Where’s the Me in Momeeee? Mealtime, play dates, laundry, errands and housework — the list is endless. In the middle of everything moms have to do and everyone they have to care for, it’s easy to lose track of a very important person — themselves.

In her book Mom Management: Managing Mom Before Everybody Else, real-life mom Tracy Lyn Moland challenges women to become better mothers by taking care of themselves. In other words, manage mom first.

Bringing organizational skills to the role of parenting, Tracy, an internationally recognized author, speaker and consultant, offers practical tips for active women trying to juggle all their responsibilities. She helps even the busiest Mommies create a life map to rediscover personal dreams and aspirations. She also gives suggestions to help accomplish those goals while enjoying the role of motherhood.

Her easy-to-read chapters include hands-on exercises intended to define the things you want to become in life along with practical suggestions for breaking goals into manageable mouthfuls. She defines the difference between doing and being and encourages women to develop into the best kind of mom
they can be.

Whether you take the time to read this book all at once or slowly savor each chapter, Mom Management opens your eyes to new ways to succeed in the very important role of motherhood — without losing yourself along the way.

Get the book: Available for $15 at amazon.com.

– Kerry Bennett

Kerry (who says she needs all the organizational help she can get is a wife and the mother of four busy sons. On the side, she does freelance writing of family-oriented movie reviews for parentpreviews.com.

So many toys, so little time. It’s tough to decide which toys will be most worthwhile during your babies first few years of playtime. Our Mommy editors went in search of toys that will turn baby’s play into a productive time of learning, development, and entertainment, which will bring the benefits of an entertained baby now, and a well-developed toddler later. Here are our picks:

	Baby Duck. This playful duck is made from all-natural fabrics and will be your baby’s best friend in the car, in the crib or on the living room floor. Baby can learn by interacting with the colors, shapes, and textures on this toy. Crocheted from 100% cotton, the sturdy craftsmanship will make this a toy that your baby can cherish for life. $28 at pamperedtot.com.
	Multi-Sensory Clutch Cube. This colorful, squishy block will be easy for baby to take everywhere and will help him develop basic senses — sight, touch, sound, taste and smell — with the bright colors; varying textures to touch and chew on; chimes and clinks; and green apple scent. $13 at amazon.com.
	Wind Chimes Kick Toy. This playful crib toy will entertain baby with sounds and movement. There are three hanging chimes in the shape of “whimsical birds” that make soft-soothing sounds when moved. The sounds will encourage baby to continue playing with the chimes, therefore developing hand-eye coordination, leg movement and sight. $11 at amazon.com.
	Pastel Toys Wooden Tommy Truck with Blocks. Pastel Toys is an unpretentious line of handcrafted toys made from recycled wood by adults with special needs. The toys are painted in soft pastel colors that have an almost calming demeanor. Our favorite is the Tommy Truck, which comes with pastel blocks encased in a fun old-fashioned toy truck that will provide imaginative building playtime and get baby moving around by pushing the blue truck. We also adored the sweet simplicity of the Giraffe and Elephant on wheels. $25-40 at cutelittleme.com.
	Safari Animal Parade. These adorable stuffed safari animals are great for playtime or bedtime. The little toy animals have a chime and rattle built in and can be hooked together to make a fun animal train. Baby will have the opportunity to develop motor skills as she practices with the removable wheels. The toys also make great bedtime cuddle friends when wheels are detached. $30 at backtobasictoys.com.

– Becky Boushley

Does your hair feel like straw? Don’t give into your frustration-driven fantasy of chopping it all off. Lucky for you (and your locks!, there’s a wealth of high-intensity hair-care products designed to re-hydrate your hair, transforming it from straw to silk.

Before choosing the best products for your hair, it is helpful to determine what created the damage so that you can best treat it. Many factors can contribute to damaged hair, explains Rodney Cutler, owner of Cutler Salon in New York City, a Redken salon: “Many natural elements can damage hair. Hormonal changes after pregnancy can affect hair’s texture and thickness, while environmental elements like the sun can strip the hair’s cuticle, almost like bleach.” Most often, however, hair is made fragile by elements found indoors — air conditioning and indoor heating can dry out hair, while repeated use of styling aids like the dryer or a curling iron can make it overly brittle, he explains. If hair is color-treated, these situations can cause color to fade in addition to making hair brittle.

