A Couple New Things

I've been in a card and gift rut recently. I've had favorite go-to gifts for years (hello everyone who owns the MOMA vase or the Modern Art books for your kids!) but last week I was at a loss as to a unique card for a friend's birthday as well as a thoughtful gift for a 3 year old who has everything.

A little question asking landed me with these two new things which will likely be my new go-to gifts for the foreseeable future!

How cool is this?

This company--snapily--will turn your photos into one of those old-school, thick, ridgy photos that seem to morph from one image into the next. Haven't been so enamored with a photo site since my friend L got me a flip book made from a video of me and my eldest son crawling on the floor.

And what about this for a great gift? Make your own pop up books. My inner craft-ess swoons and, not so secretly, I ordered these more for myself than my kids.

How Bazaar

Have you stumbled upon Poppytalk Handmade yet? Everyone who knows me knows how obsessed I've been with Etsy as of late (don't even get me started on the Alchemy function...I get goosebumps...) and now, Poppytalk is being added to my roster of online markeplaces in which to get lost.

Less overwhelming than Etsy, Poppytalk Handmade is a "monthly online street market" that showcases goods from emerging design talent. Every month has a new theme--right now it's "all things summer"--and there is fabulous, homemade stuff you can purchase knowing you are supporting small artists and craftmakers.

Here are some of the many cool things I found recently:

I've Been Commercially Had: Crooked Houses

Okay. I know I am feeding into a sort of media hailstorm by even mentioning this. I know that, at the end of the day and all debate about "reality television" aside, referencing anything that appears on "Jon and Kate Plus 8" is a sort of pandering to product placement and corporate America. But yet. There it is. I have to know. Were you as enamored as I was by the "Crooked Houses" on the oh-so heralded recent episode of Jon and Kate? Granted--I will NOT be purchasing one of these thousand-dollar play houses in the near future. I mean--I don't have a yard let alone a football field backyard like (poor, divorcing) J&K. But a girl/mom can dream, no? (Not about divorcing...!)

Crooked Houses--Yay or nay?

Beautiful Things

How do I love thee, let me count the ways. As promised, I am showing you some of the stuff I covet weekly. And believe me there is much to choose from...! I always have a pair of shoes I "need" in the back of my mind...and my need for these is serious...

Why do women love shoes so much? There is an almost hypnotic allure to putting on a new pair of "perfect" shoes. And killer heels take my mind to fanciful places, allowing me to envision dancing till dawn under a starlit sky, strolls in Venice after a midnight glass of Chianti, kicking of said killer heels and jumping onto a perfectly styled bed...

Plus shoes are just aesthetically beautiful. Something about the proportions and the slope of a heel--they are art. Alas, I will never have these shoes...but--and I sincerely mean this--I'm glad I get to experience their aesthetic genius.

Penelope Cruz confesses: "I have never been able to study a new role until, alongside the director, we choose the shoes which the woman we are about to bring to the screen will be wearing. Everything starts down there."

I know it's a recession. I know we aren't buying stuff. I know we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. But taking a page from PCruz, I have to agree that the way we portray ourselves is indeed an indication of our character--for better or worse. Style, and feeling good about the way we look is recession-proof. As is appreciating beautiful things.

Beautiful Things

Aren't these rocks, adorned with gold-foil motifs, awesome? In my utopic world, I imagine them with abstract images, "carelessly strewn" as part of some sort of tablescape. Or how cool would it be to create place settings, with the first letter of your guests' names in thick gilt? Might be a fun DIY project for you and the kids this weekend--check out step-by-step instructions on how to make these, from one of my favorite blogs, Design Sponge.

Weekend Deals

In case you are in the mood for some retail therapy this weekend:

Everything old is new again. Save 30% at Marion Mercer, one of the most meticulously curated collection of vintage clothing and accessories on the web. We're talking Versace, not Value Village. Discount code: PEOPLE

It's time to finally, finally clean out that closet (and make room for new things??). Save 25% on everything at The Container Store. Discount Code: CLUTTERCREW.

Oldie-but-goodie Prescriptives is offering a free "False Eyelashes" mascara and free shipping for any purchase over $35. Discount Code: STYLE

Go ahead, buy the rhinestone-encrusted thong. And by "rhinestone-encrusted thong" I mean "fluffy bathrobe." $20.00 off purchases of $100 or more at Victoria's Secret. Discount Code: 09SPRING

What's better than a closet full of Marc Jacobs and Trina Turk? Getting it on sale of course. If you live in the Bay Area, head to Iniam's trunk show on Saturday and snag a brand new wardrobe at a fraction of the price. 30% off the spring collections of MJ and TT. Also treat yourself to discounts from Deliciouz shoes and up-and-coming jewelry designer ila&i (very soon you will be able to say you knew her when...)

