a tiny circular bag. 4. Twist the ends of the crepe paper until it looks like a pumpkin. Take some glue on one finger and spread it on the base of the twist, up to the tip. 5. Take your green crepe paper and wrap it around the twist, from the base upward, until the orange crepe paper cannot be seen. Fasten with more glue.

Monster pizza Perfect for the Halloween season, deep red tomatoes are nutritious fruits that are packed with anti-oxidants such as lycopene, zeaxanthin, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Not bad for a basic kitchen staple.

Ingredients pizza dough pizza sauce cheese slices arugula

capers cookie cutters in Halloween shapes (ghost, cat, bat, owl, etc.)

Preparation

1. For basic pizzas with ready made doughs and sauces, all you

have to do is put together the ingredients. But if you have your own dough and sauce recipe, go on and make your own. 2.

Once the dough has risen, dampen it with olive oil before heating in a pre-heated oven for a minute or two. Bring the crust back out and season with your pizza sauce. You can make your own homemade pizza sauce with your favorite herbs and spices, it’s really up to you to get creative with this dish. 3. Take your cheese singles and cut them out into shapes using your cookie cutters. We used shapes such as a ghost, owl, cat, and moon for this Halloween-themed recipe. Place your shapes on the pizza.

4. Take a caper and slice it into two for the eyes of the ghost, owl, cat, and moon. Dress your pizza with some aragula leaves or any other herbs and toppings you desire.

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Ingredients chocolate milk drink powder gummi worms white chocolate (to be melted)

plastic cups wooden spoons (these will serve as your shovel)

Preparation

Worms and Skeletons in Dirt (with shovel) Freak out your guests with these super cute dessert cups that take at most 10 minutes to make.

1. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave or in a small stovetop pan for about a minute, or until it’s soft and easy to pour. 2. Take your skeleton mold (available online or at specialty stores like Gourdo’s) and pour in the chocolate. Keep chilled until the chocolate hardens 3. Take your plastic cups and fill half of it with chocolate milk drink powder. Toss in your gummi worms for a set of Worms in Dirt. 4. Carefully detach the chocolate from the skeleton mold and toss into the cups with chocolate milk drink powder for your Skeleton in Dirt. Toss in a wooden spoon (available in supermarkets) for the ‘shovel.’

Spook-corn Easy and enjoyable, cheese popcorn will add a timeless touch to your party table.

Ingredients black and orange craft paper scissors tape corn kernels (you can also opt for plain microwavable popcorn) cheese flavoring Preparation

1. Create squares (around 8 inches by 8 inches) out of your black and orange cartolina. You can also use Halloween themed wrapping paper for this. 2. Twist one corner to create a cone and fasten with tape. 3. Cook the corn kernels in a pot with a little oil and wait til they pop. You can also use microwavable popcorn. 4.

Scoop into each cone and add a dash of salt to taste, and top with cheese flavoring.

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Eerie Earwax

Ingredients

Don’t get grossed out just yet, these ear buds are sweet and tasty, and your kids will love the ‘eww’ factor that goes into creating them.

cookie or peanut butter small white marshmallows juice straws scissors

Gooey Gauze Your guests are in for a bloody surprise with these “used bandages” that are as gross as they are yummy.

Preparation

1. Using a pair of scissors, take your juice straws and cut them into two.

If it’s hard to stick straw into a marshmallow, poke with a fork first. 2.

Take two marshmallows and stick them at the end of each juice straw to create an “ear bud.” 3. Dab a little cookie or peanut butter on both ends of the “ear bud” for makeshift earwax, and place on a plate.

Ingredients graham crackers cream cheese or cream cheese spread strawberry jam

Preparation

1. Break your graham crackers into three (right on the perforated part of the cracker). Lay them out on a tin pan to create a creepy hospital effect. 2. Take your cream cheese and slice them into squares around 2cm by 2cm. Place a square on the middle of each cut up graham cracker. 3. Dab a little strawberry jam on top of the cream cheese slice for some “blood.”

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S p o o k - ta c u l a r S h i n d i g JACK-O-LOLLIES Halloween wouldn’t be complete with good ol’ Jack, so get ready to melt chocolate for some sweet fun.

Ingredients jack-O-lantern mold white chocolate milk chocolate

orange food coloring lollipop sticks (or juice straws)

Preparation

1. Melt white and milk chocolate separately as indicated in previous instructions. Mix orange food coloring into melted white chocolate. 2. Place the lollipop sticks or juice straws into the mold. Pour in your chocolate and refrigerate until solid.

broomsticks Get your little witches ready for take off with these sweet, salty, and magical broomsticks that your kids can help you make in advance.

INGREDIENTS pretzel sticks chocolate cups juice straw Preparation

1. Upturn your chocolate cups. Using a juice straw, create a small hole on the bottom. 2. Stick your pretzels into the hole and make sure they don’t come off. You can cut off some of the sticks to make them look like smaller brooms.

deadly apples You don’t have to be Snow White to fall for these delicious red “apples.”

Ingredients red gelatin vanilla or fruit

flavoring apple-shaped

cookie cutter

Preparation

1. Cook gelatin as indicated in the packaging and add flavor as desired. Pour into a shallow plastic container. Let sit until solid. 2. Using an appleshaped cookie cutter, create apple shapes and carefully layout on a chopping board or plate.

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A party is never complete without any cake, that’s why we whipped up a delectable treat for the whole family. This cake is easy to make and is chocolate flavored—a crowd pleaser, of course. Decorate it with chocolate skeletons and other Halloweenthemed candy from specialty stores and you’re good to go.

Ingredients Cake: 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup cocoa powder 3 eggs 3/4 cup, 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon vanilla extract granulated sugar 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/3 cup light brown sugar 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons baking powder melted and cooled 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/3 cups cold water Icing: 6 ounces milk or semi-sweet chocolate 1 cup, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened or at room temperature 1 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Preparation

Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F while lining and buttering the bottom of two 8-inch cake pans. 2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla until blended well. 3. In another mixing bowl, beat together the melted butter and coconut oil using an electric mixer. If by hand, do the same strokes over and over. Beat in the water. 4. Add the dry ingredients all at once and with mix together, using slow speed. Add in the egg mixture and blend again until well-combined. Once done, pour the mixture into the prepared tins. 5. Bake the cakes for 45 to 50 minutes, or until you stick a toothpick in and it comes out clean. Take them out of the oven and let sit for 15 minutes on a wire rack. Turn the cakes out on the rack to cool completely.

Fudge icing:

1. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for two to three minutes on medium heat. Or for a ‘healthier’ approach, melt chocolate in a bowl placed on top of a pan with about 1/2 inch of simmering water. If you’re using chocolate blocks, it’s recommended that you chop it up into pieces and heat it in the microwave on low for about a minute. Let cool slightly. 2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter using a mixer until soft and creamy. Add the sifted confectioner’s sugar and beat again until mixture is light and fluffy. Slowly add the vanilla and chocolate, and mix together until everything is glossy and smooth. 3. Take 1/3 of the icing and use it to sandwich the middle of the cake. Ice the top and sides using the rest of the icing, with a rubber spatula.

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BAT water Those of you who have a penchant for flavored water will enjoy this easy-to-do and creeptastic refreshment.

Ingredients glasses or mugs black straws bat-shaped mold

red gelatin (purple is another great option)

Preparation

1. Cook gelatin as indicated on the packaging and pour into the bat mold. 2. Let sit until solid. Drop 4-5 pieces of bats into your glass or mug. 3. Take one bat and let sit on the rim of the glass or mug, like you would with a slice of lemon.

KOOKY CUPS WITH VAMPIRE’S POISON Create a spooky drink by preparing your favorite red-colored juice drink and add a scary touch to your party cups using googly eyes.

MATERIALS white colored paper cups colored pens (black and red are usually available at home, but you can go all out and be as creative as you can and create your own little critters) googly eyes glue Preparation

1. Take a white colored paper cup and stick one, two, or three googly eyes on them using glue. Let dry. 2. Draw on scary monster faces using colored pens.

Beheaded and Galacti-cupcakes Add a cryptic charm to your favorite cupcakes with these decorative tips.

Ingredients alien cupcake decors skeleton head mold red and green food coloring

white chocolate salted caramel cupcakes

Preparation

1. Bake your salted caramel cupcakes according to your go-to recipe. You can also opt to order from your favorite bakery, to save you time. 2. For the Galacticupcakes, just take your alien cupcake decors and stick them on top of each cupcake. 3. For Beheaded, melt your white chocolate on a stovetop pan or in the microwave for about 50 seconds to 1 minute. 4. Immediately mix in the red or green food coloring. Note that some chocolate brands tend to stiffen more rapidly when food coloring is added, so make sure to mix quickly and pour into the skull mold as soon as you’re done mixing in the color. 5. Let sit in the chiller for around 30 minutes or until chocolate is solid and comes off the mold easily.

6. Place the skull head on top of your cupcake and serve.

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HALLOWEEN PLAYLIST No party is complete without music, so turn up the speakers and check out our favorites for the season.

1. “Bad” by Michael Jackson 2. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

3. “This is Halloween” by Halloween Town

(from The Nightmare Before Christmas) 4. “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson 5. “Everything at Once” by Lenka 6. “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett 7. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson 8. “Halloween Song” by Wade Denning and Kay Lande 9. “Witches’ Brew” by Hap Palmer 10. “Mouse in a Haunted House” by Mini Monsters Club 11. “Halloween” by Princess Katie and Racer Steve 12. “It’s Halloween” by Mini Monsters Club

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The Southerner, former Mouseketeer and girl band member, and MTV top-rating show co-star is most excited for her role of a lifetime: mother to Hudson. Nikki Deloach is feeling everything but ‘awkward’ when it comes to raising and caring for her adorable, blond and blueeyed darling P H OTO G R A P H S B Y A DA M A N D S Y LV I A HENDERSHOTT INTERVIEW B Y K A R I Z T A N Y A F A V I S M A K EU P B Y A KE M I Y A G I H A IR B Y J O V A N T O W N S E N D

Nikki: Trench top by KAREN KANE, karenkane. com . Jeans by LEVI STRAUSS, levistrauss. com . Shoes by CHELSEA PARIS, chelseaparis. com . Necklace by LEENABELL, leenabell.

com Hudson: Onesie by PAIGE LAUREN BABY, paigelaurenbaby.com . Hat (on the cover) by FORE!! AXEL AND HUDSON, foreaxelandhudson.com

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t’s hard to ignore Nikki DeLoach as her character “Lacey” in MTV’s phenomenal teen dramedy, Awkward, not just because of the miracles brought on by her amazing push-up bras on the show, but more so because of her spot-on acting. Nikki plays a young mother to an only child on the show—she was a former popular girl who got pregnant in high school by

the man she later on married. In the first season of the show, much is played up on the relationship of her character and of the lead’s (her daughter), Jenna (actress Ashley Rickards), because she wrote a horrible, anonymous note of advice from ‘a friend’ to her daughter about the latter’s seeming insignificance—the message may be summed up to one of the letter’s lines: “As you are now, you could disappear

and no one would notice.” Their dynamic tugs on the heartstrings of many well-intentioned parents who tend to do more damage than good, unknowingly. We ask Nikki about how she’s similar to her character, how it was like feeling overtaken by her former Mouseketeers, leaving home at 12, being like a sister to Justin Timberlake, meeting husband, Ryan, and being mom to gorgeous little Hudson. anniversary 2014 bc-mag.com

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Kariz: You are great on the show, I just have to say. You made me believe that you are actually Lacey.

