• Author Archive

    It sure feels like summer now. School is winding down, the sun is shining and the kids are outdoors (well, if you can pry them away from their phones, that is…) While we are all set with sunscreen and cover-ups, spending time outside also requires a pair of sporty shades…but trying to find ones that are a cross between a cheap throwaway brand and designer glasses is a tough call. Of course, you want to choose sunglasses that are actually made with protective lenses, but that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Babiators are just the ticket. Not only do they make sunglasses designed for babies through age 7, but they have cooler, sophisticated shades for ages 7-14 (the crowd who wouldn’t be [&hellip

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    When it comes to sunscreen, you can never have too much. Believe me: I’m living proof. After going through my second skin cancer treatment in two weeks, I am regretting all those hours in the sun as a kid that may have been fun at the time, but for which I am now paying the price. Sure we wore “suntan lotion” (as it was called back then), but re-applying after time spent in the water wasn’t stressed nearly as much as it is today. As a mom of two young girls who spend their fair share of time outdoors, I am constantly running after them with sprays, lotions, face sticks…anything I can get my hands on so they can avoid having to go through surgery [&hellip

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    Another raindrop, another indoor afternoon. After an unseasonably cool spring, with yo-yo temperatures making us moms scurry back and forth between unearthing flip-flops and keeping heavy jackets within easy reach, I question what’s on tap for summer. If the forecasters are to be believed, we’ll be continuing this crazy dance that hovers between hot and humid and wet and wild. And that may mean the kids spending a lot more time indoors than we might like. Before you lose your cool before it actually gets hot, consider stocking up on some fun, relatively inexpensive items to keep kids entertained (and moms, sane). One new item that caught our eye this season is Calafant. Remember how much you loved to play with the box that your [&hellip

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    Do you know what you’d like for Mother’s Day? For me, it’s an easy request: peace and quiet for one whole day…(yeah, I know. Not so simple). All kidding aside, we know what great lengths our kids (and husbands) go to to make us moms feel special. But if they only realized that they didn’t have to try so hard, it might make the day a lot more meaningful. When most moms seem to crave a little more me time, maybe there’s a creative way to make that happen. I think my local library has the right idea: the current bulletin advertises a class for adult coloring, giving us the perfect excuse to sit down with a fresh box of crayons (who doesn’t love that [&hellip

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    Happy Earth Day! If your weather is as nice as ours is today, it’s the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fact that spring has finally sprung. If April showers have upended your outdoor plans, then a good book may be just the ticket. Yesterday, I had the privilege to read to a class of second graders for an Earth Day celebration, and one book in particular captivated this rambunctious crew. Critter Litter: See What Animals Leave Behind masks itself as an educational read with a hidden surprise on each page. Each photo spread is dedicated to one of 12 different animals and features fun facts, photos and illustrations. The biggest attraction is the lift-the-flap feature that reveals the “critter litter” this dirty dozen [&hellip

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    If you read my blog, you know how much I love books. Cultivating a passion for reading is something I have been doing since my daughters were born! With that being said, I’m thrilled to introduce my guest blogger who happens to be my almost (gasp!) 12-year-old daughter. She recently read and reviewed an advance copy of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchMaker, due out this month from Sterling Children’s Books. Read on to find out what she thought of this book and whether it’s something you might like to pick up for your own middle schooler: Cici Reno is a 7th grader at Alton T. Wright Middle School. At the “Back to School Campfire”, Cici’s best friend, Aggie, spots a boy she really likes, Drew Lancaster. She [&hellip

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    The first time I took my baby daughter to the beach, I made sure to pack all the essentials: sunscreen, bug spray, a towel and, oh yes, a book. Yes, she loved to dig in the sand and unearth shells, dead crabs and other “treasures,” but that’s not what I remember most about her first experience with the sun and surf. The beach is where she made her first connection with words and reading. After pointing to a picture of a child in Busy Beach, she proudly touched the top of her head and announced “har” (which I took to be “hair.”) I think my smile outshone the sun that afternoon; wow, I must be doing something right, I thought to myself. As a new [&hellip

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    Do your kids have their outfits picked out for Easter Sunday? This holiday is often a tricky one to dress for, especially since it falls so early this year. Here in the Northeast, we are largely dependent on Mother Nature as to what we will wear: springy sundress, or sweater and long skirt? So, it helps to dress in comfortable layers that look good and make sense, weather-wise. And that’s just what my younger daughter will be doing this Easter when she wears the adorable Photo Bunny Dress from The Children’s Place. This swingy, springy number, adorned with photo images of real-life rabbits, goes perfectly with a button-down blouse underneath. Once the weather eventually warms up, this sleeveless dress can be worn on its own. [&hellip

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    Have you made your Easter basket store run yet? I was at CVS this past weekend, and from the looks of the nearly-empty shelves, the Easter Bunny has already come to town! Whether you are a seasoned pro or an admitted newbie at filling baskets, it’s always fun to include a variety of options (including the sugar-free kind) for kids of any age. This spring, we tracked down some alternatives to all those Peeps, jelly beans and chocolate eggs worth making room for. For baby’s first Easter or for a younger child comes the adorable Kaloo Les Amis Chick. Super-soft, this cuddly plush chick is the next best thing to the real deal (and incredibly low-maintenance). He comes decked out in a sweet baby bib [&hellip

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    With a hint of spring in the air and warmer weather well on its way, we can expect to see a caravan of strollers making their rounds. If you will be among the many fellow baby-toting moms, here’s a bit of advice from this seasoned mama: Pack lightly. If there was one thing that used to drive me bonkers as a new mom heading out to the park or playground, it was how unbelievably bogged down I was, schlepping all this stuff around. Between a clean diaper, wipes, snacks, a hat, sweater (in case of a breeze, God forbid!) and anything else I could cram into my bag, I wasn’t just prepared for an afternoon out with my baby daughter…I was ready for the apocalypse, [&hellip

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