Beautiful Things

Who doesn't love beautiful things? I'm not ashamed to say that my breath can be taken away by both a beautiful sunset and a rockin necklace. Beauty is everywhere right?

Thought I would share with you some of the things I am loving every week. This might be a pair of shoes that I literally dream about, a clever storage ottoman, a Sunburst mirror, an Etsy painting, an antique spool cabinet. Just things that make me smile. Oh yes, and covet...!

I'm currently on a home-furnishing kick. I am notoriously decide-o-phobic about buying things for my home--each purchase just seems so permanent, it's as if you are agreeing to marry that sofa or chandelier! My current approach to whether I need a particular piece is supremely absurd and I may be exhibiting my borderline mental illness by sharing this with you, but I'm feeling particularly vigilante today...!

-First, I try to forget about the piece.
-Then, if a few days go by and it is still residing somewhere in my mind I find it online and keep that window on my computer open.
-The window stays open for a few days.
-In that few days I often go and look at the piece and often close the window with a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
-If that is not the case and I go to the window after a few days and still feel my heart race faster, I press the magic button: "Add to cart."
-Then, I close the window.
-Then, the next day, if I feel that sort of panic--that sort of "What if it's not there anymore? What if that was the last one? What will i do?"--then and only then do I (a) purchase the piece; and (b) come up with an explanation for my husband as to why we need an electric blue armoire/Arc lamp/curator nightstand...!

Life is about the journey folks...!

Here are some of the the beautiful thing I am currently going through my process with. As you will see, I am all over the map in terms of home-furnishing. Sometimes I want ultra-modern, sometimes the more bric-a-brac the better. I call it a love of juxtaposition, but I know full well that others may call it utterly confused...

I love this embossed metal Raj chair and can imagine it tucked away in an alcove or being one of many mis-matched chairs around a modern dining room table. The problem is: I don't have an alcove. Or a dining table with mismatched chairs. But these are minor points.

I want to keep this typewriter on the console table in our entry way so guests can leave messages when they leave. A perpetual guestbook!

My friend L. hung panels of this in her home to create three separate spaces out of one room--it looked magical. I would love to use them as decorative wall panels.
This is just cool--check out this site, actually, for all sorts of witty accessories for the home, including one of my all-time favorite purchases, this "Pearl Necklace" mirror.
Finally--simple, modern bunkbeds:


I've been trying to justify this telephone-table for 3 months. Perhaps I can use it as a crib?!?

And how do I even begin to describe what I like about this entire room? The word the comes to mind: DROOL. Totally practical set-up for a family with 3 kids under 4 right?


Obviously shopping isn't on the forefront of anybody's mind in this economy. But that doesn't mean that we can't develop our own sense of style and appreciate the things we find beautiful. For me, there is a joy in discovering treasures amongst all the junk out there. Plus, I get inspired by things of beauty--they make me want to create myself. Half of the things I love are aspirational--either because I could never afford them or because they just doesn't make sense in my life--but even these sorts of objects can inform my still nascent and always-evolving tastes and aesthetic...

Case in point? Just because I'm not going to own that sequined telephone cabinet doesn't mean I didn't, last night, attempt to sequin a pair of old shoes...!

In Focus: Lisa Raja, Iniam Boutique

You know that girl? The one who is effortlessly stylish? Who walks around town looking like really great light is always following her, has children who eat vegetables, knows people to call if she wants to make a custom dress? Yea. That one. Even she has nothing on Lisa Raja, the chic mother of two and owner of Iniam, an upscale clothing boutique in Oakland, California.

Iniam--Lisa's maiden name spelled backwards--is a one-stop destination for fabulous contemporary style. Lisa's well-edited selection of on-trend labels makes you feel like you are getting the best choices of everything that is available in department stores and online, with the added bonus of some seriously sophisticated customer service. Lisa and her staff will tell you when the coat you loved on the mannequin isn't doing justice to your curves, or that the skinny jeans you picked might be a little bit too skinny. She also will somehow magically produce the perfect shoes, necklace, earrings to go with absolutely anything you show her--and she will always, always keep your price-point in mind.

To boot, the girl is an amazing mother. She somehow manages to full-time parent her 2 1/2 year old, nurse her 4 month old round-the-clock, and run Iniam--from the buying, to the storefront, to the finances--full time.

In the interest of full disclosure, Lisa is a good friend of mine. I am still trying to figure out how she has that good lighting wherever she goes (and how she got her 2 1/2 year old to eat vegetables, for that matter...). One day she will let me in on her secrets.

So many women talk about opening a boutique: How did you actually make it happen?

