Parenting

• Most Topular Stories

• Keeping Kids Safe at Your Pool This Summer

  Loving Your Child

  Priya Florence Shah

  24 May 2013 | 2:05 am

  As summer approaches, so too does pool season. If you have a pool in your backyard, it’s time to dust off those pool rules and reaffirm them with your kids. Safety is paramount to enjoying hot summer days splashing in cool, refreshing water. It’s also a good time to help your children understand how to balance responsibility with fun. Limited Access Presumably you have a lockable and child-safe fence around your pool. The first rule of the pool: if the fence is locked, it’s off limits. You, or another responsible adult, should be opening the fence and allowing swimming to…

• How TV Affects Your Toddler or Preschooler’s Sleep

  Baby Sleep Help | Toddler Sleep Help | Custom Sleep Help - The Baby Sleep Site

  Emily DeJeu

  21 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.babysleepsite.com/feed/ Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

• Bored Kids? Help Them Find a New Hobby Through Tutoring

  Earnest Parenting

  Amy LeForge

  23 May 2013 | 12:07 pm

  Your kids can be human tornadoes: they run all over the house, jump on the bed, squeal, don’t listen to you, and fling food and other toy objects everywhere. This can leave your house in ruins, but it can also shatter any sort of patience you once had. If the human tornado is a daily occurrence in your household, it’s likely that your kids are facing boredom. Or, maybe the first thing your kids do when they wake up is ask what they get to do today and start whining about being bored. No doubt that this is frustrating, but with a little creativity and maybe even a little probing, there are…

• Learning by practice

  Essential Questions

  Graham Scharf

  6 Apr 2012 | 7:59 pm

  When my daughter wants to be able to do something, I ask her, "How do you become good at something?" She's heard the question enough times now to know the answer: practice, if you want to be able to ride a bike, or play the piano, or read fluently - or anything - you must practice. We often think of practice in terms of particular skills, like playing soccer or handwriting, but it really applies to anything we do. As we practice, we train ourselves to do something in a particular way, which may be good, bad, or indifferent.Take the habit of conversation for example. We learn habits of…

• Parenting and Parental Involvement

  Parenting at More4kids

  More4kids

  17 May 2013 | 8:15 pm

  By Julie Baumgardner, MS, CFLE In a recent discussion with a group of parents about parent involvement, one of the group members said, “Define parent involvement.” As different parents gave their definition, it was clear that parental involvement means different things to different people. “Being a homeroom mother.” “Helping children with their homework.” “Being home when they arrive home from school.” “Helping coach their sports team.” Thinking back to your own childhood, what were the most meaningful ways your parents connected with you? What does it mean to be an…

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  Parenting at More4kids

• Memorial Day: Ways To Help Kids Honor Our Troops

  More4kids

  23 May 2013 | 11:50 pm

  Many Veterans will be away from their Families this Memorial Day. Lets not forget any of them, past or present. For many of use, Memorial Day comes and goes, we have a barbecue, shop a few sales, and enjoy the beginning of summer, while forgetting the importance of this holiday. Memorial Day was created as a day to remember fallen troops and to honor troops serving today. The last thing we want to teach our children is to take freedom and the death of American patriots for granted. This year why not take this day and spend it with your family, honoring our troops. If you are not sure what you…

• Oklahoma City Tragedy: Natural Disasters and Kids

  Kevin

  23 May 2013 | 7:52 pm

  by Dr. Sue Cornbluth Another unexpected tragedy.  Another devastating Loss. Yesterday, Oklahoma City suffered one of the worst tornado's the country has seen. CNN reported that The vicious tornado that ripped across central Oklahoma on Monday killed at least 51 people — with about 40 more bodies expected to arrive at the Oklahoma state medical examiner's office, Amy Elliott of the coroner's office said Tuesday. Roughly half of the expected bodies are children. The official death toll will gradually rise from 51 as each of the bodies is processed, Elliott said. Despite…

• Parenting: What kind of parent are you – an encourager or an intimidator?

  Kevin

  19 May 2013 | 4:59 pm

  What kind of parent are you – an encourager or an intimidator? The encourager stresses working towards a certain goal. The intimidator stresses winning. For this kind of parent, “It’s the results that count… not the effort, not the intentions.”  What type of parenting style do you lean towards? Or are you a bit of both? Naturally, the one encouraged first is happy about the praises heaped on him or her. But when you give him or her the opposite, the reactions would be: disbelief, anger…and later, self-doubt. Somehow, all those discouraging comments get to you. That exercise made…

• Parenting and Parental Involvement

  More4kids

  17 May 2013 | 8:15 pm

  By Julie Baumgardner, MS, CFLE In a recent discussion with a group of parents about parent involvement, one of the group members said, “Define parent involvement.” As different parents gave their definition, it was clear that parental involvement means different things to different people. “Being a homeroom mother.” “Helping children with their homework.” “Being home when they arrive home from school.” “Helping coach their sports team.” Thinking back to your own childhood, what were the most meaningful ways your parents connected with you? What does it mean to be an…

• Parenting a Tweener: A Survival Guide

  More4kids

  14 May 2013 | 7:57 pm

  Children go through various stages and each presents its own set of challenges. Tweeners, though, are a stage that will cause many parents, teachers and adults in general, no matter how streetwise or tough, to flinch. That stage between the ages of about 10 and 14 (middle school age) can cause parents to question their sanity at times. Many a parent of tweeners knows well the mantra, "13 only lasts a year." But in the next breath the child that was pushing all their parent's buttons turns into a sweet, loving angel. Parenting is stressful, regardless of the child's age,…

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  BabyCenter Blog

• Boy Scouts vote to allow gay youth, ban gay leaders

  Carolyn Robertson

  24 May 2013 | 1:07 pm

  by Carolyn Robertson posted in Mom Stories In a groundbreaking and already controversial decision, the Boys Scouts of America voted yesterday to open its doors to gay youth - though the organization will maintain its longstanding ban on homosexual leaders. Coming on the heels of much debate over the issue, the vote proved to be... Read... Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading the BabyCenter Blog.

• Ask Laurie: "Will I love my second child as much as my first?"

  Laurie Gelman

  24 May 2013 | 12:17 pm

  by Laurie Gelman posted in Tips & Tricks Dear Laurie, I’m pregnant with my 2nd daughter and terrified! What is it like going from one to two kids? Is it harder to go from 0 to 1 or 1 to 2? My girls will be 21 months apart. My 1st is 18-months old right now... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading the BabyCenter Blog.

• Neanderthal tooth offers clues about breastfeeding

  Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.

  24 May 2013 | 12:05 pm

  by Gwen Dewar, Ph.D. posted in Mom Stories A new study of teeth suggests that a Neanderthal baby was breastfed exclusively for 7 months and completely weaned at around 14 months of age. How did researchers figure this out? And what does it tell us about what’s natural or normal for modern babies? Some people... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading the BabyCenter Blog.

• January Jones was "excited" to raise son alone

  Sara McGinnis

  24 May 2013 | 11:26 am

  by Sara McGinnis posted in Celebrities January Jones is notoriously tight-lipped about the identity of her son's father. However, in explaining why she keeps her private life so closely guarded, the actress revealed to Net-a-Porter that she planned to be a single mom all along. Speaking about refusing to reveal who 20-month-old son Xander's... Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading the BabyCenter Blog.

• Pregnancy must: Advice from other moms

  Katherine Martin

  24 May 2013 | 11:24 am

  by Katherine Martin posted in Mom Stories I remember being pregnant for the first time. It was like I wandered into this strange world where every single thing was new. From confusing tests to weird symptoms, I had no idea what to expect and no idea who to ask. The BabyCenter Community has long been... Read more » Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading the BabyCenter Blog.

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  Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines

• Illinois judge charged with heroin, gun possession

  24 May 2013 | 1:09 pm

  Michael Cook, wearing cutoff shorts and a "Bad is my middle name" T-shirt, pleads not guilty.

• Four girls killed in a civil rights-era church bombing honored

  24 May 2013 | 12:52 pm

  President Obama signs a law giving the highest civilian honor for the victims of the 1963 attack.

• Train engineer noted 'unusual condition' before Connecticut wreck

  24 May 2013 | 12:34 pm

  A joint bar, used to hold two sections of rail together, was repaired last month.

• UK-bound Pakistan plane diverted, two men arrested

  24 May 2013 | 12:28 pm

  Britain scrambled fighter jets, but the incident does not appear to be terror-related.

• ‘Heavy but grateful heart’ on Memorial Day

  24 May 2013 | 11:55 am

  Friends and family remember those who gave all to serve their nation.

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  MedPage Today Pediatrics

• Lab Notes: Doubt Cast on Alzheimer's Tx

  24 May 2013 | 1:38 pm

  (MedPage Today) -- Four groups said they could not replicate last year's electrifying finding that a cancer drug cleared beta amyloid plaques from the brains of mice. Also this week: nanoparticles as a next-gen flu vaccine.

• Diabetes Drug Aids Weight Loss in Nondiabetics

  24 May 2013 | 10:32 am

  (MedPage Today) -- The GLP-1 analog liraglutide (Victoza) prompts weight loss in nondiabetic patients as well as in those with diabetes, according to top-line results from the drugmaker.

• CDC: Teen Births at Record Lows

  24 May 2013 | 9:00 am

  (MedPage Today) -- The teen birth rate in the U.S. has fallen to a record low level, and recent declines have been steepest among Hispanic teenagers, the Centers for Disease Control said Thursday.

• Mom's Smoking Holds Diabetes Risk for Pregnant Daughters (CME/CE)

  24 May 2013 | 8:10 am

  (MedPage Today) -- Women whose mothers smoked at least moderately while pregnant were more likely to develop gestational diabetes and obesity in adulthood, researchers found.

• Schools Need to Get Kids Moving, IOM Says

  23 May 2013 | 3:09 pm

  WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Physical activity should be incorporated into all school-related policy decisions to ensure children have at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, a government body recommended.

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  Daddy Types

• Convos With My 2 Year Old

  greg

  24 May 2013 | 9:23 am

  Here is the debut of Matthew Clarke's short series, "Convos With My 2 Year Old." Clarke plays himself. The part of Coco The 2YO is played by a scruffy dude. [YouTube via gawker and tastefullyoffensive]...

• OG Vinyl: 1971 Ford LTD Country Squire

  greg

  24 May 2013 | 8:27 am

  Keeping with the luscious woodgrain theme here on Daddy Types, check out this total stunner of a station wagon, a 1971 Ford LTD Country Squire with a mere 60,000 miles. It's being sold by GR Auto Gallery in Grand...

• Gnarly Vintage Burl Kids Chair

  greg

  23 May 2013 | 8:54 pm

  For all you Napa redwood cabin-in-the-forest dwellers who already have wacked out kid chairs carved from a single piece of walnut burl, my apologies, feel free to skip this post. For the rest of you, HOLY SMOKES WHAT IS...

• From The Woodshop: Two Sweet, Custom High Chairs

  greg

  23 May 2013 | 8:17 pm

  You might see one custom high chair from a master woodworker come up at auction, but you hardly ever see two. Rago Arts has these two rather amazing pieces in their upcoming 20th century design sale next month. First...

• Car Seat In Porsche: There Is No Substitute

  greg

  23 May 2013 | 7:23 am

  This dad's story of racing his Porsche 911 proves there is no substitute...for love:When the first two-syllable word he spoke was "Por-sha," I wasn't surprised. He plays with miniature GT3s and Turbos now, steers them around tracks of his own...

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  Essential Questions

• Will online children's programs improve quality?

  Graham Scharf

  4 May 2013 | 11:33 am

  *This post is provided by Bluefire PR. What do the Jersey shore and octuplets have in common? They both helped to spawn vapid reality TV. From entire families talking trash season after season to aging rock stars who become parents, television has changed. Even programs geared towards a younger generation fail to offer any redeeming educational or social value. It is much more fun to watch a sponge making friends than to learn about diversity and the alphabet. Parents are scrambling to find entertainment for their kids that is void of inappropriate and violent content. The answer…

• 3 Questions to Ask Your Children During a Crisis

  Graham Scharf

  28 Nov 2012 | 7:02 am

  This is a guest post from Adrienne May, a featured writer for Military Spouse Central, to help all families navigate times of crisis.Whether or not Superstorm Sandy blew through your area, you still should find a way to explain the stormy situation to your kids. This skill can be broadly applied to any crisis situation you and your kids may come in contact with – whether it’s a personal loss within your family, a natural disaster hitting your neighborhood or a crisis in a far-off country your kids may not be able to locate on a map. In order to address these situations, start by asking…

• Why does parenting matter more than school in education?

  Graham Scharf

  13 Oct 2012 | 12:59 pm

  Parents MatterA recent nationally representative study published in the Research in Social Stratification and Mobility journal presents an important finding: parenting matters more than school in students' academic achievements. In fact, The Telegraph reports that this "study of 10,000 teenagers has found the home environment is three times more important than the school, when it comes to 18-year-olds' test results."Why Parents MatterFor parents, the implications are clear. Schools matter, and parents matter even more. Parents direct, encourage, and challenge their children. In the language…

• Fathering in Community

  Graham Scharf

  17 Jun 2012 | 1:58 pm

  NetworkingAlmost anywhere you go you find networks of mothers. They form reading groups, play groups, and support groups. And they truly support one another. Why? Because parents need support. We need one another for wisdom, encouragement, correction and all manner of practical help. Not long ago, I was reading the manuscript for Keith Zafren's forthcoming book on fathering. In those pages it occurred to me that what is common and helpful among mothers is just as critical among fathers. For fathers, networking often means building relationships that are related to vocation and civic…

• Learning by practice

  Graham Scharf

  6 Apr 2012 | 7:59 pm

  When my daughter wants to be able to do something, I ask her, "How do you become good at something?" She's heard the question enough times now to know the answer: practice, if you want to be able to ride a bike, or play the piano, or read fluently - or anything - you must practice. We often think of practice in terms of particular skills, like playing soccer or handwriting, but it really applies to anything we do. As we practice, we train ourselves to do something in a particular way, which may be good, bad, or indifferent.Take the habit of conversation for example. We learn habits of…

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  Raising Happiness

• Failure Makes You a Winner

  Greater Good

  20 May 2013 | 12:56 am

  “The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph, but whether he can overcome obstacles.”—Garth Stein What quality does the Buddha share with Luke Skywalker and Joan of Arc? What links Harriet Tubman with Harry Potter? It has nothing to do with enlightenment or magic. It has to do with struggle. These heroes share a key quality: GRIT.  There has been some discussion in the media recently about grit, but many people, especially parents, have been asking me what the term actually means. I think the best way to describe grit is by starting with Joseph Campbell and his…

• Video: Dealing with Entitled Kids

  Greater Good

  13 May 2013 | 1:00 am

  Do your kids suffer from the “abundance paradox’? Do they feel entitled to having it all? Notice: Are they more likely to feel disappointed when they don’t get what they want than they are to feel grateful when they do? This short video is about the relationship between entitlement and gratitude. © 2013 Christine Carter, Ph.D. Like this post? We hope you’ll become a fan of Raising Happiness on Facebook, or sign up for the Raising Happiness monthly newsletter.

• My Love-Hate Relationship with Mother’s Day

  Greater Good

  7 May 2013 | 12:02 am

  I hate to admit this, but I’ve come to feel entitled to breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day (complete with gifts and a clean kitchen afterwards), a family hike (no whining, everyone remembers their water bottles and packs their own snack, remembering one for me), and a little downtime with a good book before dinner. But truth be told, I rarely get all, if any, of these Mother’s Day treats. I know this shouldn’t surprise me, and it shouldn’t irritate me… but it kinda does, or it has in the past. It’s a horrible confession for someone like me to make, but I’m rarely as cranky…

• Video: Why Your Happiness Matters

  Greater Good

  30 Apr 2013 | 1:00 am

  Since my book Raising Happiness was published, I’ve met so many unhappy parents I’ve come to believe there might just be an epidemic of unhappiness in them—especially in the parents of young children. While there probably isn’t an epidemic of depression in parents, I’m pretty sure there IS an epidemic of busyness. Do this little thought experiment with me: imagine that you have some free time—a whole afternoon to yourself. Do you take that time to take a nap and read a good book? To work? To play with a friend? Do you catch up on the laundry, and then take…

• April Raising Happiness Newsletter: Happy, Successful, & Kind

  Greater Good

  29 Apr 2013 | 1:00 am

  Like most parents, I want both happiness and success for my kids, and one more thing as well: I want my kids to be KIND. The more I read about the science of kindness, the more convinced I am that helping others is the very foundation of both happiness and success. So this post pulls together some of my postings about how to raise kids who are kind—as well as happy and successful. Read Five Ways to Raise Kind Children Research shows that kindness is a sure route to greater happiness and, in some cases, improved health. How to Raise a Hero How we can make it more likely we raise heroes…

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  GoFatherhood®

• Disaster Relief: The Red Cross and the Okies

  Dave Taylor

  20 May 2013 | 11:24 pm

  Some days I look around me at the Rocky Mountains, the creeks and streams, the rolling green hills, the big sky and fantastical cloud formations and really feel grateful that I can live in such a beautiful area. Boulder, Colorado, surely one of the prettiest towns in one of the most majestic states in the USA. But it’s not just here that’s pretty, it’s our planet. Really, if you take a deep breath, slow down and think about it for a minute or two, Earth is a pretty astonishing place, an extraordinary planet that offers stunning vistas, amazing sunsets, beautiful terrain and…

• Nutrisystem Week Fourteen: Shrinking Dad Indeed

  Dave Taylor

  20 May 2013 | 6:33 am

  I started out at 268 pounds at the beginning of February. Today, May 20, I’m at 243 pounds. That’s a loss of 25 pounds. In fourteen weeks. Calculate that out and, on average, I’ve lost 1.8 pounds/week. Booyah! Those of you who are paying attention to my weight journey here on my blog will recall that my goal for my four months on Nutrisystem was to be “around 240 pounds”. Well, with two weeks left to go I’m sure getting close. In fact, as you can see from my Withings reading this week, I’m at 243.1 which means it’s not much of a step to get down…

• Family Happiness, The Fortune Cookie Edition

  Dave Taylor

  14 May 2013 | 12:08 pm

  I’m participating in a fun little competition that my pal Pedro Veloso’s company Limetree is running, a competition where you are asked to “Post 140 character about family happiness on your blog”. As Samuel Clemens is reputed to have said, “ I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” That rather applies here: it’s easier for me to natter on for a few hundred words about what family and happiness means to me, but in 140 characters? That’s, like, a tweet, man. Then again, I think I can handle it, having sent…

• Has Princess Merida Just Grown Up?

  Dave Taylor

  14 May 2013 | 8:08 am

  Disney unveiled the newest of the Disney Princesses, Princess Merida from the Academy Award winning animated film Brave, and as part of translating her from screen to full merchandise character they tweaked her appearance a bit, as you can see in the image below: Princess Merida, Before and After First off, you can see that the style of illustration is different, Merida from the original film looks almost like claymation or some other stop motion animation figure (especially in the rounded face) while the more traditional hand-drawn illustration on the right — the “new…

• Week Thirteen: Weights and Measurements

  Dave Taylor

  12 May 2013 | 7:33 am

  First off, the good news: I weigh in at just barely under 246 — 245.9 pounds — against last week, when I was at 247. Starting weight of this four month adventure, as I detailed back in February, was 268 so that’s more than 22 pounds I’ve lost. Go to the store and pick up a 22pound turkey. That’s a lotta excess weight! I have found that my whole approach to eating and food has changed for the better, but, to be completely honest, I haven’t become the World’s Healthiest Eater. Probably an unrealistic expectation, but seeking to continue traveling down…

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  Susan Heim on Parenting

• Tip Hero’s Father’s Day Giveaway Event: Enter to Win a $100 Home Depot Gift Card!

