by Christina Refford | Uncategorized
My oldest daughter is now firmly planted in PG-movie territory which means I really have to pay attention to what she is seeing, reading and listening to — hopefully without having to actually watch, read and listen to it all myself. Thankfully, Common Sense...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
There are few things that scream New England more than the ubiquitous lobster, but since I’m afraid a lobster may actually scream, I have never brought one home to cook for dinner. If you’re like me, go a different route and bring home this adorable Wooden...
by Christina Refford | Food + Recipes
I may not know my Syrah from my Pinot Noir, but there are still times I’d love a glass of wine at a late-day beach picnic or at that Little League game that goes into extra innings. But dragging along a glass wine bottle (let alone wrestling it open in the...
by Christina Refford | Entertainment + Media
With a little one who hates loud noises and falls asleep before 9, seeing big Fourth of July fireworks has become one of those “maybe next year” dreams we tell his older siblings. So we were happy to learn about PBS’ A Capitol Fourth which will have...
by Christina Refford | Beauty + Cosmetics
Each morning, it takes a vat of coffee to get me going and ready to face another day in charge of three young lives. So yes, I was eager to try out a shower gel with the word “energy” in it. This Works: Energy Bank Bath and Shower Gel works indeed....
by Christina Refford | Baby
Magic Beans may sound like something a frat guy tried to slip me back in college, but it’s actually the name of a super stocked Boston area baby gear and toy store. The mom/pop team of Eli & Sheri Gurock have done a great job streamlining the site with...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
When the kids ask to fingerpaint, I conjure up visions of them covered in gelatinous, who-knows-what goo which doesn’t make me too eager to indulge them in their favorite medium. But, when they come calling with puppy-dog eyes and promises to clean up after...
by Christina Refford | Food + Recipes
Fried chicken fingers and pink boneless spareribs are not real Chinese food, I tell the kids whenever we order take-out, and now I have the latest Handstand Kids’ Chinese Cookbook to back me up. The latest from Handstand Kids’ Italian Cookbook creator...
by Christina Refford | Kids
Summer’s here, and I’m getting ready to bare some skin. Along with sit ups, a quickie pedicure and hedge clippers (you know what I mean), I’ve added The Spoiled Mama Orange and Chamomile Sugar Scrub to my bag of tricks. In those fleeting moments I...
by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings
When my son was younger, he’d shuffle around the house balancing a stack of his favorite books in his overloaded arms. I was thrilled to have raised a mini bibliophile, but after seeing countless board books tumbling onto his little toes, we both could have used...
