Hand-me-downs have never been so hot! As of April 29th, Johnson Baby has begun auctioning off the gently-used goods of celebrity parents and their children on ebay. The proceeds are going to raise money for charity. The following are just 3 of the celebrities who have offered up some of their favorite things (and who were showcased in People magazine):

1. Matt Damon-A b-kaed messenger-style tote that fits all your newborn’s needs
2. MariskaHargitay-Her son August’s barely-used Adidas running shoes with black and blue stripes
3. Elisabeth Hasselbeck-The Chicco Cortina Travel System she swears by

I must admit. I did a double take when I first saw a picture of the Vanity Fair cover with Miley Cyrus on it. I do think it’s a gorgeous picture but appropriate for a 15-year-old? I’m not sure.

The thing is, after listening to comments from her and her parents since the picture has been released, it’s obvious that they had no problems with the various poses and states of robe-and disrobe-at the time of the photo shoot. They assumed it would be done artfully. I think it was. I just don’t know if Miley is old enough to be that artful, you know?

But, I definitely believe that it doesn’t really matter what the public thinks. It matters what Miley and her parents think. Lots of people are talking about the picture; the backlash is might create remains to be seen. At least this provides yet another opportunity for parents to open up a dialogue with their children about choices.

I’ve thought about Connor and Isabella Cruise a lot over the last several months. Maybe because it seems like no one else seems to think about them at all.

People can’t stop talking about or taking pictures of or mooning over their two-year-old half-sister as well as the highly-anticipated arrival of another half-sibling in the next few months. Even their parents seem to act like these new children in their lives have made Dad and Step-mom and Mom and Step-dad happier than they’ve ever been.

Hmmm.

I used to see this a lot when I was a seventh-grade teacher. Many of my students were from round one of their parents’ lives and round two–according to many of the young adolescents–often didn’t leave much room for them. I think that new siblings with new spouses or partners can lead to this feeling more often than parents realize. Sometimes it seems that children from the previous relationship just don’t count as much-like an out with the old, in with the new type of thing…at least in the eyes of a child or from an outsider’s point of view.

I don’t remember seeing pictures of a four-tiered cake from Connor’s second birthday party or hearing of Isabella’s magical qualities. I’m sure their parents love all of their children equally but it seems like they have a strange way of showing it at times.

 As long as there have been celebrities, there has been celebrity scoop on how to lose the baby weight after pregnancy. This week’s issue of People magazine has tips from many famous stars on how they take weight off and keep it off.

And while Jennifer Lopez told the magazine in last week’s issue that her baby weight has just fallen off and she hasn’t had to try, some other famous moms are actually admitting that they’re like all the rest of us when it comes to losing weight. Here are some words of wisdom from some pretty famous moms on how they stay fit and trim:

• Gwyneth Paltrow-works out six days a week, doing dance aerobics for cardio
• Kate Hudson-favors salads for dinner and yogurt with honey for breakfast
• Lori Laughlin-watches more of what she eats, works out more, runs a bit faster
• Shar Jackson-eats lots of green and raw vegetables and does the trampoline with her kids
• Gretchen Wilson-keeps the sweet stuff in the house in the cupboard and out of sight
• Vanessa Williams-drinks a beet-carrot juice in the morning or an apple-strawberry-pear juice
• Catherine Zeta-Jones-does lots of swimming and has grilled chicken and a feta cheese salad often for meals

Hey new moms… got a minute? That’s a joke, right? Well, if you can find a minute or two between feeding baby, folding laundry, changing diapers and everything else under the sun, I’ve listed seven bits of advice you may want to read… and even heed… if they fit your life.

Kim Raver, a Hollywood actress (currently starring on “Lipstick Jungle”) and mother of two recently shared some words of wisdom with Kate Myers of MSN. Here more about how they take care of themselves and their kids in Hollywood without going crazy in the process.

Recruit family and friends - From throwing in a load of laundry to bringing over a meal you don’t have to make, their help can be hugely comforting.

It does get easier - At first everything can seem so overwhelming, but time and experience equal easier days ahead.

Play dinosaurs whenever possible - Life is too short not to spend time with your kids, so laugh and play and steal those moments whenever you can.

Follow your own dreams - You can pursue your dreams and love your kids at the same time… it just might mean their birthday cake came from the store… does it really matter?

Forget the goody bags - Keep things in perspective and don’t expect yourself to do everything every time for everyone… goody bags really aren’t a requirement. Ever.

Let boys be boys and girls be girls - Just accept that there are differences… like she wants to “create” mud pies and he wants to lick, eat, throw, stomp, squish and wear ‘em.

Notice everything - When you’re having one of those moments or one of those days or even one of those weeks when you have no earthly idea how you’re going to do all this, take a breath and realize how amazing it is that you get the chance to do all this.

Cut yourself some slack - You’re doing the most important job on earth and you’re doing the best you can. So what if your baby never made it out of her pajamas today or your three-year-old had chocolate cake for breakfast? They have you for a mom. They’re going to be just fine.