I had been itching for so long to do it. It had taken ears for me to finally quit my job and take the plunge. I wasn't scared of the risk, it was just finding the right time to do it. My dad was my biggest supporter and really gave me the extra boost to go for it.

It's an untraditional career, especially for an Indian. Did you meet resistance from your family?

My parents never pushed me to do any particular career. I'm sure they would have loved it if I had become a doctor but they wanted us to pick careers we were happy about. At my University, fashion design was under the school of natural science. Taking chemistry classes was a requirement because we were expected to learn the chemical makeup of the textiles. Of course that scared me off--and I didn't pursue what I should have. It took ten years for things to come full circle for me.

What's the hardest thing about being a boutique owner?

I know it seems so glamorous on the outside and I wouldn't trade it for a minute. But all the budgeting and financial work can become very tedious. It's the biggest part of the business; running and analyzing reports is a huge part of my work.

And the best thing about being a boutique owner?

Is it terrible to say the clothes?! Ha! That is definitely a perk, but the best thing, at this point of my life ,is the flexibility it has offered me and my children. It's because of Iniam that I am able to be with my kids as much as I am. Beyond that I have met and made friends with so many talented and wonderful people! With all the ups and downs, this has been one of the best experiences of my life and I can only hope it continues to remain so.

What about your children makes you laugh?

What doesn't make me laugh? I have two boys. The eldest is 2 1/2 and pretty much everything he does makes me laugh. The latest segment in his comedy act goes like this: “Mumma, let’s talk about it! If you do poo poo in the potty, you get ice cream?” My second child is 4 months and is just sweet and cuddly. It's nice because the oldest won't sit still for a second.

What's your favorite family ritual?

Saturday mornings. My husband and I get coffees, my eldest grabs a chocolate milk, and we all head to Noah's for bagels. Simple, but great.

Most frazzled mom moment?

Oh my god, are there moms out there that have non-frazzled moments?? All of mine are frazzled.

What do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about?

I often wonder and hope that I'm raising my kids right. There are so many books and methods on how to raise kids. Before I had my children, I thought about all the things I would and would not do so that they would grow up "perfect." There are so many things to think about: Organic versus non-organic, daycare versus Montessori, time out versus spaking. The list could go on forever I pray that I will make the right decisions in raising them...

Do you worry about raising your kids to be "Indian" or with "Indian values"?

I never really thought about it as two separate things. I want my kids to refer to being Indian because of their Indian values. I am already a diluted version of my parents and their history/heritage. My kids will be far more diluted. It's not enough for me to say I am Indian because of being born into a family who's grandparents and forefathers came from India. I feel that today in the multicultural country we live in it's those values, tradition, religion that really allow us to refer to ourselves as "Indian."

How do you try to inject Indian culture into your kids' lives?

I guess every little bit helps. I make every effort to teach them about religion and prayers. I sing them Indian lullabies, we eat Indian food, and between the grandparents and my husband and I, we try speaking in as much Hindi and Gujarati as possible. I will make every effort to celebrate holidays such as Diwali etc. I must say that here in the Bay Area, I have found to it to be very difficult to give them the culture I had growing up. Of course my mother was the conduit for Indian religion and culture in our home when I was growing up, but there were also so many mundirs and social Indian functions and gatherings. On top of that, we traveled back to India every summer to see family. It is something that I often worry and wonder about.

What do you wish you had done before you had kids?

I really wish my husband and I had more time to travel. We took on a lot of big projects right after we got married and flew right through the "honeymoon" stage. I wish we enjoyed being more carefee. I wouldn't trade my kids for anything but I would have loved to have had more time with my husband, just exploring the world.

What's your:

-Guilty pleasure?

Dessert. Multiple times a day!

-Ideal get-away?

Ideally I would like to visit one of those health farms in India where ou eat fruits all day and then enjoy yoga/meditation, body massages, scalp massages and body wraps. In between all the pampering I would sleep or read.

-Favorite clothing item?

Right now I'm obsessed with my Gryphon trench coat. It has a faux fur trim. It has been cold and gloomy in the Bay--the perfect excuse to wear it all the time.

-Chocolate or cheese?

Please, both.

What's the biggest mistake women make when buying new clothes?

I often hear my friends and customers say they bought something because they got a great deal on it. It wasn't necessarily something thy loved or that filled a void in their wardrobe. Those items usually end up buried in teh back of their closet.

Any specific issues you see in Indian women and how we dress?

In general, I feel that Indian women don't take as many risks with their style. we tend to stay a bit more conservative.

Do you have 5 key pieces?