  23 May 2013 | 9:01 pm

  Welcome to the Father’s Day Giveaway Event sponsored by Tip Hero, featuring some wonderful bloggers. With Father's Day just around the corner, a giveaway is a great way to recognize all of the dads out there and to give someone the chance to win a great “dad-ly” prize.One lucky winner will be the recipient of a $100 Home Depot gift card to help get your favorite dad the perfect gift this Father’s Day! I know that my hubby would LOVE to open up this gift on his special day. This giveaway begins on May 24th and will run until June 7th at 11:59pm US Eastern time. It will be open to…

• Father's Day Blu-Ray Giveaway: "The Oranges" Starring Hugh Laurie!

  23 May 2013 | 8:47 am

  Father’s Day will soon be here. Let’s celebrate with a Blu-ray giveaway of The Oranges! FilmBook, a Movie Website, is sponsoring this giveaway.About this film (from Amazon): Fresh-squeezed laughs and sexy fun sweeten this critically-acclaimed comedy with an all-star cast, including Leighton Meester, Hugh Laurie, Oliver Platt and Catherine Keener. What does it take to be truly happy? Two suburban families are about to find out when the Ostroffs’ rebellious daughter Nina (Meester) returns home and starts an adulterous affair with long-time family friend David Walling (Laurie.) The…

• Watch the New #BetOnYourBaby Show, Play the Blog App, and Enter to Win Luvs Diapers!

  22 May 2013 | 7:17 pm

  If you love babies and game shows, you’re going to love Bet on Your Baby, a new TV show arriving on Saturdays at 8/7c on ABC, in partnership with Luvs!As a parent, you probably think you know your baby well, but are you willing to bet on it? Bet on Your Baby is a new show where parents play fun games with their toddlers and try to “bet” on what baby will do next! If they guess correctly, the family wins $5,000 in college tuition money, and the chance to play for $50,000! These heartwarming and hilarious games are played in a toy-filled room called the Baby Dome. Can you predict what…

• Get a Visa Prepaid Card with Your Purchase During the Cooper Tires Spring Savings Event! #springsavings

  22 May 2013 | 4:00 pm

  This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooper Tires for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. Just this morning, my husband mentioned that we need new tires for our car! Needless to say, this isn’t an expense that we look forward to. Fortunately, I just heard about the Cooper Tire Spring Savings Event that’s currently going on until June 30, 2013! When you purchase a new set of four qualifying Cooper tires through participating dealers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, you’ll be eligible to receive up to an $80 Visa® prepaid card!

• Bloggers, Join Tip Hero's Father's Day Giveaway Event!

  22 May 2013 | 8:12 am

  Tip Hero’s Father’s Day Giveaway EventSign-ups are now open for this great new giveaway event!Event is free to join with an announcement post. If you don't wish to post the announcement, please send the $5 non-post fee to tiphero@gmail.comYou'll receive 1 free link for participating (either Twitter or Pinterest)Additional links (RSS/Email, YouTube, Twitter and Pinterest) are available for $5 eachSign-ups for this event close on May 22thEvent runs from May 24th - June 7thPrize: $100 Home Depot gift cardPlease send all payments to tiphero@gmail.com as a "gift" via PayPal.Sign up for this…

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  THE FATHER LIFE

• I have to run how many miles to burn off this burger?

  Ben Murphy

  2 May 2013 | 9:21 pm

  You may have noticed that more restaurant menus lately include the number of calories next to each item. That’s a good trend, but unless you’ve painstakingly tracked your calories intake and exercise before (and most people haven‘t), than those numbers might not be terribly useful. A group of researchers in Texas recently published a simple, but fascinating study where they took this concept an important step further. They studied how people’s eating habits changed when they were provided with different types of information. They split their subjects into three groups: the first group…

• What’s on YOUR Mind?

  Bruce Sallan

  1 May 2013 | 9:04 pm

  Needless to say, my title is a shameless pitch for comments but, of course, I’m going to share what’s on my mind first. You’re welcome to add anything on yours, please. It’s now two weeks since The Boston Explosion aka The Boston Bombings and I think we’re getting over the initial shock. I am still reeling from the details that my son shared about what happened to him that morning, which I’ll share in a moment. I like to vary my columns and every now and then just share random thoughts. Plus we all like lists and after doing 25 such lists for 12Most.com, I’ve gotten into the…

• Two Common Questions on Death and Divorce that Need to GO!

  Bruce Sallan

  25 Apr 2013 | 8:59 pm

  When I was young, my mother would often take offense when someone would ask her, upon seeing me with my mom, “is he your only one?” She was always polite but given that she’d lost two other children, it was one of those questions that hurt, though the person asking had no idea. Simple questions about death, divorce, and our family make-up may seem innocent, but are they really? There are two other sayings and/or questions – on death and divorce – that, depending on the situation belong on the trash-heap! 1.    How old was the person when he or she died? 2.    Well, at…

• A TV Your Child Can Enjoy

  The Editors of The Father Life

  25 Apr 2013 | 8:46 pm

  Today’s media landscape it monstrous, literally there are terrifying programs that are just not appropriate for children. Luckily, there are more ways than ever before to keep your children safe from questionable material. Get the control that is required to maintain the standards you desire. Now it is possible to manage the programming that is shown on your home televisions without worrying about the types of content your kids are watching alone or with friends in their room. If in the house you are in charge of monitoring the children’s media diet, read on because this article…

• Practice What Your Preach

  Ben Murphy

  18 Apr 2013 | 9:07 pm

  One of the most important jobs we have as parents is to push our kids and help them begin to see just how much they‘re capable of. Sometimes, our children aren‘t always aware of how great they can be without a little encouragement. There’s not a whole lot more rewarding as a parent than helping your child unlock that “Aha!“ spark of self-confidence where they begin to fully realize that they can and should dream and pursue big, audacious goals – and that they‘re capable of them. Nowadays, kids really do seem to be bombarded by parents telling them, “You can do it!” Or,…

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  Parent Hacks

• Reading + links for your weekend

  Asha Dornfest

  24 May 2013 | 12:51 pm

  It has been an odd week around here. I've been in a low-level funk ever since returning from Mom 2.0 Summit, which makes no sense. Frankly, it pisses me off because really, why? (Especially in light of the happenings in Oklahoma, it feels pretty spoiled. Donating to the Red Cross helped.) It finally dawned on me that transitions (even good ones) usually break my stride. This week, my husband, Rael, started a fantastic new job at charity: water and celebrated turning 45 by pledging his birthday to clean drinking water programs. I've talked about charity: water before, when…

• Minimizing "reentry" stress when a parent travels for work

  Asha Dornfest

  22 May 2013 | 7:11 am

  Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net My husband, Rael, and I both travel for work. His is the more “official” business travel given his more formal work setup; every six weeks or so, he spends a week in the office (he’s telecommuted from home to jobs based in other cities ever since we moved to Portland 12 years ago). He sometimes attends conferences and professional meetups as well. Since I started Parent Hacks in 2005, I’ve also had the opportunity to travel for work. Most often, my travel amounts to a few days spent at a social media conference twice a year. But during…

• Free movie "rental" through your local library

  Asha Dornfest

  21 May 2013 | 11:27 am

  In our ongoing quest to reduce our monthly subscription expenses, we cancelled Netflix. It just wasn't pulling its weight given that we're Amazon Prime members and get free movies and TV shows via Amazon's Instant Video streaming. But every now and then we want to rent a particular movie and we miss having an ongoing DVD queue. We're fine paying the rental fee for a big-splash recent hit, but when we want to watch an older movie it's painful to pay as much for 24-hour access as we would buying the used DVD. Solution: the local library! Our county library has an…

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  Earnest Parenting

• Bored Kids? Help Them Find a New Hobby Through Tutoring

  Amy LeForge

  23 May 2013 | 12:07 pm

  Your kids can be human tornadoes: they run all over the house, jump on the bed, squeal, don’t listen to you, and fling food and other toy objects everywhere. This can leave your house in ruins, but it can also shatter any sort of patience you once had. If the human tornado is a daily occurrence in your household, it’s likely that your kids are facing boredom. Or, maybe the first thing your kids do when they wake up is ask what they get to do today and start whining about being bored. No doubt that this is frustrating, but with a little creativity and maybe even a little probing, there are…

• Disney Costume Ideas for Girls and Boys

  Amy LeForge

  22 May 2013 | 10:09 pm

  Is there anything cuter than an excited child running around the house dressed up like his or her favorite hero? Kids love costumes, and since you are reading this article, you are probably one of the parents who knows this for a fact. But, when the very much anticipated costume party happens, you might experience a little bit of panic… No worries, in the following text you will be able to find loads of Disney-themed costume ideas. With Disney, you cannot go wrong, right? 5 Costume Ideas for Boys Aladdin – Let your kid be the king of Arabian nights by dressing him up in baggy white pants,…

• Felini the Flea Encourages Kids With Disabilities to be Heroes

  Amy LeForge

  22 May 2013 | 1:09 pm

  I got to read a terrific new book recently, called Felini the Flea by Bruno Rossi. This is a heartwarming tale of courage that will delight both parents and children alike. Felini the Flea features the remarkable drawings of award-winning Illustrator, Lizette Duvenage and centers around Felini Rizzo, a one-legged flea. The Rizzos, a close-knit and talented family of fleas, live in Fleatown, an idyllic community nestled in the mangy fur of Buford, the world’s laziest dog. Aldo and Bina Rizzo are the proprietors of the Rizzo Flea Circus, where they, along with their daughters, perform…

• Building a Better Student: Front Row

  Amy LeForge

  21 May 2013 | 1:58 pm

  One of the hats I wear is that of public speaker, which means I’m often looking back at a sea of faces in a crowded room. In the past week alone I’ve been on stage twice, sharing insights and laughs with a few hundred people. It’s interesting to watch people file into an auditorium or assembly hall and choose their seats. The front half of a room is often sparsely populated, while the seats in the back fill up quickly. Few people automatically move toward the front, and nobody, it seems, ever wants to sit right on the front row. Which is odd, because if I was Jon Bon Jovi there would be…

• Stop Letting Your Budget Manage You

  Amy LeForge

  20 May 2013 | 1:37 pm

  Does your financial situation make you feel like you’re constantly underwater? A 2013 study by Allstate Insurance found that 4 out of every 10 Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and trying to afford the essentials for their family on less money than they need. But that underwater feeling doesn’t always come entirely from the amount on your pay stub. It usually comes from the fact that you don’t have a moment to catch your breath, assess your family budget, and think about making changes that could benefit everyone. Creating a family budget that will actually work for…

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  Radical Parenting

• Secrets of Body Language

  Vanessa Van Petten

  10 May 2013 | 8:44 am

  Many of our readers have been asking me to post more in depth about how to read their teen’s body language. And I have finally answered the demand! I also know for our visual learners that videos are much more helpful in this regard. So I have made the Secrets of Body Language video course for you! [...]

• Today Show Tomorrow, 4.18

  Vanessa Van Petten

  17 Apr 2013 | 5:06 pm

  Hi! Be sure to tune in tomorrow to the Today Show at around 8:15am for a segment I will be doing on Promposals–the new teen trend of asking people to Prom via YouTube and other such grand technology gestures. Be sure to tune in! Best, Vanessa

• Gen Z: Technology and Media Habits

  Vanessa Van Petten

  25 Mar 2013 | 8:03 am

  When Wikia surveyed 1200 users ages 13 to 18, they had no idea what they were going to find out about Gen Z technology habits. Gen Zers make up approximately 9.5% of our population. They are males and females aged 13 to 18 and have grown up on technology. So their usage patterns are different [...]

• NEW Book: Human Lie Detection and Body Language 101

  Vanessa Van Petten

  14 Mar 2013 | 7:51 am

  Get Our Latest Book! I have been working on helping parents with nonverbal skills and body language with teens, I finally have finished the guide to lie detection that is really relevant to anyone–parent, teen, teacher, counselor. If you have ever interacted with another person and want to understand body language I hope this book [...]

• Helping Kids Balance “Fun” Internet with “Work” Internet Time

  Vanessa Van Petten

  13 Mar 2013 | 9:58 am

  We all know the drill. Come home from school, sports, music, or dance, and what warmly awaits you is homework. I, and most of the teenagers of this era, have grown up surrounded by the internet. Whether “surfing the web” or researching for a project, the internet is an integral part of our lives; both [...]

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  Tipps, Tricks, Leben: fastblogger Blog

• Der perfekte Koffer: Worauf beim Kauf achten?

  admin

  7 May 2013 | 11:21 am

  Ratgeber zum Reisekoffer kaufen: Trolley, der bessere Koffer Vor einem Urlaub steht jeder auf kurz oder lang vor dem Thema Koffer. An dieser Stelle möchte ich euch ein paar Kriterien vorstellen, mit denen Ihr den für euch den perfekten Koffer finden könnt, wie ich diesen mit dem Stratic Sun Trolley gefunden habe. Zum Anfang möchte [...]

• Paul Breitner – eine Kurz-Biografie

  admin

  2 May 2013 | 4:15 am

  Jetzt, nachdem das historische Traumfinale in der Champions League zwischen dem FC Bayern München und Borussia Dortmund im Wembley-Stadion feststeht, treten auch viele Nostalgiker auf den Platz, die versuchen, dieses noch nie dagewesene Ereignis mit ähnlichen Spielen in der Fußballgeschichte zu vergleichen – doch hier wird die Suche vergeblich sein, denn ein deutsch-deutsches Finale in [...]

• Kuffler California Kitchen: Bewertung, Empfehlung & Erfahrung

  admin

  13 Apr 2013 | 11:08 am

  Restaurantkritik zum Restaurant Kuffler California Kitchen in München: Amerikanisch kalifornische Küche mit einem Hauch von Eckart Witzigmann essen Kaum hatte ich die Bewertung für das Mangostin Restaurant geschrieben, sah ich zufällig, dass Testesser für das Kuffler California Kitchen, kurz KCK, gesucht werden. Die Kurzfassung: Beworben, Los gezogen worden und nichts wie hin. Der Name Kuffler [...]

• Mangostin Restaurant München: Bewertung, Empfehlung & Erfahrung

  admin

  7 Apr 2013 | 1:46 pm

  Restaurantkritik zum Gourmet Restaurant Mangostin in München: Lecker asiatisch essen Seit Jahren kenne ich das Restaurant Mangostin in der Nähe vom Tierpark Hellabrunn schon und war dort auch schon des öfteren dort über die Jahre asiatisch Essen. Eine Bewertung hatte ich schlichtweg noch nie geschrieben und dies ist nun auch schon mein zweiter Anlauf für [...]

• Schlittenhunderennen: Bilder und Video vom Hundeschlittenrennen in Wallgau

  admin

  3 Mar 2013 | 3:26 pm

  Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Alaskan Husky, Grönland Hund und andere Hunde laufen um die Wette Am 03.03.2013 sind wir mit Nachbarn und der Familie zum 24. Internationalen Schlittenhunderennen in Wallgau aufgeschlagen, das am 02.03 und 03.03. dort veranstaltet wurde. Wallgau liegt unweit von Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Das Wetter ist herrlich gewesen. Es müssen so 6 Grad plus [...]

• 

  The World's Stage

• Technology’s Impact on Intelligence

  Leland

  24 May 2013 | 11:19 am

  There is no doubt that smartphones have altered the landscape of how we communicate and complete tasks in our daily lives. Now, many experts are now wondering if smartphones have done more than simply change our behavior by actually changing our brains. There has been an increasing number of research studies and literature published on the topic of technology and its effects on attention, memory, and intelligence. Books with bleak titles liked “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains” and “Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age”…

• The Bluth’s Are Back!

  Allison

  20 May 2013 | 11:14 am

  This Sunday, May 26 at midnight will mark the long awaited, and much celebrated, return of Arrested Development’s fourth season on Netflix. Lucky for us, the original cast of Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, David Cross, Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jeffrey Tambor, and Jessica Walter, are all back as the main characters we grew to love. Many guest stars will be returning as well, including Mae Whitman, Judy Greer, Liza Minnelli and Carl Weather. The new season will consist of 15 episodes that each focus on a specific character. As we wait in anticipation for the…

• Hot Fashion Trends for Summer 2013

  Allison

  14 May 2013 | 2:01 pm

  The weather is heating up, and so are the must-have trends for summer 2013. If you’re looking in your closet with dismay at the shortage of fashionable things to wear, this list will give you a quick overview of what you should try on and wear out. No need to spend lots of money of a new wardrobe, as many of the hottest trends this year include classic colors and new takes on old pieces. Geometrics/patterns- Triangles, polka dots, florals, tribal patterns… the bolder, the better. Mix things up by wearing two different patterns in complementary colors at once. Adding…

• Last Minute Mothers Day Gift Ideas

  Mikalah

  12 May 2013 | 6:18 am

  Mother’s day is today, and of course you haven’t forgotten that fact, but you may have been a bit busy and lost track of what to get your dearest mother for her day, or what she may need or want this year. There’s no need to fear, as we’ve listed five great last minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day that all mothers will love. Breakfast in Bed Yes it could be the definition of corny, but who honestly doesn’t like having breakfast made and served to them in bed? If you want to ham it up a bit, make the pancakes into heart shapes and pick a few flowers or dandelions to put in a…

• Reasons To See The Great Gatsby

  Leland

  10 May 2013 | 1:34 pm

  “Can’t repeat the past?…Why of course you can!” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby Today marks the opening of the long awaited movie remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby. The book was adapted for the big screen once before, in 1974, starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, but the 2013 version is sure to be unique. The film remains true to its original plot, but the actual visuals and mix-posh movie score give The Great Gatsby a new one-of-a-kind twist. For film critics attached to traditional depictions, there will likely be outcry about how…

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  Free Range Kids

• How to Start Free-Ranging! (With Help from “Ask Amy”)

  lskenazy

  24 May 2013 | 5:45 am

  Hi Readers — I give you today’s “Ask Amy” column titled, “Kids, Like Chicken, Should Be Free-Range.” THANK YOU, AMY! Read her sage advice and then take the Free-Range Kids Challenge of the Weekend: Dear Amy:My wife and I think it might be a good idea to let our 10-year-old son explore the city in which we live. What do you think of this? Is it even legal? If it is, how far can he stray? — Daring Dad Dear Dad:It depends on where you live. When you ask how far your son can stray, the answer is, he can stray very, very far. Many 10-year-olds and their…

• Why Kids SHOULD “Stick a Needle in Their Eye” — at Least Metaphorically

  lskenazy

  23 May 2013 | 10:18 am

  Readers — This is a letter I got from Chris Byrne, who is always deep and wise about childhood. He was responding to the post about a new, less “scary” rhyme kids have picked up from My Little Pony. Instead of  the age-old “Cross my heart and hope to die/Stick a needle in my eye,” they’ve learned, “Cross my heart and hope to fly/Stick a cupcake in my eye.” – L.  Dear Free-Range Kids: Like so many things (“Ring Around the Rosie” being related to the Black Death), these were the ways children played with fear. “Cross My…

• “If the Sex Offender List Saves One Child…”

  lskenazy

  22 May 2013 | 10:54 am

  Folks, this guest post addresses a sentiment that really disturbs me — the “one child” idea that is used to justify everything from not allowing kids to walk to school to never letting folks who’ve served their time return to the community as anonymous citizens, same as anyone else. “Shelly Stow” is the pseudonym of a member of National Reform Sex Offender Laws, Inc. and of Texas Voices for Reason and Justice. This piece originally appeared in longer form at Corrections.com  - L  If It Saves One Child by Shelly Stow  Almost everyone today has some idea…

