Parenting

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  • Cringe and cover! Moms share 'caught in the act' stories

    TODAY.com: Parenting
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:53 pm
    Readers 'fess up and tell how they reacted when kids busted them getting busy in the sack.

  • Sweet Rides: Best Family Cars

    Parenting.com: Mom Tips and Expert Advice
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:20 pm
    You'll be carpool cool in these smart, hi-tech cars

  • Are you teaching your children big words?

    Essential Questions
    Graham Scharf
    16 Jan 2012 | 3:37 pm
    Martin Luther King Jr. was a master of rhetoric. He knew how to use words well for the sake of truth and justice. Where did he learn them?Martin's Big WordsIn a very well-illustrated picture book, Martin's Big Words, Doreen Rappaport tells the story of where Dr. King acquired his tremendous vocabulary and facility with language: from his father. He cherished language, and learned to use it well. Rappaport concludes simply, "His big words are alive for us today." They are indeed. Are you inspiring your children with "big words"? Do they see that big words are meant to be used for good? Do…

  • Dad's view: Jay-Z missed his chance to Dad-up

    TODAY.com: Parenting
    25 Jan 2012 | 11:54 am
    The rapper missed his chance to make a good new-dad gesture by ditching a certain b-word, one fellow father says.

  • Video: Henry Winkler launches book series for kids

    TODAY.com: Parenting
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:50 am
    The actor is launching a new book series called “Ghost Buddy” for middle school-aged kids where the characters in the story deal with bullying and a blended family. (TODAY)
 
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    Momformation

  • 7 reasons to eat more fat

    BabyCenter Guest Blogger
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:52 pm
    by BabyCenter Guest Blogger posted in Life & Home By: Katie Kimball, Kitchen Stewardship I was the teenager who scowled at her father, “Don't butter my toast! You always put too much on!” The girl who sopped the grease off her pizza and Polish kielbasa with a napkin. The one who sprayed “I Can't Believe... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.

  • Used baby gear: yay or nay?

    Molly Balint
    27 Jan 2012 | 7:11 pm
    by Molly Balint posted in Products & Prizes High end tastes but a low end budget? Then maybe I have the perfect solution for you. reCrib is a online site created in 2011 by two New York City parents who put their experiences as advertising and retail execs and "parents with too much baby gear... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.

  • What if you lost your family?

    Denise Cortes
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:33 pm
    by Denise Cortes posted in Mom Stories We've all had this same thought at one time or another. Perhaps it crosses your mind as you're pulling away from the curb to run an errand, and the kids stay with their father. Or maybe it's the other way around and they're leaving for a fun afternoon... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.

  • Why are home births on the rise?

    Betsy Shaw
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:24 pm
    by Betsy Shaw posted in Mom Stories A new statistical report, discussed here at CNN, says that the number of home births between 2004 and 2009 rose by 29 percent. As per the article, home births are most common among women who have had more than one child and are over 35. The biggest rise... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.

  • Boppy Travel Pillow for feeding on the go

    Molly Balint
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:23 pm
    by Molly Balint posted in Products & Prizes I think one of the hardest aspects of breastfeeding is handling it when you're on the go. Whether you're out running errands or visiting friends, it can be hard to find a convenient, comfortable way to nurse. If you're anything like me, you get a little attached... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading Momformation.
 
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    Yahoo! News: Parenting/Kids News

  • Health Tip: Manage Pain During Childbirth (HealthDay)

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:47 pm
    HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Pain is a virtual certainty during childbirth, but there are ways to ease the discomfort without medication.

  • Acupuncture May Boost Pregnancy Success Rates (HealthDay)

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:47 pm
    HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- When a couple is trying to have a baby and can't, it can be emotionally and financially draining. But help may be available in an unexpected form: acupuncture.

  • IV Acetaminophen Linked to More Child Overdoses (HealthDay)

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:46 pm
    HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Following the U.S. Food Drug Administration's approval last year of an intravenous formulation of acetaminophen for fever and pain in a hospital setting, researchers warn that use of the preparation could lead to serious overdoses, particularly among the youngest patients.

  • CDC Says More Parents Having Home Births (ContributorNetwork)

    27 Jan 2012 | 7:11 pm
    ContributorNetwork - The number of babies born at home instead of in a hospital has increased by almost one-third between 2004 and 2009, says a recent report from the Center for Disease Control. One of every 90 babies is now born at home. Here are details for parents about home vs. hospital births and why more parents are choosing midwifery and at-home childbirth.

  • UNICEF says 384 children killed so far in Syria (Reuters)

    27 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm
    Reuters - At least 384 children have been killed during Syria's 10-month uprising and virtually the same number have been jailed, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
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    On Parenting

  • Buckyballs magnets: A choking hazard for kids

    On Parenting
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:32 pm
    From elsewhere in The Post: For kids who want to pretend their lip or tongue is pierced, Buckyballs magnets have become a popular toy. The magnets are also a choking hazard. Several children, including Meredith DelPrete, have been hospitalized for accidentally swallowing the balls, reports The Post’s Lena Sun. Read full article >>

  • Why college-bound kids shouldn’t worry about being rejected by their dream school

    On Parenting
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm
    From elsewhere in The Post: If your high-schooler is thinking about applying to colleges, point him or her to this funny post on the Campus Overload blog. Guest blogger Eric N. Harris, a junior at the University of Maryland, writes about dealing with rejection letters: Read full article >>

  • Choosing the major you love: Advice from Momspeak columnist Tracy Grant

    On Parenting
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm
    From elsewhere in The Post: Should college students major in a subject they love, even if it won’t lead to a high-paying job? Momspeak columnist Tracy Grant says yes, and disagrees with the advice from her colleague Michelle Singletary. Read full article >>

  • Using Facebook as form of punishment: Advice from Marguerite Kelly

    On Parenting
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    From elsewhere in The Post: Is humiliating a child on Facebook the best way to teach him not to lie? A concerned family member asks advice columnist Marguerite Kelly. “I recently opened Facebook and found that my sister had posted a picture of my nephew, her son, who was crying and holding a sign that said, ‘I lied to my family,’” says the letter writer. Read full article >>

  • PunditMom breaks down the political evolution of mommy bloggers

    Janice D'Arcy
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:36 pm
    Amid all the political commentary these days, Joanne Bamberger is noticing more female voices in the pundit chorus. They may not be the best known analysts or in the “Meet the Press” crowd, but these women have large followings, expansive networks and are discussing the political issues of the day. They come from the ranks of female writers often called “mommy bloggers.” Read full article >>
 
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    Parents Blog

  • Old Man Winter vs. Tired Mama

    28 Jan 2012 | 12:03 am
    We're only a month into winter and I'm already counting the days until summer. Actually, I will settle for any season free of snow, ice, and sub-zero wind chills. In most parts of the world that would be spring, but I reside in Wisconsin, where it can (and often does) snow in June.

  • Thinking about Those "Lasts"

    27 Jan 2012 | 3:44 pm
    Lately I have been thinking those "lasts." You know, the last time you do something in parenting. Like the last time I changed a diaper. The last time I held my child's hand. The last time I was awoken in the middle of the night because my child was scared.

  • Are You Beyond the Bump?

    27 Jan 2012 | 1:54 am
    You know you are done having children if... the only way you would welcome another baby into your family is if a stork delivered it. If... holding a deliciously cute 6-month-old doesn't make your ovaries ache. If... coming across a bunch of onesies doesn't trigger the ugly cry.

  • It Could be Worse

    26 Jan 2012 | 5:11 am
    Think you're having a bad day? Maybe you caught a glance of the Academy Award nominee list and realized how little of a life you really have. Or, you failed again at the car to bed transfer. You know; the challenge that sends a parent's blood pressure reading skyrocketing off the charts.

  • One of My "Nevers" As a Parent

    25 Jan 2012 | 9:06 am
    After reading fellow blogger Michele Cheplic's "Hopefully Never," I couldn't help but think about all of the things I would never allow my children to do. And these aren't even "big" issues like getting on a commercial airplane by themselves.
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    Daddy Types

  • Balancing Blocks By Fort Standard

    greg
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm
    Fort Standard was founded like yesterday by designers Gregory Buntain and Ian Collings, and already they have a tableful of awesome, crystal-faceted balancing blocks handmade from salvaged hardwood and finished in a range of tasty colors, and white. Fort...

  • 'The Quarry Whence Modern Names Are Hewn'

    greg
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:34 pm
    The past and the future once again meet in the present, with generally awesome effect. Because while it seems normal that you can now instantly find and buy a copy of Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley's suddenly indispensable 1888 book, Curiosities...

  • Peregrine White Had A Posse

    greg
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:09 pm
    God bless the Puritans and their Biblical baby naming strategies. Or as they might put it, God, please don't damn their infants to a fiery hell for only having a two- or three-word scripture phrase as a given/baptismal name. Sarah...

  • Funny, Die, Or Breastfeed?

    greg
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:39 pm
    For a moment there, Funny or Die thought comedian Ahna Tessler's short comedy video, which included the new mom of twins breastfeeding, was obscene or whatever, and took it down. But when the Times started asking about it, they decided...

  • Wanted: More Hilarious People To Interview Maurice Sendak

    greg
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:31 pm
    I barely missed it the other night, but DT reader Rolf sent the link along today. And sure enough, Maurice Sendak's interview with Stephen Colbert is as funny as hell: It'll be sad when he's gone, which, wow, I wish...
 
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    Essential Questions

  • Are you teaching your children big words?

    Graham Scharf
    16 Jan 2012 | 3:37 pm
    Martin Luther King Jr. was a master of rhetoric. He knew how to use words well for the sake of truth and justice. Where did he learn them?Martin's Big WordsIn a very well-illustrated picture book, Martin's Big Words, Doreen Rappaport tells the story of where Dr. King acquired his tremendous vocabulary and facility with language: from his father. He cherished language, and learned to use it well. Rappaport concludes simply, "His big words are alive for us today." They are indeed. Are you inspiring your children with "big words"? Do they see that big words are meant to be used for good? Do…

  • Why is identifying a child’s strengths important?

    Graham Scharf
    4 Jan 2012 | 10:12 am
    Recognizing your child’s strengths is important for a variety of reasons.  Delight. Finding what your children enjoy is central to helping them develop into who they are.    Discovery. Identifying particular strengths in your child can make you aware of related (or potentially unrelated) strengths of which you had not previously been aware.    Learning. We all do most naturally those things that we love. Knowing what your child’s strengths are can help you plan learning activities that capitalize on their strengths.    Confidence. Children…

  • What are your child’s natural strengths?

    Graham Scharf
    10 Nov 2011 | 10:02 am
    If you set a range of objects – books, puzzles, art supplies, balls, blocks, dress-up clothes, etc. – on the floor in front of your child, which one will she choose? Like adults, children have preferences and strengths. Some love building towers with blocks, but would never have the patience to attempt a puzzle. Others love to paint, but aren’t interested in drawing. Some children can take on a character and act out an entire book – or even compose their own narrative – with just a few simple props. Other children can be absorbed in books for hours at a time. Recognizing strengths…

  • Are you investing in your child's strengths?

    Graham Scharf
    10 Nov 2011 | 9:59 am
    In Strengths Finder 2.0, Tom Rath observes: In every culture we have studied, the overwhelming majority of parents (77% in the United States) think that a student’s lowest grades deserve the most time and attention. Parents and teachers reward excellence with apathy instead of investing more time in the areas where a child has the most potential for greatness (p7). What is true of school age children is also often true of young children. We reward excellence with apathy, and invest the majority of our time in addressing deficits. For parents of young children, the question is how to…

  • Thinking about a pet?

    Graham Scharf
    26 Oct 2011 | 9:12 pm
    It seems like a general rule: kids love animals. Of course, there is fear too. But even where there is fear, there is usually fascination. For many parents this means contemplating (sometimes for the first time) whether to get a family pet - and if so, what kind. The folks over at ebay classifieds put together this infographic to help you make the decision: Source:Dogs for SalePets aren't for everyone. But if they are for you, this may be a helpful way to navigate the decision!
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    Raising Happiness

  • Gratitude Journal: Our Four-Legged Family Members

    Greater Good
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:05 am
    Got Gratitude? Share it here!  Welcome to our community gratitude journal, open to all who’d like to express their thanks or share a happy thought. Today’s smile of the day definitely came from this photo of my niece’s new kitty. Amused Aunt I am grateful for my whole whole whole whole whole whole whole whole whole… whole whole whole whole whole whole whole whole life!!!! Morgan (3.5 years) I’m grateful for our dog who is always in a good mood. Molly I am grateful that I have a career (as a pediatric emergency room nurse) that is intellectually stimulating,…

  • Podcast: WHY to Be Involved in the Occupy Wall St. Movement

    Greater Good
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    Why your involvement matters for your children’s happiness—even if you feel the problems are overwhelming. In this podcast, I reference Martin Luther King, Jr.‘s Principles of Nonviolence; those principles can be found here. Please check out my podcast with Rona Renner either here on the Greater Good website, or here on iTunes. Happy listening! Become a fan of Raising Happiness on Facebook. Follow Christine Carter on Twitter Subscribe to the Happiness Matters Podcast on iTunes.

  • Not Too Thin, Not Too Fat

    Greater Good
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Weight-related problems—and their close cousin, poor body image—are fed by many factors: the genetics and timing of puberty, how kids’ peers eat, vending machines at school, PE and extracurricular sports (or lack thereof), the attitudes of coaches, messages from the media—just to name a few. It would be hard to track or control or even catalog all the different factors that influence kids’ weight and how they see their bodies. But research clearly indicates ways that we parents influence our children’s weight and body images. Here are five things we can do to help. 1. Don’t diet…

  • Gratitude Journal: Let’s Hear It For Laughter!

    Greater Good
    20 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Got Gratitude? Share it here!  Welcome to our community gratitude journal, open to all who’d like to express their thanks or share a happy thought. I am grateful for all the laughter spread throughout the world on Global Belly Laugh Day. On January 24 at 1: 24 p.m. (local time) smile, throw your arms in the air and laugh out loud! Elaine Helle I am grateful for the rare moments of walking hand-in-hand with my son. Mom in Berkeley I am thankful that my daughter and I are working together to make our mornings together more pleasant. Liz I’m grateful for all this research being done…

  • Podcast: Dieting and Shame

    Greater Good
    19 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    We want the best for our children, and sometimes we want them to lose weight. Helping kids get healthy—without creating feelings of shame and guilt in them. Please check out my podcast with Rona Renner either here on the Greater Good website, or here on iTunes. Happy listening! Become a fan of Raising Happiness on Facebook. Follow Christine Carter on Twitter Subscribe to the Happiness Matters Podcast on iTunes.
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    GoFatherhood™

  • My New Painting That Started in A Lobby Bar

    Dave Taylor
    19 Jan 2012 | 11:04 am
    This is a story about how the connectivity of the Internet changes how we buy things, and I present it for your amusement and entertainment… A few months ago I spoke at Blogworld Expo in Los Angeles and, like many others, stayed at the Sheraton Los Angeles. As is typical for a conference, evenings would find a group of us hanging out in the lobby bar, sharing a drink and talking about what we learned, what we’re doing and generally socializing. You know, the real value of a conference! While sitting at the lobby bar, I couldn’t help but notice the great 70′s retro…

  • In Colorado, we’re now done with booster seats

    Dave Taylor
    18 Jan 2012 | 9:06 am
    I just realized this morning as I looked around my garage and counted one fancy car seat and two car booster seats that I don’t need them any more. My little one, K-, turned 8 last week (I even hosted a party for her pals at the local bowling alley. Solo. Yikes!) and the Colorado law for children needing to be in a booster seat states that “under 8″ is the criterion. So we’re done. I can get rid of these car seats (which turns out to be a surprisingly tricky thing because technically it’s illegal to resell them, as detailed in a much earlier blog post I wrote…

  • Wandering Eye: Problem or Just Part of Being a Guy?

    Dave Taylor
    17 Jan 2012 | 11:36 am
    A reader writes… Hi Dave. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind giving me your thoughts on men staring and making other women feel special by asking them questions, complimenting them, and giving them lots of attention when they are married. My husband does this and it has been an ongoing struggle and source of deep pain for me that is ultimately eroding our marriage. He seems to justify it by saying he is not touching or doing anything wrong and that he is just enjoying the beauty around him and that he is being a typical man. Can you give me your thoughts on this and any words of…

  • Is a 4yo Too Young to Use Neutrogena Acne Face Cleaner?

    Dave Taylor
    9 Jan 2012 | 11:45 am
    I get letters. This time, the letter was from a young Mom: Is 4 years old too young to use oil free acne stress control night cleansing pads made by neutrogena? As the mother I use them every night. Some nights my 4 year old son will come in and want to clean his face as well. I didn’t think it would harm him till a friend of mine said it would mess up his skin. Should he not be cleaning his face with this yet, am I harming his face by letting him use the cleansing pads? Here’s how I responded to her, after thinking about it for a while: Personally, I wouldn’t allow my 4yo…

  • Kids, Two Houses and Stuff in the Wrong Place

    Dave Taylor
    4 Jan 2012 | 5:42 pm
    I feel kind of bad for my teen daughter this afternoon. She was with me Thurs-Monday this week and today being Wednesday she’s at her Mom’s place. Problem is, she wants to go to the gym for a workout — which is great! — but her gym bag is here at my place. No worries, her Mom can bring her over and she can pick up the bag, right? On the phone, she assured me that wasn’t a possibility because both Mom and her fiancee were busy. Could I drive into town and drop it off instead? Plleeeaasssee? I couldn’t. I’m preparing for a trip next week and am trying…
 
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    Susan Heim on Parenting

  • Super Saturday Giveaway Linky (January 28, 2012)

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:01 pm
    Happy weekend to everyone! I hope you have some special plans. If you’re featuring any great giveaways on your blog or website, please list them in the linky below. And if you love to win prizes, be sure to click through on those listed here. You’ll also want to check out the fantastic giveaways I have listed on my right sidebar. Have a great weekend!

  • Happy Valentine’s Day from Winchell Mountain Coffee and Sandra Boynton! (GIVEAWAY)

    26 Jan 2012 | 5:21 pm
    I recently discovered Winchell Mountain Coffee, and it is SO good! They’re very selective about which beans they use in their coffees, and their products are vacuum-packed into one-way goglio valve bags for premium freshness! I can really taste the difference when I drink Winchell Mountain Coffee. Most other coffees seem “blah” in comparison. My husband and I have especially enjoyed their Wide Awake Coffee in the mornings. The package describes it as “a bold and zesty premium blend,” and that is right on target! It has a very rich and robust flavor that really helps us get started…

  • See’s Candies Is the Ultimate Valentine’s Day Destination for the Chocolate Lover

    26 Jan 2012 | 8:50 am
    I was first introduced to See’s Candies by relatives who live on the West Coast. Their chocolate candies are fabulous! And, of course, See’s Candies make perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day! Check out some of the delicious items I found on their website:They have a wonderful selection of goodies for Valentine’s Day. And if you or your recipient aren’t chocolate fans, they have plenty to offer you, too, such as Peanut Brittle and Sour Hearts! Check their website to see if there’s a See’s Candies store near you. I didn’t think we had a store here in south Florida, but I found out…

  • We Love Children’s Classroom Valentines from Minted!

    25 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm
    I’ve never been a big fan of the boxed valentines for children that they have at most stores. They feature the same characters over and over, and the quality is invariably poor. We often tear them trying to get them apart! So, I was really excited to hear that Minted now has classroom Valentine’s Day cards for children. They’re extremely affordable but, best of all, they’re unique and of very high quality! My boys both selected Minted valentine’s cards to give to their classmates. Austen chose this cute baseball design……and Caleb chose this space design (especially since it…

  • Give the Key to Your Heart for Valentine’s Day with a Calendar Key Pendant from Not Just Any Old Day!

    25 Jan 2012 | 9:35 am
    I love jewelry, but the pieces I treasure the most are those that are really unique or show that the giver put a lot of thought into the gift. A Calendar Key Pendant from Not Just Any Old Day fulfills both of those requirements! The Key To My Heart Plated Calendar Key with Swarovski Crystal is one-of-a-kind because you can personalize it with a special date and stone. For example, you can have a red crystal placed on February 14 for Valentine’s Day! Or you can have your loved one’s birthstone put on her birth date. If your sweetheart is a new mom, she’d love a Calendar Key with her…
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    THE FATHER LIFE

  • [OSBURN ON TAP] You Can’t Bully Walter’s Hill

    Chris Osburn
    7 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm
    Beer has been the topic of choice for almost all of my previous articles. I’ve plunged into the land of Italian Amaro and even drank at the table of Jeremiah Weed, but for some odd reason I’ve strayed away from wine for the most part. That changes right now. Today I’m going to tell you about the odd history and the wines of Bully Hill Vineyards. Bully Hill was the first wine I ever tried and because it’s delicious, affordable, local and available at every liquor store in my area, I continue to enjoy it to this day. Also, it’s pretty cool because it has ties to professional sports…

  • [INTERVIEW] NHL’s Mike Mottau

    Chris Osburn
    7 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Mike Mottau is a thirty-three year old defenseman for the New York Islanders. The Quincy, Massachusets native was selected with the 182nd pick by the New York Rangers in the 1997 NHL draft. He played his college hockey at Boston College where he amassed 157 points in four seasons and took home the Hobey Baker Award for best division one player in the country during his senior season. He spent most of the ’00-’01 season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack but was called up to the Rangers for 18 games and registered 3 assists. He spent the next six seasons bouncing around from…

  • [SPORTS] NFL Power Rankings: Week 15

    Chris Osburn
    24 Dec 2011 | 12:27 pm
                            In honor of Chrismahanakwanzakuh, I have decided to be very generous this holiday season and give each team a special present. Team TW 1 A Vince Lombardi Trophy. Anything less would be a disappointment. 2 Some name recognition for Jimmy Graham. Or at least a cool nickname so that we remember who he is. 3 A quick recovery from Anquan Boldin because they’re going to need him if they are going to get far in the playoffs. 4 A DVD copy of the Tom Hanks classic movie Big for Zoltan Mesko because I’m pretty sure…

  • [SPORTS] NFL Power Rankings: Week 13

    Chris Osburn
    11 Dec 2011 | 12:10 pm
      Team TW LW 1 1 Fact: the Packers haven’t lost a game since October 3rd, 1987. At least it seems that way. 2 2 I don’t care that the Steelers are the first AFC team to reach ten wins. The Ravens are still better. 3 3 Drew Brees is one of a handful of quarterbacks who are on pace to beat Dan Marino’s season passing record of 5,084. 4 4 Niners clinched their first division title since 2002. Back then it was Garcia to Owens. Now, it’s Smith to Crabtree/Davis. 5 5 Big Ben showed a lot of grit in returning with a bum ankle, but he’s still the least likeable quarterback in the NFL.

  • [OSBURN ON TAP] Basketball And Beer

    Chris Osburn
    3 Dec 2011 | 9:31 pm
    Excited for the big Christmas afternoon basketball rematch between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat? If the NBA season isn’t cancelled, that will probably be the first time you will get a chance to see any professional basketball this year. Fear not, there is other basketball to watch. The best part is that it’s already on and it has been for a few weeks. Many people believe that college basketball is the more exciting, pure version of the sport anyway and they definitely won’t be in a lockout any time soon. The sneakers are squeaking on the courts, the “Cameron Crazies” are…
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    Moms & Dads | Sun Sentinel Blogs

  • SeaWorld makes me sign away my teen's life

    24 Jan 2012 | 9:45 am
    Last night I had to sign a form saying I accept that my daughter may die during her upcoming youth group trip to SeaWorld. Here's what the form said: "There is a chance your child may be seriously injured or killed by participating in this activity because there are certain dangers inherent in the activity which cannot be avoided or eliminated. By signing this form you are giving up your child's right and your right to recover from the released parties in a lawsuit for any personal injury, including death, to your child or any property damage that results from the risks that are a natural…

  • Organic milk shortage: What milk should I buy now?

    17 Jan 2012 | 1:05 pm
    Have you noticed the little signs in the organic milk section of Publix that apologize for the empty shelves? A national organic milk shortage has hit us here in Florida. According to the New York Times, organic milk farmers' costs are going up and they are decreasing the amount of milk they produce, thus creating not only empty shelves but higher prices. I had been alternating buying organic milk with Publix's brand milk since Publix stopped buying from suppliers who injected their cows with hormones in 2007. I figure Publix's milk is almost organic now. Now I guess I won't have that choice…

  • Yoga injuries: An unwelcome trend

    10 Jan 2012 | 8:30 am
    What a cliche: I hurt myself in yoga class. I visited a new class and the teacher had us doing up-dogs into down-dogs into up-dogs for several minutes, encouraging us to roll over our toes. I was able to do this for the first time, but I paid the price, with excruciating back pain that lasted about a week. Now I see that getting injured is more common than I realized. A new book by a New York Times reporter, William J. Broad, is summarized in this article with a great title: "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body." So many people invite injury by doing the poses wrong, and teachers don't correct them.

  • Jay-Z makes mad love song for baby Blue Ivy Carter

    9 Jan 2012 | 2:20 pm
    Word on the web is that new papa Jay-Z wrote this little ditty for his daughter Blue Ivy Carter. He references a miscarriage Beyonce had and that their daughter was conceived in the City of Lights. It's a sweet rap but doesn't top Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely."

  • Two-week winter break is too long

    4 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    My three teenagers are loving this two-week-long winter break, which in Palm Beach County is actually two weeks and two days. They get to sleep late and hang out at home most of the day. I, however, like to see them busier and more productive. So I can't wait until this second week of break is over. Many school systems around the country end right before Christmas and come back right after New Year's Day. But in Palm Beach and Broward counties, the break lasts two full weeks, although Broward schools started again on Monday after the last day of Dec. 16. The long vacation is hard on working…
 
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    Parent Hacks

  • Organize art supplies with dollar store bins + laminated labels

    Asha Dornfest
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:46 pm
    via tinyleafstudio.com Several attendees of the "Getting Organized" chat asked for tips on how to organize art supplies. My overarching strategy for all organizing projects is "Simplify, Routinize, Delegate," and Jess of Tiny Leaf Studio did just that with her craft closet. Simplify: Declutter then sort the art supplies into categories. That way you know how much storage space you need and how many containers to buy. Routinize: Create a home for each category of supplies. In this case, Jess chose a closet shelf and clearly-labeled handled bins. Having a specific home for…

  • Writer, mother, extrovert: a tricky balance

    Asha Dornfest
    25 Jan 2012 | 1:18 pm
    How did I, a fundamentaly social person, end up self-employed as a writer, followed by stay-at-home motherhood? Two of the most isolating, solitary jobs one could do? In my latest post at Babble Voices, I talk about how easy it can be to forget about your fundamental needs even as you walk down the path toward a full and happy life. And one easy thing you can do to adjust course. Read the full post at Babble Voices: The Accidental Expert: Writer, Mother, Extrovert: A Tricky Balance

  • New favorite craft material: polymer clay

    Asha Dornfest
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:38 am
    Polymer clay (such as Sculpey and Fimo) has everything going for it: it's inexpensive, widely-available, versatile, long-lasting, easy to use, easy to clean up, and open to endless interpretation. Best of all, it's one of those magic materials (like Legos, unlike Play-Doh) that provides double-fun: fun in the crafting, and fun in playing with the finished product. (Once you've made something out of polymer clay, you bake it for 15 minutes. After your creation cools it's pretty much unbreakable.) My daughter spent hours one rainy weekend fashioning tiny polymer clay treasures.
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    Tech Savvy Mama

  • Dam Dam Haiti- #Bloggers4Haiti Introduce Technology

    27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
    Imagine beingintroduced to the internet for the first time and realizing its amazingcapabilities.  That’s what we wereable to provide to the women of Dam Dam Haiti during our visit.  20 of the 60 Dam Dam membersDam Dam isthe name of a cooperative made up of 60 ladies who reside in Leogane, acountryside town an hour outside Port au Prince that was the epicenter of theHaiti earthquake.  Dam Dam Haiticomes together- 20 women at a time- to create paper máche crafts out ofrecycled materials.  They sitaround low tables in one of the rooms in a 3 room school house to…

  • Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for Middle School Students

    26 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Do you have a buddingscientist in your home? Discovery Educationand 3M aresearching middle schools nationwide to find “America’s Top Young Scientist” forthe 2012 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Competing for the chanceto win more than $25,000 in cash and prizes, students create a one- totwo-minute video communicating the science behind a solution for an everydayproblem in one of the following categories: The way we move;The way we keepourselves healthy;The way we make a difference.Ten finalists will beselected to participate in an exclusive summer mentorship…

  • eBay MoneyMakers: Seller success stories

    25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    If you've ever pondered the possibility of eBay being a way to increase your income substantially, Amy and Tristen O'Brien of Westfield, Indiana did just that.The O’Brien family had just relocated for a job that was eliminated soon after the move. With a new baby, the two income family had dropped to no income and needed to generate cash quickly. The O’Briens turned to eBay to sell household items to fund their day-to-day expenses. Once Tristen’s selling proficiency increased, he turned to clearance and vintage items to resell to make additional income. Through the eBay MoneyMakers…

  • 7 Bowl Game Party Essentials from OpenSky

    24 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Everyone always has a favorite team whenSuper Bowl Sunday comes around and whether you’re a die hard fan who isthrilled that your team has made it to Indianapolis or are rooting for theopposition out of spite, score a touchdown with your friends by hosting thebest game day party with these finds from OpenSky.KegStoolselected by Zane Lamprey — $149Everyone needs a place tosit while watching the game and since we know it’s a real party foul toaccidentally knock over the keg, turn it into a stool!  This kit comes with everything you needto build your KegStool to dress up your home bar…

  • Sustainable Income Through Art #Bloggers4Haiti

    23 Jan 2012 | 1:18 am
    Croix des Bouquets is a reknowned artist communityHaiti may be a poor country but the people here are proud.  Rather than wanting handouts or taking to begging in the streets, Haitians want to learn practical skills that will allow them to work and generate a steady income for their families.  They believe in creating a better future for their children by earning money to send them to private school but require funds in order to do so.Beadwork by Jean BaptisteHaiti is country full of color and creativity where art is ingrained in the culture.  Everywhere you go there are…
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    Earnest Parenting

  • Parenting Link Roundup

    Amy LeForge
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:25 pm
    Welcome to the January 28, 2012 edition of parenting link roundup. Sue Waters presents 10 Frightening Facts About Teen Drivers posted at Confessions from the Crib: How To Make Baby Food: 5 Easy Steps posted at What Exactly Is A Good Baby? Or A Bad One? posted at To Dance or Not To Dance: Are We Overscheduling? | Stress and Health Online Blog posted at 10 Signs Your Daughter is a Tomboy posted at 10 Things Tom Sawyer Would Have Tweeted posted at Au Pair » 10 Homemade Kids Cakes They Will Love posted at 10 Ways a Nanny Could Violate Your Trust posted at

  • Orthodontic Work Can Stress Kids Out

    Amy LeForge
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:51 pm
    БогородицаSo, the younger boys have needed some orthodontic treatment for quite a while. We bit the bullet a couple of months ago and had them evaluated. Each needed an appliance installed to straighten out their bite and avoid surgery in the future.This has not been an easy process. Both boys were less than pleased about the prospect, even though we explained very carefully that the risks of NOT getting treatment were much greater than going through with it. They’ve been as cooperative as they could be overall, but…

  • How to Make Pre-Kindergarten Successful for Your Child

    Amy LeForge
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:11 pm
    Pre-kindergarten is the first formal classroom education that children between the ages of 3-5 attend. The purpose of a pre-kindergarten is to familiarize children with typical school atmosphere. As kindergartens are meant to be academically oriented, children are gradually introduced to school schedules in their pre-kindergarten.At their young age, children are more creative with eagerness to learn anything. Parents, must therefore, take enough care not to over burden them with studies.Pre-kindergarten is not mandatory for children, but it is beneficial for them as long as it remains…

  • Parenting Help: Teach About Racism

    Amy LeForge
    23 Jan 2012 | 1:47 pm
    One of the 9 year olds made a comment the other day that something or other was black, and his twin immediately accused him of being racist.What????!?I called them over to chat, and eventually determined they’d learned from older brothers that talking about colors like brown or black was racist. (Made note to self: repeat this discussion with older boys STAT.) Then I explained that true racism is believing that one person is better than another based only on the color of their skin. Which is ridiculous. Skin color doesn’t automatically make anyone better. Or worse.Then I explained…

  • Ergonomic Solutions for Homeschooling Laptop Users

    Melissa Cameron
    22 Jan 2012 | 4:10 pm
    Almost everyone nowadays owns a laptop. The only problem with this is that most people are never taught the proper ergonomic techniques associated with owning one. It can be unhealthy for your wrists and joints if you are not properly positioned when using your laptop. It can lead to even more severe health issues down the road. Luckily, all of this mayhem can be avoided if you follow the guidelines presented in this article.Ergonomic Solution #1: Docking StationsLaptops are meant for portability. This is evident in the fact that they have crammed keyboard spacing, tiny monitors, and small…
 
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    Radical Parenting

  • 1/20/12: Articles for Parents This Week

    Vanessa Van Petten
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    Hello readers! Thank you for all of the support over the last few weeks. We are excited to announce that we are now on:Family Circle Magazine’s Teen Tween Advisory Board!Be sure to pick up a copy and you will see us in there! Top Articles: Do Our Social Patterns From High School Stay With Us…Forever? Awareness [...]

  • Body Image Awareness for Girls

    Vanessa Van Petten
    26 Jan 2012 | 5:43 am
    This article is by our resident school counselor at Radical Parenting. Check out her bio and other articles or submit a question at School Counselor’s Corner: Q&A with Dr. A.  “Oh my gosh, aren’t they so cute?”  Just look at the adorable, chunky thighs on that baby!  We say it with such affection and genuine [...]

  • I Hate My Teenage Daughter

    Intern
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am
    Brianna is an 18-year-old from Webster, NY. Her true passions lie in helping others, in playing tennis and in trying new things. She doesn’t know where life will take her, but she is excited to find out. I hate I Hate My Teenage Daughter. This new Fox show depicts the lives of two former social [...]

  • What’s Goin’ On: Jonah Mowry’s Inspiring Video

    Intern
    21 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
    Matt is a 17-year-old from New York City, NY. He loves to be social and spend time with his friends, as well as being an active leader in his community. However, school also plays an important role in his life and he is motivated to achieve his dreams.   In this day and age, if [...]

  • The Busier You Are…The Happier Your Marriage?

    Vanessa Van Petten
    19 Jan 2012 | 6:43 am
    A new study suggests that women who are busier at work are also happier with their marriages. This comes as a surprise to many busy women who feel overwhelmed with their work schedules and personal lives. However, I have recently learned that women who are actively occupied with work have happier marriages!   Researchers of [...]
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    Mommy Daddy Blog

  • Snowtographs

    Sheena
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:05 am
    The snow that I so desperately wanted before the holidays came (albeit late) and went. Now, I am craving Spring. I need some green grass and morning dew in my life. Of course we can just pick up and move to the south. Having the flexibility to do so is so wonderful, but we’re just not ready. So I will continue to b-word about it until that time comes, lol. Anywho, I took some photos before the snow melted and I wanted to share them with you :). Sidenote: I look back at photos from previous Winter’s and realize that Jayden always seems to be growing out of his coat. I just picked…

  • She {hearts} Phix Drinks

    Drea
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:22 am
    How many of you drink mostly water, but on occasion would love a treat to drink? Or maybe you drink a lot of soda, but would love to cut back with a sweet, yet healthy alternative. Phix is a company I came to learn about… that offers an energy herbal drink powder line, as well as a sleep line. Each blend packed full of green tea anti-oxidants and other added vitamins. I got the chance to try not only their energy line but also their sleep line. I will say that I preferred the energy to the sleep… only because I am not a huge fan of lemon. That being said their energy mix…

  • She {hearts} Strawesome

    Aliesha
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    I came across a neat company recently that sells reusable glass drinking straws.  “Why choose glass straws?” you may ask.  Well, there are many reasons (click here for the top ten reasons to choose reusable glass straws), but I personally prefer to use them because they are toxin-free (no BPAs or phthalates) and reduce waste. Plus, they look cute and are fun to use! Strawesome sent me a Barely Bent Going Green Straw to try out.  I love it!  I picked green because I think it looks like a Starbuck’s straw.  I was worried that glass straws would be too… well,…

  • She {hearts} Nada

    Elisabeth
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am
    Being a yoga instructor, I have known the importance of foot and posture health for many years. I know that being barefoot is best, but unfortunately we can’t be on a yoga mat all the time. I have been interested in minimalist shoes for awhile, but I didn’t know you could have fashion coincide with this concept. Walking around looking like I was wearing gloves on my feet wasn’t gonna happen. Nada offers two minimalist style Somnio shoes, one for running and other forms of fitness, and a ballet style, more for everyday. The ballet flat has been my go-to shoe. They’re so…

  • She {hearts} Krimson Klover

    Sheena
    23 Jan 2012 | 4:02 am
    Part of what gets me into the Winter spirit are boots and sweaters. Fair Isle sweaters especially. I just fall for them every time. I was recently introduced to Krimson Klover who are like THE lady sweater emporium! Krimson Klover offer what they like to call Knits With a Twist. All of their sweaters not only keep in the warmth, but they dress up like nobody’s business. Krimson Klover offers styles that are sexy, flirty, and fun… so there’s a little something for everyone! I received the Eva sweater and it is gorgeous! I chose grey (flannel/ivory) because it can be worn with…
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    Tipps, Tricks, Leben: fastblogger Blog

  • Die Heckenpflanze Aronia: Schmackhaft und gesund

    admin
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:47 am
    Dass die Natur viel zu bieten hat, vor allen Dingen was Pflanzen in ihrer reinen Form anbelangt, wissen die meisten Menschen. So werden die meisten Pflanzen mit der Zubereitung in der Industrie und der Fälschung ihres Ursprungs in ihrer Wirkungsweise zerstört. Das ist bedauerlich, da viele Pflanzen, die wir in ihrem Ursprungszustand in der Natur vorfinden, eine heilende Wirkung auf den menschlichen Organismus haben können. So kennen wir diverse Pflanzen, wie zum Beispiel Salbei oder Kamille als Hausmittel, eine wohltuende Wirkung bei Entzündungen und äußerliche…

  • Arzneitees: Natur für die Gesundheit nutzen

    admin
    13 Dec 2011 | 6:42 am
    Krankheiten werden heutzutage klassischerweise mittels Schulmedizin behandelt. Dennoch haben sich auch in den letzten Jahren alternative und anerkannte Heilmethoden etabliert, die von immer mehr Menschen genutzt werden. Tee als traditionelle Therapie Die Krankheitsbehandlung durch Arzneitee, auch Heiltee genannt, stellt eine traditionelle Therapieform dar. Die Hauptbestandteile stammen aus dem Naturheilkundebereich. Heilpflanzen und Heilkräuter werden für vielerlei Alltagsbeschwerden und Krankheiten eingesetzt. Arzneitee eignet sich einerseits zur alleinigen Anwendung, andererseits…

  • Urlaub in Puerto de la Cruz

    admin
    7 Dec 2011 | 4:34 am
    Puerto de la Cruz ist ein malerischer Ort, im Norden der Insel Teneriffa gelegen. Das einstige Fischerdorf ist heute ein beliebtes Urlaubsziel, das sehr viel Abwechslung bietet. Die beeindruckende Landschaft, die die idyllisch gelegene Stadt umgibt, macht sie zur Perle des Nordens. In der Altstadt können Sie unter Palmen spazieren gehen, in einem der gemütlichen Cafés vom Alltag abschalten aber auch die ausgezeichnete kanarische Küche genießen. Also perfekt für einen schönen Urlaub. Freizeitaktivitäten in Puerto de la Cruz Puerto de la Cruz bietet sich…

  • Auf dem Schlitten durch den Schornstein: Nikolaus und der Weihnachtsmann

    admin
    30 Nov 2011 | 7:05 am
    Endlich ist es wieder soweit, der Nikolaus kommt! Am Vorabend des 6. Dezember steigert sich vor allem bei den Kleinen die Aufregung bereits ins fast Grenzenlose und wird nur noch kurz vor dem Heiligen Abend übertroffen. Die Vorbereitungen im Kindergarten liefen die letzten Wochen schon auf Hochtouren: Es wurden Gedichte gelernt, Kinderlieder geprobt und Gebete aufgesagt, Krippenspiele eingeübt und endlos lange Wunschlisten geschrieben und gemalt. Aber auch zu Hause lies sich so manche Mutter von der weihnachtlichen Stimmung anstecken. Der Nikolausstiefel wurde aus dem Versteck des…

  • Immobiliendarlehen mit dem Tilgungsrechner selbst optimieren

    admin
    5 Sep 2011 | 10:01 am
    Viele Bauherren und Käufer trauen sich an einen Tilgungsrechner nicht heran. Dabei kann er ihnen helfen, die Baufinanzierung maßgeblich zu optimieren. Bei der Suche nach der passenden Baufinanzierung handelt es sich um eine Aufgabe, die vom Großteil der potentiellen Darlehensnehmer vollkommen falsch eingeschätzt wird. Viel zu häufig wird der Aufwand unterschätzt – und gleichzeitig trauen sich viele Interessenten nicht richtig an die Thematik heran. Deshalb vertrauen sie vor allem ihren Bank- und Finanzierungsberatern. Allerdings ist dies nicht gerade die beste…
 
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    Blisstree » LIVE

  • Afternoon Links: Prep A Quick And Healthy Dinner

    Emily Moorhouse
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pm
    • Master the art of resilience. (HuffPost Fitness) • Ways to prep a quick, healthy dinner. (fitsugar) • A quick fix for feeling down in the dumps. (The Stir) • Can you make your husband change? (YourTango) • How to handle your debt. (HuffPost Women • How to handle difficult people. (YouBeauty) • Vegetable cocktails you should try. (Organic Authority) • Health and fitness books you should buy. (Well + Good) Post from: Blisstree

  • 6 Reasons Why Your Period Might Be Irregular

    Hanna Brooks Olsen
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm
    Contrary to what you may be inclined to believe by the period-shaming media, your monthly flow is not embarrassing, not blue, not consistant, and often, not monthly at all. In fact, for most women, at some point in their lives, unusual menstruation is the norm–and that perfect, 28-day cycle is an illusive creature, like a hormonal unicorn leaping over rainbows of body-positive tampon ads off on the horizon. But even with that knowledge, when your period does something unpredicted, it can still be worrisome. I asked Heather Corinna, Founder and Executive Director  of…

  • Why Snooki Should Promote Exercise And Diet Instead of Zantrex3

    Briana Rognlin
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm
    I’ve already written about how amazing it is that Snooki‘s new Zantrex commercial features the same music as Jessie Spano‘s caffeine pill breakdown. Now it’s time for me to have a serious talk about her new body and why I’m so bummed that she’s peddling diet drugs instead of focusing on all the other hard work she’s been doing to get healthy. Snooki has been showing off her newly toned (albeit badly photoshopped) body on Twitter since December, and she even appeared on Ellen reporting on her new—dare I say it?—healthy habits, like working out…

  • Anti-Obesity Program Horrors: They May Cause Eating Disorders

    Deborah Dunham
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:40 am
    A new poll says 30% of parents have seen at least one worrisome behavior in their children that could be associated with an eating disorder—and they’re blaming it on school-based anti-obesity programs. Of course, lowering childhood obesity rates is a good thing, but it seems a lot of school programs are taking a dangerous approach: Instead of teaching kids how to life a happy, healthy lifestyle through positive role models, they teach them how not to be obese. The difference—inspiration vs. fear—makes all the difference between controlling obesity and, it appears, eating…

  • Obese Docs Less Likely To Diagnose Obese Patients

    Elizabeth Nolan Brown
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:50 am
    Whether a doctor’s weight interferes with his or her ability to diagnose patients is a question I would normally consider stupid and insulting. But new research shows this actually might be the case—at least when that diagnosis is obesity. According to a study published this month in the journal Obesity, doctors who were overweight or obese were far less likely to diagnose obesity than docs in the normal weight range. The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, surveyed 500 doctors across the United States. Researchers found doctors with a ‘normal’…
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    Raising A Healthy Family

  • Why Didn’t I Think of That? Easy Prescription Reminder

    Char
    19 Jan 2012 | 7:23 am
    Pin itIf you haven’t discovered Pinterest yet, you are definitely missing out on a great way to find things you like and file them for future reference. I was on Pinterest this morning when I saw this: Immediately, I thought “Why didn’t I think of that?” With different members of the family needing to take different medications – some twice a day for 5 days, others 3 times a day for 10 days, it gets really hard to remember who has had what and who needs what. This photo solves the problem of keeping track of what medication has been taken. Take a simple Sharpie…

  • Menu Plan Monday January 2

    Char
    2 Jan 2012 | 8:01 am
    Pin itHappy New Year!! The Christmas Tree is down, decorations are put away, and now its time to tackle 2012 head on! The one thing that starts my week off right is a menu plan – without it, we are lost – we don’t eat right, it costs more money, and I feel stressed.  So, here is the plan for this week: Monday – BLT Sandwiches & Soup Tuesday – Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken, Rainbow Salad (see below for recipe) and Sweet Potato Fries Wednesday – Sloppy Joes, Macaroni & Cheese, Tossed Salad Thursday – Angel Hair Pasta with Meatballs, Salad…

  • Gardiner Shortbread Recipe

    Char
    15 Dec 2011 | 7:43 am
    Pin it My favorite shortbread cookie recipe is the one my best friend’s Mother has used for years. It is so easy to follow and make and the best part is when I want the cookies I just slice and bake! No more eating the entire tray while I wait for the next to come out. In the time it takes me to make tea I can bake 3 (or 6) shortbread to enjoy with my tea. Print Add this recipe to ZipList! Gardiner Shortbread Recipe Ingredients2 cups of all purpose flour 1 tbsp white sugar 1/3 cup of icing sugar 1 cup of butter at room temperatureInstructionsMix all the above ingredients in a stand…

  • Quick Last Minute Gift: Ranch Pretzels

    Char
    15 Dec 2011 | 1:59 am
    Pin it If you need a last minute gift idea for teachers, co-workers, neighbors or friends or an irresistible snack for the party table, check out this recipe I have borrowed from a good friend of mine. I added a Christmas touch – calling them Rudy’s Rockin’ Pretzels, but these are good anytime – for football parties, poker night, birthday parties, you name it. Print Add this recipe to ZipList! Rudolph's Rockin' Ranch Pretzels Ingredients 12 oz. of Orville Redenbacher’s butter flavored popcorn oil (or light canola oil) 1 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. onion powder 2 TBS…

  • Are You Really Healthy with Bad Eyeglasses?

