More coolness from recent weeks…

Like putting baby in a bubble, but prettier. And less crazy.

Like putting baby in a bubble, but prettier. And less crazy.

Who amongst us hasn't wanted to put our precious newborn in a germ-free, weather-protected, cocoon of safety at some point? That's not just me, right? But the problem with any sort of covering for an infant seat is that it's generally either 1) incomplete or 2) ugly....

Three cheers for the Handmade Toy Alliance!

Three cheers for the Handmade Toy Alliance!

We've been fans of the Handmade Toy Alliance since this organization formed in 2008 in response to Congress's [expletive deleted] Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act. This ill-conceived (and ironically named) law is the impetus for launching our Save Handmade...

Ballet for beginners – and their wistful moms

Ballet for beginners – and their wistful moms

As a budding young ballerina, I was simply in love with A Very Young Dancer by Jill Krementz. I used to just lose myself in those marvelous photos until the pages were as dog-eared as the copies in the used bookstores that now carry it. So when I saw the new Ballet...

Free movies are back!

Free movies are back!

I don't care that it's only the first day of official summer, when it's almost 100 degrees every single day. And in the Deep South, that means planning a lot of indoor activities--preferably free ones--like the Free Family Film Festival from Regal Theaters back again...

No nasty, icky, rotten, disgusting chemicals

No nasty, icky, rotten, disgusting chemicals

There are loads of companies jumping on the eco bandwagon, but this is the first time I've ever heard of one that started in an eco village. Heck, this is the first time I've heard of an eco village! But this is indeed where New Zealanders Melanie and Malcolm Rands...

Picky clothing kids rejoice: Soft now makes jeans

Picky clothing kids rejoice: Soft now makes jeans

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when Soft Clothing first arrived on the scene, bringing flat-seamed, soft cotton clothing basics for kids who have sensory issues. My own son isn't as picky as he used to be, but he still goes for the Soft stuff over anything...

These dads really rock

These dads really rock

My kids have a dad who rocks, but not a dad who "rocks." (Guitar Hero doesn't count.) But a lot of kids do, considering there are some very cool dads who have put out fantastic CD's in the recent past. We thought that Father's Day would be a great time to celebrate...

Yes, carrots. YES!

Yes, carrots. YES!

I'm not in the habit of talking to vegetables unless I'm pregnant and singing a love song to my tempura zucchini. Still, I find myself saying yes to Yes to Baby Carrots several times a day lately. Maybe you've seen the orange-splashed Yes to Carrots brand at your...

Ready-to-bake cookies that taste like cookies, not chemicals

Ready-to-bake cookies that taste like cookies, not chemicals

To say I'm not a baker would be like saying childbirth is somewhat uncomfortable. But I also happen to be a major baked goods addict, which means lot and lots (and lots and lots) of store-bought cookies and cakes make their way into my house. So needless to say when...

Silly Bandz, now coming to a chest near you

Silly Bandz, now coming to a chest near you

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 schools are banning the...

PDFs for DIY PB+J

PDFs for DIY PB+J

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 nothing but PDF patterns for...

The book for him that’s really for you

The book for him that’s really for you

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 tells men things that pregnant...

Lilith Fair is back!

Lilith Fair is back!

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, mamas, and if you missed Lilith...