• “It Has Come to Our Attention that the Imaginations of our Preschool Children are Becoming Dangerously Overactive…”

  lskenazy

  22 May 2013 | 5:48 am

  Readers — I do believe the flyer below is real, from a pre-k in Philadelphia. And, for the record, I love when kids make up their own superheroes, not the ones cadged from the media. BUT even I got my witch persona (uh, that is, my childhood witch persona) from The Wizard of Oz. I understand the school’s desire to keep kids from actually hurting each other. But why not stop THAT instead of telling kids what they are and aren’t allowed to play? – L. As always “the safety and well being of your child is our first and foremost concern.” NOT the exuberance and…

• Advice Columnist Tells 14-y.o. She Needs an Older Babysitter Who Can Drive

  lskenazy

  21 May 2013 | 4:52 am

  Readers — Is there anyone in any position of authority who EVER says, “Well, the chances are not 100% that your kid will be safe if you do X, but they’re close enough not to worry about them”? If not, maybe that should be my next job: Ask the Free-Ranger. In the meantime, I present what passes for wisdom and rationality in modern day America. Sigh. – L. P.S. Not even getting INTO the idea that the babysitter is sometimes a college guy and she’s 14… Hey, Cherie! This might sound like a crazy question, but at what age do you think a 14-year-old student…

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  Graco Heart to Heart Blog

• May Giveaway: Winner’s Choice Travel System

  Ashley Mowrey

  16 May 2013 | 9:51 am

  We are offering a May Giveaway today with a twist: the lucky winner can choose the Wal-Mart travel system that best suits them. Fun, right? The lucky mom (or dad!) that wins today’s giveaway can pick from these three terrific travel systems:   Graco Spree Travel System in Twister fashion, with the SnugRide infant car seat Graco LiteRider Travel System in Gecko fashion, with the SnugRide infant car seat Graco Spree Travel System in Priscilla fashion, with the SnugRide infant car seat All three of these travel systems are terrific and are just what any busy parent needs to get out and…

• Bring Your Child to the Table, Right from the Start: Introducing TableFit™

  Ashley Mowrey

  8 May 2013 | 2:13 pm

  Your new baby is an important addition to the family, so why not start off by involving your little one in a great family bonding opportunity: mealtimes. There are a ton of reasons why including your child in family meals is important—from eating habits to social skills later in life—and that’s why we’re so delighted to introduce the Graco® TableFit™. It’s the first highchair of its kind that truly brings baby to the table. When you see the highchair, you’ll notice how different the profile is—the legs slope gently so as not to get in the way of the table and the tray and…

• Sweet Dreams with the SweetSlumber Sound Machine

  Ashley Mowrey

  1 May 2013 | 6:46 pm

  Win It Wednesday returns this week! Graco is giving away a SweetSlumber ™ Sound Machine to two lucky winners! Our SweetSlumber™ Sound Machine helps your baby fall to sleep and stay asleep. It offers 12 high-quality soothing sounds, including lullabies, nature sounds and white noise. You can even use the MP3 plug-in to calm your baby with a customized playlist. There’s a timer option, which automatically shuts SweetSlumber™ off once it has soothed your child to sleep. And should you want to peek in on your little sleeper, the soft glow nightlight will show the way. Share your tips…

• Introducing Graco Gliders: Gliding is the New Swinging

  Graco Contributors

  22 Apr 2013 | 9:54 am

  Babies come in all shapes and sizes and with different preferences: some are soothed by the sound of running water, while others are mesmerized by the hum of a hairdryer. The one thing that’s nearly universal: babies love cuddling with their mommies and daddies, swaying gently back and forth in a nursery glider chair. For those moments when you can’t hold your little one, Graco wanted to make sure you can still soothe baby with that familiar motion. We invented the first baby swing (in 1955: the Swyngomatic®) and we’re so proud to reinvent it now, with a whole new line of swings:…

• Win It Wednesday: Introducing the SnugRide® Click Connect™ 35

  Ashley Mowrey

  17 Apr 2013 | 1:26 pm

  Sometimes refreshing a tried-and-true favorite is the best of both worlds—you get all of your favorite elements plus some pretty cool upgrades. This is exactly what we had in mind when our engineers created the brand new SnugRide® Click Connect™ 35 infant car seat. Designed to help protect rear-facing infants from 4-35 lbs and up to 32 inches, one of the best features of the SnugRide Click Connect 35 is it is lightweight –just 7.5 pounds without the base! One thing you’ll notice about the name of the seat is that it includes “Click Connect,” a new Graco® technology that allows…

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  UnchartedParent.com

• Learning the Value of Criticism, or Why I Want My Tween to See “Star Trek into Darkness”

  Tracy Hahn-Burkett

  23 May 2013 | 5:58 pm

  I know, you think I have lost it. You believe I’ve journeyed to that part of the galaxy where grown men and women whom you think of as ordinary neighbors, coworkers and such suddenly sneak off on a Saturday morning sporting Vulcan ears or muttering in Klingon–a language that someone has actually taken the trouble [...]

• Parenting Hits & Misses: Fairness

  Tracy Hahn-Burkett

  16 May 2013 | 10:12 am

  Sound familiar? Today I’ve got a links roundup for you. Some fascinating articles have come out in the parenting world this week, and a few of them dovetail nicely with what’s been going on in my own house. I actually used the advice in one the same day I read it. Below you’ll find useful [...]

• The Fantasy that “It’s All Good” in Parenting

  Tracy Hahn-Burkett

  9 May 2013 | 11:11 am

  Recently, it has come to my attention that some parents awaken each morning to the joy of perfect, sunny children who always do what they’re told or, if they do misbehave, respond quickly to loving, gentle correction. These parents never raise their voices, never have a drink at 5:00 unless their rosy-cheeked children are in [...]

• Tips & Ideas for Visiting Our Nation’s Capital with Kids, Round 2

  Tracy Hahn-Burkett

  1 May 2013 | 11:00 am

  Last summer, I ran a list of 12 Uncharted Tips for visiting Washington, D.C. with kids. We just returned from another visit to the city in which I lived and worked for ten years, and we were able to delve a bit deeper into its many offerings. Each trip back with the kids is a [...]

• The Day After–Again

  Tracy Hahn-Burkett

  16 Apr 2013 | 5:40 pm

  I remember these feelings. They come too easily, slide into the place that isn’t supposed to be there, but was carved out eleven-and-a-half years ago and has since worn a groove into our brains, our hearts and our nerves. September 11 dug the track, gouged it deep and wide, in my case just outside the [...]

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  Politics to Parenting and Everything in Between

• Christian Home School Family Loses Appeal,Faces Religious Persecution!

  14 May 2013 | 6:35 pm

  Source:HSLDAAnother story that the mainstream media has failed to cover...the story of this Christian home school family who came here as refugees from Germany because they were suffering religious persecution. They sought asylum in the US, because they were unable to home-school their children and teach Christian beliefs, and came here to have the freedom to do so.However, thanks to the DOJ, they lost their appeal in the 6th Circuit Court today. Despite, a US immigration judge ruling in 2010 that the family did face persecution from the German government and granted the Romeike family…

• Parents' rights vs. sex-ed bills in MA Legislature - public hearing this Tuesday

  13 May 2013 | 2:04 am

  "Parents' rights vs. sex-ed bills in MA Legislature - public hearing this Tuesday"Read more...Parents rights should always trump the governments when it comes to raising their children and teaching them about morals and sexuality. It is NOT the role of the federal government to teach these things nor provide for the practice of sex through condom distribution or contraception and abortions.For example, the image of the book below is something being pushed in schools by Planned UNParenthood. They are trying to take the role of the parent and their chosen doctor when it comes to…

• UN Calls on governments to legalize child prostitution&drug use to fight AIDS??!!

  13 May 2013 | 12:46 am

  More insanity from those in control from above...when will they get their heads on straight??"A report by the United Nations Development’s Program’s Global Commission on HIV and the Law, funded in part by a grant from George Soros’ Open Society Foundation, has a peculiar prescription for combating AIDS. It calls on governments around the world to legalize prostitution, including child prostitution, and drug use."Read more... ©2008-2013 Patricia Garza

• Unconditional Mother's Love&Real Health Care Saves Mom and 23 Week Old Baby With Tumor From Death

  13 May 2013 | 12:26 am

  Another story of a mother's unconditional love, hope and triumph. Sad to think many women in this young moms position would have chosen abortion than life saving medical treatment.While President Obama and Planned UNParenthood celebrated Mother's Day in the US today by praising the use of contraception, to prevent motherhood, and the availability of abortion in the name of 'women's health care', this young mother celebrates life because of what real medical care and doctors do to save lives rather than end lives.   DailyHerald.com: "As a pregnant teenager, Sofia Espinoza lugged her…

• A Story of A Mother's Love:Cancer Patient Passes Away On Mother's Day

  12 May 2013 | 11:23 pm

  This story brought tears to my eyes knowing someone could love their child so unconditionally that she lived her own life to the fullest despite her sickness so that her own child could live his, despite his imperfections.Jorie Rogers was diagnosed with an un-treatable form of cancer called "paraganglioma, a rare form of cancer that caused dozens of tumors in her body, had advanced to a point of no return."However, through the help of family and a non-profit charity, "3 Little Birds 4 Life", she was able to spend her last few weeks surrounded with family and was able to provide her Down…

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  Crazy Adventures in Parenting

• Happiness is ______ {Week Twenty} #happinessis

  Lisa

  21 May 2013 | 10:53 pm

  Attention! We've moved this feed! Please update so you can stick around, k? This feed is now located at: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/crazyadventuresinparenting Please update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us :)

• Garden Update

  Lisa

  21 May 2013 | 1:57 pm

  Attention! We've moved this feed! Please update so you can stick around, k? This feed is now located at: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/crazyadventuresinparenting Please update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us :)

• Super Mario Party Ideas – How to Throw a Fun Mario Party

  Lisa

  20 May 2013 | 11:37 am

  Attention! We've moved this feed! Please update so you can stick around, k? This feed is now located at: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/crazyadventuresinparenting Please update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us :)

• How to Make a Nutella Martini

  Lisa

  17 May 2013 | 11:20 am

  Attention! We've moved this feed! Please update so you can stick around, k? This feed is now located at: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/crazyadventuresinparenting Please update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us :)

• Happiness is ______ {Week Nineteen} #happinessis

  Lisa

  14 May 2013 | 10:58 pm

  Attention! We've moved this feed! Please update so you can stick around, k? This feed is now located at: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/crazyadventuresinparenting Please update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us :)

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  The Committed Parent

• Does a Cougar Have Your Leg?

  Mark Brady

  19 May 2013 | 5:06 am

  Take a close, undistracted look at this three minute video: The Bear. Seriously. Do it. Notice the nature of the feelings that arise in your body as you view it. I’m guessing, if you’re like me, you’ll feel tension in your stomach and possibly constriction in your throat. Your breathing might slow and/or stop for a time. You’ll feel tension, then relief, then tension again. And then finally relief. This short video is definitely worth watching, for several reasons. I like to use this video during live presentations to underscore several important lessons. The first is: it’s a…

• How G-Tummo Turned Me and Maynard G. Krebs into Real, Warm Human Beings

  Mark Brady

  12 May 2013 | 4:08 am

  Before he became the cultural icon Willy Gilligan, shipwrecked on an uncharted island in the Pacific, the actor Bob Denver played Maynard G. Krebs, the original TV beatnik with a compulsive aversion to work. Every week all through 1959-1960 I would tune in expectantly as Maynard, Dobie Gillis, Thalia Menninger, Zelda Gilroy and Chatsworth Osborne Junior would haplessly try to resolve one class conflict after another arising from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. For Maynard, the only “real human being” on the show was Dobie’s father, played by Frank Faylen. For those of you who never…

• Will You Take the Radical Accountability Challenge?

  Mark Brady

  5 May 2013 | 3:55 am

  This week’s offering I’ve purloined unabashedly from a book written by one of my favorite wisdom teachers called, Stepping Out of Self-Deception. Rodney says it all in ways I wish I had: it’s our own mind, body and brain that we must pay perpetual primary attention to … Radical Accountability Rodney Smith As a child I would make rock candy by supersaturating sugar water and letting it cool. I would insert a string in the liquid, and the crystals of sugar would form around the string. The string is analogous to our suffering. The sense-of-self needs the string of our…

• Why Must All Wars, Public and Personal, Eventually End?

  Mark Brady

  28 Apr 2013 | 5:16 am

  Fair Warning: Data-driven mini-rant follows. I recently listened to a British social scientist, Ben Hammersley, talk about how business executives prefer open office floor plans for their workers. In those offices the people with the most power have their backs protected by a wall – they take up positions around the perimeter of the open space usually in offices with doors. Those with the least power have their backs constantly exposed. Along with that exposure comes – it’s easy to guess – elevated levels of adrenaline and cortisol resulting in increased stress, less productivity, and…

• Mental Health: What Can We Do When It Vacates the Premises?

  Mark Brady

  21 Apr 2013 | 4:53 am

  In my 30’s and 40’s (my 20’s, too, now that I think about it), I had a habit of rating my days in terms of my degree of mental illness. There were either Minor Mental Illness Days or Major Mental Illness Days, but there were few Major Mentally Healthy Days. This was because one upset or aggravation or another would inevitably surface daily and hijack my neurophysiology. I recall with great astonishment when a friend once disclosed to me that whenever the phone rang in his house, his wife’s unwavering expectation was that it was a call from someone who genuinely loved her. I distinctly…

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  My Home Sweet Home

• On Finding My Rhythm

  Dawn Camp

  23 May 2013 | 3:32 pm

  I usually walk the hilly mile to the front of our subdivision alone and then jog back, but today four of the kids go with me. I head out the door with my phone but no earbuds, anticipating two miles of silly conversation. The kids who are on foot took off without me—they’re halfway up the hill—and I’m left behind with one on a bike and one on a scooter, who’ll soon leave me in the dust. I almost go back for the earbuds but then I stop myself because I need to know. I need to hear my labored breath and not resist the work, embracing the labor. This doesn’t come easy…

• Red Tricycle Pedals into Atlanta with the Big Peach Giveaway!

  Dawn Camp

  22 May 2013 | 2:52 pm

  [I will be compensated for sharing information about this giveaway, but opinions are, as always, my own.]   Red Tricycle is an online city guide for busy parents, offering ideas for things to see, eat and do with your kids in your own neighborhood. After adding Atlanta earlier this month, it now serves 7 cities plus a national edition. I attended a Red Tricycle launch party in Atlanta last week and am excited about the information my family will gain from this site. Red Tricycle is pedaling into town in style with a huge contest that runs until May 31! Enter on-line by liking Red…

• The Graduation Toolbox: A Gift Idea for Graduates

  Dawn Camp

  17 May 2013 | 7:15 pm

  [Post contains affiliate links.] Most homes have two kinds of toolboxes: the kind that contain hammer and nails, screwdriver and screws, and a sewing basket with scissors, needles, thread, and buttons. These two boxes are indispensable; you don’t need them every day, but when you need them, you really need them. When our oldest son graduated from high school, we gave him his own toolbox and tools. Last year I made graduation toolkits using a combination of these Redeemed Picnic Baskets from DaySpring for the girls and Stanley toolboxes for the boys. They contained items such as…

• You Can’t Take the Worldview Out of the Art Today at (in)courage

  Dawn Camp

  9 May 2013 | 10:00 am

  My son 18-year-old son and I enjoy listening to the Avett Brothers. Musical compatibility with a teen isn’t always easy, so I’m thankful. When he told me that some listeners wish they wouldn’t sing about their faith, I just laughed and shook my head. It’s not that easy to take the worldview out of the art. Read the rest today at (in)courage! You Can’t Take the Worldview Out of the Art Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home © 2013 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

• The Embarrassing Post You Might Need to Read

  Dawn Camp

  6 May 2013 | 12:50 pm

  When you get used to feeling, seeing, or hearing a certain way, you just assume it’s normal. It’s your normal. It surprised me when I couldn’t pass the vision exam for my driver’s license test at 16; the lady giving the test kind of bluffed me through it. My senior year I got glasses—which I only wore for math class—because I couldn’t read the problems on the board. Although nearsighted, I was 20 years old before an optometrist gently suggested that maybe my eyes needed a little help all the time and I started wearing contacts. I’ll never forget the…

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  Postcards from the Mothership

• Baby belly laughs and a Fisher-Price contest

  DaniGirl

  22 May 2013 | 10:42 am

  I love the serendipity of how this worked out. Just about the time we found a cache of old video clips of the boys as babies and toddlers, my friends at Fisher-Price announced the launch of a new contest where you can share your favourite photos and videos of your babies’ best laughs. One of these days, I am going to make a mint on those funniest videos show with this old clip of Tristan and one-year-old Lucas and the world’s funniest blue balloon. Go ahead, press play – I dare you not to laugh! Baby belly laughs are THE BEST! So here’s where Fisher-Price comes in.

• Free admission on International Museum Day this weekend!

  DaniGirl

  15 May 2013 | 3:05 am

  You know I love Ottawa family fun. You know I love free. What’s better than free family fun in Ottawa? This weekend, celebrate International Museum Day on Saturday May 18 with free admission to a few of Ottawa’s best museums. Courtesy of our friends at the spectacular Museum of Nature: Celebrate International Museums Day with free admission to the Canadian Museum of Nature this Saturday, May 18. Kick off the May long weekend by immersing yourself in the wonders of Canada’s natural history heritage. See how you measure up against a blue whale, the largest animal on the planet;…

• Fare thee well, Commander Hadfield

  DaniGirl

  14 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  Since I blogged about my delight in following Canadian astronaut and ISS commander Chris Hadfield back in January when he was kibitzing with Captain Kirk, it seems only natural that I’d share this with you, too. Best music video EVER!! How could I not adore Commander Hadfield and what he has done during this mission? He’s at the intersection of everything I love: photography, social media, space, wicked fun science, razor sharp wit, a strong sense of play and an aw-shucks Canadian pride. Plus William Shatner and David Bowie on the side. Thanks, Commander, for 144 days of wonder.

• This week in pictures: Love letters to spring

  DaniGirl

  12 May 2013 | 3:51 pm

  Tulips, kids, fuzzy puppies – talk about an easy week for taking pictures! Do you even need a narrative for this? First there was one silly kid on a stump. Then there were three silly kids on some steps with a puppy. Then the puppy rolled around in some flowers. Oh, did someone say flowers? Then I had to go back and revisit one shot because I knew I had it almost right but not quite right. What’s that, you say? More puppy? Well alrighty then. It doesn’t get any easier than that, does it? Related posts (automatically generated):This week in pictures: (Almost) an entire week…

• In which she clearly illustrates that she is NOT a graphic designer

  DaniGirl

  8 May 2013 | 8:08 am

  Hey! Did I mention I’m doing a presentation at Social Capital Ottawa this year? I am so excited about it! And it’s a topic that is becoming more and more dear to my heart – how to find and use images for your website, blog and social sharing without violating copyright and getting sued in the process. It true that I have a vested interest in this issue from a photographer’s perspective, but I also think this is something that should be of interest to anyone who blogs, has a website or has ever shared a photo on Facebook or Pinterest. Here’s the session…

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  Dinker and Giggles

• Homeschool Projects for Kids: Recycling Electronics

  Guest Author

  17 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  It’s no secret that homeschooling is tough, we parents try to keep our kids excited and interested in all of their studies but let’s face it this can be a bit hard when your closed in by four walls!  Most of us resort to field trips and a more hands on approach, my children seem [...]Read all of Homeschool Projects for Kids: Recycling Electronics on our website.

• Simple {Stress-Free} Birthday Party Tips

  Jenn A Simple Haven

  16 May 2013 | 2:47 am

  These great tips come just in time as Mr. T is quickly approaching his first birthday. Having our first summer baby I’m super excited and finding it hard not to go overboard. Jenn’s call to keeping things simple and stress-free is just what the doctor ordered. ~alaina A h, baby’s first birthday. So special. You [...]Read all of Simple {Stress-Free} Birthday Party Tips on our website.