    Char
    29 Nov 2011 | 8:04 am
    Pin itWhen was the last time you had your eyes checked? If it was over two years ago, the time has come to go visit your ophthalmologist or optometrist. Why? Because your vision is nothing to joke about. We spend countless hours at the gym running, cycling, lifting weights – just to appear healthy. We also spend a lot of time meal planning, weighing out foods, and peering at nutritional charts just to make sure we’re eating balanced meals. But what about our eyes? Isn’t having your eyes checked to see if we need eyeglasses an important part of being healthy? You’d be…
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    gspn.tv - Generally Speaking Production Network » Full Time Mom

  • 184 Full Time Mom – From The Entire of My Heart!

    Cliff Ravenscraft
    6 Jan 2012 | 11:28 am
    Well my friends, with a great deal of thought and prayer going into this, that I have made the decision to end the Full Time Mom podcast. This final episode will certainly explain to you all the details behind my decsion. The good news is that I’m not going very far. In fact, you can be assured that absolutely 100% of anything and everything I would have shared in any potential future episodes of the Full Time Mom podcast will be included in either the Family From The Heart podcast that I do with my husband at or in the Authentic Life Radio podcast that I do with my best friend, Sarah…

  • 183 Full Time Mom – Still Alive – Just Otherwise Distracted

    Cliff Ravenscraft
    11 Nov 2011 | 8:45 am
    In this episode, Stephanie catches you up on what she’s been up too, such as: - The kids fired her - Working for Cliff - The Dark Journey - Gaining 10 lbs - Plans for a fast You can follow Stephanie: http://Twitter.com/FullTimeMom Also, you can leave feedback for the show on our voice mail hotline by calling 859-795-4067. Thanks For Subscribing To The Full Time Mom Podcast:

  • 182 Full Time Mom – Somebody Got Married

    Cliff Ravenscraft
    14 Sep 2011 | 2:03 pm
    This show was originally recorded several days ago. I am just now getting around to publishing this episode online. Unfortunately, I don’t have any notes about what Stephanie shared when she was recording. I’ll be listening to this episode, myself, later today. You can follow Stephanie: http://Twitter.com/FullTimeMom Also, you can leave feedback for the show on our voice mail hotline by calling 859-795-4067. Thanks For Subscribing To The Full Time Mom Podcast:

  • 181 Full Time Mom – If You Dream It You Can Be It?

    Cliff Ravenscraft
    18 Aug 2011 | 8:22 am
    In this episode of The Full Time Mom, Stephanie shares some thoughts after her first few days of homeschooling. She shares that more than one person in our home has Bieber Fever. She also shares her thoughts on something our pastor said during his sermon about the statement that “If I can dream it, I can be it.” You can follow Stephanie: http://Twitter.com/FullTimeMom Also, you can leave feedback for the show on our voice mail hotline by calling 859-795-4067. Thanks For Subscribing To The Full Time Mom Podcast:

  • 180 Full Time Mom – It Is My Birthday

    Cliff Ravenscraft
    11 Aug 2011 | 9:07 am
    Stephanie records this episode of The Full Time Mom on her birthday. In the episode, she explains why the show is currently being taken off the Live Show schedule on Thursdays. Unfortunately, I don’t have any notes about the various topics that were covered in episode to share here in the show notes. However, you can simply have a listen to hear what is going on with Stephanie just one week before she starts Homeschooling. Here’s the image that Stephanie mentioned in the episode: You can follow Stephanie: http://Twitter.com/FullTimeMom Also, you can leave feedback for the show on…
 
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    FreeRangeKids

  • Why Are Parents So Scared? Ask Barry “Culture of Fear” Glassner

    lskenazy
    27 Jan 2012 | 8:59 am
    Hi Folks! Just read a wonderful, cogent Q&A with Barry Glassner, the author of The Culture of Fear and now the prez of Lewis & Clark University. He’s been tracking our escalating worries for over a decade and come to the same conclusions as me (he came to them first!!)  about where the fear is coming from and perhaps how to fight it. My favorite part of the interview: Why are so many people afraid of such extreme possibilities?  We need to be careful to distinguish how people respond to fear mongering and who is spreading the fears. If we ask why so many of us are losing sleep…

  • Outrage of the Week: Mom HANDCUFFED for Tardy Kids

    lskenazy
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:25 pm
    Hi Folks — This blog, as you know, is always trying to distinguish between real threats to children and the over-hyped ones. In this case, the fear of children being neglected or falling behind has gone overboard.  The mom is due in court this morning  – Wednesday. I wish her a lot of luck, and a judge with compassion and common sense. — L. Dear Free-Range Kids: Here in Loudoun, VA,  I am a the mother of three little girls at an elementary school who was just ARRESTED for getting my girls late to school. After the fifth offense there was a meeting with a truant officer.

  • College Student in Burning House Calls Parents — Not 911

    lskenazy
    23 Jan 2012 | 9:37 pm
    Hi Readers: Please don’t think I’m posting this as a “blame the victim” story, as I myself don’t know if I’d keep my wits about me in a fire. The story, nonetheless, is this: A house shared by seven members of Boston University’s Sigma Alpha Mu went up in flames on Sunday morning: BU Police Chief Thomas Robbins says his department received a call from a parent of one of the students in the apartment, whose first response was to call home. Robbins says he hopes that students learn to make their first and immediate call to 911 or to the BUPD at…

  • Worried About Internet Bullying & Predators? Props to Danah Boyd!

    lskenazy
    23 Jan 2012 | 7:17 am
    Hi Folks! Here’s a great profile of Danah Boyd, an Internet researcher who hops over hysteria to look at how young folk really use social media. I heard her speak at a Family Online Safety Institute conference, and, as the NY Times profile points out: “She was the first to say that the teenagers at risk off line are the same ones who are at risk online,” said Alice Marwick, a postdoctoral researcher at Microsoft who works closely with Dr. Boyd. “It’s not that the Internet is doing something bad to these kids, it’s that these bad things are in kids’ lives and the Internet is…

  • And We Worry About Our Kids Walking a Couple Blocks to School

    lskenazy
    21 Jan 2012 | 7:22 pm
    Hi Folks: I don’t think I need to comment here, except to say I would be just as terrified at that one girl looks. — L.
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    The Imperfect Parent

  • Parenting Outside the Razor Wire

    Sandra Ray
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Single parents can face some difficult parenting decisions in part because they do not have someone to share parenting responsibilities. Having someone to “share the load” helps decrease stress, increase self-esteem, and reinforce ideas that what the parent is doing is beneficial to a child’s long-term growth and development. What happens, though, when parents are separated by a prison sentence? Essentially, the parent “outside the razor wire” becomes a single parent with only intermittent input into the decisions that parents need to make every day when it comes…

  • Calling foul on 'redshirting'

    Jessica
    23 Jan 2012 | 2:35 pm
    For those unfamiliar with the term "redshirting," it's the act of holding a child back from Kindergarten in order to give them an academic or sports advantage. It gives the child a full year advantage on size and maturity over their peers. For the academic advantage, the thought is that giving them a year to mature and learn more fundamentals will give them a leg up in the classroom. For the sports-minded parent, redshirting gives the child a potential size and strength advantage over other kids. But I call foul. I think redshirting is cheating, sends a bad message to the child and is…

  • Coping with the Adoption Option

    Natasha Johnson
    11 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    I’ve cried myself to sleep every night for months, wondering if my children will ever forgive me. Wondering if I’ll ever forgive myself. The decision wasn’t easy, and I still try to balance the good vs. bad reasons for making it. I still have time; I won’t give birth for at least another week. It’s always my decision, until the very end. Until my baby is legally resting in the hands of her new mother and father. I already have a one-year-old daughter, and a two-year-old son. It’s them I think of when I get a little kick under my ribs. How will they feel…

  • 'Extreme Couponing': Overindulgent and rude

    Jessica
    9 Jan 2012 | 3:22 pm
    Hello. I would like to extend an invitation to every extreme couponer out there. Please feel free to come to my house so that I can kick YOU in the crotch. You deserve it. After watching a handful of people who have found an artful way around the system by making a career out of cutting coupon after coupon after coupon on TLC's 'Extreme Couponing', I had to come here and set the record straight on this latest, something for nothing scheme. I was so pissed after watching these self absorbed drains on society that I turned the channel. Even more obnoxious -- was watching them boast about buying…

  • Breastfeeding in public: Is this a made up problem?

    Jessica
    29 Dec 2011 | 2:31 pm
    Another day, another 'nurse-in'. Time for my quarterly 'I'm too kewl and genius for the room ''cause I breastfeed anywhere I want' story. I write these as often as the new mommy cries for attention get national coverage and then I watch my Facebook and Twitter fans dwindle in response because I have dared to question the sanctity and moral relevance of the breast. I may be an asshole, but I would argue, it's not for this reason. This time, my nurse in eye-roll honors Michelle Hickman, a Houston, Texas mom who reportedly got offended when it was suggested to her that maybe she go into the…
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    Graco Heart to Heart Blog

  • Introducing the New Graco Ready2Grow Stand and Ride Stroller!

    Melissa Parlaman
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:28 am
    Graco is excited to announce our newest double stroller, the Ready2Grow stand and ride stroller. Most people are probably more familiar with Graco’s tandem double strollers (DuoGlider, Quattro Tour Duo), which are the ones that the two kids sit back to back. What is so exciting about this double stroller is that it provides 12 riding options for your kids (yup, I said 12). You can still snap in two Graco infant car seats into this double stroller but there are also so many other seating configurations to choose from. Your older child can sit on the bench seat or stand on the platform,…

  • Babies, Bundles, and Bumps #74-”May the Force Be With You”

    Kacie McKee
    25 Jan 2012 | 1:52 pm
    I always forget not only how much energy little boys have, but how early the energy starts to exude itself.  In a recent trip to New York to visit my half-brothers, I found myself awake at 5:30am being dragged out of bed to play Star Wars. I pushed the sleep from my eyes, downed a cup of coffee and set-out to spend “quality” time with the little ones that I never get to see. I was surprised at how quickly being 5 years old came back to me. Soon we were making up all sorts of games, and rules and safe zones. Then we had the brilliant idea of creating a barrier wall and a…

  • Prepping for Preggers: Work + Life

    Megan Roe
    19 Jan 2012 | 4:36 pm
    Being a working, married woman, it’s sometimes hard to avoid questions about whether or not we are planning to have kids – and if so, will I continue to work?  You would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn’t!) at how many people feel comfortable asking you that question.  And, honestly, it’s a hard one to answer.  I love being a designer for children’s products, but I guess you never know what life is going to hand you when it’s your time to be a parent.  It’s hard to predict.  I frequently read Cup of Jo, and recently she did a series on how…

  • Let Him Cry

    Graco Contributors
    17 Jan 2012 | 3:20 pm
    *Thanks to Dan, a new dad here at Graco, for contributing this post!* Let him cry and the tears will run down both of your faces. Getting baby to sleep through the night is no easy task. You should know that our baby is pretty close to being perfect in the sense that he is very easy to take care of…. Except for sleeping through the night. Poor little guy still gets up to eat, every morning around 3am. We feed him, bathe him, tuck him in, still every night we have broken sleep. Four days ago we started to do as the doctor recommended, we let him cry. Supposedly, babies will cry and then…

  • FAQ: Graco Smart Seat™ All-in-One Car Seat

    Kelly Voelker
    13 Jan 2012 | 11:35 am
    *This post was originally created when Smart Seat first launched in 2011, but it’s so popular we thought we’d post it again!* We’ve seen a lot of excitement around Graco’s Smart Seat™ All-in-One Car Seat. We’ve also seen a lot of questions! Here are some of the questions we’ve heard most frequently so far and the answers from the team here at Graco: Will the Smart Seat fit my infant? Yes. The Smart Seat is approved for children 5-100 lbs. Graco has conducted extensive testing to ensure that the seat offers a proper fit for both infants and toddlers. The…
 
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    Family Of Five

  • Metamorphosis

    UltimateDad
    10 Jan 2012 | 8:42 am
    If you’re a longtime reader of this poorly updated blog, you’ll know that our lives went through some peculiar twists and turns in the last twelve months. 2011 was a turning point in our lives: in fitness, in focus and for the future. I start with fitness, because Lisa and I both dropped an enormous amount of weight and started exercising. Our wardrobes changed as our waistlines contracted, and our self-confidence grew: partly due to being so successful at the seemingly insurmountable task of losing weight. Imagine you discover the self-discipline to lose 30kg – what else…

  • Blissful Autumn days out with the children

    UltimateDad
    7 Nov 2011 | 2:30 am
    My wife and I are professional bloggers. It’s a fantastic job in that it allows us to work from home and the infinite flexibility that gives our family. The downside is that we work a lot more than you might imagine. This becomes more of a problem at the weekends, because of the subject matter of our main blog, that’s when we’re most busy. So the dilemma for us is how do we give the children our attention while getting the work done? Answer: divide and conquer. My wife stays at home and works on the site while I take the children for day trips and outings. Some dads might…

  • Rachel At 10

    UltimateDad
    15 Oct 2011 | 6:31 pm
    My daughter – my eldest child – turns 10 years old in a few days. Of course, she’s precocious beyond her years. Ten going on teenager, really. But I think it’s fun when they’re this age to sit and reflect on their journey. After all, it’s been a decade. I remember when she was a baby, I’d come home from work in the afternoon and go for a nap with her. I’m sure it started off as me giving her mum a break, but we’d ultimately settle on the bed and she would fall asleep in the crook of my arm. It was a standing arrangement. Of course all of that was in a different house,…

  • Do too many computer games make children averse to reading books?

    UltimateDad
    7 Jun 2011 | 2:19 pm
    I’m writing this post after a massive stand-off with our middle child. It was literally a three-hour battle of wills. And it was about…a reading homework. Homeworks in our house are lengthy affairs. The kids come home, their returns staggered by about an hour in general. The two youngest are first home, and they get stuck into homework right away. How quickly they finish depends on how focused they are, how tired after school and how hungry. Today, Jake had to do a reading homework in addition to his usual tasks. You could tell right away he was going to be a reluctant…

  • Weight Loss & Fitness Update: The Amazing Week 17!

    UltimateDad
    2 Jun 2011 | 6:22 pm
    Yikes. I noticed that it’s been a while since I’ve done the fitness update on this blog. And that it’s been an incredible 17 weeks since I started this. Wow. The weight loss has continued on its downward trajectory, and I’ve continued to exercise and maintain a healthy diet. Let’s take a look at the weight loss journey as chronicled here on Family Of Five: Week 1 – Weighed in at 109.8kg. This was before any exercise or substantial change of diet. Week 4 – 103.8kg. Quite an inspiring drop in weight. I think it was these big initial changes in weight…
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    UnchartedParent.com

  • Kids & Responsibility – Still Working on It

    Tracy Hahn-Burkett
    26 Jan 2012 | 8:50 pm
    I’ve written about this before, and I’m sure I will again.  How many years have I got until my kids become adults? This will be quick, though, because as I write this post, I’m waiting for the school bus to pull up so I can have one of those conversations with my children.  You know [...]

  • An Odd Twist to Childhood Myths: When Children Become Complicit in Perpetuating Them

    Tracy Hahn-Burkett
    19 Jan 2012 | 2:33 pm
    Neither of my children has ever asked me if the Tooth Fairy is real.  Given their ages and personalities, I find this odd. My ten-year-old son, “Jack,” has always had a good grasp of the distinction between fantasy and reality, and has found both realms equally valid as long as he knows where he is [...]

  • Snow Day

    Tracy Hahn-Burkett
    12 Jan 2012 | 6:35 pm
    Woo-hoo!  It’s finally here: a snow day!  In New Hampshire, we live for snow.  Skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, building forts, hot chocolate by the fire, yippee, hooray, where’s it been until now? Or not. I dislike pointless, bitter, cold weather without snow or, worse yet, freezing rain as much as the next person.  But [...]

  • How to Force Public Schools to Home-School Your Child (It’s the Law)

    Tracy Hahn-Burkett
    5 Jan 2012 | 9:04 pm
    Welcome back from the holidays, everyone.  I hope you had a lovely time with family and friends.  No time to waste here on small talk, though.  Let’s dive right in to the new year. Will you walk with me through a few hypothetical scenarios?  Great.  Let’s go: Your third-grader is learning multiplication in his local [...]

  • Happy Holidays!

    Tracy Hahn-Burkett
    23 Dec 2011 | 12:22 pm
    As I write this, we’re about halfway through our version of the holiday season: one child’s birthday, Hanukkah, Christmas, wedding anniversary and New Year’s.  Yesterday I served cocoa to first-graders, taught fourth-graders how to gamble (i.e., taught them how to play dreidel) and with the help of a friend, prepared enough traditional Hanukkah food-fried-in-oil that [...]
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    Politics to Parenting and Everything in Between

  • #tweet4choice Aren't some choices so abhorrent they should not be made? #prolife #prochoice #parents #kids

    22 Jan 2012 | 4:31 pm
    Have you ever wondered what the pro-choice movement means by 'choice'? Don't we all have freedom of choice in this world? Aren't some choices so abhorrent they should not be made? After all, when the choice is life or death;wouldn't common sense tell you to choose life?In the case of abortion, women are told they have a choice to have the baby or not. In choosing not to have the child and carry to term a woman is given the legal right to hire an abortionist to end her pregnancy,which is essentially ending the life of a new human being at the earliest stage of development.The 'choice' in…

  • Illegal alien sexually assaults,rapes&kills One month old #parents #kids #abuse #tcot

    11 Jan 2012 | 10:15 pm
    If there isn't a better reason to secure our borders than this I don't know what is. In this heinous case a father is charged with raping his one year old daughter. It's not clear if he is the biological father but DNA tests are being taken to determine if he is. Either way, for any adult to do something this despicable to an infant is unforgivable. I don't care if he was on drugs or not, there is no excuse for this barbaric behavior.What makes this case even worse is that he had been deported previously and charged with child sexual abuse once before, however because our borders are not…

  • Baby Girl Abandoned by Protester at #OccupyDC Camp #parents #kids #tcot

    11 Jan 2012 | 9:49 pm
    Now this doesn't really surprise me after all the other crimes from rapes,drug abuse,murders and suicides that have occurred at the Occupy movement encampments throughout the country. Most involved in this movement are after all "prochoice" and the choice to abandon a baby is no different than disposing one in a dumpster or having one removed from your womb by a licensed doctor who makes millions killing the most defenseless among us. Abortion after all to me is the ultimate child abuse, the mothers 'choice' to neglect her commitment/obligation to carry her pregnancy to term& raise her…

  • What's appropriate for senior yearbook photos?? #parents #kids #tcot

    11 Jan 2012 | 2:01 pm
    I've heard about this story and wasn't really going to comment on it,but thought after seeing it online and the picture that was submitted it was worthy of some commentary. Sure the picture is a nice photo for a modeling agency portfolio, but traditional yearbook photos should be used in High School yearbooks. High School yearbooks should set a standard of what is appropriate for students to wear and students should be informed that standard school dress code rules should be adhered to in yearbook photos. I don't know if this was stated before she submitted her photo, but it seems common…

  • Teen strangles&stabs 9yro neighbor to 'know what it felt to kill someone' #parents #kids #prolife

    11 Jan 2012 | 10:10 am
    Today's horrific story of the day comes from Missouri where a then 15yro teen murdered her 9yr old neighbor just 'to see what it felt like to kill someone'.How sad and disgusting, it makes you wonder what kind of society we are raising our kids in when the desire 'to see what it feels like' turns into murder.Too many people think freedom of choice, as in abortion, is a right to kill and take the life of someone. When we are raising our kids in a society that says 'abortion is health care', how can we teach our children that freedom of choice doesn't apply to doing what 'feels good' or a…
 
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    Just Spotted in Orange County

  • Bootcamp in Orange {Hit the Mark Fitness Beach Body Workout}

    K & C
    17 Jan 2012 | 1:45 pm
      One year ago I started attending a bootcamp in Orange – Hit the Mark Fitness Beach Body Workout. I was lured in by his “One Week FREE Trial,” & his promise of guaranteed results. But, by the end of the week, I had become a Hit the Mark Fitness devotee. If you’re ready to start working out, I’d suggest you meet Mark. If you want to change up your fitness regime, & get out of the gym, I’d suggest you meet Mark. If you happen to live anywhere local to the city of Orange, you MUST meet Mark. (I drive 15 minutes each way because he’s that…

  • What to Do in Orange County {January 16 – 22}

    K & C
    16 Jan 2012 | 4:20 pm
      If you’re tired of doing the same old things, & wondering what to do in Orange County, here’s a list of some of our favorite things to do in OC, CA happening this week… For ALL the details for each of the following events (& even more fabulous ideas of what to do) check out our Orange County calendar. What to do in Orange County Almost Daily: * Star Wars at the Discovery Science Museum * Orange County Museums * Bowling * Indoor Bounce Houses * Irvine Park Railroad * Orange County Playgrounds & Parks * Orange County Beaches * Farmers’ Markets * Orange…

  • Harlem Globetrotters at the Honda Center

    K & C
    12 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    Watch history-in-the-making… the Harlem Globetrotters at the Honda Center, & don’t worry – they’re  bringing some amazing hoop-sters with them. Harlem Globetrotters at the Honda Center Check out the Harlem Globetrotters & all their “skills” at the Honda Center on Saturday, February 18th (at 1pm & 7pm). This year’s Harlem Globetrotters team features Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest pro basketball player at 7-8, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5-2, and Fatima “TNT” Maddox, the team’s first…

  • Monster Jam at Angel Stadium

    K & C
    11 Jan 2012 | 11:18 am
    Now don’t laugh, but one of my (& my kids) absolutely favorite event of the year is coming – the Monster Jam at Angel Stadium: Saturday, January 14th, Saturday, January 28th & Saturday, February 11th, 2012. Monster Jam at Angel Stadium Really & truly, if you haven’t even been to a Monster Jam, you don’t know what you are missing. Trust me! I KNEW my boys would love it (there are Monster Trucks involved, after all), but I had no idea that I would love it too. But don’t make the same mistake I did….  be sure to purchase your tickets early,…

  • Star Wars Fan Days {at Discovery Science Center}

    K & C
    10 Jan 2012 | 1:14 pm
    Star Wars Fan Days are coming soon, & you can be sure that the Discovery Science Center will be taking family fun to another galaxy, far, far away… Star Wars Fan Days {at Discovery Science Center} Star Wars Fan Days at Discovery Science Center are guaranteed to be full of adventure, excitement, & definitely “out-of-this-world.” & The best part? Kids (ages 3-14) receive FREE general admissionwhen they wear a Star Wars costume on any Fan day! So get your Star Wars costumes ready, start practicing your Princess Leia hair buns (tutorial here), and circle the…
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    Crazy Adventures in Parenting

  • 33-34 Weeks {Sonogram} Houston, We Have Feet!

    27 Jan 2012 | 4:30 pm
    Monday's photoI had a doctor's appointment today, and the baby proved to be sufficiently stubborn on many levels. Firstly, we found out the baby is breech. Footling breech, to be exact, with a splash of transverse for good measure. Picture the baby chillin' inside me like this:So, the baby is not particularly playing nice at the moment. I've already been Googling and conferring with close friends, and it seems acupuncture, chiropractic care, and homeopathy are on deck to try, to include crazy upside-down embarrassment-inducing poses in attempts to flip the stubborn baby before next week's…

  • Kid-Friendly Cheeseburger Casserole

    26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    She's not the prettiest thing on the plate, but she sure tastes goooood!Once upon a time, I was a kid and my mom ordered one of those old recipe card sets from a cut-out in a magazine. You remember those? For $9.95 and a self-addressed stamped envelope, you could own you're very own recipe collection, mailed right to your door! Who needed informercials or ads on the intrawebs, right?One of the favorite recipes from the circa 1971 Betty Crocker card collection was "Toasty Cheese Bake" - essentially browned beef with cheese, egg, set in a casserole pan with spices and toast. Ridiculously easy,…

  • Toddler Gigantor Nerf Gun War

    25 Jan 2012 | 12:45 pm
    There is no doubt that he's all boy. He may show interest in brushing my hair, putting lotion on me, and regularly chimes in on wanting his nails painted, too, when I paint his sisters. But this Baby Dude boy is all boy.Trucks. Power Rangers. Ninjas. Pretend guns and swords. "Pew pew pew!" he calls out with the guns that don't make sound, and oh, the poses!Rough 'n tough boy, all around. He took the biggest, badded Nerf gun he could find to come "get me."Nevermind the gun was bigger than HE was. Good gravy!"Are you sure you can hold that one, baby?""Yeah, I dot it." He says, maneuvering it,…

  • How to Make Yarn Flowers

    24 Jan 2012 | 12:41 pm
    I'm one of those macaroni necklace wearing moms. I would love to own tons of pretty jewelry, but it's the sentimental stuff that really gets to my heart. I also love wearing stuff that has meaning behind it, a history, if you will. I adore supporting mom-made stuff, too (so, as you can imagine, Etsy is quite a treasure to me). But making stuff with my kids, and for my kids, means a great deal to me, too.After making that knitted hat a couple weeks ago, I was on the look-out for a flower to put on top or match it (like a pin). I'll be the first to admit, while I can crochet and knit, I'm still…

  • Kids Sleep Anywhere, The "Baby Dude is Everywhere" Edition

    23 Jan 2012 | 11:14 am
    After a long, hard day of playing outside, with all that fresh air he enjoyed, he fell out early one night. Disrupting his beauty sleep enough simply changing his diaper, we lovingly put him to bed, (our king-sized bed, mind you), and he TOOK OVER. He's the littlest one (until the new baby is born) and he is, by far, the biggest contortionist of them all.And just when he shifts, and you think you'll be able to lay down, he strikes again.Even poor teddy bear friends are no match for the sleeping Baby Dude. You're not something to cuddle, you're MY PILLOW, pal!Oh boy!(If you haven't noticed, my…
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    Boutique Café

  • Ribbon barrettes make a stylish comeback {GIVEAWAY}

    Emily
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:26 am
    Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say “ribbon barrette.” You’re totally picturing metal barrettes with multicolored ribbon woven through them and long strands accented with beads. You know. Kind of like this: That’s my Lauren sporting a ribbon barrette she made using the new My Ribbon Barrette Maker by Choose Friendship Co., the makers of the original My Friendship Bracelet Maker. The kit comes with everything you need to get started: ribbons, barrettes, beads and of course the actual ribbon barrette maker. The company sent…

  • Pinned for Valentine’s Day

    daria
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:13 pm
    If you’re searching for the perfect Valentine Card ideas and cute themed crafts for February 14th don’t miss out on my Pinterest board! I’ve been collecting the best links and ideas for you to enjoy. Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, and if you’ll please let me know your username I’d LOVE to follow your pins as well. For Valentine’s Day this year let’s get pinned together. – XO Daria Pinterest Valentine’s Day Board

  • ZAGGfolio case for iPad 2

    Emily
    23 Jan 2012 | 7:05 pm
    I am re-posting this ZAGGfolio review on the Daily Dish because this case really is that cool. Trust me! Plus, the review is good for a laugh. You can tell I wasn’t cut out to be a tech gadget vlogger! Original review posted on isthisREALLYmylife.com. Believe you me, this is about as far from a geeky technologically savvy review of the ZAGGfolio for iPad 2 as you can get. Not only did the video file of the final—and best—take go all corrupt and shut down my computer, I had to record the review in my bedroom for two reasons: It was the furthest removed from the kids who were…

  • Girl’s World Valentine’s Day + Giveaway!!

    daria
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:47 pm
    Jennifer Paganelli and I have teamed up to bring you some fun Valentine Day Ideas using her “Girls World” book and patterns. If you’re thinking that a sewing project is in order for your special little girl for Valentine’s Day Jennifer has put together a beautiful book filled with 21 sewing projects for little girls. Utilizing your own sense of style and choices of fabrics you can make and remake these projects to suit any season, including Valentine’s Day. What I love about Girl’s World is how Jennifer has designed patterns for every aspect of a girls…

  • Spring Gift Guide …Coming Soon (Reservations start now!)

    daria
    18 Jan 2012 | 2:59 pm
    Put some Spring in your Step with Boutique Cafe and your business! Time to plan ahead for your upcoming sales and events. Our New Spring Savings Guide is open and currently reserving spaces to promote your stores, boutiques and websites with exclusive promotions for our Boutique Cafe listeners and readers. Details on this deal: The Spring guide will go live Feb 1st – May 1st and continues to be a huge hit with our savvy readers and shoppers each year. Early Bird Reservation – reserve your 125×125 pixel size banner spot, you provide a banner in that size and a brief…
 
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    The Committed Parent

  • Modeling The Uncommon Power of Intelligent Gossip

    Mark Brady
    21 Jan 2012 | 9:56 pm
    I love gossip. And my best friends love it as well. I love watching Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood. I flip through all the gossip magazines at the grocery checkout, I keep up with the Kardashians; I felt excited when Beyoncé gave birth to Lucifer’s Daughter, and had a horse fly named after her all in the first month of this new year. And I was sad to hear about Kobe and Vanessa, and Will and Jada, and Heidi and Seal all biting the dust. As it is so skillful in doing, each of their Wild Storytelling Brains apparently successfully seduced them into believing their own…

  • How Violence Begets Violence: Two Personal Recollections

    Mark Brady
    14 Jan 2012 | 9:16 pm
    There have only been two times in my adult life when I’ve been physically violent in the presence of women. I have never been deliberately violent with them, but I have been out-of-control angry in their presence. The first incident occurred in my early thirties, shortly after I discovered the woman I was in a long term committed relationship with in bed with another man. I’ve written here about that painful episode and the learning and healing I ultimately took away from it. Shortly after that discovery, not unexpectedly, Darika and I got into a seriously heated argument in my front…

  • Correcting Attribution Errors of the Heart

    Mark Brady
    7 Jan 2012 | 10:18 pm
    It wasn’t until my early thirties, after my brain (according to neuroscientists) had supposedly maxed out its neuron count, that I met the first real love of my life, my soul mate, the woman I just knew would mother my children and I would be spending the rest of my life with. Every moment after meeting her was glorious. Big Magic flowed through every dimension of our lives. Miraculous healings took place; strangers smiled at me on the street; children crowded around us in the shopping malls; every song on the radio was “our song;” when I was away from her I could hear her heart…

  • How to Child Abuse a 40 Year Old Mother

    Mark Brady
    1 Jan 2012 | 6:06 am
    This week’s piece comes from a very good friend of mine. She’s offered to share her story publicly for the first time, under a pseudonym for obvious reasons. I’m proud of her and inspired by her courage. May her story serve to hearten and help heal the more than 1 billion women on the planet who have suffered similarly … How to Child Abuse a 40 Year Old Mother by Jenny A. In the 1970’s, sexual abuse was not something people talked about much. Perhaps the subject occasionally crossed my parents’ minds, but not enough for them to stop me from playing at the house of…

  • Six Challenges for Repairing Betrayals of Trust

    Mark Brady
    24 Dec 2011 | 5:36 pm
    When my daughter was around two years old, her mother and I simultaneously surfaced the fear-based thought that it was time to wean her from her “pavrer,” her pacifier. We decided on a ritual to both mark and honor what we felt was a necessary transition (necessary for whom? for what?). So one summer Sunday we packed up the car and headed out to the beach. With us we brought a special dissoluble bottle and some paper and crayons. At the beach we explained that we were going to have a “Farewell Party” and that we would be saying goodbye to her pavrer. Amanda was really excited. She…
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    My Home Sweet Home

  • Camera Phone Friday: Did I Actually Instagram 28 Pictures this Week? Edition

    Dawn
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:11 pm
    1. “She’s a fatty with juicy bits” (@inspiredbryant made me say that) #campcreativpreneur #imabouttoeatthebiggestcinnamonrollever #canyoudeciferthis?, 2. Tea for 2 with @inspiredbryant & my huge cinnamon roll, 3. Squee!!! #campcreativpreneur with @inspiredbryant @holleygerth @nester @redletterwords @lainieb @erinulrich, 4. Loving being a guinea pig at the 1st #campcreativpreneur from @squeeinc! 1. Do you want your crayons back?, 2. Creative goodness from #campcreativpreneur #lovemyjournal, 3. My own pot of Blackberry Sage tea, tarts, & a homemade marshmallow! {le…

  • The 30 Day Shred Facebook Support Group

    Dawn
    25 Jan 2012 | 11:46 pm
    I was in a state of blissful ignorance when I ordered the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred on a late September day. I’d heard it was effective, but not much else. I lost my innocence in a hurry when I ran out and threw up in the middle of Day 1. Yes, I did. Obviously, that first day scared me a bit and I only did the workout 3 more times until a couple of weeks ago when a doctor’s appointment made me realize that I’m actually having health issues—primarily excessively swollen ankles, which can lead to blood clots—from lack of exercise. My doctor recommended walking 2 miles…

  • Psalm 46:1-3

    Dawn
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:36 pm
    God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. ~Psalm 46:1-3 If you’re feeling troubled and low, I hope these verses bring you comfort and remind you of the One who cares. How can I pray for you today? Psalm 46:1-3 is a post from: My Home Sweet Home © 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

  • Camera Phone Friday: Arkansas Adventure Edition

    Dawn
    20 Jan 2012 | 8:38 am
    We were actually at Moe’s four straight days last week. #TrueStory #MoesQuesoIsAddictive And, drum roll please . . . I got a new Tote & Shoot from Shootsac and I LOVE it. I was a little nervous about traveling with only carry ons (you’re limited to one suitcase and either a camera bag or purse), but I’m able to put my camera, Shootsac tucked inside with 3 more lenses, iPad, AND stuff my purse down in it. It’s amazing how much you can stuff in there! To top it off, you can unzip the bottom of a pocket on the back and slide the pop-up handle of your luggage through…

  • Galatians 2:20

    Dawn
    16 Jan 2012 | 12:26 am
    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ~Galatians 2:20 Galatians 2:20 is a post from: My Home Sweet Home © 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved
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    Postcards from the Mothership

  • This week in pictures: in which I am the icon of the downfall of modern photography (no, really!)

    DaniGirl
    21 Jan 2012 | 7:25 am
    My friend Heather thinks I owe you a retraction. Remember this post, where I congratulated myself for my level-headedness and maturity in managing to pull myself out of a frenzy of consumeristic covetousness and NOT impulse-buy a new iPhone 4S? She thinks I owe you a retraction because I went out and actually did buy the new iPhone four days later. I think I deserve a medal for waiting for four whole days. And pro haggler that I am, I managed to wrangle a deal on my data plan so that I’m actually paying less per month for wireless than I was for our ancient non-data-plan Krazr, so…

  • Something I’ve been meaning to say…

    DaniGirl
    20 Jan 2012 | 6:34 pm
    Mommyblogger, a photo by Dani_Girl on Flickr. Cuz yanno, sometimes a picture does say it so much better than a thousand words could. Related posts (automatically generated):2010 in pictures One thousand (!) Project 365 week 3 and a Winterlude interlude

  • Celebrate winter at Manotick’s Shiverfest next weekend

    DaniGirl
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:06 pm
    I read somewhere in the Ottawa media recently that today, January 19, is the official “dead of winter.” Today is the date with the lowest average daily temperature of the entire year, and the average daily temperature creeps upward from here. So now we can officially say that winter is more than half behind us. I was trying to pacify myself with that thought as I scraped that merciless ice off my windows at sparrow’s first fart yesterday morning in the rampaging wind. Summer is coming!! Since winter is on it’s last legs (heh, maybe a little too optimistic?) you might…

  • Snow day!

    DaniGirl
    17 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm
    It’s a snow day here in Ottawa today. The buses have been cancelled and while the schools are still open, we’ve decided to let the boys stay home. I usually ship ‘em off as even in the most treacherous conditions I think they’re better off for a few hours at school than at home, but by a fluke of scheduling both Beloved and I were home anyway, so we let them stay home for a treat. Now that the kids are older, they’re better at entertaining themselves even on a long day at home. They like to play board games, and we’ve always got a craft of some sort on the…

  • Oh Tim Hortons, how you vex me

    DaniGirl
    16 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    I am crazy busy this week. I don’t have time for Internet drama (but oh, there is drama) and I don’t have time for the forecasted 30+ cm of snow between now and Friday (seriously!) and I really don’t have time to talk at any length about coffee. But as we discussed on Twitter this weekend, it’s a simple fact of life: coffee sometimes trumps all. I just got a press release from Tim Hortons. I am still not sure I’ve forgiven them for their Christmas cup faux pas, but I wanted to put this out there for your opinion. Apparently, they’ve broadened their coffee…
 
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    Dinker and Giggles » Parenting Information for Raising Pre-Teen Boys

  • It’s a …

    Alaina Frederick
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:59 pm
    TweetI wanted needed to take a few days after finding out what our fourth child’s gender is before announcing it. Time to sort through my own feelings before continuing to be bombarded with comments and hysterical statements on various topics like: are we going to keep going until we have a girl, will I have [...]Originally posted at Dinker & Giggles. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.It’s a …

  • For the Love of Bamboo, Baby!

    Alaina Frederick
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:54 pm
    TweetI have to admit that there are many products that I’d buy just because it’s made from bamboo – even if I don’t need it. Some of my favorite items in my own home are made from bamboo – like my collection of bamboo cutting boards. Yes okay, I have a thing for bamboo products [...]Originally posted at Dinker & Giggles. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.For the Love of Bamboo, Baby!

  • Have You Overcome The Toddler Bedtime Battles?

    Karla Bond
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:15 am
    TweetEvery night at about 7:30pm I let out a huge sigh because I know what that means, bedtime for the toddler. Why does this have to be so difficult. He is four for crying out loud and should be able to sleep on his own. We try to keep him on a bedtime routine so [...]Originally posted at Dinker & Giggles. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.Have You Overcome The Toddler Bedtime Battles?

  • Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Super Heroes {Review}

    Alaina Frederick
    14 Jan 2012 | 10:01 pm
    TweetThis afternoon we headed into the city with all the ‘big buildings’. Parker was so excited to get to see the skyscrapers and then when we walked into the CONSOL Energy Center his little jaw dropped as he looked around admiring the view. Since this was Parker’s first time to any type of a show [...]Originally posted at Dinker & Giggles. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Super Heroes {Review}

  • Recall: Chariot Carriers Child Bicycle Trailers

    Karla Bond
    11 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am
    TweetWASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. Name of Product: Chariot bicycle trailers [...]Originally posted at Dinker & Giggles. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles.Recall: Chariot Carriers Child Bicycle Trailers
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    News Moms Need

  • Baby shower held for military moms-to-be

    Lindsay
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am
    Forty moms-to-be whose spouses are deployed with the military had the opportunity to experience what many other expectant women may take for granted – a baby shower.  These moms, whose spouses all are members of the U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines and California Army National Guard, were honored during a group baby shower hosted by Operation Shower with support from Birdies for the Brave and presented by Datron World Communications.  March of Dimes served as the shower’s lead health education partner, providing essential information on how to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy…

  • Chemicals interfering with vaccines

    Lindsay
    26 Jan 2012 | 8:52 am
    Children with higher exposure to chemicals called PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) may be less likely to have a good response to vaccines. A new study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that these chemicals may affect the immune system enough to make children more vulnerable to diseases. PFCs are used in making non-stick cookware, rainwear, upholstery, coatings on paper plates, fast food packaging, microwave popcorn bags and many other products. The chemicals can get into the food chain and drinking water and stay within our systems for years. They are…

  • 2012 March for Babies

    Lindsay
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:58 am
    When you walk in March for Babies, you give hope to the more than half a million babies born too soon each year. The money you raise supports programs in your community that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies. We’ve been walking since 1970 and have raised an incredible $2 billion to benefit all babies.

  • Join our chat on heart defects

    Lindsay
    24 Jan 2012 | 1:58 pm
    Did you know that about 1 out of every 100 infants is born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) each year in the U.S.? CHDs are among the most common birth defects and are the leading cause of birth defect-related infant deaths. Learn about pulse oximetry testing of newborns and the more common heart defects by joining us for an online chat.  If you or someone you know has had a child with a heart defect, come share your story. Meet us on Twitter at 1 PM EST on Thursday, January 26th. Be sure to use #pregnancychat to participate and see the full conversation.

  • Researching preemie eye problems

    Lindsay
    23 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pm
    Premature babies can struggle with many different health problems that come as a result of their early birth. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is one of them. ROP is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. It occurs in babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy. ROP can lead to bleeding and scarring that can damage the eye’s retina (the lining at the rear of the eye that relays messages to the brain). This can result in vision loss. It is very important that every baby with ROP have frequent follow-up exams, even if this extends beyond hospital discharge, until the ROP disappears. …
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    The Erin Experiment

  • Peace lies within

    22 Jan 2012 | 10:57 pm
    Quoteable Cards Two days ago, I was in Thailand. I'd boarded a plane on Jan. 14 to attend a media tour being held by Thailand's Ministry of Investment. It was a surreal experience and I think having gone changed my outlook for the better. I'd been to Asia once before -- in June 2011 --  for a similar trip. I flew to Tawain amid a thunderstorm in the States only to get to Taiwan in time to greet a typhoon. I didn't speak the language nor did I understand the writing well enough to know what I could have eaten. I lost 5 pounds in 5 days due to my Baked Lays and water diet (the only…

  • My life in pictures

    7 Jan 2012 | 2:04 pm
    The framed advice that resides in our entry hallwayOur 'Family Rules' that hang in the kitchenThe feline love of my life: Puppy Cat; one of three ginger tabbies we haveSunset as seen from our driveway

  • Finding meaning and happiness: A meme

    3 Jan 2012 | 4:34 pm
    Have you ever stumbled upon a book passage, quote or website that makes you want to scream "Thank you sweet Jesus for bringing this into my life"? Odds are, you needed that kind of inspiration at the time (let's face it, why else would it have made a difference).For me, one of those things is Marc and Angel Hack Life: Practical Tips for Productive Living. The site is home to 30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself along with a bunch more other inspirational posts. The following is taken from 95 Questions to Help You Find Meaning and Happiness.I love figuring out ways to make myself happier and…

  • Sometimes you need to just step back from yourself

    30 Dec 2011 | 10:12 am
    It is often said that during our childhood developmental years, right before we're about to make a huge leap of developmental progress, we regress back to old patterns and behaviors. I think the same developmental 'dance' can be said for adults.This has certainly been the case for me during the last half of 2011. As I often do at the end of a year, I've read through this year's blog posts only to wince at the decline in progress I'd made toward finding and maintaining my 'true self.' In January, I was so confident in my stepmotherhood that I penned a post on meeting the 'lion stepmom.' …

  • I resolve...

    16 Dec 2011 | 1:45 pm
    You know what I like about having a blog? 1) Free advice and 2) Accountability.The comments that came in on my last post reminded me to be myself. Some how, some where I lost sight of that notion and let everyone else's input and my inner critic take over my otherwise self-affirming brain.Being that it's almost a new year, I've decided to pen a few resolutions that I hope I can master in the next year. Some will be insightful, some meaningful, some of them downright vapid. This list, like me, is ever-evolving so feel free to make suggestions. Similarly, if you've got your own list or are…
 
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    Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology

  • Texting on Touchscreens Easy with txtRng

    Jennifer Wagner
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:57 am
    The one major advantage of owning a Blackberry over other smartphones is having actual buttons to text or type with. I am an iPhone lover and actually like the new Windows phone also, but the main drawbacks with these phones are the touchscreens. However, I found a product at CES that helps - txtRng;) txtRng;) is a little black ring with a stylus tip attached. They are sold in pairs. You wear them on your thumbs and it solves many problems: Much more precise typing because you are hitting each key with a small round tip of a stylus If you have fat thumbs (like me) you can now type much more…

  • Animation Software for Kids and Teens

    Jennifer Wagner
    24 Jan 2012 | 10:05 am
    Do you want to give your teens, or kids of any age, the chance to make animated videos without frustration? Toon Boom Animation, an award winning company, has created many pieces of software for family or educational settings for kids to have fun animating. Flip Boom Doodle is an easy basic tool for kids of any age. You can create fun animated videos and upload them right to Facebook (if you are old enough to have an account). You are provided with templates and drawing, coloring, editing, animating and sharing tools. And this software, which usually sells for $29, and is on sale for $19, can…

  • Organize Cord Clutter with Colorful Dotz Products

    Jennifer Wagner
    22 Jan 2012 | 10:59 am
    If your home is anything like mine, then you have so many cables coming out of your television sets that you can't possibly keep track of which is which .That is why, I was I was thrilled when I found the Dotz booth at CES. These little inexpensive buttons and wraps excited me more than the big technology gadgets. Dotz sells a few different type of organizing products: Dotz Cord Identifiers - This is what I was talking about up top and what I think is most important. If you have many cords into one item, these little round buttons snap onto each cord so that you can identify them. There are…

  • 30 Movies for Teens 2012

    Jennifer Wagner
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:20 pm
    Hunger Games poster If you are looking for movies for teens opening in 2012, this is a list of what is available right now. Many movies for later in the year are not even announced yet, which is why I write new lists for the summer and fall. Please be sure to check those later in 2012. 1. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island ( 2/10) - 3D action adventure sequel to the 2008 Journey to the Center of the Earth. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Sir Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson (Peeta in the upcoming Hunger Games), Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzmán and Kristin Davis. 2. Gone (2/24) - A thriller starring…

  • Top 10 Higher Ed Tech Trends

    Jennifer Wagner
    19 Jan 2012 | 8:41 am
    From the Living in Digital Times website While attending the Consumer Electronics Show last week, I attended an educational session in the HigherEd TECH track (part of the Living in Digital Times lifestyles group) that I wanted to share. Josh Fischman, the senior editor of science and technology at The Chronicle of Higher Education, gave us the Chronicle's top 10 Ed Tech Trends for 2012. Here they are, David Letterman style, from number 10 to number 1: 10. Cheating - Over 2,500 colleges use Turnitin to check for plagiarism. However, there is new software from the makers of Turnitin,…
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    MommyQ

  • Beyonce’s Baby Drama: Welcome to Crazyville, Blue Ivy

    MommyQ
    12 Jan 2012 | 7:02 pm
    It seems Beyonce spared no expense when it came to her baby girl’s birth. Any why would she? She’s Beyonce. TMZ has released photos of her beautiful hospital suite which costs around $700-$800 per night. A tad expensive, yes, but that’s not an insane amount. Her posse used about four rooms during her stay – evidently her entourage travels with her for her birth – ew.  Why? In case she decides to record an album during delivery or needs a sequins bodysuit? Anyway, so four rooms would’ve run her about $3,200. Again, not a big deal when you’re sitting…

  • It’s a Chop Chop, Stump Smash, Eruptor World

    MommyQ
    4 Jan 2012 | 9:29 pm
    Wow, yet another blog post about video games. Can you tell I’m the mom of boys or what? In my house, 2012 is the season of wacky dudes with equally wacky names. Trigger Happy, Terrafin, Stump Smash and Ghost Roast are just a few of our new family members. That’s right, MommyQ is living in a Skylanders wonderland. Welcome to Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. It’s expensive, highly entertaining and all the rage. Cool molten lava dudes cough up fireballs, clumsy trees smash stuff and spit out balls of wood…hmmm…there’s a lot of spitting. What’s funny…

  • Season’s Tweetings: Angry Birds Wreck The Halls

    MommyQ
    11 Dec 2011 | 7:30 pm
    If the oddly amusing sounds of laughing and snorting pigs along with the melodious hum of cawing birds echoes in your ears, you’re no doubt an Angry Birds fan like me. Well, not me, but my boys. Who knew a few furrow-browed birdies could be so darn entertaining? This ridiculously addictive game has broken all sorts of unbelievable internet records. It recently became the first game in gaming history to be downloaded over 500 million times. In fact, the uber-successful maker of this game, Rovio, has gone on record stating that users “on average log about 5 million hours of Angry…

  • My Take on Kourtney Kardashian’s Mommy Blog Featured on HLNTV.com

    MommyQ
    9 Dec 2011 | 4:34 pm
    No matter how much you boycott the Kardashians or how many petitions you sign, they just keep coming. And not only that, reproducing at a quick pace to ensure their continued world domination, um, I mean survival. On Wednesday, the eldest Kardashian, Kourtney, announced that she and Scott Disick — America’s favorite Vegas-loving, hair-slicking, baby daddy — are expecting bambino numero dos. Wait, what’s that noise you’re hearing? That would be the sound of “cha-ching” from Burberry, because they get to dress another designer-clad munchkin. Score!

  • Drooling Over Edgemont Skinny Jeans: Why Paige Floats My Boat

    MommyQ
    30 Nov 2011 | 5:34 pm
    If you’re into zippers and super-skinny jeans, get a load of these beauties. This is my favorite pair right now. All bow down to the Paige Premium Edgemont Skinny Super Rebellious jeans. Yummy. Sure, they’ll cost you a cool $259, but what’s not to love? I adore Paige jeans too. I bought my first pair waaay back in the day and still wear them. The fit is fabulous and although they stretch a tad, it’s not to the point that they don’t fit anymore. There’s just something wonderful about the craftsmanship and the fit. I’m putting these on my Wish List this…
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    Priceless Parenting Blog

  • When Negative Comments About Your Parenting Lead to Feelings of Shame

    26 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    A mom told me how terrible she felt when her own parents made negative comments about her parenting. For example, they noticed that her 3-year-old didn’t always pay attention to what she said and they thought she should be disciplining her child for that. Although she didn’t agree, she also felt shame that her parenting wasn’t as good as it should be. Researcher Brene Brown has discovered that parenting is an area that easily triggers shame. Once you feel shame, you are not in a place to do your best parenting. What’s the solution? Sharing your story with someone who can be empathetic…

  • When Playing Quietly Means Marker All Over the Floor

    23 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    One mom wrote that she should have known better than to think she could sit down for a few minutes while her 2-year-old twin daughters played nicely together. When she got up to check on the girls, her pleasant feelings were quickly smashed as she saw black marker scribbles on the rug and dining room floor. She had explained multiple times that crayons, pens and markers were for paper only. The girls knew that writing on walls, floors, furniture, clothes, or skin were all off limits. However, the fun of doing those things was apparently too much to resist. The girls broke into tears when…

  • Discovering the Healthy Goals Underlying Your Children's Misbehavior

    19 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Kids don’t always know how to ask for what they need so sometimes they ask in inappropriate ways. For example, a child wanting attention may scream or push a sibling knowing that this always gets your attention. While this certainly gets attention, it’s not the positive attention that asking for a hug or asking to be held would have achieved. Psychologist Alfred Adler taught that all behavior has a purpose. The trick with kids is figuring what the purpose is behind their misbehavior so that you can help them find healthier ways to achieve their goals. One teacher found that asking kids…

  • Teaching Positive Affirmations That Can Calm a Stressed Child Down

    16 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    When children are having a meltdown, their emotions are in control and their bodies are getting flooded with chemicals like adrenalin. At this point it is hard for them to think or process anything you might say. However, before they’ll be able to gain emotional control, they’ll need to get their thinking engaged and focused on more positive thoughts. You can help your children move more easily through these emotional times by teaching them some simple affirmations they can use. When they are in a calm state, teach them things they can say to themselves like: I’m safe. I’m calm. I can…

  • When Technology Takes Over Kids

    12 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    How do you know when your kids are becoming too attached to their technology? One mom knew when she asked her son to turn off his Xbox game and instead of turning it off, he shoved her. Being pushed was a big red flag for her since he was normally a cooperative kid. After a family meeting, they decided to have no TV, movies or computer games from Sunday evening until the following Friday evening. She says their home is much more pleasant with this new rule. Young kids becoming addicted to video games is a problem across the world. An international study of video gaming among kids found about…
 
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    Telling It Like It Is

  • Hairstyles for Women Over 40 – Mature Women 40 Plus Color and Long Hairstyle Rules

    Lin
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Just for fun, I did some online searches on what the best hairstyles for women over 40 are and saw pictures of new hairstyles for women, especially women over forty. The so-called fashion and hairstyle rules about women over 40 years old not having long hair make me laugh. I’m now 51 years old now and my hair is still long, past my shoulders, and shall remain long for as long as I choose. The hairstyle “experts” and fashion gurus offer a plethora of advice for mature women 40 plus years old regarding hairstyles for older women, saying that most women over the age of 40 should not…

  • 10 Reasons Why People Don’t Go to Church Anymore

    Lin
    25 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Churches around the US have changed over the years, where multi-site churches mean pastors are able to reach thousands of would-be church attendees on the web, says USA Today. In an interview with pastors Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll and Ed Stetzer, the “old fashioned”, traditional churches from grandma and grandpa’s time are going by the wayside and are being replaced by what is often referred to as the “mega church” with thousands upon thousands of church members. Having visited a few “mega churches” over the years, such as the Potter’s House and a few others, witnessing the…

  • It’s The Thought That Counts – Thoughtful Gift Giving

    Lin
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    When giving gifts for any occasion, it’s the thought that counts. Being a thoughtful gift giver means we have taken the time to carefully think about the gift recipient’s personal interests, needs, wants, likes and dislikes, in order to find an appropriate gift to give from the heart. Being thoughtful is defined by personal qualities like being kind, giving, considerate, attentive, appreciative, helpful, caring, loving, and giving mindful thought towards the comfort and good of others. Kids learn the thought counts very early in life, and teachers appreciate thoughtful gifts from…

  • Fridge Locker Locks Food in the Locker Sized Fridge from Refrig-A Raiders

    Lin
    20 Jan 2012 | 5:30 am
    Heard of the Fridge Locker yet? The Fridge Locker helps protect your food from “Refrig-A Raiders” at work, college and home, with the Original Personal Food Security System, The Fridge Locker. Have you ever taken your lunch to work and when it came time to go to lunch, you discovered someone swiped your food? College roommates, friends, family and coworkers often complain about people stealing their food, drinks, snacks (and beer) without asking, but if they had the locker sized Fridge Locker, food thieves would think twice. There is no need to keep hiding snacks from friends or family…

  • Food Face Dinner Plate for Picky Eaters Makes Eating Healthy a Fun Game

    Lin
    20 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    The Food Face Dinner Plate makes getting kids to eat healthy foods a fun game to play during dinner, lunch or any meal. Isn’t this a cute plate for kids? From what I’ve heard, Parents Magazine even did a write up on the food face plate as a fun activity, but I haven’t seen that article. If you have problems getting your kid to try new foods, especially healthy stuff like vegetables, they will have fun eating their dinner on this food face plate. The food face ceramic dinner plate measures 8.5 inches in diameter, a perfect size and fun style if there ever was one, to get your picky eater…
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    Darryle Pollack | I never signed up for this...

  • at a loss

    Darryle Pollack
    20 Jan 2012 | 4:29 am
    I’m at a loss —for words and so much more. There’s never been such a long gap on my blog; and there’s never been such a huge hole in my heart—- due to losing Howard, my ex-husband, father of my 2 children, in many ways my closest friend in the world— who died two days ago after a grueling and heroic struggle against cancer. I don’t have the heart, the will, or the words— to write. So  I’m just going to link to words I’ve already written about our unique relationship–from the beginning to the middle to the end.  And…

  • 10 birthday thanks

    Darryle Pollack
    4 Jan 2012 | 5:56 pm
    Today is my husband’s birthday—and  I think he deserves this in exchange for letting me say anything I want about him on this blog. 10 birthday thanks 1. You’re smart enough to believe I’m smarter than you. 2.  You are unfailingly loving to my children and supportive of my relationship and theirs with my ex-husband. 3.  You’re willing to eat anything I cook takeout every night.  And pick it up. 4.  You allow me to believe that I’m low-maintenance. 5.  No matter how many body parts I’ve lost, you always make me feel sexy. 6. You are so generous you…

  • New Year’s Resolutions Unresolved: The F**k-it List

    Darryle Pollack
    1 Jan 2012 | 6:50 am
    Did you make New Year’s resolutions? I like the concept-–the approach of a shiny new year  full of unlimited possiiblity and potential—unspoiled by problems and pressures…. which lasts until 12:01. But I don’t like the reality:  every time I made a resolution to cut back on chocolate, it lasted approximately until 12:02. The real problem is not what to resolve but whether to resolve. As 2012 was a few hours away, the issue of resolutions remained unresolved.  And lately I feel distracted and unresolved about everything. My last excursion of 2011 was a walk on…

  • 10 Christmas Confessions 2011

    Darryle Pollack
    25 Dec 2011 | 2:54 am
    #1. I’m Jewish. So actually I have no business writing about Christmas.  Or confessions. #2. I grew up in a kosher home. We also hung stockings and got presents Christmas morning. #3. My husband is Christian.   But  he claims he doesn’t mind that we don’t have a Christmas tree. #4. I always yearned for a Christmas tree. #5. I stopped yearning for a tree when my first husband (who was Jewish) surprised me and the kids one year with a Christmas tree— which came  in a box. #6. I have pictures of me sitting on Santa’s lap as a child. And as an adult. #7. I love Christmas songs.

  • Jews and Saints

    Darryle Pollack
    20 Dec 2011 | 6:17 pm
    The first time my daughter tried to cook latkes she ended up with a fireball. Which proves beyond a doubt she shares my DNA.  Both Jewish drama queens with a genetic mutation–Alli and I come from a long line of Jewish mothers who can’t cook. I had one Jewish grandmother who burned everything and one who never cooked at all.  I never ate a homemade latke till I was married and got the recipe from a friend.  How ironic that of the few dishes I cook well, most are Jewish recipes, and latkes are the JEW-el in the crown.  Even more ironic,  some of my favorite latke memories are from…
 
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    mommyknows

  • Brand New Boy

    MommyKnows
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:36 pm
    Our grandson arrived on January 12th! If you follow me on facebook, you’re thinking, “we know already!“. I must confess to over-sharing photos (just call me Grammarazzi!), but I can’t help it. It’s either the baby or the cat, and the baby is definitely cuter! He is a lovely, healthy wee boy, and weighed in at 7lbs 15oz and was 20.5″ in length. His first name is Brian, after my dad. I probably shouldn’t share his last name as he isn’t mine to share (well, not all mine). Although, I wouldn’t mind keeping him. Just saying! Is there anything…

  • We Can’t Wait …

    MommyKnows
    11 Jan 2012 | 9:31 pm
    May I introduce you to … the soon to be … Auntie Georgie and Unkie Sam (he wants Unkie, not uncle). Uncle Sam does sound a bit too American for a Canadian uncle, don’t you think? Hayley will be induced tomorrow, so our new baby boy will be here SOON! I’m excited, but the G-word is still doing nothing for me. Mr. MK thinks he might like ‘Pops’, but I can’t think of a good G-word substitute. What do you think? Please send my girl your good thoughts tomorrow for a peaceful birth and a healthy baby. xo MK

  • Drawing a Blank

    MommyKnows
    10 Jan 2012 | 10:57 pm
    Tonight, I don’t want to blog. I have nothing nice I want to say. No cute crafts. No easy recipes. No funny (or semi-funny) stories. I’m just stinkin’ miserable. I’d love to blog about the rotten ‘effing evening I’ve had, but it doesn’t seem quite right. I will say thought, when Sarah Palin compared hockey moms to pit-bulls (without the lipstick), she obviously hadn’t had the pleasure of hanging out with ski parents. Hockey moms are mere Chihuahuas. I’d love to say, “I QUIT!” (as well as a few four letter works and an obscene…

  • I’m Back on the Green Smoothie Wagon

    MommyKnows
    9 Jan 2012 | 10:46 pm
    So these resolutions I made are hard to keep, even when I want to. I’ve manage to keep two of the three so far. I’ve blogged every week-day (Monday through Friday) and I have also managed to take and upload a photo everyday to Flickr (so much easier using my iPhone 4, than my Nikon). I love my Nikon but really … the iPhone is just way, way, way easier. EASIER! Sadly, I still forget to take pics while the action is going on and I usually snap something after all the action is finished … This is Georgia at the ski hill after the racing was long over. And this is the next…

  • The Time has Long Past …

    MommyKnows
    7 Jan 2012 | 12:16 am
    To take the Christmas tree down … BUT, important news first –> Woot! I’m so Pround of my girl who place 3rd in her time trials today and has now qualified for the Alberta Winter Games. That said, we’ve been so busy with the holidays and skiing. There are so many things in my world that need done. This 6/365 picture clearly demonstrates two things: 1. Cats and Christmas trees get along all too well! 2. It’s well past time to take the poor Christmas tree down. Also note that in all of the chaos that seems to be my life, I forget to take decent photos until…
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    Family and Child Online Safety Blog - SafetyClicks

  • Simple Steps to Safer Devices

    Holly Hawkins
    27 Jan 2012 | 8:38 am
    Filed under: Privacy By following some simple steps, consumers can protect their data privacy when using electronic devices. Consumers of all ages are using more and more digital devices to do more than just check their email. Today, devices are used to do things such as: access the Internet, carry out banking transactions, social networking, and shopping. For children and adults alike, using these wonderful devices brings some unwanted risks. Here is what consumers need to do to keep information secure on those devices: Protecting a computer or laptop Every computer and laptop needs: -…

  • The Fat Boy Chronicles now on DVD

    Diana Pentecost
    11 Jan 2012 | 9:23 am
    The Fat Boy Chronicles tells the story of Jimmy Winterpock, the subject of brutal high school bullying who overcomes the torment by finding the strength to focus on his goal to lose weight and win over the girl of his dreams. The story is based on the novel by Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan. The film brings real world issues that affect teenagers to an audience looking for answers. In addition to the inspirational story for the whole family, The Fat Boy Chronicles is also an ideal occasion to discuss with your teen the topic of bullying. The film progresses in such wonderful teaching moments…

  • Concerns About Teen Sexting Overblown, According to New UNH Research

    Holly Hawkins
    5 Dec 2011 | 10:18 am
    Filed under: SextingPublished: December 5, 2011. University of New Hampshire DURHAM, N.H. - Two new studies from the University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center suggest that concerns about teen sexting may be overblown. One study found the percentage of youth who send nude pictures of themselves that would qualify as child pornography is very low. The other found that when teen sexting images do get to police, few youth are being arrested or treated like sex offenders. The studies were carried out by researchers at the University of New Hampshire's Crimes against…

  • Facebook Places: Privacy Pitfalls and How to Control It

    Dishu Maheshwari
    23 Nov 2011 | 7:01 am
    Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Sharing Info Online, Online Safety Tips, Social Networking, TechnologyI am an avid Facebook user. I log into my account multiple times a day to update my status, comment on pictures, and read interesting tidbits on the Newsfeed. In short, I'm a fan of this social networking website and seldom have critiques for it-provided that it is utilized in a cautious manner. However, even I have severe doubts and heavy criticism regarding the Facebook Places feature. For those who haven't seen it or used it themselves, this is Facebook's new service that allows members…

  • Study Finds Sexting Linked to Psychological Distress

    Holly Hawkins
    3 Nov 2011 | 11:22 am
    Filed under: Articles of InterestA 2010 survey of more than 23,000 students in 24 of the 26 high schools in Boston's MetroWest region found 25.1% of the students received a sext message, and 10.4% had sent, forwarded, or posted a sext message in the past 12 months. And, students who received or sent sext messages, or were sexting victims were more likely to report psychological distress. Read the full story here.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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    Kids Stuff World

  • Blessings in Disguise

    Stacy
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:53 pm
     Source: sassyandalwaysclassy.tumblr.com via Stacy of on Pinterest Beside the gift of time I am finding to be with my children in more and simpler ways , another blessing I am relishing this week is all of YOU! I assure you, your comments on my last post and words of encouragement did not go unnoticed. I am still working on answering each and every one of you, but don’t think for a moment I have not read your words or taken them to heart. I started this blog with hopes of finding “people like me” and I am happy to say I have done just that. Each time, I open up my normally…

  • Making the most of what we have

    Stacy
    22 Jan 2012 | 4:37 pm
     January has proven itself to be more of a blessing than a curse. Still reeling in memories of christmas purchases past, I found myself feeling the need to splurge a little less and save a little more. I did just as I have in times like these before and placed myself on what I lovingly refer to as a “spending freeze“ ~ in other words, no non-essential purchases until all the bills are paid. Three days in to my freeze, we received some unexpected, not necessarily welcome news. My family now operates on a budget $750 a month less than we did before. At first there was panic. Then,…

  • Life in an Instant: A picnic in the park

    Stacy
    9 Jan 2012 | 10:34 pm
    I know there hasn’t been much activity here lately, but there are lots of big changes happening behind the scenes I can’t wait to tell you about. I have to start blogging at some point this year and since I really want Life in an Instant to become a place we all share and get to know one another, I thought I’d start here. I encourage all of you to add any post that shares a highlight of your week or a special moment you captured in time on your camera, your phone, whatever medium you had at your disposal. Here’s a bit about what’s going on in our world this week:…
 
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    My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings

  • Keeping Warm and Fashionable

    Lisa
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:28 am
    My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - A day in the life of a busy mom . . .Man, did it get cold here in Chicago. Our weather cannot decide what we are going to have for weather. Let’s see — we got over ten inches of snow on Friday. We had thunderstorms on Sunday (with thunder and lightening) which melted the majority of the snow we had (so glad I spent 2-3 hours snowblowing us out!). Now, it seems like we have some arctic cold now. If you can believe it, it is warmer in the morning when I drop the kids off than when I pick them up! The wind here has been beyond brutal. That is wear…

  • Disney On Ice Dare To Dream #chiDisneyOnIce

    Lisa
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:42 am
    My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - A day in the life of a busy mom . . .We took the kids last night to Disney on Ice Dare To Dream. I can definitely say it did not disappoint. Here are few pictures from our show: Yes, it was just as fun as it looks. I love how they are able to take a story and put it on ice. This years show had Princess and The Frog, Cinderella, and Tangled. It never ceases to amaze me. The kids love it and so did Bill and I. Dare I say it, but I think Will was more excited than Madison! Here is what the kids thought: Look like something you want to do with your family? Just…

  • Nature’s Best Health Products

    Lisa
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:18 am
    My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - A day in the life of a busy mom . . .One of my New Year’s Resolutions this year was a better me. That is why I am starting my weight loss journey. I’ve also been on the lookout for great sites that offer great products to help me along my journey. Nature’s Best Health Products was founded in 1981 and was one of the UK’s first suppliers of high quality nutritional supplements direct to the public. Did you know that nutrients used in supplements are available in lots of different grades ranging from high purity grades for human clinical…

  • Wednesday’s Hero

    Lisa
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:01 am
    My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - A day in the life of a busy mom . . .Maj. Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen 53 years old from Royal, Iowa 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing June 29, 1934 – December 14, 1987 The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Major Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen, United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, near…

  • Wordless Wednesday: Earrings

    Lisa
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:00 pm
    My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - A day in the life of a busy mom . . .Madison has been begging for earrings since she was in kindergarden.  I told her she had to wait until she made her First Communion.  Well, guess what — this year she makes her first communion.  I let her get them a little early (her communion isn’t until May) in case we have an issues with them (which we haven’t so far). Before: After: She did well and is taking care of ears all by herself! (We did the little small red birthstone earrings). 1. Robin report 2. CREATE WITH JOY w LINKY report 3.
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    Play-Activities.com

  • 31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty Six} Quick 5 minute activities

    Melitsa
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    There are times when you have a spare 5 minutes and want to start something with the children.  It helps to have an idea about  where to find things  to reduce the time spent in frustration looking for that one things. And yes it usually is one final thing that derails us and causes us [...]31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty Six} Quick 5 minute activities is a post from: Play-Activities.com

  • 31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty Five} Asking the children

    Melitsa
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    We do a lot of things on their behalf. We make sure they have good food, good play experiences and good times. I still get battles with my three year old though. He doesn’t often /always appreciate the choices he has…..can we say in a small voice- tantrum or melt down.   “It’s not enough [...]31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty Five} Asking the children is a post from: Play-Activities.com

  • 31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty four} Goodness for your ears

    Melitsa
    24 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    Did you get a smartphone, ipod, or Kindle recently? Chances are you are loving the freedom of looking things up at a moments notice. Audio and video is something to look out for in the Early Childhood world. No I’m not talking about our little tots this time. I’m talking about us. We don’t always [...]31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty four} Goodness for your ears is a post from: Play-Activities.com

  • 31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty Three} Problem solving

    Melitsa
    23 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    Some days you just get blown away by the simplicity of a message. Today was that day. Do you ever find yourself  doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. What about the children do you see that in them? How do you get them to move to a point where [...]31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty Three} Problem solving is a post from: Play-Activities.com

  • 31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty two} 7 words that help shorten an outburst

    Melitsa
    22 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    Ever been derailed by an outburst or tantrum? Our instinct is to rise above it. Sometimes you need to but not always. We do need a strategy for when a tantrum strikes. A strategy presumes then that you’ve tried many different ways and you have something now that works for you and your family. What works for [...]31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Twenty two} 7 words that help shorten an outburst is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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    Bedtime Stories My Kids Love

  • Adventures of Man in the Can - Ch 12 - The Great Exodus - Destruction is Coming

    24 Jan 2012 | 5:09 pm
    Now that the holidays are over the Adventures of the Man in the Can are back!The Man in the Can, Yellow Bird and all the animals in the park rejoice as the elder birds return to their homes in the park. But in their celebration, everyone fails to notice changes that are beginning to happen all around them. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DEALS FOR LISTENERS! CLICK BELOWSave 10% on all your pet's needs at PetMeds.com Up to 20% off on great athletic gear at Eastbay.comSave 15% on your favorite stuff at Footlocker.comSave 20% on your flower order with FTD Fluerop.com Save $10 off…

  • Twas the Night Before Christmas by Lobotomy Boy

    20 Dec 2011 | 4:24 pm
    It's Christmas and Lobotomy Boy has a special version of "The Night Before Christmas" for everyone!Enjoy this special Holiday Edition of Bedtime Stories My Kids Love. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DEALS FOR LISTENERS! CLICK BELOWSave 10% on all your pet's needs at PetMeds.com Up to 20% off on great athletic gear at Eastbay.comSave 15% on your favorite stuff at Footlocker.comSave 20% on your flower order with FTD Fluerop.com Save $10 off your next order from PetCareRX.com

  • The Gophers Meet Santa

    7 Dec 2011 | 2:26 pm
    Happy and Snappy get their Christmas lists ready and head out to the mall to meet Santa but to their surprise, things are not always as they appear to be.Enjoy this special Holiday Edition of Bedtime Stories My Kids Love. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DEALS FOR LISTENERS! CLICK BELOWSave 10% on all your pet's needs at PetMeds.com Up to 20% off on great athletic gear at Eastbay.comSave 15% on your favorite stuff at Footlocker.comSave 20% on your flower order with FTD Fluerop.com Save $10 off your next order from PetCareRX.com

  • Adventures of Man in the Can - Chapter 11 - Conspiracy in the Sewer Epilogue

    17 Nov 2011 | 4:54 pm
    The battle is over, the animals now control above and below the park. But the leaders of the snakes and rats; BYDYS and Greystrike, are nowhere to be found. Is there more mischief coming? Listen to the Conspiracy in the Sewers Epilogue and find out!!Enjoy today's episode of the Adventures of the Man in the Can. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DEALS FOR LISTENERS! CLICK BELOWSave 10% on all your pet's needs at PetMeds.com Up to 20% off on great athletic gear at Eastbay.comSave 15% on your favorite stuff at Footlocker.comSave 20% on your flower order with FTD Fluerop.com Save…

  • Adventures of the Man in the Can - Chapter 11 - Conspiracy in the Sewers - Part 3

    3 Nov 2011 | 2:03 pm
    The Man in the Can knows who the conspirators are and also of their evil plans, but, what will the Man and the animals do? Listen now and find out...Enjoy today's episode of the Adventures of the Man in the Can. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DEALS FOR LISTENERS! CLICK BELOWSave 10% on all your pet's needs at PetMeds.com Up to 20% off on great athletic gear at Eastbay.comSave 15% on your favorite stuff at Footlocker.comSave 20% on your flower order with FTD Fluerop.com Save $10 off your next order from PetCareRX.com
 
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    Jodifur

  • Shoe Friday #161

    jodifur
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:35 am
    My friend Angel's shoes.  

  • Where I've Been

    jodifur
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:33 am
    I hate when bloggers post after an absence and start off by saying, "I'm so sorry I haven't posted." Because it assumes that you have been sitting around hitting refresh and stalking jodifur.  Because you totally have not been doing that. (I totally used to that on my favorite blogs before I knew about readers.  Remember Bloglines?  RIP Bloglines.) January is totally and completely kicking my ass.  Our roof is leaking and we need a new furnace. Michael has decided now is the perfect time to stop behaving.  I go on vacation in less than a month and I am counting down…

  • Unresolved

    jodifur
    23 Jan 2012 | 7:18 am
    I am a New Year's resolution quitter. Well, not exactly.   I am still on my no sugar, no alcohol, 1,500 calorie a day diet.  I'm doing quite well on it actually.  I'm down 8 pounds.  My goal was to lose 10.  8 pounds in 3 weeks in nothing to sneeze at.  I look thinner. (Trust me, if I think I look thinner, I look thinner.  I am my own worst critic.)  I am most definitely in a smaller clothing size. I would give my left arm for a glass of wine. One of the reasons I wanted to do this was to make sure I could.  My drinking and my eating habits had gotten a little…

  • Shoe Friday-#160 Pinterest Addition

    jodifur
    20 Jan 2012 | 6:58 am
    It is fair to say that I am obsessed with Pinterest.  Pinterest owns me.  My favorite board, my shoe board. If you like Shoe Friday, you will love this!

  • And Then I Tried to Kill My Family With A Home Soda Maker

    jodifur
    17 Jan 2012 | 5:51 pm
    Let me preface this story by saying home soda makers are SAFE!  I WAS NOT FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! DO NOT SUE ME!  (Legal disclaimer over.) We have one of those "home soda makers," and since this post was sponsored by no one, and once you read it the makers of the "home soda maker" will probably not want to be associated with me, I will not tell you which one.  But I generally like it.  I don't drink soda, but I use it to make flavored seltzer water and Doug makes natural soda. There is a warning that you should not fizzelate (our made…
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    Jolly Mom: Recipes | Crafts | Atlanta Mom Blogger | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews

  • Totsy Twitter Party Tomorrow! #totsyparty

    Jolly Mom
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:42 am
    Heads up! Totsy is having a Twitter party tomorrow (Friday 1/27) from 2-3pm EST hosted by the fabulous Sara Fisher (aka: @SelfMadeMom)! Party deets below.... Party Details: When: Friday, January 27, 2012 from 2-3:00 PM ET Where: Twitter hashtag #TotsyParty Who to follow: Hosts: @TotsyFan, @MyTotsy, @SelfMadeMom Prizes: Hevea Baby Today's Baby Featuring Oggi and maybe Today's Mom My Brest Friend Baya Generous giveaway by Hostess Sara Fisher of $300 of Totsy credits she's earned No RSVP necessary--just join the party by Tweeting with the #TotsyParty hashtag! For more information  about…

  • Promote Your Giveaways: Giveaways Galore Link Up

    Jolly Mom
    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Link up your giveaways! Please make sure to link directly to the giveaway and list the name of the giveaway along with the expiration date. Don't forget to stop by Go Graham Go to link up over there as well!

  • Wordless Wednesday

    Jolly Mom
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pm

  • Save Energy and Money with Tide Coldwater (Review) #tide #washcold

    Jolly Mom
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    My mom taught me to wash my laundry in cold water whenever possible. Her reasoning is that cold water is gentler on your clothes than hot water. For instance, hot water has a tendency to shrink clothing, permanently set some stains, and cause colors to fade. I have listened to my mom's sage advice and as a result, our clothing lasts much longer. Another caveat of washing with cold water is that it is also more energy efficient than using hot water, which is better for the environment and your pocketbook. The only drawback? Washing with hot water does get laundry cleaner than cold…

  • Cabbage Soup Diet Review & Recipe

    Jolly Mom
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    If you've ever been on a diet, then you have probably heard of the Cabbage Soup Diet. It has literally been around for ages and still gets talked about today. I remember hearing about it for the first time when I was in high school. So what is the Cabbage Soup Diet? It is a 7 day diet that promises up to a 10 pound weight loss by the end of the week. It's a strict diet with a short list of allowable foods that change every day. What doesn't change is the cabbage soup, which you are encouraged to eat in copious amounts throughout the week. It is not a long term diet plan at all and should not…
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    Parenting Course | Parent Classes | My Mommy Manual

  • How to Begin Again

    Practical Mommy
    17 Jan 2012 | 11:16 am
    I’ve been unapologetically absent here in 2011. Since November/December of 2010, when I was challenged to examine the way I work and live in the world, it’s been a process of letting go of old patterns of behavior. The way I was engaging here was clearly off — not in the outcome because I truly believe in the community we are creating and supporting — but my process. Let me tell you how it was… like many bloggers I know, I was burning the candle at both ends. We had way too many commitments for the number of hours in the day: TV appearances, guest columns/posts,…

  • How to Set Powerful Resolutions this New Year

    Zen Mommy
    8 Jan 2012 | 3:55 pm
    “Where love is, so is transformation. …because love is transformation, moment to moment.” -J. Krishnamurti We are now well into the second week of 2012. How’s your New Year’s resolution going? If you’ve all but given up on resolutions, you are not alone. Zen Mommy talks about why most resolutions leave us feeling guilty and looks at the difference between “change” and “transformation” with Carol on Great Day St. Louis. Maybe you set a New Year’s resolution and are still rocking it; eating better, exercising more, clearing out…

  • How to Find Support for Postpartum Depression

    Practical Mommy
    19 Dec 2011 | 12:14 pm
    My mom suffered from postpartum depression. And it altered the course of her life and mine forever. I’ve had dear friends whose relationships with their children and partners have similarly been affected in a deep and defining way by PPD. One of them is my friend, Katherine Stone. Babble included her blog, Postpartum Progress in the Top 10 Mom Blogs of 2011, naming it as a groundbreaking resource for moms and moms-to-be. I happen to agree. If you are a new mom and are struggling… please check it out. And if you or someone you love need some pre- postpartum support, I have another…

  • How to Add Meaning

    Practical Mommy
    20 Nov 2011 | 10:25 pm
    It’s Stuff-itis season… the season when we are bombarded with messages of all the STUFF we deserve ourselves or need to gift to other people to show them we love them. We experience it every year, this idea that pervades our consciousness – in the malls, in our media, and in our culture – that with all the giving of stuff comes joy, love and connectedness. And yet, every year after all the wrappings and bows are stuffed in the trash and we’ve collected our stuff in a pile, after they join all the rest of our stuff, we don’t feel any different than we did before. We go back to the…

  • How to Make Pumpkin Seeds

    Practical Mommy
    17 Oct 2011 | 1:51 am
    It’s a delicious and nutritious seasonal snack and it’s easy enough for kids to make almost entirely on their own! My daughter who is a HUGE fan of pumpkin seeds (especially if she made them…) teaches us how kids can whip up a batch in the kitchen. Recipe included in VIDEO (2:31). Do your kids have a go-to recipe that they love for Halloween or Thanksgiving? Share it with us in the comments below. And give Reilly some props! She’s a natural!
 
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    For Love Or Funny

  • I’ve got a ball in my face, but I’m okay

    Lynn
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    Now that we are in the swing of basketball season, I’m reminded that I need to improve my photography skills. Gyms are poorly lit, which complicates matters for any photographer. Plus, yelling things like “Don’t hurt my baby!” makes the camera shake.   That pesky basketball has a knack of knocking her in the face. I think I’m going to contact our athletic director, and ask him to order the basketballs that DON’T hit her in the face. My orthodontist will support me on this request, I’m certain. Perhaps the risk of personal injury is worth it,…

  • I’m not a sex addict. Or a nudist.

    Lynn
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    Lately, I’ve been getting weird looks. I don’t understand it. All I’m doing is taking notes. I mean, are “to do” lists that archaic? Is that why I’m getting so many strange looks? Wait a second. These aren’t my pens. My brother gave them to me. For Christmas. As a gag gift. Really. See? This post brought to you by Writers Who Need Some New Pens. We shouldn’t go out in public with the pens they have.

  • My favorite romance novels.

