Want to skip makeup? Then take good care of your skin. Wear sunscreen every single day, rain or shine; choose a formula that's long-lasting and lightweight and not greasy.

Our pick: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch sunblock in SPF 55. Contains Helioplex for broad-spectrum sun protection that lasts all day. Perfect on its own or under makeup.

Available in drugstores for about $9.00.

If you only wear ONE bit of makeup, make it count. Mascara wakes up tired eyes and gives your whole face a lift. Go with black for the most oomph; coat only top lashes for a clean, smudge-free look.

Our pick: Maybelline Great Lash (in the classic pink tube!). Available in drugstores for about $5.00. Opt for the washable formula to keep things simple; replace the tube every eight to twelve weeks, to keep eyes healthy.

Tired? Of course you are! Fake a good night's sleep with a swipe of pink blush. Cream formulas look natural and last all day; start with a sheer wash and layer for more color. Smile big and apply to the apple of your cheek (the roundest part).

Our pick: Revlon Cream Blush in Berry Flirtatious. Available in drugstores for about $10.00.

For those mornings (or afternoons or evenings) when you just can't manage much of anything beyond yoga pants and a ball cap, a great lipgloss can change your whole look. Put on your sunglasses and slick on a great lipgloss and you'll look just like a celebrity mom. Or close enough at least.

Our pick: CoverGirl Lipslicks Lip Gloss in Daring. Honest to goodness, this color looks great on EVERYONE. Available at drugstores for about $4.00. Get two! Why not.

No matter what you put on your face during the day, you need to take it all off at night. Sleeping with makeup or sunscreen or everyday grit on your face blocks your pores and dulls your complexion. Take five minutes to wash up before bed and you'll have pretty skin that doesn't need much -- if any -- makeup.

Our pick: Dove Gentle Exfoliating Daily Facial Cleansing Pillows. Kill two birds with one stone: clean AND exfoliate, for fresh smooth skin. Available at drugstores (OF COURSE!) for about $5.00.

If your mornings are anything like mine, you're lucky to get a cup of coffee, never mind a shower. And most of the time, that coffee is cold. Put on makeup? Hoo that's funny.

But a little makeup can make you look awake and polished and ready to face the day. It doesn't take an elaborate routine to look great -- a few carefully chosen products can take you from blah to beautiful in less than five minutes. And all of them are available at your local grocery store -- you know, the one where you're stopping all the time to pick up diapers and milk.

Here are our five make up must-haves for busy moms, all for under $10.00, plus some tips for making them work for you.

It's 6:00 on a weeknight -- do you know where dinner is? Or where your sixth grader's homework is? How about the clean laundry? Or your sanity?

Weeknights can be a nightmare, especially when the kids are in school, because suddenly there's so much to get done and so little time to do it. And if you're trying to get it all done at the end of a long work day, it can be even harder. So how do you keep your weeknights from becoming one big blur of not getting things done? By using your weekends wisely, of course.

Take a minute to think about what causes you the most stress during the week: the cooking? the laundry? the homework? Use the weekend to get ahead, if it's at all possible. Cook big meals and freeze leftovers, or shop for easy-to-assemble meals that you can pull together in less than 20 minutes. Get all the laundry done and put away, and identify what it is that you're running out of during the week; if everyone is always out of underwear by Wednesday, for example, it might be time to buy everyone some more underwear.

For things that can't be done ahead -- homework, for example -- create a routine and stick to it. Have kids sit at the table and do their work while you assemble dinner. If your kids are at after care or with a sitter after school, start the evening by looking through their homework to make sure it's all done. Create a specific place in your house for kids to drop notes and forms that have to be signed and returned; check this space every day and deal with things as they come in.

Finally, make a commitment to sit with your kids and hear about their day. The laundry can wait, we promise.

Last week, we asked if you had any special back-to-school traditions in your house, anything you did to make that first day special for your child. This week, though, we're curious about a different kind of back-to-school tradition: how do YOU celebrate the first day back? Do you meet friends for breakfast, or for a long-postponed walk? Do you run that long list of errands you've been storing up for a day when the kids didn't have to come with you? Do you do something special with younger kids who aren't yet in school? Or do you just go home and enjoy the silence?

I'm having a manicure this week, to celebrate both the fact that the pool is closed (no more sunscreen all over my hands!) and that my kids are back in school (no one asking for a snack ten minutes after my nails are painted). Mostly, though, I'm just looking forward to a few minutes of being still and silent and spoiled after a busy summer of swimming and playing t-ball and building baking soda volcanoes.

How are YOU celebrating the kids' return to school?

My husband's aunt passed away recently, after a long illness. She had lived across the street from us when both of our children were born, and used to send dinner every so often. Her husband would bring the boys Hot Wheels cars and various other toys; they gave my older son his first bicycle. The boys don't really remember any of that, but we did, and we were saddened by her death.