• Learn A New Culture: Host a Student from Spain!

  Karla Bond

  15 May 2013 | 2:37 am

  I have always thought hosting a foreign student would be so fun and educational. What a great way for my son to learn first-hand how others live in different parts of the world! It will also be a fun way to learn a few words of another language and help a child practice their English [...]Read all of Learn A New Culture: Host a Student from Spain! on our website.

• 16th Annual Get Hooked on Fishing Tournament

  Alaina Frederick

  14 May 2013 | 12:40 pm

  Nothing quit declares childhood like summer sunshine, hot dogs over a fire, playing with worms and casting a line into the waters. Join us as we head out to Moraine State Park to help raise awareness to get kids hooked on fishing not drugs and raise money for Stand Tall Butler. I’d suggest registering your [...]Read all of 16th Annual Get Hooked on Fishing Tournament on our website.

• 10 Herbs & Vegetables Perfect for Growing in a Shaded Garden

  Angela England

  13 May 2013 | 5:43 pm

  One of the elements that is vital for gardening success is sunlight. “Each vegetable and fruit pant has a natural cycle based on the number of hours if sunlight it receives. Most vegetables need a full six to eight hours of direct sunlight to produce well. However, the following vegetable plants and herbs will tolerate [...]Read all of 10 Herbs & Vegetables Perfect for Growing in a Shaded Garden on our website.

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  News Moms Need

• Weekend fun in the sun

  Lindsay

  24 May 2013 | 8:07 am

  This weekend will you be where the weather’s warm, the sun is shining, the kids want to run around and play with the hose? (Doesn’t it feel great to get away from freezing winter?!) Don’t forget that most of us are pale from winter hibernation and are ripe for sizzling in the sun. Here’s the pitch for today: don’t forget the sun block. I know, everybody’s talking about that right now, and they should ‘cause it’s important. We have written about the importance of using sun block before, about using one with SPF 30 and replacing it every couple of hours, etc. But this time I…

• Planning a family?

  Lindsay

  23 May 2013 | 7:58 am

  Are you pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant? Do you have friends who are planning a family? Watch and share our Get Ready for Pregnancy video, with Dr. Siobhan Dolan, to learn some tips that you can follow before becoming pregnant. We want to help you have a healthy, full-term baby.

• Summer programs for kids with special needs

  Barbara

  22 May 2013 | 11:30 am

  If your child has an IFSP or an IEP and is receiving services for a developmental delay or a qualifying disability, it may be possible for services to continue throughout the summer months.  This is called Extended School Year services or ESY.  ESY may include continued special education services or related services. It is sometimes possible for a child who does not have an IEP but rather a 504 plan to receive ESY. ESY is based on your child’s individual needs and your state’s regulations. How is ESY helpful? For most children, receiving special education or related services during the…

• Chat on premature birth

  Lindsay

  22 May 2013 | 8:03 am

  Join us on Twitter for a chat about premature babies. Moderated by @USNewsHealth, experts on the chat will be from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the March of Dimes. Do you have a preemie? Share your experiences in the NICU and when you finally took your baby home. Join us on Twitter this Thursday, May 23rd and 2 PM ET.  Let’s discuss the topic and learn more. To join the conversation, simply follow the hashtag #Preemie.

• National Preeclampsia Awareness Month

  Lindsay

  20 May 2013 | 7:40 am

  The US Department of Health and Human Services has designated May 2013 as the first National Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Throughout the month, several organizations educate about preeclampsia, a serious and common complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period. This condition is dangerous to both the mother and her unborn baby. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, and can also include signs and symptoms such as swelling, headaches and visual disturbances. It’s so important for pregnant women to keep all their prenatal appointments and to…

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  Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology

• Lists of Movies for Teens and Tweens

  Jennifer Wagner

  23 May 2013 | 5:27 pm

  Some of the most popular posts on Connect with your Teens have been my movie lists. There are two types of lists I create - yearly and seasonal lists and such as Best Movies for Teens 2013 and subject matter lists, such as Best Cult Movies for Teens. For those of you looking for movies for your teens and tweens, I decided it would be a good idea to put all the links to these lists of movies in one place. Movies for Teens by Type 1. 10 Movies to Recommend to Your Teens From Before They Were Born 2. Movie Nights: 25 Movies for Parents and Teens 3. 35 Best Movies about Teens 4. Top 12 Cult…

• NYC Website for Tourists and Locals

  Jennifer Wagner

  23 May 2013 | 6:38 am

  I met with some of the people from the new company NewYork.com, with other bloggers to learn about it and what it does. We had breakfast together at Planet Hollywood and then were taken on a NYC Water Taxi Tour and  a tour of the Intrepid to experience some of what is available through NewYork.com. New York City is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. It also has a huge population of people living there, moving in, out and looking for jobs. So when the brand new website, NewYork.com, was being planned, they decided to make create two services all in one website…

• Reviews of PlayStation Games and PlayStation Plus

  Jennifer Wagner

  22 May 2013 | 10:18 am

  I've been a part of The PlayStation Family for about a year and a half now. I don't get paid, but I do get free video games to review. I recently also received a free subscription to PlayStation Plus. If it seems like I say great things about all the PlayStation games I review, it is because I only write about the games I really love. And currently, my family is really enjoying MLB 13 The Show, LittleBigPlanet Karting and our subscription to PlayStation Plus. MLB 13 The Show MLB 13 The Show has great features for a baseball game. There is not only the regular season mode where you play as one…

• Lost TV Cast: Where are They Now?

  Jennifer Wagner

  20 May 2013 | 12:13 pm

  As all the May season and series finales are winding up, I am reminded of the ending of my favorite TV show of all time, Lost. When it ended I was worried that I'd never see the actors that played my favorite characters again. And if I did see them in other parts, how would I compare them to their Lost characters? Whether or not Lost, on its own, was the best, can be debated. But as the first TV series that was played out just as much through online discussions as it was by watching it, to me, it will always be the best because of its uniqueness. And, its wonderful characters. What each of…

• Two New Pop Culture Books on the 90s and Unique Lists

  Jennifer Wagner

  19 May 2013 | 10:33 am

  I have been a lover of pop culture since I can remember. When I was a child I read TV Guide from cover to cover. I always wanted loved reading and knowing about pop culture related and still do. After reviewing Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops, a book about trends of the 70s and 80s, I was happy to accept to review, The Toally Sweet '90s, another book by the same authors. And while I was at it, I was also given Super Pop!: Pop Culture Top 10 Lists to review. These two pop culture books are very different, yet I enjoyed them both. The Totally Sweet 90s is a light quick nostalgic read that you…

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  Priceless Parenting Blog

• DANCE Parenting Classes - 3 week class starts June 3rd

  17 May 2013 | 3:03 pm

  Parenting is a dance you do with your kids. If you don't like their moves, take this class and learn how to change your lead! Discover your children's strengths and increase their competence Aim for high expectations based on your children's developmental level Notice misbehavior and respond with reasonable, valuable consequences Control your reaction to stressful parenting situations Enjoy your children and take time to renew yourself Priceless Parenting classes are grounded on decades of positive parenting experiences from real life situations and backed by the latest scientific research in…

• Responding to Misbehavior with Fight or Flight versus Pause and Plan

  8 May 2013 | 9:04 am

  How do you feel when your kids misbehave? When I ask parents this question during classes, the most common responses are feelings of anger, frustration and discouragement. If you're like most parents, when your kids misbehave you experience powerful, negative feelings. If you choose to act in the moment, you are likely to come up with your worst parenting responses. You may find yourself: Yelling at your kids - "I'm never taking you here again!" (even though you probably will be going back to the grocery store at some point) Threatening them - "I'll just leave you here!" (even though it is…

• Using Punishment Versus Discipline for Misbehavior

  6 May 2013 | 10:09 am

  Punishment and discipline represent two very different beliefs about how to best respond to children's misbehavior. Punishment focuses on suffering or pain as retribution, versus discipline that focuses on natural or logical consequences. With discipline it isn’t the severity of the consequence but rather the certainty that matters. Priceless Parenting focuses on using discipline for misbehavior with the goal to help children learn from their mistakes. Eventually this discipline will come from inside your children so that when you’re not around they are still making good choices. If you'd…

• Could it be autism?

  2 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  Autism now effects one in 88 children. Researchers are trying to figure out the factors behind the increase in the rate of autism. While parents, child care providers and doctors are more vigilantly looking for possible signs of autism in their children. For those not intimately familiar with autism, the line between normal and autistic behavior can be hard to see. The Autism Speaks organization has put together a series of videos showing normal child behavior and autistic child behavior in these areas: Social interaction Communication Repetitive behaviors and restricted interests Regulatory…

• When Your Kids Make You Feel Extremely Angry

  30 Apr 2013 | 7:44 am

  Before I had my own kids, it was hard to imagine how parents could spank their kids. Those sweet, innocent little kids! How could anyone feel like hitting them? It dawned on me as to how this could happen when my 3-year-old daughter helped me get in touch with my own anger. I actually didn't think I had that much anger! She would look me straight in the eye and do exactly what she knew she wasn't supposed to be doing. She directly challenged me ... I'm doing this and what do you plan to do about it? I was so tempted to spank her to teach her that I was stronger than her and she had better not…

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  Telling It Like It Is

• Healthy Cookware and Healthy Food Storage – Plastic vs Glass

  Lin

  11 May 2013 | 9:01 am

  Through all of the reading and research I’ve been doing over the last few years about healthy living, two topics that are continuously brought up in the books and articles I’ve read, is that we need to take a serious look at what kind of cookware and food storage containers we’re using in our homes. Junk the plastic food storage containers and switch to glass food storage; junk the non-stick Teflon cookware and switch to much healthier options like cast iron cookware, my personal favorite. Junk the microwave, or at least stop using the microwave, etc. Occasionally bringing…

• Why Dentists Don’t Know The Truth About Fluoride

  Lin

  1 Apr 2013 | 8:16 am

  If you think the fluoride controversy is nothing but a “conspiracy theory” being promoted by a bunch of crazy, loony bin type people needing their head examined, then you may want to take it up with Harvard University, the EPA, and a former head of the National Cancer Institute. In fact, you’ll even want to take it up with the United States government as a whole, which has recommended the lowering of fluoride levels following a variety of studies that have linked fluoride to decreased IQ and neurological development. If you’re one of those who routinely says things like,…

• Dateline NBC on Hormone Disruptors, BPA, Triclosan and Phthalates – Chemicals in the Body

  Lin

  30 Mar 2013 | 10:25 am

  Dateline NBC, on Sunday March 24th, aired a segment titled “Hormone Disruptors”, where correspondent Andrea Canning embarked on a study of foods and personal care products in her home, to better understand her detectable exposure levels to the chemicals BPA, triclosan and phthalates – known as hormone disruptors. Not only did Andrea have herself tested for detectable levels of these chemicals in her body via urine tests, but she also had her three young children tested as well. There isn’t much on TV that I care to watch anymore, as I would much rather spend my free time…

• McKinney Texas City Council Debates Water Fluoridation – Councilman Ricchi Wants Fluoride in Water Stopped

  Lin

  25 Mar 2013 | 12:31 pm

  McKinney Texas Councilman Ray Ricchi, and many local North Texas residents, want water fluoridation stopped. As readers might imagine, I’ve been paying very close attention to the increasing awareness about “fluoride” in water, and I was very happy to hear that the McKinney City Council is currently reviewing this very important issue. Local news reporters attended the recent City Council meeting in McKinney, where water fluoridation was on the agenda, and public comment was allowed. Of course, several local dentists were in attendance and spoke about the purported…

• Make Your Own Long Silk Fashion Scarves and Fleece or Cotton Pajama Bottoms for Kids and Adults

  Lin

  4 Feb 2013 | 12:59 pm

  Browsing around on Pinterest for what my next beginner sewing project would be, I happened upon a (confusing) tutorial of how to make long silk fashion scarves. Silk scarves huh? Immediate skepticism set in as to whether or not a sewing beginner like me could make a fashion scarf that actually looked good and didn’t have that “homemade” look stamped all over it. I’ve never sewn silk fabric before, with its sleek and luscious goodness I love so much, so the idea of making my own silk anything made me somewhat nervous. But I decided that if I’m ever going to learn…

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  Darryle Pollack | I never signed up for this...

• Angelina’s Choice: Whose body is it, anyway?

  Darryle Pollack

  20 May 2013 | 1:21 am

  It used to be that if there was a name aligned with “Choice” it was Sophie. “Choice”  is now and maybe forever associated with Angelina Jolie. She was incredibly courageous to be so honest, to open the conversation; to expose herself to the media storm she knew was waiting. But given that her children are clearly her priorities; and given the premature loss of her own mother, I suspect that Angelina’s Choice was almost a no-brainer. Losing your mom is a profound loss that can shape your choices and your life, an experience explored and documented by writer Hope…

• Angelina Jolie’s choice

  Darryle Pollack

  14 May 2013 | 1:21 am

    As someone who’s so closely associated with breast cancer, I feel I should acknowledge Angelina Jolie and welcome her to the sorority no one wants to join. So I’m writing this to salute her for having a double mastectomy in order to avoid getting breast cancer, the disease that killed her mother.   And even more to salute her for writing an article in the New York Times today, disclosing her surgeries, her health history, and her personal feelings about it. I  am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word…

• Mother’s Day: Both Sides Now

  Darryle Pollack

  12 May 2013 | 12:45 am

    Women who become mothers experience Mother’s Day from both sides—as daughters and as mothers. An experience that’s not necessarily two sides of the same coin. More than any other day of the year, for me this day brings mixed emotions:  one side sad; the other  joyous. The year I was 18 was the last Mother’s Day I would have a mother, although I didn’t know that at the time. 41 years was all my Mom had; 18 as a mom.  It seems so little time to imprint herself on 3 children for a lifetime. I’ve already had 29 years to be a mom, and I’m hoping for a lot more.

• Call me mommy

  Darryle Pollack

  8 May 2013 | 12:39 am

  4 days later I still have a glow from last weekend  in Laguna Beach. It’s not from the sun.  It could be if I had spent any time at the pool.  (Good luck getting me into a bathing suit in public.  Or  in  private.) No, the glow is from inside. It’s from the warmth of being at Mom 2.0 – a conference for mommy bloggers. You might wonder what I would be doing at a conference aimed at young moms where sponsors included companies that sell strollers and apple juice. I would have wondered the same thing 5 years ago. That’s when I first stumbled onto the internet as a blogger.

• WHOA! Something New

  Darryle Pollack

  17 Apr 2013 | 6:21 pm

  I thought it’s appropriate to do my first video here– since video is what the something new is all about. Click here to watch video Click here for WHOAnetwork.com Like this post? You might like this one A star is born

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  mommyknows

• Tulip Cupcakes Tutorial – A great Mother’s Day Treat

  Kim Becker

  14 May 2013 | 7:21 pm

  Spring time means tulips, and it’s definitely spring, so I thought tulip cupcakes would be in order. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful friend Gloria who is also the talent behind The Art of Cake. I won’t give you a tutorial on how to make and ice the perfect cupcake. This is about the decorative touches only –> The Tulip! Tools: Rolling pin Shaping tool with a round ball on the end Oval cutter (about 1″ wide and 1.25″ long approx.) non-stick vegetable spray cupcake pan Ingredients: 1/2 cup total of modeling chocolate in the colours of your tulips, plus green for…

• Mini Heart-Shaped Cherry Pies ~ EASY! Valentine’s Day

  Kim Becker

  21 Feb 2013 | 10:12 am

  You can’t plan far enough ahead. I’m already looking forward to next Valentines Day. If you’re like @MarthaStewart and Me, you’ll plant your cherry trees now! Fine! You got me… I made these for this past Valentine’s Day (it was only a week ago!), but I wouldn’t want to post them on-time. That would just be smart, organised and all together too on-the-ball for me. I’m Mommyknows not Mommysorganised. Let’s get on with it shall we? If you want to say, “I love you!” with a cherry pie, then this post is for you. Ingredients: Pie…

• Giveaway – Carter’s and Oshkosh are now at Sears Canada!

  Kim Becker

  20 Feb 2013 | 11:36 am

  BIG NEWS this week for Sears Canada, they are announcing the arrival of Carter’s and OshKosh! Two fabulous, quality brands we’re all familiar with, use, love! From my Hayley to my our wee baby Brian, we’ve used and loved both brands. Their newest lines are absolutely adorable, soft, comfy, affordable! Wow! Georgia is a Carter’s Pajama enthusiast, so she was so thrilled to get a bunch of new ‘jammies this week. This cute little polka-dot penguin nightie was my favourite, but Georgia was in love with these footie zebra jammies! She said, “it’s like…

• Sears Baby Registry

  Kim Becker

  12 Feb 2013 | 11:55 am

  This month Sears the Baby’s Room challenge was to create a ‘Baby Registry’. Something I have mostly fond memories of creating in the past. I do LOVE baby stuff! With our baby Brian just celebrating his 1st birthday in January, it’s been a while since I’ve had to think about Baby Registries. With temps hitting -42 Celsius this past few weeks and 3 super busy older children, the thought of going into the city and creating a registry was just too much for this busy mom. Internet to the rescue! Did you know you could create your Sears Baby Registry Online in just a…

• DIY: Make your own Vanilla Extract

  Kim Becker

  30 Jan 2013 | 4:39 pm

  This is undoubtedly one of the easiest projects, I’ve attempted. It’s also one of the most delicious and makes a wonderful gift to give away during the holiday season. I made the vanilla extract in October for gift-giving in December. My intention was to blog about it in early November, giving you plenty of time to make yours for Christmas giveaways (or any other holiday). I’m just a wee bit behind schedule. So what? Better late than never, that’s what I’m telling myself (get over it). You’ll need just two ingredients: Vanilla beans Vodka, although it was…

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  Kids Stuff World

• Reaching out to families affected by Neurofibromatosis (NF)

  Stacy

  17 May 2013 | 7:16 pm

  Today is World NF Awareness Day. A day you’ve probably never even heard about, a day the Blazier’s wish everyone knew more about. I urge you to take a few moments today to read this story, a story by an incredible family I am honored to call my friends, my family, my military family. Even if you have never heard of NF or met anyone who has it, please share this story. I would love to help Jordan connect with others also diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis, he’s waited more than 12 years already. Let’s fix that today. May is NF awareness month What is NF? Neurofibromatosis…

• Spring Apron Giveaway from She & Me Designs

  Stacy

  6 May 2013 | 9:08 pm

  I’ve got a sweet surprise for you today! We’re taking part in the Sew,Mama,Sew! Giveaway Day this year and just look at this adorable spring apron we’re offering up. It is just too much cuteness, and just one of the sweet aprons you can find on my mother-in-law’s etsy shop, She & Me Designs. There’s a lot more cool kid stuff over there too! To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment telling us who you would give this apron to (apron is size 5/6) You can earn one extra entry for following She & Me Designs on Facebook and one for following…

• Letter to a New Mom

  Stacy

  5 May 2013 | 10:51 pm

  I’m not exactly sure where you will be on your journey into motherhood when this letter finds you — your child may be one week old, or a month old or maybe even coming up close on a year. Whatever the case, by now I am sure you have realized, life as you know it has changed forever. Suddenly, you are responsible for raising this little person who will someday grow up to be a big person and leave their imprint on the world — their imprint, a direct correlation to the way you have shaped their hearts. No pressure. In exchange for this weight-of-the-world task at hand, you will…

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  My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings

• The Lone Ranger Trailer

  Lisa

  22 May 2013 | 7:19 am

  My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - “In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.” – Mahatma Gandhi From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of…

• Wednesday’s Hero

  Lisa

  22 May 2013 | 5:07 am

  My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - “In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.” – Mahatma Gandhi This Post Was Suggested By Kathi Paul Gleason Not everyone who could be considered a hero has fought for their country. Paul Gleason, a retired history teacher, has never worn the uniform but in 1965 he wrote his first letter to a soldier, a student of his that joined the Army, and has since written more than 10,000 letters. He can been seen at Burger King just about everyday writing three letters, 15 handwritten pages, to active duty and veterans. You can read more about…

• Wordless Wednesday: Madison Reading In Church

  Lisa

  21 May 2013 | 12:17 pm

  My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - “In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.” – Mahatma Gandhi Madison had a reading in church this morning: Copyright © 2012 My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact mythoughtsideasandramblings.com @ gmail.com so we can take legal action immediately.            CommentsWordless Wednesday: Madison…

• Have you used Invisalign?

