Hoodies are perhaps the most versatile wardrobe piece: they have pockets for gummy bears, pens and toy trucks, they can be worn cleaning or to the grocery store or, in a pinch, the PTA meeting. They don’t have to be frumpy or juvenile, and can be quickly zipped up, and just as easily thrown in the washer.

Priorities long stretchy gray hoodie, $ 54.99 at Bluefly.

Didn’t get much sleep last night? Looking a little haggard and blotchy in the unforgiving light of dawn?

Then bareVitamins skin rev-er upper is your savior. This incredibly light-weight skin cream professes to make the skin look clearer and healthier while providing for flawless makeup application. And, happily, it does just that. Pores seem smaller, skin appears smoother and less blotchy. The skin drinks this up, there’s no "after" feel, and it doesn’t have a cloying scent. A must have for the makeup drawer and the purse.

$ 21.00 at Sephora — will last you for months.

Scarves are on mannequins, on fashion runways, and on that chic fashionista strolling through the mall. They’re trendy, they’re easy, they’ll keep your neck warm. Plus — the bonus that no one talks about — they can cover up sticky finger smears from the little ones!

The muffler is one of the hottest looks for fall, and it can be worn with suits, thin sweaters, under jackets, or with a pretty uncollared blouse. Urban Outfitters carries a great selection — and you can buy a fabulous new scarf for every day of the week, for under $ 30.00 a piece.

(If you’re unsure how to tie one of these, it’s easy - learn here .)

I’ve fallen in love and I have to share it with you.

The other day I tried this Fresh Twighlight Freshface Glow while browsing for a gift at Sephora and didn’t recognize my face in the mirror — somehow the lack of sleep and exhaustion were gone and all that remained was a fresher, brighter, more luminous (yes, luminous!) complexion. A godsend for busy moms? Oh yes.

$36 at Sephora.com.

For those of us with an ultra-fast get ready morning routine, a bit of lip gloss is a great way to look and feel put together. This Mentha Lip Tint is infused with peppermint oil, giving it a cooling sensation as it shines up your lips. $8 at Bathandbodyworks.com .

Our friends at Momfinds.com have some more great suggestions for top lip gloss for busy moms — check them out !

I discovered these amazing Fragonard fragrances in Paris a few years ago and have been a devoted user since. But I hate to travel with glass bottles and the FAA regulations only allow tiny amounts of liquids on planes. So these small creme perfumes seem just perfect.

$36 for a set of 6 at www.delight.com.

Hats have multiple purposes: they keep hair free of rain and snow, cover-up bad or greasy hair days, and lend style to even the most basic of wardrobes. And they’ll keep your head warm!

Chunky knit hats are all over the runway for fall, and you’ll find many styles available for under $ 50.00. This simple knit chapeau is universally flattering and can be found at Hat Attack for $42.00.

Have you ever had one of those tiny bottles of hand sanitizer explode inside your purse? No? Well, it’s not fun. Avoid the risk by carrying Sani-Hands antimicrobial wipes for your kids instead. The wipes cost about $3 for 24 individually wrapped packets, smell great, and are easy enough for even little kids to use. Added bonus: sanitizing your hands frequently is a good way to keep all sorts of nasty cold and flu bugs at bay. (Added added bonus: The wipes don’t explode inside bookbags or lunchboxes, either). Find them at your local drug store and online at Drugstore.com .

From our friends at Momfinds.com :

Mothers who multi-task, we salute you. And here’s a dream product. Whiten your teeth on the go, and get a great color gloss, too, with this double-ended miracle want from Tarte. Brightsmile brush-on whitener on one end, ruby red or sweet pink gloss on the other for a beautiful smile. And it’s perfectly portable.

$26 at Sephora.com .

For more hip finds for mom and dad check out Momfinds.com .

I am in the midst of a rollicking, head-swimming, bleary-eyed flu, it’s true. But. I do not have the giant, festering cold sore I usually get when the flu bug comes knocking, and for that I credit L-lysine.

Lysine is simply an amino acid, and I really know very little about it so take my experience with a gigantic boulder of salt. But I do know this: my Auntie Barb witnessed my dismay nearly a decade ago, when I developed a cold and a pulsating, painful cold sore the day before I had to give a presentation in front of two hundred people.

“Lysine!” she cried,”Pop two and you’ll see! It’ll be gone, presto!”

I was leery, but as any cold-sore sufferer will tell you: you’ll try anything to get rid of those suckers. I went to the vitamin store, bought a bottle, and my lip was fine the next day. I haven’t had a full-blown cold sore in nearly a decade, and I used to get them at least twice a year: whenever I felt a little under the weather.

It might be a coincidence, it might be the Lysine. I’m sharing in case it’s the latter.