    Lynn
    23 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    A cold, dark winter’s day needs two things: a blanket and a good romance novel. Here are some of my favorites: Separate Beds, by Lavyrle Spencer I read this book shortly after I graduated from college, and it’s one of the reasons I fell in love with the romance genre. The story illustrates how love can change a person for the better. In this book, love appears in the form of an unexpected pregnancy that brings the hero and heroine together in a marriage of convenience. The marriage gives the heroine a chance to escape from the tyranny of her alcoholic father, and motherhood gives…

  • Pranked. Again.

    Lynn
    20 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    Something weird happened a few weeks ago. A flamingo suddenly appeared in our yard. This was weird, because we don’t even live in Florida. My ferocious guard dog didn’t notice anything amiss. She was too busy, er, chasing dust bunnies. The flamingo in our yard presented a complex, highly troubling problem. You see, we “flamingo-ed” more than one person a few weeks ago. As a result, we had no idea who returned the favor. Oh, what a tangled web of deceit we weave. However, I noticed that this flamingo was suitably attired for the holiday. Whoever pranked us had a highly…

  • What will it take to get you to buy this car NOW?

    Lynn
    18 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    A few days ago, we said goodbye to an old family friend… At first, she lived with my parents. Then she took my hubby to work. She is our first car that made it past 100,000 miles. And then some… Rather like living past 100 in human years, no? The car still ran great, but it felt like the right time to say goodbye. I wasn’t looking forward to the car-buying “experience.” Years ago, a salesman told me to “bring your husband so we can strike a deal.” I was stunned that he didn’t think I could “strike a deal.” In his defense, perhaps I…
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    Harassed Mom

  • Dear FNB – Is it something I did?

    LauraKim
    28 Jan 2012 | 12:20 am
    When we started the shop we opened up a business cheque account and decided to do it all with FNB because David does all his banking with them and they did seem to offer the best deal around for businesses. We overlooked the fact that when we wanted our bond and we enquired with them they took about a month to get back to us – Nedbank had already given us approval by then. (This was with FNB’s twitter man RB Jacobs trying to help) The opening of the cheque account was not without hassle – I had to make many follow up visits and phone calls to get everything confirmed but…

  • Things I know about life

    LauraKim
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:48 am
    Shae isn’t doing Things I know any more but I am going to keep doing it anyway :-p So things I know about life Parenting is hard. Even if you have a meal plan the brinjal your whole meal went around will be off despite you having checked it. You will stand in dog pee/poop as you are running out the door. Woolworths will always have corn cakes until the day you need to buy. A puppy will arrive on your doorstep at the exact moment you thought your plate was about to break from the weight of stuff on it. Children do not listen. Accept it and work around it. Mothers are the only people who…

  • That is all!

    LauraKim
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:15 pm

  • Updates updates updates

    LauraKim
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:54 am
    I haven’t blogged about poor Jack in months so today I thought I would do a quick Jack update and then a small wedding one Jack is nearly 8 months (can you handle that) and started crawling over a month ago and is now into everything! He motors around the house like a little energiser bunny – it really is to freaking cute. He is also cruising now and this morning cruised the entire length of the kitchen. He is not Lucy’s biggest fan right now because she bites him :-/ We are working on it but it is hard to keep either one of them contained and I want them to get used to each…

  • Let it go

    LauraKim
    23 Jan 2012 | 11:25 am
    I am tense at the moment – very tense! It has to do with the end of the month approaching as well as the adjustment to working full time again. I hate my house being disorganised and yesterday when I discovered our bin full of maggots I had a small internal melt down which bubbled over and resulted in me being overly tense all day. I am not getting to everything. I need our blue kids table for the shop but I can’t take it because it is keeping Lucy contained at the back until I can get the stuff David needs to be able to cover the back door so she can’t get out. But I…
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    Charm City Moms

  • Helping children cope with deployment

    Hanah Cho
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Here's Liz Atwood with this week's Tween Tuesday: An estimated 2 million kids have had to say good-bye to a military parent who was deployed overseas since 2001, including many in Maryland. Last week, the Department of Defense launched a website to help kids cope with the stress of parents who are stationed abroad. Militarykidsconnect.org, created by psychologist at the defense department, includes message boards, games, videos and educational resources for kids 6 to 17. The site also has features to help parents and educators understand the challenges military families face as they go…

  • 24-hour daycare

    Hanah Cho
    18 Jan 2012 | 9:53 am
    There are 24-hour gyms, 24-hour diners and everything in between. Now some daycare centers are joining the mix. The New York Times reports on the trend: Day care is slowly becoming night care in today’s economy, as parents work ever longer days, take on second jobs and accept odd shifts to make ends meet. ... About 40 percent of the American labor force now works some form of nonstandard hours, including evenings, nights, weekends and early mornings, according to Harriet B. Presser, a professor of sociology at the University of Maryland. That share is expected to grow with the projected…

  • Sinai to give away money to Ravens baby

    Hanah Cho
    18 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Everyone is getting into the business of celebrating the Baltimore Ravens. My colleague Andrea Walker at Picture of Health reports that Sinai Hospital will give away a $3,000 savings bond to the first baby born after the kick off at the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. Good luck to all expected mothers who are due this weekend at the Northwest Baltimore hospital.

  • To or not to give an allowance

    Hanah Cho
    17 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Here's Liz Atwood with this week's Tween Tuesday: I’ve always been a bit perplexed over the issue of giving a kid an allowance. Baltimore Sun financial columnist Eileen Ambrose gives me even more to think about. In her column Sunday, she quotes Lewis Mandell, professor emeritus of finance and former dean of business at the State University of New York in Buffalo, who has found that that giving kids allowances without requiring them to do chores makes kids less motivated to get a job or go to college. While we’ve been told for years that giving kids allowances helps them better understand…

  • Free weight-loss programs for Baltimore mothers

    Hanah Cho
    11 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Weight loss is one of top New Year resolutions for many people. If you're a mother in Baltimore, you could take advantage of a free program called B'more Fit for Healthy Babies. The program is part of a larger citywide initiative to reduce the rate of infant mortality. What does weight have to do with infant mortality? According to the program, overweight women face increased risks during pregnancy and delivery, and their babies are more likely to have poor birth outcomes and are also at risk for childhood obesity. B'more Fit begins registering eligible women Saturday at an event featuring…
 
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    GummyLump.com Blog

  • 5 Fun Ways for Kids to Play with Stuffed Animals

    27 Jan 2012 | 11:06 am
    1.     Throw a Party Have your child gather up all of the same kind of animal (teddy bears, for example) and create a pretend birthday or tea party! 2.     Go on Safari Have a sibling or parent hide some jungle stuffed animals in one area of the house. Give the child a list (in pictures or words) of animals to find. The child then checks off each animal on the list as it's found. Dressing up like an explorer and wearing binoculars adds even more fun to this pretend play game. 3.     Play School Get your stuffed animals seated and…

  • 10 Fun Ways for Toddlers & Preschoolers to Play with Snow Inside!

    21 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm
    Bring the Joy of Snow Indoors for Toddlers & Preschoolers! Supplies Needed: Snow, Towel(s), Plastic Container (a cookie sheet will work in some cases). Everything else is optional (You may want to put gloves or mittens on their hands). 10 Fun Ways for Toddlers & Preschoolers to Play with Snow Inside!Ice cream shop Fill a large plastic container with snow. Add an ice cream scoop, some spoons, and plastic or paper bowls. Use paper cups as "cones". Sprinkles can be coffee or sensory rice Make "snow" cones Fill a few small plastic container with snow. Add a different color food…

  • Shop Our Biggest Holiday Sale Ever: Up to 50% off Site Wide!

    6 Dec 2011 | 10:36 am
    Shop Our Biggest Holiday Sale Ever: Up to 50% off Site Wide! Gift WizardUse our gift wizard to help you find the perfect holiday gift for any child on your list! Stocking StuffersToys Under $5 that will fit into a Christmas Stocking are waiting for you! Our stocking stuffer toys are the perfect something extra for that special child on your Christmas Gift List! Toys Under $10Our Toys Under $10 section offers you a super selection of hundreds of QUALITY toys for ten dollars or less! When you need a great toy at a great price, this is the stop where 10 bucks shops!    Wooden Toys from…

  • Sensory Bin in Holiday Colors!

    2 Dec 2011 | 5:32 am
    Sensory Bin from dried beans: cool, smooth feeling running through your hands!  Very relaxing! for Ages 3 years and Up with Adult Participation and Supervision Supplies Needed:Large Shoe/Boot Box OR Large Plastic Tub/Bin Bags of Dried Beans (we picked based on color: tans, greens, and dark reds) Various measuring, scooping and storing containers Play figures: bugs, dinosaurs etc. Time Needed:   5 Minutes to set up What To Do: Open each bag of beans and pour into box/bin. Add measuring, scooping and storing containers. Add play figures: bugs, dinosaurs etc. This has been one of the…

  • Turkey Craft for Kids from Toilet Tissue Tube: Thanksgiving Kids Craft

    15 Nov 2011 | 9:05 am
    Turkey Craft for Kids from Toilet Tissue Tube: Thanksgiving Kids Craft   Supplies Needed:1 Toilet Tissue Tube for Each Turkey Construction Paper 2 Googly Eyes for Each Turkey Child Safe Scissors Glue Time Needed:   20-30 Minutes What To Do: CAUTION: When cutting with scissors is required a parent or adult must supervise. If the cutting is too intricate the adult can do it for the child Cut out a square of construction paper about 8" x 8" My kids chose their favorite colors for this project. Use whatever color(s) they like! Fold square in half diagonally so it looks like a triangle.
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    Parenting Help Me

  • A Parent’s Thoughts On Joe Paterno’s Legacy

    Sally Berenzweig MEd, MA
    24 Jan 2012 | 10:34 am
    A Parents Thoughts On Joe Paterno’s Legacy The death of the beloved Joe Paterno has left many people with conflicted and confused emotions. Many would only like to think of all the good he has done in his life. Others can only see how many children he turned a blind eye to who could have [...] More Parenting Tips: Breaking The Silence Of Penn State What You Should Know About Child Abuse and The Media It Takes More Than A Village To Protect A Child Can There Really Be A World Without Child Abuse? Cherie’s Story

  • When A Child Goes Missing

    Karen Kramer
    19 Jan 2012 | 11:08 am
    When A Child Goes Missing photo credit: crdotx Yesterday morning, I arrived at work grumpy, filled with complaints, annoyed at the world in general. Full of selfish “Why Me’s”… I grabbed a crappy cup of coffee. Turned on the old “Big Bertha” PC. Checked my email. Checked my Twitter messages and nearly dropped my crappy [...] More Parenting Tips: Child Water Safety Tips What You Should Know About Child Abuse and The Media How To Choose Child-Friendly Internet Games Can There Really Be A World Without Child Abuse? It Takes More Than A Village To Protect A…

  • There Has To Be A Better Way To Plan A Wedding

    Karen Kramer
    12 Jan 2012 | 9:16 am
    There Has To Be A Better Way To Plan A Wedding! photo credit: county marquees There are two events in the life of your child that are a nightmare to your pocketbook. One is college. We start planning for the departure of our child into the great fancy halls of college at birth.  A bank [...] More Parenting Tips: Can they really do that on FACEBOOK! Time For All Homeschoolers and Teachers To Find Curriculum Again. Surviving A Kids Birthday Party At Home Parents Are Allowed To Make Mistakes Stop The Bully Labeling

  • Swing Set Tales

    Karen Kramer
    6 Jan 2012 | 10:35 am
    Swing Set Tales I remember the day my husband backed his Ford pickup around the side of our little lake house straight to the backyard.  A large box was protruding from the tailgate.  As I watched from the window, my then three year old son came stumbling up the porch screaming,  “Mommy come look” with [...] More Parenting Tips: Bully On The Bus, When Silence Is Not Golden Cherie’s Story Sally’s Story Guns and Kids A Recipe for Disaster Can Your Kid Be TOO Nice?

  • What You Should Know About Child Abuse and The Media

    Sally Berenzweig MEd, MA
    7 Dec 2011 | 10:24 am
    Child Abuse & The Media While all the hoopla and media coverage dies down about the Penn State, Syracuse, Citadel and the Hollywood minor actors Child Sex Abuse Scandals, I worry that our attention span for the next salacious article has made many forget that underlying the headlines of the cover up, unraveling of institutions [...] More Parenting Tips: Can There Really Be A World Without Child Abuse? It Takes More Than A Village To Protect A Child Breaking The Silence Of Penn State A Parent’s Thoughts On Joe Paterno’s Legacy Cherie’s Story
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    Early Childhood Brain Insights

  • Naptime Is Great!

    Deborah McNelis
    17 Jan 2012 | 9:27 am
    Naptime is much more than providing rest for a child ... and a break for parents! Children's developing brains need adequate amounts of sleep for healthy brain development. We all know what it is like to deal with an over tired child. The reason for the behaviors we experience is due to a child not being able to handle the results of inadequate amounts of sleep. First of all the child still has an immature brain. It hasn't developed enough to provide the ability to deal with feelings of brain systems being out of balance. This is even difficult for adults. Getting enough sleep helps keep…

  • A Nature Preschool Enhances Early Childhood Brain Development

    Deborah McNelis
    9 Jan 2012 | 12:33 pm
    As I continuously promote, it is critical that children have the opportunity to learn, play and explore outdoors. As adults we need to do all we can to ensure that children have opportunities to develop their brains in healthy, natural and safe environments. There are numerous benefits to brains of all ages as a result of spending time in nature as I have shared in Your Brain Needs Nature and this fun one that includes a video called, Nature Deficit Disorder by KQED QUEST. It is especially important and beneficial for young developing brains to experience and learn outdoors. For this reason I…

  • LOVE IS A PRIMARY NEED

    Deborah McNelis
    20 Dec 2011 | 11:27 am
    Did You Know...?          ...... feel good chemicals are released in the brain through loving interactions. ....... families and cultures that express warm physical affection have fewer issues with anger and aggression. ..... Researchers who examine the life histories of children who have succeeded despite many challenges, have consistently found that these children have had at least one stable, supportive relationship with an adult early in life. It is valuable to realize how much the brain has to do with relationships and the love we experience in our lives. Love is…

  • REALLY IMPROVING BRAINS!

    Deborah McNelis
    11 Dec 2011 | 3:48 pm
    I am so excited to share the following with you! It is a wonderful poem sent to me by Hillary at Toys Naturally. She was inspired and wrote it in response to the article I posted on ipadding for toddlers and a few other recent posts on this important topic. This is one I am going to share often to communicate the importance and incredible value of interaction with people and real objects vs screen time. Enjoy the insights Hillary shares! I read a tweet and saw a blogYoung minds, affected, in a fogTelevision, switched on all dayDestroying childhood, killing play I felt virtuous - only half an…

  • Children and the Brain: Think Big!

    Deborah McNelis
    30 Nov 2011 | 10:50 am
    What is good for the body... is good for the brain! Often when we hear the term "healthy" we generally think in terms of our body. However, realizing the positive impact healthy habits have on our brains and the dramatic effect they have on children can make an remarkable difference. When I am presenting on the effects nutrition has on a child's brain, learning and behavior, I commonly find that people are amazed with this knowledge. This is the reason for my post today. I am sharing this wonderful article written by Lauren Zimet which was previously published in Common Ground Magazine, Nov…
 
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    The Baby Sleep Site™ - Baby Sleep Help | Toddler Sleep Help | Custom Sleep Help

  • Ferber or Weissbluth?

    Nicole Johnson
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    We’ve talked about how Babywise may or may not be right for your baby’s sleep, why Pantley’s No Cry Sleep Solution doesn’t always work, and about Dr. Sears and Weissbluth’s online chat about baby sleep. This article will talk about the differences and similarities between Ferber and Weissbluth and which one may be better (or not) for your baby’s sleep. Who are Ferber and Weissbluth? Most people know Ferber’s name because of the now popular term “Ferberizing,” a method for sleep training your baby, which involves letting him cry while you…

  • January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month

    Emily DeJeu
    20 Jan 2012 | 2:16 pm
    As moms, we all know that life changes the moment a woman has a baby. When Kelle Hampton headed into the delivery room and gave birth to Nella, however, the changes would be greater and more challenging than she could imagine. “I knew the minute I saw her that she had Down Syndrome and nobody else did,” Kelle writes. “I held her and cried. Cried and panned the room to meet eyes with anyone that would tell me she didn’t have it. I held her and looked at her like she wasn’t my baby and tried to take it in. And all I can remember of these moments is her face. I will never…

  • How Baby Monitors Impact Your Baby’s Sleep

    Nicole Johnson
    10 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    When you first get pregnant, there are so many things on your list of “must haves” and “nice to haves.” Among that list is often a baby monitor. But, would it surprise you if I said sometimes you need to just turn that thing off? No, I’m not a negligent parent. Read on as we explore how baby monitors can impact your baby’s sleep. If you planned to be a co-sleeping family, you are probably less likely to have felt you needed a baby monitor. But, for those of us who planned NOT to co-sleep (even if we did because having a baby rarely goes as you planned), a…

  • 7 Tips for Better Baby Sleep in 2012

    Nicole Johnson
    3 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    Happy New Year! The last year has flown by for a lot of us, in some ways, and really dragged in others, especially if your baby hasn’t been sleeping. When you’re not getting good sleep, days feel terribly long, sometimes. You know what I’m talking about if your baby was part of the Massive Recall of 2011 Babies. It’s time to take a look into our future and see what we can do to improve sleep in 2012! Here are 7 tips to make sure 2012 is a year of better baby sleep for your baby and your whole family: 1. Be realistic All babies will not sleep through the night at the…

  • Will Cry It Out Lead to Prozac For Your Baby?

    Nicole Johnson
    27 Dec 2011 | 4:00 am
    When Psychology Today released an article recently about the “Dangers of Crying It Out” I felt it necessary to discuss this important topic. When I think back through my life, if I focus just on the negative things in my life, it can feel depressing. I think back to how my parents were divorced when I was eight or when my mom left after a nervous breakdown, and I went to live with my Dad when I was 12. I think back to being called names because of my racial background or to my (mostly verbally) abusive relationship back in college and wonder what I was thinking. Or, I get sad when…
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    Playground Confidential

  • I’m Expecting … Birth Centres, Aren’t You?

    rebecca
    28 Jan 2012 | 12:25 am
    All three of my births were attended by midwives and I cannot say enough about the quality of care I received. So it’s too bad I’ve said very little.* Hey, a gal gets tired and lazy and can’t be blogging all the time when she’s pregnant, okay? Lay off. So let me just say this. Midwives provided me with knowledge and understanding throughout my pregnancies. They gave me information and sought out my explicit consent about every test and procedure. They helped me be in control. Midwives taught me about the stages of labour and about birth and breastfeeding. They were in…

  • X-Treme Board Game Disaster

    rebecca
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:59 pm
    Confession: I can’t get my kids to pick up after themselves. It’s worse than that, in fact. They like to take entire toy bins and games with a zillion pieces and just dump them out all over the floor. Leave them alone for a few minutes and you will return to find a room that looks less like some children have been playing and more like a madman has been rifling through all the drawers and shelves, throwing and breaking things willy nilly. We had taken all of the board games they’ve been given as gifts and put them away in a cabinet in the office. They’re really too…

  • Which Would You Rather Eat, I Mean, Look Like?

    rebecca
    16 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    Pre-pregnancy jeans, take 3: Image courtesy flickr.com/photos/23126594@N00/135026216/ Image courtesty flickr.com/photos/veganfeast/3925029206/ Success! Well, my mid-section is still a little more muffiny than, say, a baguette with, er, hips and leaky breasts. (How do those French women stay so slim?) But this time — THIS TIME — I have been able to wear them for several hours and they don’t even hurt. So either my sweet-free New Year’s resolution is yielding results or my jeans finally caved. “Hot damn, woman, you’re not trying to fit that ass in here again,…
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    SafeMama.com

  • Calendula Cream Choices Cheat Sheet

    SafeMama Kathy
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:09 pm
    Since the onset of the California Baby reformulation situation, moms have been asking about other products to ease the discomfort of eczema and dry skin on themselves and their babies without irritation and extra synthetic ingredients.  This is a hard job because no product is going to be the exact same thing.  Based on the [...]

  • California Baby Reformulation Drama

    SafeMama Kathy
    21 Jan 2012 | 2:58 pm
    There has been some drama going on around Facebook regarding a reformulation of the product line by California Baby. Before you panic I wanted to present the facts to you so that you may make an informed decision.  Since I’m Mrs Bad News Bear around here I’ll just simply fill you all in and you [...]

  • Safer Cooking: All Sources Point To Cast Iron

    SafeMama Kathy
    20 Jan 2012 | 11:48 am
    One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to green my kitchen.  I go through the trouble and expense to buy organic food and use safer dishware, but that  all goes out the window if I’m using a pan that could be leaching harmful toxins into the food I’m preparing. (I am no Eric [...]

  • SafeMama on The Honest Company Launch

    SafeMama Kathy
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:31 pm
    Hi everyone! I’ve been so busy but I am researching my little heart out so bear with me.  I have gotten a ton of email from all of my loyal SafeParents on what I thought of the new products that were launched this week by Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan’s new company The Honest Company. [...]

  • Favorite Gifts: Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Pint Cup

    SafeMama Kathy
    7 Jan 2012 | 3:12 pm
    I was given some really nice things this year for Christmas.  Guess I was a good girl in 2011, huh? Mostly. Anyway I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite new things which was a stainless steel 16 ounce pint cup by Klean Kanteen. I have replaced a lot of my plastics with [...]
 
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    Family Anatomy

  • 4 Steps for Active Listening

    Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.
    19 Jan 2012 | 11:33 am
    Empathy by CriChristina We all want our kids to be able to understand the feelings of others, and to respond to them appropriately. Empathy is an important aspect of emotional intelligence, and it’s an essential skill for maintaining relationships. Developmentalists expect this skill to appear naturally as a child matures, as long as they have a secure bond with a caring adult. That is, kids will become empathic if they believe that they have someone who values them and understands them. How can parents demonstrate their caring and understanding? One way is through active listening.

  • Anatomy of Three Things (Episode 133) | families

    Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.
    9 Jan 2012 | 9:14 pm
    Doctors Brian and Giuseppe talk about recent news stories about families and relationships, including: Should the doctors be given a time out for rejecting time outs? How relationship problems can be passed on through generations Is making your child the centre of your universe creating problems for kids? What should families do about it? A new program is using technology to help teens to quit smoking Get the latest new about families and relationships in this week’s episode! Listen here: … or right click here to save the episode for later. You can also get your free podcast…

  • Anatomy of Family Connections, Pt. 2 (Episode 132)

    Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.
    26 Dec 2011 | 8:27 pm
    Dr. Gordon Neufeld Doctors Brian and Giuseppe continue their talk with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, author of Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need To Matter More Than Peers, about how parents can help their kids to reach their potential while avoiding behaviour problems. How can parents help their kids to become resilient so they can deal with difficult situations? How do connections with caring adults help kids have trouble adapting? How do time-outs and other forms of discipline affect parent-child connections? Find out what Dr. Neufeld thinks this week! Listen here: … or right click here…

  • Anatomy of Family Connections, Pt. 1 (Episode 131)

    Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.
    12 Dec 2011 | 7:20 pm
    Dr. Gordon Neufeld Doctors Brian and Giuseppe talk with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, author of Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need To Matter More Than Peers, about how parents can make connections with their kids that will help them to reach their potential while avoiding behaviour problems. What should parents see if their child is maturing? What is required for a child to reach his or her potential? How can parents make it easier for their kids to develop optimally? What does it take to encourage connections with your kids? What can parents and teachers do to reduce defiance or noncompliance?

  • Best Parenting Articles For The Holidays

    Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.
    8 Dec 2011 | 8:56 am
    Christmas Bokeh by William Brawley The holidays are here, and with them comes advice from the experts about parenting. Here are some of my favourite recent posts: Pre-Holiday Blues – Dr. Stephanie Dr. Stephanie is a Colorado psychologist who writes about pop culture, parenting, and topics related to mental health. She recently provided some ideas for families to help cope with the change in season and the family stress that accompanies the holidays. My favourite suggestion: if the traditional holiday stories don’t resonate for you, find new meaning at this time of year by…
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    Rave and Review

  • Dead Poets Society Comes to Blu-ray {Review & Giveaway}

    Leanne
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:05 pm
    “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” a very simple sentiment, but something that you just can’t hear often enough. While the phrase “carpe diem” might be what Dead Poets Society is known for, and quite frankly, the only thing I remembered about the movie from when we watched it in High School, the latter phrase now resonates with me more. In High School, the movie was an assignment. Required viewing about a man whose untraditional teaching techniques make his students excited to learn. But, watching the movie 10 years later as a parent, the movie takes on a whole new meaning. Instead…

  • Tegu Blocks Asks "How Do You Roll" {Review & Giveaway}

    Leanne
    23 Jan 2012 | 2:39 am
    If you’ve come to my house to play in the past few months, chances are you were immediately asked if you wanted to play with Tegu Blocks. If so, you probably had the same reaction everyone else does when asked if you want to play: a shrug and an “I guess”. But, once the felted Tegu tote is pulled out that houses our beloved Tegu Blocks, immediately everyone is excited. “Whoa, are these magnetic blocks?!?” Why yes, yes they are. I vividly remember the first time I saw them at a store; I probably played with them for a good 20 minutes, blown away by their simple design that makes them…

  • Seattle Readers: Win a Photo Sitting with Alecia Smith Photography! {$325 Value}

    Leanne
    23 Jan 2012 | 1:24 am
    I resolve to: Finally get a good family picture No one ever says “I wish I didn’t have so many pictures of my family”. Because, really, that would be just plain crazy. Who out there doesn’t want beautiful images of their family showcasing their personalities and the love you have for each other? So, why not make a change this year and finally schedule that family photo sitting you’ve been putting off? This past Fall we were lucky enough to win a family portrait session from Alecia Smith Photography at the Pacific Northwest Blogger Meetup organized by the lovely Mandy {Harper’s…

  • LaDainian Tomlinson & Kellogg Help Football Fans Throw a Pro-Style Party {Giveaway}

    Leanne
    16 Jan 2012 | 7:02 pm
    It wouldn’t be farfetched to call Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday. Instead of a holiday focused on baking, distant family and presents, February 5th is all about football, spending time with friends, snacking, and fabulous commercials. And, if you’re a football fan, it’s the day you wait all year for. We plan ahead for weeks on what we are going to do for the big day – what party we will attend, who we will bring with us, and what kind of beer to buy. But, the one thing we never plan for is what food to bring, because you will most likely find us stressing at the deli counter the…

  • Build Your Own Robot with PlanToys

    Leanne
    11 Jan 2012 | 2:10 am
    Every kid needs a robot, right? PlanToys thinks they do, which is why they have released the new PlanToys Build-A-Robot. This isn’t your typical one size fits all robot, this is a special friend that kids can build to their specifications, and with their own distinct personality. Like everything PlanToys, the wooden Build-A-Robot is quality made and simply adorable. Using eco-friendly and sustainable products, the Build-A-Robot is heirloom quality and ready for hours of play. Made with interchangeable heads that kids can alternate between, removable legs, and removable and positionable…
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    Being a Mummy

  • Review: Tommee Tippee closer to nature ® Digital Video Monitor with Movement Sensor Pad

    Alex Walsh
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:43 pm
    The Tommee Tippee closer to nature ® Digital Video Monitor with Movement Sensor Pad arrived at just the right time for us, with a new addition to the family on New Years Day, I for one didn't fancy digging out our 5 year old Tomy analogue monitor. The cables are an unruly mess and the things have taken a bit of pasting over the years. I passed the Closer to Nature Video Monitor over to hubby to unbox and set up, in my defence I was slightly distracted by a teeny tiny baby. He reckoned it looked more like a high end gadget than something supposedly as mundane as a baby monitor. The…

  • Review: Rayman Origins on Nintendo Wii

    Alex Walsh
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:26 pm
    When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by “nefurrious”Darktoons, the Fairy Council hastily invokes Rayman to save the day; but the hero of light isn’t quite all there…To help him, Rayman teams up with his best friend, Globox, and two crafty wizards, the Teensies. Together, the world’s most hilarious team of heroes will need to restore peace to the Glade or watch as their beloved home vanishes like a bad dream... Rayman Origins is a rare thing in today's gaming world- it's a platform game! It makes a refreshing change from playing shooty shooty games but Rayman Origins is a great game…

  • Review: The Philips Man Iron

    zooarchaeologist
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:07 am
    Just before Christmas I was sent an email which offered to send me a pampering set in exchange for sending my husband an Iron which he was to test out. How could I refuse such an offer? Especially as I absolutely hate ironing and I am keen to train the man up as I seem to spend ages on his work shirts. The Man Iron is clearly targeted at men, its a sleek black machine with a simple dial which makes it easy to put it on the correct setting, even if you aren't used to ironing and material identification. However I think its a pretty good iron generally. I had a quick go with it and I think its…

  • Things you think about whilst night-time feeding babies

    zooarchaeologist
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:20 am
    Should I have made different comment to a school mum? I wonder if there is some sort of mathematical formula which gives you quantity of poo resultant of numbers of feeds according to developmental age/ weight I hope this noise doesn't wake the other kids I hope this noise wakes that husband up as he seems to sleep through anything Why am I wet? Shall I just go and start doing chores as soon as this baby goes to sleep Why does this baby only ever sleep during daylight or with his head resting at a really uncomfortable angle on me? I hope the boy isn't going to be bullied again I hope Fifi and…

  • Struggling to take a picture of them all!

    zooarchaeologist
    22 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm
    One of the issues with having three children is trying to find the moment to take a picture of them all. It's also finding the patience to take one where you can see all their faces and no-one is pulling a funny face. Unfortunately this is the best I've managed so far....
 
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    My Story Is Not Over

  • Life: Via My iPhone

    8 Jan 2012 | 4:28 pm
    I'm compelled to take a picture every time I see hearts in the clouds    Me and my Lilly Pad Spencer The result of my new Chi hair straightener I got for Christmas.  Look at this one from 2009.  She's growing up so fast! Last week I had bronchitis and a sinus infection, which was actually a blessing since I start back to school this week and I had yet to be sick all year- better to get sick when I don't have 12 hour clinical days!  But, last week also happened to be the Quadrantids Meteor Shower, which coincided with the coldest night of the year- about 18 degrees…

  • SNL

    30 Nov 2011 | 2:11 pm
    Spencer and Lila = Little Katie and Little Sara (Circa 1996)   How did they (and we) grow up so fast?

  • The Black Hole

    2 Nov 2011 | 10:06 pm
    I was looking at the camera roll on my phone tonight when I discovered these gems that I'd never seen before.  I found quite a few, all just like the ones below.  (There were about 30)  Before I get to the next part- I need to preface this- Spencer has broken every single cell phone I've had since she was born.  Every.  Single.  One.  (Plus two computers and many other electronics)  Okay, so when I got my new phone two weeks ago, I became the meanest mommy on the planet and said she couldn't play with it.  I didn't even download Angry Birds because…

  • Thirty, Flirty and Thriving

    24 Oct 2011 | 11:15 pm
    (Above title is a quote from one of my favorite movies- anyone else a fan like me?) So my 30th birthday has come and gone and I have to say it was one of the best birthday/birthday weekends I can remember.  On Saturday morning I got 30 roses from parents. Saturday evening a friend took me out for dinner, drinks and a little dancing.  At the restaurant they brought out different desserts with candles on them and champagne- it was very nice!  I didn't take a picture of that though, which I can't believe... but I'll still remember it. Sunday afternoon I celebrated with my…

  • Twenty-Something Pictures

    22 Oct 2011 | 3:31 pm
    One picture each year  20 21 22   23 24                                   …
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    So Not Zen

  • Party Like a Rock Star

    26 Jan 2012 | 9:22 pm
    You know you are a mom when...You are extremely excited to spend the night alone in a motel, even a crappy one that smells like nachos and feetYou are in your granny night gown flipping channels at 7 pmYou are thrilled to be in control of the remote even though the TV only has, like, six crappy channelsYou go to the bar for dinner and enjoy wine, happy hour snacks, and a library book, alone, in the most well lit corner of the barThe fun activity you brought with you, just for kicks, is individual false eyelashes and eyelash glue. And a library book

  • Adventures in dumpster diving

    16 Jan 2012 | 9:12 am
    When we decided to downsize to a condo from a larger home in 2009, we weighed the pros and the cons. Less space but smaller utility bills. No yard, yet no yard work. Losing vintage charm, but gaining modern convenience. In other words, we thought this shit out.Once of the pro/con items that didn't seem significant was the garbage situation. In our old house, we had curbside pickup for garbage and recycling, one day per week. In the condo, we have a dumpster for garbage, plus dumpsters for recycling, that we can use any/every day of the week. We have to walk a skosh farther than the curb, but…

  • I am so controversial...

    12 Jan 2012 | 11:19 am
    I received an email about a complaint about my blog, and a link to click to view it, and blah blah blah, SPAM, so I deleted it. Because I? Am no fool. I do not clink links in ridiculous emails.Then today I logged on to take a peek at my blog for the first time in, oh, a while, and lo and behold, a big, bold message greeted me: We have received a DMCA complaint for your blog, So Not Zen. An email with the details of the complaint was sent to you on 11-Jan-2012 , and we reset the post status to "Draft"; you can edit it here. You may republish the post with the offending content and/or link(s)…

  • Deck The Halls.,,,

    7 Dec 2011 | 7:06 pm
    ... with $1 loofahs from Walmart.This idea? All Carlie. This photo? My new iPhone. Fa la la la la

  • Send help, STAT

    30 Nov 2011 | 5:50 pm
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    About.com Working Moms

  • Achieve the Flexwork Dream

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:55 am
    During my second maternity leave, I kept saying to my husband, "If only I could work part-time, I'm sure I could balance work and family." He finally convinced me to propose a reduced-hour schedule to my supervisor, and to my surprise, she said yes! Read Full PostAchieve the Flexwork Dream originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 16:55:02.Permalink | Comment | Email this

  • Pros and Cons of a Compressed Work Week

    24 Jan 2012 | 3:16 pm
    Last Friday, I was dropping off my girls at before care, a bit on the late side, when I ran into a fellow working mom who normally hits the road early to beat the traffic to work. She was wearing jeans and a happy, relaxed expression. Not the typical uniform of someone about to dive into the morning commute to work. Read Full PostPros and Cons of a Compressed Work Week originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 21:16:16.Permalink | Comment | Email this

  • The Secret to Achieving Your Career Goals

    19 Jan 2012 | 1:58 am
    We're in the New Year, and I'm guessing at least one of your resolutions had to do with one of your career goals. For me, it's to finally write down the book proposal that has been rattling around my head for two years. I know that by committing it to paper, I've taken the first concrete step toward achieving it. Read Full PostThe Secret to Achieving Your Career Goals originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at 07:58:08.Permalink | Comment | Email this

  • Remember to Pay the Nanny Tax

    17 Jan 2012 | 1:47 am
    It's mid-January, which means the nanny tax is again on my mind. First, it's a likely time for people to hire a new babysitter, with those New Year's resolutions for a regular date night or to job hunt. Read Full PostRemember to Pay the Nanny Tax originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 07:47:10.Permalink | Comment | Email this

  • How Do You Juggle Pregnancy and Work?

    11 Jan 2012 | 2:31 am
    It's hard to know how pregnancy will make you feel until you're actually expecting. So you can't really plan how to juggle pregnancy and work. Read Full PostHow Do You Juggle Pregnancy and Work? originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 08:31:36.Permalink | Comment | Email this
 
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    Sprittibee

  • An Early Driver's Ed Class

    Sprittibee
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:42 am
    Raise your hand if you have ever violated a traffic law. Oh, come on. Be honest. You know you did a Texas pause at a stop sign in your neighborhood once or twice. How about a speeding ticket? I bet you have had at least one in your life, right? These things have been on my mind a lot because in just a few weeks my big kid is turning FIFTEEN - and sooner than later he'll be taking driver's ed and learning to navigate the Texas highways. He's paying attention to the roads these days. I'm pointing out landmarks and street names to make sure he can find his way home if he gets lost. We're going…

  • Lighting a Fire... at the Homeschool Post

    Sprittibee
    22 Jan 2012 | 5:27 pm
    “Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” ~William Yeats~ "We snuck away from the big city this weekend and left suburbia behind. We took our kids to the country, exchanging our lazy at-home weekend routine with actual work (and the sore muscles to prove it). We even let the toddler have his fill of dirt and rocks. We left the laptops, the Xbox, and the toys at home." ... come read the rest of the story with me over at the Homeschool Post today... Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email

  • My Sweet Thirteen

    Sprittibee
    20 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am
    One year ago today she was pretty in pink. Turning twelve. Sharing a bedroom with her little brother. Hanging on to her stuffed animals and putting headbands in her hair. Now she's too cool for all that. Two inches taller. Has had her first pedicure. Has plans to write a book about Norse history, and hides away in her own room downstairs drawing and using her laptop. The stuffed animals - well, half of them - were donated this past week to a friend giving a garage sale. Kitty cats and ponies. My little girl is a teenager today. I thought I would share with you her fancy cupcake project she…

  • Remind Yourself What the List and Lesson Plan Don't Know

    Sprittibee
    13 Jan 2012 | 7:51 am
    low-tech lesson planning:: I snuck out of bed early today so I could squeeze in a blog post. I snuck out of the warm covers and left behind two snuggly little boys, a protesting long-haired kitty-cat, and the soft glow of a baby monitor. Daddy, who is always just a little too noisy in the morning, was downstairs trying to enjoy his coffee at 5:15am. "I'm going to be late. I have to take it on the road today." I handed him his travel mug and noted how the dishes hadn't been done by my hopeful twelve year old that promised she would do them at 4:30am (and set her alarm) if I would just let her…

  • Keep Aiming for the Goal; Despite the Difficulties

    Sprittibee
    12 Jan 2012 | 4:31 pm
    One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.  ~Sidney Howard I've been aiming at my goals lately. This explains my absence at the keyboard. It's been so long since I really felt the blog bug biting. Am I really a blogger any more? How often do you have to blog to be considered a real blogger? Kind of like that Tootsie Roll Pop question, isn't it? Instagram has kept me on a leash, though. The DSLR has been on vacation for far too long. And I have been hooked on Pinterest imagining all the things I'm going to make when I get my craft on this year.
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    Attachment Parenting International Blog

  • Nighttime Parenting Isn’t Always Pretty

    Courtney
    16 Jan 2012 | 10:04 am
    My first had always been a good sleeper. We co-slept through about 18 months or so, and when we moved, Little Man jumped right into his big-boy bed and that’s where he wanted to sleep. After I had my second child, we went through a phase where Little Man would wander into my bed in the middle of the night. Which was fine for a while. Hey, if he needed some extra security or mommy time or whatever it was, I was happy to oblige. After all, he was adapting to a pretty big change. After a few months, he would wander into the bedroom in the middle of the night, where the other 3 of us were…

  • The Invisible Bond Not Limited to Parents

    Rita Brhel
    19 Dec 2011 | 8:09 am
    Ricki was in trouble again with her first-grade substitute teacher, this time for accidentally spilling water on her desk. She missed her regular teacher who was on a four-month leave of absence after giving birth. Every since the new teacher came, Ricki hated school. She was sure the teacher didn’t like her — for forgetting her homework one day, for not paying attention another day, and now for spilling water on the desk. She returned home each day, filled with foul frustration, which erupted in attacking her younger brother, taunting her older sister, and talking back to her…

  • Flirting with babies

    Miriam Katz
    16 Dec 2011 | 8:08 am
    As the parent of a young toddler, the idea of “flirting” has been on my mind for a while. Whenever we’re at a restaurant, my daughter – like many other young children – enjoys catching the eye of new people, and making them smile. Our society likes to call this “flirting.” Our perceptions of babies tend to be skewed by the cultural beliefs we’ve inherited, and then reinforced by the language we’ve been taught to use, as well. This is why I’m calling out a seemingly innocent – yet omnipresent – word like…

  • Pregnancy Fun (and Mocktails)

    Rita Brhel
    15 Dec 2011 | 8:07 am
    As your body changes during pregnancy, the activities you used to enjoy may be off limits. You may not be able to drink your morning coffee, have sushi for lunch, or indulge in a glass of wine with dinner. And a pregnant woman can forget about roller coasters, riding a bicycle, or skiing, Yet, while it may be difficult to give up favorite activities and food, you can find fun in different and new ways. Pregnancy Editor Kathleen Mitchell-Askar explains…

  • Does attachment parenting require feminism?

    Dave Taylor
    14 Dec 2011 | 8:05 am
    I’ve been exploring the topic of attachment parenting and fathering as part of launching my new Go Fatherhood site and bumped into a thought-provoking article on a mom blog that claims attachment parenting requires the mom to be a supporter of feminism. I don’t buy it. The author’s point is that “traditional” attachment parenting is based around the baby being with the mother 24×7 for the first year or two, and it’s easy to then assume the woman’s role is as mother and that anything outside of mothering is irrelevant and should be eschewed.
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    Pancakes and French Fries

  • Unstyled Life

    Jules
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    I’m going to try and return the Unstyled Life posts to the format I originally intended: unstyled images of beauty around the house and home with little accompanying text. It started as a way for me to not fret so much about the “work in progress” status of our home. Over time, the posts morphed into essays on life, both serious and frivolous. I will continue to write, I couldn’t possibly stop if I tried, but I won’t do it on Fridays. Right now, my heart says I am pushing myself too hard. Not the way professional working mothers must push themselves, since I…

  • Too Much Storage

    Jules
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    A welcome effect of living by the William Morris quote and creating an intentional home is that eventually you reach a point where you have too much storage. I know, crazy-talk, but unless you live in a home without closets, it is possible. Possible with sweat equity and capital, but possible nonetheless. Take the Leksvik, for example. We kept this in our dining room to store many things. Last week we finally bought a dining room table (hurray!) and that meant there was no longer room for what officially became the clutter-catcher. No matter, since I already had it placed on Craigslist. I…

  • It was Tuesday

    Jules
    25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    I woke up early but had breakfast late. Later, I ran a quick errand.We read Rikki Tikki Tavi, Too Many Toys, and a two year old Spider-Man book from dollar spot at Target. We ate lunch. I had kale and chicken, leftovers. He nibbled at his sandwich and fruit, congested and uninterested. I anticipated this and only gave him half portions. I’m glad; I hate wasting food. On the way home from school, Mikey asked if I knew the proper way to kill a vampire. That’s the game they were playing at recess and he wanted to make sure he had all his weaponry straight. I told him there is nothing…

  • Gentle Giant Octopus

    Jules
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    A good book makes me think, learn, or research. That goes for any genre, any age group. Of course, I’ve loved books that have done none of the three for me. But, I’m not talking about those today. Today I’m talking about Gentle Giant Octopus. I’ve been thinking about these creatures ever since. I’m hoping this random post will finally get them out of my system. I bought this book for Nicholas last year. He was obsessed with sea creatures, and I thought the nonfiction book about an octopus would be someone he liked. Oddly, it wasn’t until recently, when he…

  • Souvenir Foto School

    Jules
    23 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    One of the best times I have ever had blogging was when I participated in Tristan’s Souvenir Foto School, Alphabet Edition. (That link is to my collection of images and posts that came from the project.) The assignment was to take an image a day that represented a letter in the alphabet, but I decided it would be fun to write a short story or journal entry with each picture and post it here on the blog. After 26 days I was exhausted, but I think I was being a major wimp. A year later I did Nester’s 31 Day series. That’s exhaustion. I’m doing the project again this…
 
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    icefairy's Treasure Chest

  • American Idol Season 9 Jimmy Charles Prize Pack Giveaway (5 Winners)!