But we were also unsure about the funeral etiquette. My sons are six and eight -- were they old enough to go to the funeral? I didn't know, and so I started asking around. To my surprise, the overwhelming response from my mama friends was no, don't take them, they're too young, they won't be able to sit still, they won't understand what's going on. I still wavered -- they go church at school each week, so the funeral Mass would be familiar to them, and they seem to understand what it means to say that someone has died. And there would be other kids there, most about their ages.

In the end, my husband went to the funeral alone, and I stayed home with our kids and some other cousins because we were unable to find a sitter for the out of town children and this was just easier for everyone. But we have other elderly relatives who are not in good health, and because I am sure this will be an issue again, perhaps soon, I'm still curious about the etiquette here -- should kids go to funerals, or stay home?

What's your rule on funerals and children? How old is old enough? Or do other factors, like your child's relationship to the deceased, matter more?

Looking to hold the girls up AND hold your stomach in? Freedom T has the solution! This sleek tank has a built-in shelf bra, for extra support (pair with a good bra if you're bigger than a B cup, though). It also has a tummy control panel that subtly and comfortably shapes and flattens your middle.

Wear under a tee or dress for a little extra support and shaping, or on its own if you're fairly small chested.

Yummie Tummie Freedom T Tank, $72.00 at HerRoom. Available in six colors, in sizes XS to XL.

When you're petite, finding a great bra can be hard. According to lingerie expert Tomima Edmark, it is important for petite women to look for "a bra where the cups are positioned a little closer together and the distance between the cup and shoulder is shorter than average." Her pick for best petite bra? The Olga Comfort by Design Tailored Bra.

Keep in mind that petite does not mean small chested; it means that your overall frame is smaller than most women. The Olga Comfort by Design bra comes in a wide range of cup sizes, from 36C to 42DD.

Olga Comfort by Design Tailored bra, $32.00 at HerRoom. Available in three colors.

Sometimes having an average size and shape can make it even harder to find great bras -- there's a nice selection for larger and smaller chests, but very little for the woman who just needs something, well, average.

The Vanity Fair Fits You Perfectly Average Contour Bra is the solution. Designed to fit anyone with only ONE letter in her cup size, this bra is great under tees and clingy knits.

Vanity Fair Fits You Perfectly Average Contour Bra, $30.00 at HerRoom. Available in three neutral shaes, in sizes 34B to 40D.

When you have large breasts, it is crucial that you have a really GREAT bra, to minimize sagging and pulling, and to keep your boobs up where they should be. And honestly, when you've got great cleavage, give it a great bra -- why not?

The Va Bien Ultra-Lift Balconette t-shirt bra lifts and shapes and supports your breasts; the wide straps make it comfortable for even the fullest figures. Wear it under a tee or skinny knit for a knockout silhouette.

Va Bien Ultra Lift Balconette t-shirt bra, $49.00 at HerRoom.

Pregnancy makes you extra conscious of every single inch of your body -- all you want is to wrap your gestating self in something soft and soothing until the baby is ready to come out. And when your breasts are changing and growing, finding a bra that doesn't make you insane can be one more hassle.

Here's the solution: the super-comfy Bra-llelujah Comfort Bra. Lingerie diva Tomima Edmark says, "This bra is not that pretty, but boy is it comfortable - no clasps, wires or hardware." Perfect for your expectant boobs.

Spanx Bra-llelujah Comfort Bra, $19.00 at HerRoom.

Bra shopping is a hassle -- it's so hard to find a bra that really fits, and honestly, since no one ever SEES your bra, why spend any money on it? Even though your bra is always under cover (it's underwear, you all, not outerwear, no matter what Madonna might be doing these days) it is important to choose a bra that really fits your body and flatters your breasts. The right bra can change your whole look -- make you look thinner and younger and shapelier. The right bra -- one that fits properly and supports your chest appropriately -- can also prevent sagging and stretching, particularly in larger breasted women.

Take the time to have a proper bra fitting; most department stores have bra fitters on staff, as do smaller lingerie boutiques. If you are particularly hard to fit, we suggest you go the boutique route, as the fitters in these smaller stores often have more training than the ones in larger chain stores. The exception to this rule is Nordstrom, which is THE place to go for a bra fitting. Take the time; you'll be glad you did.

Pretty sure you know what size bra you wear? HerRoom is your online source for fantastic bras at great prices. HerRoom also provides clear instructions on how to fit yourself -- follow them carefully to make sure your bras are the right size. Here are five options, each for a specific shape and size. Some are a bit of an investment, but the right bra will make everything else -- even the cheapest cotton tee -- look fantastic. A great bra is money well spent, every single time.