If you’re not willing to abandon your indoor temperature control or electric styling aids (and let’s be honest, who is?), you’re not doomed to a life of frizzy, flyaway hair. “If hair is damaged,” says Cutler, “Permanent changes in its texture can be achieved with the right products.” How? Special ingredients in hair-care products penetrate the hair shaft, repairing it, he explains. “Heat-activated treatments are exceptionally beneficial — they cause the hair cuticle to open, allowing for easier penetration.” In fact, says Cutler, many products designed for home use are as successful in treating damaged hair as in-salon treatments.

Below, you’ll find the best treatment products for every type of hair. After trying the ones we recommend for your hair, you just might find yourself tucking your pony-tail elastics and huge hair clips into the back of your bathroom drawer.

• If your hair is STRAIGHT, LIMP and LIFELESS
• If your hair is CURLY and FRIZZ-PRONE
• If your hair is COLOR-TREATED
• If your hair is EXTREMELY OVERPROCESSED (we’re talking in serious need of repair)

This Mother swears to tell the truth (the whole truth and nothing but the truth about Motherhood.

One morning in my BK days (Before Kyle) when I was stuck in traffic on my commute to work, I watched with envy as a group of moms walked around the park with their babies in strollers. I wondered what those kooky-looking three-wheeled strollers were, but it was just a passing thought. They seemed so happy to be out with their babies, among friends, and not going to work! As the light changed and I drove away, I thought how great it must be to be them. Once I became a mom, however, I realized that it can be a pretty lonely job. read more

If repeated damage has caused your straight hair to fall flatter than a pancake, you need a bodifying boost that will add moisture without weighing hair down. Try this regimen to pump up your hair’s volume and leave you with touchable, noticeably fuller tresses.

	Shampoo with Charles Worthington’s Big Hair Body Beautiful Shampoo ($3) or Jonathan Product’s Shampoo Serious Volume Voluminizing Shampoo ($20), then condition with Charles Worthington’s Big Hair Full Volume Conditioner ($3) or Jonathan Product’s Condition Serious Volume Voluminizing Conditioner ($22).
	Before styling, while hair is wet, spritz Redken’s Body Full Weightlifter ($13) or apply some of Got 2b’s Sexy Voluptuous Volume Mousse ($6) on hair’s roots for volume, then style. Once your hair is dry, smooth the ends by using a Ted Gibson Hair Sheet ($25).
	To maintain hair’s softness, once a week, apply a hydrating hair mask like Stephen Knoll’s Deep Treatment Hair Mask ($43) or Kerastase’s Nutrive Masquintense Intense Enriching Treatment ($45).

– Chelsea Kaplan

When dry locks are desperately seeking moisture, hair goes haywire. If you’re forever fighting frizz, tame your unruly curls by quenching their thirst. What you need are products that will moisturize and shape your curls by weighing hair down just enough to avoid leaving your locks limp. This regimen should leave you with smooth, Nicole Kidman-esque curls in no time. Bye, bye poodle hair!