1. SKINNY JEANS

2. TUNICS

3. WHITE BLOUSE/WHITE TSHIRT

4. BLACK WIDE LEG PANTS

5. LONG DRESS

6. BONUS – JEWELRY. LONG LAYERING NECKLACES AND I LOVE FUN COCKTAIL RINGS

Where to scrimp and where to splurge in this economy?

In my opinion, if you spend a little extra on a nice handbag and shoes you can fudge everything in between.

When in doubt, put on a___________.

DRESS. It's a complete outfit. You don't have to worry about coordinating pieces. Throw it on and you're done. Especially if it's a solid color dress--then you can keep reinventing it with heels, boots or flats. Add some sensational jewelry and change the dress from a day to night look. Most importantly: Learn how to dress for your body.

What are the trends for this season you're most excited about:

1. METALLICS - Add a little something to anything you wear.

2. NUDE COLOR PALETTE – I find clothing in the natural/nude tones soft and romantic.

3. SHEER FABRICS – The best way to feel sexy without having to have it all out there.

4. BLACK ON WHITE PRINT – What's not to like about black & white!

5. GREAT ACCESSORIES –A girl can never have enough. It's the easiest way to change your look without changing your outfit.

What's in your purse right now?

*wallet
*makeup bag
*checkbook
*half eaten banana
*tangerine
*1 unused breast pad (glamorous!)
*pen
*headband
*3 hair clips and 2 rubberbands

What's something somebody who met you now would be surprised to learn about you before you were married/a mom?

Now that I am a mom, it's hard to do things on a whim. Everything has to have a plan and even then I seem to be late or a little off the mark. Before I was married, I had this inclination to move away from my home in Houston. I traveled and studied away from home, but I always came back to Houston. I needed to leave so I could spread my wings so of speak. So I did. I packed my bags and shipped my car to San Francisco. The crazy thing was I didn't have a job and I didn't have friends to lean on. I stayed with a friend of a friend and 5 days later I found a room on craigslist . I took a bunch of temporary jobs till I found a real one. A few months later I met my husband and BAM...here I am.

If you could have one magical power what would it be?

I wish I had fairy dust to sprinkle on my kids so that they would both sleep through the night AND in their own beds!

If you weren't a boutique owner, what would you be doing?

I would definitely be in this field somewhere and would love to do some combination of the following:

1.Design and produce a clothing line.
2.Freelance as a consultant that helped young retail businesses thrive.
3.Manage a boutique that had 3 to5 stores in which I would do the buying/merchandising.

What's new for Iniam in 2009?

Obviously we are aware of the economy and we understand that everyone is tightening pursestrings. We hope to continue helping our customers feel confident and taken care of, within their budgets. We've also re-launched our website and our blog--we would love to hear from your readers, and are always happy to answer any style questions or dilemmas!

Iniam is located at 5902 College Avenue, in Oakland, California. Lisa is happy to field any questions you guys have on all things style so feel free to ask her about everything from skinny jeans to how to find that perfect mom-on-the-go outfit in the comments section, or on the iniam blog.

Say Cheese Goddamit!

So... It's sort of impossible to write the "perfect" follow-up blurb to summarize or crystallize the last 10 posts. (This would be the case under the best of circumstances. And, last I checked, being a mom of a 3 day old and nursing 23 1/2 hours a day do not constitute the best of circumstances!) There is so much I want to say and I hope to continue many of the threads of conversation--and controversy--through many future posts...

Also, rewind, what about the small fact that: I am a mom of a 3 day old! And, as I'm sure you've noticed, I sort of write something that, much to my chagrin at times, would be characterized as a "mommy blog." As such, therefore, Q.E.D. (I know that means something, maybe something mathematical? Trig comes to mind?): I should probably shoot off some of my oh-so-brilliant thoughts and musings about new motherhood right?

Of course! And I will. Minus the brilliant part. Very soon. But in the meantime, let me tell you this: It is really really difficult to take a photo of three children. There were two non-breastfeeding things on my to-do list for the day: Take a shower, and take a photo of all three kids to send around to friends and family. (In my "bonus points" column--come on, you know your to-do list has a "bonus points" column!--I included: (1) Brush my hair; and (2) Read about this so-called "economic stimulus plan" so that, um, I'm not the most idiotic person in America. All I can say is: Better luck tomorrow on the bonus points).

Back to the photo: It's incredibly difficult. You got the 3 year old with the attention span of an MTV crack addict; the 1 year old who for some preposterous reason is more interested in crawling and putting pennies into his ears than in posing for the camera; the newborn who is awake for periods of 27 seconds of a time...There are logistics to handle, cattle/children to herd, faces to get pointed the same way. What's a sleep-deprived camera-retarded girl to do? Lucky for me, I stumbled upon this brilliant suggestion: Throw all the kids in a pack-and-play. Seriously, think about it. A natural frame, a discrete amount of space, lots of fun layering...! I can't really do this just yet seeing that my new baby girl would, um, die under the weight of her two brothers--but soon, soon, a perfect Pack-and-Play photo will be mine. Survival of the fittest my beautiful little S....