    27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 pm
    Artist BioCOUNTRY a lil ROCK'N ROLL and a WHOLE LOTTA SOUL! A Soulful, Genuine and Passion filled Country Singer and Writer that brings amazing energy to all his performances! Jimmy has received Radio play for 4 of his songsincluding “Whatever It Takes” that played Nationally on Clear Channel Country radio. Season 9 “AMERICAN IDOL” Hollywood contestant, 2007 Top 50 “Nashville Star”, Guest

  • Join the #fanjam12 Twitter Party Tonight! Win Amazon Gift Cards & More!

    27 Jan 2012 | 6:23 pm
    Jimmy Charles and #fanjam12 Twitter PartyTonight at 9pm ESTWe are so excited for our #fanjam12 Twitter Party!Join us on January 27th @ 9pm EST to learn more about Jimmy Charles and WIN some great prizes!For those not familiar with Jimmy Charles, let me tell you a few things you should know!He's COUNTRY a lil ROCK'N ROLL and a WHOLE LOTTA SOUL!A Soulful, Genuine and Passion filled Country Singer

  • The Sneezy Wheezy Day Blog Tour: Review, Giveaway & Free Offer!

    24 Jan 2012 | 3:25 am
    As we are having an unusually warm winter here in Texas, the cold and flu season is already in full swing. We are not quite ready to stand up to its challenges, one of which is to comfort a sick child. Just in time for this special new season comes The Sneezy Wheezy Day, the third in the award-winning children’s series--Cougar Cub Tales, which follows the adventures of a brother and sister cougar

  • Walgreens Prescription Savings Club: Big Savings at Small Costs

    18 Jan 2012 | 3:01 am
    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine. Have you been using Walgreens as your primary pharmacy? Are you under a prescription insurance plan managed by Express Script for year 2012? If your answer is "yes" to both, then you're very likely to be affected by the recent breakup between Walgreens and Express Script, which could result in a huge

  • Organizher Menu Organizer Review & Giveaway

    16 Jan 2012 | 11:28 am
    Busy women, especially moms, often have to juggle between work and family, manage multiple schedules and keep track of a zillion things at the same time. It's therefore extremely important for us to stay organized so that our life can be more efficient and less stressful. To get better organized is my top-listed New Year's resolution. I'm so glad to find out that Organizher offers a full line of
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    MyBrownBaby

  • French Elle Thinks Michelle Obama Taught Black Women How To Dress—And Other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links

    Denene@MyBrownBaby
    27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    If French Elle fashion writer Nathalie Dolivo is to be believed—and she is not—African-Americans weren’t stylish until the Obama family came into office. ”For the first time, the chic has... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • If Terrell Owens Thinks He’s “In Hell,” Imagine How His Kids Feel

    Denene@MyBrownBaby
    26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    I’m no Terrell Owens fan and I have no interest in kicking a brother when he’s down, but the former NFL wide receiver known as T.O. isn’t winning any points after revealing in this month’s GQ cover... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Police Officers in School? A Recipe for Student Failure

    Denene@MyBrownBaby
    26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    By NICK CHILES Educators have known for a long time what kind of environment children need to learn: They need to feel safe and supported. Without these two elements, they will never perform at their... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Birthing While Black: This African American Mom’s Experience Was Anything But VIP

    Denene@MyBrownBaby
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:43 am
    There are a ton of things I’ll never forget about the first time I gave birth—showing up with a Donny Hathaway CD in one hand, a beautiful pink and white-striped “going home” dress and a white... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • MyBrownBaby Respect: Maya Angelou

    Denene@MyBrownBaby
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    There is, I hope, a thesis in my work: we may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. That sounds goody-two-shoes, I know, but I believe that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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    Natural Parenting Tips

  • Green Smoothie eBook

    kiera
    16 Jan 2012 | 9:38 am
    It is with absolute joy that I share this special offer from Natural Parenting Tips and Food in the NudeThe reason I’m so excited, is that Michelle, the brains, heart, and passion behind Food in the Nude is a breath of fresh air in the wellness industry. - Michelle has a food science degree and is  a classically trained chef. When you meet her in person, her bubbly personality and energy would have you believe that she is MUCH younger than her experience affords, but Michelle has 18 years food industry experience.As I know many of you are experiencing the challenges of introducing…

  • Why Children Act Out And How To Handle It

    adam
    7 Jan 2012 | 10:10 pm
    While we all understand children are people and have the right to express themselves as they wish, I know that sometimes there are things we all wish they wouldn’t do. Yelling, screaming, defying anything asked to do and destroying everything in sight just to name a few. The reasons why children act out can be physical, emotional or a combination of both.Children grow physically and mentally. While the physical part is fairly easy (more food), the emotional and mental component can be tricky, requiring more thought and patience while they develop their emotional intelligence.1. Handling…

  • How To Stop Biting

    kiera
    30 Dec 2011 | 9:45 pm
    Teeth are made for biting, and it’s natural that your child is likely to want to test out their new chompers on any surface they can find. The trouble arises when mommy is the teething surface, or worse, other people.It is very normal for a newly teething infant to test out their teeth on the breast, on fingers, on any surface that makes it’s way into their mouths. However, it’s not exactly pleasant for the “bitee”Most children will grow out of the “toof testing” phase on their own – however, if you want to gently encourage your child to stop using you as a human chew toy,…

  • Uncovering the Secrets to Natural Birthing Bliss!

    kiera
    14 Nov 2011 | 12:15 am
    Katrina is the driving force behind Empowered Birth and has recently written a beautiful and inspirational new book “A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering Birth”  You can find Katrina and order a copy of her book at https://www.facebook.com/InspiringBirthStories It is our pleasure to share her powerful, and inspiring creation with you:Uncovering the Secrets to Natural Birthing Bliss!I’d like to share a personal story with you that has changed my life and now may change yours! I was just five months pregnant with our first baby when I was fortunate to have the trip…

  • How To Make Snow Globes

    kiera
    5 Nov 2011 | 8:31 am
    This is a cheap and cheerful craft that you can do with bits and pieces found around the home.You will need:1 jar – you can use glass, but if you have little ones, acrylic is better.1 teaspoon of glycerin, or if you can’t locate it – baby oil.a hot glue gunBits and pieces to make your snow globe sceneglitterWaterTo make your snow globeTake the lid off the jar, and using the hot glue gun, arrange your scene. We used plastic dinosaurs (very Christmassy!!)Fill your jar nearly to the top with waterAdd the glycerin or baby oil, and then the glitter.rinse your scene under a…
 
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    Room to Grow's Podcasts

  • Bloggers Brunch

    23 Jan 2012 | 11:08 pm
    This event, hosted by Kids Business and Room To Grow, was to celebrate Mothers Day and 50 selected mummy bloggers were invited to attend. The event started off with a mums meet and greet and a quick chance to grab a coffee and network. The event started with our MC Christie Nicholas, from Kids Business who introduced the event presenters. Firstly you are going to hear from 6 amazing, inspirational, gorgeous women with a real, positive story to tell you. Nicole Avery: “How Twitter found her a book deal”,  Bronwen Fallens:  Life as a single mum and how her daughter inspired her to…

  • 10 Point Children’s Birthday Party Plan

    15 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm
    Birthday parties are the highlight of the year for kids, but can be a dreaded event by parents. By working though a 10 point plan, you can keep have an at home party which is enjoyable and simple, for your children.Download podcast here http://blip.tv/file/get/Roomtogrowtv-BirthdayPartyTips333.mp4

  • WAHM's

    8 Jan 2012 | 3:08 am
    On the surface we see the Mumpreneurs, Work at Home Mum’s, the WAHM’s as the perfect balance a world of rainbows, laughter and it looks light and fluffy. Once you look beyond that you see extremely passionate, strong minded business women who will do anything and work any hours from anywhere to create that work/life balance for their kids and for themselves. It’s not for the light hearted because sometimes you don’t have a set wage or set hours but what you do have is love, passion and dedication for your business for you and family to be proud of. So you still have to look at your…

  • Baby Massage with Catherine Cervasio

    4 Jan 2012 | 5:45 am
    http://blip.tv/file/get/Roomtogrowtv-babyMassagepodcast607.mp4 Find out the benefits of baby massage with Catherine Cervasio. For more information and research on infant massage can be found by visiting www.aromababy.comDownload podcast here

  • Room to Grow: Episode 2-season 3

    8 Dec 2011 | 12:10 am
    This week on Room to Grow:Renee lets us know how to get the most out of your maternity bra; Christie and some mums look at the second part of developmental milestones toy reviews; Stef and Karen give one lucky mummy a makeover. And Lara gets nude with her lunch – throw away that nasty cling wrap!Download podcast here http://blip.tv/file/get/Roomtogrowtv-episode2season3117.mp4
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    The Mother Huddle

  • Scented Rice Sachets

    Destri
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:51 pm
    Do you like to make a little something for you friends, sister, or mom for Valentine’s Day?  These little heart sachets are perfect for just that.  You’ll never guess what’s in them…just don’t eat it!  You can make them any size you want and you only need a few things to make them – find the full tutorial here! In other news…friends, I finally got my sewing machine out.  Since we have moved into this little apartment, there has been no where for me to sew.  You could say I have been a little hard to live with .  So after reading a post I wrote…

  • 14 Simple Indoor Activities For Snowy/Rainy Days

    Destri
    25 Jan 2012 | 2:25 pm
    Pin It About this time last year I had posted a list of 12 ways to keep your kids busy on a snowy/rainy day.  It’s crazy how different the weather is here this time around!  Although it’s not exactly freezing outside, we have a very rainy couple days in store and I know at least some of us are getting snow.  So I thought we could do another round-up of fun things to do indoors.  Again the idea is the same as last years: Activities and games that only consist of simple things most people have around their house.  Have fun! 14 More Ways To Keep The Kids Busy On A Rainy/Snowy…

  • Low-Fat Eggplant Parmesan

    Suzanne
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:15 am
    Pin It Classic Eggplant Parmesan is breaded and deep fried to get it crispy and then smothered with marinara sauce and cheese, and it’s soooo good. This recipe is similar but the eggplant is baked crispy instead of fried but with all the same great taste, you won’t even miss the fat. Panko Italian bread crumbs help to give the crispiness to the eggplant, which you can now buy at your local grocery store in most places. Another step that adds to the crispiness is to cook the eggplant on a rack over a pan so the air circulates all around them, if you don’t have a rack to use…

  • Simple DIY X&O Valentine’s Day Decor

    Destri
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:26 pm
    Pin It I feel a tad behind on the Valentine’s Day front, it’s everywhere!  I usually love to decorate for the holiday, but with this apartment, it’s proven to be difficult.  Makes me miss my heart garland .  I had painted and mod-podged these X&O letters to put on my diy chunky shelves from last year.  I had almost forgot about them, until I ran across a picture of the shelves a couple weeks ago. When we sold our house the buyers requested that the shelves stay.  With this new move I haven’t had time to make any new ones, so I decided just to rework them.  A…

  • Tutorial ~ Scrap Buster Pajama Bottoms

    Destri
    20 Jan 2012 | 9:17 am
    Pin It It has been a while since we have had a good ‘ole re-purposing project, no?  They are kind of my favorite – less pressure if you screw up .  What I love most about this idea is that it helps tackle my ever growing scrap fabric basket.  Plus, they’re cute, quick, and easy.  I made the pink pajama bottoms from a knit shirt, and the brown pair from a pillowcase, and some cute scraps I just couldn’t part with.  I ended up loving them so much, I used the same concept for my kid’s Christmas jammies.  I will have to snap a picture of them and add to the…
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    Parenting On Track™

  • Five Tips to Make Lunch Packing Easier for your Kiddo

    JenniferNault
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am
    As we said before, packing a lunch is a very useful and “real life” habit that will help your child develop responsibility, time management and confidence. It’s also a nice way to send the message that you trust your child with decisions that affect her life. Here are 5 ways to help you make this process smooth and simple so that you can walk out of the kitchen and trust they can handle it. 1. EASY REACH: USE LOW STORAGE FOR SUPPLIES The kitchen is where we keep all the necessities for packing lunches and making meals. Unfortunately, we often keep the clingwrap, napkins, bread and other…

  • Why Your Kid Can Pack Her Own Darn Lunch!

    JenniferNault
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:38 am
    There’s something more delicious than a PBJ or bagel with cream cheese in your child’s lunch—something sweeter than a fresh baked cookie or chocolate milk. It’s CONFIDENCE. 100% pure confidence and responsibility…that is, if your daughter packs her own lunch, all by herself without any interference from you. Maybe your child is already doing this and that’s terrific. But, perhaps she doesn’t – and you’re the one up early every morning, folding and zipping balanced foods into a Spongebob shaped lunchbox. If you are, the good news is you don’t have to do this and you…

  • Got Values? Get Some (And Decision-Making will be Easy this Year!)

    JenniferNault
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:47 am
    “It is not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” –Unknown The new year is a chance for parents to reflect on the successes and failures of the previous year, gather information that will help in making thoughtful and intentional change in the coming year and it can be a time of inspiration and excitement when we envision what we will do differently and the benefit to everyone in the family Instead of worrying about slipping up and preparing to simply face each parenting dilemma as it comes why not keep your fresh mindset by setting yourself up for success. Here is…

  • Three Reasons your Tween is Acting Like a Pain in the A%$

    JenniferNault
    18 Jan 2012 | 6:21 pm
    As parents, sometimes we hit a wall. We find ourselves wondering, how did I get here and who is this aggressive child that used to be so sweet and loving? After 20 years in parent education, I can give you three good reasons why your child is no longer willing to cooperate. 1. Your relationship is injured. Somewhere in your daily dynamics, the child who once respected you or showed you affection, has been exposed to a rip, snag or tear in the fabric of its foundation. There is something far deeper than a power struggle over taking out the trash at play. How to fix and injured relationship is…

  • Five Reasons to Quit Your Job as The Maid in 2012

    JenniferNault
    13 Jan 2012 | 10:13 am
    I remind parents in nearly every workshop I teach, that in order for them to get their family on track and in a direction that will benefit them (and the world), mom and dad, MUST QUIT THEIR JOBS AS THE MAID. This means taking the time to unlearn the tendency to hit the auto-pilot button and do everything for everyone all the time. Here are FIVE solid reasons you could, you can, and you will enjoy this experience: 1. Hamper Heaven: They Can and Will Do their Own Laundry Nothing says easier mornings than a kid who washed his own clothes and brought them up to his room last night. No looking…
 
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    teach mama

  • @whymommy love fest, part two

    amy
    26 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Here’s our happy, full-o’-love, cyber-hug for our friend Susan, part two. It’s only a fraction of what we’ve received, which amazes all of us. Set to the amazing music of Bill Leslie, chosen especially for Susan by her bff and the amazing musician and blogger, Marty, it’s a teeny, tiny expression of our love and admiration for our incredible warrior friend.   Please continue to send in YOUR cyber hugs to dcmomlove@gmail.com or post them yourself on our fancy, schmancy Facebook page: @whymommy love fest.  Susan is reading every single post, every single…

  • @whymommy love fest

    amy
    24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    We have had an overwhelming response to the call for @whymommy love over the last 24 hours, and the love keeps on flowin’ in! With love, Susan, here is part one of our @whymommy love fest:     Originally created to an amazing soundtrack chosen by the amazing ladies of The DC Moms, complete with a little Indigo Girls, ‘IZ’, and Three Dog Night, it totally rocked. But thanks to You Tube’s copyright laws keepin’ us on the straight and narrow, we mixed it up to a little up-beat Cha-Cha.  Enjoy, Susan! Part two–and all consecutive parts–of our…

  • show your love for @whymommy — join us!

    amy
    23 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    We are rallying to show support for our sweet friend Susan, @whymommy, and we’re calling out the big guns. Because Susan’s complete and utter awesomeness has reached sooo far across cyberspace and beyond, Susan’s buddies from The DC Moms would like to extend an invitation to anyone and everyone who has been touched by our pal to contribute to a ‘@whymommy love fest’. Here’s the skinny: @whymommy love fest: We’re making THE most incredible digital card that has ever been made to show Susan just HOW much she is loved. We want her to know that she rocks…

  • rich, diverse digital resources for learning: PBS LearningMedia

    amy
    20 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    So many times–without thinking–I look to those old standbys when I am searching for information on the web. Whether it’s just the basics or for cool multi-media clips to clarify Maddy, Owen, or Cora’s learning from school or the random questions in their heads, I’ll admit it: I often get lazy. I’ll turn on the computer, talk to them about some basic search term ideas, and see what we can find. And there are definitely advantages to searching a huuuge database of information, but there are definitely downsides as well, like safety, reliability, quality.

  • practicing math facts with crazy, mixed-up dice

    amy
    19 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    Somehow we have ended up with a ton of wild and crazy dice in our house. Some are huge. Some are teeny. Some are old; some are brand, spankin’ new. Some have numerals and some have dots. Some are even double-dice–a big die with a mini die inside. And we had one die with an addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division sign on each side.   One, that is, until I made a second using one of our cheapo foam blocks from the dollar bins.  A Sharpie and a foam block, and we were set–much like the die we made for our Ghost Bingo back in the fall. Since we’re continually…
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    A Mothers Ramblings

  • New Year, New Coats

    27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Normally during the January sales I take a look through websites and shops for things for the children for the next year. One of the bargains that I normally like to hunt down are winter coats and when just before Christmas I was looking through the Vertbaudet website as part of the Blogging Club I found a couple of coats for the Children that I knew I had to order. The coat for Big Boy that I ordered was a Boys Duffle Coat and I chose to get a Grey with Dark Checks pattern. I decided this would be a smart coat for him and thought with an size 4 he would get this Winter's use and it…

  • Valentine Hearts Pie - Wordless Wednesday

    25 Jan 2012 | 5:01 am
    Pin It This feed comes from A Mothers Ramblings You should follow Pippa on Twitter on her blog, or on her Facebook Page

  • Cake Batter Rainbow Rice Krispies Treats

    24 Jan 2012 | 3:46 pm
    We make a lot of Rice Crispy Treats, sometimes we add chocolate and make them into Nest Cakes, sometimes I melt a load of Marshmallows and sometimes if I have left over bits of biscuits and raisins I will add those in with some chocolate and have our very own version of Tiffin. When on Pinterest I saw Cake Batter Rice Krispies Treats I was really excited because it looked delicious. Only problem being it was in American measurements and so I had to use my special skills to turn it back in to English measurements and of course I couldn't not add my own special touches! Pippa's English…

  • The Baby Shoe Company - Cuteez Shoes

    23 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    Just a couple of weeks ago my sister and I were online together and talking about Baby Shoes. My sister sometimes rivals The Shoe Blogger for her love of shoes and all of her daughters are developing the same trait and we thought that Chicken (her newest baby) would be no different. Just a couple of days later and I was offered some Baby shoes from The Baby Shoe Company to review and as my Sister loves shoes and I had some plans about ditching the Nappy Cake I thought that some of the Leather Cuteez shoes would be just the thing to welcome the new baby. This weekend we…

  • Helping your Children with social and emotional skills

    23 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Before Daddy and I made the choice that Big Boy wasn't going to go to a Nursery before he started School we weighed up the pro's and cons of the situation. We knew that one of the hardest things for us to do wasn't helping him develop his reading skills or math skills or his creative skills but it was going to be helping him develop his social and emotional skills to the same level as his peers because he wasn't going to have as much interaction with people his age as he would if he went to a Nursery or playgroup. A lot of what I am talking about in the rest of this post comes…
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    ginamcclain.com

  • Rules of Engagement for the Non-Confrontational

    Gina
    24 Jan 2012 | 10:44 am
    I would argue that the most consistent skill that can make you or break you in any industry is your ability to work through conflict.  In today’s market success hinges on your ability to work through conflict.  There are some that fear it will avoid confrontation at all cost.  While others are energized by it and therefore seek it out. Neither of these are the winning camps.   Although I might argue the benefits of a leader that generates a little conflict among their team, this conversation is centered around our natural tendencies toward or away from conflict.  Whether…

  • What Every Dad Should Know About Their Daughter

    Gina
    19 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pm
    Last week I was dropping my daughter off for a birthday party.  As I was leaving a man stopped me asking for direction.  He was standing with one of my daughter’s school friends.  Immediately recognizing her I put my hand out and introduced myself explaining that our daughters sit together at lunch often.  His reaction was sarcastic as he gave his daughter a side-ways glance.  I didn’t fully catch what he said but whatever it was it didn’t honor his daughter in any way.  Looking at her I could tell this was not abnormal behavior. I’ll be honest… I wanted to…

  • Headed to CPC Orlando!

    Gina
    11 Jan 2012 | 7:54 am
    Headed out to CPC2012 this evening.  I’m looking forward to meeting up with kidmin leaders from all over the nation.  If you’re planning to be there, track me down on Twitter or Facebook.  I’d love to meet you face-to-face. I’ll only be at CPC for 24 hours before I’m back on a plane headed for home.  As much as I love hanging out with kidmin friends (new and old), I really love hanging out with my husband.  :0)  I’ll blog about my experiences while there.  And once I get back I’m planning to follow some other bloggers and their CPC experiences.

  • Promises of God

    Gina
    10 Jan 2012 | 8:34 am
    I’m walking through some pretty challenging circumstances with some beautiful people.  Sincere followers of Christ that have made some significant mistakes.  Unfortunately, the reality of mistakes is consequences.  And consequences can be hard. But the joy of seasons like this is the promise God makes to us even in the midst of those consequences.  When it comes down to it, all we have are the promises of God.  There’s something about Isaiah 55.  I love that scripture.  It’s ripe with promises He has made to us…. even in a season of consequences. “My thoughts…

  • 3 Tricks to Juggling

    Gina
    30 Nov 2011 | 8:02 am
    Juggling is an art.  And it’s fascinating to watch. My role in ministry is a constant juggle.  There are always projects, special events, team building, volunteer recruiting, personnel conversations,  refining conversations, encouraging conversations, “I’m frustrated!” conversations, etc, etc,etc.  The plate is always full. Should it always be this way?  Great question.  This is all I’ve ever known, so I’m going to say, “Yes!”  The trick to navigating all of it is in the juggling. Here are 3 things I do to juggle well. Juggle the tough…
 
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    GalTime - Love, Parenting, Beauty, Entertainment, Health, Recipes, Careers

  • My Husband Told My Son To Punch The Bully!

    Barbara Greenberg
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:39 am
    Dear Dr. G., My husband and I are having a serious disagreement on advising our teenage boys about how to deal with teasing. Our sons are 15 and 13. The 15 year old has recently started complaining that another boy is making fun of him for his good grades and is calling him a nerd, a creep, and sometimes a loser. My husband has little tolerance for this and has been telling my son to "punch the kid's lights out." I think that this is ridiculous advice.

  • Why Ask Why? After the Breakup

    Marcus Osborne
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    There’s something about human beings that makes us crave answers. I suppose it goes without saying that this curiosity, this desire to know “why,” has been one of the driving forces behind our progressive civilization. It’s also the one-word question that we as parents spend endless hours answering for our children from the time they’re toddlers, “Why is the sky blue?” To the time they grow up, “Why can’t I date him? He’s up for parole in 3 to 5 years!” The word “why” has proven its worth over the past two thousand…

  • Study: Walking And Texting Not Such A Good Idea

    Tara Weng
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Talking on a cell phone or texting while walking may seem like a no-brainer, but new research suggests that it could actually be dangerous and result in walking (gait and posture) problems and even interfere with memory recall. Scientists from Stony Brook University studied over thirty men and women in their 20s, all of whom reported owning and using a cell phone and were familiar with texting. To assess their walking abilities, participants completed a baseline test. Each participant was shown a target on the floor. Then, by obstructing vision of the target and…

  • Green Cleaning Solutions You Can Make

    GalTime Staff
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    By Tania Reuben, Pure Natural Diva It's been a long, cold winter. Are you getting ready to tackle your winter dust bunnies? In just a few minutes, you can mix up your own cleaning solutions with ingredients you likely have in your pantry already. You'll save a lot of money, reduce your toxin exposure and be kinder to the environment. ALL PURPOSE CLEANER This recipe will make 4 - 28 oz bottles. 13 1/4 cups of Water (1 hot) 1/4 Cup of Dr. Bronner's Castile Liquid Soap - I like Citrus for the All Purpose Cleaner. 1/4 Cup of Borax 1/4 Cup of Vinegar Mix the hot water with the borax…

  • 4 Hottest Bedroom Trends

    GalTime Staff
    18 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Bored in the bedroom? Well, why not make 2012 your year to break out of your rut and try something new? Certified sex educator Jaiya, co-author of the book, Red Hot Touch: A Head To Toe Handbook for Mind-Blowing Orgasms, offers up some hot trends for the bedroom...and beyond. The 4 Hottest Bedroom Trends 1.  Aphrodisiacs (Foods, Spices and Herbs) They're ancient, but many couples are just beginning to discover how much they can spice things up in the bedroom. These may sound weird, but it's fun to play with the following: Deer Antler, Cistanche, Epimedium (Horny Goat Weed) and…
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    Mommys Hangout- Atlanta Georgia Mommy Blogger (Jen Williams)

  • Sweeping Saturday 1/28/2012

    Jen Williams
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Do you Have Giveaways? Please Share them here! Every Saturday there is new post with a Mr. Linky for you to list your giveaways. So Please Check weekly To Add yours!

  • Music Monday Etta James – At Last

    Jen Williams
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm
    Etta James Dies at 73; Voice Behind ‘At Last’.  She will be missed!

  • Sweeping Saturday 1/21/2012

    Jen Williams
    20 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Do you Have Giveaways? Please Share them here! Every Saturday there is new post with a Mr. Linky for you to list your giveaways. So Please Check weekly To Add yours!

  • Learn more about Infant Meningitis and how you can help

    Jen Williams
    19 Jan 2012 | 6:29 pm
    As Parents, it’s a fact that we do everything in our power to protect our kids and make sure they are healthy.  However, we may not always be aware of how to protect them from some of the most dangerous diseases.  Recently I was invited to participate in a blog tour to bring awareness to [...]

  • Shopping for Garden Furniture? Use These Helpful Hints

    Jen Williams
    17 Jan 2012 | 9:27 pm
    Sitting out on your outdoor furniture during the spring and summer months is a great way to enjoy the weather in your area. If your outdoor furniture is old, outdated or if it’s just time for an upgrade, it may be time to start shopping around for a set of replacement furniture. Whether you are [...]
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    FatherMag.com Home Page

  • Father's World

    27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Of all the objects of my childhood, these are the ones that represent my dearest childhood memories of spending time with my father.
 
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    NYC Single Mom

  • Introducing Gud Hair and Body Care Line From Burt’s Bees

    NYCSingleMom
    28 Jan 2012 | 4:39 am
    Recently, Burt’s Bees launched a new collection of hair and body products called Gud (pronounced “good”.) There is something about the new Gud line that really pops for me, from... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS” ASSEMBLE ON TWITTER – Fans Q&A With the Cast

    NYCSingleMom
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:18 pm
     MARVEL STUDIOS SPONSORS GLOBAL TWITTER CHAT WITH DIRECTOR AND CAST FOR FANS AROUND THE WORLD. PARTICIPANTS GET TEASE OF “MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS”, 30-SECOND SUPER BOWL SPOT AND CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Girls Valentine’s Day Graphic Tees

    NYCSingleMom
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Along with passing out Valentine’s Day cards, girls love their graphic tees to celebrated the day. NYC Single Mom has pulled together some cute... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Visiting the American Museum of Natural History

    NYCSingleMom
    26 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    The American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side is by far our favorite museum. What’s not to love, from the moment you walk into the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda  housing... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Gandhi in the Snow – Wordless Wednesday LINKY

    NYCSingleMom
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:01 pm
    I happened upon this statue of Gandhi during the snowstorm that hit New York on Saturday. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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    Educational Videos MEET ME AT THE CORNER -

  • Ferret Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks)

    administrator
    19 Jan 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Ferrets are lovable animals, but they're also very active and inquisitive, and require training and supervision if they are to be kept in the home. Here is detailed information on keeping a healthy, happy, and compatible ferret.

  • Ferrets For Dummies

    administrator
    19 Jan 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Thinking about getting a ferret? Want to make sure you’re giving the ferret you already have the best possible care? Ferrets For Dummies helps you decide whether a ferret is for you and give your little fellah a healthy, happy home. It’s packed with practical information on feeding, housing, health maintenance, and medical care. This friendly, plain-English guide gives you the authoritative information you need in a cut-to-the-chase, quick-reference format. read more

  • Ferrets (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

    administrator
    19 Jan 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Ferrets are playful little animals and make excellent pets for attentive owners. However, they are not recommended as pets for younger children. Here is reliable information on feeding, caging, health care, and more. All titles in Barron's profusely-illustrated Complete Pet Owner's Manuals introduce inexperienced and prospective pet owners to the pleasures and duties of pet care. They also make ideal guides for older children having their first experiences as animal caretakers. read more

  • Ferrets (Animal Planet Pet Care Library)

    administrator
    19 Jan 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Ferrets are lively, domestic pets that can provide great entertainment and companionship. Find out how to prepare your household for adopting a ferret, as well as essential care information to ensure he is healthy and contented.

  • Veterans Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays)

    administrator
    7 Nov 2011 | 2:01 pm
    Explains the history of Veterans Day and why it is observed, and suggests ways of honoring veterans on this special day, such as flying the flag, attending parades, buying poppies, and visiting hospitals.
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    Rage Against the Minivan

  • putting myself to bed (the night owl’s lament)

    27 Jan 2012 | 11:20 am
    I have always been a late-night kind of person.  My mother was, too.  I remember growing up, watching my mom get a burst of energy right around the time we were all going to bed.  It seemed like this was the time when she always got absorbed in a project.  It wasn’t unusual for us to hear the sewing machine start to hum at 1am.  It’s still not unusual to get a phone call from her at midnight.  And she’s three hours ahead living in Florida. It’s hard to say if it’s nature or nurture, but I’ve always been the same way.  As a child, I loved laying…

  • the slacker mom’s guide to homemade photo cards for valentine’s day

    25 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pm
    I’m not really a “handmade card” kind of mom.  I think it’s lovely that other moms are, but at this stage in our family there is usually just not enough time in the day for me to indulge in my creative side . . . beyond staring at the things other people are doing on Pinterest.  With Valentine’s Day approaching, though, I did decide to make some homemade cards, inspired in part by cards like this one.  But, if I’m to be totally honest, it was also inspired by my desire to not have to supervise four kids signing their name to 20+ cards.  We are barely recovered…

  • goodbye to the double stroller

    24 Jan 2012 | 12:27 am
    I sold my double stroller on Craig’s List over the weekend. It’s hard to explain the freedom I feel about this particular milestone.  It’s been a long time coming – I’ve kept it around for the occasion big outing but finally I decided it was time for us to part ways.  I’ve been schlepping a double stroller around for six years now –six years of pulling that monster in and out of my trunk.  Six years of not fitting through doorways . . . of strategizing stairwells . . . of retrieving objects thrown or dropped from the children, of forcing the two walking children…

  • that’s what SHE said: diversity, gray hairs, moms against moms, oppression olympics, political hypocrisy, sexist LEGO’s, and the pursuit of happiness

    22 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm
    {click on the title to read the whole post} On the wide world and why it matters | Chookooloonks Since returning home from the funeral, I've been thinking about how much immigration and emigration are such a huge part of my personal story.  If my great-grandfather hadn't immigrated to Trinidad from China and met his Asian/Amerindian wife, my paternal grandmother wouldn't have been born.  My paternal grandfather's story is similar, with the immigration of his Barbadian family to Trinidad.  On my mother's side, her people hail from countries including India and Martinique, before…

  • parenting a toddler: the cycle of despair

    20 Jan 2012 | 1:36 am
    This is how I found Karis's room, not ten minutes after spending an hour in there putting things away. If it is ever discovered that I've thrown my body in front of a moving vehicle in a psychotic rage, this is why, people. THIS IS WHY.
 
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    Razing Mayhem

  • Let The Wean {And Weeping} Begin

    Monique
    24 Jan 2012 | 7:03 pm
    Thanks in part to not being home as much during the day, Severus has begun weaning himself from the breast, and I am terribly bummed out about it. Once I experienced him running around in circles, I I knew weaning would follow closely. He is by far one of our speediest, busiest Minions, he does not have time to stop poking the couch, or chasing his big brothers, or dancing - so that he can nurse. "Pssshaw!", he says instead "I got thangs to do, mom woman! Oooooh, is that a Froot Loop or chalk? Either way, I'm going to eat it!" The engorgement is awfully painful, the worst - when I get home I…

  • You Can't Drink Baby Powder And Other Random Drivel

    Monique
    22 Jan 2012 | 5:13 am
    The weekends are too fast. I haven't been able to finish the 30 Day Photography Challenge and due to super camera burnout, I doubt there will be a 366 day project on my horizon. Aside from a few pictures of my mother's shelves {she's selling them, now that she is closing up her store}, I have not even looked at my camera in days. Severus has started sleeping again, and thank goodness, otherwise last week would have been a killer.  I started some six week program-y/class thing and I'm out of the house by 8:30, last week the class ended by 1-1:30, this week it ends at 4, with little wiggle…

  • Le Tricksters

    Monique
    19 Jan 2012 | 4:09 pm
    I sent someone an email today, in response to a super sweet comment, left right here on my blog. The comment was from our beloved friend, Spam.  My email account was compromised, and now I'm getting a butt ton of messages for largening the size of my penis, and quite frankly, I'm not interested, nor am I all that thrilled. I don't know where Spam is getting its information from, but my penis is just fine the way it is, thank you. And if you were one of a few people who received similar emails from me, I assure you - your penis is fine too. {And I apologize! Grrr, Spam.} So, commenting to…

  • We Built A House

    Monique
    15 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    For Christmas, the boys' Oma bought them a 3D cardboard house. Like most children, these kooks take every. single. empty box to their room where it becomes so much more than an empty box, until it is finally annihilated by the boys' imagination. I feared a similar fate would befall this cardboard house, so I used every excuse I could to prolong the construction of it. The boys finally caught on, and after I went through the list of 3,000 "please don't break this house five minutes after I put it up" rules, we set to work. The boys insisted they were helping by orbiting the work area, and…

  • Stream Of Consciousness Sunday: Sleep Deprived

    Monique
    15 Jan 2012 | 9:27 am
    Ever since Severus caught the worst cold ever of his life ever, he has had a completely screwed up sleep schedule - going to be at no earlier than 3am. Despite being ludicrously exhausted and - for the first time ever - sick of watching Yo Gabba Gabba, I was not going to force him awake with Christian and I at 6:30am, just so he could possibly go to sleep earlier - especially when on some occasions, Mercutio would remain asleep and I'd be able to catch a couple more hours of rest in the morning.  I didn't think the three of us {because Christian stayed up most nights with us too} needed…
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    Decide On Day Care

  • Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with Daycare

    Daycare Dad
    13 Jan 2012 | 5:35 am
    Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday each January. King’s birthday is January 15, so the observance falls around the time of his birthday. Many schools observe this holiday and are closed for the day, but many workplaces are not, so there will be lots of kids in daycare that are normally in school. These school age kids will likely learn about Martin Luther King Jr. in school, and there may be some activities in daycare. Martin Luther King Jr. is probably the most recognizable figure in the . . . → Continue Reading This Day Care Article: Celebrate Martin Luther…

  • Cleaning Out Toys for Daycare and Tax Deductions

    Daycare Dad
    29 Dec 2011 | 12:18 pm
    Are you wondering what to do with the piles of new stuff you have for your kids? Are they outgrowing the toys you have been accumulating over the year? Is that tax time just around the corner? Here at Decide on Daycare we can help you with all of those! It’s that time of year again, when we find ourselves buried under piles of new toys while we look at the piles of old toys to and try to figure out what to do with it all. First things . . . → Continue Reading This Day Care Article: Cleaning Out Toys for Daycare and Tax Deductions

  • Cyber Monday Deal on Baby Signing Time

    Daycare Dad
    25 Nov 2011 | 11:39 am
    One of the most frustrating things to both parents and their children is not being able to communicate properly. It takes children years to learn how to talk. As a parent you don’t have to wait years to learn to communicate with your child. How do you talk to those that can’t? Through sign language of course! Sign language is something that your baby, even an infant can learn to use. It is comprised of basic motions and movements which are much easier for your baby to learn then a speaking language. . . . → Continue Reading This Day Care Article: Cyber Monday Deal on Baby Signing…

  • Black Friday Deals for Daycare Parents and Providers

    Daycare Dad
    22 Nov 2011 | 11:19 am
    It’s that time of year again. Time to start thinking about what to do with the holidays and what we want to do for those special people around us. As soon as your children are old enough to talk you can start to involve them in this wonderful season of giving. It is very important as a parent to start to teach your children the value of giving and doing special things for those people that we care for. With the hectic schedule of the holidays its easy to overlook some of . . . → Continue Reading This Day Care Article: Black Friday Deals for Daycare Parents and Providers

  • Halloween at Daycare

    Daycare Dad
    31 Oct 2011 | 12:24 pm
    Happy Halloween parents and daycare providers! This is usually a very busy day for everyone. It is very fun day for most but it is important to keep a few things in mind to make sure that you enjoy Halloween. With a little parenting advise and foresight we can make sure that this day is great for both the children, their parents and the hard working daycare providers. Halloween is a fun time for parents, their children as well as their daycare providers. Most childcare providers have a host of fun activities . . . → Continue Reading This Day Care Article: Halloween at Daycare
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    Creative Mamma

  • Free Printable: Kokeshi Mini Valentines

    Joy
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:02 am
    What a month!  I can’t believe that it’s almost February! January 2012 has been a whirlwind of activity in our household!  We celebrated Jude’s 3rd birthday last week and we’ll be celebrating Seth’s 1st birthday in the next couple of weeks (remember when he was just a baby?!).  Plus, I’ve taken on some design work, [...]

  • Continuing Education from the Best Colleges around – for free!

    Joy
    21 Jan 2012 | 3:51 pm
    A few years back, I was so excited when iTunes released their virtual University (iTunes U).  I subscribed to the many art history courses that were offered by the universities … I learned so much, and it was awesome to take actual college classes for free – I was hooked!  After watching all the classes [...]

  • Free Printable: Doodle Weekly and Daily Planner

    Joy
    31 Dec 2011 | 11:01 pm
    Happy, Happy New Year!  I can’t believe that it’s 2012! Here it is, the first printable for 2012!  I know, I know, yet another printable, but one of our wonderful readers suggested a daily planner and I figured, what an awesome idea!  Then, I thought, a weekly planner might be helpful also… then, maybe a [...]

  • Free Printable: Blank Note Cards

    Joy
    29 Dec 2011 | 1:41 pm
      Did you have a most wonderful Christmas holiday?  It was a wonderful time for our family, especially since, it was Seth’s first Christmas… As for presents, Seth loved playing with whatever Jude was playing with and Jude loved playing with Seth’s toys, so it all worked out for us! I don’t know about you, [...]

  • Free Printable Doodle Holiday Tags

    Joy
    21 Dec 2011 | 6:59 am
    One more free printable for you before the year ends!  If you are  a late gift wrapper like me, go check out my latest project for Craft… Doodle Holiday Tags.  Just print, color, crop and stick to your gifts!  Plus it’s a fun activity to do with the little kiddos!   I hope you have [...]
 
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    Bur Bur & Friends Blog

  • Having a Great Marriage – and a Special Needs Child

    admin
    26 Jan 2012 | 5:22 pm
    Just when your world shifts with a life-changing diagnosis for your child, you may also be told to get support as a couple – because according to some stats, the divorce rate for couples with special needs kids hovers around 80 percent.   Okay … so along with significant stress, more monthly appointments than many [...]

  • How to Support the Siblings of a Special Needs Child

    admin
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:34 pm
    Just when your world shifts with a life-changing diagnosis for your child, you may also be told to get support as a couple – because according to some stats, the divorce rate for couples with special needs kids hovers around 80 percent.   The makers of Bur Bur and Friends multicultural education materials not only [...]

  • Letter Writing Tips When Advocating For Your Special Needs Child

    admin
    12 Jan 2012 | 5:32 pm
    In last week’s blog post, your friends at Bur Bur and Friends multicultural children books pointed out why letter writing is a good way to advocate for your child with special needs within the school environment. (By the way, Bur Bur has been going to school as well – our multicultural education materials are being [...]

  • An effective way to advocate for your special needs child …

    admin
    5 Jan 2012 | 10:02 am
    While Bur Bur’s multicultural books for children are being utilized to teach diversity in schools and provide positive affirmations for kids, our diverse group of children with unique health challenges also strives to empower families with special needs. The creators of Bur Bur’s multicultural education materials fully recognize the many additional hats a special needs [...]

