I was hoping--praying--that the Silly Bandz craze would stay far far away from my daughter's preschool. When it hit, it hit hard, like a giant neon apocalyptic storm of wiggly plastic and shrieking children. I can completely see why some…
I'm not a dad, I'm not expecting, and I usually find pregnancy humor about as funny as postpartum hemorrhoids. But I'm happy to admit that Dad's Pregnant, Too ! by advice columnist and author Harlan Cohen was a pleasant surprise. Why? He…
This is one of those times when I find myself wishing I owned a sewing machine. And that I had a single crafty bone in my body. Check it out: Gulf Coast Cottage , a wonderful shop filled with soft toys, has an entire category filled with…
I know it's not just my kids who turn every box into a spaceship or seem to have their heads in the clouds. And I'm certain that they won't be the only ones for whom Recess Monkey's new kids' music CD The Final Funktier is like rocket fu…
You've got some organic spaghetti on your face, honey. Let me get that for you. (Licks thumb, scrubs face off shrieking, flailing baby.) There, isn't that better? Well, a little. I mean, the tomato sauce has been replaced by a red rash, …
I'm sad to admit that it's been a very loooong time since I've been to a music concert, but I still have vivid memories of the amazing Lilith Fair , the awesome all-female touring music festival back in the late 90s. Well, it's back, mam…
With my daughter's birthday coming up, I've got party decor on the brain. (Expect more on these pages in the coming weeks!) So when I saw these awesome beach ball decorations made out of waxed Japanese washi paper I went oooohh ...You ju…
I'm in heaven. Floating above the clouds, birds tweeting around me, angels singing sweet melodies heaven, all because I've discovered the sweet caloric glory of Elsylee cookies . Let's just say these handmade-to-order artisanal cookies f…
I had a May baby and a July baby and as such, I still remember those panicky early days of taking the baby out into the (gasp) sun. I don't think I could have had enough muslin swaddling blankets and floppy brimmed sunhats to put me at e…
We love the online flash sale site, The Mini Social , because finding cool boys clothes, especially at up to 60% off , is always a challenge. But this week is extra-special since through June 18 it's Boys Week , and a portion of all the …
I have nothing against boys embracing pink, but when I went to buy a little boy doll for my nephew to love while his mama was caring for a newborn, I found that 99% of the baby dolls in the big toy store were of the female persuasion. Fr…
We're huge fans of the Dante Beatrix backpacks for almost too many reasons to mention--the eco-friendly materials, the perfect toddler sizing, the adorable designs. How's that for a start? Now the company is simply named Beatrix NY. And …
After getting two kids through the messy eating phase and currently dealing with one who's in the thick of it, I might just be a bib expert. And I have to say that the bibs from JJ Cole are some of my all-time favorites. It doesn't hurt …
Though I haven't seen the Gulf of Mexico since I was a teen, I'll never forget the color and warmth of the turquoise-blue water that lured me in until I was wrinkled and waterlogged. It's those waters and the creatures most affected by t…
My husband's favorite childhood memory may involve cracking open his brand new Atari game system and having a marathon Pong session, so it's no surprise that he grew up to be a tad tech-obsessed. Which is why I got him a copy of Geek Dad…
No matter what season it is, I can always find a reason to use our Mabel's Labels, and with everything from summer camps and lessons, to pool playdates and picnics these days, I'm always putting those handy labels on something. Now if yo…
As my poor waterlogged friends in the Pacific Northwest know all too well, June can be a wet one. It's as if Mother Nature doesn't give a hoot that we have bored little faces staring up at us waiting for summer to begin. I think it's bet…
I have hostess gifts on the brain these days; maybe it's just wishful thinking that I'll get lots of fancy summer house invitations this season? Or maybe I'm just dying to get someone a little gift as cool as this sleek little Urban Crea…
When I got word that online boutique Shabby Apple is now promoting their dresses for women, I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical. I like some but not all of their little girls' dresses, and on top of that, mail order clothes + chea…
Despite the fact that looking at this kids furniture got The Gummy Bear Song stuck in my head (no, I won't burden you if you don't already know it), I'm totally grooving on these adorable gummy bear chairs from yam & toast . They're swee…
When your kids are still too young to break out the glitter glue and make dad a Father's Day card--or too old-- a printed card can still go a long way . So to keep you from the card aisle crush the next Saturday, I searched through Etsy …
I'll never be the eco-mama who reuses plastic wrap or gives up the soft toilet paper for the stuff that feels like newspaper. Mostly I look for small changes I can live with , and one of those has been cutting down on my reliance on disp…
Stumped for Father's Day? Maybe it's because I'm married to a photographer (though I don't think so), but I'm thinking that if Dear Dad from Chronicle Books doesn't bring a little tear to his eye, he might not actually be human. The volu…
With summer officially underway, I am busy getting my beach bag stocked so I can run off to the pool at a moment's notice. Along with towels, my unfashionable floppy hat and tons of sunscreen, I'm going to be including the new UV Board S…
