There comes a time in every girl’s life when she learns there’s such a thing as too much leopard.

For my 8-year-old daughter Cienna, that time was Saturday.

She burst from a dressing room and proudly said, “Look at this outfit!” Leopard-print leggings had been tragically paired with a leopard-print blouse, and my eyes grew large with pain.

I didn’t want to break her proud heart, but there was no way I could or would ever let her leave the house like that.

“Isn’t it cool, Mom?” she said.

Um, no.

“I can see you like this, but I think we should make another choice,” I said.

She didn’t like my response and looked at me like I knew nothing about fashion.

“But, Mom, this matches! The top and the bottom are the same color!” she said.

I shook my head in disapproval, and she marched back into the dressing room.

“This is just like when you made me change because I had two different kinds of black on,” she said.

The dressing room door became a barrier between right and wrong, and I suddenly envisioned a future of similar, unpleasant, back-to-school shopping sessions. In all of these imaginings, she was aging like wine, and I was aging like beer.

A nearby rack of clothes seemed like a great place to hide for the next 10 years, carefully trying to avoid discussions of what matches, what’s appropriate, what’s overpriced and what stores land on a list of places I will never spend my money.

She’s only going to third grade. How can this possibly be starting already?

“Cienna, please don’t be upset. You are right that it’s the same color. But it’s too much of the same color. It’s OK to wear some leopard print, but it’s not OK to look like a leopard,” I said.

Though her top and bottom had matching hues of brown, black, camel and rust tones, they provided a teaching moment entitled, “Good Leopard vs. Bad Leopard.”

“I want to clarify leopard print involves big spots. The smaller ones are cheetah prints. In the course of your life, you will meet both. And you’ll meet zebras and giraffes, but let’s not involve them today,” I said.

Please.

“You need to keep your animal to one thing–wear it on the top or bottom or as an accent, but never all together,” I said.

“Then why do you let us dress up as animals and things at home? Why do we get to play dress up and wear old Halloween costumes,” she said.

Now, Cienna, you know the way our family acts at home is rarely how one should act in public.

“Because that’s creative play. I wouldn’t send my daughter to school in a Minnie Mouse costume, unless it was Halloween, and I won’t send my daughter to school in head-to-toe leopard ever,” I said.

You will have plenty of days when you’re 70 in a casino to do that.

“It’s a much better idea if you’re wearing a bold print like leopard to understate everything else. Likewise, if you’re wearing a plain, understated color, it can be nice to add a bold accessory like a leopard bracelet or earrings or scarf,” I said.

“Hey, can I get a leopard bracelet and scarf?” she said.

How does my advice always end up costing me more?

We left the store with both leopard pieces and an understanding they will never be worn together.

And our drive home offered a confession, supplemented by a visual aid at home, of what I wore when I was bound for third grade. It was a tragic combination of spandex pants, a cotton sweatshirt, jelly bracelets, lace gloves inspired by Madonna and really big hair.

“Wow. What is that, Mom?” Cienna said.

“Aqua Net and the ’8Os.”

Cienna climbed into the salon chair like a natural.

Ready for her back-to-school trim, my 8-year-old daughter was eager to be pampered on Friday by a very kind and patient stylist named Lisa at Hair Cuttery in Springettsbury Township.

Cienna sits under a hair dryer at Hair Cuttery in Springettsbury Township, reading a style magazine as a deep-conditioning treatment takes hold.

It was our first time at a Hair Cuttery, and we chose it after reading a business brief in the York Dispatch that explained, for every hair cut purchased, the salon chain would donate a free cut to a disadvantaged child. So, for a little more than $30, I bought three hair cuts that day–for Cienna and my sons Ty and Dimitri–and three were donated.

With a shorter-styled ‘do, Ty is ready for Kindergarten.

Before they left, my were happy to receive stickers that said, “I shared a haircut today.”

They left looking good and feeling good, which is among the best combinations in life.

Our back-to-school savings continued that evening as we found $5 raincoats and matching umbrellas at Five Below, also in Springetts.

Thanks to a storm that rolled through York on Sunday, Dimitri was able to test out his $5 raincoat.

After stopping at Five Below, we made our way to Kohl’s next to the York Galleria.

With the help of a 20 percent off coupon, I was able to buy three cardigans, a long-sleeve knit top, a layering camisole, two pairs of earrings, three five-packs of underwear for the kids, three pajama sets and a pair of dress shoes for Cienna for a little more than $100.

As an added bonus, I earned $20 Kohl’s Cash, which I can redeem between Aug. 8 and 18.  (And I plan to redeem it on athletic shoes.)