Sort of related, I used to think the idea of these cameras with built-in slimming and air-brushing functions were, in a word: Lameweirdvain. However: The dark bags under my eyes in the one photo I managed to procure today of me and my are begging me to reconsider. The Casio version apparently makes your photos "magazine ready" by smoothing out skin-tone and softening shadow. Thoughts? Has anybody tried these? I'm imagining a whole pretend world in which I look like the girl in one camera's photos...but how would I shield myself from the evil world of All Other Cameras?!?

In a note of seriousness: A final thanks to all the guest-writers over the last week or so. I have gotten so many email messages from people thanking me for giving men a forum, asking follow-up questions, inquiring about the breadth of commentary. It's been such a great series to read and I am toying with the idea of doing a follow-up feature with women writers, so please email me at deviswithbabies@gmail.com if you are interested in writing something--would love to hear from you. If you have photo tips, all the better...!

Tricks of the Trade

Sometimes the quest to streamline and make life more organized only adds to our mental and physical clutter. Think: Buying tons of supply at the Container Store...only to get home, not know how to actually use the stuff, having to find a way to organize your now-useless organizing supplies. I've done this maybe eighteen times. And, while everyone is online these days and proclaiming the virtues of sites and apps and whatnot, some of us (me) were a little slow on the uptake. There is so much tech stuff out there it can be overwhelming...

And yet: There are some really cool, easy-to-use web sites and applications that really are effective. Here are some of the "sites" and "apps" and doodads online that I've come across recently that actually do a little magic and make the life of a mom a tiny bit easier:

qlubb.com. A group site for anything from a book club to a sports team to a preschool class, Qlubb.com allows groups of people to communicate, post shared-calendars, share photos, set up a shared website, and interact effortlessly--for free, to boot. I am going to recommend this to my son's preschool teacher so that I never again miss another Room Parent opportunity (which are "announced" on mimeographed hand-outs that are put into our children's cubbies). No, seriously I am.

Kidrex: Kidrex makes Internet searches safe for kids by utilizing Google SafeSearch technology to eliminate inappropriate material. You can make KidRex your homepage and inappropriate search terms (I'm sure you can come up with a few to test the software) will return an "Oops! Try again" message.


PhoneTag: Love this because it allows me to use my phone even less. PhoneTag converts your voicemail into text messages. No more listening to the message for the millionth time to make sure you got everything.

UEatCheap: Eating cheaply just got easier. Type in your zip code and the type of food you are looking for and UEatCheap will find nearby restaurants with entrees that are less than $10.00.

Yojomama: Yojo Mama helps you find things like child-friendly restaurants, closest diaper changing station, playgrounds, shopping deals or kids clothing stores, while on the go. Currently available in San Francisco and New York (LA is up next in the lineup), Yojo Mama utilizes a user's time and location to whip up the most accurate results.

A couple Iphone Applications:

Around Me: Tells you everything that is, well, around you--banks, restaurants, theaters--at any location.

Italk: Turns your phone into a tape-recorder. One that actually works (unlike the myriad other applications that promise the same).

GroceryIQ: Lets you search its preloaded database of 130,000 grocery items to organize personal shopping lists by store, aisle, buying history, favorites. Also lets you store your favorite items.

What are they gonna invent next, mail that doesn't require postage? Heh.

In Focus: Dr. Susan Taylor, Rx for Brown Skin

I am always looking for the "perfect" skincare regime. I've talked about it before: One of the things that most aggravates me is the "one size fits all" approach to skincare and makeup--obviously different skin-tones require different treatments.

For years I've been consistently amazed that nobody has developed a powerful, scientifically-backed line of skincare specifically for South Asian skin. Which is why I was so intrigued to learn about Dr. Susan Taylor's line of products, Rx for Brown Skin. Released in 2007, the product line is the first-ever skin care line for women of color, scientifically formulated by a dermatologist. Although it is not only for South Asians, it was formulated with South Asians in mind.

Dr. Taylor's resume is impressive: Harvard-trained, featured as a medical expert in numerous magazines, newspapers and national news programs such as the Today Show and Good Morning America, Founding Director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, board member of the American Academy of Dermatology, former president of the Skin of Color Society.

And while all of that is fine and good and great--what really matters is this: Her products work. I have been using her "Bright and Even" line of products for a month now and I am hooked. I hope this goes without saying but I would never, never recommend a product that I haven't personally tried and fallen in love with.