  • Share Your Story With Our Readers …

    admin
    31 Dec 2011 | 1:58 pm
    Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.  ~ An old Native American proverb   Through the stories within the Bur Bur and Friends popular childrens book series, children are encouraged, motivated and inspired. These multicultural [...]
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    Lifestyle Design for the Modern Child | Social Skills and Self Confidence Building Tips for Children, Teens, and Parents in New York City -- CharismaticKid

  • 9-Year Old Rocker Cameron Performs and Discusses His Song “I-95″

    Anthony
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:56 am
    Anthony Recenello finds a talented 9-year-old named Cameron that is doing something big in music. Click for more… What substantial thing is your child doing? Cameron is an example of what it means for a kid to do something big. Do you see the passion and determination in his eyes? He’s not shy about it, he’s not unsure about it. Is it clear to you that he is on a path in his life? He has a purpose he’s made for himself, and because of that, it’s obvious that his soul is rich with excitement for life. I’m not sure if you noticed it, but meeting Cameron and…

  • Bullying Series Ep #2: The Yin and Yang to Bullying

    Anthony
    16 Jan 2012 | 2:11 am
    Your first lesson in fixing the bullying going on in your child’s life. Contact me by any of the mediums you see here: http://facebook.com/charismatickid http://twitter.com/charismatickid anthony@charismatickid.com or.. Just comment below.

  • Bullying Series Ep #1: Stop Blaming, Start Accepting!

    Anthony
    11 Jan 2012 | 11:48 am
    The first of many videos on my bullying series. This one will prep you for the rest. If you have ANY questions, you best be contactin’ me. I don’t take this social media thing lightly. There’s nothing I enjoy more than connecting and helping you out. Get at me here: http://facebook.com/charismatickid http://twitter.com/charismatickid anthony@charismatickid.com or.. Just comment below.

  • CharismaticKid’s Christmas Special: “Are Toys Crappy Gifts?”

    Anthony
    5 Dec 2011 | 7:43 pm
    Anthony Recenello takes a few minutes attempting to reframe your perspective on what it means to give gifts to people. Click for more… Somewhere right now, a perfectly happy three-year-old is being tricked. She is given countless hours of TV time, a Wii, a toy robot that talks to her, and light up shoes; and life is fine. The addiction doesn’t come until those things are taken away from her, they go out of style, or are no longer fun to play with. Once this happens, a void is created in her soul. She was tricked into believing that those things were her source of happiness, and now…

  • Parent Interview with Sophia Grace Brownlee’s Father Dominic Brownlee

    Anthony
    17 Nov 2011 | 11:29 pm
    Sophia Grace Brownlee is today’s example of a charismatic kid, whose cover of Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” has wowed the country in a matter of weeks. At eight-years old, Sophia a star in the making. She did something big with the talent and passion she has in life and showed it to the world. Watch this video of her first appearance (of many) on Ellen. Now that you know the daughter, it’s time to meet the father. I had the opportunity to have a chat with Dominic Brownlee, a kind, UK father of Sophia Grace Brownlee and husband to Carly Brownlee. He was the one…
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    4tunate

  • This Competes With The Zip Line At Super Bowl Village

    QuatroMama
    27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
      We are so excited to be the host city of the 2012 Super Bowl!  Indianapolis has transformed into a masterpiece and we can’t wait to go downtown and take it all in!  There’s lots of family-friendly entertainment, and one of the biggest hypes has been the zip line takes off from a 95-foot launch tower, and whizzes 800 feet across the Super Bowl Village on Georgia Street. Sign me up. Except the pre-sales are sold out and lines will no doubt be long as it’s likely to be the biggest attraction of the Super Bowl. So my boys have an “indoor alternative thriller” with their…

  • A Simple Yet Genius Way to Keep Track of Giving Kids Medicine

    QuatroMama
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:14 am
    You know how some of the most simple ideas are the most genius?  THIS is one of those.  I repinned this idea a little while back, and low and behold when Clark came down with a sinus infection this past week and needed antibiotics, we tried it out. Life changing! Source: Uploaded by user via Jen (QuatroMama) on Pinterest   Just mark the days and time right on the bottle and check off after the medicine is given.  Instead of trying to solve the mystery over whether it was yesterday or this morning that you gave meds last, you can just check the bottle. {Wait am I the only…

  • All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Candy Land

    QuatroMama
    23 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am
      ~ Going backwards is hard. Really hard. Often times it involves weeping. ~ You can’t predict your future. ~ Taking turns isn’t just polite, it makes things work. ~ Even a cupcake can be disappointing. ~ Sometimes your path is winding, long, and unpredictable, and sometimes it’s filled with shortcuts and sugar-coating. ~ A life filled with color is much better than black and white. ~ Competition is reality; learn to play the game early. ~ Your integrity is constantly being watched. ~ No matter what adults may tell you, everybody doesn’t win. ~ Taking defeat well takes practice.

  • Homemade Face Paint

    QuatroMama
    20 Jan 2012 | 7:41 am
    Yesterday was one of those afternoons that lingered FOR-EV-ER. I’m sure you never have days like these … but we’ve had some fevers and colds this week, so we are a tad stir crazy, grumpy, and tired. I picked up my copy of The Preschooler’s Busy Book in search of a craft or something we could make together to get us through the afternoon. I decided on a whim to give the Homemade Face Paint a try. The recipe from the book seemed simple enough, but in order to have several colors and enough for four faces I tripled the recipe.  (I had more than enough, so next time I would probably…

  • Read. Reading. Will Read.

    QuatroMama
    17 Jan 2012 | 7:09 am
    I re”kindled” my love for reading in 2011, much to the credit of an earlier bedtime for the boys (after dropping nap) and my Kindle Reader that Brad got me for my birthday. I don’t have a ton of free time, as many of you can relate with… but I do love a good read during my down time.  It’s a much needed quiet retreat at the end of a crazy day. I love hearing book suggestions and to see what people have on their nightstands, so here’s what I’ve read, what I’m reading, and what I plan to read in 2012. So what did I read in 2011?  Here’s a handful that I READ: 1. All…
 
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    Family Focus Blog

  • Best Meals Happen At Home Recipes and $25 Publix Gift Card Giveaway

    Scarlet
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:06 am
    Busy weeknights shouldn’t have to mean fast food for dinner.  Publix knows that the best meals happen at home, so they are excited to help you enjoy family mealtime without having to stress about what to prepare or spending hours in the kitchen. Stop by Publix during their “Best Meals Happen at Home” Event to find great savings on some of your favorite products. Be sure to visit BestMealsatHome.com to find fantastic recipes, which can be cooked in 30 minutes or less, and your family is sure to love. Better Meals Happen at Publix Discounts and Recipes: Take advantage of great…

  • Easy to Make Soft Pretzels Recipe

    Scarlet
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:03 am
    These soft pretzels are the perfect thing for you and the kid in your life to make for a snack!  Low in sugar, fat, and absolutely no preservatives, they are much better for you than so many go to snack foods.  The rolling and shaping are also great for developing motor skills. The best part?  They are really easy and fun to make, which gives you a fun project to do together.  They don’t take too long, either.  Perfect for short (and hungry) attention spans! Super Easy Soft Pretzels Recipe: 1 package dry active yeast 1 tablespoon sugar 1 1/2 cups warm water 4 cups all purpose…

  • .Rockin Grandma Music, Books, Recipes and Free Coloring Book

    Scarlet
    26 Jan 2012 | 8:49 am
    Rockin’ Grandma Kids’ Music is the creation of grandmother, Larraine Segil.  She writes books and music for children from 6 months to 6 years.   Her characters teach kids about sharing, solving problems, being kind to animals and living a healthful and organic life.  The main character is Rockin’ Grandma Music is Sam, The Broken Robot. He has a handicapped arm, but he is the smartest kid (robot that is) on the block and teaches kids so much about respecting differences, solving problems creatively and more. Educational Kids Music: “Everyday activities are the most…

  • Eco-friendly Family Tips

    Scarlet
    26 Jan 2012 | 8:25 am
    I do guest blogging for SC Johnson on ways that we can all make simple greener choices.  I hope you enjoy these eco-friendly family tips. Cereal Box Crafts – Reusing Cereal Boxes A huge part of going green is just changing your mindset so that you are always thinking about how you can reuse or recycle to avoid throwing things away. An item as simple as a cereal box can have tons of uses! Here are a few craft ideas for you to reuse your cereal boxes… Read the rest of Cereal Box Crafts- Reusing Cereal Boxes   Teaching Kids about Solar Energy …Solar energy is a very viable…

  • To Kill a Mockingbird Blu-ray and DVD Giveaway

    Scarlet
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:47 am
    Win a Blu-ray copy of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION! Digitally Remastered and Fully Restored with Over Three Hours of Bonus Materials Including Two Full­ Length Documentaries On Limited Edition Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ Combo Pack TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, one of the screen’s most beloved and critically acclaimed films, celebrates its 50th anniversary with a commemorative Limited Edition Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ Combo Pack as well as on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on January 31, 2012. The powerful and poignant…
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    Geisha School Dropout

  • Get Your Hankies!

    Julie Kang
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:16 am
    This reminds me of Tim, my robot with a heart of gold.

  • Storytime with Isaac #5

    Julie Kang
    18 Jan 2012 | 4:50 pm
    The class has started fiction writing, and this is Isaac's first attempt.  He cracks me up, this kid. "Out Numbered," by Isaac One day at school 100 and 10 were rivals.  100 bragged to everyone smaller than him.  0 was constantly being teased.  0 usually had liked spending time with 10.  100 was probably the meanest student.  At least ten times a day 100 had gone to detention. I am hearing him say his favorite words: bully, mean, teasing, and some others you're better off not knowing.  Sheesh.  Even I get teassed by 100.  I'm moving.  Maybe to the Yukon.  Either that or I'll move…

  • 2012 Thus Far

    Julie Kang
    10 Jan 2012 | 2:35 am
    I have been completely MIA since the holidays, and for this I apologize, especially since I posted up this huge confession which was promptly followed-up by an ill-timed promotional post, then another post that had you imagining me in tacky underwear...then poof!  I disappear.  Totally bad form.  Mea culpa! Here's the "Reader's Digest" version of what we've been up to: January 1: Happy New Year!  The kids bowed to us, their aunts, and their grandparents for money.  We ate rice cake and dumpling soup. January 2: We got on a boat!  It was a bit surreal looking at your own city through a…

  • This Year's Holiday Card

    Julie Kang
    1 Jan 2012 | 9:45 am
     Happy New Year!!! We hope you and your loved ones have a happy and healthy 2012! Happy New Year! View the entire collection of cards.

  • Letters to Santa 2011

    Julie Kang
    27 Dec 2011 | 4:58 pm
    Dear Santa, I hope I'm on the good list this year because I'm really looking forward to Christmas and I try hard to be good all year long.  For example, I try hard in school, I help do chores, particepate what my teacher, Mr. K says, and feed my dog every day.  Santa, do you deliver presents to half of the world 1 night and the other the next?  OK, now I'll tell you my Christmas list.  It's a nerf gun, a helicopter, and a angry bird plush toy.  But, most of all, just snow. Love your friend,  Isaac LOVE EMILY PLEASE I LOVE YOU SANTA SANTA I HOPE I GAT A BARBIE SANTA EMI (picture of…
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    Kids Off The Couch Blog

  • The Family Savvy - A Parent's Guide to What's Worth Seeing, Doing, Reading and Thinking Right Now (Los Angeles Edition)

    PJ
    22 Jan 2012 | 11:47 am
    Click on over and peruse the new site for things to do this weekend. You'll find our picks listed by age group under This Month. Feel free to poke around the site to check our reviews of interesting new art and culture around town. Then, if your coffee cup is still full, spend a few moments reading our blog.Tickets are still available for Cirque du Soliel's IRIS, at the Kodak Theater - we loved it. And a new show from Cirque du Soleil, OVO, opens today at the Santa Monica Pier. Music fans will love the family show for They Might Be Giants, at UCLA Live on…

  • The Family Savvy - Using Our New Site!

    PJ
    10 Jan 2012 | 3:51 pm
    As a subscriber to Kids Off the Couch, you'll also be subscribed to The Family Savvy, so please be sure your email provider recognizes our address:info@thefamilysavvy.com.We encourage you to use the site as a family resource -- it's a great place to find new ideas, timely exhibits and show reviews, or discover a new place to explore. We will communicate with you once or twice a week, updating you on recent postings and articles online at The Family Savvy.Here are some of the many features that you're going to enjoy at The Family Savvy:This Month is our carefully curated…

  • The Family Savvy Launches! A New Website to start the New Year

    PJ
    4 Jan 2012 | 3:57 pm
    There's a new website in town called The Family Savvy. I spent the last six months creating a robust calendar-based site for families looking to interact with the city and with each other, and I am excited to share it with you. It's where I'll focus my attention from here forward, so check it out and start 2012 equipped with up-to-the-moment information about culture and kids around LA.CLICK TO VISIT THE FAMILY SAVVYA few words from The Family Savvy: We don't know about you, but we can't stand having this conversation: "What-do-you-wanna-do"," I-dunno. What-do-YOU-wanna-do"? The Family…

  • Los Angeles Kids Off The Couch: Happy Holidays to All!

    PJ
    21 Dec 2011 | 12:02 pm
    Fill your Days from Now until 2012Ticket Giveaway: Family 4-Pack for OVO on February 15We've got plenty of "have-fun-with-your-family, counter-program the mall" ideas to get you through to New Year's. And just remember, if the gifting is making you crazy, there is always this time-tested solution to all gifting problems -- at least for the youngest on your list.Ticket Giveaway: OVO from Cirque du Soleil opens under the big top at the Santa Monica Pier on January 20, 2012. This family show is set in the teeming, buzzing world of insects. We have one Family 4-Pack…

  • Scorsese's First Family Film

    PJ
    7 Dec 2011 | 1:41 pm
    Hugo - A Holiday Gift for All!Our favorite in this season's varied crop of family films is Hugo, director Martin Scorsese's sumptuous 3D adaptation of Brian Selznick's award-winning, best-selling novel, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". At first glance, Hugo would seem to hail from Spielberg territory, so it takes until the final reel to understand why Scorsese chose to helm this captivating PG film. The film opens with an extended tracking shot that flies over the roofs of Paris and swoops down through a busy train station, signaling the technical proficiency of the…
 
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    Strollerderby

  • 4-Year-Old Brings a Very Illegal “Snack” to School

    SunnyChanel
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:48 pm
    There is something to be said for an act of total innocence. In Meriden, Conn., a 4-year-old special needs preschooler did something that gave him no pause but shocked the teachers at Hanover Elementary School.  This particular boy brought a very illegal “snack” to school. He brought bags of marijuana. At snack time the boy [...]

  • Costa Cruises Offers $14 Thousand to Uninjured Survivors: Is It Enough? (VIDEO)

    daniellesmith
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:19 pm
    Nineteen people are still missing and yet I was reading on ABC today that Costa Cruises is ready to offer money to the uninjured survivors of the recent Costa Concordia cruise ship tragedy. The offer is apparently being forged on behalf of more than 32-hundred of the passengers and negotiated by an Italian consumer group: [...]

  • Do Anti-Obesity Programs Cause Eating Disorders in Kids? No.

    julieminer
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:08 pm
    A report this week from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health looks at a correlation between school-based obesity prevention programs and children who exhibit at least one behavior that could indicate the development of an eating disorder. The report asserts that obesity prevention programs in schools may increase the likelihood of [...]

  • Reproductive Rights: Art About Choosing to Be Childless (Images)

    carolyncastiglia
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:26 pm
    The International Museum of Women has a beautiful and interesting online exhibit on display currently called MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe. It explores the idea of reproductive freedom, of women being able to view motherhood as a choice, not simply a rite of passage or, in some areas of the world, an expectation. In their [...]

  • Situation for Military Kids with Autism Is Shameful

    joslyngray
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:15 am
    I’m going to go ahead and start this post off by saying that I am biased. Really, really biased. Way back in the years B.C. (before children) I served in the U.S. Army. I am now a mom, and my youngest child is autistic. I spend a lot of time trying to access the right [...]
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    LACityMom

  • Cirque du Soleil “OVO”

    leeroseemery
    27 Jan 2012 | 8:05 pm
    I had the chance to see Cirque du Soleil’s OVO this week and it is amazing. There is nothing as powerful as live performance especially in our high tech screen oriented media saturated world. To see performers push the limits of human capability and excel right before your eyes is astonishing and inspiring. There is nothing frightening about the show in terms of it being inappropriate for children – although the acts are thrilling – trapeze artists, and trampoline artists continue to heighten the danger, and excitement of their performances as the evening progresses. There is also great…

  • $10 off at Stark Waxing’s new Studio City Location

    leeroseemery
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:22 pm
    Stark Waxing Studio of Silver Lake just added a new studio in Studio City, and it is fantastic. Whatever your personal preferences are on body hair removal, I bet we can all agree that if you do get a wax of some kind, you want it done quickly, as painlessly as possible, and by a pro. This can be a delicate matter. Stark is a great place for a wax, as they use a special European wax that hurts less, as it sticks to hair and not your skin. The staff at Stark is terrific and so professional. The atmosphere is sleek, clean and downright cool. Stark also offers eyelash and brow tinting and…

  • CUSTOM i-phone CASES FROM ZAZZLE

    leeroseemery
    21 Jan 2012 | 11:03 am
    I am feeling very technologically up to date, as I was given the new I-Phone for Christmas. It was an upgrade, and the guy in the store literally laughed when he saw my old one, which was one of the originals. But I am not going to tell you how great the i-phone (but it is!!)   I am going to tell you about a very cool website called Zazzle where you can design and buy your own custom case! I made one the other day with a black and white photo of the kids on it. It is sturdy plastic, and also has a little strip of rubber inside to protect the phone. The day I ordered it there was a discount…

  • TRUE PABLOVE FAMILY VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION

    leeroseemery
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:03 pm
    Here is a family event in February that should not be missed. The Pablove Foundation’s Family Valentine’s Celebration. This day of family friendly crafting, music, food, and fun is so dear to my heart. Pablo Castalez was a pre-school classmate of my children. Two years ago, he lost his year long battle with Wilm’s Tumor cancer. He was six years old. His parents, JoAnn and Jeff have started The Pablove Foundation in his honor, with the mission to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer research and provide programs to enhance the lives of those children living with…

  • TAKE A BAO restaurant in Studio City – kid friendly cool

    leeroseemery
    17 Jan 2012 | 11:43 pm
    Restaurants are finally catching on to the modern family’s criteria which is, I believe, the following: If we’re going to go out to dine with the kids, we want to: 1) Feel cool 2) Eat good food 3) Not pay a fortune 4) (perhaps most important) Have a cocktail In return, we the parental consumers will try not to, but probably will spill, and leave a mess, however, we promise we won’t stay long. If you make something reasonably priced, and moderately healthy that our kids will eat, we will absolutely come back. Take A Bao on Ventura Boulevard is one restaurant I just learned about that…
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    Lifestyle Design for the Modern Child | Social Skills and Self Confidence Building Tips for Children, Teens, and Parents in New York City -- CharismaticKid

  • 9-Year Old Rocker Cameron Performs and Discusses His Song “I-95″

    Anthony
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:56 am
    Anthony Recenello finds a talented 9-year-old named Cameron that is doing something big in music. Click for more… What substantial thing is your child doing? Cameron is an example of what it means for a kid to do something big. Do you see the passion and determination in his eyes? He’s not shy about it, he’s not unsure about it. Is it clear to you that he is on a path in his life? He has a purpose he’s made for himself, and because of that, it’s obvious that his soul is rich with excitement for life. I’m not sure if you noticed it, but meeting Cameron and…

  • Bullying Series Ep #2: The Yin and Yang to Bullying

    Anthony
    16 Jan 2012 | 2:11 am
    Your first lesson in fixing the bullying going on in your child’s life. Contact me by any of the mediums you see here: http://facebook.com/charismatickid http://twitter.com/charismatickid anthony@charismatickid.com or.. Just comment below.

  • Bullying Series Ep #1: Stop Blaming, Start Accepting!

    Anthony
    11 Jan 2012 | 11:48 am
    The first of many videos on my bullying series. This one will prep you for the rest. If you have ANY questions, you best be contactin’ me. I don’t take this social media thing lightly. There’s nothing I enjoy more than connecting and helping you out. Get at me here: http://facebook.com/charismatickid http://twitter.com/charismatickid anthony@charismatickid.com or.. Just comment below.

  • CharismaticKid’s Christmas Special: “Are Toys Crappy Gifts?”

    Anthony
    5 Dec 2011 | 7:43 pm
    Anthony Recenello takes a few minutes attempting to reframe your perspective on what it means to give gifts to people. Click for more… Somewhere right now, a perfectly happy three-year-old is being tricked. She is given countless hours of TV time, a Wii, a toy robot that talks to her, and light up shoes; and life is fine. The addiction doesn’t come until those things are taken away from her, they go out of style, or are no longer fun to play with. Once this happens, a void is created in her soul. She was tricked into believing that those things were her source of happiness, and now…

  • Parent Interview with Sophia Grace Brownlee’s Father Dominic Brownlee

    Anthony
    17 Nov 2011 | 11:29 pm
    Sophia Grace Brownlee is today’s example of a charismatic kid, whose cover of Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” has wowed the country in a matter of weeks. At eight-years old, Sophia a star in the making. She did something big with the talent and passion she has in life and showed it to the world. Watch this video of her first appearance (of many) on Ellen. Now that you know the daughter, it’s time to meet the father. I had the opportunity to have a chat with Dominic Brownlee, a kind, UK father of Sophia Grace Brownlee and husband to Carly Brownlee. He was the one…
 
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    theAsianparent.com

  • Teen eats only nuggets for 15 years

    Laviinia Dhanagunan
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:15 am
    Looking a picture of health, it’s hard to imagine Stacey Irvine eating anything but unhealthy food. However, an episode which saw her collapse and struggling to breathe saw her being rushed to hospital recently. The 17-year-old was then diagnosed with anaemia and swollen tongue veins. Appalled doctors were let in on a secret she’s been carrying for 15 years– she eats only nuggets during meals. Her two other meal options are toast and crisps. This Birmingham native has never touched any vegetables or fruit throughout her life. The seemingly unrepentant teenager has no plans to change…

  • Porn addict – true Singapore story

    theAsianparent.com editorial team
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:18 pm
    “I feel part guilt as I’m telling you my story, but no, I don’t think I’m cheating on my wife” so claims Jason*, 33 a successful property agent who has been married for three years to Christina, a petite and attractive teacher. Jason began his flirtations with pornography since 14 when he was in secondary school. “I remember secretly looking at porn magazines like playboy which an affluent classmate would steal from his father’s stash and bring to school” recalls Jason almost fondly. He and his classmates would take turns to look at the pictures in the privacy of their…

  • Dumb celeb baby names

    Felicia Chin
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:11 pm
    The baby naming ritual is a very fun part of having a child no doubt—but sometimes parents may have a little too much fun in the process. Here are some examples of celebrity baby names you should not use on your newborn. But, who knows—one might just strike you as beautifully unique. Who’s to judge anyway? But if you name your kid any of these names, they might be teased mercilessly for the rest of their lives. Blue Ivy Parent: Beyoncé and Jay-Z Ivy Blue, Blue Ivy–whatever is decided of this kids name, we still think it isn’t classy. In fact, it sounds like a stripper…

  • Make your kid taller

    Felicia Chin
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:00 pm
    Size does matter; especially in this case. These two toddlers have one major thing in common — they eat a whole lot! Consuming copious amounts of food will rationally lead to, well, growth. Duh! These kids face challenges because of their size, read on to see what their parents have to deal with when it comes to raising such unique children. Tallest toddler in the world At two and a half, he stands at 4.5 feet (over 137 cm). Karan Singh is believed to be the world’s tallest toddler, weighing in at approximately 45 kg. Well, what do you expect? He is the son of Asia’s tallest woman,…

  • Would you die for your child?

    Lidiana Rosli
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:47 pm
    A mum was shot dead when she shielded a group of schoolchildren from gunfire just after they were dismissed from an elementary school, according to various news reports. According to a police report; Zurana Horton of Brooklyn New York “was seen moments before she was shot hovering over several children to protect them as shots was fired.” The 34-year-old was there to pick up her 11-year-old daughter from school when an unknown assailant opened fire on the schoolchildren of Public School 298, on 85 Watkins Street. The selfless mum of 13 died on the scene. According to police estimation;…
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    Child Behavior Help

  • Parenting an Angry, Explosive Teen: What You Should—and Shouldn't—Do

    16 Jan 2012 | 5:43 am
    When your teen is angry and screaming at you, the temptation for many of us is to fight back and scream louder so you "win" the argument. But what does that do? It's natural to want to push back or stand up for yourself if someone pushes your buttons or provokes you in some way. We often unknowingly internalize this message and it becomes a parent"s mantra: "I"m not going to let my own child walk all over me."

  • Parenting ODD Children and Teens: How to Make Consequences Work

    9 Jan 2012 | 6:50 am
    Does it ever seem as if you"ve tried every parenting approach out there, only to find that nothing works with your child? Kids who exhibit behaviors of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) can leave you feeling confused, frustrated, angry and disappointed. It often seems like nothing matters to them, which can make it hard for you to know how to respond to their behavior and what consequences to give. Kim Abraham and Marney Studaker-Cordner are child and family therapists who have worked with parents of kids with Oppositional Defiant Disorder for 20 years and Kim is also the parent of an adult…

  • Does Your Child Act Out to Manipulate You? How to Stop Falling for It

    2 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    Does your child use anger or threats to get what he wants? Does he pick fights and blackmail you emotionally? Or maybe he acts helpless or plays sick to get out of doing chores or homework. Whether kids manipulate us aggressively or passively, this behavior makes most of us feel out of control and "played" by our kids. Debbie Pincus, creator of Calm Parent: AM & PM, tells you how you can break this cycle while staying calm and in control.
 
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    I Thought I Knew Mama

  • A Quick View of the Business of the Black Market (LINKY)

    Charise @ I Thought I Knew Mama
    26 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Pin itScroll to the bottom of the post to add your green living or natural parenting post to the Green & Natural Mamas linky! Created by: Business Degree Link up your green living or natural parenting post below! I would love if you could leave a comment on this post and then grab the html for the Green & Natural Mama Thursday button and either add it to your blog sidebar or as a picture in your actual blog post. PHP Freelancer

  • Wordless Wednesday: Toddler Snow Fun (LINKY)

    Charise @ I Thought I Knew Mama
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Pin it Ready to play in the snow! I want to spend the whole day walking in the snow! The best part is watching the snow blow off of the trees! Oh no! That face plant made me feel sad! We love snow! Link up your Wordless Wednesday post below! PHP Freelancer

  • Mom’s Healthy Italian Lentils and Pasta Recipe

    Charise @ I Thought I Knew Mama
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Pin itMy mom has been making this meal throughout my entire life, and it is now one of my husband’s favorites. I love this dish because it’s healthy, vegetarian, filling, delicious, and yummy as leftovers. LENTILS & PASTA Makes approximately 8 servings 16 oz of lentils {rinse well & drain} 32 oz of crushed tomatoes with Italian herbs 32 oz of vegetable or chicken broth 1 large Spanish onion {chopped} 2 boxes of frozen chopped spinach 16 oz of elbow pasta Olive oil Italian seasonings Red pepper flakes Grated Romano cheese 1. Saute onion in a little olive oil until it is…

  • A Healthy, Easy, Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipe That My Toddler Loves (LINKY)

    Charise @ I Thought I Knew Mama
    19 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Pin itScroll to the bottom of this post to add any of your green living or natural parenting posts to the Green & Natural Mama linky! Toddlers can have very short attention spans, especially when it comes to eating. That’s why I love creating meals that offer 19 month old Baby lots of whole foods that span the food groups within a single bite. Here’s a healthy, super easy, crock pot recipe that Baby loves: Ingredients Equal parts of: Black Beans Kidney Beans Brown Rice Green Lentils Corn Peas Carrots Green Beans Bragg Certified Organic Sprinkle Seasoning Instructions It…

  • Wordless Wednesday: My Toddler, the Renaissance Man (LINKY)

    Charise @ I Thought I Knew Mama
    18 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Pin itBaby is quite the renaissance man at 19 months! He's an artist... a baker... a mad scientist... a welder... and a lover of the outdoors - no matter what the weather! Link up your Wordless Wednesday post below! PHP Freelancer
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    Nurturing Career Mama's Blog

  • Have Baby Will Breastfeed…Anywhere

    nurturingcareermama
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:25 am
    If my baby is hungry, I feed him. NOW. Not when I get home, Or get back to the car, I don’t say “come now it’s not that far.” I don’t wait for a printed sign to say I can breastfeed, Little stirs and cry’s from my baby is all that I need, So don’t hold back, come on now follow my lead. How mamas choose to nurse their babies is their choice. Personally I think breastfeeding in public should be normalised. Mamas are doing one of the most natural, healthy things possible – we shouldn’t have to hide in a corner or sit in a dirty toilet to feed…

  • Teething Has Begun

    nurturingcareermama
    21 Jan 2012 | 4:40 am
    “He’s wearing a necklace?!” People exclaim thinking what the heck is she on with this time? I’m very inclined to reply with sarcasm along the lines of “I’m planning to rear him gender neutral, and don’t you know – he also wears pink dresses.” But I stop myself getting defensive of my non mainstream parenting methods and offer a polite explanation instead. Why of course they would wonder, I would have asked the same question a couple of years ago. You might be one of those people still wondering, fair enough… My handsome little four…

  • Four Month Growth Spurt

    nurturingcareermama
    20 Jan 2012 | 5:45 am
    I’ve got one very hungry hippo, this boy won’t stop drinking. Pretty much every hour around the clock he wants some num nums. Never before have I been so grateful for cosleeping. As you might imagine, I in turn am one hungry mama. This morning I woke up feeling like I hadn’t been fed in days. To top it, because of the morning mayhem, I didn’t have chance to eat my giant bowl of porridge before charging out the door to prescool with baby on boob and three year old in tow. Why is it whenever you are late little people take the chance to dawdle? “Mummy look at…

  • Baby and Boss

    nurturingcareermama
    18 Jan 2012 | 1:49 pm
    Oh my, I’m shattered. Today was exhausting but very successful. I was nervous; it involved taking a teething baby and driving 90 miles up the motorway to meet my new boss and having a lunch meeting with colleagues. I was safe to say, bricking it. I didn’t realise how much until I arrived in the car park deliberating the right time to enter the office with Boyo. I was jaded too, although not half as much as I am now. My teething boy hadn’t kept me up all night crying, but did insist on pretty regular feeds. Then my three year old daughter decided to come and grapple for my…

  • More Sleep Through Cosleeping & Bedsharing

    nurturingcareermama
    13 Jan 2012 | 7:35 am
    Three years ago I wouldn’t have dreamt of bedsharing with my baby and here I am, believing in my own mothering instincts and getting so much more sleep as a result of it. To date I have had few days when I feel like a real zombie mum. But I fear teething might sort that out for me. This time around with baby Boyo there is more research to support my bedsharing choice, I trust my instincts better and I’ve had some decent health visitor support. How does bedsharing with a baby work? We only bedshare part of the night, unless baby Boyo is under the weather and not tolerating an arms…
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    STL Family Life

  • Scrapbooking 101: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love my photos

    Aubrey
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm
    Image credit: SimpleStories.typepad.com It’s a new year and you’ve survived the 3,700 holiday events of the last few months with the pictures to prove it. So what do you do with all of those photos? Some of you will save them to the computer and that’s the last anyone will see of them. A few of you might share a few choice photos on Facebook or even create a photo book online. If you’re like me, you’ll print them out and go elbow deep in acid-free paper, brads, and buttons to create a scrapbook. It’s an opportunity for me to share and tell the story…

  • A Coloful Plate Helps Families Eat Healthier

    Harriette Kraus
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:57 pm
    Image credit: www.glastonburyus.org While watching one of the hundreds of fast-food commercials on TV, it dawned on me that the most colorful element of most of these foods seems to be the box! Honestly, the combination of tan chicken fingers, pale brown burgers, beige French fries and white potatoes is about as dull and unappealing as the carbohydrate/preservative coma that eating these foods puts you in! For me, eating is not only about taste and smell, but sight as well. A more colorful plate is more appetizing, and as studies show, significantly more nutritious!! And the best foods to get…

  • How to Help Your Family Be More Active-Even in the Winter!

    Harriette Kraus
    15 Dec 2011 | 2:09 pm
    Image credit: rentalprojectors.com Getting your kids to eat well is a full-time effort, but healthy food is only part of the equation. In our super-sedentary culture, it takes more than just a one hour dance class or weekly soccer game to keep kids in shape. Organized sports and active classes are great, but sometimes it’s fun to actually be active WITH your kids! Here are some important steps you can take now to get your family moving… If  you want an active child, you need to be active yourself. You can’t just talk about exercise — you need to make it a priority for…

  • Expert Advice on Handling the Pre-Teen Years

    Pam Wilson
    13 Dec 2011 | 6:37 pm
    Image credit: tweenparenting.about.com Many of us with pre-teen daughters are constantly surprised by how volatile each and every day can be. One minute they want to snuggle up and hug you, the next they are angry and slamming their doors. The pre-teen years can best be described as the pre-teen push-pull. “Developmentally they are operating on a pleasure principal and the need for immediate gratification,” says Susan Gartenberg, mother of four daughters and a school counselor in the Ladue School District. It is the best of times and the worst of times. Look at it as one more…

  • Make Your Own Candy Kits: A Great Holiday Present And FREE Giveaway

    Bonnie
    9 Dec 2011 | 1:02 pm
    When asked if I wanted to do a review on a “Make Your Own Candy” kit, my kids, ages 7 and 11, were excited to choose from making their own chewing gum, gummies or chocolate. It was a no-brainer for this chocolate loving family. “Make Your Own Chocolate” was the overwhelming favorite. And after all is said and done, I think we made a very good choice. The makers of Glee Gum have created these family friendly activity kits, which are all-natural, educational, and eco-friendly. With pre-packaged ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, everyone aged eight and up can…
 
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    Life With Sharon | Texas Mom Blogger / Vlogger

  • Getting Ready for Summer

    Sharon
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:02 pm
    That cold weather that chilled you to the bones is fading away, which means it is time to think about the summer months and time to get ready with some new gifts for yourself. Whether you are gathering up the camping gear to head to the mountains or just staying home and lounging in the pool, now is the time to start gathering what you need and checking what you have. Bathing suits are the top of the list when it comes to new buys for the summer months. Be they for you or for your children, it is fun to go bathing suit shopping. It may just be that little punch in the ego that you needed to…

  • Snacking with Pretzels #Snyders

    Sharon
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:43 pm
    Since the new year started I have been trying to eat more healthy and with that of course snack more healthy. And with snacking better pretzels have been my number one snack of choice. With my pretzels I enjoy eating fruit, to kind of give me a sweet and salty flavor. Way more healthy than eating chocolate dipped pretzels that I enjoyed during the holidays. However besides eating pretzels with fruit or dipped in chocolate there are also plenty of recipes to make with pretzels that are healthy and tasty. Some of my favorites are mixing pretzels with different seasonings with mustard.  One of…

  • Using Tide Coldwater! #tide #washcold

    Sharon
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:50 pm
    This school year we made the decision to switch the boys to a different school which requires uniforms. Uniforms that consist of lots of khaki pants and white shirts. White shirts and khakis that I think I am going crazy trying to keep looking good. I have always believed that washing things in hot was supposed to get things cleaner only I never do because I also believe that hot water makes colors fade. So I was very excited to get to try the new Tide Coldwater on our laundry. Usually I do actually wash our white clothes in hot water in hopes that it will get cleaner and because of my crazy…

  • Seeing more clearly on Valentines Day!

    Sharon
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:57 am
    I think I have mentioned in an earlier post and I am sure that we all know it but if you didn’t Valentines Day is soon upon us. And it is time to find those awesome gifts for your loved one. Well wouldn’t it be great to have a fun pair of Valentine’s Day glasses to celebrate with? They also would be certainly great for having clear vision to find that perfect gift too. Not to mention looking really awesomely stylish to celebrate the big day and days leading up. I think these Valentines Day glasses are pretty awesome: These awesome glasses can be found at Zenni optical who pride…

  • Butterfinger Cheesecake Recipe – No Bake!

    Sharon
    19 Jan 2012 | 6:52 pm
    So while I had fun making my Reese’s Cheesecake I decided to experiment and try another kind of cheesecake with another favorite candy bar of mine! The extra tasty yummy Butterfinger Bar. I bet your intrigued already, right? There are a couple of things I changed about this recipe, such as in my cheesecake filling I thought that it might be good to change out the chocolate chips for peanut butter chips. Which was a smart move because peanut butter cheesecake filling is extra divine! Only I will point out it was a bit stiffer to mix than the chocolate chips were. For this one I topped it…
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    Confessions from Householdsix

  • Knowledge is Power – IEPs

    Amanda
    26 Jan 2012 | 1:57 pm
    I found this great idea while Twitter and Facebook surfing waiting for the kids to get home from school. An IEP Meme. A way for those of us who have been through the process to share. I also plan on reading posts written by others to gain ideas as both of my boys trasition into uncharted territory for us next school year (so make sure you post to, hint, hint). We were late to the IEP game since our oldest fell through a TON of cracks and wasn’t dx’d until age 8 1/2. I’m convinced the only reason our youngest was diagnosed is because we persevered with our oldest for 7…

  • Hibernating

    Amanda
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:26 am
    It’s finally snowy. It’s been rainy too. It’s cold. We’ve been sick. There’s been nothing to do but hibernate for the last two weeks. This is why I don’t have enough blog fodder for a full post. Some highlights from the last two weeks. -I harassed all of our Congressmen with emails. Senator Toomey’s office responded, and one of his staffers will be attending the briefing on Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act with us. I know who I’ll be voting for next time around, and who I will NOT be voting for (looking at you on the Armed Forces…

  • Locate a Veteran’s Grave

    Amanda
    23 Jan 2012 | 8:48 am
    *This is not a compensated post. This is just information I thought would be useful and wanted to post. ~Amanda The Iraqi War came to an end last month and our troops did an amazing job liberating the country and putting an end to Saddam’s reign. During the course of the war, nearly 5,000 U.S. soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice. It is important to constantly remember and honor our troops. You may have known someone who lost their life while fighting for their country, but you may not know where they are buried. There are over 6 million veterans buried across the U.S. locating a veteran…

  • What is Military Spouse Mentorship?

    Amanda
    17 Jan 2012 | 5:22 am
    Mentoring other military spouses was a topic of conversation I saw recently posed on Facebook by one of the sites I follow. The question was should volunteering for things like the FRG and roles spouses have traditionally played in the military lifestyle be voluntary, or should they be expected/forced? When we first started in our married life, the roles were expected. It didn’t matter that I was a new spouse despite the fact that my husband was a seasoned soldier. It didn’t matter that we had a newborn, and that I had health issues of my own. I was expected to take a leadership…

  • Snow Day Treat with Weis Markets

    Amanda
    13 Jan 2012 | 6:21 am
    Let me spin you a tale of grocery shopping. I was eager to have the opportunity to explore one of our local Weis Markets to see if they had gotten any better in terms of being competitive with the other chains in our area. (For the short version, see my picture story on Google+) Before I went shopping, I checked out the Weis website to see which stores were in my area. I know there’s one around the corner, but from memory, it’s not very good (this was confirmed by one of our therapists who visited very recently when I mentioned this project in conversation), and it’s hard to…
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    ImpressYourKids

  • Love Your Neighbor Paper Heart Garland {Incredible Love}

    ohamanda
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:18 pm
    Pin It Can I be honest? This week of INCREDIBLE LOVE has been hard for me. I’ve wanted to lash out at my kids, roll my eyes and breathe heavy aggravated sighs at almost everything they do. Today I had a few minutes before lunch and was planning on doing this activity with them but I was so incredibly tired of interacting with them, of correcting them and leading them. How incredibly UN-loving am I being if I can’t even do a LOVE craft with them? So, I swallowed my pride (aggravation? sin?) and grabbed a Bible, my computer and the kids. First I turned on Seeds’ Greatest…

  • Incredible Love!

    ohamanda
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:05 pm
    I’m so glad we’re on to our 3rd characteristic of a super hero! This one is appropriate as Valentine’s Day is almost upon us! Today we’re talking about INCREDIBLE LOVE! There are some awesome love verses and it took me a long time to choose which one I wanted! (I’m still hanging onto Psalm 97 because it shows the SUPER powers of God in it!) But I settled on the verse Jesus himself said was the greatest commandment: Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind with all your strength. I know there is all kinds of teaching…

  • Easy No Sew Super Hero Costume

    ohamanda
    23 Jan 2012 | 8:25 pm
    I’ve been perusing Pinterest for fun Super Hero activities. Mainly I get distracted by the gobs of adorable Super Hero cakes and birthday parties! Anywhoo, I finally found THE BEST tutorial ever: How To Make a Super Hero Cape From an Old Tshirt from See Cate Create! I made one for Asa today and I think it is fabulous. Here’s my… Top Ten Steps To making a SUPER Easy No Sew Super Hero Costume 1. Dig around in your closet until you find some old t-shirts.  I found one with an iron-on from my dad’s 50th birthday (6 years ago) and a hideously orange shirt from a VBS I did.
 
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    sevenclowncircus.com

  • $120 Vicks VapoRub {Giveaway}

    Angie
    28 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    Colds and coughs are most easily transmitted during the wet, cold months, so it’s no wonder that the phrase  ”something is going around” seems to uttered frequently during the winter and spring. Did you know that: On average, people have a cough or cold for 2½ years of their lives, and for about one year of this time they are unfit to attend work! We all know that getting a cold is just a part of life (for most of us, anyway), and costs money.  It costs money to buy medicine and it costs money when we lose wages at work. With these factors in mind, I think it’s a…

  • Happy Birthday, #2

    Angie
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:30 am
    #2 turns 10 today.  TEN. Emma is such a sweet, sweet girl.  Being her mother for the past 10 years has truly been a blessing.  From the moment she was born I’ve been in love.  She’s super helpful, and even though she’s on the quiet side, she can be assertive when she needs too.  She doesn’t let anyone walk all over her, and she’s super loyal.  I *heart* this girl so much and hope that she has her best year yet.  She deserves it.

