I love paging through home-furnishings catalogs and feeling that combination of envy and absolute astonishment. Have you ever looked through a spread and thought: "who the heck lives like that?" Of course you have. Well get ready to laug…
I still remember how much hard work it was for my kids to learn to read, with all the painfully slow sounding-out of words one-by-one. It sometimes seems that kids are so busy trying to figure out what the letters say that they can't eve…
Antonia Lofaso was absolutely captivating on Top Chef. I loved watching her seamlessly perfect results every single episode, and I appreciated her passion for being both a full time chef and full time mother. And now she's offering wisdo…
One of my very favorite things about the just-finished London Olympics was seeing all the gorgeous footage of the city itself. It's made me even more determined to get my kids over to see Big Ben, London Bridge and their picturesque city…
Here are a few of our favorite tech picks from the last week, just in case you missed them. And no, that's not a giant, delicious donut. Sorry. 1. If you've got kids and own a camera, you need this book! 2. Sending paper thank-you cards …
Sally Ride was the first woman in space, and saying that the space she's left behind is hard to fill is an understatement. But we've found a beautiful kids' book to help your little girl dream big, just like Sally. My Name Is Not Isabell…
It seems a lot of baby toys are awfully loud these days. They light up, crinkle, beep and blast music, so sometimes its nice to just have some low-key playthings to appease our easily overstimulated little ones. These quiet handmade soft…
Last year for the first time, I discovered the genius that is Circus Smirkus, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that my kids have been counting the days for an entire year until we could return. Well, we did. And you can too, now that …
This past month, New York celebrated the 30th annual Mermaid Parade. For those of you not familiar, hoo boy...where to start. Well, maybe this gorgeous children's book that will charm all mermaid wannabes , regardless of age. Or gender. …
Raise your hand if you've ever struggled with a baby and sleep. Okay, so 99% of you. (The rest of you...don't rub it in.) Then, just when we think we have mastered techniques to help our babies sleep longer and more peacefully, new issue…
Geek gifts may be some of our favorite Father's Day gifts to shop for. (We love our cool geeky dads!) Here, some super fun gift ideas if the dad on your list isn't quite the yachting in Greenwich while wearing an ascot type. Spell out Ha…
We're always amazed at how many of you are able to make time for running and working out all while chasing after your kids. So with our own Julie Marsh completing her first marathon (go Julie!) and aiming to finish a slew of triathlons t…
I love the look on kids' faces when they open a book and see their names in the pages of the story. So in celebration of the biggest day of all---their birthday!---here are a couple beautifully illustrated books that will make the birthd…
Poems about children and parenting can be kind of, um, hit or miss. Whether it's too saccharin or just too earnest, I'm not sure--all I know is that it often leaves me vaguely uncomfortable. (And I was a creative writing major!) Not the …
I'm a big fan of Jane Roper , because I love any author who is willing to laugh at herself. Since 2007, Jane has been baring her soul for the world and now, she lets us into the nitty gritty details of raising twins with a fantastic new …
As much as my kids and I love Japanese Kokeshi dolls, I can't bring myself to let another collection into the house, what with all the stuffed animals and favorite rocks already displayed around my girls' room. But, I've found a way to c…
The What to Expect When You're Expecting books have spent a million years on the bestseller list. Author Heidi Murkoff has definitely found a way to tap into what expecting and new parents are looking for--although the series is not with…
I have to admit that when it comes to baby books, I don't have a great track record; I have three kids and one half of one completed baby book. It's bad. I wish that I had this option back when my kids were babes because then I would be …
We think that books make the most perfect gifts any time of year, and Mother's Day is no exception. So for those literary mamas in your life, here are are suggestions of a few terrific Mother's Day gifts. Bonus: There's less lead time on…
Anyone who's familiar with the uber popular blog The Bloggess , by Jenny Lawson, won't be surprised in the least that her new memoir Let's Pretend this Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir ) is spit-bourbon-out-your-nose funny. You won't…
London designer Orla Kiely has had me under her spell for a few years now. I have always found her patterns and designs bursting with life, color, energy and a wonderful sense of playfulness. Orla has shown her love to mommies before wit…
If you're like me and on your second or third (or more!) kid, you already know which products will keep you feeling beautiful while you're pregnant, and keep baby bouncy once she's out in the world. You probably also hiss and hide behind…
From the moment they could successfully maneuver a crayon, my kids have loved open-ended coloring books like Taro Gomi's finish-the-picture Scribbles book. So, it's no surprise that they adore a new rules-free coloring book with an inter…
One of my literary heroes has always been Anna Quindlen . She's not only an amazing columnist, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, hard working mom, and now incredible author, she's an all-around very cool, very inspiring woman. Next Tues…