Nikki: That means so much to me!

Thank you so much.

K: Absolutely great. So how was it like growing up in Georgia? I heard you are the eldest of three.

N: Yes, I am the eldest of three, and my

sister and I were about 3 and 1/2 years apart, so it was really nice because I had a friend for life. I really couldn’t have asked for a better upbringing. We live on a farm and there’s so much space, and you could be out ‘til dark and our parents didn’t have to worry. All the kids around you could play with, and we’d play basketball everyday. I have a son now and he’s 7 months old, and I yearn to be able to give him something similar to what I had, but I don’t know if I can do that in Los Angeles.

K: You had the whole shebang, farm animals, everything? I love that.

N: Yeah, I rode horses. In the summers,

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we’d pick corn, green beans, and grow all of our vegetables for the year. All of our meat came from our animals on the farm.

K: You were organic from the get-go. How were your parents like?

N: I was organic from the start. My

mother was a teacher but she also was a domestic instructor, a cheerleader sponsor. She always had a million balls in the air. She was very determined, an incredibly gifted educator. And now, she’s the superintendent of the school system.

She was really hard on me, but what I now understand as an adult, especially as a mother, is that you want the absolute best for your kids.

K: Absolutely.

N: As a child,

I interpreted her behavior as I just wasn’t good enough and I could never be enough for her, or validated, or be accepted by her. Now, I understand that it was her teaching me self-discipline, and me understanding that I could do anything that I wanted to

do in life. It didn’t matter if I was a girl or a boy, or how young or old. She also helped to instill in me a really strong work ethic. I look back and think, wow, I’m really grateful for her. Some people say you choose your parents, and my mom and I have gone through definitely a difficult journey in our lives trying to understand each other—my trying to understand her baggage and her life, and her trying to understand my own because I left home when I was 12 years old to go work, and I haven’t lived at home since then. This amazing thing happened on my way to giving birth to Hudson where at the time, I thought it was just a work thing. I was 2 weeks late, I’ve been having contractions and my mom said, “I’m hopping on a plane and you’re gonna give birth too, and I just don’t wanna miss it.” She hopped on a plane and sure enough, I did not give birth. It was a week that went by before I gave birth at the hospital. By then, I was already a week late and everyday we walked, talked, and ate. I never really had that time with her. I got to hear

“...we just healed our relationship in such a beautiful way and I am so glad I chose her as my mother. She was a perfect mother for me and my dad was always that rock, you know. My dad was always the one who took us to school every morning. And he even tried to do my hair.”

—Nikki, on her relationship with her parents about how motherhood was for her at 21 years old when she first had a kid.

We just healed our relationship in such a beautiful way, and I am so glad I chose her as my mother. My dad was always that rock, the one who took us to school every morning. He even tried to do my hair—but I can’t go to school with seven ponytails. (Laughs) He was also really hard on me in some way, and he was athletic. He coached me at basketball and softball. I was the firstborn, so I was the boy and the girl.

K: For 3 and 1/2 years, it was all you.

N: It was all me. But he just had

this loving kindness that, to this day, when I would get in trouble, he would be the one to sit down with me and talk it through with me. I always felt his warmth, love, and support. Man, I can’t tell you what it’s like growing up with a father like that as a girl. You look at other men with such confidence, like, I don’t have to take something that I don’t deserve because I know what a real man is.

K: Exactly. He set the bar high.

N: He woke up with us—all three kids—

every night to give us our bottle, he changed the diapers, cooked, took us to school, took me to dance and voice lessons. He would drive 2 hours one way, 2 hours back, and get up at 5 AM to go to work. He was superdad. I warned my husband in the beginning, I said, “Listen—”

K: You got big shoes to fill.

N: Yeah, you got big shoes to fill because

I had superdad, you know...

K: Your mom was 21 when she had you, and your father was how old?

N: My father was 24. I’m 34, and I just

had my first kid. I know it was a different

time, but to have your first kid at 21 years old? It’s something that’s so difficult for me to wrap my head around.

K: You said you left home at 12 to move to Orlando to work in the Mickey Mouse Club alongside some of the biggest names in today’s entertainment scene.

How was that like?

N: It was a dream come true. Just to be

able to be part of the show, and what the show represents is iconic. To be able to be part of its legacy is an honor and truly a blessing, and I could not have asked to have better castmates. The seven of us, we were family from day one—and to be surrounded by so much talent and everyday be inspired by them? Seeing Christina Aguilera at 12 years old sing— just blew my mind. It rocked my world, it was like there was some singing music box. A lot of us have come from these small towns where, from the time when we were kids, this is what we had wanted to do and it’s all we’ve dreamed of.

It never ever seemed like a job—it was playtime and it was fun, and so just seeing yourself in someone else’s eyes and to finally go, “Oh, I understand you.

I know who you are because I am you.” I felt like I had finally found this home—a home I never knew existed before—so it was really a wonderful time in my life, and to this day, some of the best years of my life.

K: Is it true that you still keep in touch with Justin Timberlake?

N: Yeah, I also touch base with T.J.

Fantini, who’s another cast member. But Justin and I, from day one, we hit it off as friends and he’s a great guy. Let’s talk about how amazingly talented he is— he’a genius. But in terms of as a person, I loved his whole family.

K: You lived with them, right?

Actually, his mother wanted to put together a girl group when Justin was in ‘NSYNC, so we kinda put our heads together and ended up with five girls.

She was like a second mom to me for a really long time—still is. She’ll still tell me you know—pardon my language—if my shit stinks. Or if I need to get it together, if I’m doing a really good job, and she’s proud of me. I appreciate that.

N:

K: You have two mothers, that’s great. In line with the whole Mousketeer-ing, you mentioned in another interview that you felt somewhat bypassed that all of them were blowing up with their careers...

N: I felt left behind for sure, and a part

of me felt that, well, this is it for me.

It’s really weird when you grow up in this industry all your life, and you learn very quickly the culture of this industry that— K: It’s very fleeting.

N: And you are validated by how famous

or what your last project was, or what your next project is. All of these friends of mine had gone on to become some of the biggest stars in the world. (Laughs) I think that only exacerbated the feeling that I’m not really good enough and I’m not worthy—and that they have what it takes and I don’t and somebody sees something special in them, and they don’t see it in me. It took me a really long time to understand that my journey is just as precious and special. I am so grateful for those times when I felt like a failure, and everything felt hard and I had to start all over again, and again, and again, because I’m so thankful for work.

There’s not a day that goes by when I’m in Awkward that I’m not grateful to be able to be a part of it. I also now understand that I can stand on my own two feet and this business will never validate me—it never will be what truly brings

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(Above) Weelie shoe in brown multi, $55, Weelie in Light Gray Multi, $53, both by UMI, umishoes.com Nikki: Dress by THREADS FOR THOUGHT, threadsforthought.com . Flipflops

by HAVAIANAS, us.havaianas.com . Necklace

by LEENABELL, leenabell.com Hudson: Hoodie, t-shirt, and sweatpants, all by GO GENTLY BABY, shop.gogentlybaby.com

“I think that only exacerbated the feeling of I’m not really good enough and I’m not worthy and if they have what it takes and I don’t, and somebody sees something special in them and they don’t see it in me. And it took me a really, really long time to understand that my journey is just as precious and it’s just as special.”

—nikki, on the struggles of hollywood after her career as a mouseketeer

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me joy. It may bring me happiness, but joy, that feeling, that thing that exists inside of you no matter what the exterior circumstances are—this business will never bring me that.

K: It must have just been so hard at that stage, as a teenager, with all those hormones, those crazy feelings.

N: Yeah, it was awful. I remember being

in L.A. with my Nana, and sometimes just locking myself in the bathroom and sitting in the tub—no water, no nothing, just with my clothes on and crying and feeling like, what am I gonna do? What am I doing wrong? And I had to pay my rent and get a job if I wanna keep doing what I love, so it was really hard.

K: Did you ever go through schooling, up to college, or you went a different route?

N: I did, actually. College was very impor-

tant to me—my mom was an educator.

Somebody asked me the other day when I feel the sexiest, and for me, it was when I feel educated. I went to the University of Nebraska, which has an on-location program. I had a tutor, essentially a point person, and they would send all my tests and materials through him. He would send them back to school, and I actually graduated two years early, with all straight A’s. I had a graduation ceremony with Lance Bass from ‘NSYNC, it was just the two of us. It was really special because you miss a lot of normalcy growing up in this business and it was just a sliver of a ‘normal’ that we got to have the cap and the gown. Our families and friends were there.

K: Smallest graduating class ever.

N: I know, and it was so great and

after that, I went into the music business until I moved out to L.A. at 22. We were signed to Lou Pearlman, who also launched ‘NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, and he’s now in jail because of his really unfortunate business practices. ‘NSYNC left him, a lot of groups left him, and record companies didn’t wanna deal with him and essentially, our group lost our recording contract from RCA. Lou said, “I’ll release you, just sign this agreement. You can make me a fifth member

of your band--” which is what he had done with all the other people, “I’ll continue to help you.” At that point in time I was like, “Over my dead body.” Either way, I was done with him. I was in such a dark place at that point, so disillusioned that I just decided, if I get don’t get out of here, I’m gonna die here spiritually. So I moved out to L.A. with my boyfriend at the time, who’s now my husband.

