
Special delivery: awesome DIY cardboard toys for kids
When I was a kid, my father ran a factory and on the rare special evening he would come home with big cardboard boxes for my sister and I to play with. I have memories of late nights setting up giant playhouses in the basement where we spent hours cutting,...

Count us in: BabyLit scores with a spooky number book
Jennifer Adams and Allison Oliver hooked us with their beautiful BabyLit counting and color board books based on classic literature like Alice in Wonderland and Jane Eyre. They've done it again--this time, with a counting Count Dracula. Little Master Stoker's...

Sew sweet: DIY embroidery gifts for under $15
I realize it's not even November yet, but since I'm a fan of DIY holiday gifts--especially for my family from my kids--I try to start early. And in my search for easy, affordable crafts that my daughter and I can make, I found these lovely little needlepoint kits from...

Etsy Gift Cards! Whoo! We’re officially thinking holidays now.
In Italian, "Etsi, finalmente!" translates rather perfectly into, "Oh, yes, finally!" Which was pretty much my exact sentiment upon hearing that the famously uber-cool online marketplace Etsy is now offering gift cards, just in time for the holidays.[don't...

Pantone’s spring 2013 colors are announced and we’re not feeling blue about it at all
Pantone just announced their hot spring colors for 2013. While we're barely into fall, I think those of us who care about such things (me!) have a few more reasons to think about the end of winter. While all the colors range from what they call "dynamic brights" and...

My First Year posters and cards: second babies everywhere, rejoice!
As a mom of three, I had the best intentions of chronicling my children's milestones--and the worst follow-through. I know I'm not alone here.If you're expecting Baby #2 or #3 now, you're in luck. I found a new approach to documenting all those sweet milestones that I...

5 gluten-free, allergy-free Halloween sweets that take the trick out of the treat
Sure, I may be a nerdy health-food mama, but Halloween doesn't faze me too much. A candy binge one day a year is no biggie--especially with so many all-natural candy options and fun home recipes for yummy, wholesome Halloween treats. Still, candy can be scary for kids...

Handmade dolls for people who like weird handmade dolls. Which includes us.
Striped or polka-dotted, these lovable handmade dolls have us mesmerized. Each adorable polkadottydoll is entirely unique, handcrafted in cotton without a pattern in black and white according to Alberta artist Lynda Black's imagination. They're nicely sized,...

Star power: these customized constellation pendant necklaces really shine
I've said before that I love Braille jewelry as a more subtle option for mom jewelry than traditional printed text. I'm feeling the same way about these handmade pendants. Do they look just like dots to you? Look again... In fact, these are...

The terrible tale of a trick-or-treater’s worst nightmare: no candy!
Of all the scary things my kids might face on Halloween night, one thing looms most terrifying in their minds: the prospect of trick-or-treating at homes with no candy left to give. (Yes, First World Problems, I know.) Which is why this little Halloween tale is a true...