• Monthly Archive:: July 2012

    I always get a little bummed right around the summer midway point; when I was a kid, my grandmother used to say, “After July 4th, summer’s over.” To this August-born babe, I was horrified by her statement and to this day, I still relish those dog days of lemonade drinking, firefly catching and all the little joys that make the season what it is. Imagine then those bittersweet feelings I experienced this week when the Lands’ End back-to-school catalog landed in our mailbox. It got me to thinking that it’s time to replace last year’s backpack with something a little more, shall we say, “lively.” After all, when you’re a rising third grader, anything remotely babyish just won’t do. So when we got a load [&hellip

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    I’m impressed that my 8-year-old knows her Matisse from her Monet, and has been interested in art ever since preschool. Not only was she fortunate to have forward-thinking teachers with a penchant for painting, but they encouraged self-expression through many different forms. With her younger sister following in her footsteps, I’m fascinated as I watch her move from scribble scrabbles and stick figures, to coloring in the lines and full-bodied people. To further inspire these little creative minds, we’ve been listening to the latest release from children’s musician Hope Harris. The aptly titled “Picasso, That’s Who! (And So Can You!)” pays homage to a number of artists whose works are the foundation for a study in the wide world of art. Each song is a [&hellip

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    I never breastfed my daughters, but from what my mom friends tell me, latching on isn’t the only challenge they faced. Once their baby was happily fed, moms still have to contend with that uncomfortable feeling of …well, for lack of a better word, fullness. And for those who had to endure severe breast pain, they were really in need of some relief. Enter Lansinoh Thera Pearl, 3-in-1 breast therapy. At first glance, these purple bead-filled gel sacs look too cool to be tucked away in a nursing bra. But looks aside, they offer tremendous benefits. Toss them in the freezer for a couple of hours, and they help relieve engorged breasts. If you’re suffering from clogged milk ducts, pop Thera Pearl in the microwave [&hellip

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    One of my favorite scenes from the movie “Caddyshack” is when the kid drops the candy bar into the pool, and everyone starts screaming wildly to get out of the water. While it may be funny on the big screen, the reality of the actual contents is no laughing matter. This summer, forgo the disposable swim pants and outfit your little one in a smarter, more stylish selection. Bambino Mio’s Swim Nappies have a hidden water-resistant layer, along with leak-proof legs and waistband. That means fewer (visible) accidents and more time in the water for both you and your baby. Plus, the soft cotton lining is much more gentle on tender skin than those throwaway plastic pants. Because Swim Nappies are machine-washable, just pitch them [&hellip

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    The second week of summer vacation, and the snack choices have already lost their allure. If you’re already finding yourself looking for a healthy alternative to Goldfish that doesn’t warrant sighs of boredom, have we got the snack for you! Plum Organics’ Fruit & Veggies Shredz have the great taste of fruit without the high fructose corn syrup. After a week of ho-hum crackers and other portable snack foods, we were ready to give these delectable treats a try…and believe me, you didn’t need to twist the arms of my 8- and 4-year-old testers! Not ones to shrug off a fresh peach or watermelon slice, I knew these kids would be tough critics when it came to judging the fruit-taste authenticity. But after just a [&hellip

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