• Monthly Archive:: January 2011

    When my husband and I took our young daughters on our annual summer vacation, there wasn’t a single piece of baby gear that we left behind: portable high chair, Pack ‘n Play, stroller, ExerSaucer…we were a regular traveling circus of kiddie equipment. There was, however, one item we just couldn’t bring along, and one that caused me more anxiety than it should have. Trying to bathe a young baby in a standard bath is like trying to dress a cat in doll clothes: cute idea, but they just don’t fit right. Keeping my little one upright with one slippery hand became a Herculean feat that I didn’t care to repeat day after day. Believe me when I say this was no vacation at the beach! [&hellip

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    Once upon a time, there lived a little girl who loved her vegetables. Be it broccoli or string beans, she devoured every green-leafed morsel on her plate. She met each carrot with a zest for eating, every tomato with an appreciation for fresh produce that no 2-year-old had ever been known to cultivate. Until, that is, the day she entered a new phase: the “I don’t like thaaatttt!” stage of development parents of toddlers have come to know, yet not love. How frustrated became her mom. “What happened to that little girl who loved to crunch and munch all things healthy?,” she wondered. She began to fret, since this child was not one for a big appetite as it was. Lucky for both of them [&hellip

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    My 6-year-old is already pestering me to buy valentines that she can send to her classmates, but I keep putting her off. I can’t blame her enthusiasm; I was the same way as a kid: always looking forward to holidays and enjoying the experience of finding just the right cards and decorations. (It’s probably why I’m a proud Hallmark platinum card carrier today…). But I know that once those cards are signed and sealed with a kiss, she’ll be anticipating the next valentine-related activity and this year, I’m at a loss…until I came across a fun new craft kit that doubles as a gift for a lucky friend or family member. Petite Sweet Soaps are not only pretty, but they’re easy to make for your [&hellip

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    As the saying goes, “There’s a place for everything, and everything has its place.” And if there’s one place you don’t need used tissues, half-eaten lollipops and the like, it’s your purse. I’m vowing to keep my own new bag as clean as possible this year (I’m considering it my own personal  New Year’s resolution, one that I’m doing my darnedest to keep). But rather than taking time to regularly discard credit card receipts, gum wrappers and broken crayons, I can denote a special spot just for this type of refuse. Go Gaga’s Stuff Sack is the answer to the disorganized mother’s prayers–and who can’t appreciate that? This generously sized bag is odor-proof, leak-proof and moisture-proof. Dirty diapers? The Stuff Sack is ready for them. [&hellip

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    Practically every Saturday night is takeout Japanese in my family. What started out as a convenient way of grabbing dinner on my way home has developed into a tradition that we’ve come to relish. The fact that my 2-year-old is learning to use my chopsticks and that my 6-year-old knows her sushi from her sashimi is something we can be proud of–really. Perhaps it’s my love for Japanese food that prompted me to take a closer look at the Bento ultimate diaper bag. There aren’t too many other bags that I’ve seen with their own Bento box for keeps baby foods and snacks  mess-free in their own separate containers. An insulated cooler bag and freezer pack keep a stash of grapes cool…so you can keep [&hellip

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    When my husband decided to paint my older daughter’s nursery, it was a nightmare. Her room, which was a makeshift office for the previous home owner, had peeling, faded floral wallpaper and carpeting that had seen better days. Forget trying to imagine how cheery it would look once he redesigned it in a celestial motif of yellows and blues; you really had to be creative to picture that new layout amidst this dated space. For parents-to-be who can’t quite figure on how a bedding/paint ensemble will appear in their little one’s new home, consider the Nursery Designer tool from Carousel Designs. This interactive site lets you choose from over 300 fabrics and customize color options in bedding and wall space before committing to a specific [&hellip

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    Remember when you opened a diaper bag at your baby shower and it practically screamed “I’m a Mommy…and there’s nothing I can do about it!”?…Well, the days of satchels adored with pastel bunnies and fuzzy ducklings are long gone, thanks to a number of designers that recognize that women don’t have to leave their sense of fashion behind just because they now have kids. One brand worth checking out is the CoCaLo Couture Diaper Bags, a versatile accessory that can help update your grown-up ensemble in a pinch. Not only is there plenty of room inside to stash all your baby necessities, but from the outside, no one will ever believe you’ve actually got wipes and Pampers in there. The bags are available in satchel [&hellip

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    Every mother has her least favorite time of day with the kids and for me, that would be dinnertime, hands down. Maybe it’s because I can’t quite keep up with the ever-changing demands of my toddler who once had a penchant for vegetables and now will hardly eat a crust of bread. My 6-year-old is no bargain either, although she is venturing outside the fish sticks realm and into real (gasp!) fried flounder. I proudly claim to be one of those moms who makes a home-cooked meal almost every school night (barring Pizza Night on Thursdays). I figure since I work from home, I should be able to pull off dinner that doesn’t come from a take-out bag, right? Plus, I secretly relish the fact  [&hellip

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