More coolness from recent weeks…
The perfect fall shoe for the grayer days ahead
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 into something a bit more...
School fundraising ideas, hold the agony
There's little I hate more than fundraising time at school. It's not that I don't want the school to have money, it's just that there's only so many stinky candles and rolls of wrapping paper and overpriced magazine subscriptions a person needs, y'know? Plus, I can't...
Lunch notes that do more than tell your kid you love him
When my son started Kindergarten last year, I never realized how confusing the snack/lunch situation can be. As opposed to preschool, my son had to navigate his food choices on their own. I found he was devouring his sandwich at snack instead of lunch, and that some...
An unsweetened tea for kids? Sweet!
When I was a kid, we drank Purple Drink and Red Drink, and then we licked the walls and hung upside down from the ceiling fan gibbering like monkeys, because that stuff was 100% sugar. Nowadays, I feel like even 100% orange juice has enough natural sugar to keep my...
Getting organized just got a whole lot cuter
In the name of back-to-school for the kids and a new full-time job for me, it is high time to get the bills, to-do lists, paperwork, random photos and kiddo artwork into some kind of workable order. Yes, I've said that about 87,000 times this summer...
Turn your kid’s doodles from art to artifact
There's a box on top of my fridge overflowing with punk-rock ponies, witches on broomsticks, and smiley-faced dolphins, each one representing a special stage in my daughter's artistic development. They're amazing in two dimensions. Can you imagine how incredible...
Because every child deserves a loving “om”
It was only upon attending an awesome preschool class a few months ago that my daughter learned there was a difference between "yoga" and "yogurt." Now, she is a huge fan of both. Presumably for different reasons.That's why I was excited to introduce her to these...
Just call it “the same toothpaste Ariel uses”
Yes, friends, we live in a world where even toothpaste can start a debate between parents and children: What's in it, what's not in it, whose picture is on the tube, whether or not it burns like fire, mommy! (by which she means it's mint.) But here's a toothpaste just...
Bumbleride Indie Natural Edition – the stroller of our dreams
UPDATE: On 2/3/12 there was a CPSC recall of Bumbleride Indie strollers: model numbers I-107, I-110 and I-205 with a Date of Manufacture from 1/09 through 8/11.The front wheel can crack causing the stroller to tip. There have been no major injuries.If you own the...
Put an end to the plate wars
I want the pink plate. I want the blue one. If I have to use the orange one, I'll die, because I hate orange more than a thousand. (All actual quotes from my dinner table.)And if Mommy has to hear the kids argue over plates again, she's going to go berserkypants.So...
Finally, you can register for anything, and we mean anything.
It was so empowering, the first time I held that price gun and started registering for baby stuff. I assumed that the store would have everything I needed. (Yes, you can laugh at me now.) As I now know, the best baby carriers, bibs, and swaddlers are generally found...
will.i.am is here to tell your kids that science rocks
Science is awesome! Who said that? Maybe DJ Lance Rock. And parents trying to convince skeptical kids.Well, now we parents have the help of mega pop star and Black Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am, of all people. He is currently using his star power and celeb...
Hide the good scissors!
Hide the good scissors isn't just something you say because the kids will just ruin them cutting cardboard and digging holes in the dirt. It also happens to be the name of a super-sweet Etsy shop that we're digging hardcore. The good news is they've got the freshest...
A Street Through Time : Timeless
It is rare to find a book that all three of my boys can enjoy together. With such varied interests, I long for something captivating (and non-electronic) that has the ability to sustain their attention long enough for me to take a shower. DK Publishing has answered my...
Magnetic wall paint: Redefining the term babe magnet
Am I the only one running out of space on the fridge due to a cheesy collection of state capital and alphabet magnets? It seems like my attempt at uncluttered living is in constant jeopardy... so what's an OCD mama to do? Thanks to the brilliant minds at Kling...
Treat yourself to a natural nail polish
We tend cover the kind of eco-friendly nail polishes that come in tiny little bottles with colors like Bubblegum and Blueberry Slushie. But not today. This one's just for mom. The Megan Miller Collection of nail polishes is sold through Anthropologie, if that...
Back to school shopping – the coolest kids’ shoes
With metallics being all the rage in footwear, our kids can shine in more ways than one this school year. But as with any trend, too much of a good thing can take a metallic detail from "cool" to "disco ball" pretty quickly. So take a look at some of our favorite fall...
Raise a glass of bubbly (water of course) to this neat machine
Summer may be coming to an end (noooooo!) but my family's consumption of "fizzy water" is never going to slow down. To say we're fans of the bubbly stuff would be putting it mildly. But we've got a new secret this year. A fun, eco, delicious secret. It's the...
Back to school shopping – green school supplies
We've always had a heart for green school supplies for our kids, ever since we knew such a thing even existed.While they'll never be as cheap as what you find at the big mall stores, grab a couple you love and teach the kids a lesson in eco-conservation right in...
The handy dandy box of things a mom seriously needs
If there's one thing a new mom needs--besides a post-partum doula who does dishes and makes sushi from scratch--it's baby recommendations from someone who's been there. After all, that embroidered silk blanket from Aunt Edith is fabulous, but it's not going to work as...
Over-packing mama birds will love Phil & Ted’s Nest
The first time you travel with a baby in tow is shocking, to say the least. If you thought you were an over-packer before, suddenly you feel like you might need to rent a moving truck just to get your things to the cottage. Each precious piece of gear seems more...