From there, we visited The Children’s Place in the galleria, where we purchased $10 jeans, using a 15 percent off coupon.

After that, we called it a night.

Though I felt accomplished, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to test my bargain shopping skills Saturday morning. Cienna and I visited the community yard sales in the nearby Logan’s Reserve, a fairly-new cul-de-sac of high-end homes in the Dallastown School District.

We weren’t looking for anything specific and didn’t intend to buy any back-to-school clothes there, but we did find and fall in love with a never-used, girl’s bedding set. Part of Pottery Barn Kids’ Sophie line of quilted bedding that normally retails for about $200, I got for $10 with a lamp included.

When the five of us shopped on Sunday, we were armed with savings passes for Bon-Ton, where we purchased Angry Birds T-shirts and Adidas active wear for Ty. Because of a Bon-Ton coupon good for $10 off a single purchase of $25, we paid less than $20.

We still have much more shopping to do, and this blog will keep you posted about where to find back-to-school deals.

In the meantime, take advantage of the York Dispatch’s gift card giveaway. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YorkDispatch , and you will be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card for your back-to-school shopping needs!

Traditionally, mothers-to-be were showered with gifts before the arrival of their first baby, receiving everything from car seats to cribs.

It was silently expected that those big-ticket items would be passed on to younger siblings, who typically didn’t receive the same barrage of presents.

But modern moms aren’t just getting showered; they’re also getting sprinkled.

Sprinkle showers are all the rave for second-time mamas (and those ladies having a third, fourth or fifth baby). These baby-shower-lite events are designed to help parents with the little necessities of having a little one, such as diapers, wipes, bottles, bibs, baby wash and more.

Though I have three children, I never had a sprinkle. My oldest children are a girl and a boy, so I was blessed with two showers that gave me all the pink and blue a parent would ever need.

Our youngest son, Dimitri, inherited many things from his brother, who is just two years older than him. With several doting grandparents eager to spoil him, he never missed out by not having his own shower.

However, had I known about sprinkles four years ago, I would’ve hoped for one.

I won’t lie: it’s fun to receive gifts. It’s even more fun to build a registry. But it’s even more important to celebrate every child.

Babies are a blessing, and they each deserve their own special welcome.

It’s time to stop worrying about outdated etiquette. With second and third marriages increasing in popularity, and families continuing to grow during a slow economy, one-time showers are a thing of the past.

Modern social graces allow for both sprinkles and showers. It’s all about what your needs are, according to a post about baby shower etiquette on Martha Stewart’s website.

Even if you’re having a second, third or fourth child, you don’t have to have a sprinkle. It can be a shower if you’ve had a lot of space between children, are pregnant with a different sex than your other children or are expecting multiples.

Party themes vary, as some events focus on different items.  For example, if diapers are your greatest need, create an incentive for guests to bring them. Include in an invite, “Bring a pack of diapers, and your name will be entered into a drawing for a great door prize.” Just make sure the door prize is, indeed, great.

It’s silly to worry people will assume you’re soliciting gifts by having yet another shower or sprinkle. If you have to worry about someone thinking differently of you because you’re welcoming a child into the world, then that’s the someone who doesn’t belong at your party.

As Dr. Seuss said, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind.”

You are soliciting gifts, but that’s OK.

You’re having a baby. You’re bringing a new life, a person, into the world. That is always worth celebrating–no matter how many times you do it.

And if you can’t solicit gifts from your closest family and friends, who can you solicit gifts from?

To say he was mesmerized would be an understatement. My 5-year-old son Ty had Christmas morning in his eyes as he held the new iPad 3 in his hands, fingers swiftly jumping from app to app.

And he wasn’t alone.

On a recent Saturday, he was among many children trying out Apple’s latest offerings in Park City Center in Lancaster, and I realized I was staring at the future.

My children’s generation is as comfortable with computers as I was with a pencil, and their playgrounds often are Apple Stores.

It’s the latter that inspires a discussion among parents, pediatricians, toy manufacturers and investors.

That Ty inherently knew how to navigate the latest iPad is no surprise. Some of his first toys involved computer screens, and those offerings are only growing more sophisticated.

Mattel’s Fisher Price line recently launched the Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case, retailing for $35. Essentially, it’s a colorful monkey with a plastic iPhone case attached to its belly. Once an iPhone is placed inside, a child can play with apps by directly utilizing the iPhone or pressing different parts of the monkey’s limbs.

I know it’s no accident the toy is out before fall, just waiting for Apple’s iPhone 5. Those new iPhones likely won’t be given to baby. But when parents buy their new models, their kids will most likely get their older models.