  Lisa

  20 May 2013 | 10:00 am

  My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - “In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.” – Mahatma Gandhi Did you wear braces as a kid? As an adult? Do you need braces? I recently attended a blogging event that I got to learn about Invisalign. I personally never had braces as a kid, but I should have. It is something as an adult I have always thought about doing. However, even though Madison is only 9, she will eventually need braces. After going through the whole chipping of her tooth and her needing a retainer for a year (and yes, I blogged all about that!), I was told at that…

• Tiny Prints Giveaway

  Lisa

  20 May 2013 | 9:32 am

  My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - “In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.” – Mahatma Gandhi I may be done having kids, but now I am watching Bill’s cousin and even his siblings having kids now! There’s is nothing more fun than picking out baby shower invitations! One of the companies I tell everybody to use is Tiny Prints. Tiny Prints Birth Announcements and Tiny Prints Baby Shower Invitations are as unique as your baby! They really have something for everyone! I also love that you can get address labels, thank you cards, etc. that match your…

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  Jodifur

• Shoe Friday #226: Tory Burch Flip Flop Edition

  Jodifur

  24 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  Let’s kick off the unofficial start of summer with some flip flops. For the past few months I have been obsessed with Tory Flip Flops..  They were all I wanted.  I finally bought myself a pair when they went on sale on toryburch.com, and then my mom got me a pair at the Nordstrom anniversary sale. Yes, they are expensive, but after breaking EVERY SINGLE PAIR OF CHEAP FLIP FLOPS I owned last year, one, while walking down the side of the road, I was desperate for new flip flops. I love them so. *This seems rather obvious but this post is not sponsored by Tory Burch.  I so WANT Tory…

• I Got Lost In In Suburbia

  Jodifur

  22 May 2013 | 5:18 am

  Last week I was thrilled to attend the book release party for “Lost in Suburbia: A Memoir: How I Got Pregnant, Lost Myself, and Got My Cool Back in the New Jersey Suburbs.”  The author and I had long been social media friends, and it is always lovely to put a “real life” face to the name. Keep reading on The DC Moms

• Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days

  Jodifur

  20 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  Every summer I promise myself I am not going to do it. I am not going to over schedule ourselves.  And just recently I was going through our summer calendar to discover that, already, we are pretty much booked.  From the beginning of June until the end of August we have something almost every weekend. Gone are my long lovely dreams of sitting at our pool.  We will do that, I’m sure, but it won’t be as unscheduled as I would have liked.  I’m not sure what happens, every summer.  There are vacations and BBQs and office parties and outings with friends and then all of a…

• Alone Time

  Jodifur

  18 May 2013 | 6:58 am

  On Friday afternoon Michael had a play date after school.  This is a regular occurrence now, one parent grabs the kids, and takes them back to their houses and they play for a few hours.  It is lovely when it is not your turn, and on the days I work I use the extra time to work late, or workout, or run errands.  Sometimes I sit on the couch and catch up on tv. I don’t work on Fridays, and on this particular Friday my schedule was wide open.  I had nothing on the calendar.  This is rare, as my Fridays have become the day I schedule doctors appointments, lunch with friends, and other…

• Shoe Friday #225

  Jodifur

  17 May 2013 | 4:30 am

  Two of my favorite people at the Disney Social Media Moms conference, Monica and Rene.  I didn’t get to go this year, but they were kind enough to send me a picture of their awesome shoes!

• 

  Jolly Mom

• Build a Better Breakfast with Kellogg’s MyBowl Tool #GreatStarts

  Piera Jolly

  23 May 2013 | 9:55 am

  This is part of a compensated campaign with Kellogg’s.  All opinions expressed are mine. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use for more information. A few weeks ago, Kellogg’s launched the MyBowl initiative (created to complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate) and a new interactive website designed to show how easy it is to meet dietary guidelines with cereal and other meals served in a bowl. Basically, MyBowl uses colored bands around a bowl to illustrate how cold cereal can deliver servings from grain, dairy and fruit groups, and is a great way to learn about…

• Think Pink & Save: 20% Off at Totsy TODAY!

  Piera Jolly

  23 May 2013 | 7:57 am

  *I am a compensated member of the Totsy Mom Committee. Affiliate links are used in the post below. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use for more information. Totsy is running a fabulous sale on their already fabulous prices! If you shop today, you get 20% off your order at checkout. Plus, they’ll donate $1 from every order to Breast Cancer research. LOVE Totsy!     To  shop the Totsy sale, click HERE! The post Think Pink & Save: 20% Off at Totsy TODAY! appeared first on…

• Have You Tried This Yet???

  Piera Jolly

  22 May 2013 | 12:05 pm

  A couple of weeks ago, I got to attend a local P&G event co-hosted by one of my dear friend’s and fellow blogger, Stacie Connerty and the FABULOUS celebrity stylist, Irma Martinez. We all met up at a local salon for an evening of pampering! Let me tell you – after having a baby just a few weeks ago – this was heaven. We got leg massages, makeup, and our hair styled. We also got to try out many of P&G’s newest products and Irma also shared her best beauty and fashion advice for Summer. It was awesome! Check us out after our makeovers… Irma shared some…

• Promote Your #Giveaways: Giveaways Galore

  Piera Jolly

  15 May 2013 | 8:23 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! The post Promote Your #Giveaways: Giveaways Galore appeared first on Jolly Mom.

• Join Us for the #GrillingIsHappiness Twitter Party!

  Piera Jolly

  15 May 2013 | 1:30 pm

  Tomorrow, we’ll be co-hosting another Sears Twitter Party – just in time for Summer entertaining! Join us for the #GrillingIsHappiness party tomorrow (May 16) at 1pm ET (12pm CT). Sears will be giving away $200 in prizes! To RSVP and have a chance to win one of the prizes, make sure you do the following: Follow the host @Sears account and co-host @SearsDeals and @SearsLatino accounts. Retweet one of the promotional tweets announcing the party. These normally contain “RT to RSVP” in them.   Sample Tweet: Join us May 16th at 12pm CST for our Memorial Day #GrillingIsHappiness…

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  My Mommy Manual (For the Journey)

• A Mother’s Bedtime Poem

  Zen Mommy

  20 May 2013 | 8:39 pm

  —– When we follow our bliss, anything is possible. I hope you walk with me and other moms here, sharing the stories of our lives, because motherhood (and life) is better when we hold hands.

• Little Ears

  Zen Mommy

  6 May 2013 | 9:34 am

  We were driving to dinner and my three year old son asked, “Mom, can I have an E-F-H?” Dad and I look at each other. “A what???!” “An E—-F—-H…” he repeats in a do-you-pinky-swear-you-won’t-tell-anyone?!?! sorta whisper. And with that, I get it and interpret for my husband. Our child is attempting to spell out a cool-secret-thing [...]

• The Day My Daughter Shaved Her Head

  Zen Mommy

  1 May 2013 | 12:43 pm

  It was only a week ago that my 12 year old daughter first asked me, “What if I shaved my head?” to which I immediately responded, “What? Why?!?” She replied softly, “I don’t know. I was just talking about it with my friends.” I took a deep breathe and thought about her question for a [...]

• How Can I Forgive

  Zen Mommy

  25 Apr 2013 | 9:02 am

  There is nothing like parenting to make life a-parent. I get opportunities to heal things from my past all the TIME delivered to me by the four little master teachers (all under ten) that live with my husband and I.

• What If We All Entered The World To This Sort of Love?

  Zen Mommy

  4 Feb 2013 | 1:32 pm

  This. This is why I teach baby massage. This is it. It is all here in this video.   A peace-filled, conscious connection possible with our hands, telling our little-est people that the world around them is a safe and nurturing place. Telling them it is okay to trust and that they are loved. Who [...]

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  For Love Or Funny

• This is what Martian spit looks like

  Lynn

  24 May 2013 | 2:00 am

  What the holy heck is this? Martian spit? Dandruff from an angel? The gook that comes out of a moose when it sneezes? This stuff is all over our field, and I’m worried. Will it hatch? What will it become? Please advise. This post brought to you by Anything You Ask, my novella. Can a temporary marriage survive so many secrets? Available for $2.99 in the Kindle store. On sale for all readers in July.

• I prefer nudity, don’t you?

  Lynn

  22 May 2013 | 2:00 am

  Some recommend taking the path less travelled. Let’s do it. Funny, this looks like some lush Garden of Eden. Wait, did you see a naked man? You’re so lucky. I see trees. Hand the naked man a leaf, for Pete’s sake. A very LARGE leaf, please. Oh, look here. I do believe we’ve found something extraordinary. A “beauty tree.” What do you suppose is the secret to beauty? Well, look no further. The answer is hanging on a branch. What is the tree trying to tell us? (a) drink more water (b) find the naked man (c) stay out of the woods (d) don’t eat strange…

• Tadpoles taste like chicken

  Lynn

  20 May 2013 | 2:00 am

  Do you ever want run through a china shop and break all the dishes? Are you tempted to yell “Hurry up” in the middle of a sermon? Please tell me I’m not the only one. The other day, I was soooooo tempted to scoop up a handful of tadpoles…and eat ‘em. You’re nodding your head in sympathy, right? You’ve wanted to slurp down some tadpoles, huh? Please? Hello? Is anyone out there? I was desperate to escape the urge to snack on tadpoles. I needed a distraction, FAST. Ah, what’s this? A vine! Tarzan uses vines to travel through the forest. And Tarzan…

• I like to beat my husband. Do you?

  Lynn

  17 May 2013 | 2:00 am

  I like to beat my husband. Do you? I beat him as often as possible, especially when he’s pestering me. Regular beatings help keep a marriage equal…and just make me feel good. Wait a minute. I’m talking about beating my husband at basketball. You knew that, right? Unfortunately, I have to keep beating my husband because I vacuumed my car. Yep, I vacuumed my car right after our honeymoon, and sucked up the film from our trip. That was back in the fifteenth century, when folks used 35 mm film. My film happened to have pictures that PROVED I beat him in a game of arcade…

• Perhaps flashing my bra wasn’t a good idea

  Lynn

  15 May 2013 | 2:00 am

  Ever want to make men go slack-jawed in amazement the instant you appear? Go to a golf course. Guys faint when they see a woman on their turf. Frankly, I’m getting tired of the reaction. In fact, I kind of had a meltdown two days ago at the golf club. My husband took me golfing for Mother’s Day. All the other guys acted like they’ve never seen a woman before. They stared at me like I’d sprouted two strange lumps on my ribcage. I got mad. I decided to show them I belonged, darn it. I thought it would be cool to hop out of our golf cart while it was still moving.

• 

  harassedmom.co.za

• Exams and 300 words a minute!

  LauraKim

  24 May 2013 | 3:52 am

  Kiara’s SS/NS teacher is slowly restoring my faith in teachers. Kiara passed a test this week – this is huge for us and the teacher knows this. She gave her a sticker and a lovely comment in her book as well as mentioning she is doing well in class. Kiara was walking on sunshine yesterday. We needed this a week before exams just to get her confidence up a little. I mentioned to Debby yesterday that I was considering keeping the kids at home today to study because we are just not where I think we should be. There is A LOT of work to cover. I think it is too much (140 pages of NS,…

• Touch, pause, engage!

  LauraKim

  23 May 2013 | 3:39 am

    I just gave myself a big high five! Why? Because this morning I managed to get the kids to school (both with breakfast eaten and lunch packed), had my underarms waxed (complete with awkward moment where the owner of the salon walked in and stood with the door wide open apologising for walking in??), full gym session (I now can barely walk), cleaned the house properly, caught up on the washing (IT NEVER ENDS) and made dinner! GO ME!!!!!! It has taken over a week for me to get to this point and I only reached it because David’s mom took Jack for a few hours this morning. But…

• Organising is a journey, not a destination

  LauraKim

  21 May 2013 | 2:25 am

  I am battling a little bit to find my groove since getting back from honeymoon. There is still wedding stuff everywhere (it’s not as pretty as it was BEFORE the wedding though), there are empty boxes from all our gifts everywhere (the kids made forts and recycling day is tomorrow), there are study notes and text books all over (exams start next Monday). It’s all just a little chaotic and I am struggling to work through it all. I am really battling with my honeymoon post not because it wasn’t awesome. It was. Zanzibar is just a complex country. It is a 3rd world country in…

• So parenting is hard and it is supposed to be!

  LauraKim

  20 May 2013 | 2:18 am

  We went away this weekend with my friend Ansie and her family. It was a last minute decision and I was so glad we decided to go with. It was a really great weekend. Ansie has 3 boys and when they were younger she would say to me that moms with more than 2 boys have their spots in heaven reserved. After this weekend I can see why. Her boys aren’t naughty but they are BOYS, which means they wrestle, punch, tease and rough house pretty much all the time. I always wanted boys but after this weekend I am kinda hoping baby 4 is a girl :-p We had a few conversations during the weekend about…

• What’s changed?

  LauraKim

  16 May 2013 | 1:02 am

  My parents watched all 3 kids for us while we were away except for the weekend when Jack went to David’s mom. A few days into our trip my mom posted this as her FB status It is wonderful being here with the kids but between the old man and me we are battling to keep our heads above water. The kids and even the cleaning is fine. School the dreaded school, fetching ,sport, homework, projects, tests…….. the list goes on and on. I just wonder if the school sends out the compulsory deposit for next year now because you are so exhausted by this time of the year that you dont even…

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  Maryland Family Now - baltimoresun.com

• Free tickets to Kenny Chesney concert on May 25

  22 May 2013 | 12:47 pm

  We have a pair of tickets to give away to the Kenny Chesney concert , which is Saturday, May 25, at FedEx Field. Parking pass included. If you'd like them, please email your name and phone number to khenry@baltsun.com and be sure to put "Kenny Chesney" in the subject line. 

• Slow and steady gets momma back into shape

  21 May 2013 | 11:57 am

  With nursing behind me, I feel like it's time to get back in shape. Not only do I have more time, but less physical restraints.

• A picky eater is born ...

  21 May 2013 | 11:49 am

  Guess what happens when baby spits out all of her dinner (9 offerings, mind you) instead of swallowing it?

• Should disturbing news affect our parenting choices?

  17 May 2013 | 10:00 am

  I've never been one to let sensational news guide by parenting. I send the kids off to school each day without thinking of the terrible Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

• Moms Pump Here: A resource for nursing moms

  15 May 2013 | 12:58 pm

  Danielle's "gift" to me on Mother's Day weekend was calling it quits on nursing.

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  Gummy Lump Toys Blog

• Making Window Clings with Kids #craft

  23 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  by Amanda from Crafts-N-Things for Children for GummyLump.com for ages 2 & up with Adult Participation and Supervision Have you ever tried DIY Window Clings? I have found that they are actually pretty easy to make. Now that we have made some, I think that these will be fun to make at different times throughout the upcoming years because they are simple, fun, and a great way to personalize or make your own designs for things like the holidays and seasons. It would also be cute way to make your kids favorite cartoon characters.... and lots of them for cheaper than they would be in the…

• Taking a Look Inside Our Bodies #kids #activity

  22 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  from Alvina of There's Magic Out There This past week me and my munchkin have been learning about what is inside of us. This is a tough one for kids because its hard to imagine just how much really is under our skin that makes us who we are. I decided to try to find an easy and simple way to start. Whats better than with a puzzle?  Read more »Wooden Toys from GummyLump.com: Toys That Make Sweet Memories

• Going on a Shape Hunt #kids #activity

  15 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  by Ashley Moore from Life with Moore Babies Shapes are everywhere. Everything we see from signs, to houses, to animals, to letters, we recognize them as specific shapes. Shapes are the basis for math, reading, and writing. Children first have to recognize differences in shape before they can recognize differences in numbers and letters.  Just teaching shapes by looking at the shape is good, but seeing shapes in everyday objects is even better. To practice this we went on a Shape Hunt! Read more »Wooden Toys from GummyLump.com: Toys That Make Sweet Memories

• Cupcake Liner Flower Card #kids #craft

  10 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  from Whitney of It's Gravy Baby for ages 2yo and up with Adult Participation and Supervison Handmade greeting cards can me special momentos that friends and family hold onto for many years.  Catching a glimpse of one in a drawer or a box many years after that child has grown up or even had a child of their own can instantly bring back sweet memories of those small hands and precious face. This cupcake liner card can work for Mother's Day, Get Well Soon or even Just Because. Read more »Wooden Toys from GummyLump.com: Toys That Make Sweet Memories

• Creating Art with Non-Traditional Tools #kids #activity

  8 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  by Alvina of There's Magic Out There Creativity is an awesome tool to have in life, To be able to think outside the box is something we want our children to be able to do. When most people think about painting they think paintbrushes or finger painting but there are many other ways to create Art and we had fun exploring some of those this weekend.  Read more »Wooden Toys from GummyLump.com: Toys That Make Sweet Memories

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  Baby Sleep Help | Toddler Sleep Help | Custom Sleep Help - The Baby Sleep Site

• How TV Affects Your Toddler or Preschooler’s Sleep

  Emily DeJeu

  21 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.babysleepsite.com/feed/ Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

• 5 Things You Need to Know About Baby and Toddler Naps

  Emily DeJeu

  14 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.babysleepsite.com/feed/ Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

• How Mom Can Sleep More Now That Baby’s Finally Sleeping

  Emily DeJeu

  7 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.babysleepsite.com/feed/ Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

• Celebrating Motherhood and Giveaway!

  Kimberly

  5 May 2013 | 7:01 pm

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.babysleepsite.com/feed/ Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

• When Baby Sleep Books Contradict Each Other

  Nicole Johnson

  30 Apr 2013 | 6:00 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.babysleepsite.com/feed/ Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

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  Playground Confidential

• On Getting Out of the House

  rebecca

  21 May 2013 | 7:36 am

  It was a lazy holiday Monday morning. Ed had to go into the office — something to do with a video of our mayor smoking crack at a drug dealer’s apartment, I don’t know — and I planned to drive the kids out to Scarborough to visit Ed’s parents. We’d had a late breakfast and [...]The post On Getting Out of the House appeared first on Playground Confidential.

• In Defense of Sports

  rebecca

  16 May 2013 | 10:31 am

  Don’t let the sunshine and chirping birds fool you. A long shadow has been cast upon my city and with the Toronto Blue Jays sitting dead last in their division it could be a cool summer, indeed. Last Monday, we let our seven-year-old son stay up way past his bedtime to watch perhaps the most [...]The post In Defense of Sports appeared first on Playground Confidential.

• Be Still My Grammar-Nerd Heart

  rebecca

  13 May 2013 | 8:00 am

  Where do I even begin, dear readers? How about with the basic grammatical convention of only using capital letters to begin a sentence or to demarcate proper nouns? Uppercase letters are not sprinkles. You don’t scatter them willy-nilly throughout your sentences. There’s a minor spelling error. “Maks” should obviously be “makes.” No biggie. Proofreading is [...]The post Be Still My Grammar-Nerd Heart appeared first on Playground Confidential.