K: That’s so sweet.

N: I had over a year and a half left in my

recording contract and I decided to go to community college, put my feet on the ground, and figure my shit out. I was kinda spinning, and I went to Santa Monica Community College, and I got the first two years of my college degree under my belt. It was the greatest thing in the world that I could’ve done. I mean, talk about bringing your confidence back.

K: Absolutely.

N: It just made

me feel like there’s a lot more going on in this world than the music group, this thing, you know.

I was so engrossed in sociology and psychology. About 5 days after my music contract officially ended, I went on my first real audition since I’ve been out there for a network pilot. I was like, “Listen this is my first audition, really back in the game after my contract ended.” And 2 days later, I was in Hawaii filming a pilot.

in that group, Innosense? I think I saw you in Vegas,” or “Weren’t you in the Mickey Mouse Club?” Things like that.

And they would be like, “What are you doing here?”

K: We were told by your publicist that you are one of the kindest people she knows.

I see it. How do you stay humble in this industry, as you’re in a hit show and all that? Do you think it has a lot to do with what you went through?

N: It’s so nice that you said that, first

of all, just so sweet. I will thank her. It has everything to do with what I went through. My mother would tell me everyday, “Pretty is as pretty does.” I grew up knowing that it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, it’s who you are on the inside that matters. I’ve made so many mistakes and done things that I was like, “Oh, Nikki why did you do or say that?” But you rebound from those and you say, “I’m gonna do better next time.” I could’ve gone the other way, been that jaded person that’s like, “Hey, now it’s my turn...” Everyday you wake up with a choice. I’ve been with my husband for 14 years, and people ask

K: Wow. (Laughs) N: Yeah, you

just need to take the time and the universe will be there whenever you get back on your feet.

K: Did you have any ‘awkward’ college experiences?

N: Being recognized. (Laughs)

Going to community college, and being broke as a joke. Not being able to afford groceries and being this 23-year old in community college, and then getting noticed like, “Were you

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how that happened.

K: Especially in your industry.

N: I wake up next to him every day. I look

at him and I say, “I choose you, you’re my guy.”

K: Very powerful words.

N: You could choose

happiness, you could choose to be jaded, or grateful.

I just wanna be a person who lives my life with a lot of joy, and I can’t do that if I wake up everyday and choose anger, resentment, or frustration.

K: Not gonna happen.

N: Then he called back and he was like,

they realized they’ve seen you before, they know how young you are. So I read the pilot, and it was literally the best pilot I have read in years. It was such a different voice.

K: It’s so well-written.

N: It had this perfect

mixture of humor and heart, and I just thought, I just want 5 minutes in a room to play this person because there was something inside of me that can bring Lacey to life because

K: You’re so blessed. Now you have a baby boy—so much things going on for you. Let’s talk about Awkward for a bit.

Can you describe your character in three words? And how you got the role in the first place.

N: Well-intentioned…I’m

trying to figure out a word for lack of a skill set? (Laughs) K: (Laughs) Sometimes inappropriate. So funny.

N: Well-intentioned, bright,

K: (Laughs) She is!

K: I love how you put that.

N: I was not in one of those agencies, but

I had this really “go get ‘em” agent and he just kept pushing me to read the pilot, and go in on the audition. I kept saying to him, “Joey, I’ve gone in on auditions for mothers all season long, and I keep getting told I’m too young.” And then to play a mom of a freshman? Like, this is a no. No, no, no.

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I think there are things you think you’ll never do, and there are things you think you always do. I’ve learned to never say never, and never say always. Except with Hudson, because I will always love him, but I think that the reason that Lacey and her relationship with Jenna is so compelling is because it’s so universal.

We heighten the situation because it’s comedy and it’s TV, but every mother knows what it feels like to do something with the best of intentions and have it go horribly awry, interpreted by your child in such a different way than what you thought it would be. I would like to think that by the time Hudson is a freshman in high school and he’s going through something like this, I will be really quick to handle it, instead of giving him a confrontation. I’m sure that I will muck it up some other way, and I’ll have to ask for forgiveness.

K: After that letter, your husband on the show almost left you for good. In real life, if your spouse had committed something so hurtful to your kid, do you think you’d leave or stick it out?

N: There’s another thing where

and shiny.

They had been looking for an actress for this role for quite some time, and as what usually happens in the business, they go through all the names first and then they go through all the people that are at the top agencies. CAA, UCA— and then they start reaching out to everyone else.

you felt like he was not adapting?

N: Here’s the thing about motherhood:

she’s so different from me. If I can bring her to life, I can do anything. I just loved her, and I guess a lot of other actors saw her as being this really cold, kind of bitchy mom. She had a kid at 16 years old, what do you expect? The creator, Lauren Iungerich, just looked at me and was like, “Oh my God, you’re her.” I tested for it and eventually, I got it.

K: In the first season, Lacey wrote this awful and heartbreaking letter to Jenna about coming out of her shell. Would you ever do the same to your son, Hudson, if

you say never and always. You never know in life and I’ve never been that person who, when people ask me about my marriage, it’s like, “Oh yeah, we’re gonna be together for the rest of our lives.” I sure hope so. He is the best. I wouldn’t know what to do without him. But you never know what life is gonna give you. In terms of him doing something that hurt Hudson, that definitely would have to be dependent on the situation.

K: Let’s talk about your husband, Ryan. Is it true that he was formerly from the band Take Five before he became an entertainment lawyer?

N: That is very true. I was lucky. I got the

musician spirit.

“I’ve learned to never say never, and never say always. Except with Hudson, because I will always love him”

K: So how did you two meet, and was it love at first sight? (Laughs) N: (Laughs) I was in a place where I defi-

nitely was not looking for a boyfriend or a relationship. I got out of a long-term relationship—

K: This was with JC Chasez right? For five years?

N: Yes. I was not looking for anything serious

whatsoever, and I could tell Ryan was the guy you settle down with. He’s the guy you get serious with. There was this part of me that was like, “Oh my gosh, I have to pursue this and see where this goes because he’s so kind and such a good person.” I promised myself I would only look for the nicest guy from there on—the ones that know how to treat a girl. And he was that guy.

K: You both had your musical careers at that time, right?

N: Yeah, we were so young and he was on

tour, and I was on tour—I was having so much fun being a girl with other girls. I just did not want anything serious at all, so it wasn’t love at first sight because I was being crowded by—

K: All the noise.

N: All the noise, and my own personal needs

that I wanted at that time in my life. We dated and about 4 months into it, he was just kinda like, “Listen, why don’t you go do your thing and if we are ready to pursue this in a more serious way, then give me a call.”

He did that very adult thing—and he’s a year younger than me so I was like— K: Wow. N: Here

is a 19-year old kid that’s doing this adult responsible thing. So I went away and months went on and the more I thought about it, I felt like, “What am I doing?”

K: You met him through friends?

N: I met him when he was in

the group

Nikki: Top and shorts, both by TORY BURCH, toryburch.com . Nude backstrap heels

by NINE WEST, ninewest.com Hudson: Collared onesie by FORE!! AXEL AND HUDSON, foreaxelandhudson.com

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Nikki: Dress by LOFT, loft.com . Shoes

by NINE WEST, ninewest.com . Necklace

by LEENABELL, leenabell.com Hudson: Onesie by FORE!! AXEL AND HUDSON, foreaxelandhudson.com

it said— K: Here’s your future.

N: Yeah, “Will you marry me?”

K: That is so sweet.

N: And he then pulled the ring out.

K: That is the sweetest. Fast forward to your pregnancy. Were there any difficulties, funny experiences, odd cravings?

N: I was sick for the first 5 months—all

day. In the first trimester, you’re just so exhausted. That first wave of tiredness hits you, and it’s like I’ve never felt tired like that before. I was really sick, and also I was working on Awkward and my husband and I decided not to tell anyone until almost my 5th month. So for those first 3 months, I was on set working sick as a dog, and going back to my trailer. There were moments in the middle of the scene where I was like, this is disgusting, but I would puke in my mouth.

K: (Laughs) I think we’ve all done that.

N: I got to figure out how to swallow

before I say my next line.

Take Five. He was also signed to Lou Pearlman, so he lived in Orlando and you know when you’re down there, we all interacted.

K: How long were you together before he proposed, and how did he pop the question?

N: (Laughs) We were together for 10

years. We had a really good friend who was kinda like a mom to both of us.

She has known me for a very long time and she said to Ryan, “Right now you can’t really push Nikki. You need to try to be her friend and hang out with her.

If you push her, she’s gonna run away.”

He just said, “Well, what if I just came over and brought over some Chinese food?” We just sat, had a drink, and

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chilled. I was like, I think that sounds doable. So he brought over Chinese food, a bottle of wine, and one rose.

We ate, talked for hours, and when he proposed, he had the same red roses and there were candles all around the apartment. I was like, “What is going on?” That’s not what we discussed— K: (Laughs) That’s not what was discussed in the package.

N: Exactly! I knew something was up,

it was just too romantic. I was thinking, “What is going on?” And he was saying, “Nothing, I just want to have a nice, romantic dinner.” We finished our dinner, and he didn’t eat a thing because he was so nervous. Finally at the end of it, he gave me this fortune cookie, and

it

K: That’s hilarious. And how do you stay a hot momma? You are so fit and you just gave birth. It’s not fair.

N: I was very, very, very lucky with this.

I’m a horrible eater—I’ll eat a kale salad if it’s in front of me and if it’s easy to get to, but if it’s not, I’m gonna get something that’s easy and it might be chicken nuggets. I have to work on that because I want my son to have healthy eating habits. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was very much in shape before I got pregnant. As soon as I felt good enough to be upright, I put him in the stroller and started walking around. If I can get home and there’s an hour of daylight I put him in the stroller and go for a walk, and we just stroll. It’s good for the mind and body.

K: Most memorable experiences so far with Hudson. Everyday, right?

N: Everyday, and I have this specific one when he

was just born. He has colic and when you are on a 3 to 6 week baby bender where the baby with colic cries all day long, you’re beyond yourself.

It was in the middle of the night and I was breastfeeding him, and I was just sobbing. I was so tired and overwhelmed. After I finished feeding him, I was holding him for a second upright, for at least 20 to 30 minutes afterwards. He just grinned from ear to ear, it was the first time he smiled. I just remembered my heart melting, and at that moment I didn’t remember the last 3 weeks and how tired and overwhelmed I was. I went on that high through the next couple of weeks.

