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.

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

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

Kate Winslet says celebrity moms should never complain

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Kate Winslet just can't get on board with her celebrity counterparts (ahem -- Gwyneth Paltrow) who complain about life as a working mom being hard.

The 38-year-old star, who is mom 13-year-old Mia, 10-year-old Joe and 10-month-old Bear, believes those who've snagged a bit of the limelight seems to think if a star does have those thoughts she'd be better off keeping them quiet.

"We've heard a lot from actresses recently about how difficult it is, but we should never be saying that it's difficult because we are so bloody lucky," the Divergent actress explained. "It's just not an OK thing to share. It's always a juggle, but isn't it for every working mother?"

Kate Winslet went on to say the hardest part between her work and personal life is the "emotional jump" required between the two vastly different roles.

"The thing for me personally is that it is a difficult transition, is that my life at home is just so different to my life at work," she told Marie Claire . "It doesn't matter which of the two is harder, it's the emotional - rather than logistic - jump from one place to another that's difficult. The juggling of it all... we just get on with it. And we do, because we can."

To that I feel compelled to add: We do, because we can -- and we must.

For me at least, that's an important addition. I'm not particularly good at taking on motherhood with passion, but I've got an incredibly strong sense of responsibility. That which is difficult and I'd be happy to be done with I know I still must take on, and so I do.

It's an approach, that while perhaps not exactly ideal, has gotten our family through a lot. The sense of duty is what got me through over a year of up-all-nights with our second son, and got me out the door each evening for a handful of years to wait tables because we couldn't make ends meet.

As for celebrity moms complaining, I feel that Kate Winslet has a point, but also that a person's experience shouldn't be hushed. It's hard not to be envious of stars, who we imagine can easily afford childcare help right along with housing and groceries, but that doesn't mean their emotions about leaving their little ones behind don't still get all twisted up.

If they do share, it'd probably be wise to tiptoe through the topic to try and avoid a backlash, but I can't wholly agree it's "not an OK thing" for celebrity moms to say their lives are sometimes difficult.

Why or why not?

Do you think it's OK for famous moms to complain about difficulties?

Photo: PR Photos

More famous females open up about motherhood:

Surprise! Ellen Pompeo welcomes baby #2!

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

A surprise baby announcement out of Hollywood today: Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo and her husband Chris Ivery have welcomed their second child.

The 44-year-old actress, who is already mom to 5-year-old daughter Stella Luna, managed to keep her big news under wraps until this afternoon. She posted a sweet photo of the family's new addition to Instagram, writing, "Sienna May Ivery welcome to the world. We love you more than words can say."

Ellen later shared a few more details, Tweeting, "Sienna was born via surrogate & I would like to thank my whole @ShondalandTV family for helping us enjoy these first few weeks privately ❤️U."

After welcoming Stella in 2009, Ellen confessed that she was enjoying motherhood more than she thought she would: "[It's] much more fun than I ever thought it would be," she admitted. "I wasn't really ever one of those girls who was like dying to have kids so young. I didn't really give it much thought, actually, but I'm so glad I did."

It's not often that a celebrity manages to keep such big news under the radar! Congratulations to Ellen and family on their adorable new arrival.

Which other famous families have welcomed babies via a surrogate? Find out!

Photo: PR Photos

Hear Jennifer Garner's hilarious head lice story

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Jennifer Garner really is just like us! Well, kind of.

The mom-of-three - she has kids Violet, 8, Seraphina, 5, and Samuel, 2 - stopped by the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this week, where she told a hilariously awful story about... head lice. It seems there's more to being a Hollywood mama than red carpets and couture clothes. Even the rich and famous aren't immune to this particular dreaded childhood "milestone."

See Jennifer's funny account of her battle with head lice, in which she recounts a greasy first meeting with George Clooney and does a pretty terrible impersonation of her husband Ben Affleck.

I love it!

The fact that Jennifer Garner is willing to open up in front of millions of viewers about being itchy, oily, smelly and infested with vermin just solidifies her status as one of my favorite celebrity moms. Way to keep it real, Jen.

Head lice is one thing we've not yet had to deal with in our house - knock on wood! We got a letter home from my oldest daughter's school last year warning of an infestation, but thankfully we managed to get through it unscathed.

Of course, that could all change. With the kids back at school and winter on its way, the threat of head lice looms large. It may be time to review BabyCenter blogger Kristina Sauerwein's tips on how to avoid the little bugs. Is anyone feeling a little itchy all of a sudden?

As for Jennifer, next up for her is the family-friendly flick Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, based of course on the popular book of the same title by Judith Viorst.

Comment

Has your family had to deal with lice?

More of our favorite famous moms open up about motherhood...

Photo: INFPhoto.com

NFL's Devon Still shows the true face of fatherhood

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Devon Still is a defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals, but these days the 25-year-old is focusing on something much more important than football: His 4-year-old daughter Leah.

On June 2, 2014, Leah was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer. He shared the devastating news on Instagram, writing, "If y'all know me y'all know this girl is my world I know that she is strong and she won't let anything hold her down without a fight."

The NFL pro's Instagram feed is a testament of his devotion to his adorable little girl, full of sentimental tributes and cute photos of the two of them together. Captioning a sweet pic of a daddy-daughter dinner date just weeks before Leah's diagnosis, he wrote: "I've been on a lot of dates but this is by far the most beautiful girl I've ever had the honor to sit across from."

Since that day in June changed everything, Still has been updating fans and followers on Leah's treatment and progress. When she started chemotherapy, he shaved his head in solidarity. When she had to spend days and nights at the hospital, he took up permanent residence on a metal cot beside her bed. When she went in for a 6-hour surgery to remove the tumor last week, he gave her an awesome pre-op prep talk that quickly went viral.

In the meantime, as Still and Leah battle this disease, football has had to take a backseat. In August he was cut from the Bengals, but the team showed its support by immediately signing him to the practice squad so that he could continue to bring in a salary and stay close to home to be there for his daughter.

“I completely understand where the Bengals were coming from when they cut me because I couldn’t give football 100 percent right now,” Still said at the time. “They could have washed their hands with me and said they didn’t care about what I was going through off the field. It’s like a blessing in disguise for me.”

Though Leah still has a long road of more chemotherapy and radiation ahead, they got some good news last week: The surgery successfully removed all of the tumor. "Best news I've received in a long time," said the relieved dad.

With the NFL making headlines for all kinds of horrible reasons in recent months, the story of Devon Still and his devotion to his beautiful little girl stands as a touching example of what fatherhood really looks like. And fans have responded: The Bengals reported today that they've sold 10,000 Devon Still jerseys, and will be donating the $1 million proceeds toward paediatric cancer research.

Best wishes to Leah and to Devon as they continue their fight together.

These dads have made headlines, too - find out why!

Photo: Flickr/Parker Anderson