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Women are buzzing over the new Jubilee Collection from designer Lilly Pulitzer. In honor of the company’s 50th Anniversary, they teamed up with nine American celebs (and moms) to create a line of clothes for both mommy and daughter.  The end-result? Preppy at play. In other words, normal-looking clothes.

The outspoken Elizabeth Hasselbeck came up with this Tunic Dress. Not to be mean, but isn’t this something you learn how to make in Sewing 101? Is a caftan neckline really that remarkable? I don’t know. It looks opinionated and slightly annoying for $298.

Angie Harmon designed this little Shift Dress and I give it two thumbs up. It’s simple, fresh and youthful. I love the mod square appliques mixed with the scroll print.  The back of the dress is really pretty too. Yours for $328.

Look at this bikini and tell me what you see. What? Did you say nothing special? If so, I couldn’t agree more. So Gwyneth Paltrow designed this Patchwork Bikini. I’m not really sure how one would go about designing a really cool bathing suit, but this just seems so plain. Swim like Gwyneth  for $178.

A $428  ZigZag Maxi Dress. In some way it totally screams “Grace” er… I mean, Debra Messing. In other ways, it  looks a bit sad. It’s not really in the Lilly Pulitzer way, but MommyQ was hoping for Bat Mitzvah ruffles and a big wacky collar.

I know the term “design” is used rather loosely here. I’m not envisioning an episode of Project Runway where Debra and Gwyneth are running around with scissors, yelling about finishing hemlines and creases. I’m sure they just gave some input here and there. All kidding aside – the best part about this collection is it benefits a great cause, the EB Medical Research Foundation.

If you’re dying to see the rest of the Jubilee Collection, you can click here.  If you buy a regular-priced piece from this collection, you can get a FREE Lilly Pulitzer Signature Bag. Check out Neiman Marcus for details.

Croissants are too uppity. Toast it too boring. English Muffins are too hard to split. Biscuits are too questionable. Donuts are just right. If you want me to be your friend for life, show up at my doorstep one weekend morning with hot donuts. Seriously, instant best friend!

I’ve loved donuts since I was a little kid. A trip to Krispy Kreme was something to behold. My husband and I are huge donut fans. Before he went on his recent health kick and lost a bunch of weight, we would eat donuts at least once a week. Shame, shame, shame! I won’t even say how many hot KK donuts I can eat in one sitting because it’s absurd.  And you can add two to that total if I have an ice cold glass of milk. Yummy!

My new favorite donut can be found at The Donut Hole. The chocolate iced is sinful. A new Dunkin’ Donut just opened shop nearby and I am not impressed. How can a fresh donut taste three days old? They always seem stale to me. Every couple of years I retry a DD and end up spitting it out after the first bite. Not worth the fat, calories and carbs. Sorry DD, you suck.

Why is MommyQ on a donut kick, you ask? Well, I stumbled across these adorable Frosted Donut Ornaments and just had to share. Can you imagine how awesome it would be to do your entire tree in donuts? Oh my gosh! That would be sweet, no pun intended. Make a mental note, “buy frosted donut ornaments for X-Mas tree.”

This is the coolest wall art I’ve seen. I really wish it had been around much sooner. It’s called WallCandy Arts and it’s really wonderful for adding themes, colors and fun to your kid’s rooms. It can all be easily removed too – that might be the best part! From ferocious dinosaurs to twittering birdies, you can find a theme that suits your decor and your child’s personality. The artwork boasts retro-inspired appeal, adding a unique twist to every set.

There are lots of great furniture manufacturers out there that create simple, fresh and stylish furniture for kids. From nurseries to child’s rooms and play rooms, these companies are fully aware of functionality and safety. One of my favs is ducduc, a high-end modern furniture company. Ducduc is eco-friendly and the factory is based in the US. Now onto the chalkboardy fun!

Take a look at this incredibly chic and fun Parker Armoire. It has one adjustable shelf and a hangbar, a roomy storage drawer and optional wall mount for added security. If you’re not into the chalkboard, there is a spectacular palette of colors to choose from. I heart ducduc! Parker Armoire retails for $1450.

Looking for a playtable? Get a load of this little gem, the Parker Playtable with orange accents! Retails for $595.

For some odd reason MommyQ has been obsessed with getting rid of old clothes.  I have boxes of maternity clothes, pre-belly clothes, post baby clothes, post-post baby clothes. Ugh! Every night after the kids go to sleep, I’ve been tackling my closet. Yes, what fun.

It’s interesting what you learn when you go through old clothes. First of all, I was HUGE when I was pregnant. I can probably fit two of me into some of my large maternity and post baby clothes. My friends scoff at me when I talk about it, but it’s true. I gained at least 55-60 pounds — twice!