K: Did you plan to have a baby? What was your reaction when you found out you were expecting?

N: It’s so strange, the whole journey, because I was

always kind of on the fence about having babies.

And then my sister had her babies and I fell in love with my nieces, and it of course softened me to the idea. All of a sudden, one day I was like, I’m ready for a baby. I could feel this little spirit wanting to be born. It sounds so weird, but I could feel his energy. I knew it was a boy, I knew he wanted to be born in January. I said to my husband, let’s start trying in January. Of course the practical me said, listen, it could take a while. A lot of my friends are having a hard time, but I think we should start trying. I’m old enough, and right out of the gate, I got pregnant. I mean the very first time.

K: He’s really for you. He was heaven sent.

N: Exactly, I knew that I could feel it and

he was ready but I didn’t know it would be the first time, and, so when I took that pregnancy test I really wasn’t that shocked. Now, my husband was so shocked. He kind of just gave me a little pat on the back and went and crawled into bed. I sat on the couch and got angry, like, that’s it? I go and sit in the back and say, “I just told you that I’m pregnant.” And he was like, “I know babe, I know.”

K: That’s a lot to take in.

N: Yeah, and he was shocked

actually for the next 5 months, I would say. And then about month 6 he really started coming around. (Laughs)

K: It’s so funny how men react so differently. I know it’s very early but what scares you the most about having a son? Like, the bullying, fighting...

N: I would say not being able to understand his

journey at times. Being a woman you’ll know

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Nikki: Dress by LOFT, loft.com Hudson: Black and white striped long-sleeved shirt by GO GENTLY BABY, shop.gogentlybaby.com . Jeans by MARC JACOBS, marcjacobs.com

I was always kind of on the fence about having babies.

And then my sister had her babies and I fell in love with my nieces and it of course softened me to the idea. And then all of a sudden one day I was like, I’m ready for it, yeah, I’m ready for a baby. And I could feel this like, I don’t know, this little spirit like, wanting to be born.”

—nikki, on starting a family and having children

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if your daughter is having boy trouble having her period, or is insecure or whatever it maybe—I can lock into that because I know where she’s coming from.

K: It’s just different with a boy.

N: I wanna feel locked in to that.

I know I won’t be able to in the way that my husband will. But I want to be able to kind of lock into that with him and really, really be able to understand him. And I also think sometimes boys could be so daring and wild, and sometimes not think about the consequences of their actions. That also scares me.

K: What’s in your mommy purse/diaper bag that you can’t leave home without?

N: Diapers, wipes, Aden + Anais swaddle

blanket…they have so many uses. 10 extra bibs because I can’t stand a dirty bib, an extra outfit for accidents, Hyland’s teething tablets, Wubbanub pacifier, Sophie the Giraffe [teething toy], sunscreen, baby food, and a bottle.

K: How do you manage your schedule with a baby in tow?

N: First, I could not do it without my

nanny, Mimi. She is my everything. We work really long hours on the show. I don’t think I would be able to function without knowing that my child is in the best hands possible. Even still, I have meltdowns when I can’t make it home in time to put him to bed. Organization and thinking ahead is also critical. I set alarms on my phone to remind me to do anything and everything—from picking up diapers to rescheduling his pediatrician appointment. At the end of the day, I remind myself that I did my best. You never cross everything off your list and some area of your life always gets neglected. Usually, it’s the gym for me—but if I spend that extra hour with my baby rather than at the gym, I am a much happier human. He is my priority, not my abs.

K: Virtues you will instill in Hudson.

N: I am a big believer in kindness.

Treat others the way you would like to be treated. I also love a person with manners.

Others high on the list are generosity, humility, confidence, commitment, gratitude, forgiveness, and of course love...of yourself and others. bc

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{mom & baby}

hair and skingenuity

Here are our highly regarded selections when it comes to caring for our and our family’s skin, hair, and body P H O T O G R A P H S ahl e e d e l rosario A S S I S TE D B Y V A L E R I E A N N E D E L C A S T I L L O and c arlo paranada

Cleansers, Toners, Moistureyes-ers Cleanse-tone-moisturize is the common skin care mantra for us women, but we mustn’t forget our peepers. Eye creams specifically target the skin around our eyes, which is finer and has lesser oil glands, thereby increasing the risk of drying. Invest in creams or moisturizers that address your specific skin type (dry, combination, or oily), and problem (fine lines, wrinkles, acne, dryness, etc.).

Ultrabland Make-up Remover and Gentle Facial Cleanser by LUSH, $16.95, lushusa.com . Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub (with Salicyclic Acid) by NEUTROGENA, $6.49, neutrogena.com . Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion by ESTEE LAUDER, $95, esteelauder.com . Repairwear Uplifting Firming Cream for Dry Combination to Combination Oily by CLINIQUE, $80, clinique.com . Age Reform HydroDynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes by MURAD, $3 7, murad. com . Aquaction Deep Hydrating Dew Toner by OLAY . Double Serum (Hydric + Lipidic System) Complete Age Control Concentrate by CLARINS, $115, clarinsusa.com . Blanc Expert Derm-crystal Crystal Brightness Activating Essence by LANCOME, $162.50 . Re-Everything Eye Serum Anti-Age Target Treatment, Paraben-, Fragrance-, and Preservative-Free by VMV HYPOALLERGENICS, $85, vmvhypoallergenics.com

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Take care of your baby’s skin the best way you know how—with products that 100% gentle and toxin-free, and made of the purest ingredients. Always check the label for natural contents that are certified hypo-allergenic. Sometimes, our kids’ skin is sensitive to ingredients that have strong scents, so make sure to check with your baby’s dermatologist for the best choices in skin care. Don’t forget to apply diaper rash cream for prevention and extra protection for your baby.

Extra Gentle Shampoo by NOODLE & BOO, $12, noodleandboo.com . Paraben, sulfate, and fragrance free Moisturizing Lotion by CERAVE BABY, $9.99, cerave.com . Face & Body Mom & Baby Cream by L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE, $18, usa.loccitane.com . Diaper Cream by ERBAORGANICS BABY, $15 for 2.5 oz., erbaorganics.com .

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Extra Gentle Shampoo by NOODLE & BOO, $12, noodleandboo.com . Paraben, sulfate, and fragrance free Moisturizing Lotion by CERAVE BABY, $9.99, cerave.com . Face & Body Mom & Baby Cream by L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE, $18, usa.loccitane.com . Diaper Cream by ERBAORGANICS BABY, $15 for 2.5 oz., erbaorganics.com . Calm Me Hair & Body Wash (part of set) by BELLI BABY . Organic Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe Ointment with Frankincense & Myrrh by SHEA MOISTURE . Wash & Shampoo by CERAVE BABY, $9.99, cerave.com . Hypo-allergenic and Paraben Free Soothing Lotion in Lavender by EARTH’S BEST ORGANIC, $8.96, earthsbest.elsstore.com

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Silvertree Morocco Argan Oil for Hair and Body by CYNOS, $21.95 . Blousey Shampoo with Rose Oil, Blackcurrant Absolute, Thyme, Rosemary by LUSH, $25.95, lushusa. com . Elixir Ultime Beautifying Oil Masque

by KERASTASE, $65, kerastase-usa.com . Mocha Cappuccino Hair Masque by BIO SUPPLEMENTS, $26, braziliansupplements. com . Controller Conditioning Spray by UMBERTO BEVERLY HILLS,

$9.99, umbertobh.com

. Revitalizing Fresh Scalp

Tonic by L’OCCITANE, loccitane.com . Beauty Oil for Natural, Highlighted, or Color-Treated Hair

by CAMILLE ALBANE, camillealbane.com . Phyto 9 Ultra Nourishing Day Cream with 9 Plants for Ultra Dry Hair by PHYTO PARIS, $17.95, phyto-usa. com . Fairly Traded Honey Shampoo by LUSH, $9.95, lushusa.com

A Hairy Situation Take care of your tresses, as sometimes, it’s all we’ve got to accessorize our look (especially with our busy schedules). To treat dry hair or frizz, go for a once-a-week at-home conditioning treatment that revitalizes your hair, or try an everyday oil treatment that you can apply before or after you blow-dry your hair.

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Rouge Atomatique in Mitsouko 140 light golden peach shimmer by GUERLAIN, $36, sephora. com . Lacquer Gloss in RS306 Plum Wine by SHISEIDO, $25, shiseido.com . Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Mango by LAURA MERCIER, $26.99, lauramercier. com . Satin Lip Pencil in Biscayne Park by NARS, $25, narscosmetics.com . Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Nice ‘N’ Spicy by MAC, $20, maccosmetics. com . Pro Lipstick in Cranbaby

by ALEXIS VOGEL, $20, alexisvogelbeauty. com . The Multiple (multipurpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body) in 413 BLKR burgundy by NARS, $39, narscosmetics. com . Subtle Shine Lipstick in Giddy by VMV HYPOALLERGENICS, $24, vmvhypoallergenics.com Stay Pout Liquid Lip Stain in Expose by ALEXIS VOGEL, $18, alexisvogelbeauty.com . Mint Julips Lip Scrub by LUSH, $9.95, lushusa.com . Lacquer Gloss in RS306 Plum Wine by SHISEIDO, $25, shiseido.com . Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Mango

by LAURA MERCIER, $26.99, lauramercier.com . Color Balm Lipstick in Vivienne (Terracotta Rose) by STILA, $22, stilacosmetics.com .

Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Whoppin’ Watermelon by CLINIQUE, $10.79, clinique.com . Lip Glace Lip Gloss in Bare Baby by LAURA MERCIER, $25, lauramercier.com .

ColorStay Ultimate Suede in Fashionista 080 by REVLON, $10.49

service

Now that wind-chapped and cracked lips are in our immediate future, a lipstick or lip balm that provides extra moisture and protection from the wind and sun keep your lips extra kissable for school bus kisses—while keeping that glam factor in check.

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bc lifestyle pa

renting

Amy Weber

wrestling with motherhood An abusive household didn’t stop WWE Diva, pop singer and performer, breakout artist, actress, and cervical cancer survivor, Amy Weber from coming into her own. Most of all, she’s “mom” to her darling twins, Levi and Madison Grace

BC: What was it like growing up in Illinois?