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  SafeMama.com

• Babo Botanicals Swim & Sport Collection (Giveaway!)

  SafeMama Kathy

  17 May 2013 | 6:37 am

  Down here in Georgia, school is wrapping up, weather is getting warmer and we’re outside a lot.  Preschool is official finished for the year and public schools are finishing up next week.  That means it’s almost officially summer vacation! Swimming! Outside! Beach! Car Trips! Lightning Bugs! In celebration of getting the new Sunscreen Cheat Sheet [...]

• It’s That Time of Year: Sunscreen!

  SafeMama Kathy

  10 May 2013 | 5:40 am

  I have finally released this years 2013 Sunscreen Cheat Sheet  - this is the first pass of the year and I’ll add/edit as the summer season goes on.  I anticipate a couple of changes or tweaks based on what the EWG does with their list this year.  That always adds a dynamic to it, but [...]

• Safer Options: Jack n’ Jill Natural Toothpaste

  SafeMama Kathy

  1 May 2013 | 1:36 pm

  I get a lot of questions about my “favorite” toothpaste for kids.  I used to use a few different brands but never really had a perfect solution.  Recently Jack n’ Jill sent me some samples of their Natural Toothpastes and I fell head over heels in love with this brand.  I’ll tell you about the [...]

• EcoCentric Mom March Mom Box

  SafeMama Kathy

  17 Apr 2013 | 12:48 pm

  I’m a little late in reporting on the fantastic goodies I received in the March Mom Box from EcoCentricMom.com.  I probably sound like a broken record but I really do enjoy getting a box of fun eco-friendly surprises each month.  Somehow, each month seems to coincide with something going on with me.  This month provided [...]

• SafeMama on The Moo-ve with Stonyfield YoKids Yogurt Smoothies (Giveaway!)

  SafeMama Kathy

  28 Mar 2013 | 2:48 pm

  Winter can be long (as evidence of all these wintery weekends we have been having) and filling time with the kids, doing something together and productive, can be tough! When you want to just curl up on the couch with a movie, the kids are bouncing off the walls.  So I recently took my kids [...]

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  Family Anatomy

• Anatomy of Diagnosis (Episode 163)

  Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.

  20 May 2013 | 6:30 pm

  On The Couch (Explored) by Pascal(http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasukaru76/5023702628/in/photostream/) Doctors Brian and Giuseppe discuss new diagnostic categories that could label grieving as depression and temper tantrums as a psychiatric disorder. The controversial new Diagnostic Manual for psychiatric disorders is about to be published, with new diagnostic categories What does it mean when there are new diagnostic labels for “natural behaviours”, such as temper tantrums? What are the pros and cons of diagnosis? Should you be concerned about the stigma related to mental health…

• Anatomy of Divorce (Episode 162)

  Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.

  6 May 2013 | 1:48 pm

  The Truth About Children and Divorce by Dr. Robert Emery Doctor Spezzano speaks with Dr. Robert Emery, author of The Truth About Children and Divorce, about managing the impact of divorce on children. Topics discussed include: What helps children to be resilient when coping with divorce? What interferes with children’s ability to deal with their parents’ divorce? What is the role of dads after divorce? Should parents stay together for the sake of the kids? Listen here: … or right click here to save the episode for later. You can also get your free podcast subscription in…

• Anatomy of Sports (FA Retro)

  Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.

  22 Apr 2013 | 3:34 pm

  Soccer – Army Youth Sports by USAG-Humphreys To keep score or not to keep score? Doctors Brian and Giuseppe talk about the impact of sports on their own kids, along with what the research says. Are competitive sports OK for young kids? How does playing sports affect the development of self-confidence and other skills? How can coaches help kids to feel satisfied about their performance? Find out what we think in this week’s episode! Listen here: … or right click here to save the episode for later. You can also get your free podcast subscription in iTunes. If you use iTunes, you…

• Anatomy of Five Years (Episode 161)

  Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.

  8 Apr 2013 | 4:52 pm

  Business calendar from www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/ Family Anatomy is 5 years old! Doctors Brian and Giuseppe talk about the evolution of their approach to working with families, and changes that they’ve made over the 5 years of the podcast. A renowned expert in child development joins them in the studio as a surprise guest. Find out about: the shift from a behavioural approach to a focus on the relationship between parents and children overcoming prior learning to shift to more effective strategies for helping children the importance of the parent-child relationship in helping…

• Anatomy of Pain (Episode 160)

  Dr. Brian MacDonald, C. Psych.

  25 Mar 2013 | 6:00 pm

  The Pain Detective by Dr. Finestone Doctors Brian and Giuseppe speak with Dr. Hillel Finestone, author of The Pain Detective, about how stress can affect pain and healing. Topics include: Pain and the mind-body connection Effects of stress on pain, wounds, and healing Pain risk factors What doctors (and patients) should know about pain Find out all about pain in this week’s show! Listen here: … or right click here to save the episode for later. You can also get your free podcast subscription in iTunes. If you use iTunes, you can leave a review! Leave us a comment, or you can…

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  Rave & Review

• Travel must-have: The Scrubba Wash Bag

  Leanne

  22 May 2013 | 11:54 pm

  As people who travel a lot, we have learned that it pays to pack light. No one ever brags about how much luggage they had to haul around on vacation, but ending up with no clothes to wear halfway through vacation is no one’s dream, either. At this point, we’ve gotten our packing down to a science and we bring only the essentials. A big portion of this is planning on washing and rewearing clothing on long vacations so you don’t need a full new outfit each day. While this might sound like the perfect plan, problems arise when you can’t find a good place to wash those clothing items…

• We love the Wummelbox craft and learning kits {Review}

  Leanne

  20 May 2013 | 10:58 pm

  Time travel is something that holds a special place in my heart. Technically, time travel is responsible for hubby’s and my first date ever. Okay, not actual time travel, but a theoretical discussion on the merits and limits of time travel that led to an impasse that led to a bet: declared loser buys dinner for declared winner. I lost the bet. But, I’m pretty sure he bought me dinner. And, we’ve been together ever since, which I suppose we can thank time travel for. I was already excited when I found out we were going to get the opportunity to review a new Wummelbox craft kit through…

• Kids Bowl FREE all summer long

  Leanne

  20 May 2013 | 12:50 pm

  With summer on the horizon, I know many of you are thinking about programs you can enroll your kids in during the break to avoid break boredom. I’ve heard everything thrown out amongst friends from Chinese classes to playdates at the park, but I’ve got something more exciting up my sleeve: bowling. Just like archery, sports, and musical talents, my husband would also like our kiddos to be amazing bowlers. For this reason, my announcement that we would be participating in the Kids Bowl Free program this summer was a very welcome announcement to him and the kids. Have you heard of the Kids…

• Fitness goals made easy with AT&T {Fitbit Zip Giveaway}

  Leanne

  17 May 2013 | 1:36 am

  It’s that time of year again when you shed your sweaters and jackets and get all ready for warmer weather and summer clothes… and then you realize that the dreaded swimsuit season is on the horizon again. But, this year I’m going to be ready for it, thanks to a very welcome present from AT&T. What does AT&T have to do with my fitness, you ask? A whole lot, now that AT&T carries a range of smart fitness products that can communicate with your smartphone and help you track your fitness goals. Why do you need a fitness product, you ask, isn’t that what diet and exercise are…

• Ready, Set, GLOW! with our Glidden Disney paint makeover

  Leanne

  17 May 2013 | 12:25 am

  When we finally moved my son to his own room, it was a big blank beige box and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do to really make it his. Ideally, it would be something fun that really reflects who he is, but also something more mature that he can grow into so we won’t have to redecorate every few years. We ended up deciding on a “vintage world traveler” room and it really couldn’t fit our train/car/bus enthusiast any better. With maps, compasses, airplanes, trains, cars, and vintage suitcases to complete the look, I thought we were done decorating… but then I was introduced…

• 

  Being a Mummy

• Gardening with Kids

  Claire Walsh

  22 May 2013 | 12:31 am

  One of the things we love doing is growing our own food and flowers. Organic gardening has become one of my passions in life. Several years ago I decided to try to grow some runner beans in pots and now I have a couple of fairly large raised vegetable beds, chickens and a selection of fruit trees. From the moment my first son could toddle he has helped me in the garden, using his own miniature versions of gardening tools to learn the basics of weeding, sowing seeds and looking for slugs and aphids. Gardening with kids can be so inspirational, their joy at digging up a potato or eating a…

• Guest Post: 3 of the best cheap holidays in Britain

  Claire Walsh

  20 May 2013 | 3:08 am

  I'm really keen to hear other peoples ideas for cheap family holidays in the UK. We love going to Norfolk, Dorset and the kids love Butlins but I'm keen to get other ideas because as the kids get bigger I think they will start to want to explore different areas. Writer Jane Blackmore has some great ideas: When you become a parent your ideals of what makes a good holiday often change from your thoughts pre-children.  Certainly before my three small ones came along I delighted in journeying to exotic lands where I could lose myself in culture, see sights that would tantalise my eyes and…

• Legoland Windsor Duplo Valley

  Claire Walsh

  19 May 2013 | 1:05 pm

  We are big fans of Legoland Windsor in our household, it never fails to make a fun memorable day out which exhausts the kids so they sleep well and long. Thats a good thing. Since our last visit we have been eagerly awaiting the new Duplo Valley attraction.  Duplo Valley is one of our favourite zones because it really sits brilliantly well within the age group for all the kids, so they can all get involved, even little one year old Ned and we couldn't wait to tryout the new and improved area. Entering Duplo Valley (@daddacool leads the way) The kids pretending to be lego men Duplo Valley…

• Review: My Little Baby Born I Can Swim

  Claire Walsh

  15 May 2013 | 12:41 pm

  Since I began childminding I have realised that its really interesting to see how different children interact with different toys and so for this particular doll I thought it would be nice to get a friend of mine to review it with her daughters: My two girls, P. aged five and three year old M., have been badgering me about this toy ever since they saw the TV advert – so we were delighted to be given the chance to try one out! The doll itself is made from a soft plastic with moveable arms and legs. She is wearing a very pretty swimsuit, and the girls really enjoyed getting her ready for the…

• Film Review: Epic

  Claire Walsh

  12 May 2013 | 12:29 pm

  Ever since The Croods screening when the children saw a trailer for Epic they have been bubbling over with excitement at seeing the film. Finally the day came *thank god, the meltdown I would have had at being asked if it was the day yet*. Epic is from the same team that bought us Ice Age and Rio and according to my 6 year old boy 'much, much, much better than Ice Age and Rio with awesome fighting...' The story revolves around a forest where there is a battle for its survival going on.  Basically its a good versus evil kinda thing. The plot is deepened by the inclusion of human girl…

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  So Not Zen

• Where DIY meets WTF...

  23 May 2013 | 10:40 am

  Helllloooooooo? Is anyone out there? Is this thing on?  It's been a while. I'm dusting off the ole' blog to come at you with some craftiness. WHAT? I know!  As they say on Regretsy .... Where DIY meets WTF.  Yup. That's me. But my beautiful friend Keetha has faith in me, and with the inspiration of she and MayBelle, I hope to get the creative juices flowing once again by participating in a blogging/crafting project. Our first theme is "begin," and our first medium is "paper." Beyond those parameters, it is to each her own. I poured through the pages of Pinterest, when…

• Holidays, a Retrospective

  2 Jan 2013 | 11:15 pm

  Thanksgiving Month between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day after Christmas   New years eve   That pretty much sums it up. And you? Posted from my iPad with Blogsy

• Things you should know

  17 Oct 2012 | 7:11 pm

  1. I was inappropriately and deeply saddened by the Rob/Kristen cheating scandal and subsequent breakup. I am equally thrilled beyond reason (for a woman of my age) with their reunion. What is wrong with me? 2. Carlie got a DSLR camera for an early Christmas gift. It is hers and I need to leave her alone with it, but I am helicopter parenting the shit out of that thing.  3. I have lost my running mojo, my writing mojo and my work mojo. I am rolling in eat-everything mojo though, so I've got that going for me. Bring on the Halloween candy.  4. I got an iPhone 5 The. Day. They.

• Pimp my condo

  7 Sep 2012 | 12:52 pm

  So, I am totally fixated on this bedroom storage idea, because having more space to stow my shit is an infinitely better option than having to get rid of my shit. I've already downsized, so shut up. we are just cramped. for. space up in this condo. If you click here to the blog post on Young House Love, you'll see that what's behind those curtains on each side of the bed are Ikea wardrobes. I think the look is nice, and the extra storage is exactly what I need. Neeeeeeeeed. I'll still stick with my funky vintage decor (though this posh look does speak to me) but the main idea here is…

• PSA: Not every idea on Pinterest is a good idea

  6 Sep 2012 | 9:22 am

  Welcome to my blog, where today we will learn many valuable lessons, such as (a) I should totally go back to school and get a master's in photojournalism, because I've got this shit nailed (b) not everyone who posts shit on Pinterest actually test drives their "pins" before posting them, and (c) if you are hungry, and delicious food is only two blocks away, for the love of all that is holy just get off your ass and walk the two fucking blocks. BONUS LESSON (d) I have not blogged in so long, I don't know how to make this text left aligned versus centered, so (e) use it or lose it. Our story…

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  About.com Working Moms

• Special Time: the Cure for Children's Temper Tantrums

  23 May 2013 | 9:41 am

  When my youngest daughter was about three years old, she drained our parenting toolbox. Time outs, counting to three, sticker charts and other punishment-reward based methods didn't work on her as easily as they had with her older sisters. We needed new strategies for running an efficient household and leading a happy family. Read Full PostSpecial Time: the Cure for Children's Temper Tantrums originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 16:41:05.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Your Comeback to the Request, "Don't Go to Work, Mom!"

  18 May 2013 | 1:28 am

  Two friends of mine recently went back to work after staying home with their kids for years. One is working part-time while her children are in school and the other is working nights and weekends. Read Full PostYour Comeback to the Request, "Don't Go to Work, Mom!" originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Saturday, May 18th, 2013 at 08:28:35.Permalink | Comment |

• Brush Up on the Working Moms' Dictionary

  29 Apr 2013 | 11:34 pm

  One of the dangers of being a journalist on a beat is that you start using the buzzwords and short hand phrases of your area of interest without remembering that readers may not be familiar with terms like "mommy track" or "motherhood penalty." I was reminded of this during a conversation last weekend with my parents and a couple of their friends. Read Full PostBrush Up on the Working Moms' Dictionary originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 at 06:34:20.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• What I Wish I'd Learned in Kindergarten

  29 Apr 2013 | 6:03 am

  When my daughter started kindergarten, we had prepared her so thoroughly. We'd arranged playdates with other incoming kindergarteners at our local elementary school, drilled her on reading and math, taught her the home phone number and address, and reviewed the daily schedule ad nauseum. Is it any wonder that she jumped onto the school bus on the first day with nary a glance back? Read Full PostWhat I Wish I'd Learned in Kindergarten originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Monday, April 29th, 2013 at 13:03:50.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• My Book Review of How Children Succeed

  3 Apr 2013 | 10:17 am

  Everywhere you turn these days, people seem to be talking about how to raise successful children, the topic of journalist Paul Tough's book How Children Succeed. Clicking through the channels the other day, I caught Ezekiel Emanuel speaking on MSNBC about his new book The Brothers Emanuel, which explores how the Emanuel family produced a high-powered Hollywood agent, a White House chief of staff and acclaimed doctor and bioethicist. Read Full PostMy Book Review of How Children Succeed originally appeared on About.com Working Moms on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013 at 17:17:10.Permalink | Comment |…

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  Sprittibee

• Bless your Feet – Part 3 (4 Part Series)

  Heather

  23 May 2013 | 10:20 am

  In case you are just joining the foot discussion, you’ll be completely lost without reading post 1 and 2 of the series first. We are talking about Spiritual Feet today… first we covered the basics, then we covered GOOD Spiritual Feet…. and now we’re talking about the BAD Spiritual Feet – and what they may look like. The devil has feet. Where do you suppose his feet take him? I can tell you – because it’s revealed to us in scripture: Job 1:6-7 – One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The…

• Asparagus and Eggs – Two Ways

  Heather

  20 May 2013 | 10:23 pm

  My latest food crush grows in ditches and tastes like summer. I always hated asparagus growing up, but have come to really like it as an adult. In my early married years I tried baking it a few times, and even enjoyed success with it when I had it smothered in sauces. My white Béchamel Mornay cheese sauce was a favorite. However, I usually ended up with asparagus that dried out, so I never could understand why people loved it so much. Once I started pan-frying it in butter, my entire perspective changed. Or maybe I just grew up a little. Or my taste buds matured. Who knows? I ended up with a…

• HOME and GARDEN 101, Ironite and a Sponsored Give-Away

  Heather

  17 May 2013 | 4:05 pm

  What could be better on a homeschool mama’s blog this time of year than a “Home and Garden 101″ series (which is happily sponsored by Central Pet & Garden – who are also providing my readers with a 25$ AMEX gift card give away)? Make sure to read to the end so you can enter to win 25$ – and come back every Friday from now through the next 4 weeks to win more! I apologize up front for not having as many photos in this post. I was busy taking video instead! Click to watch below… - – - – - – - - After having two babies in two years, my…

• OH HAI there…

  Heather

  16 May 2013 | 10:27 am

  OH HAI there! It’s been a while since we just had some over-the-fence neighborly talk. They say that random posts aren’t allowed, but for people who thrive on random (like my bunny-trail loving self), I beg to differ. My brain has been on lists lately. End of school lists, grocery and pantry inventory lists, house refinance paperwork lists, to-do lists… Take today for instance… it’s the last day of Spanish class for my kids. We’re meeting at the park for them to put on a puppet show in Spanish. I have no idea what we’re taking for our picnic. Which is…

• Microsoft Store Events, Products, Twitter Party & 100$ Give Away

  Heather

  13 May 2013 | 2:53 pm

  I’ve been invited to be a part of a number of really cool campaigns that companies create to reach out to the public. This week’s campaign is one of those that rates high on the “COOL FACTOR”. I get to tell you about the Microsoft Store, today – and to offer my readers a 100$ Microsoft Store gift card (P.S. they sell Xboxes, Microsoft Points Cards for gamers, and Windows Phones there). I appologize in advance that the post is long, but I promise you’ll learn something cool about Microsoft Stores that you probably don’t know… and even if you love…

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  Attachment Parenting International Blog

• A Day To Live Again

  Amy Glenn

  20 May 2013 | 5:57 am

    Oh little boy. If I could just pick one day in my life to live over and over again, it may well be today. Why not? It was a perfect day with you. We played in the ocean. You “swam” with my hands on your body offering support, guidance, and safety. You loved the waves! You tasted the salt water on your lips with wonder. The sunlight sparkled in your big, blue eyes. May you always nurture your connection to the outdoors and honor the mother ocean, a vital source of life on this earth. When we got home, you laughed with me as you played tag around the brown arm-chair in the front…

• How Children Succeed

  Leyani

  17 May 2013 | 6:57 am

  I am walking through Target with my three year old and stop to brows the book section. I am a sucker for parenting books and this title really caught my eye. “How CHILDREN SUCCEED” it blared in all caps. I picked it up expecting to read about a regiment of early chess lessons and lots of worksheets. But then I read the subtitle “Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character” and I decided maybe this would be something worth reading. I must have had the good book fairy on my shoulder that day because in my quick skim I stumbled on the quote below. As I read tears…

• Chores Without Threats or Bribery

  Kelly Bartlett

  15 May 2013 | 6:56 am

  Contributing to household tasks and responsibilities is a great way for children to feel a sense of belonging. While at first, household contributions may only seem necessary to teach kids about responsibility (true; they do) and prevent a sense of entitlement (they do that, too), it may be surprising to learn that they also contribute something important to the attachment process. Completing a job that benefits everyone not only instills a sense of personal responsibility, but also a sense of importance in the family. There is a sense of pride and participation a child feels in helping out.