  • Wordful Wednesday – The Pinewood Derby

    Angie
    24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm
    Wordful Wednesday 411:   Wordful Wednesday is like Wordless Wednesday, except WITH words.  It’s for those of us that just cannot be wordless, no matter how much we try.  Add  my Wordful Wednesday badge to your post (right side bar under “WW”) if you really want to make me happy, and then add your post link to the linky below.  Easy peasy. Child #3 just joined Cub Scouts.  His very first meeting was The Pinewood Derby, which is a pretty big deal in the Cub Scouting world.  It’s a good thing he has a dad that went through the Scouting program and knew what to…

  • $50 Clown Costume {Giveaway}

    Angie
    22 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    In celebration of seeing what SEO can do for a single blog post, I’m giving away a $50 Gift Certificate from HalloweenCostumes.com to buy clown costumes so that you to can throw a Circus Themed Birthday Party and have the guest or guests of honor arrive in style. I’ve been blogging for years now, and in that time I’ve learned quite a bit about SEO (Search Engine Optimization).  I’ve been able to utilize this knowledge on sites that I write/work for, but on my own blog, my emphasis is not so much of SEO as it is on my family and what interests me. However, recently I…

  • 2011: A Year in Review

    Angie
    19 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    Nothing like publishing a year in review post 2 weeks after the New Year, right? These Year in Review posts that I do are always fun for me because it’s a great opportunity for me to see what my monthly highlights were.  Heavens know I can’t remember!  2011 found me busier than ever, but not on my blog.  Apparently. In January Jeff and the kids and I took a 2 week vacation to Florida.  I believe that I posted about the trip in February, though.  I also became a Contributing Editor on SITS and I geared up for bringing home a DOG.  That was huge. February found me recapping…
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    The Nanny Godmother

  • Naughty Words Are a No-No at Daycare

    Nanny Lili
    21 Jan 2012 | 8:42 pm
    The Nanny Godmother loves to hear from colleagues in the childcare profession who are readers of the blog.  Patty has recently written in with a dilemma that’s particularly challenging because of the professional setting in which it’s occurring: I am a daycare provider for a set of 21 month old twin boys in addition to 4 other children. Within the past month they both started using foul language. I simply ignored it the first week, although some of the older children were quick to point it out to me each time they heard it.  During the second week when it occurred, I got…

  • Dry Eyes and Dry Mornings: More Adventures in Nighttime Potty Training

    Nanny Lili
    28 Dec 2011 | 1:27 pm
    Reader Claire writes to the Nanny Godmother of her daughter’s struggles to bid goodbye to the nighttime nappy: My daughter is almost 3.  She has been dry during the day for over 6 months and has been using pull-up nappies at night. She has started to refuse to wear her nappy at night even though it is soaked in the morning.  I have tried lifting her when I go to bed but she just screams at me; I have also tried restricting her fluid intake from 6pm in an effort to keep her dry at night. Should I just let her wet the bed and see if she stops weeing at night or gets herself up to use…

  • Splish-Splash, Let’s Take a Bath!

    Nanny Lili
    27 Nov 2011 | 5:43 pm
    Reader Humreet writes: My niece is 15 months old and up until recently, bath-time was an enjoyable time where she would love to sit and splash about.  Recently, she now completely freaks out if you try and put her anywhere near a bath.  She’s ok if you hold her over the edge so she can dip her hand in but if you get anywhere close to putting her in, she goes into meltdown.  It’s gotten so bad that she almost stops breathing because she is crying so much.  This is obviously taking its toll on my sister who can’t understand where this fear has come from. We’ve tried…

  • New Parents, New Babies (Part 1)

    Nanny Lili
    4 Oct 2011 | 5:30 pm
    Once first-time parents leave the hospital, the thought that they are on their own now can be quite nerve-racking.  Even if you’ve had other children, sometimes you’ll encounter something with your newest baby that you haven’t seen before.  Don’t panic!  Here are a few tips on anticipating and coping with some of the things that you will (or may) see in the first couple of months of your baby’s life. Bowel movements Let’s start with bottom activity.  If your baby is bottle-fed, don’t worry if they only have bowel movements once every couple of days; it’s…

  • Another Bedtime Story

    Nanny Lili
    27 Aug 2011 | 11:09 am
    Jessica writes: Hi, I have a 14 month old baby girl and recently she has started to not want to fall asleep in her cot.  From when she was born, I and my mum didn’t have a stable home and my daughter was always sleeping in the bed with me from the time she grew out of her Moses basket.  But now we have been settled in our own house and she now has her own room. When we first got the cot she loved sleeping in her cot; during the day and nighttime she would sleep right through without a peep from her!  But recently when I go to put her to bed, before I even reach her bedroom door she…
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    The Parenting Pundit

  • Why Joe Pa Should Be No Different From the Average Joe: A Parenting Pundit's Thoughts On Paterno

    Gaétane Borders
    22 Jan 2012 | 2:22 pm
    I awoke this morning to confirmed reports that Joe Paterno, famed and disgraced Penn State coach, had passed away from complications of cancer. He was the coach who won more games than anyone in major college football, but was fired amid a child sex abuse scandal that scarred his reputation for winning with integrity. The man known as "Joe Pa" won 409 games and took the Nittany Lions to 37 bowl games and two national championships. More than 250 of the players he coached went on to the NFL. Hmmm...All of these accolades would have sounded far more impressive to me prior to November 2011. (I…

  • Lo Siento...I'm A Pedophile

    Gaétane Borders
    17 Jan 2012 | 6:41 pm
    Have you spoken to your kids about predators and the tricks and tactics they use? If not, today is the day for you to do so because these pedophiles are banking on the fact that you won't. The best way to guide your discussion is to know how these sickos operate. Today's sicko is Ryan Brunn...the murderer and rapist of 7-yr-old Jorelys Rivera.Here is how the mind of a pedophile works:Published in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution 1/17/12Brunn said he came across a roller skate while cleaning and knew it was Jorelys’ because he had seen her skating. He took a picture of the skate and…

  • The "Unintriguing" Missing of 2011

    Gaétane Borders
    9 Jan 2012 | 5:30 pm
    Recently, ABC news published an article online that upset me so much that I needed to walk away from the computer for several hours in order to collect my thoughts. During my 6-hour hiatus I was able to regain my calm, and even began to feel more positive about the post. Don’t get me wrong, I am very much disappointed by the journalists’ article, but it helped to fuel my inner passion. Let me explain…..The article was titled “Eleven Most Intriguing Missing Persons Cases of 2011.” In it, the writers listed various missing people, and provided a short blurb on each of them. Here is…

  • From Legos to Boob Jobs

    Gaétane Borders
    4 Jan 2012 | 12:31 pm
    I awoke this morning to a news headline that was so incredibly asinine that I had to read it multiple times to make sure I had it right (I've been on vacation for over two weeks and my mind has gotten a little soft. Anyhoo...) It read: 'Human Barbie' Sarah Burge Gives 7-Year-Old Daughter Breast Implant Voucher.The accompanying article described how she gave her daughter a $10,000 gift certificate to use after her sixteenth birthday because this is when breast augmentation surgery is legal. She claimed that her baby girl "begged" her for a "boob job." Reportedly, her daughter was so excited…

  • The Cloak Of Secrecy: Shame on Penn State

    Gaétane Borders
    17 Nov 2011 | 3:59 pm
    I'll be honest with you...I am not a football kind of gal. So, up until a few days ago, I had no idea who the heck Jerry Sandusky was. All that changed, however, in the matter of a seconds when all the sexual abuse allegations against him surfaced! Now....he will never be forgotten. The most disturbing part of this story is not that he could have done this to all those young children. I am well aware of how prevalent this crime is. (The statistics do not lie.) I am disturbed...appalled...nauseated by the allegation that so many knew about this....AND DID NOTHING TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN! (Yes,…
 
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    Almighty Dad | A stay at home dad blog

  • Our Internet Free Week – The Result

    Keith
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:33 pm
    FF   It was a long time coming when I decided last week to unplug my family from our various forms of electronic entertainment – TV, Internet, video games (XBOX, Wii, 3DS).  It was an experiment born from frustration, and you’ll be interested to know that it was mostly successful.  I say mostly because of [...]

  • A Week Free from the Internet – An Experiment

    Keith
    16 Jan 2012 | 4:09 pm
    FF I‘ve gotten sufficiently annoyed recently by one of my sons (and I’m not going to say which one) and his dependence on electronic entertainment that I’ve decided to run a family experiment. This morning I unplugged the television, took away the Nintendo DS’s, and banned them from the Internet. To be completely fair to [...]

  • Jonny Chan of TBG Digital is a Weasel

    Dennis Yu
    3 Jan 2012 | 11:54 pm
    FF Today we have a guest post by Dennis Yu. Jonny Chan of TBG Digital is a Weasel by Dennis Yu Jonny Chan is a clever kid.  He’s worked on some of the largest Facebook ad campaigns to deliver tremendous results.  But two years ago, he knew little about Facebook ads.  He messaged me constantly, [...]

  • Resolutions are for Suckers — and Me

    Keith
    1 Jan 2012 | 3:44 pm
    PP I have a theory about resolutions.  But first, to be clear, I don’t like resolutions even though I repeatedly make them.  Resolutions are preemptive failure admissions.  The declaration of a resolution is, many more times than not, really just an announcement concerning the thing you’re about to fail.  And guess what I do every [...]

  • Santa Claus is a Big Fat Jerk

    Keith
    6 Dec 2011 | 3:13 pm
    I don’t understand why parents lie to their kids about Santa Claus.  I can’t do it.  I know what some of you are thinking; this must be some religious stand I’m taking, right?  No, surprisingly, it isn’t.  This is just a parenting style.  I made the decision when the boys were born that I would [...]
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    It Builds Character

  • If You’re Ready And You Know It, Clap Your Hands

    Recovering Type A Mama
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:58 pm
    The recent tragedy of Madonna Badger reminded me how ill-prepared we are sometimes for the forces of nature. And this is particularly tragic because it is my job to be prepared, both as a professional, and as a mom. Here are my emergency preparedness tips for you and your family. Do we do all of these things? No. But every little bit helps.(1) Check your smoke alarms annually (at least); install new batteries, check that they work properly.(2) Make sure that the storm windows in your basement can actually open in case of an emergency.(3) Cover storm wells in the summer so that small children…

  • How To Feel Like An Asshole In Front Of Your Child’s Teacher

    Guest Blogger
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:01 pm
    Jillsmo has 2 kids, one with autism, blogs at Yeah. Good Times. and tweets (a lot) at @jillsmo. She talks a lot about her cats, so you should read her stuff if you like that sort of thing….Cats aside, you’ll want to make Yeah. Good Times. a regular reading stop. Her humor posts make me laugh or snort every time, her writing about autism is raw and enlightening, and the illustrations are the icing on the cake. And if you really want extra credit, check out the book Big Daddy’s Tales From The Lighter Side Of Raising A Kid With Autism because she’s featured in there, too.

  • What We’re Reading This Week: January 25th

    ChiMomWriter
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:42 pm
    Join us each Wednesday for a collection of stories, blog posts, and whatever else we’ve found interesting to check out.HUMORParenting. Illustrated With Crappy Pictures: Comparing Kids’ Behavior (Is Bad) Because this is every evening in 99.9% of households with more than one kid.Mommy Shorts: Shit Toddlers Say (Video) Mazzy will make your day. Period. Ilana did an awesome job editing this. Practical Parenting via Mommy Moment: 5 Secrets To A Mediocre Night’s Sleep Magazines promise magical sleep. Katie tells you what you really need. NEWSCare2: Peanuts In Green Beans? Why…

  • I Need A Pinterest Board For Dream Analysis

    ChiMomWriter
    23 Jan 2012 | 10:06 pm
    In the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time entrenched in social media, teaching myself the basics, exploring websites and applications previously unknown to me, messing up a lot and doing a lot of networking. Although my work life always required a lot of marketing and communication work, this who tech thing is a completely foreign language.Some years ago, I visited my sister, who was living in Italy at the time. Being immersed in a foreign language, I suddenly found myself dreaming vividly in the only other language that I knew – French.I am now dreaming in social media.My kids,…

  • A Challenge for 2012

    Mom of Sass
    22 Jan 2012 | 6:01 pm
    There are a million answers to every parenting question you can think of – just ask the Internet. Should I breastfeed or go with formula? What should the first solid food be? When should I get the next size up car seat? Nearly all of those answers will come from well-meaning parents who have been down that particular road already. We all like to talk about ourselves, after all, and that support can be lifesaving to exhausted parents looking for something else to try. But it can also be some of the cruelest.Take potty training, for example. Our house (and I do mean the whole house,…
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    Toy Queen | Educational Toys and Games | Babies | Toddlers | Preschoolers | Kids

  • Temper Tantrums at Bedtime and the Reward Chart Secret Weapon

    Keriannot
    16 Jan 2012 | 12:17 pm
    @Kenson Parenting Solutions How is that my once sweet, lovable infant who went to bed so easily when I put him down and walked away has morphed into this tantrumming toddler, screaming at the top of his lungs who bangs the walls, shut doors in my face, then trashes his room by dumping all the books from his bookshelf on the floor? I’m mortified and horrified to think what he’ll be like as a teenager. What on god’s earth did I do to this poor child to have a 2 hour tantrum before bed that has him pushing me with two hands and screaming these words, “Go Away!” So I…

  • Keri Wilmot from ToyQueen.com on BetterTV Kids Tech Segment

    Keriannot
    16 Jan 2012 | 8:55 am
    Mommy & Me Tech Segment on Better TV Back in December I got a really fun opportunity to be part of a television segment on the Better TV show in New York City, which is hosted by Audra Lowe. The segment, sponsored by VTech Toys, discussed some concerns that moms like myself might have about introducing a young child to technology.  Brett Larson, a technology expert, was included in the segment to provide his view of what age is good to start exposing young children to technology toys. The video itself is hosted on the Better TV site, so please view it by clicking this link: Mommy &…

  • Beauty and the Beast 3D Movie Review

    Keriannot
    12 Jan 2012 | 11:25 am
    ©Disney When Disney’s Beauty and the Beast first hit the big screen in the 1991, I was a freshman in high school. Even though you would think kids that age wouldn’t be interested in Disney animated movies, having a younger sister who is 12 years younger and whose birthday party theme always coincided with the release of the latest Disney movie (Lion King, Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Beauty & The Beast), there was no escaping it anyway. Honestly, I secretly loved being whisked away into these lands of far away tales, animation or not. Since then, Ariel from The Little Mermaid…

  • Angelina Ballerina Game: Dance with Me

    Keriannot
    2 Jan 2012 | 10:02 pm
    Angelina Ballerina Dance With Me Game Some of you may recognize the familiar mouse from television, Angelina Ballerina.  Aside from the Angelina Ballerina television show, there is an adorable Angelina Ballerina game for preschool aged girls, entitled Dance with Me by Wonder Forge. This board game, recommended for kids, namely girls, ages 3 and up, not only teaches children all about taking turns, but it also includes learning over 20 different ballet moves in the process. There is only 1 moving token, so everyone takes a turn being Angelina Ballerina. I love the idea of only one moving…

  • A Present For Milo, A Great iPad App for Kids

    Keriannot
    28 Dec 2011 | 2:54 pm
    Before Gavin and I head to bed each night, I try to always include some type of story, whether it be an actual book or lately, we’ve even been enjoying some iPad apps together. Some people are pretty opinionated about whether a toddler should be using an iPad, and along with my “anything in moderation” rule, I figured, he’ll be accessing software and devices 50 years into his future, that to me remain unfathomable, so if he and I can get some good quality fun time together, why not expose him to these really fun experiences early. Ruckus Media Group, a fabulous creator…
 
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    take2mommy - a New York mom's blog

  • When the Cat's Away...

    27 Jan 2012 | 8:50 am
    Those are Pokemon cards, in case you can't tell. No surprise which mouse I am.Myhusband went on a short business trip this week, and things around casatake2mommy ran quite differently in his absence.1.Dinner was not made. It was enjoyed in the comfort of a restaurant booth.2.The dog was pleased that no one kicked her off the bed at night.3.There was less clutter. I didn’t trip over a single laptop bag, gym bag ordress shoe. My kitchen countertop was free from cell phone headsets,shopping receipts, computer cables and keys.4. We enjoyed a comfortable thermostat setting of 70 degrees. Not the…

  • Lessons of the City

    25 Jan 2012 | 8:10 am
    I've got a guest writer here today: a friend whom I suppose you could call my ex-brother-in-law's-brother, but that's a mouthful and doesn't aptly describe this fun-loving father of two. I hope you enjoy his post.We bring our kids to New York City for museums, good food, shows, or cheap HBA products, but just walking down the street or going anywhere in the city is a great opportunity to teach.  Even understanding that is a learning experience: you can seize opportunities and turn hardships into potential, or you can tell your child, like I have, don't look at that guy sleeping on the…

  • Trying not to push the panic button

    23 Jan 2012 | 8:29 am
    I thought perhaps it would be therapeutic to get some anxiety-causing concerns off my chest. Thanks to Ally from Two normal moms and to Stasha at Northwest Mommy for making it a Monday Listicles prompt today.Causes of anxiety for this tired ol' mama:1. The wisdom that the older kids on the school bus are imparting to my young sons. And by wisdom I mean cr@p.2. Watching scrawny specimens of wildlife sniffing the frozen ground outside for food. They look like they are starving and I want to feed them all, but I know I can't.3. A particular freelance project I'm working on, which is a colossal…

  • The Scent of Home

    19 Jan 2012 | 1:01 pm
    My house might stink. I can't be certain though because one can't smell one's own home. Only people who come to visit can detect your particular house-smell. It's true.It freaks me out not knowing what the heck my house smells like to others. So before people come over I run from room to room, spraying Lysol like a madwoman. But to me, Lysol scent = stomach virus. Or pediatrician waiting room. I think I need a new scent. Something that says, "this is a fresh, happy place!" and not "someone might have just vomited here!"So yesterday I went to Duane Reade, a New York area drugstore, and stood…

  • Yes I Can

    12 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Photo from www.skibutternut.comYes I canStand on a mountain top, point my skis down and go.Pine trees? No, I won't hit one.Legs? No, I won't break one.I'll carve the snow, feet together, plant a pole, hop and turn.You don't believe me?You've never seen me?Your father isn't the only athletic one in this family.In fact, mommy can ski circles around him.I swear it's true.You'll see this weekend, on the mountain,Where I'll teach you to do it too. Write a poem inspired by the last conversation you had with your child.
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    iRant iRave

  • Fresh from the Changing Mat

    Kat
    16 Jan 2012 | 5:22 am
    Do you fart your bum at us, sir? I do fart my bum, sir. Do you fart your bum at us, sir? Is the law of our side, if I say ay? No. No, sir, I do not fart my bum at you, sir, but I fart my bum, sir.

  • Silent Sunday

    Kat
    14 Jan 2012 | 9:07 pm

  • Where Are The Christmas Photos?

    Kat
    12 Jan 2012 | 5:14 am
    “Time to get up!” Weary eyes open. I hear groans from the far side of the bed and the stirrings of Fraser in the cot beside me. The clock says it’s past nine so I can’t complain too much. “Merry Christmas Duncan.” “Merry Christmas Mum” accompanied by one of those bounding cuddles that only a four year old can give. I gather up some bits & pieces and take the boys downstairs. I sit in the armchair with the camera only an arms reach away. But after a few hours sleep there’s too much milk for Fraser and so feeding becomes a two-handed…

  • The Meeting

    Kat
    11 Jan 2012 | 12:09 pm
     I sit down on the bed. The mattress in so thin my arse goes numb almost immediately and my back twinges in protest. After what seems like an eternity of noise and cacophony I finally hear the one voice I’ve listened for. The curtains twitch as he whirls past but then he stops. His approach change, now slow and calm. He leans over the side of the bed and plants the most gentle of kisses on the head. “This is Fraser and he is my brother.”

  • Once Upon A Time, Fraser Was Born

    Kat
    11 Jan 2012 | 5:15 am
    Fraser is 10 weeks old today and it’s been a whirlwind. So many stories to tell as and when I can write them down. Expect to see some long and some short, not necessarily in order but all important. So there’s only one logical place to start….. I had picked my sister up from the train station that afternoon, done some shopping and we pootled home. 10pm my waters broke. An hour later Rob drove me to St James’ and while I ignored the midwives trying to find his heartbeat (mainly because her jabbing at my belly with the monitor was the most painful part of the whole…
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    Look who Found the Marbles

  • How She Found the Marbles: Asking for Help

    Jessica
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    In the post below, Tara Ziegmont shares her story of strength, courage and the importance of asking for help. Over the last 18 months, I have struggled in ways I never thought possible. In that short time, I’ve dealt with an unexpected pregnancy, extended bedrest, serious pregnancy complications, a traumatic birth experience, postpartum depression, a colicky and hospitalized infant, and then a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In retrospect, I don’t know how I survived it all, except that I just did the next most important thing. I never imagined that I’d make a plan to kill…

  • Join Us for the Brave Woman Twitter Party!

    Jessica
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:17 pm
    I am honored to be hosting the upcoming Brave Woman Twitter party sponsored by Collective Bias. Please join us for this very important hour as we discuss the strong women we know and how we can help our friends and family members stay strong in their fight against domestic violence.   Here is all the info: When: Thursday, February 2nd at 8:00-9:00 pm EST  (7:00-8:00 CST) Where: On Twitter using the hashtag #BraveWoman. Who: Please follow the hosts, @FoundtheMarbles and @MonicaJohnson as well as @Brave_Woman. Prizes: The prizes are in the form of gift cards and we would love for you to use…

  • Thoughtful Thursday Blog Hop! Dreaming Big for Africa

    Jessica
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:13 pm
    Malaria No More has just launched it’s newest campaign called, “Dream Big for Africa”.  Anyone who texts 85944 will donate $10 to help bring an end to malaria and will also be entered to win a trip to Africa with Smash star Katharine McPhee! Want to help? If so, please tweet, like or +1 about Malaria No More’s “Dream Big for Africa” campaign.  You can even copy the following tweet: Text 85944 to donate $10 to @MalariaNoMore and be entered to win a trip to Africa with @NBCSmash star @katharinemcphee. Time to link up!  Add your favorite post and be sure to…

  • Tips for Getting It All Done When Your Spouse is Away

    Jessica
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:23 am
    Lately it seems like there are fewer than 24 hours in a day, doesn’t it?  Our time is spread so thin and our brains are in a perpetual state of prioritizing.  We are working, parenting, exercising and organizing, cooking, cleaning, carpooling and more. Thank goodness for texting because we don’t even have time for full-length conversations anymore. When our spouse travels frequently for work, our daily responsibilities increase yet the amount of time we have does not change.  (Last I checked there are still 24 hours in a day.)  Then we must readjust when said spouse is home again. …

  • Joe Paterno: Just a Kid from Brooklyn

    Jessica
    22 Jan 2012 | 7:18 pm
    When Joe Paterno was a kid he lived in Brooklyn in a time and place when the Italians, Russians and Jews all lived seamlessly together.  He and his brother loved spending their days outside with the kids from the neighborhood. In his autobiography, Joe explains that during the Jewish Sabbath, he would go to his friends’ homes to do a favor for their mothers. He would light the ovens in their kitchens so that their dinners could be prepared quickly when the Sabbath was over. Fifteen years ago I read Joe Paterno’s autobiography as well as several biographies about him, including the one…
 
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    The Post-Divorce Chronicles

  • Divorce Stories: Super Bowl Sex

    Anonymous
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:35 am
    The last time I had sex with my Ex was on a Superbowl Sunday, just a few weeks after we’d had the final “it’s really happening” divorce talk. He’d had a drink or two and by Halftime was pretty loosey-goosey. For a big guy he had a low tolerance for alcohol. A drink or two and [...]

  • Both Parents Should Pay Child Support After Divorce

    Lee Block
    25 Jan 2012 | 5:24 am
    Not all parents are created equal, and as I’ve discussed before, you don’t need a license or even common sense to have a child, which is a pity, but both parents do make a decision to get married and both parents participate when that marriage goes south and divorce occurs and both parents should be [...]

  • Maintaining Your Health Insurance After Divorce

    Lee Block
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:09 am
    Health insurance coverage is no exception to the detrimental effects of divorce. Like joint property ownership and child custody, maintaining health plans after divorce entails legal and logistical maneuvers as well as ample preparation. So how exactly does divorce affect healthcare coverage and what options do divorcees have? How is Health Insurance Affected by Divorce? Most families [...]

  • How to Move Forward After a Divorce and Why I Love Twitter

    Lee Block
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:55 am
    I love Twitter. No really, I do. I meet the neatest peeps there and really get to connect, which is what this coaching gig is all about for me. Connecting and helping. For instance, I met this guy, @berkeslaw, and our conversation went something along these lines, well sorta… @berkeslaw Good timing on the follow (thanks), [...]

  • Divorce Stories: What I Believed

    Anonymous
    20 Jan 2012 | 5:54 am
    I was the perfect girl who married the man who was perfectly wrong for me. I was an ambitious, optimistic 23-year-old when we first met. I was high on life after one year in the big city I’d always dreamed of living in. He was 31, far older than any of the guys I had dated in [...]
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    ParentWonder.com

  • The Unknown Story Behind Michelle Obama’s Fashion Designer

    Abel Cheng
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:36 am
    In 2009, everyone was waiting in anticipation what the new First Lady would wear on the President’s inauguration night.Michelle Obama didn’t tell anyone which dress she picked until that night itself.In the end, as you might already know now, she wore a glorious white one-shoulder gown.And the designer is the then 27-year old Jason Wu (吴季刚).Merely getting your dress shortlisted by the First Lady is a far-fetched dream for many designers out there, let alone being chosen and worn.However I am not interested in Mrs Obama’s dresses, what she wears and what not.But what…

  • What I hate about Chinese New Year

    Abel Cheng
    19 Jan 2012 | 8:32 am
    Photo Credit: Paolo CameraEvery year I go back to my hometown to celebrate Chinese New Year with my folks and brothers.This year is no exception.Chinese around the globe will celebrate the first day of the lunar calendar this coming Monday, January 23.(This year 2012 is the year of the water dragon.)While I have my share of happy moments during CNY (especially when I was small), there is one thing that I can’t stand that pops up during the Spring Festival.Here it is: Many self-proclaimed Chinese asstrologists and feng shui masters appear on TV, radio, and newspaper and will predict how the…

  • Bruno Mars’ Marriage Secret

    Abel Cheng
    18 Jan 2012 | 1:24 am
    The fact is Bruno Mars is not a marriage counselor.And he is not even married.But why should you listen to him?I first heard about Bruno Mars from my teenage nephew.He caught my attention because he is an awesome singer.As I said, although this 25-year old songwriter-turned-singer from Hawaii is still single, there’s one song that can really teach us about the secret to long lasting relationships.The song in question is “Just the Way You Are”.The title explains it all.Before marriage, everything we see is rosy. Our partner is angel and you tend to overlook his or her…

  • Lick the Leek

    Abel Cheng
    15 Jan 2012 | 11:14 pm
    Photo Credit: flikrNormally it’s difficult for the kids to do something new.But sometimes it can turn out to be fun.Here’s the story:I made an aggressive change to our family diet last year and I have brought home many foods that were unheard of before the change.Anything that’s good for the body, I would introduce to the kids.One of them is leeks.At first, I was skeptical that J and K would accept it.One day I used leeks to prepare fish alongside ginger and soy bean paste.And since it was never made it to our dinner table, J asked me what leek was.I replied her with a short…

  • Mad Snail Disease Parenting Tips

    Abel Cheng
    12 Jan 2012 | 12:41 am
    Photo Credit: Joel OlivesWhile my coming to 6 years old son K is not considered a TV fanatic, he does sit in front of the idiot box sometimes.Two of his favorite programs are SpongeBob SquarePants (the yellow thing, you know?) and local production Upin & Ipin.Sometimes I watch with him.As I watch, I find SpongeBob is funny and the storyline is intriguing.No wonder it’s so darn popular.Once Bitten…In one episode, SpongeBob’s pet snail was biting anyone he bumped into. Gary was a nice guy but that day he turned into someone that’s not him.He became violent.Based on…
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    Parenting Tips For Raising Successful Kids | BetterParenting.com

  • Is My Child Really Ready to Drive?

    Chris Oldenburg
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:32 am
    There are wings on our car. Not the tangible, feather encrusted kind, but independent wings that just lifted my daughter as she drove by herself for the first time today. She took all of the driver’s training classes, passed through behind the wheel experiences with flying colors and all too-quickly passed her driving test. Suddenly it is much more than driving that worries me – I have thoughts from car-jackings to car fires to attempted abductions flitting through my mind, and I have to wonder: Did I do enough to prepare my teenager for the responsibility of driving on her own? Teenagers…

  • Teach Your Kids to Say “No!”

    Chris Oldenburg
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:17 am
    Why Refusal Skills Are So Valuable to Our Kids One of the most frustrating thing as a parent can be to hear your child tell you “No!” for various reasons, and it begins almost as soon as they can speak. We also probably wear on their nerves as we tell them “No” for so many things in life. No – you can’t cut your own hair. No – please don’t smear your banana in my hair. No – we aren’t watching that cartoon for the 29th time. Life can build as a battle of wills, with both parents and children duking it out with this one, simple word. Despite how frustrating it can be to hear…

  • 5 Tips to Manage Morning Routines

    Chris Oldenburg
    25 Jan 2012 | 1:39 pm
    Wake up, sleepyheads! Getting kids ready for the day, especially school days, can be like swimming through oatmeal – you keep plowing through, but feel like you are getting sucked back into the mess. Even though we homeschool, our oldest attends college 5 days a week and we still must have a routine in our house for mornings in order to get where we need to be and accomplish our goals. Over the years I have developed a strategy for getting everyone in the house going each morning, and it finally doesn’t just hinge on me being the lead swimmer! Morning routines are so much smoother…

  • Breastfeeding Backlash

    Chris Oldenburg
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:53 pm
    The stigmas attached to breastfeeding in industrial nations and the dangers they pose When my first child was just several months old I did what so many working women do – I stopped breastfeeding because I just didn’t feel capable of doing both. Even though I worked for a very large company, there were no policies for breastfeeding moms, no places in which to discreetly pump during the day, and no extended breaks allowed in order to feed my daughter if she was brought to the office. There were no mothers in my circle of friends and co-workers who breastfed after returning to work, if at…

  • Do You Have a Parenting Plan?

    Chris Oldenburg
    23 Jan 2012 | 3:06 am
    Would you get a job or move across the world without a plan? Probably not. There would be résumés to prepare and job hours to consider, or language barriers and cultural changes with which to deal. However, all too often parents find themselves without a plan for one of the most important jobs a person can have – raising children. From the nuts and bolts of hours needed for parenting (24/day on-call) to understanding the languages of toddlers and teenagers, parenting needs a plan – a way to reach the goals you envision for your family. Parenting is an enormous, amazing undertaking, and…
 
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    Fairly Odd Mother

  • Wordless Wednesday - Whoa, Pinterest!

    25 Jan 2012 | 6:54 am
    (my blog traffic after this post was shared on Pinterest, as of Wednesday at 7:41am): Ironically, I do not even have a Pinterest account.

  • How to fall in love with winter. . .

    22 Jan 2012 | 4:03 pm
    I have a foolproof way to fall in love with winter. Just grab three tween girls who aren't embarrassed to be seen with you. Dress warmly! Winter is cold. Find a hill, a tube, and someone who will give you a good push. Zoom! Repeat, over and over again, until you cannot feel your cheeks from cold, wind burn and smiling. Video taken at Amesbury Sports Park in Amesbury, MA. And, yes, this 44-year-old mama was the one with the camera. And the screech.

  • Musical Beds

    19 Jan 2012 | 9:42 am
    --round and round she goes/where she stops/nobody knows-- This is a picture of my comfy, king-size bed: I share this with my husband, John. Most nights. Often, nestled against me is my son, D, who sneaks in around 3am. This is D's bed, in his newly painted bedroom.  However, he doesn't sleep in this bed. My daughter Jilly has decided she likes this bed. She now sleeps here, often with our dog Star stretched out along the bottom. Where does D sleep now?    He's here, with his sister Belly, in her crowded bed.  And here is Jilly's bed.  It used to be a loft but she…

  • Destination Imagination: A journey to the unknown

    16 Jan 2012 | 7:23 am
    Have you ever heard of D.I., or Destination Imagination?  I had only heard the words in passing from an extended-family member whose kids were involved, and I didn't understand what the heck it was. Now, here it is January, and I find myself in charge of a team. And I'm still not exactly sure what the heck it is.  What I can gather from what I've read, the videos I've watched, and the day-long information seminar I attended in December, D.I. is a team competition where the adult managers are constantly warned of the dangers of "interference".  Ahhhh, interference. This is how I…

  • On the 19th day of Christmas. . .

    12 Jan 2012 | 9:28 pm
    Oh, ok, I guess this needs to come down soon. (please tell me I'm not the only one who still has their Christmas tree up) 
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    The Young Mommy Life

  • Who, Me?

    Tara
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:30 am
    For the longest time, I’ve struggled with worthiness. I used to think it was low self-esteem and maybe it is. But somehow, deep down inside, I don’t think I’ve been worthy of the “good stuff.” Of having a devoted husband. Of having great grades and multiple degrees. Of making a good salary and being with my kids as often as I’d like. Somehow, during my moments of struggle I’d think, “Well, I’ve made some mistakes in my life, so surely this crisis/situation/problem is just what I deserve.” It pained me to think highly of myself and to…

  • {Uterus Update} Do We Dare Have Another Kid?

    Tara
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:22 am
    My oldest is now 5 (wow!) and my baby is 3. Most moms admit that once the kids get out of diapers and into school, it’s tempting to think, “Maybe we should just have one more…?” There’s something about having a baby in the house. Yes, it’s exhausting and you’re doing so much laundry and so little sleeping. But it’s a magical time. I’ve been having “baby cravings” for a couple months now, and while I think it might have something to do with my daughter starting school, I think it might have to do with something else entirely:…

  • I Found The Key To Keeping Your Sanity (AKA How I Stay Organized)

    Tara
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:39 am
    Want to know what it is? Get everything out of your head, either onto paper or your electronic calendar.  Moms are notorious for this. I’m the only one in the house who seems to pay attention to what type of yogurt we eat, to how many Pull-Ups are left, to whether we can get through the winter without having to buy the kids new boots. I stay on top of all of that and my husband doesn’t worry about it, generally because he figures I’ve got it under control. As a result, sometimes things fall through the cracks. The wrong things. Oops, it’s 8 a.m. and my daughter…

  • How Did Life Get So Busy?

    Tara
    23 Jan 2012 | 1:30 am
    A couple years ago I bought myself a 2009 car. It was the first car I ever owned and I wanted it to be more reliable than the 1997 Buick I was currently driving. My favorite feature? XM Radio. But now I’m about to cancel my XM subscription because when I’m bopping my head to my favorite song of the moment, I miss out on the exchanges like this in the backseat: Ayanna: I want to be a nurse when I grow up, just like Nana. Thomas: I want to be a doctor when I grow up. I have to go to doctor college. Ayanna: You can’t go to doctor college until you are much, much taller. Like…

  • #SurvivalGuide – Creating More Bliss, Less Stress

    Tara
    20 Jan 2012 | 7:58 am
    It was wonderful to have lifestyle coach Lorraine Miller from Nourish By Nature join us for our biweekly Twitter chat! She definitely helped us figure out ways to make this motherhood gig not so stressful. Check out this chat’s best tweets! [View the story "#SurvivalGuide - Creating More Bliss, Less Stress" on Storify]
 
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    Athena Bee's

  • do you guys miss me?

    Nadja
    20 Jan 2012 | 1:57 pm
    Are you in a panic thinking "zomg what am I going to put in my crock pot this week?" and "what in the world are Zofia and Athena doing right now?"I know, I know. I'd be doing the same thing. I've been embarrassed to say but we've hurt another laptop. This time it was by Athena's hand. How can you get mad at your kid for frying a keyboard with water when you drowned a motherboard with coffee? It's in very capable hands and hopefully it will be home soon. For now I can only type out little messages on my phone. I won't be showing you what the screen of THAT looks like.

  • Super Simple Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    Nadja
    12 Jan 2012 | 9:59 am
    This soup turned out great. Everyone enjoyed it and had seconds PLUS Louis packed it for his lunch the next day. SUCCESS!32 oz carton of chicken stock2 cups water10 to 16 oz package of frozen mixed vegetables (We like LOTS of vegetables in our soup.)1lb boneless skinless chicken breast3 cups egg noodles1 tsp salt (more or less to taste)1/2 tsp black pepperPut everything except the egg noodles into the pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.Shred the chicken, add the egg noodles, and continue cooking on high for 45 minutes or until the noodles are cooked to your liking.

  • So I guess we're doing the family bed.

    Nadja
    11 Jan 2012 | 10:40 am
    Sleep has always been an issue in this house including sleeping arrangements. Louis and I both have insomnia issues and I swear the man gets up to pee 52 times a night. The constant tossing, turning, and up and down from both of us kept the other one awake. It turned into this game of musical beds, traveling all over the house just to get some sleep. When Athena was born I was so consumed with the idea that she would stop breathing in her sleep I had to have her by my side at all times. She woke up for teh milks every 2-3 hours until she was 2. This was not conducive to sleep for Louis…

  • Wordless Wednesday - Ms. Bee

    Nadja
    4 Jan 2012 | 1:21 pm

  • Back in the Saddle

    Nadja
    3 Jan 2012 | 12:43 pm
    We just had a nasty run with a stomach virus, but ladies are happily on the mend.I was vomitted on  by and held Zofia for 24 hours straight. Thank you Lord for blessing me with these huge boobs that kept her hydrated the whole time.2 vomitting kids is a 2 person job for sure. Louis' job was to man Athena. She was SO proud of herself for making it to the toilet in time and that she got to have 2 slumber parties with her dad. It's the little things that count when you're a kid I guess.My mission now is to de-cootie the house and get this AWFUL SMELL OFF OF ME!!!!!!
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    Hecho Para Mamá (Made for Mom)

  • New Year New Perspective

    Jessie
    2 Jan 2012 | 6:53 pm
    Now that a New Year has begun, I have decided to create a resolutions/goals list is in order for me to get myself back on track and seeing the bigger picture. Over the past few months I have felt like I have lost my vision and perspective of what is truly important.  I have been [...]

  • Año nuevo perspectiva nueva

    Jessie
    1 Jan 2012 | 10:26 pm
    Ahora que un nuevo año ha comenzado es tiempo de ponerme las pilas. En este año nuevo he decidido crear unas metas personales porque tengo que cambiar mi modo de ver las cosas a mi alrededor.  Es tiempo de hacer unos cambios para mejorar me vida, forma de pensar para compartir mas tiempo haciendo lo que realmente lo que [...]

  • My Social Media Goals For 2012

    Jessie
    1 Jan 2012 | 10:44 am
    With a new year comes new opportunities to do away with those regrets, wrong choices made and a second chance to rethink those moments missed out on. For me, my goals will be an extension of what I worked on last year.  Last year I what my true value was and found out who I [...]

  • On Being Latina Smart

    Jessie
    23 Dec 2011 | 7:14 am
    With exactly a week left before we bid 2011 adieu, I wanted to share the amazing experience I had as a Latina Smart Ambassador for the past few months.  After being selected to be an Ambassador, my job (along with the other Latina Smart Ambassadors) was to judge a scholarship fund that would award $25,000 [...]

  • Suave Nueva Linea Suave Professionals (Video)

    Jessie
    20 Dec 2011 | 1:49 pm
    Usando los productos Suave Professionals® Keratin Infusion™ Smoothing Shampoo, Smoothing Conditioner y Smooth & Shine Serum vea como transformo mi cabello rizado y reseco a un cabello suave, manejable y brilloso. Para obtener más información acera de los productos Suave Professional Keratin Infusion, visit www.facebook.com/bellezasuave
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    The Parenting Science News Feed

  • Jan 27, Artsy kids get depressed, kin of autistics like science

    27 Jan 2012 | 2:46 pm
    Is your artistic kid at higher risk for depression? Are kids with autistic siblings more likely to pursue a career in the natural sciences? In today's Science Notes, some thoughts on research connecting intellectual interests and psychological disorders.

  • Jan 25, Why must we cut our children's hair?

    25 Jan 2012 | 1:23 pm
    You don't have to cut the dog's hair, right? So why do we have to cut our children's hair? Some anthropological perspective on today's Science Notes.

  • Jan 23, Tiny skeptics: Babies don't trust flakes

    22 Jan 2012 | 9:01 pm
    "Innocent as a baby" we often say. But that doesn't mean that babies lack any powers of skepticism. New experimental studies suggest that babies pay attention to unreliable behavior...and are less likely to mimic adults with poor track records. Read about it on the latest Science Notes.

  • Jan 20, Teens risk brain damage and death with choking game: Why?

    20 Jan 2012 | 12:49 pm
    A new survey reports that 1 in 7 young people have cut off oxygen to their brains for the thrill of it. In today's Science Notes, read more about it, and the warning signs that your child is playing the "choking game."

  • Jan 18, When is gossip good for you?

    18 Jan 2012 | 9:33 am
    In new experiments, people who "gossiped" to warn others about a cheater showed less evidence of stress. And they were willing to pay a fee to get their message out. What are the implications? See today's Science Notes.
 
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    The Dirty Mommy Club

  • Boob Jobs & Other Renovations

    Stephanie
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:14 am
    We spent last year renovating our house.  Countless hours and dollars were spent to make our home just the way we wanted it.  A process I wasn't sure I'd survive, but the end result has been more than satisfying.  Turns out, the previous two sentences are applicable in more than one scenario. I have hot Mama friends.  Seriously. These ladies are beautiful, confident, and inspiring.  Like any woman balancing her own life with that of her family's, they need to be reminded of these things.  Three women of this particular group did a little something extra for…

  • Kissing Ass & Other Foilbles

    Stephanie
    20 Jan 2012 | 7:44 am
    As I near the end of my maternity leave, I have been working furiously on my morning routine.  Soon enough, I will have to have myself and three kids four and under up, dressed, clean, fed, and ready for the world each morning.  Throw in Dirty Daddy's shift work, and I have to fly solo everyday, half the time in stealth mode to let hubby sleep after work. A daunting task to say the least. I am feeling pretty confident about it all at this point.  For the most part, I can do it in an hour.  Which lays to rest my fear of having to wake at 4 am each day, as this seems to be…

  • Resolving

    Stephanie
    6 Jan 2012 | 1:41 pm
    I had a great big post written about resolutions for 2012.  It was really good.  You would have liked it.  But, with both the blessing of technology and the curse of it, I lost it.  For good.  Which sucks. Lucky for you I had written one for the Momcafe Network as well.  You lucky buggers.  Here you go. Cheers Dirties.

