Astronomy has long been a favorite subject of mine, a passion for the planets that dates as far back to when I was 7 and wished I could ice-skate on Saturn’s rings. While I now know that’s just not possible (at least not in my lifetime, anyway), I enjoy sharing this memory with my daughters. (The little one laughs, while the older one simply rolls her eyes.) Just earlier this week, while at the bus stop, my 7-year-old told me that Pluto was no longer considered a planet, and we got to talking about outer space and the solar system. Little did I know, a few days later, my preschooler would point out a solar system model suspended from the ceiling at her play group [&hellip
Monthly Archive:: December 2011
My kids may not know their Lynyrd Skynyrd from Kid Rock, but it doesn’t mean they don’t like to rock out to the guitar riffs on “Sweet Home Alabama.” Because we’re a musically diverse family whose tastes range from the Dead Kennedys to the Presidents of the United States of America, it’s not uncommon to see us break into spontaneous dance or to pull out the air guitar when a resident grown-up is on KP duty. Naturally, my daughters want to follow suit and with a cool gadget like Air Picks, now even they can look like bona fide rockers even if they can’t play a note. Simply select one of three songs on your Air Pick, strum in time to the music and it’ll [&hellip
Has your child written his letter to Santa this year? I can vividly remember dutifully writing out my wish list–and throwing in a “How’s Mrs. Claus?” for good measure–before dropping it off in a specially-marked mailbox at a local garden center. I was convinced that somehow, it would magically arrive at the North Pole, no matter how much postage I affixed to it, and that Santa would bestow upon me everything that I had requested. After all, I had been a good girl all year…well, most of the time. When we recently took our daughters to the very place I had mailed my letters many years ago and I pointed out the same mailbox, my 7-year-old wondered aloud, “There must be a faster way my [&hellip
Sometimes, my 3-year-old favors her bunny over Mommy. Her menagerie of stuffed rabbits, bears and other furry friends rivals the residents of the Bronx Zoo, and their many adventures are fueled by her active imagination. Just this afternoon, an elephant joined a skunk in outer space; they met aboard a rocket ship (I kid you not). I don’t take it personally when I’m not invited along on these outings; I secretly savor just listening in to a young, creative mind at play. Because my preschooler’s stuffed animal stories can become especially detailed at times–and her friends may don different appearances or turn into new creatures altogether–these plush playthings seem to cry out for a updated look. If you know of an equally imaginative child who [&hellip
Today’s new moms have no excuse for committing fashion “don’ts.” These days, there’s no shortage of hip baby accessories out there, including diaper bags. I can’t say the same for myself when I was a first-time mom. Back then, I thought my lame-o canvas bag in fire-engine red looked cool just because it didn’t have Winnie the Pooh or ducklings all over it. Little did I know the fashion police would be after me…With this in mind, we are loving the latest designer bags from our friends at Skip Hop: the Jonathan Adler Loves Skip Hop line. This collection is awash in bold graphics and a dizzying array of patterns–a signature celebration of the home decor giant’s Happy Chic modern style. The well-named Duo, Dash [&hellip
Growing bellies have launched a growing trend–one that celebrates motherhood in all its phases. In the last month, The Talking Walnut has reported on more than a few companies making growth labels for expectant moms to affix to their clothing in proud proclamation of their soon-to-be new arrival. Whether you are three months along or in your third trimester, it’s a fun way to announce your pregnancy progress–and a clever means of putting a stop to all those unsolicited inquiries. If you’re more inclined to profess your thoughts on your belly itself, then we may have be just the venue to share your feelings. The Million Moms Challenge, along with ABC News, the United Nations Foundation, Disney Baby and Anne Geddes (phew!), is holding a [&hellip
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