Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian can't leave home without...

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Pregnancy cravings are serious business, ladies. Whether it's pickles or ice cream or pickles and ice cream, when that urge hits it's sometimes hard to even think about anything else until it's been satisfied.

Kourtney Kardashian knows all about intense cravings. Now into her third trimester, the soon-to-be mom-of-three reveals that her need for one particular snack was so insatiable that she started carrying it with her at all times. So what was baby craving? Bagels! Preferably blueberry bagels, but the plain would do in a pinch, too.

Mason and Penelope's mom says that the craving hit while she was filming her reality show in the Hamptoms over the summer, saying, “I had them literally for dinner every night. A bagel with cream cheese and jelly. I would have plain ones just in my bag at all times. Khloé would be like, ‘What’s in your purse?’ I’d have two bagels at all times.”

Little sister Khloe Kardashian confirms it's true, saying, "Just that! No wallet, not anything else, just the bagels."

I have to admit, I kind of love the thought of a Hollywood star carb-loading.

As for me, bagels weren't my thing, but I did have a few serious cravings of my own: Cream-centered chocolates, lemonade by the liter and chewy black licorice. Not all together, mind you. Blech. I was pregnant, not totally insane.

Comment

What was your biggest pregnancy craving?

Kourtney's not the only celebrity mama to confess her pregnancy cravings... some of these may surprise you!

Photo: PR Photos

Zoe Saldana won't "rip" her child off her "tit" to go to work

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Zoe Saldana is adamant she won't be going back to work in a hurry after giving birth. The Avatar actress, who is said to be pregnant with twin boys, has opened up about the support she's been shown as she gears up to mix work and motherhood.

Crediting the producers and creators of her recently projects with being empathetic the mom-to-be told Entertainment Weekly "they’ve been very understanding, especially with what’s happening in my personal life. I’ve gotten nothing but support. To know that we are getting to that place where women can have that support from male driven workforces is -- I have to say, it’s very inspiring."

She then quickly continued, "And also, they don’t have a choice! I’m not going to rip my child off my tit to go work. And if I do that, then maybe you shouldn’t hire me because I am willing to sell anything."

After having a laugh Zoe Saldana added, "It’s nature! Like, you just cannot do it. What kind of mother would I be? There’s no choice. It’s like, 'What, you want me to leave my newborn so that I can work 16 hours on your set? He’s only a month old, are you out of your mind?'

"And the good thing is that half of the people you work with are all parents, and they get it. They probably have strong wives at home that are probably going to look at them going, 'Are you out of your mind?!' See, it’s having strong women around you! Once we all come together, it’s perfect."

Naturally, a bit of debate has been going on about if this actress (whose net worth is estimated to be $8 million) was being insensitive to mothers who don't have a choice about when to return to work. Personally I don't think she meant to be, and in fact was just trying to emphasize the crazy hours stars spend on set, but the "What kind of mother would I be?" line made me cringe.

Surely she meant it as a rhetorical question, but I'll go ahead and give it a shot: Zoe, if you do end up leaving your infant(s) at one month old to return to work you will still be a good mother! You'll be in good company with fellow moms who need to work to make ends meet, and even ones who just -- gasp -- choose to work. There's more than one way to make this motherhood thing happen. You'll be just fine, and so will your darling(s). Things have a way of working out.

Join the conversation

What do you think of Zoe Saldana's words about returning to work as a mom?

Photo: REX USA/Picture Perfect

The celeb-penned kids' book you'll really want to read

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Actor BJ Novak - you may know him as Ryan from the US version of The Office - has just released a new kids' book titled, The Book With No Pictures . As you've probably guessed, the book has no pictures. None. Big mistake, right?

Anyone who's read a bedtime story to a small child knows that colorful, creative illustrations are key. Without them your adorable audience's attention will quickly wander and by page 3 they'll be jumping up and down on the bed singing Taylor Swift songs. Good luck recovering from that. ("Weee are never ever ever, going back to bed!")

How do I know this? Over the past 8 years I've read approximately 2,500 bedtime stories to my daughters - yes, I just did the math. I speak from experience.

So I think it's safe to say that Novak's book, no matter how well intentioned, will be a massive flop.

