Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon, loveable shopaholic, is back for her biggest adventure yet- motherhood! Readers may be wondering if being pregnant calms her urges  for all things fashion, but of course it doesn’t! Becky quickly goes overboard with her purchases, buying all the things a new baby doesn’t need- fashionable cribs, non-practicable prams, a closetful of designer clothes, and too much more. And what would a pregnancy be without the most sought after obstetrician that all the celebrities go to- Becky wisely name drops her own husbands PR firm to get a slot with the stunning Venetia Carter.

Becky’s pregnancy gets complicated when she figures out Venetia is actually Luke’s ex-girlfriend from college, and starts to suspect an affair brewing between her OB and husband. (The late night dinners and text messages in Latin really makes wonder.)She hires an off-key private detective to snoop around, and the results are not what Becky was hoping to hear. Meanwhile, she is trying to snag the perfect house for her growing family, trading the owner a pair of the “most coveted” boots for the keys and the lease.

Shopaholic and Baby, the fifth installment from Sophie Kinsella’s popular series brings the usual laughs and wild antics from the heroine, but I felt this one gave even more. With the pregnancy and the possible affair, I felt that I couldn’t put the book down. I had to keep reading to find out the sex of the baby, if Luke truly was unfaithful, and where the Brandon’s would eventually settle down after losing their perfect house. The ending may come as a surprise to some, but I think it is perfect to pick up for a sixth novel- which Kinsella has recently announced she is working on. All chick lit lovers will love this novel and leave you asking for more.

Lindsay Lohan Expanding Fashion Line

Lindsay Lohan, who was recently criticized as the artistic advisor to the clothing line Ungaro, isn’t letting the harsh words bring her down. People.com has reported that Lohan will be expanding her fashion line, which now consists of signature 6126 leggings. Lohan posted this to her Twitter page: “i need MORE followers i am so sad about this, how can i tell everyone about my 6126 full collection COMING OUT! all clothing.”

 

The line is set to launch in the fall of 2010 and will feature 100 items- including $18 leggings and a $300 leather jacket. The line is supposed to continue to expand, the following spring it should include handbags, shoes, jewelry, and cosmetics.

Photo Credit: Marion Curtis/Startraks

Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart Expecting Girl

It’s going to be a girl from Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart! People.com has confirmed that the couple will be expecting a daughter later this winter. Dane, 37, and Gayheart, 38, have been married since 2004.

Photo Credit: Kiley Bishop/London Ent/Splash

Rosie O’Donnell Out With New Girlfriend

Rosie O’Donnell is definitely not pining over ex Kelli Carpenter. The comedian revealed in November that her and long-time partner Kelli had broken up and Kelli had moved out 2 years before. Now, O’Donnell is dating Texas-based artist Tracy Kachtick-Anders, People.com has confirmed with O’Donnell’s rep. The pair was spotted walking hand-in-hand in Miami Beach on Tuesday. When PEOPLE spoke with O’Donnell last month, she said that she was indeed “not” single.
Kachtick-Anders is active in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parenting and adoption issues. She also has launched the Open Arms Campaign, a non-profit organization to recruit and foster adoptive families that targets the LGBT community. Kachtick-Anders has six children herself, five that are adopted.
Watch Rosie O’Donnell next when A Family Is A Family Is A Family: A Rosie O’Donnell Celebration, airs in late January on HBO. This is a documentary that challenges the traditional ideas of family.

Photo Credit: Pichichi/Splash News Online

Beauty Favorite: Almay Makeup Products

I recently stumbled upon Almay makeup products, and they easily won me over. For those of you who have never heard of Almay, they bring a unique concept and great products to their consumers. Almay was started in 1931, when Fanny May Woititz grew tired of thick cosmetics infused with powerful and strong pigments and chemicals. Her husband, a professional chemist, began experimenting with her makeup ingredients. Between Alfred Woititz and dermatologist Dr. Marion Sulzberger, they developed a makeup that was lightweight and gentle enough for Fanny May to wear on a daily basis.

 

Since being established in 1931, Almay has been the first hypoallergenic cosmetics brand, the first brand to make 100% fragrance-free products and to disclose all ingredients used, the first brand to perform safety testing for allergy and irritation, the first brand to formulate for contact lens wearers and, you guessed it, the first brand to create cosmetic regimens for specific skin types (almay.com). Wondering how Almay got its name? By combing the names of the two founder- Fanny May and Alfred!  