• You Made Me a Mom

  Leyani

  10 May 2013 | 6:49 am

  Attachment Parenting International wishes mothers everywhere a Happy Mother’s Day!   I was chatting with a very pregnant friend the other day. After we discussed logistics and baby boy clothes she said. “I just want my daughter to know that she is still special to me.” My friend got tears in her eyes and I remembered so clearly feeling the same way when expecting my second child. “Tell her she made you a mom,” I said remembering a recent moment with my first born when this idea occurred to me. I’d been trying to figure out how to let her know that she…

• Attachment, a Surprising Love Story

  Megan (memomuse)

  8 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  I called my friend, Javaughn in a panic on my way home from work (I started a part-time job as a teacher recently).  ”I have a post due for APtly Said tomorrow and I have not written anything. What should I write about?” Then she began talking about her own experience with co-sleeping and how it has made a positive impact on her family’s nighttime parenting routine. Javaughn Renee’s beautiful essay (she is such a gifted writer and artist) illustrates that Attachment Parenting can be adapted to meet individual families’ needs. Take what you like and leave the…

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  Pancakes and French Fries

• Happy, Happy

  Jules

  24 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  The Mister was gone all this week–he gets back late Friday night–and I survived! I’m glad school is over in a few weeks. I’ll have the summer to get used to this new schedule. One thing I’ve realized the last three weeks of flying mostly solo is that having some freezer meals/crockpot meals ready is key. It’s too tempting when it’s just me and the boys to eat light or get take out. That’s fine when he was traveling a few times a quarter, but several times per month is a different story. Any tips? Monday On Monday I spent hours working on my book…

• What Hasn’t Worked

  Jules

  23 May 2013 | 12:53 pm

  Not too many of my projects have been complete failures, thank goodness. I can’t recall if I’ve had to scrap any of them, but with many of them almost 18 months old they need to be revisited. Possessions need to be reevaluated, items need to be culled and reorganized, and everything needs a general spring cleaning. It’s one of the universal truths of The William Morris Project: Only the dead are done. Real, living, breathing people make messes and collect clutter and keep pens that don’t write well. They put things in drawers when they don’t have the time or…

• Crazy Hair Day

  Jules

  22 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  Nicholas has been waiting for this moment for three years. Above is a picture of Mikey in the 1st grade during spirit week. Every year the school has a week of lunacy where the kids have crazy hair, wear their clothes backwards, dress to represent their heritage, show up in pajamas, represent their favorite sport or team–the themes change slightly every year, but crazy hair day is a given. For three years Nico has watched Mikey leave the house with crazy hair and for three years he has wanted in on the action. Here is Mikey this year, two short years later. He didn’t look like a…

• A Spear of Summer Grass (Review and Giveaway)

  Jules

  21 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  I wrote and scheduled this post before the events in Oklahoma. What a nightmare. My prayers are with the victims and their families. Don’t believe the stories you have heard about me. I have never killed anyone, and I have never stolen another woman’s husband. Oh, if I find one lying around unattended, I might climb on, but I never took one that didn’t want taking. And I never meant to go to Africa. I blame it on the weather. It was a wretched day in Paris, grey and gloomy and spitting with rain, when I was summoned to my mother’s suite at the Hotel de Crillon. I had…

• 365: Body, Mind, Spirit | Week 20

  Jules

  20 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  Body, Mind, Spirit Drought tolerant plants photographed this week, top to bottom, are as follows: Salvia (aka Mexican sage, which is actually in the mint family) Alpine daisy Lantana Agapanthus Bottle brush Night blooming iris Daylily This week I decided to focus on drought tolerant plants, partly to protect myself against photo-failure in the event of another heat wave (good move, we had triple digits), and partly to showcase the variety and color you can still achieve for your garden with drought tolerant, hardy plants. All of these plants require full sun and little water with the…

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  Ziggy's Blog

• TEEN TRENDS: GO AHEAD...TALK TO YOUR TEENAGER!

  19 May 2013 | 7:33 am

  I hadn't realized that it has been almost a month since I last posted, but...what can I say?  Since my mother passed away, I haven't been excited about doing anything.  I did graduate on April 27...finally!!  I also have a job as a special education teacher starting August 1.   I decided to bring one of my older posts to the front line, because it is so important that parents talk to their teens (and I mean more than just a couple of minutes of asking "how was school today?")  If you still have little ones at home, I give tips on starting to talk to your child…

• YOU ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU THINK!

  18 Apr 2013 | 12:18 pm

  I know I have neglected my blog, and I apologize, but I graduate April 27!!!  And I have a job interview, with the special education director of a local school district!!! In the past, I have promoted Dove.  I love how Dove instills in girls that there is more to a girl than just her looks.  As  women, we tend to be critical of how we look (at least I know I do).  Our teenage daughters are especially critical of themselves, comparing their looks and body to those of TV stars and models.   Well, Dove did it again.  In the video below, two…

• Take A "Peep" Into The Past

  11 Mar 2013 | 9:16 pm

  Who remembers loving marshmallows as a child?  Okay! I'll admit I still LOVE those marshmallow peeps.  So in honor of the "Peep" (and Easter), here are a few facts about Peeps: Marshmallow Peeps are 59 years old this year (2013). In 1953, it took 27 hours to create one peep.  Today, it takes six minutes. This Easter, more than 700 million peeps chicks, bunnies, and eggs with be consumed b y men, women, and children throughout the United States and abroad. Strange things people like to do with peeps: eat them stale, microwave them, freeze them, roast them, and use them as pizza…

• MINUTE - READY TO SERVE (RICE)

  5 Mar 2013 | 7:00 pm

  I have a very picky eater in my house; a beautiful, 17-year-old teenager. She has always been a picky eater, even as a baby.  Her diet mainly consists of chicken, french fries, mac & cheese, and pizza, with a burger every now and then. The only  vegetable she will eat is corn.    While I also like chicken, french fries, mac & cheese, and pizza, there are other foods that I also enjoy.  The only problem is...I am a single mom, and although I have two girls, April (above) is the only one left at home.  Soooo, if I want to enjoy other…

• 10 TELLTALE SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED

  3 Mar 2013 | 8:12 pm

   I know it has been quite awhile since I last posted, but I have been so busy with student teaching. And last Wednesday, my dear, sweet momma lost her battle with cancer, and honestly, I have not felt like writing, but I don't want to neglect my blog and readers, so I have a guest post by NannyAgency.net. Bullying has been in the headlines a lot lately, but would you know if your child was being bullied?  Chances are your child won't tell you if he/she is being bullied...maybe out of fear or embarrassment.  Below are ten telltale signs that your child is being bullied.

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  MyBrownBaby

• Blended Families: How Couples Can Face Down Baby Mama/Daddy Drama—Together

  Denene@MyBrownBaby

  23 May 2013 | 10:02 pm

  By ERIC LEGETTE The statistics don’t lie: Over 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Many of these unions produce children and once parents “go their separate ways,” many become involved in a new... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• What We Need To Teach Black Children In the New Millenium

  Denene@MyBrownBaby

  22 May 2013 | 9:01 pm

  By SHAWN TAYLOR I am blessed to have received a great education. Maybe it was a time in U.S. history when educating our nation’s children was a priority, but I don’t feel anything was lacking in what... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Black Children and Disability: When Race and Stigma Collide, A Black Mom Goes Hard For Her Baby

  Denene@MyBrownBaby

  21 May 2013 | 9:01 pm

  By TARICE L.S. GRAY I entered parenthood fully embracing the idealism that can be associated with uncertainty. I believed my daughter would be different in the exceptional kind of way. Before she... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Beyonce’s Second Pregnancy: Advice For Dealing With Baby No. 2, From A Mom Who’s Been There

  Denene@MyBrownBaby

  20 May 2013 | 9:14 pm

  Before I hip Beyonce to the second baby game, I need my second baby, my little Lila, to know this one true thing: she was wanted, made from love and the product of lots of plotting and planning and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• President Obama’s Morehouse Speech: Encouraging Class Of 2013 To Be Great Black Men, Fathers

  Denene@MyBrownBaby

  20 May 2013 | 6:51 am

  I have to be honest: as much as I adore President Obama, I tend to watch his speeches in front of African Americans with baited breath, waiting for the moment when the beautiful words I expect him to... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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  The Mother Huddle

• Free Lipstick Case Pattern and Sewing Tutorial

  Destri

  23 May 2013 | 1:50 pm

  I have a thing for sewing little accessories lately – they’re just too much fun :).  You can use up little scraps and they make the perfect gifts.  Plus they’re fun, did I mention that?  The sewing tutorial I have for you today is just such a project – a lipstick case with a mirror.  Cute, no?  Oh so easy too. It folds up into this nice little compact, perfect for tucking into your purse.   Want to make one?  Sweet, I took a picture of every step and have the free pattern and full tutorial after the jump! Free Sewing Pattern and Sewing Tutorial For A Lipstick…

• My New Favorite Shoes

  Destri

  23 May 2013 | 6:58 am

  It’s not every day that you’ll see a review for shoes here on TMH, but I love these so much I had to share.  I even took a picture of them :). Now that’s love. I have mentioned before that I have quite possibly the widest feet known to man – when I shop for shoes I usually end up buying them simply because they fit. Last week I was doing some last minute shopping for a trip to Disney World and while looking for some tennies for my 4 year old I caught a glimpse of an “extra wide” sticker on a box of Skechers walking shoes.  I grabbed my size, slipped them…

• Playdate With Weight

  Aubrey

  22 May 2013 | 3:30 am

  Today we had a playdate with weight…that happened to turn out great!  :-)  Seriously though, it was so much fun!  If you are looking for a boredom buster or a rainy day activity, this one is perfect.  Playing with weight can be fun for any age with a little modification.   Fun With Weights   Supplies: scale (bathroom or kitchen) objects around the house pen and paper (optional) We began by weighing each of the girls while my six year old daughter recorded our findings.   We weighed all sorts of different items and toys and found out that dolls don’t weight very much. :)…

• No Boil Veggie Lasagna

  Maria

  21 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  I love lasagna, but I hate having to boil the noodles and dirty one more pot just to make it. It is so time consuming that way. My sister-in-law changed my life when I saw her making lasagna with uncooked  noodles. She said that as long as you only do two layers of noodles and they are each touching a fair amount of sauce it comes out fine. LIFE CHANGING! I have been making veggie lasagna regularly for years now with this No-boil knowledge. I think everyone needs to know this little secret. I did post about it back in the beginning, but that recipe is way back in the archives, so I…

• 18 Kitchen Tools Everyone Should Have in Their Kitchen

  Maria

  19 May 2013 | 1:39 pm

  {This post is part of a series called, “Maria’s Dine-In Challenge.” For details on the challenge click here.} Having the right tools in the kitchen can make all the difference. Cooking can be fun or it can be a chore. Over the years I have found that certain tools and products make cooking faster and more enjoyable for me. ‘I have also found that it is easier to involve children in the cooking process if you have the right tools. Take a gander at this list and see if these are items you have in your kitchen. If not I seriously recommend that you consider adding…

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  Desiree Allen

• Teen driving: Parental involvement helps teens become better drivers

  Desiree

  22 May 2013 | 7:59 am

  I did some pretty dumb stuff as a teen driver so I am a little nervous about my own children. Though, after being introduced to a national campaign surrounding teen driving safety recently, I feel as if I am better ready for the inevitable day when I help them learn to drive. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that one of the most dangerous years in a person’s life is the first 12 months after getting a driver’s license and research from The Allstate Foundation shows nearly half of parents express regret about not monitoring their teen driver after they get a license. More than…

• Drive it Home Show: Presented by the National Safety Council and Allstate Foundation

  Desiree

  14 May 2013 | 5:32 am

  Do you have a tween, teen, or are you concerned about teen driving safety? I’d love for you to join me at the Drive it Home Show, presented by the National Safety Council and Allstate Foundation, Wednesday, May 15 in Middletown, NJ. Details are as follows: What: Drive it Home Show, presented by the National Safety Council and Allstate Foundation When: Wednesday, May 15 from 7pm – 8:15pm Where: Middletown Arts Center — 36 Church St, Middletown, NJ 07748 Price: FREE! No ticket required. BONUS: You can enter in the sweepstakes at the event for a chance to win gas cards and a…

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  teachmama.com

• budgie and parakeet fun fact lunchbox notes: help kids find reliable sources online

  amy mascott

  22 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  We are now the proud owners of two budgies. Or parakeets. Or budgerigars. Two budgies.  Two boys (we hope!). Right. Apparently, all budgies are parakeets but not all parakeets are budgies. So we have budgies AND we have parakeets. And we’re learning as we go. But what better way of having my O-man–who was home with a cough that lasted forever and ever and ever–get his brain moving than by doing some non-fiction reading about his new birds? We practiced finding reliable sources online.  We did some reading of non-fiction texts.  And we summarized the information into happy…

• how to help your child remember what he reads

  amy mascott

  20 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  Some children are able to easily read the words on a page but cannot remember a lick of what they read. Believe it. Whole paragraphs, pages, chapters can sometimes decoded–words read, even fluently–but nothing.  The child remember nothing.  Frustrating right?  Believe me, it’s not all that unusual. And you can help! What can a parent do? What can a teacher do? What should the child do? Fear not.  There is help, and there are a handful of strategies that really do support this kind of struggle. I covered what to do when your child can’t remember what he reads over…

• raising word conscious kids: a chat with Mando and Rosita of Sesame Street

  amy mascott

  16 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  I can’t stress enough the importance of raising word-conscious kids. Words are everywhere, all around us. Why not capitalize on the learning opportunities available to us everywhere we turn? If we model a love and genuine interest in words, that will translate into our kids being more aware of words, being stronger readers, and being more eager to learn new things. Promise. This week, I had the incredible opportunity to spend time at the PBS Annual Meeting.  As one of the PBS Kids VIPs, several parent bloggers and I had a behind-the-scenes look at new programming, new ideas, and even…

• how to get your kids started with texting: texting 101

  amy mascott

  14 May 2013 | 3:00 am

      Texting is big. For tweens, it’s really big.  It’s like the coolest thing ever. And everyone is doing it (or so they think), and so Maddy has asked for months and months and months to have her very own phone so she can text her friends.  Share photos.  Do all the things she thinks every other 9 year old in the world can do except her. Quite frankly, my husband and I aren’t ready to get her a phone because we don’t think she needs one–and at 9 years old, she really doesn’t.  We also don’t want to buy her an iTouch just because the other kids…

• how to write limericks for loved ones

  amy mascott

  11 May 2013 | 4:00 am

      Who knew that National Limerick Day was May 12? It’s true.  National Limerick Day is celebrated on May 12 to honor Edward Lear, the creator of limericks. May 12 was Lear’s birthday.  Who knew? And while I’m at it, who knew that limericks could be a really fun way to show loved ones you care–in a totally fun, completely silly way, of course!? It’s been a long, long week here with two of us flat out with the worst colds we’ve had in ages, but Owen and I put aside our tissues and cough drops one afternoon long enough to really get silly with…

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  A Mothers Ramblings

• Snail Rolls - Top Ender's Friday Lunch And Big Boy's Too!

  24 May 2013 | 12:22 am

  It's been a while since I've explained how to make a Friday lunch, mainly because my Friday lunches have been a bit rubbish of late! Today however we have Snail Rolls for lunch for national escargot day (it's American don't worry you've not missed something huge happening to the British) and they turned out fairly lovely! To make the rolls, I simple used the play-doh method and made a sausage out of my dough and then wrapped one end round into a spiral to imitate the shell on the Snails back. Simple enough, but has already generated some conversation with some friends who saw the…

• Dinner Plans (W/C 25/05)

  23 May 2013 | 10:00 pm

  I've found that working from a set of meals so much easier to meal plan, I know that I asked a few weeks back about what people thought about set meals for a family on a monthly or weekly basis, but I think that I really am going to have to investigate this! Anyway, this is week five of the diet, so not long until I can weigh myself and see how well it has worked! Saturday - Chicken Satay We love Chicken Satay! I haven't made it for ages though so I'm looking forward to making it tonight with rice and salad. Sunday - Roast Chicken I do love a Sunday Roast and it is still a highlight of the…

• Hullabazoo at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

  21 May 2013 | 10:00 pm

  Whenever we go to my Mums we get to see Whipsnade Zoo, or rather the Lion on the Hill at Whipsnade Zoo. It cheers us up no end on sunny days and we always want to go and visit, and yesterday we got to go to go to the VIP launch of a brand new outdoor adventure play area which officially opens on the 25th May 2013. The park has been designed around animal movement, which is great for talking to the Children about what animals move like and why and also for letting them burn off a bit of excess energy before going to see one of the shows (the Birds and the Sea Lions were the two we went to) or…

• Evita - A Review

  21 May 2013 | 3:00 pm

  I don't think there is anyone who doesn't know at least one or two lines from at least one song from Evita, which is why I was really excited about going to see it at Milton Keynes Theatre because I know all the words, lines and songs from Evita. The other benefit, for my Mum in particular, was that Marti Pellow is in the show as she has always had a little bit of a thing for him. I chose not to mention that I had seen him in Blood Brothers a few months back or she might not have brought me an ice-cream in the interval! The great thing about the show, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim…

• Parental Guilt

  20 May 2013 | 10:00 pm

  I'm feeling guilty at the moment. For Top Ender's Ninth Birthday, I had planned on having a small meal for her with her friends at a restaurant. I'd be there as a parent, but I wouldn't sit at the table with them and they could basically have a lovely "grown up" evening together. Then with one thing and another it didn't happen. In fact Top's didn't even get a birthday cake. She got gifts of course, and a lot of money, and a lot of love and she even took over the Facebook page for the day (which she loved) and we did eventually make a cake that we said was to make up for her not having a…

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  GalTime - Love, Parenting, Beauty, Entertainment, Health, Recipes, Careers

• 5 Things to Do the Summer Before College

  Suzanne Shaffer

  24 May 2013 | 4:00 am

    If your teen is headed for college in the fall, you are inclined to rest on your laurels. After all, it has been 12 long years of pushing and encouraging your student toward academic excellence; and they are basking in the joy of that success. But before they pack up their things and head off to college, here are five things they should do during the summer: 1. Make time for R&R Senior year has been exhausting. Your teen has spent hours visiting colleges, taking SAT tests, applying to colleges and stressing over the final decision. Summer is time for them to rest and relax, and…

• How To Tell If Someone Likes You

  The Gaggle

  24 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  One of the questions I’m asked all the time, aside from, “Are you drunk?” is, “How do I tell if someone likes me? Like, likes me?” Well, it’s usually pretty simple how to tell if someone likes you. My answer to this is, “If you have to ask, they don’t like like you.” That’s number one. I know this may hurt, but if someone really liked you, you would know. And if a month passed by and they didn’t make a move, it’s not going to happen. But some people are diabolically shy, and make this a little harder…

• 10 Sunscreens To Try This Summer

  Kerri Winick

  24 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  The summer sun may feel good on your skin, but a stinging sunburn? Not so much. Here are 10 sunscreens we'll be wearing to help block harmful rays. Some are brand new, some are for kids, and some are old-standbys that we can't imagine a beach day without.     