Or maybe not. This video of the 35-year-old actor reading The Book With No Pictures to a gymnasium full of kids seems to prove my theory very wrong. Take a look...

How great is that? Those kids were clearly loving it, and I can see why. It's silly and interactive and has just enough nonsensical words and ridiculous scenarios to guarantee that my two girls would love it, too. And let's be honest: Throwing the word "butt" in there can only help.

I haven't bought the book just yet, but plan on picking it up soon. After seeing it in action, I'm happily prepared to eat my words about a book with no pictures being a very bad idea. It just may be brilliant.

(ps - Is there any sound more infectious than a kid laughing? Like, really, from the gut, laughing? I just love it.)

Comment

What do you think of a book with no pictures?

We can all learn a thing or two from kids' books. Take a minute for these incredible, must-read quotes...

Photo: Thinkstock

Minnie Driver has harsh words for showbiz parents

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Minnie Driver may love having a career in the spotlight, but she surely doesn't think the film industry is a good place for children to be.

The actress, who is mom to 6-year-old son Henry, has opened up about her views on child stardom while promoting her latest film, Beyond The Lights, in which she plays a showbiz parent. Take a look:

"I'm not really for the whole kids in show business thing," Minnie Driver explained to Us Weekly, adding she's sometimes uncomfortable around parents of young children in the spotlight.

"It's really difficult even when you meet lovely parents of children who are in show business," she explained. "There is still the fact that they're not having a childhood. They are out of their element, and in the element of an adult world which is not always appropriate. It seems to me there is always a certain level of desperation that makes a person put a child in that position."

Trying to draw the character profile of a stage parent she continued, "That's an interesting place to start for a character: Someone who's desperate and conflicted, and if that's overshadowing everything else, it doesn't matter how nice or kind or empathetic they may be elsewhere. The overriding thing is quite fierce."

Speaking from her character's point of view she added, "You love them, of course you love them, but you want this other thing. It's the realm of the hungry ghosts. That's really interesting for an actor...You really understand why she does what she does… You really get it. It's not from a malicious point of view. She's not a sociopath, she's not evil. She just desperately did not want to go back to that poverty and she wanted something better for her kid."

Of course, child actors were at least briefly required to make this film, as evidenced in the preview. How do you the parents of those kids feel today hearing what this actress really thinks? "Desperate and conflicted" are hard words to hear even indirectly spoken to you.

As an average outsider, who lives nowhere near Hollywood and knows no one with a child in the spotlight, it's hard to get a handle on this topic. On the one hand I agree with Minnie and think a 'normal' childhood is not to be undervalued, but on the other some kids are really, truly passionate about performing. I can't say that if my child absolutely loved to sing and wanted to be on stage I'd tell him no, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to be judged as a 'stage mom' for just supporting my kid's interests.

Why or why not?

Do you agree with Minnie Driver that "the whole kids in show business thing" is a bad idea?

Photo: PR Photos

More celebrities, including some who've been there and done that, talk child stardom:

Blake, Alicia, Kate: 3 jaw-dropping maternity looks

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

So long, maternity mumus. These stunning pregnancy looks that are guaranteed to turn heads.

It's been a memorable week for maternity style, with three very famous moms-to-be showing off the sexier side of pregnancy. The trio chose very different red carpet looks, but each of them looked drop dead gorgeous.

First up is the always stylish Blake Lively, who was joined at the Angel Ball in NYC on Monday by her husband Ryan Reynolds. The Gossip Girl star framed her growing bump in a pale yellow Gucci dress complete with a glittering, plunging neckline.

Singer Alicia Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz, who are expecting their second child, put in an appearance at the same event. The 'No One' crooner opted for a more subdued look, a bold, chunky necklace adding a touch of drama to her draping, floor-length black gown.

Finally, we have Kate Middleton. After enduring weeks at home suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, the Duchess of Cambridge looked beautiful on her two official royal outings yesterday: She traded in the Alexander McQueen coat she wore during a morning appearance for a lovely, sky blue dress by one of her prefered designers, Jenny Packham, at a black tie event at the Natural History Museum.

They all look incredible, no? The three looks are so different, it's hard to choose a favorite. I think my vote would have to go to Blake Lively, though. The buttery color of the dress is just gorgeous, and I love that she went with such a bold, sexy neckline.

