The good ol' days sort of lose their luster for me when I think about a life without indoor plumbing, internet access and Starbucks. But, I will give them one thing: Their folk songs sure were beautiful as evidenced in this lovely and pl…
I've tried to encourage my tween's intense love of all things art since she was a wee thing. To fuel her fire, we have loads of art books from "open-ended" coloring books like Rosie Flo's and those by Taro Gomi, to more academic tomes wi…
With the money I'm spending on Halloween costumes and bags of candy, I'm not about to drop a fortune on decor too. So, I'm so pleased to have found so many affordable (and free!) printables that don't require me to do much of anything or…
My kids are at the age where their Trick-or-Treat bags return home weighing almost as much as they do. At this rate they'll be up to their knees in mini-treats until 2012. So I'm often looking out for other things to hand out at Hallowee…
We have loved the beautiful keepsake jewelry of JULIAN & Co. since way back when they went by the name Little Jules . Since then, we have been consistently impressed with Tania Condon's vision and unique designs that interpret "mother's …
As a glass-is-half-full kind of person, I am thrilled to read that the FDA has (finally) agreed to ban the use of BPA in all baby bottles and spill-proof cups. OK, sure, Europe, Canada and China, along with a handful of U.S. states, have…
When we're running out the door on one of our million weekly errands, it's way too easy to just grab the iPad or a handheld electronic game to occupy the kids. But in my ongoing quest to "unplug" a little more often, I've discovered a ne…
On Saturday, our family will welcome a new addition. It's a girl, and she's black, furry and rescued from the streets of Indiana. So it seems entirely appropriate (if oddly coincidental) that one of our favorite PBS Kids' cartoons, Marth…
My daughter is turning 3 next month and is starting to outgrow her naps! I am trying to enforce quiet time on the days she won't nap, and someone gave me the idea of letting her listen to audio books as her quiet time activity. I was hop…
My kids and I know that our lives are made even more awesome because of all the friends who join us on our adventures, something I couldn't help but think about while listening to Dan Zanes and Friends latest release. One that happens to…
I remember the time I told a friend that I was pregnant with my third child in less than four years. She shook her head and said sagely, You're about to be outnumbered. Good luck with that. While there are definitely times my husband and…
I'm only one person with one meager budget and very limited time. How can I do something important and meaningful this October to show my support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when I can't donate a gazillion dollars and don'…
I don't remember having trouble learning how to use a straw but, then again, I'm about four decades past that stage in life. It was my kids who made me realize that "straw use" was going to be another one of those odd little skills I was…
On the nights I play "tooth fairy," the last thing I want to do is wake a child while I shove my arm under their pillow in a not-so-subtle search for a tiny tooth. So I love that one of our favorite beautiful-keepsake makers, Tree by Ker…
One day the kids are happily singing along to Yo Gabba Gabba; the next, they've somehow learned lyrics to a Katy Perry song that makes me blush. Ugh, they cross that bridge so fast. I suggest you slow your older kids down a bit with The …
After our local Border's bookstore closed, I became a bit "woe is me" about the future of books. I'm one of those people who just can't imagine sitting down my kids for a bedtime story with my iPad in my lap. So, I'm rejoicing over this …
Maybe it's because I am so lacking in the artistic/crafty gene, but I've always preferred arts-and-craft kits that call for a heavy dose of imagination. In other words, I could never get my final product to look anything like the picture…
I am looking for more suggestions for twin bedding for girls. Not cutesy pink all over...something more sophisticated she can grow into. Thanks for your suggestions! -Lisa Hi Lisa, We've featured a bunch of great girls' twin bedding opti…
Did I mention that there were a lot kids' music releases this summer? If you saw Part One in our review of great kindie releases yesterday, you've read---and hopefully heard--of new stuff from Caspar Babypants, Belle & Sebastian and The …
While I was busy applying yet another layer of SPF 50 to my fair children, some of our favorite kindie musicians, and one newbie to the genre, were putting out great music to get us through the next few months. Thankfully, unlike my fadi…
Even though school days are starting up , it will be a while before my kids will need their new cords and warm sweaters. But the slightly cooler days mean it's time for my girls to toss off their worn-out flip flops and tuck their toes i…
My handbag is sort of a Mom's Swiss Army Knife. Need a Band-Aid? Got it. Hungry? I've got some mints in here somewhere. But when we get stuck waiting somewhere and the kids are threatening to mutiny out of sheer boredom, it turns out tha…
It's time for first birthdays! I have two parties coming up; one boy and one girl. Then my own baby girl will celebrate her first this fall. So what are some gift recommendations for this new stage of development? -Elaine Yay for first b…
My kids and I fell for Laurie Berkner years ago while watching her appearances on Nickelodeon's Jack's Big Music Show . Her sweetness and likability, paired with her pretty voice and super-fun songs, translated so well to the screen , sh…