Here's my interview with Dr. Taylor. Like I said last week in introducing the "In Focus" feature, there are so many South Asian women doing so many amazing things and I am psyched to get to profile them--while Dr. Taylor isn't South Asian herself, she is creating amazing products for us nonetheless. Feel free to leaver her any questions in the comments section. Rx for Brown Skin is available through Dr. Taylor's website, as well as at Sephora.

What is your ethnic background?

I am African American--I'm actually a mixture of African, Delaware Indian, and Scottish.

How did you become interested in skincare?

During my 4th year of Harvard Medical School, I took a dermatology rotation and fell in love with the field of dermatology. Then while practicing dermatology in Philadelphia, I specifically became interested in skincare since so many of my patients were not happy with the products that were on the market and which they were using.

Your website explains the need for a specific regimen for brown skin--but what exactly is it about brown skin that makes its needs different from white or other skin?

Most notably it is the melanin pigment in brown skin that makes it different from white skin and hence, the need for different skin care. On one hand, melanin can protect brown skin from premature aging from sun exposure as well as from certain types of skin cancers. On the other hand, melanin can lead to troubling dark marks, discolorations and uneven skin tone. So for example, an ordinary acne pimple that resolves in 1 week can leave a dark mark that can last 1 year.

Are there particular ingredients in the skincare/makeup we see at department stores that don't work on us? Meaning, are we buying promises that will work on white skin but really do nothing for us? What are the ingredients we should look out for?

Today, most skin care companies have placed a heavy emphasis on products that speak to the anti-aging needs of the white population. Brown skin ages differently from white skin. We are less likely to develop fine lines and wrinkles, red blood vessels and sunspots and hence are less likely to need those products.

As you note on your blog, hyperpigmentation is of enormous concern to brown skinned ladies. What products from your line do you recommend?

I recommend the Rx for Brown Skin Power Pack which consists of Absolute Radiance Intensive Exfoliating Serum (designed to be used twice a week at bedtime) and Naturally Flawless Advanced Botanical Brightener (which is designed to be used twice a day). Naturally Flawless works 24/7 and contains 7 proven botanical brighteners, 4 potent antioxidants and 2 powerful hydrators. Absolute Radiance consists of a potent blend of alpha hydroxy acids and has been clinically proven to decrease dark marks in just 30 days.

Next to hyperpigmentation, the other biggest beauty issue I hear about in my cohort is under eye circles. We have all tried everything from Hylexin to the newest drug-store roller-ball applicators promising to banish our circles--nothing works. I think that most of the dark circles on Indians are genetic--would you agree? If this is the case, is it even worth trying to treat or is covering-up the only way to go? Do you have products in your arsenal to combat undereye circles and if so, how do they differ from the products in other lines?

In many women with brown skin, undereye circles are due to the combination of poor circulation of blood in the vessels under the eyes as well as too much melanin pigment. Circles can be a very, very difficult problem to treat. My Bright and Even Eye Cream contains technology to lighten the melanin induced dark marks and improve circulation.

Can you describe your entrepreneurial process for us? How did you come up with your line and how did it become what it is today?

Having a clear vision of the products that I wanted to create, believing that what I was doing would make a difference, working incredibly hard, not being fearful of failing and being guided by a higher power have brought me to where I am today. My partner and I formulated a business plan, I worked with chemists on the East and West Coast to formulate the ingredients and we met with several retailers to carry the product line.

Take us through a day in your life, from when you wake up in the morning till when you go to sleep at night.

Up at 6 am, check the weather on TV and then turn on CNN, shower and dress by 6:45 am. By 7 am my mother has comes over to help. I get my 2 daughters up (ages 12 and 16), feed everyone breakfast, walk the dog and drive the girls to school for an 8:15 am drop-off. Stop by Starbucks for coffee and drive downtown to the office (Society Hill Dermatology). During the drive I discuss Rx for Brown Skin business with my partner and formulate a to-do-list for the day. I see between 35-60 patients from 9 until 4. In between patients, I check in with the Rx office for any late breaking developments. After patients, I spend 2 hours on paperwork, conference calls, Rx work etc. I am home around 7, my housekeeper fixes dinner (thank God for Avril), we eat dinner, I might have a soccer or gymnastics drop off or pick up, I read the newspapers (New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Wall Street Journal) check homework, finish work and sometimes participate in a conference call. I watch the 10 pm news, read a few pages of my book club book, talk to my husband, say my prayers and then "fall into a coma". Before I know it, it is 6 am again.

I hear you. I have been known to try to reason with my alarm clock. What advice do you have for somebody trying to break into the skincare/makeup/beauty industry?

Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot do it and be successful!

What's next up for your line? Are you considering doing a line of makeup for brown skin?

Two spot treatments: one for acne and one for dark spots. A line of makeup for brown skin is definitely in the line up.

What are some of your favorite products from other lines? What's in your makeup bag?

For foundation and powder: MAC. For mascara: Dior Show. For blush and eyeshadow: Bobby Brown and Dee.

What's the number one mistake brown girls make in terms of their skincare regimes?

Not having a daily skin care regimen: cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunscreen.

I have read many times that toner is an unnecessary step. Do you disagree?

In today's beauty landscape, toners have been formulated with ingredients which are beneficial to the health of the skin. They no longer contain alcohol or just witch hazel. So by applying a toner, you are adding another layer of ingredients (ie. antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, hydrators, oil absorbers etc...) to the skin.

In light of the current economy, do you have any suggestions on where to scrimp and where it is still worth splurging in terms of skincare?

Splurge on cleansers and moisturizers. Scrimp on sunscreen (an SPF 30 with UVA protection is essentially the same at any price point).

How have your children influenced your line? Your work?

I think universally, children are central to everything that we do. In regard to the line, my children have helped me test products that I was formulating and they offer their opinion on marketing and strategy. The oldest goes in as a mystery shopper to make sure the Sephora staff is up-to-date with the products.

What one talent do you not have that you wish you had?

I wish I could sing!

What are you reading right now, or best movie/book in recent memory?

I am reading "Eat, pray, love." The best book is "The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons for Us All," by Michael Usse.

If you are interested in more of the science behind the line, and it's formidable blend of ingredients click here. Dr. Taylor is currently offering $15.00 off a purchase of the two best-selling skin brighteners. Click here for more details.

Two Things I'm Not Going to Buy

Did you (secretly or not-so-secretly) watch the Real Housewives of New York City? I did. Sometimes secretly. Sometimes in the open. It was a trainwreck, bejeweled and with great shoes. The true "star" of the show, in terms of trainwreck magnitude, was Alex McCord, who (1) unapologetically explained that she and her creepily- feminine husband, Simon, went to events in New York city in order to meet "socially important" people; (2) pretentiously insisted that her children speak French at all times, for no good reason; and (3) sat by with the calm of a Valium-addict and watched her children throw tantrums of epic proportion...and then insisted that her kids were the most well-behaved children she has ever encountered. Apparently being a social-climbing, affected mother with bad hair and a penchance for ill-fitting, extremely expensive clothing is what makes a "parenting expert" these days: Alex and Simon are co-authoring a parenting book based on their experiences with their children. For a bit more flavor, keep in mind that these are the same people who woefully explained on television that their kindergardener only got into his "15th choice" school and then immediately set on the path of finding the "right" people to get him into a better school. In between looking for photos of themselves in the paper.

Then there is this new "toy" that Janie T in Ohio emailed me about: Kidsling, a toddler-sized version of baby carrier sling. First of all, can't our kids just use the huge pile of baby crap we already have in our homes if they really want to copy us? Secondly, is it just me, or is there something a little creepy about seeing children pretending to hold babies and stroller them around in those mini-strollers? I know this is probably not a popular thing to say and I know it's natural for kids to mimic their parents, but something about it feels funny to me. Like our kids are these mini-adults. Or, to go further, what about our kids wanting to mimic us nursing a baby while the baby is in the sling. Is this as "cute" and "adorable" as some people find the notion of kids toting around their stuffed animals?

Then again, I suppose every little kid has a doll of some sort so maybe I'm the crazy one.

Speaking of dolls: Have you seen the new "American Girl" doll Sonali? She is only the third non-white doll the ridiculously popular AG outfit has put out (check this out if you are unfamiliar with the AG phenom) and, according to the official AG literature, she is "at least part South Asian" and "she is also quite smart." She is also depicted as one of the "mean girls" of the AG pack, which I hope doesn't influence the legions of little Brown Girls who will buy her too much. Thanks to Parul in Chicago for the tip!

File Under: What Were They Thinking?

Yesterday I had lunch with my friend V, and we were discussing how everyone we know is jumping on the "I can be an entrepreneur!" bandwagon. It seems like a smart thing to do, especially in this economy: Find something you like to do, set up your little cottage industry in your home, see where it takes you. I fully support these efforts. But sometimes enough is enough. In the ever-expanding commercial terrain known as the baby-industrial-complex, you have to wonder whether there are any limits to the products that will be pushed on us. For instance, many moms I know recognized their limit when mommy blogs and magazines alike started pimping these "delivery gowns"--nightgowns for us to purchase and use only once, during labor and delivery. I didn't and don't want to buy the delivery gown but I wasn't as angry about it as some other people--to each her own, I thought. However, I think I have now found my limit. Introducing: Morning Chicness Bags.