Amy Weber: It was cold! I remember

that our nearest neighbor was miles down the street, and I learned the value of hardwork being from the Midwest.

My best memories were of being alone and creating make-believe dreams, and singing in my handmade forts.

BC: You reportedly grew up in an abusive household. Who did you lean on during these trying times? How do you think can you teach your children about this concept, as to avoid getting into abusive relationships?

A: I unfortunately did. I didn’t really

have anyone to lean on, so I immersed myself in music, books, and make-believe to escape from it. I think by show-

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ing my children a healthy, abuse-free relationship firsthand with my husband, I am already showing them that it does exist. I grew up thinking that if a boy didn’t beat me, he must be a good guy simply based off that—my barometer was pretty off!

BC: That is very sad to hear. Moving forward to now, how did you become part of WWE as a Diva under the Smackdown brand? Were you already into contact sports as a young woman?

A: I tried out for the WWE’s first ever

Diva Search and ended up in the top 10. After my departure, Vince McMahon called to ask if I wanted to come on as a regular Diva to help with some story lines. It was my first time working in any sort of contact sports, unless you

count the face plants when I did hurdles in track.

BC: Haha! You also worked on several television series and films, aside from being a WWE Diva. Tell us more about that and how you got into it.

A: It was always my dream to entertain

people, to provide an escape for others.

From the time I can remember, I was always putting on plays and little musicals, so it was a natural thing for me to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

BC: What inspired you to write your book, “An Insider’s Guide to Making it in Show Business”?

A: After opening a modeling agency and

representing over 400 models and talent, I realized that I had a lot of inside knowl-

Amy Webber

Most importantly, I listen to my children, and I think it helps their self-esteem because they realize that I think what they have to say is worth listening to. edge that could be helpful to people just getting into the business and for those that were maybe stuck in a rut, so I just started to put my thoughts and advice together and the book was born.

BC: Aside from being on TV, you’re also a musical artist. How did you get into the music business and who are your musical influences?

A: Music has always been a big part of

my life. I finally decided to pursue it, so I got into a recording studio. Luckily, it seems to be working out. I really like Pink, Cascada, The Crystal Method, Kylie Minogue.

BC: How was it like working with Sean Kingston? Did you write “Dance of Life”

with him? Who else would you like to work with in the near future?

A: Sean was great! A true professional.

He just knows what he wants and does it with ease. You can tell that he has been working really hard for a lot of years, and I took a lot away from my experience with him since I am relatively new. I just got Romeo Miller on a single, and I am so excited for everyone to hear the track!

I have a decent list that consists of Armin Van Buuren, Taio Cruz, Akon, Drake and Pitbull.

BC: Tell us more about being a “DES baby” and why, like you, DES babies have an increased risk for cervical cancer and other pregnancy and fertility problems.

A: DES or Diethylstilbestrol was a syn-

thetic form of the hormone estrogen that used to be prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage, premature labor, and other related pregnancy complications. It also increases the risk of clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix for the daughters of women who took DES during pregnancy. Fertility problems are also more common for DES babies.

BC: What was it like battling Stage 3 cervical cancer at the age of 21? What kept you strong throughout the process?

A: It was a nightmare. I can’t even put

it into words. I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about it or to rely on, so I used music to get me through it and just sheer determination to overcome it.

At 44, Amy Weber is an actress, model, film producer, former WWE Diva, and singer who has released her hit single “Let It Rain” in 2012, which reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart and hit #4 on the Billboard Breakout Hits Chart in the US. She has also collaborated with Grammy winners The Klubjumpers, Madonna’s personal DJ, the internationally famed Tracy Young.

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Amy Weber BC: What was it like being told that you might never have kids?

A: It was heart breaking. As a woman, to be told

at such a young age that you are possibly barren, which basically felt like broken, was horrible. I hadn’t decided if I wanted to have kids, but to have that choice taken away from me felt like a part of me was being ripped out.

BC: You got pregnant post-operation but the pregnancy did not carry through. How does it feel now to finally have children of your own and see that you’ve overcome that experience and challenge?

A: Miscarriages might be common, but it didn’t

feel common when it was happening to me. It felt horrible. I knew somehow that it was my fault—my body’s fault—and I was so guilt-ridden over it. It is truly a miracle that I have two amazing, happy, and healthy toddlers running around.

BC: How did your husband help you find strength and not give up hope? How did both of you respond to the trials you had to face as a married couple trying to build a family?

A: My husband is a very positive guy—sometimes

he is even more positive than me, which seems impossible! He was certainly a rock throughout the entire process, and of course, it has brought us closer together. I think it can either tear you apart or make you inseparable, and luckily for us, it did the latter.

BC: Tell us about your twins. How are they alike and different, and who takes from you and your husband?

A: They are pretty amazing. I think they are beauti-

ful, but I am most proud that they have really great manners and are truly sweet people. They have a great sense of empathy for animals and others, and I think they probably get that from me. They get their humor mostly from Daddy, and their sense of responsibility from me. They are very different, but they are each other’s best friend at the end of the day.

BC: How do you and your family bond?

A: I try to cook dinner at least four nights

a week.

We eat breakfast and dinner as a family and talk about our days —this is our time to truly bond. We are all pretty crazy, so we go on adventures together as often as we can. Most importantly, I listen to my children, and I think it helps their self-esteem because they realize that I think what they have to say is worth listening to. bc

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bc lifestyle pa

renting

LIST

Our meticulously curated best choices for your family P h o t og r ap h s by S ol e il moon fry e , b e njamin jam e s , M .

D e sign , A hl e e d e l rosario and c arlo paranada Wo r ds by Kariz F avis and V al e ri e A nn e d e l Castillo

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I have learned to be happy with unexpected results when it comes to parenting; skating is much more cut and dry.

—bc dad and ultimate skateboarder, Tony Hawk, on fatherhood

P H O T O G R A P H B Y B e njamin J am e s

Blessed are those who’ve never had to hear an infant screech while trying to get them to sit tightly in their car seat.

However, we’ve had fortunate experiences with the Cybex Aton Q (see page 53), which continues to impress us with its sleek design, softness, and clever Telescopic Linear Side-impact Protection System—and a new function that allows the flattest possible lying angle between baby’s head, neck, and chest to prevent his head from tipping forward and cause breathing problems. We also love the XXL foldaway sun canopy with UVP 50+ that protects against high sun irradiation and strong wind. But caring for our kids on the road doesn’t stop at purchasing a high-quality infant car seat (Cybex is a multi-awarded brand for its outstanding results in Europe’s most important consumer safety tests)—it’s still imperative for us to read through the instruction manual and install the seat properly, as misused car seats may do more harm than good during a collision.

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Skateboarding Although harking back to California in the late ‘40s, skateboarding seems to be making a comeback (not that it ever really left) among many tween to teen boys and girls. We don’t mind having our own little Avrils (does she qualify?) and Tony Hawks at all. Today, skateboarding is no longer just affiliated to the surfing community or the punk culture, it has become so mainstream that even too-cool New Yorkers have been seen clutching a board to school. Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield has been a skateboard enthusiast since his younger years, citing that he pitched the idea of Peter Parker skateboarding to the film’s producers, which they eventually approved. Other stars who skateboard include Pharell Williams (who used to be called “Skateboard P” back in HS), comedian Dave Chappelle, Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley, and The Mentalist’s Simon Baker.

EXPLORING

Royal Treatment

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he Goring, London’s only 5-star hotel that is still in family ownership for 105 years. Run by the same family that built it, the staff are experts at looking after guests of all ages, and the children’s program makes a stay even more memorable. Quintessentially English and conveniently located as it is moments away from Buckingham palace, The Goring is most famous in recent years as the place where Kate Middleton stayed her last night before the Royal Wedding. New parents will love the VIP treatment, with a waiting basket of essentials to help care for your little one—lotions, changing mats and sacks, bath toys and mats. Younger guests are welcomed by The Goring’s cuddly ‘Baaabara Sheep’ (above, right) and each room is equipped with the latest Nintendo Wii, homemade biscuits and milk at turndown, bread bags for feeding the ducks in St James Park, plus a program of things to do around London and surrounding areas (Legoland), organized by ‘Big John.’ Children can also let off steam in The Goring’s private garden. Relax like Royals on their patio overlooking the garden and enjoy the “Best Afternoon Tea Award” by the Tea Guild.

T

hese fascinating, mind-blowing, and sometimes breath-taking play spaces for our children make us want to be kids all over again. Case in point: Jerusalem’s David Citadel Hotel, which features a playroom designed by Sarit Shani Hay. Over at Europe, Ecole Maternelle Pajol is a kindergarten classroom in Rue Pajol that comes alive from the Parisian architecture office Palatre & Leclère, a 1940s building that has been reimagined and restored. Other notable destinations include Kids Castle in Burbank, CA; Giggles N’ Hugs (which has venues in Los Angeles, Canoga Park, and Glendale, CA) and Kidzania, which has franchises in Lisbon, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Tokyo, Jakarta, Kuwait, Philippines, among others.

1 Kids Castle 2 Ecole Maternelle Pajol, Rue Pajol in Paris 3 Kids' Playroom at David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel 4 Giggles & Hugs, Los Angeles 5 Kidzania 1 2

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BPA-free 8 oz. Anti-colic bottle, Bite & Brush BPA-free Teether with very soft bristles, both by MAM, mambaby.com . Siliskin Glass 6 oz. (2 pack) by SILIKIDS, $12.95, silikids.com . BPA-free Bite & Play Teether with water-filled cooling part and twistable rattle, BPA-free Learn to Drink Cup, both by MAM, mambaby.com . 6 kid-friendly dry erase markers by MODERN-TWIST, $,7, modern-twist.com . Mermaid drinking bottle, $18.99, Elephant family drinking bottle, $18.99, both

by SIGG, mysigg.com . BPA-free silicone placemat with elephant design, “Farm to Table� BPA-free silicone placemat, $18, both by MODERN-TWIST, modern-twist.com

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of you said that you’ve upped your kitchen game ever since becoming a mother

Mealtimes can turn messy in an instant, that’s why we love these easy to clean silicon place mats that double as coloring pages and doodle papers. For drinking aids, invest in BPA- and toxin-free made baby bottles, training cups, and water containers for your child’s health—while helping save the environment as a side product.