	Shampoo with Frederic Fekkai’s Luscious Curls Shampoo ($20) or Davines Love’s Lovely Curl Enhancing Shampoo ($8), Then condition with Frederic Fekkai’s Luscious Curls Conditioner ($20) or Philip B’s Deep Conditioning Crème Rinse ($25).
	Before styling, apply John Freida Frizz Ease’s Dream Curl’s Curl Perfecter ($6) or Aveda’s Be Curly Curl Enhancing Lotion ($20) to wet hair, or in extremely hot and humid weather, try Ouidad’s Climate Control Gel ($19). Once hair is dry, spritz some of Phyto’s Phytocurl Curl Defining Spray ($24) or Redken’s Fresh Curls Curl Boost ($17) onto hair, then scrunch hair with your hands to boost curls. Lastly, smooth unruly ends with Oscar Blandi’s Jasmine Oil Serum ($23).
	If you’ll be blow-drying your hair straight, protect it form the heat’s damaging effects by spritzing a liberal amount of Stephen Knoll’s Hydro Repair Mist Styling Lotion ($4) or John Freida Frizz Ease’s 5 Minute Manager Blow-Dry Lotion ($5) on damp hair. Next, apply a nickel-sized drop of Warren-Tricomi Style’s Blow-Dry Serum ($15) or Phyto’s Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm ($24). Once hair is dry, prevent hair from frizzing or curling up by misting on some of Got 2b’s Dazzling Shine Spray ($5) or smoothing on a few drops of JONATHAN Product’s Finish Shine Polishing Gloss ($26)
	To maintain hair’s softness and manageability, once a week, apply a hydrating hair mask like Ouidad’s Deep Treatment ($30) or Infusium’s Power Pac 3-Minute Intensive Treatment ($5).

– Chelsea Kaplan

If your color is lackluster or your highlights have dimmed, you need to hydrate hair with products that are formulated especially for color-treated hair. Avoid using products for any other hair type; as the chemical makeup of your hair has been altered by the coloring process, you need gentle treatments that are specifically designed to prevent your color from fading or worse, changing. Try these products to soften your hair while maintaining your shiny, vibrant color:

	Shampoo with Kerastase’s Bain Miroir #1 (or, if your hair is extremely brittle, Bain Miroir #2) ($30 each), or Redken’s Color Extend Shampoo ($10), then condition with Redken’s Color Extend Conditioner ($12) or Fresh’s Meadowfoam Cream Treatment Conditioner ($32).
	When styling, try Pantene’s new Pro-V Expressions line of products created especially to keep color looking true. If you have blonde hair, apply the Blonde Expressions Detangling Foam ($5) to wet hair before styling. If you have red hair, spritz the Red Expressions Fortifying Spray ($5) on wet hair prior to styling, and if you’re a brunette, rub a few drops of the Brunette Expressions Glossing Serum ($6) into hair before styling. Once hair is dry, smooth ends by applying a pea-sized amount of Philip B.’s Creme of the Crop ($27).
	To maintain hair’s softness and color, once a week, apply a hydrating hair mask like Phyto’s Phytocitrus Vital Radiance Mask ($22) or Frederic Fekkai’s Technician Color Care Mask ($34).
	If you feel you need a quick color boost, try one of John Freida’s new Luminous Color Glazes in the shade that best matches your hair color ($8).

– Chelsea Kaplan

If you have color-treated, permed or chemically-straightened and are also a slave to styling tools, chances are your hair is exceptionally dry, brittle and prone to breakage. If so, it’s time to bring in the extreme hair helpers. What your hair needs are intensively moisturizing treatments delivered in products that also restore and fortify hair’s strength. For a complete hair makeover, try these miracle-working products:

	Shampoo with Phytospecific’s Vital Force Shampoo ($22) or Aveda’s Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo ($29), then apply Warren-Tricomi’s PureStrength Strengthener for Extremely Dry, Damaged Hair in 2. Close ($28). Finish by conditioning with Phyto’s Phytosesame Conditioner ($26) or Aveda’s Damage Remedy Restructuring Conditioner ($29).
	To best help your hair, try to limit your blow drying and use of heated styling tools as much as possible. If you insist on going this route, before styling, layer on products that serve to protect your hair from the damaging heat or work with it to condition your hair. Redken’s Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-in Treatment ($6), Frederic Fekkai’s Protein Rx AM/PM Repair ($25) and Infusium’s Complete Moisture Restoration Treatment ($6) work on all textures of hair, while TIGI Bed Head’s Uptight Heat Activated Curl Maker is good for curly hair.
	Use a high-intensity hydrating mask like Kerastase’s Resistance Age Recharger ($50) or Davines’s Nounou ($23.56) two to three times a week to provide hair with much-needed moisture. To heal hair while you sleep, spray on a generous amount of Ferderic Fekkai’s Overnight Hair Repair. ($195) (Don’t worry –- it won’t ruin your pillowcases!)

– Chelsea Kaplan