Books for boys, beyond baseball

Books for boys, beyond baseball

When I go to teacher conferences, the thing I hear the most about my son– always said with great reverence– is, Wow, he sure likes to read! I come from an entire family of readers, so this doesn’t seem odd to me… but it is odd, because boys...
DIY toys, hold the hammer and nails

DIY toys, hold the hammer and nails

In concept, I’m all for kids making and decorating their own toys. But the fact that they generally involve sharp, pointy tools along with paint that does not come off  with a simple bar of soap sort of puts a damper on my plans. But color-your-own cardboard...
Apparently dragons are going green. Or…greener?

Apparently dragons are going green. Or…greener?

Last year, I was instantly smitten with the bright, super cool graphic organic shirts from mom-owned Fierce Hugs, so when I found out they added a new line from Dutch artist Dagmar Meinders, I was willing to bet money on their awesomeness.Too...
The Monkey Drummer

The Monkey Drummer

Matthew Porter is the artist behind my baby’s favorite ABC Book, so how can I not jump all over it when I hear he’s turning his talents towards adorable clothing that she can wear too? At the One Red Panda shop, a collaboration between Matthew and his wife...
Handmade Dolls for Your Little Doll

Handmade Dolls for Your Little Doll

Until I got involved with CMP, I confess that I had no idea there were so many wonderful handmade dolls out there. I assumed that you either had a crafty grandma in the family, or your children were pretty much stuck with whatever was on the toy store shelves.Well...
Phooey!

Phooey!

Back in my younger days, I had a thing for the Tin Tin series of comics on my shelf. They were in French. I didn’t speak French. It didn’t matter. The illustrations allowed me to create my own story in my head. That’s just what I was reminded of when...
Yo Ho Ho, The Reading’s Life For Me

Yo Ho Ho, The Reading’s Life For Me

My son has decided he wants to be a pirate. For Halloween. And for a living. This is in large part because recently he’s become the star of a wonderful personalized book called Here There Be Pirates from Flatten Me. Just seeing his cute little face immortalized...
Party in a Box

Party in a Box

I’m not worried about keeping up with the Joneses when it comes to my girls’ birthday parties. You won’t find a petting zoo in my backyard, nor will I be sending guests home with goodies that rival the contents of Oscar night swag bags. Still, I want...