This weekend has not been ideal Memorial Day weather round’ here.  So we’ve been keeping busy with indoor activities.

As Seen On TV kids favorite, Schmooze’s is hosting a fun contest for kids throughout May and June, where kids are able to create their very own videos for the chance to win up to $500 cash!!

My kids being total hams, who love being on camera were excited when I suggested we break out the green screen and make their own videos.

Ry is now basketball obsessed, so naturally, he wanted his video to be on the court b-ball’n… and Laina, well being her mother’s daughter, she wanted to dress up and go shopping with her Schmooze.

Here are our rainy day creations…

*Note: A green screen is not in anyway required to enter this contest, we just thought it added to the fun.

2 Easy Steps To Enter Your Little Schmooze Fans To Win!

Prizing:

Grand prize: $500 CASH

First prize: $250 CASH

Second prize: A complete set of Shmoozees ($60 value)

AND lots of Shmoozees will be randomly given away throughout the contest!

With a 4 year gap since my last pregnancy, getting reacquainted with today’s baby gear is a like starting all over. SO much has changed and so much has been added to the market!

Strollers in particular are something I’ve already began looking into. You guys, there are SO many! My head is spinning.

Quinny is a European stroller brand, that has recently made it’s way to the US. Though I have yet to get my hands on one to test-drive, the one thing I can tell you is that their line is definitely sleek in appearance!

Their newest, most lightweight stroller to come to the U.S. market is the Quinny Yezz.

The Yezz looks like it could be a great option for that light weight “umbrella type” stroller every parent needs for quick trips and theme park type outings with older babies and toddlers.

Features Include:

• Approximately 11 lb.

• Ultra compact quick fold

• Stands when folded, includes adjustable carry strap

• Frame is made of IXEF® material, a high performance injection molded composite fiber — allows for the stroller to be light weight and extremely durable

• Interchangeable seats to allow parents to change the fashion

• Available Accessories: WeatherShield

• SRP $279; additional seats for $69

Giveaway Time!

This weekend Quinny gave away the new Yezz to 400 lucky Big Apple Moms who lined the streets of Manhattan to receive this high-end lightweight stroller. Some Quinny fans even braved the rain to line up as early as 2:00 a.m! (–Hardcore, you guys!)

I am excited to share with you today that you, my fellow Complicated Mama’s and Complicated Mama’s-to-be can WIN a Quinny Yezz from the comfort of your own home, in your PJ’s if you’d like–  without having to worry about the weather messing with your hair ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As the weather warms up and we settle into our temporary home for the summer, I quickly began to realize that my darling little Laina has gone through a major growth spurt. 

I know that they say most children are a size ahead of their age (ie- 4 yr olds wear size 5)… but that never rang true for our kids. In fact, Ry was always a size behind his age (age 8 wearing a size 7) and up until this point Laina had always been exactly her age/size. Now it appears she has practically skipped over size 5 and is a size 6!!

I didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I headed to TJ Maxx to see what I could find… and you guys, I walked out with an entire summer wardrobe!!

The Summer Wardrobe Steal:

• 9 outfits
• 3 dresses
• 2 pajamas sets
• 2 pairs of sandals

(wait for it…) … all for $220!!  

It is my most proud haul to date.

Here are a few pics of outfits I snagged.

  

Another hi-low, sheer shirt, with leopard print hot pink shorts and adorable rosette flip flops.

The girl is D-O-N-E!

Last night you may or may not have caught the awkwardness while Justin Bieber accepted Billboard’s Milestone award to a chorus of boo’s.

In case you missed it, here is a clip–

It was incredibly awkward to watch as the booing grew louder, fans attempted to cheer over it, and Bieber stood there for a moment just taking in the madness, before he gave a very clearly unrehearsed speech.

I saw tons of tweets and Facebook posts virtually chiming in with the booing crowd as it all unfolded, but I must say… while I never classified myself  or my children as “Beliebers”, at that very awkward moment- I felt bad for the Biebs; and here is why-

Though his speech was a bit choppy, it showed the truth. A truth that I think we as a society need to be reminded of when criticizing rising stars who grow up before our eyes– He is 19 years old.

NINETEEN.

At 19, I could barely handle the new found freedom I had of driving my used Dodge Neon, nonetheless have the ability to purchase a home in Beverly Hills, California or hop a private plane at any given time to vacation with a boyfriend.

– I mean really. Could you imagine?

At 19,  I was just begining my streak of dating all the wrong guys. I believed with every fiber of my teenage heart that I was “in love” with the toxic on-again/off-again “relationship” I was involved in and didn’t care how “stupid” I looked.

When it came to style, I rocked butterfly claw clips and platform sneakers with just as much confidence as Justin Bieber rocks those pleather- drop-crotch- skinny pants none of us can quite figure out today.

The difference? No one cared– and thank God for that– because I needed those years of  being ignorant and naive to shape the person I am today.

My brother and sister right now are 19, and 18 years old. They aren’t perfect but they are good kids– who in ways have a better head on their shoulders than I had at their age. But while they are living in the moment with extreme confidence- if you were to ask either of them about their future? They would admit the truth that all 19 year olds have… they are scared.

Scared of not finding “their thing” in this world, scared of the responsibilities that lie ahead…. scared of  failure. Which is what last night must have felt like to Justin Bieber, whose future right now is dependent upon people liking him not just for his talents – but for his personal life as well.

And I am not saying that Justin Bieber has not at times publicly appeared a bit cocky, or irresponsible, because he totally has.

I am just saying maybe we need to ease up a little on the Biebs, because I don’t know many people who would want themselves or their children to be judged for who they were are 19.

All of the buzz about The Great Gatsby ( a movie I’m unsuccessfully campaigning to get James to see with me), has left me drooling… and not over Leonardo DiCaprio.

Fashion in the twenties was arguably the most sophisticated style decade for women– a decade I would have loved to have been part of.

There was no such thing as “too much”– art deco jewels and fringe, T-straps and martinis, headscarves and hats…. the more glitz and drama the better.

The exciting news is that much thanks to Gatsby’s movie adaption, the drama and glam of the roaring twenties are being reborn!

In the 20′s head accessories were all the rage! A trend I love seeing pop up more and more– because I am a sucker for dressing up a bad hair day ;)

Another “casual” Gatsby look I love are the flowy and flirty tunics and tanks. Flowy tops can be very fattering, and you can find them in solids, sheers or fun, funky and embellished like the ones below.

|Blossom Velvet Lace Tunic, Revolve Clothing, $56|

|Bronze Embellished Stepped Hem Tank, River Island $60|

And then of course, there’s the glam….

| Deepa Gurnani, Multistone head wrap $45|  Gilt-work pin fringe clutch, Anthropolgie $78||Jay Godfrey Fringe Dress, Neiman Marcus, $145|Great Gatsby Clutch, Kate Spade $260-$400| Crochet Capelet Dress, BonTon $108|MLK Accessories Orange Juice Ring, $11| MiuMiu Tstrap Sandal, Barney’s $200|

What is your favorite Gatsby Trend?