The iGeneration is a savvy one. Market research shows 6 month olds eagerly swat at touch screens, 9 month olds know how to swipe the screens, 12 month olds can properly select desired objects on the screens and 18 month olds can successfully order and start movies on Netflix better than most adults.

Realizing and accommodating this with various toy computers has helped manufacturers like Mattel grow despite an economic downturn. At last look, Mattel’s stock has risen by almost 4 percent.

And Apple may be catering to its youngest users as well. Tech insiders are reporting, among its other offerings to be announced this fall, Apple will reveal an iPad about two inches smaller than its classic versions.

It’s unclear if the mini iPad would be comfortable for smaller hands, but it would clearly compete with Google’s Nexus 7, Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet and the fall debut of Microft’s Surface.

There are already naysayers, claiming the mini iPad will be a flop. It’s worth noting that people said the same when the iPod was launched, but I have yet to meet someone who misses their Walkman.

I know better than to doubt Apple. As the market value of all stocks among Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index grew by $282 billion during the last fiscal year, 83 percent of those gains came from shares of Apple.

Apple already knows what so many of us are afraid to admit: TVs aren’t the babysitters. Computers are.

A Kaiser study shows children ages 8 through 18 spend an average 7.5 hours a day using electronic devices. That number climbs on days school isn’t in session.

And if you’ve ever been waiting for a table, walking around a store or sitting a traffic light, you’ll notice the reflection of glowing screens near you. Children watch TV shows and movies while waiting for dinner, shopping or traveling in the car.

Additionally, it’s not uncommon to see a mom pushing a stroller, talking on the phone as a toddler holds a tablet computer.

Technology is a great teaching tool, but let’s not fool ourselves. The majority of kids aren’t using iPads to do math problems and learn how to play the piano. They’re watching cartoons and movies.

And that may be causing problems.

Children 2 years old and younger  should be completely screen-free to ensure proper brain development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And all other children should spend no more than two hours a day in front of electronic devices, according to the organization.

Research shows the long-term effects of very early exposure to technology are not yet clear, and some studies have revealed a link to mental illnesses.

A University of Bristol study determined children who spend long hours in front of a computer screen are more likely to suffer psychological difficulties. The British researchers said such activities can lead to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social problems and other issues.

While many things can contribute to those maladies, I agree we need to approach the use of technology with caution and limit our kids’ exposure to it.

I love the way technology has changed my life–and it’s made it infinitely easier to do my job–but there are days I long for handwritten letters as opposed to text messages.

I’ve never wanted to be someone who needed dragged into the future, kicking and screaming, so I’ve embraced many new tech advances and carefully avoid sentences that begin with, “In my day…”

Like most things in life, it’s all about balance.

I’m OK with Ty being mesmerized by the iPad 3 because I know he also gets Christmas morning in his eyes during the first snowfall of the year, each time he sees a roller coaster, whenever he takes a bike ride, while he soars on a swing set and even when he finds a new bug.

And I will make sure his level of human connection and being loved  far outweighs logging on.

Because, regardless of what new models or apps are revealed, touching a screen will never compare to the magic of touching a life.

I have this disease in which I frequently realize I should’ve stopped talking 10 minutes sooner, but I just can’t help myself.

It happened again on Thursday, and I promise I was trying to mind my own business.

But an adorable pregnant mom sat down at the table next to me at Panera Bread, interrupting my soup and Google searches with her unnecessary apologies.

Though at separate tables, we were essentially sharing the same bench. I didn’t mind that she bumped into me with a barrage of bags and a tray, but she did.

“I’m so sorry. I’m just at that point where I can’t see my feet and have no depth perception at all,” she said.

I advised her not to worry about it. “I haven’t been pregnant for three years, and I still have no depth perception,” I said.

And, really, as is often the case, her bags could fit inside my bags–which are frequently stuffed with days-old newspapers, documents, agendas and, sometimes, high-heeled shoes.

Small talk moved to shopping pretty quickly, and I couldn’t help but bestow on her the best pregnant purchase I had ever made: The Snoogle.

Made by Leachco Inc., the C-shaped pillow is more an island of comfort than it is bedding. It sells for about $25 on Amazon and in several stores up to about $70.  Regardless of where you get it, this Bobby pillow for adults is worth every penny.

It will support you from head to toe, and can also be wrapped around you in various ways while you’re nursing (or using your laptop, reading, paying bills or reading the five magazines you purchased in the checkout line).

The Snoogle was part of my life long after my babies arrived, often hidden behind numerious decorative pillows on my bed.

Sleep is a novelty once you’re a parent. It should be treated like the religious experience that it is.

Even if three hours is all you have, snuggle with a Snoogle.