We’ve thrown in an option for everyone…

SEEKING GLAMOUR

For you glamour pusses that won’t get a chance to glam out quite as easily with a burp rag on your shoulder in the coming months, why not jet off to St. Barth’s?  St. Barth’s is one of the most upscale islands in the world with gorgeous beaches, fabulous hotels, restaurants and shops.  It is the sort of island where beaded beach cover-ups are the uniform but you can also hike out to a practically deserted beach if you want to escape the scene.  If you feel up to it, there are beach parties in the evenings where you might rub shoulders with movie stars and supermodels.

Our picks:

Hotels 

 Eden Rock 

(877) 563-7105

info@edenrockhotel.com

This boho chic sexy little hotel is perched on a bluff and some of the rooms are carved out of the rock the hotel is built on.  While the hotel is not on the best beach on the island, the intimate feel and being walking distance to restaurants and shops make up for it. 

Isle de France

(800) 810-4691

hotel@isle-de-france.com 

Isle de France is on the gorgeous Flammands Bay beach and is luxurious in a more Palm Beach, preppy way than Eden Rock. 

Restaurants

Maya’s

+ 59 05 9027 7573

mayas-restaurant@orange.fr

Maya’s has been one of the hot spot restaurants on the island for years.  It has a Creole inspired menu and is a hop, skip and a jump from the beach.

Le Ti St. Barth

+59 05 9027 9771

leti@caroleplaces.com

A rocking restaurant where the food, which is actually very good—we love the beef- comes in second to the fun atmosphere where showgirls dance on tables. 

Drinks

Nikki Beach

+59 027 6464

www.nikkibeach.com 

This is probably the most famous outpost of Nikki Beach.  Located on St. Jean beach, a short walk from Eden Rock, the scene is amusing and can be quite sexy and fun.

Beach

Colombier

You have to hike down to this gorgeous beach.  Or take your yacht.  Pack a picnic and enjoy this beautiful spot.  The hike is not difficult. 

LOOKING FOR SUN AND RELAXATION IN THE DESERT

If jetting off to St. Barth’s sounds like too far to go, why not head to Palm Springs to soak up the sun and positive desert energy?  We relax immediately when we step put of our cars in Palm Springs. 

Our Picks:

Hotel

Korakia Pensione

(760) 864-6411

Staying at Korakia you feel like you are at an oasis in Morocco or the Mediterranean.  With two swimming pools, fire torches and views of the mountains past the swaying palm trees, Korakia is our favorite place in the desert.  They play movies in their outdoor garden on certain nights of the week and offer complimentary yoga, breakfast and Moroccan mint tea in the afternoons.  They also have a masseuse that comes to the hotel.

Restaurant

Viceroy Palm Springs

(760) 320-4117

www.viceroypalmsprings.com

Kelly Werstler’s funky design sense makes the Viceroy a fun and upbeat spot for dinner.  The burgers are fantastic as are the warm cookies served with whipped milk.  Hey, this is the last hurrah, right?  Enjoy!

Shop

Trina Turk

(760) 416-2856

www.trinaturk.com

For quintessential Palm Springs style, check out Trina Turk’s clothing and home stores located side by side. 

WANTING A COZY, WINTER WONDERLAND

If you feel like a cozy, wintry Babymoon (who doesn’t like snuggling on a bear-skin in front of the fireplace?), how about Park City, Utah?  With easy, inexpensive flights into Salt Lake and a short half hour drive to Park City, once you get to this picturesque mountain town, you’ll feel like you’re a lot further off the grid.

Hotel

Hotel Park City 

(435) 200-2000

Every room has a view of the mountain, a fireplace and balcony.  Very well laid out and impeccably designed in a cozy mountain chic way.  The included buffet breakfast is abundant.

Restaurants

Grappa

(435) 645-0636

www.grapparestaurant.com

This is a romantic little restaurant serving hearty favorites like cheese fondue and tender steaks.

Zoom

(435) 649-9108

www.zoomparkcity.com

Owned by Robert Redford, this upscale pub serves delicious burgers and crème brulee and inspired us to drive to Redford’s Sundance Resort the next day.

Explore

Sundance

(877) 831-6224

www.sundanceresort.com

After a delicious dinner at Robert Redford’s Zoom in Park City, we were inspired to check out his Sundance Resort which is a short drive from Park City.  We were blown away by the charming wide plank porches, small ski mountain, country store and the Owl Bar which is the original hang out of Butch Cassidy (moved from Wyoming) and the coziest spot for an après ski hang out ever.  They have a cross country skiing center on site and easy, beautiful trails along the base of the mountains.  They have several restaurants on the property as well as accommodations.  

Have fun out there!  Reinvigorate the romance and rest up.  Life is about to get crazy!  Good luck.

For other ideas of getaways from Paris to Whidbey Island, WA, glam to woodsy and restful, please check out our website and blog: www.firestonesisters.com

My healthy baby girl never seemed to have any health issues until August 28th. We went to the mall to a playgroup to spend some time with friends. After the playgroup a friend and I decided to take our little ones to the food court to grab a bite to eat and feed our kids. I brought her lunch and only fed her baby food. Towards the end of our lunch I noticed that my daughter was starting to break out in red blotches all over her body. I quickly decided to start walking to the car and take her right to the pediatrician’s office.  Upon removing her from the stroller to move her into the car I realized that the blotches were hives and were spreading quickly all over. I was so scared and as you can imagine the 10 minute drive felt like an hour.