My pregnancy didn't involve too many red carpets, so my maternity wardrobe revolved around a lone pair of stretchy jeans and a few extra long T-shirts. I'm sure these ladies sometimes long for a cozy robe or their husbands' PJ pants, but it must be such fun to have the opportunity - not to mention the budget - to go utterly glam every once in a while.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Gorgeous maternity style? Here's the Hollywood hall-of-fame...

Wow! See pregnant Duchess Kate's first official outing

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

It's the royal baby bump debut!

Well, with six months to go until her April 2015 due date, there's not much of a bump just yet, but this morning expectant mom Kate Middleton put in her first official public appearance since she and her husband Prince William announced last month that they are expecting baby #2. Despite spending the past 6 weeks in the throes of hyperemesis gravidarum, the Duchess of Cambridge looked simply stunning.

Kate, 32, wore a tailored grey Alexander McQueen coat and matching hat by Jane Taylor as she arrived at a London hotel to greet Singapore president Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife.

"I've been looking forward to getting out of the house – that's for sure," admitted Prince George's mom.

Though a palace statement issued yesterday noted that Kate has been "steadily improving," her second experience with hyperemesis gravidarum has reportedly been every been as bad as it was during her first pregnancy.

"Don't be fooled by the fact that she hasn't been admitted to hospital this time," says a source. "She is just as poorly. The difference is that her doctors have been able to diagnose and treat her quicker. She really hasn't been at all well, though."

That might explain The Daily Mail's suggestion that the Duchess looked "a teeny bit peaky" during her royal outing this morning. Just what every expectant mom wants to hear, right? I think she looks wonderful - and it sounds like I'm not the only one.

"She has been through a tough time, but she is looking lovely," reports one royal watcher, who was on hand to see the expectant parents. "She looked absolutely beautiful. She's a classy, beautiful woman. And William looks delightful, too."

This is likely the first of many official appearances Kate will be making throughout her pregnancy, so we will have plenty of chances to see her growing bump. Maybe she'll "pop" earlier this time around than she did with little George. During my first pregnancy it seemed to take forever before I actually looked pregnant - the second time that belly was pretty hard to miss!

Comment

Did you show earlier with baby #2?

Kate's greatest maternity looks from her first pregnancy - which is your favorite?

Photo: REX USA

Kate Middleton: Due date - and baby name? - revealed

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Kate Middleton has yet to make her first public appearance since last month's announcement that she and Prince William are expecting baby #2. While royal watchers anxiously await the first glimpse of the expectant mom - and her enviable maternity style - the Duchess of Cambridge has a good excuse for laying low, as she continues to suffer the awful effects of Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

Kate, 32, may not be feeling up to dishing on the details of her pregnancy, but the palace did share some big news on her behalf today, revealing the due date for the baby on the way. According to a statement issued this morning, we can expect Prince George's sibling to arrive in April 2015. The palace also noted that Kate's condition is "steadily improving."

Kate & William's first year of parenting... in photos

The announcement unfortunately didn't reveal whether the couple are expecting a boy or a girl - sorry, make that a prince or a princess - but its reference to "a baby," singular, did at least put to rest those rumors of twins. With a newborn and a 20-month-old toddler running around, though, Kate and William will have their hands full as it is!

Should baby #2 be a girl, the expectant parents may already have the perfect baby name ready and waiting. According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, Kate and William have chose the name Elizabeth Diana Windsor, a nod to both William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and his late mother, Princess Diana.

"Close friends to William and Kate have told me that if it is a girl they want to name the baby after Diana," Mr. Morton says. "They discussed girls' names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honour William’s mother. They’re not too thrilled at the thought it will be shortened to Princess Di. But it won’t change their minds."

If true, picking the name Elizabeth would break the royal tradition of not naming a child after a living royal relative - but it wouldn't be the first time the pair have stepped slightly off the well-worn royal path. A few examples? William opted to drive his wife and new son home from the hospital himself rather than have a chauffeur do it; he and Kate chose longtime friends rather than dignitaries to be George's godparents; they hired a Spanish nanny rather than one from the trusted royal pool. These may seem like very small rebellions, but any time you veer from centuries-long traditions it's a pretty big deal.