Animal Mix Up Mini, $18.99, Cars, $18.99, both by SIGG, mysigg. com . Siliskin Sippy Top

by SILIKIDS, $12.95, silikids.com . Cooler teether with water-filled cooling part, BPA-free Trainer, both by MAM, mambaby.com . Non-slip pure silicone meal mat with giraffe design by MODERN-TWIST, moderntwist.com . Siliskin Glass with Sippy Top, $12.95, Silimap Folding Silicone Placemat in sea

by SILIKIDS, $14.95, silikids.com . 2 Pacifiers and 2 Anti-colic BPAfree bottles by MAM, mambaby.com

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PARENTAL APPS negative reviews, and thought, when I’m researching my products, I always type in ‘the best.’ Why can’t we do something that focuses on people’s ultimate favorite product that makes discovering and sharing baby products really fun and it’s easy?”

This is how Favored By developed in time. But more than just bookmarking or liking certain products in a category, Favored By also lets you follow influencers and like-minded people who enjoy the same products you do. Ali explains, “I knew that there were thousands of moms out there facing the exact same thing that I was, wanting to find the best products for their family. I also wanted to find honest opinions, and I don’t wanna hear that from the brand. I wanna hear that from other moms so then I can go ahead and make the best purchasing decisions for my family.”

By downloading and using the app, parents and users can see which products are trending in real time, search products, brands, and categories and filter by likeminded people, location, or by your ‘follow.’

p h o t og r ap h by M . D e sign s t o r y by val e ri e d e l c astillo

ALL IN FAVOR

Former Miss USA, model, actress, and mother of three, Ali Landry has a lot on her plate, bringing up her daughter, Estela, and sons Marcelo and Valentin with her husband of 8 years, Alejandro Gomez Monteverde—while raising awareness on a project she is passionate about through The Red CARpet Safety Event, and developing great solu-

tions for moms through the Favored By app, which she co-founded and developed.

Ali shares the beginnings of her impressive app, since necessity is the mother of invention, “We started out as a product review app, and after working with brands and people are a little leery about having

“We really try to give the best information possible to save time,” Ali explains. “We do exclusive discounts only on the products you want—by either what they’re favoring or what they’re putting on the wish list. Say we have 100 moms that have favored [a product]. We ask the brand, “Can you give us an exclusive discount?” Then we send these moms, who are already interested in that car seat, an exclusive discount.”

For more information on Favored By, search for it on iTunes or log on to www.favored.by.

OTHER APPS Vine.co For parents and kids who want to capture and share quick moments with family, whether it be a clip of your baby’s first smile or laugh, or your son’s first steps, Vine, the short-form video sharing service lets you publish your 6-second videos and automatically share it with the world, through Twitter and Facebook. Vine.co also features several channels you can browse through to discover interesting people, places, and things.

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Cozi Whether you’re a mom looking to simplify tracking your busy family’s schedule or a dad who likes to keep up to date with the goings on of the whole brood, Cozi is an app that can give you all of that and more. Accessible through PC or Mac or via mobile and tablet, Cozi enables users to manage schedules and activities (PTAs, play dates, and outings), track grocery and shopping lists, tasks, and plan meals and even store your very own favorite recipes for easy access.

Pirc If you love to shop online, you will certainly perk up with Pirc, the app that lets you keep track of your favorite items and weekly deals. Create a personalized circular (or Pircular), build your shopping list, and find out the sale items and coupons you want to buy in your favorite store this week. Print out the coupons and discount shop.

Shangrila MultiSensory Activity Mat & Portico Archway Accessory by KUSHIES, $139.99, kushiesonline.com

Playmats are your best friend, before baby is strong enough to turn over. In the process, they discover new textures, colors, and patterns in this whimsical paradise. This Kushies reversible activity mat features a soft, smooth, and fuzzy all-terrain environment, and black and white graphics for neuro-optic stimulation.

Giraffe and Lion bookends by ZUNY, zuny.info . Daring Greatly by brene brown, $14.66, brenebrown.com . Toxin Toxout by bruce lourie & rick smith, $18.33, toxintoxout.com or amazon.com . “Do what you like. Like what you do.” Classic Diner Mug by LIFE IS GOOD, $10, lifeisgood.com . Stacked Animal Wall Art in Cobalt Blue by OILO, $49.99, oilostudio.com

so whack

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated but have no time to hit the gym, your husband, or the boxing ring? Vent your frustrations on these chic dolls that you can squeeze, wrangle, throw, and whack against the wall or any hard surfaces. These 12-inch stuffed cotton dolls that come in a variety of funky designs with instructional poems.

Classic doll, $15, Keychain, $10, both by DAMMIT DOLLS, dammitdolls.com or amazon.com

DREAM MACHINE If there ever was a baby furniture piece that made us want to rethink the entire theme of our nursery, or break down the existing one and start from scratch, this would be it. However bassinets tend to be of short-term use, its functionality cannot be discounted. Moveable, lightweight, space saving—it more than seamlessly transforms into a toy box when baby is old enough to stand inside. And believe you me, this Baby Home can hold its own carrying those CAT trucks and lego pieces.

Dream Premium leather bassinet on polished black aluminum with Naturalmat handcrafted Coco Mat organic mattress by BABYHOME, $1,200, giggle.com

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reading nooks

Cozy up with a cup of tea, your favorite scented candles (Voluspa, shown here, and Diptyque Baies still reign as far as aromatherapy in our book) and a great novel or magazine at the end of the day when you have a chance to get some “me time.”

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(This page, top left to right) Ryder in black/gray, $60, Hedden in chocolate, $79.95 both by UMI, umishoes.com . Flex Adrian in navy/grey/red by PEDIPED, $49, pediped.com . Cayla mary janes in black by UMI, $65, umishoes.com . Bernal in tweed by LIVIE & LUCA, $58, livieandluca.com . Leola A II flats in brown multi

by UMI, $55, umishoes.com . Sproutin’ Up Grant in navy by LITTLE GREEN TRIKE,

$42, littlegreentrike.com (Opposite page) Sproutin’ Up Seth in brown by LITTLE GREEN TRIKE, $42, littlegreentrike.com . Rio in grey lime by PEDIPED, $39, pediped. com . Gordon in beige suede by LIVIE & LUCA, $56, livieandluca.com . Ryder in white/navy by UMI, $60, umishoes.com . Pio Pio in silver by LIVIE & LUCA, $62, livieandluca.com . Shane in gray/multi by UMI, umishoes.com

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If the Shoe Fits

School season is in full swing for the youngsters, and whether it’s casual kicks, mary janes, or glittered, help them choose shoes with comfort as top priority (extra wiggle room for toes, also good to consider). Remember they’ll be wearing these for hours on end at school.

Don’t forget to ask the sales reps for durability, as you’d want it to last through the year.

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01

Exotic Destination: India

You know about the curry, bindi, those gorgeous turbans and the Bollywood dancing (see Lily Collins in “Mirror, Mirror”)—but did you know that India has become a fast favorite destination for families looking to expose their children to exotic cultures and palate (Karim’s, Bukhara, Culture Curry)? “Punky Brewster” Soleil Moon Frye shares some of her favorite photos (including elephant rides, street sights, and one with her girls and the Dalai Lama) from her recent travels, contrasted with the swanky goodness of the Aman Resort their then-brood of four stayed at. Other activities to try with the fam: book a private day trip to Agra and see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort; bird and butterfly watching in Mumbai at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park; do a short course with bigger kids to study Hindi and Sanskrit with famous octogenarian, Professor Shukla; practice real deal Ashtanga Yoga with Madonna’s guru, K Pattabhi Jois; and meditate together at the Bodhgaya.

P h o t og r ap h s by sol e il M oon fry e

ly of Frye and her then-fami en Actress Soleil Moon wh yet d ive nce co wasn’t four. Their son, Lyric, India to trip this e mad y the

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VIEWING

fall lineup Madam Secretary (September 21)

Political drama fans will also look forward to CBS’ Madam Secratary, which will follow the life of former CIA agent Elizabeth Faulkner McCord (Tea Leoni) as she plays the role of Secretary of State to the nation, and mother to her family.

State of Affairs (November 17)

Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl makes her TV comeback with NBC’s much anticipated State of Affairs, a drama following CIA analyst Charleston “Charlie” Whitney Tucker, as she assembles and presents the U.S. President’s Daily Briefing regarding the most pressing security issues the country is facing. The show also stars Alfre Woodard as President Constance Payton, Adam Kaufman Sheila Vand, Cliff Chamberlain, and Tommy Savas.

03

Revenge (September 28) Now that BC Cover Dad, James Tupper’s character—the wronged David Clark—is back with literally a vengeance, we cannot wait to find out how he managed to pull off being secretly dead for years. Also excited to see Emily’s deadpan expressions, Hampton socials, and how Madeleine Stowe to be hoarding the Fountain of Youth all to herself.

Downton Abbey (January 4, 2015) So we’ll never be royals, but what the heck?

Give this momma an extra hour on the couch and we’d gladly spent the most part catching up on this British period drama. Executive producer Gareth Neame promises more romance, drama, and comedy “played out by some of the most iconic characters on television.”

Awkward (September 23) We’ve all seen Jenna (Ashley Rickards) trip, fall, and go through the most awkward years of teenage life, but as the show returns this fall for part 2 of its fourth season, we’ll find out if Eva really is pregnant, whether or not Jake and Tamara will get back together, and Jenna’s future for the rest of her senior year.

Modern Family (September 24) We hope this will be one of those TV series like “Days of Our Lives” that will outlive us all. Imagine little Tucker-Pritchetts, and little Glorias with their mother’s accent—but male? We just gave this show a few more storylines, we thinks. Also recently revealed is Adam DeVine’s character, Andy, will be back for several more episodes in this highly anticipated new season.

Scandal (September 25) Now that show star, haute mama Kerri Washington has given birth, Shonda Rhimes’ “Will the US President ever marry his mistress?” political thriller returns this fall on its fourth season. However, we will surely miss Harrison (Columbus Short) whose death will be explained. Also appearing in several episodes this season is Portia de Rossi, whose role has not yet been disclosed.

sweet dreams, baby

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Here’s a trend that should last: sleep sacks. Because babies who sleep alone in their crib ideally must not have pillows or blankets as they have been known to contribute to SIDS, these sacks provide warmth while providing a restful slumber for you both.