When we arrived at Dr. E’s office we were seen very quickly. We had been to his office two days prior for our one year check up and R had received her chicken pox vaccine as well as one of her HIB vaccines and we had start to switch to whole milk. Dr. E and another doctor from the practice examined her and agreed that this was not the chicken pox (the chicken pox vaccine can cause an outbreak of chicken pox I learned). They also agreed that she was not having a reaction at the injection spots. So what to do – treat the reaction and bring down the hives. Dr. E gave a Rx for a steroids to bring down the hives and also suggested a daily dose of Zyrtec. He also warned me that the hives would get worse and possibly come and go for 3-4 days.  And put her back on her formula.  

A week later R still had hives. I decided we needed to see Dr. E again. As we sat in the waiting room her hives were getting worse. I was so worried. Dr. E said that we needed to see an allergist. So I called but the allergist, Dr. L, could not see R for until she was off the steroids for a month. Another week went by and R still had hives. How could this be happening to my little love bug! So another call to Dr. E and visit to Dr. L.
Dr. L decided that we needed to remove all dairy and soy from her diet for 2 weeks and we would do the skin scratch test. We had to put her on a special formula. The options we were given were Elecare or Neocate. Both had to be ordered online and were very expensive. She took to the Elecare Vanilla formula.

Test day came and I was terrified. She was tested for over 60 items. The results came back that she was allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, melon and dust. Dr. L wanted us to continue the non-dairy non-soy diet for another month. In that month R got hives again and developed eczema on her face, belly and legs. So after another visit we decided to do a new test referred to as a Skin Patch test. The alternative was an invasive blood test. The Skin Patch tested her for 15 foods (milk, eggs, corn, chicken, beef, chocolate, etc…). The patches are placed on the back for 48 hours. They can’t have a bath or get sweaty (not an easy task with a toddler). Then they take the patches (large bandages) off and let the skin breath for another 24 hours before doing the final reading. So we found out R is also allergic to eggs and corn. So we can’t vaccinate for awhile. When we do we have to weigh the risks to the benefits of dealing with a reaction. We are still keeping dairy products out of ¬her diet for another two months but we have added soy back into her diet. And I have moved her to Silk Soy Vanilla Milk and she loves it. Her allergy to corn is not severe enough to remove corn syrup and oil from her diet thank goodness! Corn syrup is in almost all processed foods.

I found that when R had hives loose fitting or soft clothing was most comfortable for her. So I started making clothes for her and have started by own business. To check out some of my great designs and accessories visit www.kjfdesigns.wordpress.com.

Through this process I also visited a wonderful dermatologist who recommended some wonderful products. I am pleased to say that the new products have improved R’s skin and fingers crossed we have been hives free for 2 weeks. Dr. L informed us that R will hopefully grow out of her allergies by the time she is eight! For the time being we are reading labels and asking lots of questions. Below is a list of alternative products we have switched to and have helped improve R’s skin.

Products Alternatives:

Diapers:
•    Seventh Generation – can be purchased at Babies R’ Us and Whole Foods
•    Nature Baby Care – can be purchased online at www.diapers.com (these  are white so they look great under clothes and dresses, and don’t leak)

Soap:
•    Dove - white bar soap
•    Glycerin Soap – Available at Whole Foods

Shampoo:
•    Free & Clear Shampoo/Conditioner

Moisturizer:
•    Vanicream
•    Cerave

Laundry Detergent:
•    All Free & Clear
•    Purex Free & Clear

Formula: (available at www.babywuvinc.com)
•    Elecare
•    Neocate

My son Frankie weighed in at 3lb 2oz when when he was born and after a month in intensive care I was sent home with my tiny dot of a baby.  I was advised to extend my maternity leave to a year due to his vulnerability. After a wonderful year I negotiated a further 5-year career break. (I was a social work trainer in childcare and one extremely lucky woman to have this option)  I had been the main earner and so we were suddenly, quite definitely, a very low-income family and we had to completely revise how we spent, saved and made money.  We learnt quickly and through trial and error. I bought a baby signing franchise and became an ebay expert. I held clothes swapping parties and began to celebrate Earth Day! Oh the things I have done! I eventually wrote a book to tell my tale and point others in a good baby budgeting direction. As well as tips and ideas the book also contains a big resource section with all the phone numbers and contacts you could need and a comprehensive section on your entitlements. I have had a real adventure during my time off and learnt loads of new skills. I even once let my hubby cut my hair! But very best of all I have had loads and loads of time with my babies which is what I wanted. I do hope you enjoy your parenting journey and manage to afford the time off you want. Here are some budgeting tips for you: 

Whether you decide to be home with them full time or part time, for 6 months or 6 years you will need to readjust your spending habits when you have a baby. Here’s how:

1.  Don’t be proud

• Accept hand-me-downs and pass on your stuff too. Share and you will be shared with!
• Buy second-hand wherever you can (check out ebay, charity shops in rich areas and NCT nearly-new sales.)
• Tell family and friends your situation. They will understand why you are more frugal and may even offer support.

2.  Create more revenue

• Cash in any savings. Your baby is your perfect rainy-day reason.
• Make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled to (research local government websites)
• Consider family-friendly working such as mystery shopping, online surveys, or buying a franchise designed for full-time parents.

3.  Be resourceful

• Breastfeeding and re-usable nappies are significantly cheaper options. Give them both really a try.
• Walk wherever you can, leaving your car at home. Fresh air and exercise are good for your health and pocket.
• Go to local baby groups. For a little amount of money you both get to relax, have a drink and socialise. These are FAR cheaper than baby-activity classes.
• Skill share. If you have skill such as hairdressing exchange it with a friend who can baby-sit. Build a community around you that is increasingly self-sufficient (it massively reduces expenditure!).

Good-luck and go for it…..these are absolutely the most  precious of  days.

How to Afford time off with your Baby by Becky Goddard-Hill can be ordered now from Amazon and is available at all leading book retailers. Becky also blogs about baby budgeting at www.babybudgeting.co.uk