More coolness from recent weeks…
Making Batter-Licking A Bit More Accessible
I am definitely no domestic goddess, so when I’m in the kitchen, I need both eyes on what I’m doing. Now stick my daughter in there with me, standing precariously on a kitchen chair so she can "help" and neither she nor my lasagna are entirely safe.
Midnight Rider
Now that my daughter has mastered the fine art of bike riding (at least on the downhills), there’s no way she’s going to let the progressively earlier sunsets cramp her freewheeling style.
Once Upon a Mattress
While I spent way too much time searching for the perfect baby bedding, when it came to the cribmattress, I pretty much just closed my eyes and pointed.
You Know You’ve Made It When Your Picture’s On a Lunch Box
So here’s a trick: Put a photo of yourself on your child’s lunchbox before sending her off to school. She’ll be more likely to eat those carrot sticks you packed instead of trying to trade them for Ho-Hos, what with you standing over her like that.
As Organic As Every Single Food You Put In Their Bodies (Of Course)
There seems to be two kinds of bibs out there – the cute ones you put on the kids for company but that leaves most of their clothes exposed, and the full body armor you haul out for spaghetti night. We’ve finally found something perfectly in between.
O Yeah
Whenever a salesperson tries to push some peacock-feathered and sequined bag on me that will absolutely complete the outfit, I back off.
Now That’s a Happy Baby
Here’s a hint that I’ve learned: If you are online shopping for a swaddling blanket and the photos don’t show the babies smiling or at least sleeping peacefully, slowly back away from the laptop.
Snarking on that Pregnancy Book You Hated Could Land You a Cool Grand
We love Alpha Mom and we’re not afraid to shout it from the rooftops. Owner/mom Isabel Kallman has created a smart, informative website featuring columns from the best bloggers in town, along with extremely helpful videos, a great baby name guide, and other helpful resources for parents.
So Which Color Gets Them to Pick Up Their Toys?
I remember reading somewhere that color has such impact on behavior and mood, that babies in yellow nurseries actually cry more than babies in blue nurseries. So guess who has a yellow nursery? Hello.
Free-Range Rubber Duck
If you’ve always liked the idea of rubber ducks for your kids but don’t like the idea of more plastic crap in your bathtub, here’s a solution.
Legos you don’t want the kids anywhere near
I’ve always liked conversation-piece jewelry. My feeling is you can get a lot more mileage out of one really striking piece than decking yourself out with hundreds of dollars worth of average stuff. So I’m already figuring out excuses to buy myself some of the inspired baubles from JacQueline Sanchez.
Safety + Style
Remember the good old days of driving cross-country with your parents, sprawled out across the back seat of the station wagon? Seat belts–please. Who used seat belts?
Adios, Baby Puke
Moms are well aware that the cute burp cloths we all get for shower gifts are rarely in reach the moment we need them.
Aren’t Bookends Supposed to Actually Hold the Books Up?
Check my daughter’s wall shelves and you will find her books stacked in impractically haphazard piles. Why? If they tilt even 5 degrees in their upright positions, they knock the bookends over. Um, can you say design flaw?
Keeping Your Glasses Where You Can Find Them. Even If You’re Not Wearing Your Glasses.
I am guilty of committing gross cruelty to sunglasses. I stick them on my head when they’re not in use, I dump them in my bag without a case, I leave them on the coffee table where my daughter can paw at them with sticky hands.
No Trees Were Harmed in the Making of This Trite Screenplay Idea
I’m a journal whore. I cannot have enough blank books in every room of my house, just waiting for me to jot down inspired nuggets of brilliance, poetic stanzas, novel starters, effervescent bon mots. Or a shopping list that identifies that that I’m out of Pledge.
Ode to Joya
I’m not quite sure how having a baby translates into the desire to babify everything you own. Just because I might dress my baby in cute baby-ish patterns doesn’t mean I want them all over my own accessories.
The Pampered Pampers-Wearer
When I think of portable changing mats, "plush" isn’t exactly the first word that pops to mind. Perhaps "practical." Or "free with diaper bag." But not so much "plush."
All Together Now (All Together Now!)
My two year-old daughter’s favorite word this week is together. I can’t complain considering it’s put recent words o’ the week like Dora and fart out of favor. So I imagine she’d love the limited edition "All Together Now" print.
Nononono…I’M Tiger Woods
Everyone’s favorite Tiger reportedly shot a 48 on a nine-hole course by the ripe old age of two. That seems unbelievably early to me as far as getting the kids swinging, but hey, if you have a budding golf enthusiast (with kabillions in endorsement potential), then we’ve got your gear
“Who Effed Up The Toys???”
I can’t take credit for the headline – it’s was written by my friend Karen as the subject of an email she sent yesterday, alerting us all to yet another toy recall. I’m ready to just dump anything in the toy chest that wasn’t made by hand out from virgin pine by monks.