As for the name, Elizabeth Diana, I like it. It would be a lovely way to honor two very important, much loved women. With the royal due date still five months away, though, there's still plenty of time to debate baby names. Until then, we'll stay tuned for Kate's baby bump debut: It's reported she may join Prince William and Queen Elizabeth at a royal event welcoming the President of Singapore to the UK tomorrow.

Your turn!

What would be your royal baby name pick?

Some other baby names with royal potential...

Photo: INFphoto.com

Halle Berry's request to reduce child support is reasonable?

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Halle Berry is on a mission to have the child support payments she sends to ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry for their daughter Nahla reduced from $16,000 to $3,000 a month.

The drastic change she's seeking has made headlines and sparked quite a bit of debate about how much, if any amount, is too much for one parent to have to pay to another.

TMZ claims to have the inside scoop on the gossip, reporting Thursday:

Halle claims in her legal docs … Gabriel has stopped working and is content to live off of the child support, and that’s an abuse of the system.

She notes Gabriel is perfectly capable of getting a job … and by reducing the support it will allow 6-year-old Nahla to live a comfortable life … supplemented by his income.

Additionally, the site notes Halle and Gabriel, who dated from 2005 to 2010, each have Nahla half of the time.

Initially I thought it was a bit crazy of the actress to ask for such a dramatic change to their arrangement, but I can't wholly say I don't think she has a point. No, I don't know the details of the model dad's work situation, but I think it's a bit crazy for an adult to be able to live completely off of the amount his kid gets. This is child support -- not alimony.

And yes, I feel the same way when the roles are reversed and it's a mom receiving hefty amounts from the dad.

For the large majority of families I get that it takes both parents working very hard just to get by, and so cases like Halle and Gabriel's are more the exception than the rule. Nonetheless, I find them fascinating and will be watching to see how the judge rules on her request.

Maybe a reduction but not quite so much is the way to go?

Weigh in

How would you rule if you were in charge of Halle Berry's child support reduction request?

Photo: PR Photos

See Blake Lively's gorgeous red carpet bump debut

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

A week after making a surprise pregnancy announcement on her new Preserve lifestyle web site, actress Blake Lively showed off her growing bump at a star-studded event in New York City last night.

Flying solo for the evening - the Gossip Girl star was without her handsome husband Ryan Reynolds - Blake put in a gorgeous appearance at the 2014 God's Love We Deliver, Golden Heart Awards. The NYC-based organization provides meals to those suffering from HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

The 27-year-old actress, who is into her second trimester now, made her maternity red carpet debut wearing a nude-toned Michael Kors gown embellished with glittering pink and purple flowers. Take a look...

Known for her chic sense of style, Blake downplayed her sexy spin on maternity wear, saying, “I’m gonna amp up my style by wearing things that are stretchier. Because that’s all that fits!”

One thing she was more than happy to talk about, though? Her husband of two years. Blake says she has no doubt he's going to be the world's best dad when their baby arrives.

"He's going to be a great father and leader and patriarch — he's so meant to be all of those things," she gushed of Ryan, 37. "The fact that he lived so much before we got together, he's the exact realized person that he should be. And so I get to share my life with the person he's become, and we get to grow from there."

I have a feeling this is just one of many maternity style statements Blake will be making in the months to come. Stay tuned!

These pregnant celebrities made our best-dressed ever list...

Love it or leave it: Beyoncé rocks a bold new 'do

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Are you in a mom hair rut?

For the past decade or so I've been alternating between two different looks: I grow my hair out, eventually realize there's not much point having long hair if it's in a "mom ponytail" every single day, and then chop it into a shoulder-length bob. A few months down the road I get a bad case of long hair envy and grow it out again. It's a never-ending cycle and I feel like it's time to break it. But how?

When in need of style advice, there is one question every woman should consider: What would Beyoncé do? (No, really. That's actually a common question: #WWBD.) I'm no fashion icon, but I do know that Beyoncé wouldn't be caught dead rocking this split-end situation that I have going on right now.

She did, however, debut a brand new 'do yesterday. All eyes were on the 'Flawless' singer's bold, blunt bangs when she was spotted out and about in London with her husband Jay-Z and their 2-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.