I have a few pair of maternity items that I really wanted to burn. Why? Because donating them seems too nice.  It was about two weeks before I was scheduled to have my second c-section and none of my clothes fit. Well, I didn’t want to spend much because my days in maternity clothes were almost over. (Or so I thought.) I went to Motherhood and bought these atrocious khaki shorts that were about the ugliest shade of brown you’ve ever seen. And I bought this stretchy pair of black shorts with stupid tiny pockets on the back, so they give you bad “mom butt.” Anyway, I LIVED in these hideous shorts for weeks and weeks. Yep, I had to wear them FOREVER after the baby too.

In addition to the maternity clothes, I’ve discovered that some of my normal clothes have turned on me. They were cute and hip when I bought them, but as they hung in my closet, they transformed into odd articles of fabric that are no longer cute nor hip.  I bought this black and cream sweater-vest top that I loved and now when I try it on I look like the St. Pauli Girl or a French Maid. I have this dress that I loved when I bought it. Now when I try it on it looks more like a witch costume or something Stevie Nicks would’ve worn to a cocktail party. What was I thinking? What’s funny is some of the things I’ve bought and not really liked much are now my all-time favorites.

It’s hard when good clothes go bad. Have any clothes turned on you?

Dresses for baby girls just continue to amaze me. Some of them have the most amazing tiny details. It might be a little ribbon around the neckline or the perfect amount of appliques. I’m not sure how it happens, but this dress by Marese is a stunning example of petite style. And the back of the dress may be even better than the front!

Marese is a European children’s line that celebrates youth with natural fabrics and flawless details. Take a look at this yummy raspberry number. It’s the Anita Dress with Bloomers and it features so many delicate details, it’s impossible to name them all. You really have to see the pictures to appreciate it’s splendor. Check it out at Tutti Bella.

Oh, the amount of kiddie books we have in the house. I’m sure you understand. Big books, little books, thick books, skinny books, tiny little pocket books and big coloring books. Great for entertaining and learning, but not so great for keeping organized. Here’s a great way to store and display books and it’s a bit more unique than a bookcase. It’s the Catalina Magazine Rack from Pottery Barn Kids.

It would be great for a nursery, child’s room or playroom. It comes in white and espresso. I’m loving this idea, especially since my youngest tears paperback books apart! This is a perfect way to keep them visible to big kids, yet out of the reach of curious little page rippers. $119 at PBK.

If you’re reading this post with tears rolling down your cheeks because your pediatrician just told you your child needs speech therapy, go get a tissue and take a deep breath. You’ll be fine. If you’re reading this because you secretly fear your child is having developmental issues in regards to speech & language, keep on reading. I’m not an autism expert, nor am I a medical professional. I’m just a mom who has “been there and done that” when it comes to this topic.

My reason for writing this post is two-fold. First, it’s my way of honoring and promoting Autism Awareness Day. Second, I want to reassure parents that the delays your child might have are not your fault and you need to put your ego aside in order to what’s best for him or her.

Some parents are comfortable accepting the fact that their toddler isn’t reaching language milestones. Others would rather live in denial thinking their child is just a “late bloomer” and any day now it will all “click.”  Before my oldest was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, my husband and I did a little bit of both. We realized he wasn’t talking and interacting like he should, but at the same time he was our first child – we had no idea what to expect. We kept thinking he’d start talking more next month or next month or next month. If it wasn’t for one of his Mother’s Day Out teachers bringing his communication issues to our attention in a rather blunt way, I’m not sure what we would’ve done.

It’s hard to stay on point in this post because there is so much info to share. The point is if you think your toddler might need help talking, interacting with peers and communicating ideas, there’s nothing wrong with seeking help from a speech therapist. If the therapist evaluates your child and says all of his or her issues are totally within the norm, then you have nothing to worry about. If the therapist thinks your child does need help, start as soon as possible. The worst part about getting my son’s diagnosis was realizing he could have gotten help much sooner.

You want to help your toddler before he or she becomes a preschooler. You would much rather deal with speech issues prior to kindergarten. And there is no shame in having a child in therapy whether it’s speech therapy or OT therapy. You didn’t pass on a “stupid” gene to your child or do something wrong during pregnancy. Nobody blames you for having a child with speech delays. And it’s nothing to be embarrassed about either! Your pride should always take a backseat to your child’s ability to thrive. Always! People are much more understanding and accepting than you think. Trust me!

You can learn exactly how speech therapy helps by reading a few testimonials  from other parents here. Occupational therapy is also important for children with ASD and autism, although  many children without autism also require OT therapy to help them with gross and fine motor skills. If your toddler flops around on the floor a lot or walks on tip-toes or skips around a lot – I guess you could say if they don’t walk with purpose, he or she might need OT therapy as well.

It may seem like a big deal now, but a few months down the road, this will be a blip on the radar. Your child will start making progress quickly and before you know it, the strides foward will outweigh the milestones misses.