BC Recommends: Love to Dream’s swaddling system: Swaddle UP is stage 1, which allows babies to self-soothe. It applies gentle pressure of the joints and muscles to help sooth them and get them to sleep.

The space provided for his arms enables him to move his hands nearer to his mouth for a more comfortable position. Stage 2 or Swaddle UP 50/50 will transition your child from the arms-up position to the arms-free position, which is important when your baby begins to roll, or when he’s between 4 to 6 months. The detachable wings lets him have one or both arms free. Stage 3 is the Inventa Sleep Bag, equipped with the Genius Cooling System which will regulate your baby’s temperature without disturbing his precious rest.

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Footloose

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lways wanted to be that mom that clicketyclacks through your children’s school hallways in Isabel Marant boots, bespoke initialed Goyard purse, in head-to-toe Chloe or Helmut Lang? Yeah well, we gave up on that visual the moment the stick turned pink. Here’s what’s keeping our ‘kind of pedicured’ piggies cute and comfy while we engage in our yearly post summer drill.

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Arm Candy

Made of gorgeous, PVC-free faux leather, the Charlie from Timi & Leslie is actually a diaper bag disguised as as designer bag, which features custom hardware in antique brass finish. You’ll love the cross body, adjustable detachable strap so that you can wear it hands-free, using them for what matters most—your baby.

Charlie 7-Piece Diaper Bag Set in Mustard by TIMI & LESLIE, $159.99, shoptimiandleslie.com

Pilar wedge by TOMS . AF 6-inch prembrg women’s boots by TIMBERLAND .

Pure Cadence trainers in white/fuchsia/anthracite by BROOKS, brooksrunning.com . Tess Rain Boot in brown COMFORTVIEW, $69.99, jessicalondon.com . Katherine in cognac by BRIAN JAMES, $98, brianjamesfootwear. com . Katherine in noir

by BRIAN JAMES, $98, brianjamesfootwear.com

Personalized Wraps We love leather, and we love inscribing notes on presents. Two birds with one stone: scribble love notes—or even your memoirs—inside these Journal Wrap Cuffs from Melis.

Skins Journal Wrap Cuff for Women by MELIS, $52, melis.com

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@happilyeverlyafter

@bleubird

@bikinibodymommy

@mammawatters @heartandhabit

@danniremender

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@luisafere

@madebylon @kristinadarling @mommasgonecity

Instagramoms

@unrulythings

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From body transformations, kitschy partyplanning skills, crafting tips that we’ll never be able to nail, pregnancy style for those who are luckily all belly, mixed race children—we are hooked on these Instagramming folks. Now you know whose feed we’re watching when it’s that time of the night and you’ve actually got about 45 minutes to call your own before all the next day’s tasks creep in.

shopping bag

UMI SHOES As our kids head back to school, slip them into a pair of UMI Shoes that are designed with only the highest-quality drum-dyed leathers and other non-toxic, environmentally friendly natural materials that guarantee its durability throughout the school year. Your children are sure to get happy feet as they run, skip, and explore their way into learning. umishoes.com

CYBEX ATON Q Back to school means back on the road, so make sure your children are kept safe during travel with the Cybex Aton Q, which marries safety and design and featuresbest thefriends Telescopic Linear for their feet Side-impact Protection (L.S.P. System). This system keeps your child safe by absorbing the force of a side-impact collision in combination with the energy absorbing shell. It also features an XXL fold-away sun canopy that also protects againstumishoes.com wind and rain. regallager.com

LOVE TO DREAM INVENTA SLEEP BAG Sleep soundly with no worries at night by placing your child in the Love to Dream Inventa Sleep Bag. This hypo-allergenic Sleep Bag features a breakthrough Genuis Cooling System that enables you to gently adjust temperature without disrupting his sleep. It also has a silky, soft bamboo lining and filling that is breathable and comfortable, an extra long side zipper for easy diaper changes, and an amazing Longa Shorta feature that allows you to adjust the length of the bag for your baby’s growth. lovetodream.com

LA PICCOLA DANZA This holiday season, dress your kids in La Piccola Danza, which showcases the most fashionable clothes for little girls whether for everyday glamour or special occasions. From metallic prints, to drop waist dresses with glitters, and to sheer beaded caplets, your daughter is sure to find something to love. The brand has the perfect statement item from their big collection for fashionable kids to wear. lapiccoladanza.com

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Home & Style Improvements

Body Art I guess if SJP and Beyonce are rockin’ it, we can also upgrade our “cool mom” scores with these safe temporary tattoos for all ages.

Temporary Tattoo Body Art (Pack of 4) by MELIS, $4.50, melis.com

OPEN, SESAME! Gone are the days when salads were mostly Caesar. This Kewpie Deep-Roasted Sesame Dressing is a hit with all ages—trust us, we did a test with about 5 kids already—and has been charming taste buds the world over. Available at Amazon.com, this Asian condiment is already gaining a following in America and all over the world.

Best Mobile Sound Experience

SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker by BOSE, $199.95

Mouth-watering Two goodness

Dominic Ansel We were told we can’t use the word “cronut” without having to pay this gentleman a fee. Although we won’t be so brazen to line up in the New York cold to grab a cronut or one of these cookie cups (right) with the little ones, this is a worthy claim of the IOU’s your friend said she’ll pay you back for letting her crash on your couch after an all-nighter, while your in-laws were in town.

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If you have a spouse who’s difficult to please when it comes to gifts, no one has ever complained about the Bose SoundLink Mini. This Bluetooth speaker is so handy and small, but performs majestically. Play music from your phone, tablet, or computer through its Bluetooth connectivity and share the fun with even those who don’t want to jiggy with your tunes.

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Baby’s Day Out

Triple band play blanket in citron by OILO, $64, oilostudio.com . Muslin blanket set in jacks by JJ COLE COLLECTIONS, $24.95, jjcolecollections.com . Outdoor blanket by JJ COLE COLLECTIONS, $34.95, jjcolecollections.com . The Original Head Repositioning Beanie in whimsical blue elephants by TORTLE, $19.99, tortle.com . Short storage box in cocoa stripe by JJ COLE COLLECTIONS, $14.95, jjcolecollections.com . Complete Baby Carrier All Seasons in stone by LILLEBABY, $135, lillebaby.com

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Here are some great breakfast and snack ideas for the whole family. We’re loving organic chocolate and coffee, and easy to prepare tummy-fillers for the kids, such as organic pancake mixes and scones.

It’s also never too early to make a Christmas list—remember, this doubles as presents for your family and friends, too.

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Hot Chocolate Mix by GREEN & BLACK’S ORGANIC, greenandblacks.com . Vanilla Chai Scones Premium Mix by STICKY FINGERS BAKERIES, stickyfingersbakery. com . Colorado Blends Medium Dark Roast Winter’s Companion by SILVER CANYON COFFEE, silvercanyoncoffee. com . Seasoning with Kosher French Grey Sea Salt by HERBSALT . Almond Butter Cacao Truffle by TWO MOMS IN THE RAW, twomomsintheraw.com . 100% Pure Vanilla Syrup by HEILALA VANILLA, $12.95, heilalavanilla.com .

Pumpkin Spice All-Natural Pancake and Waffle Mix by DANCING DEER BAKING CO. , dancingdeer.com . Upgraded Chocolate Powder (Organic, Wild crafted heirloom, Low-toxin processing)

by BULLETPROOF, upgradedself.com .

Pure Vanilla Bean Paste, Pure Vanilla Bean Sugar, both by HEILALA VANILLA, heilalavanilla.com . All Natural Olive Oil and Sea Salt Gourmet Crackers

by ROBERT ROTHSCHILD FARM, robertrothschild.com . Holiday Spice Blend Natural Black Tea by COMFORT AND JOY TEA, republicoftea.com

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new kitchen staples

third wave coffee

Eight Cup Classic Series Glass Coffeemaker by CHEMEX COFFEEMAKER, $43.50, chemexcoffeemaker.com

First wave coffees were comprised of those Folger’s cans we used to buy in bulk, next wave came the Starbucks’, CBTLs, and the like. The third wave boasts of independent coffeehouses who have their own special beans, and also snooty at-home coffee enthusiasts who produce coffeeshop envy worthy coffee from this simple-looking glass called a Chemex. This coffeemaker is made of nonporous, borosilicate glass that is heat resistant and was invented back in 1941 by Dr. Peter Schlumbohm PhD, this hourglass-shaped vessel, when used together with the filters, helps you brew coffee that is fine and properly infused, for a better coffee experience. Its unique design has earned it a space at the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

keeping the ‘good’ in food

Cookie Butter

Is it a crushed gingerbread cookie pureed into soft, butter goodness?

Whatever it’s made of, we just want it on bananas, pancakes, milkshakes— pretty much virtually everything our tongue comes in contact with.

Damn you both, Trader Joe’s and Speculoos.

If you’re a mom who’s into creating your own meals and snacks, then here’s a kitchen staple that you should invest in. A food dehydrator is designed to preserve fruits, vegetables, and even meat by reducing the water content in them. This version from Ronco that we love features a Turbo fan that dehydrates food as much as three times faster than the original one and an adjustable temperature control, saving you time, effort, and energy. Its parts are also dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to worry about cleanup.

EZ-Store 5-Tray Turbo Dehydrator by RONCO, $69.99, ronco.com

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Daddy Day Care

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Already shopping for your husband or his best bud who’s got one on the way? Here are some great ideas to send him off the right path to fatherhood and everyday must-haves for the man of the house.

New School Toddler Tee by DADDY & CO., $16.95, daddyncompany.com . Switchblade 2-in-1 trimmer by MICROTOUCH, $19.99, getswitchblade. com . Cotton Twill iPad Case in Black by NUEVUE, $63.99, nuevue.com . All-in-One Personal Trimmer by MICROTOUCH MAX, P14.99, microtouchmax.com . The Complete A**Hole Dad: Random Musings of an Inappropriate Parent by DAN INDANTE, $14.95, danindante.com.

The One Classic Safety Razor by MICROTOUCH, $19.99, onerazor.com . The Guv’ner Deodorant Powder by LUSH, $10.45, lushusa.com . Total Revitalizer Eye Anti-Wrinkle/Anti-Bags Lifting Cream by SHISEIDO MEN, $45, shiseido.com . Old School Daddy Tee by DADDY & CO., $24.95, daddyncompany.com

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THE COMPLETE A**HOLE DAD

BY DAN INDANTE

T

ell us about yourself. I’m a bitter, vindictive attorney who’s spent the better part of two decades scrounging around in the conflicts between people, companies, and other unmentionables. Experience has taught me that pretty much everybody is full of crap, and I like writing about the hypocrisy inherent in virtually all elements of society—except me, of course. I also have two kids –ages 11 and 9–who appear to be smart enough to quickly learn my enhanced levels of sarcasm and vitriol, so I wanted to leave a record for them to emulate.