Honestly, I'm way too tame to try to emulate Blue Ivy's mom. I admire her confident style, but my midriff-baring days are well behind me, these heels wouldn't even be allowed at our preschool, and I'm not really sure what's going on here.

I don't love Beyoncé's new 'do, but I kind of love her for trying it out. As for me, I think I'll get a little crazy and opt for a chin-length bob next time I'm at the salon. Or maybe I'll be really bold and pioneer a brand new hashtag instead: #MHDC. Mom hair, don't care. Sing it, ladies.

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Check out Beyoncé's changing post-baby style...

Photos: REX USA/Beretta/Sims/Rex

We love Jennifer Garner's baby bump announcement!

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Have you heard the rumor that Jennifer Garner is pregnant with baby #4?

If so, don't believe it. The star of Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, who is already mom to Violet, 8, Seraphina, 5, and Samuel, 2, says that she's definitely not expecting again - but happily admits that she does have a "baby bump."

"I get congratulated all the time by people I know. This one woman who had babysat for us said, 'Oh, my gosh, I can't wait for No. 4,' and I thought, 'What is going on?'" Jennifer explained during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "So I asked around and apparently I have a baby bump, and I'm here to tell you that I do!"

The audience of course went wild at the thought of Jennifer and her husband Ben Affleck adding to their adorable brood, but the funny mom was quick to quiet them down.

"Hold up, hold right up," she said. "I am not pregnant, but I have had three kids and there is a bump! From now on, ladies, I will have a bump. And it will be my baby bump. And let's just all settle and get used to it. It's not going anywhere. I have a bump, its name is Violet, Sam, Sera."

Hear the rest of Jennifer's fabulous "baby bump" decree...

Can we please just go ahead and crown Jennifer Garner celebrity mom of the year? I think I love this woman!

In a culture obsessed with the post-baby "bounce back" it is so wonderfully refreshing to hear Jennifer, who earlier this week revealed her Spanx in a red carpet wardrobe malfunction, admit that her body actually does look different than it did before she had children. And better yet, to announce that she's absolutely fine with that.

Kudos to a celebrity mom who tells it like it is - and who embraces her "forever and ever" bump with pride.

Comment

What do you think of Jennifer Garner's baby bump confession?

These Hollywood mamas opened up about their baby weight, too...

Photo: PR Photos

Photo: Pregnant Kelly Rowland goes nude for ELLE

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

With her due date just weeks away, Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland shows off her bump and a whole lot more in a gorgeous photo shoot for ELLE.com.

The 33-year-old singer is the latest in a string of pregnant celebrities - Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys to name just a few - who've stripped down to show off their growing bellies. While not everyone is a fan of the trend, Kelly explains why an expectant mom's "Godmazing" body deserves to be celebrated.

"I don't know why they would get flack," she says. "It's really—I won't say amazing—it's Godmazing [laughs] watching your body carry a human. I took a birthing class and I was amazed by all the things this woman was saying to me about birthing and what the body does naturally. Why wouldn't you want to celebrate that? The body should be celebrated."

Since sharing the news of her first pregnancy on Instagram this past summer, Kelly has been focused on keeping up her healthy lifestyle, including very frequent trips to the gym. It seems her hard work has paid off - she looks amazing! Kelly says her maternity workout regiment was about more than just looking good, though. She's hoping it leads to an easier labor, too.

"Everybody always tells you to go crazy with food, and you can eat whatever you want. It's fine to have your cravings but I wanted an easier delivery," Kelly tells ELLE.com. "All the women that I've talked to, that have worked out, have such an easy and speedy delivery. Exercise really helps that."

She has indulged just a bit, though. Asked to reveal her craziest craving, she admitted she has a weakness for "cherry pie and chocolate ice cream with peanut butter mixed in it."

Yum? Actually, it sounds a lot better than what some celebrity moms have confessed to craving during their pregnancies. Take a look...

Congratulations to Kelly and her husband Tim Witherspoon on the baby on the way. Stay tuned for their big announcement!

Comment

What did you crave during your pregnancy?

Photo: Lance Gross/ELLE.com, PR Photos