Yes. That's right. "Morning Chicness Bags." These "super cute" bags are designed--you guessed it--for you to vomit into. They are essentially pastel colored paper bags with a bit of pretty. Their tagline? "Morning sickness vomit bags for the chic expectant mother." I do not think I have ever seen the words "vomit" and "chic" in the same sentence before--for good reason. I am almost at a loss for words. (Isn't this picture hilarious??)

I feel a little guilty hating this product so much. After all, it's no skin off my back that the product's inventor has made it and is putting it out into the world. And maybe she is laughing/vomiting all the way to the bank, who knows (though: please, please tell me, who would buy this??). In fact, this wretched (ha) product proves as inspiration for us all: If designer vomit bags can find their way into the marketplace, so can that idea you have been mulling over for years. Get to it. Seriously. Need more inspiration? This guy got an entire "cookbook" published--about semen-based recipes...!

Hand me one of those vomit bags.

The Gifted Child

Obviously there is much talk this holiday season about buying less, doing more. It makes a lot of sense in this time of economic uncertainty: Why not find the silver lining of doom and gloom and teach our children more about charitable giving and less about mass commercialism? Except one thing: The joyful exchange of gifts is not necessarily a bad thing. And we don't want to be like Dickens's infuriatingly self-righteous Mrs. Pardiggle (who proudly announces that each of her five young sons donates his allowance to worthy causes, while the narrator explains that the children look "absolutely ferocious with discontent") now do we??

Of course we as parents should teach our kids about the importance of charity as they grow up. And I wholeheartedly intend to start now, trying to explain to my 3 year old the difference between "want" and "need"; modeling charitable behavior. But is it wrong to also want to give him something absolutely perfect to unwrap with glee and anticipation? To watch his face light up like a glow stick as he unearths his new treasure? A present is about thoughtfulness and has less to do with money and more to do with connection and depth of relationship. Some of the best gifts I have given and received cost far less than some of the donations I make.

And so, here they are, some of my favorite picks for children this holiday season. This list is hardly exhaustive or even close to balanced and it doesn't evenly cover every age-group. Nothing is overly elaborate either. Nope, my list is comprised of random, sometimes simple and sometimes quirky items that I would be proud to wrap up in bows and give to all the little babies and children I love this holiday season. Without further ado, 12 of my favorite gifts, and nary a partridge or pear tree in sight:

1) Touchable Art Books: These interactive books give kids hands-on fun in a trippy art world ("pet Matisse's fish!" "Brush Venus's hair!"). Plus, they are much more fun than reading "Goodnight Moon." Again.



2) Skyscraper Block Set: 36 piece set for the budding architect...or for the parent who is sick of ugly blocks.





3) Playhouse: Let your baby
draw on the
walls--his own walls!
This biodegradable playhouse
made of recycled cardboard
can be your toddler's home away from home. And you know
how much kids love boxes. Hours and hours of entertainment.



4) Framed pad: Elegant post-it notes--who knew? Kids can draw within the frame, immediately elevating their doodles to high-art; moms can peel and stick a pre-framed masterpiece.









5) Magic clothes: Remember hypercolor shirts? They're back! But less gross. The
solar-activated
ink on these shirts change color when exposed to the sun, so pirate ships and fairies take on a new look.


6) Message In A Bottle Kit: For when your kid needs to send out an SOS. Comes with a bottle, a cork, and wax.




7) Jigsaw Puppet puzzles: These hip wooden puzzle pieces do double duty as puppets and puzzle pieces. The heads and bodies can be mixed and matched to make an endless number of new characters and fairytales.



8) Homemade, but not homespun, unique clothes: This "Scribbly love dress" is cool without being over the top and will have everyone wondering where you find such awesome clothes for your kids.


9) Puzzles that grow in difficulty as your kids grow in height:
Kid-o puzzles feature different configurations and backgrounds of increasing difficulty--so you aren't forced trying to make your 4 year old put the circle in the right place for the millionth time.


10) A simple camera: Because it's never too early to teach your kids to see the world through various lenses.



11) "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan wrote a children's book? Do you need any more reason to get this? "May you grow up to be righteous. May you grow up to be true." I might have accidentally purchased this for myself.






12) Something personalized: Check out the host of personalized options in clothing and books we've previously showed to you. Particularly good for kids with names you don't see at the souvenir shop--can't you remember searching those carousels of little license plates, looking for the "Deepa" or the "Parul"?!?

Give good gift Devis!