How many books have you written? My first book was called The Complete A**Hole’s Guide to Handling Chicks, which was among the most offensive works in the history of American literature and surely got me on the FBI Watch List for the last 10+ years. The Complete A**Hole Dad (TCAD) is my second, and is just as socially inappropriate as the first—maybe moreso since I spend most of the time making fun of my family as opposed to the soulless women I dated prior to getting married. My third book, 40 Is The New 90, is an ode to middle age and all that comes with it, including, but not limited to, hairy shoulders, peeing 30+ times/day, and throwing out your back by opening a Coke can. I presume that it will be met with the same universal silence and disregard that marred my first two releases.

Why did you write, TCAD? Because you can only read so many magazine ar-

ticles about restricting gluten from your children’s diets and requiring them to wear a safety helmet while they’re watching TV before you say, “Enough is enough!” I simply believe that the helicopterization of modern parenting is destroying our children—and our ability to compete with China—on a daily basis and I wanted to put something out in the universe that says, essentially, “Hey, your children will not end up living underneath a bridge if you disavow all the alleged parenting experts, and let your kids watch more than two hours of Sponge Bob per day, or occasionally eat a Twinkie.”

“Always use sunblock”.

One of the many hilarious (and all too real) cartoons from Dan's third book,

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"40 Is the New 90"

for the road

Because you can never tell when an adventure is about to take place, here’s the ultimate in overnighters for baby—with insulated snack and medicine boxes, to clean and dirty clothes bags, matching pillow and blanket, your mom OCD is instantly gratified.

My Bag Boy by KUSHIES, $79.99,

I wrote it all so I think it’s ALL Pulitzer Prize-caliber but, if I can avoid being a sarcastic jerk for at least one paragraph here, there are four stories in the book that are clearly not A**hole-type material. “Leaving for Camp,” “Breaking Away,” “Lea’s New Book,” and, “Pride” are not written in the same vicious manner as the rest, because they describe moments of real connection that happened between my kids and I—as opposed to acting as fodder for my twisted sense of humor. I really enjoyed telling those stories and I believe they are the only reason why Child’s Protective Services has not yet knocked on my door.

Favorite part in it?

kushiesonline.com

Message to closet (and upfront) dad a-holes? Be yourself, ya friggin’

a**hole. No matter how badly you think you’re screwing up your kids, as long as you love ‘em, try your best, and keep them away from the Tea Party, they’re gonna turn out fine. I’ve had interviews with kids whose fathers are serving double life sentences for hacking up an entire community with a machete, and even those children have a tendency to claim that they’ve got the “best dad in the world.” If you can’t compete with that by simply buying your child a stupid ice cream cone once a decade, dude, you’ve got some real issues that even reading my book can’t deal with.

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color-fall Just because summer’s out, doesn’t mean colors are. Dress your children with whimsical prints that are great for the weather, but are reminiscent of hot summer days in the sun.

Medium Blue Frill Dress, $61.99, Prawn Bow Dress, $58.99, both by NECK & NECK, neckandneckusa.com . Blue Banana pajama set with robot print by KUSHIES, kushies.com . City Raincoat, $115, Rain Jacket both by OIL & WATER, oilandwater.com

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03apples

of my eye

Who would have ever thought that children’s sunnies will top grown-ups’? Sons + Daughters eyewear are designed with spring hinges for function and durability with 100% UV protection and is available in tinted lenses. It’s compatible with prescription lenses, so style need not be compromised when looking for the right eyewear for your precious ones’ peepers. Now the question is, how will that spring hold up when we try the frames on for ourselves?

Hunter Sunglasses in Forest Camo by sons + Daughters, wearesonsanddaughters.com

Bobby Sunglasses in City Camo

Ferris Sunglasses in Black

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harem pants Did you know that the “modern” version of harem pants, which originated in India, was called Hammer pants in the 1980’s thanks to M.C. Hammer? Today, celebrities are still wearing these baggy, long pants— including Justin Bieber, Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, and Gwen Stefani, among others. Want your baby to look as chic as these stars?

Check out these uber cute harems from Right Bank Babies and let us know how you’re styling them by tagging us on Instagram: @bcmag Slim Knit Harem Pant style 762, style 769, style 763, and 768, $21 each, all by RIGHT BANK BABIES, rightbankbabies.com

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okback

if these walls could speak Children’s photographer, Remi Lai, immortalizes sibling revelry one fun, candid afternoon

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p h o t o e s s ay Background Remi Lai: I was

born in the late ‘70s, in British Hong Kong to Chinese parents. When I was 7, my family left our flat in the suburbs and moved to New York City because of my dad’s work, and there I remained for most of my life. I initially chose advertising as a profession, but somehow I knew that I didn’t want to sell product for the rest of my life. By Providence, I was called out to take a drastic turn in my life, and that fantastic adventure of remarkable mountaintops and miserable valleys took me all over the USA. For now, I reside in Missouri.

Day job R: I am

a DO, doctor of osteopathic medicine finishing my specialty residency. There are two kinds of medical doctors in this world—MD’s and DO’s. I am trained in conventional medicine but am rooted in osteopathic principles and manipulation. It’s a hands-on therapy that builds health and can treat away strain throughout the body. Now I treat a lot of adults and children with problems including migraines, hip pain, plagiocephaly, cesarean section scar numbness and more. It was during my naval medical internship in family medicine—yes, I was in the navy too—that I began my photographic journey.

When and why you chose photographing children R: Perhaps I was looking for artistic expres-

sion or an escape during the hardship of a medical internship in 2008. I loved drawing, paper crafts and music even as a kid, so art has always been an active part of my life.

David Lebovitz, a pastry chef (whose recipes I still consult to this day), blogged such mouth-watering photographs that I decided to give photography a try. I began photographing my dinners, and later flowers, in my rented apartment. But soon my enthusiasm subsided for lack of human interaction. Who could have fun playing around while being my model? My good friends’ kids! When I was in New York, I spent over 10 years teaching in after-school programs, tutoring programs, vacation bible schools, youth groups and more. The rapport and

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connections I have with younger folk over the years have been so fruitful and rewarding that children became a natural photographic subject for me. As for subject matter, I believe everyone can identify with individuality and personality while recalling themes of friendship, love, confidence and uncertainty.

There’s a lot of negativity already in this world. If during a photo shoot, I am being encouraging and uplifting while creating something beautiful, soulful or spirited, it’s something I can look back on and smile about.

Artistic influences R: I’m gonna have

to give some praise to my mom here! A productive worker who’s gifted in Ikebana floral arrangement and as a soprano, she nurtured my creativity, gave me affirmation, and made me believe I can be anything.

Photographically, there are a countless number of authors and people I’ve met who gave me a good foundation in photography. Michael Freeman, David duChemin, John Shaw, Tamara Lackey, Audrey Woulard and many,

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p h o t o e s s ay

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many more wonderful individuals enlightened me on engaging my subjects, proper lighting and photo retouching.

They showed me that I needed a new set of eyes to see through the lens and to pursue a deeper vision in photography. It wasn’t enough to do something because it was “cool.” An image had to convey interest, be evocative and be deep enough to be thought-provoking.

It’s hard to nail it all the time but I try to keep those things in mind. Nowadays, my mind has shifted to a blend of fine art and fashion photography. There are elements of stillness, poetry, and drama I’d like to incorporate more into my photographs.

Tips for parents in capturing great moments with their own cameras/phones R: Please crouch down! When your

eyes are parallel with your child’s, your images will become much more personal. Another good reminder is to focus only on your child in your image.

The phrase “less is more” works well in this case. Let’s say you’re in your backyard and your baby boy is surrounded

by the sky, the trees, the picnic table, the barbecue, the potted plants and the wandering cat. See what I mean? That’s a lot of things to include in your image adding clutter. Mooove in closer and don’t be afraid to be too close. Do allow the time and the space for your child to truly be himself or herself. Avoid saying cheese or making them do what you want. What is your child doing right now? Tying shoelaces? Reading a book?

Sticking out her tongue? When they grow up, they will not do those things anymore, or perhaps not in the same way. Capture them as they are now, and years later you will remember how those seemingly insignificant motions had so melted your heart.

What went on in this shoot R: I wanted to create a story that spoke of

a day at home, sibling love, community and enjoying activities that were unplugged. As I jotted down notes, I began to imagine kids jumping on a bed with feathers. So I approached the mom for permission, since this would be shot in her house, and she boldly said, “Yes!”

The kids ended up cleaning all the feathers with their dad while I packed up my lighting equipment! It was such a fun and relaxing shoot and we all just played and laughed along the way. And that is how the kids were placed at ease.

Children have such an innate drive for connection that good, positive attention instantly establishes a good vibe. When I sense they’re being overwhelmed, we

take breaks. We have snack time and we talk about all sorts of stuff in their lives.

Dream collaboration

Oh, man. It’s a dream, right?! I’d love to do a tag team shoot with photographers Erika Verginelli and Dani Brubaker. Their images are so fresh and lively! I imagine they’d be fun people and nice to work with and

learn from. I’d also love to get Kirsten Rickert to create and style a story. Her Instagram charm and her love for life and nature is simply stunning. Her two adorable girls would be the models, too. Then the whole team would fly to an Irish castle for an editorial shoot and later to a French countryside cottage for le goûter (tea time) and a shoot for Bonpoint! bc

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i n t e r v i e w by k ariz tanya favis p h o t og r ap h s by r e mi la I S h o t o n loca t i o n a t N e w L ondon , C T clo t h i n g by A nais & I , P olarn O . P yr e t, AND H&M

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“There’s a lot of negativity already in this world.

If during a photo shoot, I am being encouraging and uplifting while creating something beautiful, soulful or spirited, it’s something I can look back on and smile about.”

Š2014 Regal Lager, Inc. All rights reserved

Aton Q

THE NEW LOOK OF SAFETY

Includes Linear Side-impact Protection and Base with Load Leg for maximum protection of your baby in both side-impact and frontal collisions.

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