 

I started wearing Almay foundation about six months ago, after stumbling upon it at my local Walgreens. I was drawn to it because of the Smart Shade/Smart Balance Foundation. It said that the foundation came out white, but once you started to rub it on your skin, the sensing microbeads would instantly adjust and match to your tone. It also came with a free Smart Shade Blush, so I thought I’d give it a try. Now, I won’t wear any other foundation. I never have to worry about lines or my foundation not matching the color of my face, because it blends in perfectly. If you have oily skin, the smart balance works just as well, keeping oily areas shine-free throughout the day.

 

Almay has plenty of great products for your face, eyes, lips, and even face and eye makeup removers. I think the prices are great, and there always seems to be specials or the ability to get coupons online. Just yesterday I bought the foundation for $13.99 and got a free concealer- saving me almost $9! Keep Almay in mind if you are looking for a new makeup line to go with, and be sure to check out some of my favorite products below!

 

 

Taylor & Taylor Split

The Taylor’s are no more. People.com has reported that the never really confirmed romance between Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner has apparently ended. A source close to Swift said, “It was never a big deal to begin with. The media made way more out of it than it is. They went out on a few dates and realized this was just not going anywhere.” A source close to Lautner backs up that by saying, “They became good friends and then went out a few times, but he lives in L.A. and she lives in Nashville and their busy schedules kept it from becoming more than it was.”

The pair met while filming Valentine’s Day and had been spending time together since October. They had been seen out together on dates- attending a hockey game, grabbing frozen yogurt together, and Lautner,17, had attended two of Swift’s concert in Chicago. Reps for both stars had no comment.

Photo Credit: GSI Media

Helio Castroneves Welcomes Baby Girl

Indy car driver and former Dancing with the Stars champ Helio Castroneves is a new dad! Girlfriend Adriana Henao delivered daughter Mikaella at 4:15 p.m. Monday in Atlanta, People.com has reported. The baby girl weighed in at 7 lbs, 3 oz, and 19 inches long. The due date was January 6^th.

Photo Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI

Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep can seem just impossible sometimes. I know there are numerous nights that I have laid awake, wondering why in the world I cannot find sleep. Usually, the answers can be quite obvious. Shape.com listed four ways to ensure you sleep better at night; try to practice these each night for longer beauty sleep!

1. Time Your Meals. You should try to eat your last meal about 2 hours before hitting the sack. Chemicals in certain foods can keep you awake and active for hours, but if you are craving something closer to your bedtime, try a snack whole grain or light sugar.
2. Develop a Routine. Trying to maintain a sleep schedule is one of the best ways to routinely fall asleep and wake up when you want. Try to stick to the schedule on weekends or other days where you might not have to get up for work, it will help you in the long run.
3. Cherish Your Bed. Your bed should be for sleeping only, try to refrain from doing work while sitting in bed.
4. Skip Naps. If you do need to take an afternoon nap, keep it under 30 minutes. Anything longer can seriously throw off your sleeping patterns and keep you awake at night. 

Photo Credit: Shape.com

The Tyra Show to End

Tyra Banks is saying good-bye to her talk show. The Tyra Show, after 2 Daytime Emmy’s over five seasons, is airing its last episode in the spring of 2010. Banks told PEOPLE exclusively, “This will be the last season of The Tyra Show. I’ve been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past 5 years.”

Banks will turn her attention to the launch of Bankable Studios, a film production company to be based in New York. The super model has always had dreams of being a film producer, and with Oprah’s big announcement and encouragement from Tyler Perry, Banks made the decision to give up her talk show and work on other goals.

America’s Next Top Model will continue, debuting its 15^th season in February, as well as Bank’s other show True Beauty, will be back for another season.

Photo Credit: Quantrell Colbert/BRAVO

Chick Lit Author: Christina Skye

Christina Skye has published over 20 novels and appeared on both the USA Today and New York Times best-seller lists. She has written both contemporary women’s fiction and historicals, all featuring her signature strong, stubborn females and tough male characters. Her contemporary novels often feature romantic, suspenseful plots with military or police themes. Her CODE NAME: series all feature strong women paired up with a Navy SEAL, filled with suspense, humor, and passion.

Skye has also received her doctorate in classical Chinese literature, and has written five internationally acclaimed art and cultural guides to China while also working as a consultant to the National Geographic Society and the American Museum of Natural History. She enjoys off-roading with her motorcycle, shooting firearms, and hiking mountains.

Christina Skye’s chick lit titles are: My Spy, Hot Pursuit, Going Overboard, 2000 Kisses, CODE NAME: Nanny, CODE NAME: Princess, CODE NAME: Baby, and CODE NAME: Blondie.

 

Click Here to Visit Christina’s Website!

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