  • Elves Gone Wild

    Stephanie
    24 Dec 2011 | 12:12 pm
    We have finally joined the Elf on the Shelf extravaganza, albeit a little late in the season. Apparently our elf, Miss Holly, has been busy drinking and recording with the Elves Gone Wild crew. Of course, that's to be expected of Dirty Mommy's elf. Merry Christmas Dirties.  Wishing you a holiday season full of happiness and health.  And if you're lucky, a little dirty time too. Muah!

  • Look Out North Pole!

    Stephanie
    22 Dec 2011 | 11:30 am
    Ok, again, I'm not here.  But I am here.  And you'll want to read it.  Really.  It's about my 'discussion' with Santa. And now, for your viewing pleasure. Cheers Dirties.
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    The Zen Mom

  • 5 Super Cold Busters For The Entire Family!

    zenmom
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:20 pm
    When one of my kids seems like they have a cold coming on I try to pump up their diet with some super cold busters!   It’s that time of year where when one person gets “it” whatever... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

  • Happy Chinese New Year 2012-Tradition, Food and Family

    zenmom
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:17 am
    It isn’t necessary that you dress your kids like this for Chinese New Year, but I thought it looked cute, so if not now then when, right? I just finished a big Chinese dinner with my family (my... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

  • 2012 Horoscopes: What’s Your Sign?

    zenmom
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:14 am
    I’m a total Libra!  What does that mean?  That I love beauty, balance and I’m totally indecisive! I haven’t read my horoscope in ages, but I’ve always been intrigued by... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

  • Project Zen: Finding Stillness

    zenmom
    16 Jan 2012 | 11:53 pm
    “Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths — Etty Hillesum  I know my blog is The Zen Mom, but being zen doesn’t come naturally for me. I’d... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

  • Zen Photos: How To Jump For Joy and Tips To Get The Best Shot!

    zenmom
    13 Jan 2012 | 2:04 am
    On New Years Day I posted my family holiday photo of us jumping in Maui!   Many of you have been asking “How did you do that?”  Well, I have to say to get all four of us jumping it … Continue... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.
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    Raising Great Men- For Moms of Boys-About Raising Boys

  • Getting Your Son to Read More with Who?Comics App

    mroker
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:15 am
    Thank you to who?Comics for sponsoring this post and encouraging my child to read biographies in comic book form! Please click here to learn more about the app. And follow who? Comics on Twitter for updates!  When Clever Girls Collective emailed the opportunity to review who?Comics, I jumped on it. I was especially excited because I am always on the lookout for ways to get boys reading. I also wanted to check it out for the after school book club for boys I am starting in NYC.  Who? Comics are the real life stories that offer biographies of "10 of our…

  • Is Your Son Street Smart?

    mroker
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:21 am
    Ok, I'll admit it, I am no Free Range Mom. Maybe it's because I live in NYC but I don't let me son roam freely. As much as we teach him to be street smart, we know that there's so much you can do as a parent. According to studies on youth crime, most crimes are committed between 3-6pm weekdays. After school is prime time for teens to commit crime or be victims of crime. While I'm not trying to raise a vigilante, I want to raise my son's awareness. I'm also smart enough to know that just because we've teaching him doesn't mean he'll always follow our…
 
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    My Boss is Teething

  • Amazon Mom Changes Its Program

    Jen
    16 Jan 2012 | 12:54 pm
    Many parents have embraced Amazon’s “Amazon Mom” program since its launch.  Amazon Mom offers discounts on lots of baby products, including diapers, wipes, and baby food. In particular, parents can sign up for the ”Subscribe & Save” option, which gives them a 15% discount when they agree to continue buying the product at a particular interval (i.e. every month). I have used Amazon Mom for diapers and fruit and veggie pouches, and I’ve found the discount to be very good–often beating the best price I could find elsewhere. Unfortunately, Amazon…

  • I May be a Parent But…

    Jen
    9 Jan 2012 | 12:16 pm
    I had a very funny conversation with a friend this weekend. We both became moms around the same time, and we were catching up on our parenting adventures over the last two years. We found ourselves saying “Well, yeah, I’m a mom but…” several times. We realized that there are lots of things that other parents do (or at least stereotypes about parents) that we don’t do ourselves. For example, I swear I will never wear “mom jeans.” (Heaven forbid there ever comes a day when my normal jeans are considered “mom jeans”! Perish the thought!)  She swore that she would never get a…

  • How Do You Want Your Kids to Address Adults?

    Jen
    1 Jan 2012 | 1:49 pm
    First, I have to apologize for the hiatus. I didn’t mean to take over 2 weeks off from the blog, but the holidays came, and it just happened that way. But I’m back on track now! Second, happy New Year! I hope you all will have a wonderful 2012! Ok, now back to blogging As most of you know, I live in Virginia. While it doesn’t generally feel like “the South” to me, at times it does feel distinctly different than Pennsylvania, where I grew up. One thing that I’ve found different here is the way in which adults are introduced to children. My friends introduce me as “Miss Jen,”…

  • How Do Huggies Slip-On Diapers Work?

    Jen
    15 Dec 2011 | 11:43 am
    Has anyone tried Huggies new slip-on diapers? Though I’m still primarily using cloth diapers, I do like to use disposables once in a while when I’m feeling lazy. And since I was able to use a couple of coupons to get a pack of Huggies Slip-Ons for free, I figured I’d give them a try. They sound simple enough in theory: instead of using Velcro tabs to fasten the diaper, you can simply slip the diapers over your baby’s legs. I assumed they would work similar to pull-ups or regular underwear. But I’ve now tried to use these diapers three times to no avail. Despite being called…

  • Babysitters: What’s the Best Age and How to Start?

    Jen
    7 Dec 2011 | 8:52 am
    So far, my husband and I have been very lucky that every time we needed a babysitter, my parents would swoop in and do the job. (My son is their only grandchild, and they would move heaven and earth to be with him!) But, they live 4 hours away, so we don’t want to ask them to come down too often. Plus, we are getting the itch to go out on more spur-of-the-moment date nights, so we need to find babysitters who are local. (I know some of you are probably thinking that we are crazy to have gone 21 months without using a babysitter, but we really haven’t needed one on very many…
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    Family Matters

  • From the Life Coaching Deck: Art Fights Depression

    Ronit Baras
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:58 pm
    Gail asked for a relationship coaching session, but said she would come by herself. "My husband won't come", she said. No matter what I asked her, her answer was related to the fact her husband was depressed and was unwilling to help himself. He had lost his job years before and that had sucked the life out of him. For 5 years, he had been sucking the life out of Gail and her two wonderful boys.Having a depressed family member is not easy to handle. Most of the time, the depressed person cannot admit he or she needs help and rejects any help attempt. Those around them feel helpless and…

  • Topsy Turvy World (4)

    Gal Baras
    24 Jan 2012 | 7:46 pm
    Our world is a weird and wonderful place, but sometimes, we act in weird ways that make it not so wonderful anymore. In many situations, there is a conflict between what is good for us personally and what is good for everybody. In others, the conflict is between what is good for us right now and what will be good in the future. Without considering the implications of our actions, they sometimes make the world just a little bit less pleasant.Of course, when we do many of these things and lots of other people do them too, the decline accelerates. I often think of my kids and the kind of place I…

  • How to manage difficult people: Types of difficulties

    Ronit Baras
    22 Jan 2012 | 10:14 pm
    There are many types of difficult people. Some of them are similar and all of them try to overcome some kind of fear or use their behavior as a mechanism to fulfill a need.The first step in managing difficult people is to recognize the type of difficulty, whether it is within yourself or others.With every type listed below, write a name of one or two people that you know who are difficult for you that way. First, ask yourself, "Am I difficult that way?" and then move to other people you know. Try to find at least one person of each type before moving to the next difficulty.Types of difficult…

  • Bejeweled Sharpens Your Mind

    Ronit Baras
    19 Jan 2012 | 9:34 pm
    I am not a great fan of playing computer games, because I believe it takes children away from social interaction and from creativity. I must admit that when I was a student, I worked at the Special Education Library designing similar card games and board games and dreaming of creating something like a computer game to make things easy for me.Computer games are not a dirty word if they support the development of the player. When a child plays a puzzle on the table, their cognitive skills are stretched as much as when they play a puzzle on the computer.I remember preparing hundreds of pages…

  • Autistic Secrets Revealed

    Gal Baras
    18 Jan 2012 | 3:33 am
    Carly FleischmannIf you have ever seen an autistic child throw a tantrum, rock back and forth for a long time or remain transfixed, no matter what others say to them, you may have had a glimpse of the desperate feeling of disconnect. It is as if autism prevents the chance of any form of normal communication even between the autistic person and the people who love them the most - their parents.In this video is the amazing story of Carly Fleischmann, whose parents found out she was autistic and were told she was also so mentally disabled she would only reach the level of a 6-year-old. Carly's…
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    A Week In the Life of A Redhead

  • The Other Side of Hashimotos Disease: Your Crazy Thyroid Mind

    Catherine, the redhead mom blogger
    28 Jan 2012 | 12:58 am
    Let’s be honest. Being diagnosed with something sucks. Better yet, you get to hear it from a man who has probably seen you naked in a paper gown that makes you look like a decorated door. Your toenail paint was probably chipping and you had dry heels.  You probably felt like crap. Then you are [...]

  • Starting Over: January is Thyroid Awareness Month

    Catherine, the redhead mom blogger
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:38 pm
    Hi. My name is Catherine and I have Hashimotos disease. I think this is where you say, “Hello Catherine.” I used to be afraid to say that I have Hasimotos disease online, afraid that companies wouldn’t hire me or take me seriously if they knew that I have “Hahimotos.”  What’s that?  A Japanese boyfriend? Nothing [...]

  • Some Redheads Are Liars

    Catherine, the redhead mom blogger
    4 Aug 2011 | 9:07 pm
    On the 8 Women Dream website it reads, “Catherine’s dream is to be a motivator and published writer. She is testing her theories on motivation with this blog and the seven other women who have volunteered to be a part of her dream project. Catherine also writes about her life as a mom at the [...]

  • Mom Spotlight: Amy Kay Hoal and Yoursphere Kids Social Network

    Catherine, the redhead mom blogger
    30 Jun 2011 | 3:55 pm
    When kids go online … where’s mom? Mary Kay Hoal is a nationally recognized expert in children’s online safety. She is a married mother of five children ranging in age from 7 to 20 years old. Mary Kay is an accomplished global media professional who took it upon herself to leave a successful career and [...]

  • Parenting Never Really Changes From Generation to Generation

    Catherine, the redhead mom blogger
    2 Jan 2011 | 8:58 am
    My dad to my mom in 1972: “Mike needs to get his hair cut! Look – you can’t even see his ears!” My brother back: “I like it this way – just let me have my hair the way I want it!” My dad: “Well, it’s too damn long!” Fast forward to 2011 . . [...]
 
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    Parenting Today Tips

  • The Zen of Parenting; Mission & Passion

    Rodney Davis
    14 Jan 2012 | 7:18 pm
    Once they're lined up... Stop it with the annual New-Year’s resolutions already! Do you want to be that 60-year-old still trying to run around chasing what she started at age 25? I DO! Latching on to a bigger-than-life mission is sexy! Some things are worth chasing for an entire lifetime.  But unless your plans are bearing fruit, setting and resetting them every year should be telling you something is missing. A couple days ago, a highly respected retired career educator came to me for the story about the explosion of parenting education on the island.  That session inspired…

  • 6 ShockingThings Your Teen’s School Counselor Won’t Tell You

    Rodney Davis
    18 Dec 2011 | 1:59 pm
    Why would a Counselor keep your child's secret? Don’t parents have a right to know what’s going on with their own children? So what’s all this stuff about confidentiality? Why do Counselors sometimes behave as if parents don’t have that right? It’s enough to piss anyone off, right? Umm… not so fast. Do you want me to sugar-coat it?  Or do you want me to shoot straight… like my granny used to say, “in plain English and bad manners if you have to”. OK I thought you’d say that. Parents everywhere love their kids. Truth be known, I…

  • 11 Discipline Mistakes

    Rodney Davis
    2 Dec 2011 | 11:10 am
    We can probably think of a hundred discipline mistakes. But that is for another post. Remember our little story from 11 Discipline Mistakes? Wrong or conflicting goals The school administrator made the common mistake of confusing discipline with punishment. The goal of discipline is to instruct or teach… period! The goal of punishment is often to try and teach a lesson by forcing them to experience emotional or physical pain. But there is an error in this kind of thinking.Think of the last time someone made you feel pain.The first thing you thought was, “OK let me think deeply…

  • The Great Punishment Hoax—Using Logical Consequences

    Rodney Davis
    18 Nov 2011 | 11:00 am
    I DON’T recommend logical consequences. It’s simply not the most effective way to engage children. Too often there is only a very thin line between a logical consequence and a punishment. If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know by now how I feel about punishment for ANY reason. Using it to discipline is even worse. In fact, disciplining by punishing is an oxymoron.. unless: your definition of discipline is to seek revenge, to hurt, or to alienate your child you are trying to avoid having any long-term influence on your child Strong words, I know.  But discipline and…

  • 11 Discipline Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making

    Rodney Davis
    11 Nov 2011 | 6:46 pm
    Even if you have a lot of confidence in your parenting skills, you’ve wondered if what you’re doing is the very best for your child. Haven’t you? All good parents have wondered that same thing. I have a true story to tell. It’s a school story, but any parent can pick up some powerful lessons from finding the mistakes being made in the story. You see, in a school, the purpose of discipline is to teach as well—perhaps even more so than in the home. There was a group of children who were in the habit of skipping classes on a regular basis.  Sometimes they even skipped school for the…
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    Help for Parents - Mindful Mum - News Feed

  • Virtual maternity unit wins award

    Mindful Mum
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:32 am
    by Louise-Anne Geddes, Mindful Mum, 27th January 2012 The project was developed by Jenny Bailey, a midwife teacher at the University in partnership with Colleen McCants and Fay Cross in the Information Services department.  It was designed to provide an ‘additional and innovative’ training tool for student midwives, to allow them to ‘practice their management of care and communication skills in a virtual environment’. ‘Real life’ practice The simulated process uses avatars to allow students to ‘role play’ through scenarios they may not encounter during clinical practice.  It…

  • Double trouble? Coping with newborn multiples

    Mindful Mum
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:24 am
    Coping with one newborn can be hard enough but how do you manage two, three or even more? It really does help to be organised if you are expecting multiples, a few strategies can make all the difference between feeling out of control and having a handle on things. Colour code your babies Invest in a whiteboard Have a plan Make it easy for people to help Colour code your babies Crazy as it may sound it does help to give each baby a colour. If your multiples are identical you can tie a short piece of braid or ribbon round their ankle or wrist to avoid any confusion. Even if the babies look…

  • ‘Inner speech’ may help autistic children

    Louise-Anne Geddes
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:53 am
    by Louise-Anne Geddes, Mindful Mum, 26th January 2012 The research by Durham University, Bristol University and City University London has been published in Development and Psychopathology journal.  Dr Williams’ research was funded by a City University London Research Fellowship. Research study and findings 15 high-functioning adults with ASD and 16 comparison participants took part in the study, and were asked to complete a task called ‘The Tower of London’ task which measures their planning ability.  Five coloured disks that can be arranged on three individual pegs are provided,…

  • How to spot a food allergy or intolerance

    Mindful Mum
    26 Jan 2012 | 8:43 am
    Food allergies and intolerances are widely self-diagnosed without the use of a doctor or allergy testing. This can lead to entire food groups being avoided without the actual intolerance or allergy itself addressed. There are key differences between intolerances and allergies. What is a food allergy Symptoms of a food allergy What is a food intolerance Symptoms of a food intolerance How to diagnose an allergy or intolerance How to cope with a child with a food allergy or intolerance What is a food allergy? A food allergy occurs when the body reacts against harmless proteins found in some…

  • Olympics organizers review baby ticket policy

    Mindful Mum
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am
    by Louise-Anne Geddes, Mindful Mum, 25th January 2012 The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) faced backlash from parents, many of whom described the situation as ‘ridiculous’, who found that they would require to purchase a ticket for babies in arms – even if they weren’t conceived at the time of purchasing their own tickets. U-turn Before today’s promised review, parents were told they could ‘try’ to purchase additional tickets for their babies for the events.  However, tickets for many events were at premium prices, or only had a few of…
 
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    We Got Kidz!

  • How to Cook Asparagus

    Kesha of We Got Kidz
    27 Jan 2012 | 7:15 pm
    An Asparagus Recipe For People Who Hate Asparagus I’ve mentioned before that the significant other and I are hardcore meat and potato people. We don’t like very many green vegetables, but we know we have to eat them. (Got to set a good example for the kiddies.) I tend to alternate between two veggies: asparagus and brussel sprouts. Now before you cringe, know that because I make these veggies so often, I’ve perfected recipes that even your picky kid will love. See below, and thank me later. Oven Roasted Asparagus With Garlic Prep time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 asparagus…

  • “You Said No. The Lie Dector Test Said… That Was A Lie”

    Kesha of We Got Kidz
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    A Woman’s Theory On Why Women Let Men Cheat   Given that I’m home each day with the kids, we’ve developed sort of a routine when it comes to our television viewing. First comes The Cosby Show – two episodes, then we watch The Price Is Right. Then – I’m ashamed to say this – we watch Maury Povich. If you’re not familiar with this quality television program, it’s a day time TV talk show. I use the word “talk” very loosely. Most of the show consists of women screaming about how they know that their boyfriend or husband has…

  • Video of the Week ❤ Isley Brothers Cover… Between the Sh*ts? Doesn’t Matter… This Girl Can Sang!

    Kesha of We Got Kidz
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    This video was shared with me by a friend on Facebook. This little girl has some serious chops and proves it while singing her rendition of Between the Sheets by the Isley Brothers. The cutest thing is how she pronounces “sheets”. She’s Asian and has a heavy accent, so I’m sure you can only imagine how “sheets” comes out when she sings. lol… Outside of that, this girl can sing!    

  • Top 10 Celebrity Couples Who Make Their Relationships Work

    Kesha of We Got Kidz
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    With all of these celebrities filing for separations and divorces, (Seal and Heidi? Who’da thunk it?) – and the upcoming Valentine’s holiday (or Singles Awareness Day depending on who you ask) I decided to dedicate this week’s celebrity news segment to the celebrity couples who have figured out how to make their relationships work. These couples seem to actually value marriage and hold their partners in the highest regard. For being true examples of lasting love… we salute you:   Although some of their relationship rules are unconventional, this couple has…

  • Umm …. Inapproriate Much?

    Rox Fontaine
    24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    by Rox Fontaine Last week a friend of ours had some of her friends visiting from Japan. She and my wife coordinated a dinner outing and I agreed to tag along. It actually worked out perfectly because I was buying a new camera from a guy who had listed it on Craigslist. Since we were having dinner at a restaurant in Grand Central Station, I would be able to meet him there to make the exchange. Perfectly convenient for both of us. We arrived at the restaurant and everything is totally “normal.” There were 8 of us in total. My wife, son and I, our friend and her daughter, and the two…
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    Life With 4 Boys

  • 16 Week Surrogacy Update!

    Kathleen
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:12 am
    Wow, where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we transferred two little embryos and now there is one strong healthy little surrobean that is 16 weeks along today! The baby is healthy as can be and I am so thrilled for my IF's. Things have been a little rough in early months and I seem to go from one illness to the next, but I am starting to get back to my old self again now and

  • Has Common Courtesy Been Replaced By The Me Generation?

    Kathleen
    17 Jan 2012 | 5:27 am
    I am currently at Disney World with my four boys for a week. I trip that always brings plenty of laughter, smiles and magic. However, this year it has also brought along something else, a general lack of common courtesy. It has been so noticeable on this trip, that I felt the need to write this post at 6AM as I wait for the boys to get up and ready for another day of fun. Do people not have

  • My Top 25 Resolutions for the New Year - Monday Mojo

    Kathleen
    3 Jan 2012 | 11:08 am
    Yes, I am aware it is the 3rd of January and I am also aware that it is no longer Monday. The boys go back to school on Thursday. Trust me, I know exactly what day it is. However, I have been a little slow on the roll lately, so my Monday Mojo post is going up on Tuesday and if you have not had a chance to join in, you can keep linking up with Eclectic Six Media all week long! Without further

  • Being Prepared for the Unexpected

    Kathleen
    31 Dec 2011 | 10:00 pm
    Living in Florida, we have had our fair share of hurricane warnings. Other states face tornado warnings, earthquakes, floods, the possibility for disaster is everywhere. It is easy to be unprepared when it strikes. It is simple to get in the habit of thinking everything is safe and cozy, but at any moment, your whole world could be flipped upside down. I for one am guilty of not having a secret

  • Extend Your Holiday Cheer at Universal Studios

    Kathleen
    28 Dec 2011 | 10:22 am
    Sad because the excitement of the holidays is over? Well now you don't have to be! Extend your holiday cheer with a trip to Universal Studios and ring in the new year with tons of fun holiday activities for the whole family to enjoy. From a song filled rendition of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to the jaw dropping full sized floats in the Macy's Holiday Parade, there is plenty of holiday fun
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    Confessions of a Baltimore Housewife

  • One Bill Less

    16 Jan 2012 | 8:50 am
    I'm so happy to give you an update on the No Debt Challenge I set forth for my family and I. As of the end of the year, we had eliminated a credit card bill that has plagued us for years. The day I sent the final payment off, I felt a huge weight lifted. And now we're one bill less. This year, the goal is to pay off the car, which means we'll have no more loans but our mortgage outstanding. And speaking of mortgage, that's one of the next beasts to tackle...but all in good time. Once the car is paid off, the funds that were funneled into those payments be redirected into savings and other…

  • New Year's Goals

    30 Dec 2011 | 11:01 am
    I don't make resolutions anymore...they never stick. Instead, I've started making New Year's Goals. This way I have an entire year to complete them, rather than having to change the way I operate all in one day. So my goals for 2012 are as follows: Eliminate the car loan Double the amount of money in our emergency fund Establish and max out IRAs for both my husband and myself Take a vacation See, no mention of exercising or not cussing...we need to be realistic here! Happy new year! **This just in** The Girl has her own goals for 2012. She wants to learn how to Knit Tie a bow Snap louder, and…

  • Project for Kids: Masquerade Mask

    29 Dec 2011 | 11:30 am
    Inspired by The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2, The Girl and I created this masquerade mask using old cardboard boxes, stick-on jewels and holiday packaging. I didn't use a pattern, but drew the shape of the mask freehand, then used an x-acto knife to cut away the eye holes. The box we used was already pink (thanks, Barbie!), but you could glue fancy paper or fabric to the front, draw cool designs, or even hot glue some neat beads to the front to make it extra fancy. The Girl in her masquerade mask.

  • 3 Steps to Clean Oven Glass

    28 Dec 2011 | 2:30 pm
    I recently did the self-clean function on my oven, but it left the glass on my oven door looking dull and still dirty. I'm sure I'm not the only person out there with a grimy oven since we're at the tail end of the holiday cooking season. Thankfully, I found a great cleaning tip through Pinterest that uses just plain old baking soda and water to clean the oven door with no real effort. My oven door: BEFORE. The glass seems to be perpetually dirty. You don't need harsh chemicals, loads of money, elbow grease, or even loads of time to clean your oven. What you'll need: 1/4 cup Baking soda 1-2…

  • The Value of Handmade

    18 Dec 2011 | 12:06 pm
    Let's get this straight: just because something was handmade, does not make it cheap, devalued or less thoughtful. We've become a society that doesn't appreciate hard work. We want instant gratification and for some reason, many believe that true feelings can only be expressed through Hallmark or factory-made items. Case in point-- I was invited to participate in an ornament exchange recently. I didn't want my ornament to look like all the others (stamped with "Made in China" on the bottom), so I made a cute bird ornament out of fabric and beads. This is the bird ornament I made for the…
 
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    Three Ring Mom

  • UPDATED: The Break In

    Chelsie
    16 Jan 2012 | 11:45 pm
    It’s something you never think will happen to you. Your entire life has been spent in a cocoon of privilege, in a land of minivans and green soccer fields and semi-suburban tranquility. You’ve never known honest to God, piss your … Continue reading →

  • Five Things You Thought You Knew About Moms Who Blog (but are completely false)

    Chelsie
    10 Jan 2012 | 10:28 pm
    I’m a mom. I’m also a blogger. But I’m not really a mommy blogger. A quick peek at my archives would lead a lot of people to think that I’m full of shit, just like the time your elementary math … Continue reading →

  • Dear Three Year-Old

    Chelsie
    6 Jan 2012 | 11:46 am
    Happy birthday! Around this time in 2009, my body was forcibly evicting your from the only home you had ever known, and you weren’t happy about it. (I don’t blame you, though. You had it good in there, what with … Continue reading →

  • The Naked Man

    Chelsie
    5 Jan 2012 | 1:24 pm
    I don’t know how mornings go in your house, but around here we have a little routine. When the childling wakes up at an ungodly hour that I dare not speak aloud, he bellows one of three things that are … Continue reading →

  • 2011 in review: Part 2

    Chelsie
    3 Jan 2012 | 7:37 pm
    Hitting publish on Part 1 of the other day’s post made me realize that if I’m going to stick to my resolution of writing more this year, I certainly want didn’t want to start 2012 by throwing up a cut … Continue reading →
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    Parent esource

  • How to Use Social Media to Get Closer to Your Teen

    Amy Kelly
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:31 am
    The holidays are drawing to a close, and now your teenager is devoting time and energy to new electronic devices. It seems like she’s tweeting, facebooking her day away, and you only see the side of her head as she’s walking away texting. How do you get a word in edgewise through all of this technological chatter? Social media doesn’t have to be the enemy pushing you out of your teen’s life. Here are a few tips for becoming more involved in your technology connected teen’s life. Subscribing on Facebook: According to the Pew Internet and Resource American Life…

  • Drunkorexia: A New Threat

    Amy Kelly
    12 Jan 2012 | 9:58 am
    Drunkorexia is a new trend, taking binge drinking to the next dangerous level. Drunken anorexia, also unofficially known as “drunkorexia” is the act of skipping meals in order to have more calories for alcohol. Another form is when teens decide to eat while drinking too much, to make vomiting more likely, and again  consuming less calories. According to researchers at the University of Missouri, there are triple the number of females to males, who binge drink without eating in order to lose weight and spend less money on drinking. Why do teens do this?: According to the Century Council…

  • Special Offer on the bestselling book ‘You Shut Up!’ and its sequel ‘Shush, You!

    Eva-Maria
    16 Dec 2011 | 1:24 pm
    What if… you could go from this: to this: in 5 minutes a day? The family season is upon us! …so give yourself, or your close ones the ultimate tool to help get through the rocky conflicts within families between parents and teens during the holiday season! Because happy parents do well, while grumpy parents…are not fun at all! Bestselling book ‘You Shut Up!’ & its sequel ‘Shush, You!’ are available at a special Christmas price for friends, relatives and co-workers who have, or may soon have teenagers in their life, but make sure you’re in…

  • So Your Teen Now has a Drivers License—Now What?

    Allison
    2 Dec 2011 | 12:27 pm
    Once you hand over the keys you’re giving your teens a whole lot of responsibility regarding their time and how they choose to spend it. If you teach your teens the importance of routines, schedules and being on time as soon as they begin driving (if not before), you will teach them critical life skills that will prove invaluable in all aspects of life. Here are three tips for you to share with your teens on how to best manage their time: 1)      Take into account how long it will take to get from one place to another, as well as other factors such as time of day, traffic and parking.

  • Financially Speaking – October Edition

    Eric D. Brotman, CFP®, AEP®, MSFS
    26 Oct 2011 | 2:21 pm
    Every fall, high school seniors face multi-tasking overload – handling their studies and extra-curricular activities while visiting, selecting, and applying to a handful of colleges.  Even more daunting is the task for families preparing to pay for tuition, room and board, books, and other living expenses for the college-bound freshmen when they go off to school. Every parent and grandparent has different feelings and biases about how their child should pay for school, often from their own experiences.  Some believe that kids should have “skin in the game” and should pay for their own…
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    Very Involved Parents (VIP)

  • 5 Good Habits To Instill In Your Child

    Very Involved Parents
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:31 am
    They say a person’s childhood will hold a huge impact on to their future and it’s a fact. There are plenty of influences from everywhere and parents should be quick in getting your children picking up the good habits. Responsibility is the most basic habit that a child should be instilled with from the beginning. This would be able to teach your child that everything they do, there are consequences to it and they should learn from the mistakes to be a better person. How do you even get them to be responsible in anyway if you wonder? Let them start off by making small decisions and as…

  • Nurturing Your Child’s Potential

    Very Involved Parents
    19 Jan 2012 | 7:56 pm
    Every child shines through their own potential and each of them are special in their own ways. As parents don’t rush or stress yourself about your child’s development as you would only detain them. Instead, let your children lead the way by following their interests and help them only when they desire. How do you nurture your child’s potential? Simple, by casually leaving your child around things for them to pick up or discard according to their own preferences and this includes everything in your child’s life that could spark his interests. Its fine to pinpoint items that you think…

  • Finding Your Child’s Strength

    Very Involved Parents
    17 Jan 2012 | 2:48 pm
    To discover your child’s strength, it has to be a process of self-reflection on their own. As parents, you are there as their guidance in developing their positive and creative thoughts. This will help your children to decide on their true passions in life later. There are things that you should do and shouldn’t do too. The most important one is to treat every child of yours as a unique individual different from their other siblings and appreciate them for who they are and want to be. Never try to compare them to any other kids or even their own siblings as this would only lower down…

  • Teach Your Kids To Resolve Conflicts

    Very Involved Parents
    15 Jan 2012 | 3:04 am
    Conflicts can be simple or complicated and they are always around in our daily life. Teaching your kids how to resolve conflicts should be part and parcel of your upbringing in your children. It’s important for your kids to know that everyone is different from each other and they each have their own preference which are the differences that builds the conflict. You should let your kids know that they don’t have to be worry but instead they should be appreciating their uniqueness as well as other’s too. Explain to them that when they are resolving conflicts, they should ensure the…

  • Catch Your Child Being Good

    Very Involved Parents
    11 Jan 2012 | 11:29 pm
    Most parents usually focus on the bad times and paying attention to their kids doing the wrong things most of the time which isn’t healthy. Its time to keep the balance and start catching your child being good as well! Kids love attention and are always needing the assurance that they are being loved and appreciated by their parents as well as friends. That’s why no matter how busy you may be, take some time off and acknowledge your child especially when they are behaving well. It doesn’t have to be of any fancy rewards but simple gestures like hugs, smiles and pats or even a tickle is…
 
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    Our Modern Family

  • The Art of Playing Dead

    probrien1
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:11 pm
    In nature, animals are forced to play dead when they are in the midst of a predator in order to protect themselves from becoming the meal du jour.  It is simply a matter of survival.  When sharing a hotel room with a 20-month old child, the same principle comes to play. Now it may not be a [...]

  • Parenting 102: Self Esteem vs. The Neuron Factor

    probrien1
    17 Jan 2012 | 4:47 pm
    Life is filled with proud moments and disappointments.  I guess it is what you make of these moments that will create the lessons that are learned. It was a highlight for my parents when I was ceremoniously inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.  Maybe not quite as brag worthy was the fact that my [...]

  • Viva La France

    probrien1
    12 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pm
    Many people know that our adventure into parenthood started with an email from a friend asking if we would be interested in hosting an exchange student from France.  We thought it was just about crazy enough to be fun and about two weeks later we instantly became parents to a teenager. It was an exciting [...]

  • Chapter 6: Instructions For Life

    probrien1
    8 Jan 2012 | 4:17 pm
    As an ode to the New Year, our friend George recently posted a link to the Dalai Lama’s 20 Ways to Get Good Karma.  As we enter a brand new year, I thought it offered a good road map for things I would like to accomplish in 2012. The 20 ways all offer great bits [...]

  • The Holiday Wrap Up

    probrien1
    3 Jan 2012 | 3:55 pm
    So the Christmas and New Years festivities are now officially over and we are looking forward to another exciting year in 2012.  Besides being called on to assist the man from the North Pole and save Christmas we had a lot of fun over the break. We spent Christmas Day at my family’s house.  Nolin [...]
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    Hope Coaching with Ronae Jull

  • When the Bough Breaks: Hope for wounded families

    RJ
    22 Jan 2012 | 2:20 pm
    rj Despite parents’ very best intentions, often what gets passed on to the next generation comes mindlessly from parents who are carrying their own unhealed wounds. How can you give your child the gift of encouragement when you were never encouraged? How can you share hope with your teen when you struggle to hold onto it yourself? How can you discipline your own children with respect when the discipline you received left you defensive, confused, and heartbroken? What can you do when your energy is used up trying to control the ache in your heart? …When the bough breaks, the cradle…

  • I Have a Dream

    RJ
    15 Jan 2012 | 11:51 am
    Two years after I was born, Martin Luther King delivered his famous speech  at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. that has become one of the most inspiring and quoted speeches of all time. As I write and speak and work with families facing sometimes overwhelming challenges with their children, I am reminded often of the dreams inspired by this one man who found a way to give HOPE to millions. I too have a dream. I dream of families working together to find solutions, healing from past mistakes and failures, and finding the best in each other. I understand that parenting is tough! I…

  • LIVE Radio Monday 1-9-12: Co-Parenting Success in the New Year

    RJ
    8 Jan 2012 | 1:39 pm
    Its a New Year, and a great time to re-evaluate your parenting strategies. If you’re co-parenting teens, you have a marvelous opportunity to practice mindful, involved, and emotionally available parenting. The challenge is in how to move from theory to practice!  I’ll be addressing how to do that on LIVE radio, Monday January 9, 2012, 1pm PST on the Dr. Carol Show. Here’s what we’ll be covering during the show. Shared-parenting Resolutions that will transform your parenting (and your own emotional life!) The messages your teen is desperate to hear from you Beyond the…

  • For Teens’ Sake: Beyond Parenting Plans

    RJ
    8 Jan 2012 | 1:20 pm
    Jan Josef Horemans (I) (1682–1759) Fifty percent of US marriages end in divorce, and more than 60% of teenagers today do not believe that lifelong love is possible. Whether your marriage ended amicably or with high drama, your teens deserve your best parenting beyond court dates, visitation rights, and child support schedules. How to actually provide that best parenting can be an enormous struggle, especially when you’re dealing with your own emotional woundedness. For your teen’s sake, take a moment to explore ways to effectively parent your teenager beyond the words hammered…

  • Debunking the Myth of Persistent Parenting

    RJ
    6 Jan 2012 | 12:29 am
    Its an incredibly powerful myth, the one that says, All you need to be an effective parent is persistence. Just like in the movie Finding Nemo you hum “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming” as you repeat yourself over and over to a teenager who has completely tuned you out. When frustration threatens to overwhelm any good sense you have left, you console yourself with the reminder that you are, in fact, being a persistent parent. You won’t give up no matter what. You will continue to dish out your advice and better judgement because you’re a good mom, a good dad. And…
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    MoxieBird

  • Multitasking Isn’t Good For Kids’ Social Development

    kdiddy
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm
    On Wednesday, Stanford University published a study that found that tween girls who spend a significant amount of time interacting with people via video chat services like FaceTime or Skype display social problems. This are a few reasons for this. People who use video chat services are more likely to multitask while they’re using them [...]

  • Ditched Your New Year’s Resolution? Worry Not

    Lexa
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:30 am
    Allow me to assuage your guilt, dear readers.

  • Seems Legit: Oklahoma Senator Proposes Bill To Outlaw Aborted Fetuses In Food

    Jive Turkey
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
    Bear with me, Internet. You’re really not going to believe this one. Although you might have some fun getting there. Uh, so, there’s this Senator? In Oklahoma? Who just introduced a bill that would prohibit “the sale or manufacture of food or products which contain aborted human fetuses,” even though no such practice exists. Because [...]

  • ‘If I Die’ Facebook App: Can We Please Hide It From Stupid Teenagers?

    Molly
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:30 am
    The new “If I Die” Facebook app wrestles with that age-old question:  if you didn’t wake up tomorrow, whom would you have neglected to annoy? Perhaps you’ve been in a near-miss with a car blowing through an intersection.  Or you’ve just missed stepping onto a speedboat that bursts into flame.  Or you just saw Nicky Minaj’s [...]

  • Pinterest: The 10 Weirdest Things I’ve Found

    Joe
    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
    What do you think?  Are you into Pinterest?  Find anything weirder than these?  Pin it up in our comments section below!  
 
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    Sweet Memoirs

  • Cherry Blossom

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:32 am
    Photo taken at Sentosa Flowers: Enchanted SpringA cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry,Prunus serrulata, which is sometimes called sakura after the Japanese (桜 or 櫻; さくら). Many of the varieties that have been cultivated for ornamental use do not produce fruit. Edible cherries generally come from cultivars of the related species Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus. In Japan, cherry blossoms also symbolize clouds due to their nature of blooming en masse,…

  • Paradise Inn (Bedok Point)

    26 Jan 2012 | 7:59 pm
    We held Gian's baptism celebration dinner at Paradise Inn, Bedok Point branch last December.We booked 2 big tables for 20 people and chose the ones near the window with a view of a raintree.Hubby and my mom entertained the guests on the first table. It is where hubby's colleague and his wife were seated and so is my cousin and her hubby.Seated on table 2 were my college friends with Dr Peter Flores. I regretted not inviting more coz some of the guests were only able to attend the ceremony. We ended up with a couple of chairs unoccupied. We selected Set Menu H and started with double…

  • Fun Outdoor Games for Kids

    26 Jan 2012 | 6:55 pm
    Kids these days are so used to playing with electronic gadgets like Nintendo Wii, PSP, iPhone and iPad which can affect their brain and behavior. In this computer age, we often forget the importance of playing outdoors. It is a lot more fun, refreshing and relaxing. I am listing my daughter's favourite outdoor games with her dad. I do play with her too but i get tired too easily. I can't keep up with her hyper-activeness, i'm getting old. Lol! The following photos were taken during our Christmas Staycation at City Beach Resort. 1) Scissors, paper, stone ~ Game mechanics…

  • Baby Gian's Development Month by Month

    24 Jan 2012 | 11:45 pm
    23rd August 2011End of Month 1*He smiles a lot while sleeping, very angelic sleep grins.*Arms and legs are still curled most of the time, resembling fetal position.*Has very sensitive sense of hearing, he gets startled upon hearing loud sounds.*Occasionally lifts his head for short periods of time.*Makes jerky, arm movements. His paediatrician call it superman reflex. :)*Has strong startle reflex, expected to disappear by 3 months.* He turn towards familiar voices.We talked/sung to him a lot when he was still inside the womb.23rd September 2011End of Month 2*He started to…

  • Sentosa Flowers 2012: Enchanted Spring

    23 Jan 2012 | 10:38 am
    The water dragon.This years Sentosa Flowers' theme is Enchanted Spring. Family photo opp with the water dragon.We went on its second day and we were not disappointed.Exactly 6 months after giving birth, wearing no make-up. The crowd is overwhelming. As usual, we had to Q-up for photo opps. Might as well i take advantage. Haha!Kyla wearing matipid na smile. Misalyn of Al Ain City Daily Photo was right, this place looks like Al Ain Paradise.I love my baby girl's smile here. It was my mom's first time to witness the festival and she loved it. Haha! That was pretty heavy huh! It took us…
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    ParentsDesk

  • So you’re planning on nursing? 6 things you’re going to want to know

    Lisa Sylvester
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:36 pm
    When I was pregnant I took a class on nursing, but a lot of what they covered in the class didn’t really sink in, until after my baby was born. I ended up nursing both of my children more than a year.  Two things I will say: When breastfeeding clicks and is done right, it is a wonderful, amazing bonding experience. That I wouldn’t trade for the world.  When it’s done wrong, it can hurt like the dickens. Whether you choose to breastfeed or not is a personal choice.  But if you choose, yes, then read on…. I sat down with Maryland lactation consultant Sandy Resnick and  childhood…

  • What’s on the menu?

    Lisa Sylvester
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:10 pm
    What would you rather eat? (be honest) Whole-wheat pasta with meat sauce,   Whole-wheat roll,  Green beans, Broccoli and cauliflower  Low fat milk OR Hot dog on a bun, Canned pears, Raw celery and carrots, Low fat chocolate milk Okay next question, which of the two meals would your kids rather have for lunch? Hmmm…. That’s what’s on the table for discussion. The US Department of Agriculture announced new rules for school meals. What’s in:  more fresh fruits and veggies, baked fish nuggets, whole-wheat pasta, whole-wheat pizza, low fat milk What’s out:  cheese pizza, low fat…

  • State of the Parent

    Lisa Sylvester
    24 Jan 2012 | 10:55 pm
    The President of the United States delivers his State of the Union address every January.   It’s a time to report back to the American people the progresses that have been made and the challenges ahead.  So in this spirit I humbly offer my own State of Parent address Ladies and Gentleman, Parents and Grandparents and Fellow Americans. I would like to begin by congratulating all of the parents who welcomed babies in the last year.   When I look upon my own family, I see a 17-month old who has grown from a spitting-up, pooping newborn to a bright toddler, walking and talking and…

  • 6 Ways to Raise a Responsible Child

    Lisa Sylvester
    23 Jan 2012 | 10:42 pm
    I grew up in a single parent home, the youngest of three.  My siblings and I had a lot of responsibilities placed on us at a young age.     Our mother worked multiple jobs.  So getting dressed, getting homework done, feeding ourselves breakfast was something that naturally fell on us. But with my own kids, it’s different.  We have more resources.  And sometimes I find myself wanting to do more for them (maybe because of my childhood.) But I have wondered how do I instill responsibility in my own children? When I heard about a free parenting seminar called “Raising Responsible…

  • Can you trademark your baby’s name?

    Lisa Sylvester
    19 Jan 2012 | 9:08 pm
    So you love your new baby’s unique name. You didn’t go with with John, Jackson or Jeb, but instead opted for something more colorful like Carter Seven… Brez Uno or Smith Yellow. Maybe in the back of your mind you think, “My kid could be a superstar one day.” Naturally you may want to protect his or her name. Can you trademark your baby’s name? I started thinking about this question after a New York designer caused a stir this week when he tried to trademark a name nearly identical to Jay-Z and Beyonce’s daughter Blu Ivy Carter. (His version Blue Ivy…
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