• 8 Ways to Cut Cooling Costs

  GalTime Staff

  24 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  by Kendal Perez, Frugal Shopping Expert Heating and cooling our homes represents the biggest chunk of utility bills, according to the Department of Energy. About 54 percent of utility costs are attributed to heating and air conditioning, resulting in the majority of your monthly energy use. Despite this dismal discovery, there’s good news: You can reduce your energy consumption and resulting utility cost by as much as 50 percent with proper equipment, maintenance and daily practices. Take a look at these tips to help cut your cooling costs this summer: Prepare Your Windows: As much…

• Host a Memorable Memorial Day BBQ

  GalTime Staff

  23 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  by Catie Parrish, Associate Editor of WayFair.com In backyards and at block parties across the country, family and friends will come together on Memorial Day. Always observed on the last Monday in May, this holiday is a time to remember fallen servicemen and women, gather with neighbors, and celebrate the unofficial start of summer! Kick the season off right with a crowd-pleasing cookout. Here are some tips to make the day smooth and stress-free. Fire Up the Grill Make sure the grill is clean. One of the secrets to food that doesn’t stick is starting with a nice, clean surface…

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  Loving Your Child

• Keeping Kids Safe at Your Pool This Summer

  Priya Florence Shah

  24 May 2013 | 2:05 am

  As summer approaches, so too does pool season. If you have a pool in your backyard, it’s time to dust off those pool rules and reaffirm them with your kids. Safety is paramount to enjoying hot summer days splashing in cool, refreshing water. It’s also a good time to help your children understand how to balance responsibility with fun. Limited Access Presumably you have a lockable and child-safe fence around your pool. The first rule of the pool: if the fence is locked, it’s off limits. You, or another responsible adult, should be opening the fence and allowing swimming to…

• Teaching Financial Responsibility to a Toddler. What!?

  Priya Florence Shah

  23 May 2013 | 5:00 pm

  Children are fascinated with money starting at a very young age. The attraction usually starts with the beautiful round silver and copper coins when they are very young and then turns to paper money as they get older. It doesn’t take long before they realize that money can be exchanged for something better. This is the perfect time to introduce financial education to your offspring. What? Teach a pre-schooler finances? Crazy idea? Absolutely not. Before your child can even write his or her name on a bank deposit slip, he or she can learn the importance of saving those attractive coins.

• How To Talk to Your Children About a Cancer Diagnosis

  Priya Florence Shah

  22 May 2013 | 7:50 am

  Being diagnosed with cancer is a very difficult time in your life. You have to share the news with family and friends and one of the hardest things you may have to do is to tell your children. The age of your children will have a big impact on how much detail you go into about your illness, the way you explain what cancer you have and whether you tell them at all. It is important that your children are told about your diagnosis, they don’t need to overhear you on the phone to a family member or see you crying and wonder what is wrong. Keep to your routine as much as possible, inform…

• How to Teach Your Kids ‘Restaurant Manners’

  Priya Florence Shah

  14 May 2013 | 1:06 pm

  If you have ever been to a restaurant and saw kids running around, yelling, making messes at the table, or generally misbehaving, you understand the importance of kids learning “restaurant manners” in addition to their regular table manners.   Out of control children not only annoy other customers of the restaurant but can be a danger to themselves, to the servers, and to other patrons.  When seeing out of control children anywhere in public, most people will usually blame the parents for not teaching their child better behavior.   While there is no guarantee that a child won’t act…

• Teach Your Kids to Be Thoughtful Gift Givers

  Priya Florence Shah

  11 May 2013 | 1:44 am

  The concept of a day to honor our parents and express gratitude may be new to some of you, but it has become a global observance and a crucial one. With Mother’s Day just around the corner (May 12th to be exact) and Father’s Day shortly thereafter (June 16th), there is no better time than now to teach your kids how to give a thoughtful gift — a trait they will need for the rest of their lives. Teaching kids at a young age to be thoughtful is along the same lines as teaching them to be sociable and courteous to others — the traits are in their they just need some guidance and…

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  Mommys Hangout- Atlanta Georgia Mommy Blogger (Jen Williams)

• Make sure to check out Seventh Generation Diapers: Au Naturel

  Jen Williams

  22 May 2013 | 4:59 pm

  Let’s face it parents have a lot of choices and decisions to make!  I often laugh when my niece, who is a first time mommy text me questions.  However, I totally understand and am glad to help or give her advice anytime she needs it.   We have all been there!  As parents we just want [...]

• Red Tricycle Atlanta Edition, plus awsome giveaway now live!

  Jen Williams

  21 May 2013 | 5:25 pm

  Ok Atlanta parents, school is ending for summer break! That means as parents we will be trying to find things to do with the kids over summer!  I don’t know about you but my kids seem to always have me on the go!  Luckily we are blessed with so many things to do in our [...]

• Arnicare Gel by Boiron,Simple, Natural Solution for Summer Sports Injuries

  Jen Williams

  21 May 2013 | 2:45 pm

  Yay this is the last week of school here! So you know what that means!  My kids will be spending a lot of time outdoors swimming, playing and of course sports! However that means they are also at risk for Injuries. It never fails someone always gets hurt or a sprain during summer break around [...]

• Sweeping Saturday 5/18/2013

  Jen Williams

  17 May 2013 | 9:00 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!!

• What Do You Treasure Under Your Roof?

  Jen Williams

  16 May 2013 | 5:00 pm

  As many of you know I love fun giveaways! Especially when it has great prizes so I am happy to share with you the new “Share What You Treasure” campaign sponsored by GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer.  GAF is asking you to “Share What You Treasure” under your roof. Simply for uploading images or [...]

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  FatherMag.com Home Page

• Yes, Mommy

  23 May 2013 | 10:00 pm

  We tell ourselves that in America we are the Free People. I wonder whether we might not better be called the Obedient People, the Passive People, or the Admonished People. I doubt that any country, anywhere, has been so regulated, controlled, and directed as we are

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  NYC Single Mom

• Epic Movie Prize Pack Giveaway #EpicTheMovie @EpicTheMovie

  NYCSingleMom

  24 May 2013 | 1:37 pm

  EPIC kicks off the summer movie season on today May 24th, 2013. EPIC has it all – Samurai-like action and warriors, incredible aerial battles, laugh out loud humor and an adventure that will... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• $25 Visa Card GIVEAWAY: Monster.com Wake Up Call Video #WakeUpCall

  NYCSingleMom

  24 May 2013 | 12:38 pm

  Whether you are job searching or not, monster.com is a great resource. During my job search, I used monster.com to set up alerts on jobs that matched my search criteria and still get them because... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Melissa and Doug Buy 2 Get 3rd Free Sale

  NYCSingleMom

  24 May 2013 | 3:55 am

  Melissa and Doug fans, don’t miss their Memorial Day Arts and Crafts sale where you if you buy 2 get 1 free on all Arts and Crafts items. But act now as items are probably limited. Use MDART at... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• A Magical Time at Disney’s Contemporary Resort @DisneyWorld

  NYCSingleMom

  24 May 2013 | 3:46 am

  Disney’s Contemporary Resort is truly a luxury hotel within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom Park at Disney World. This is the only hotel at Walt Disney World Resort to have the monorail pass... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 10 Fun Facts about Memorial Day

  NYCSingleMom

  24 May 2013 | 3:30 am

  Monday is Memorial Day and many will have the day off but let’s remember that Memorial Day is day to remember those brave men and women who have given up their lives in defense of our country.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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  Rage Against the Minivan

• Walmart calls security on father of bi-racial children, issues non-apology.

  23 May 2013 | 4:48 am

  Yikes.    DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG This story is disheartening but not a total surprise, Our family has certainly been required to show documentation in situations where racially-matched families were not. What troubles me most about this story, though, is the chain of people involved . . . first a customer alerted security, then a security guy followed him out, then the police came to their house. One would think that somewhere along the line, someone would have said, “Wait, what?”  But no. Walmart’s reaction is less than stellar, too. First they…

• what i want you to know: a teen's perspective on a mom with two jobs

  22 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by Sophie. I happened upon this series of blog posts, and after reading this teen's story, I wanted to share my own. What that writer ended with was that you don’t realize what you had until you no longer have it—a very valid point. And for me, it’s the opposite—I won’t ever know what I could…

• Questions of Eternal Significance: Do you unpack in a hotel room?

  21 May 2013 | 4:59 am

  Source: frostedpetticoatblog.com via The Frosted Petticoat on Pinterest   This has been an insane month of travel for me. It started with the Mom 2.0 Summit, then a few days later our trip to Disney World, and today I’m off to San Francisco for a couple days for work. I think, by the end of the month, I will have slept in a hotel more nights than I’ve slept in my own bed. This fact . . . is not my favorite. I am a nester by nature. I love to travel but I also really like to settle in and put everything in it’s place. When I travel, I always, always unpack my suitcase completely. If…

• Two streams of the same river

  20 May 2013 | 4:39 am

  This is a guest post by Shelley Clay, originally published on the blog for The Apparent Project. I read it last week and it so clearly articulated the thoughts I’ve been having about the polarity of thinking regarding international adoption and orphan care. Shelley graciously let me post it here. For a little backstory, Shelley and her husband Corrigan live in Haiti, working with The Apparent Project.This non-profit seeks to assist mothers and fathers in poverty keep their children, by providing them with a specialized skill, such as jewelry making, bookbinding, or sewing. In Haiti alone,…

• Disney Social Media Moms 2013, day 4

  19 May 2013 | 11:43 pm

  Over the past few days, I’ve been sharing photos of our recent trip to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. I am using Disney’s new Story app to share our photos and video (they have sponsored this post). If you are a scrapbooker – you will love this app for the way it easily organizes your pictures into shareable moments, with caption and text options. If you are not a scrapbooker (like me), you will love it even more because it makes it look like you are with very little work. This post is sponsored by Disney Story. To find out more about this new story-creation app - and how it…

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  Razing Mayhem

• I Smell Like Breastmilk & Exhaustion

  Monique

  23 May 2013 | 7:56 pm

  Very slowly, things are falling into place as a newly minted family of seven.  Even though this is about the widest gap we've had between children, Severus never transitioned "out of the way" like our eldest children did, and I'm left scrambling in the wake of toddler and newborn demands far more often than I'd like to be. I feel like I'm neglecting the older boys, but there are so many moments that I have with just them - and this is even aside from Homeschooling - I know that I'm really not. Tandem nursing is tedious, my God it is the most beautiful, tedious thing I have ever…

• The Birth Story Of Thaddeus Noir

  Monique

  13 May 2013 | 6:31 pm

  It was Wednesday, and in keeping with the many Wednesdays before it, we celebrated by welcoming another week of pregnancy. A big week; thirty nine. This was certain to be the last weekly progression because in two days time, at 5:45 in the morning, I was due to arrive at the hospital where my scheduled Cesarean would be taking place. We were more than ready for that day, even though things were beginning to move... On Sunday, the 5th, my contractions started to feel much different than what I was used to and made me tremendously uncomfortable. We took a quick trip to the hospital to see what…

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  4tunate

• The Trail to Texas

  QuatroMama

  22 May 2013 | 7:08 pm

  After over 18 hours of travel, we’ve arrived safe and sound in Galveston to get our ocean fix. We can’t be within a few measly hours of the beach and not see it for a day. The road was LONG {no offense Missouri and Arkansas} and we ran into some crazy blankets of rain, but we were thankful for nothing more serious, as our hearts and prayers are with the people of Oklahoma. The road entertainment included some Narnia, Ninjago, and White Fang on the portable DVD player, reading Charolette’s Web and some library books, lots of snacks, coloring, and listening to their iPod…

• Tips for Road Trip Survival with Kids

  QuatroMama

  21 May 2013 | 6:08 am

  The van is locked and loaded, and we are hitting the road for a few days of highway togetherness! I plan on blogging a lot of our travels this week, so stay tuned for our journey to deep in the heart of Texas! I’m sharing some of my top road trip survival tips over on Land O’Moms today, and how we keep our sanity when we’re strapped and trapped!  Find out our go-to road munchies, ideas for creativity, and favorite entertainment distractions by clicking over to read more!  I’m curious how YOU survive long road trips with your family…what audiobooks, iPad apps, DVDs, games,…

• Road Trip Map for Kids

  QuatroMama

  20 May 2013 | 8:43 am

  This week we’re leaving on a 17 hour journey south to see some dear friends in Texas.  It’s sure to be a haul, but we’ve survived road trips to Florida twice, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and a handful of nearby states, so I’m sure we’ll make the best of this one too! We like to celebrate like crazy people each time we come to a new state.  It would be fun to stop and take pictures at each state sign, but we are too “pedal to the medal” to stop like good tourists.  Instead, last time when we traveled to Gulf Shores, AL I made a road trip map. It was a great visual …

• This Week’s KidVentures {May 17}

  QuatroMama

  17 May 2013 | 5:58 am

  The weather has been PERFECT for some easy KidVentures this week.  We even got to break out the sprinkler for the first time! Which is always a hit for about seven minutes….anyone else experience this?  I’m not sure if it’s because the water is too cold, or the sprinkler isn’t that exciting, or what the non-draw is!  {Vent it out with me in the comment section!} There were melted marshmallow and chocolate mouths that come from the pure pleasure of ingesting s’mores… There was a team effort bug hunt for butterflies, dragonflies, and spiders (eeeek!), And we even a…

• Making a Commercial at Connor Prairie

  QuatroMama

  16 May 2013 | 7:32 am

  You might remember our early spring trip to Conner Prairie…we had such a great day, and couldn’t wait to go back.  Little did we know that the next time we would find ourselves at our favorite interactive history park, we would be filming a TV commercial!  Who knew “working” could be so much FUN?!!! The boys spent the day on several “sets” which were really just set up for them to enjoy the park for the day. From pretending to be Civil War soldiers…   To checking out the newborn piglets…   Making pottery creations… And science experiments that were…

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  Das Leben ist Poker - Forum

• Aktuelle Themen •

  leffelero

  18 May 2013 | 9:51 am

  Das sind alles schöne Worte, aber wirklich! Solche Situationen passieren doch in den Filmen, ich denke nicht, dass es so sein kann, sonst wäre sie selbst darauf gekommen. Also ich denke, dass es leider etwas im Busch ist – ich würde dir aus gutem Herzen diesen link empfehlen – da kannst du manches tolle Equipment finden, mit welchem du die bedien ausspionieren kannst. Trotzdem hoffe ich für das beste und dass ich mich irre! Statistik: Verfasst von leffelero — Sa 18. Mai 2013, 16:51

• Aktuelle Themen •

  xkindlorows

  18 May 2013 | 2:41 am

  Gibt es denn keine andere Erklärung? Hast du nicht Geburtstag oder so was in nächster Zeit? Vielleicht hat er das geplant mit deiner Mitbewohnerin? Oder er wollte, dass sie ihm hilft, einen Verlobungsring auszusuchen? Was meinst du? Statistik: Verfasst von xkindlorows — Sa 18. Mai 2013, 09:41

• Aktuelle Themen • Er besucht meine Mitbewohnerin!

  catyqopkkex

  17 May 2013 | 2:32 am

  Leute ist das zu fassen? Also ich habe den tollen Freund, mit dem ich immer Spaß habe, der mir immer sagt, dass er mich liebt und so, und ich dachte, dass ich einen Volltreffer mit ihm gelandet habe, aber leider sehe ich jetzt, dass es nicht stimmt! Es ist doch so – mein Freund betrügt mich! Er besucht heimlich meine Mitbewohnerin, wenn ich an der Uni oder bei der Arbeit bin, und das kann ich nicht fassen! ich hatte mal eine Vorlesung weniger und ich wollte schneller nach Hause, weil ich so hungrig war und da habe ich von weitem gesehen, wie er aus der Wohnung kam, da rief ich ihn schnell…

• Gesundheit und Fitness •

  Cialis Pas Cher

  12 May 2013 | 8:51 am

  Vieles hängt davon ab, was denn für dich billig bedeutet. Somit wird für den einen ein  Zahnersatz in Polen einfach billig sein und für den anderen nur ein bisschen günstiger. Egal aber wie man es sieht und was man alles dazu rechnet, es lohnt sich.Statistik: Verfasst von Cialis Pas Cher — So 12. Mai 2013, 15:51

• Gesundheit und Fitness •

  Hefsweereeger

  11 May 2013 | 7:58 am

  Ich habe auch die Zusatzkosten mir dazu gerechnet und es war für mich immer noch günstiger, also denke ich, dass da nichts übertrieben ist.Statistik: Verfasst von Hefsweereeger — Sa 11. Mai 2013, 14:58

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  Family Focus Blog- mom blog on parenting and family topics

• ThredUp 80% off Brands You Love Plus ThredUp Discount Promo Code

  Scarlet

  24 May 2013 | 8:44 am

  Did you know that the average woman only wears 20% of her wardrobe and spends more than $1,000 each year buying new clothing? Wow.  That is so shocking to me!  I love a good deal and I do have to spend money on kids clothing each year because they are always outgrowing it but I usually don’t spend much on myself anymore.  That is why I am so glad thredUP.com contacted me and told me about the savings they offer and gave me a promo code and a discount code to share with y’all! ThredUp 80% off Clothing Brands You Love My Four ThredUp Dresses for just $25 + tax ThredUp is the…

• Top Las Vegas Wedding Attractions

  Scarlet

  24 May 2013 | 7:31 am

  Las Vegas is the most populated city in the state of Nevada. Along with being an ideal tourist attraction for gambling and honeymoons, it is also one of most popular US cities for weddings. The city is full of chapels that provide wedding services for all types of people. Whether you want an Elvis themed wedding, an elegant wedding, or a cheap wedding, there is something for everyone. Some of the top wedding chapels in Las Vegas might be the perfect match for you and our soul mate. Where to Get Married in Las Vegas: Graceland Chapel – The Graceland Chapel is one of the most loved…

• Father’s Day Gifts to Make a Dad Feel Special

  Scarlet

  24 May 2013 | 5:40 am

  Father’s Day is celebrated by Americans on the third Sunday in June.  This year Father’s Day will be June 16, 2013.  For  a Father’s Day gift, I made my dad an ashtray every year from age five until age ten.  My dad didn’t smoke. I tried to convince him to buy cigars at the grocery store a few times, to take the my latest ashtray out for a spin. He just smiled at me as he placed assorted fruits and vegetables on the conveyor belt. He kept all of them in a personal display, a testament to his healthy choices and his daughter’s inability to take a hint. Even if…

• Contigo Innovative Water Bottles Review and Giveaway

  Scarlet

  23 May 2013 | 8:57 am

  These days, we are all on the go.  Whether it is commuting to work or on the way to the park with the kids, most of us are on the run way more than we would like.  That is part of why I am happy to host a review and giveaway for  Contigo, a leading producer of innovative travel mugs, water bottles and kids’ cups.  Contigo’s water bottles and travel mugs feature AUTOSEAL and AUTOSPOUT® technologies that offer convenient, one-handed drinking solutions to make commuting or traveling easier on you, your clothes and your car. I am also happy to feature Contigo because I love products…

• Top 10 Most Comfortable Flats for Moms on the Go

  Scarlet

  23 May 2013 | 5:32 am

  If you’re a mom, you know that moms are almost always on the go, shopping, cooking, transporting and keeping the family organized. There is hardly ever time to sit and relax, let alone time to realize that your feet are throbbing from all of the running around you’ve been doing. In efforts to help moms, like you, accomplish their tasks in the utmost comfort, here are 10 fabulous flats for 5 styles that will allow you to go, go, go and still feel like you’re walking on clouds. Comfortable Flats For Every Style: Artsy Mom Flats: Creative minds prefer shoes with a flare for fashion. It is…

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  Geisha School Dropout

• VSP's Eye Got You Covered Campaign

  Julie Kang

  16 May 2013 | 7:02 pm

  Monitoring our vision is a huge priority for the Mangs.  Our family is so visually impaired, even our dolls have glasses!  Luckily, we are all covered under VSP through Tim's and my employers.   Emi's glasses even match her doll's. Total coincidence, we swear! So when the Clever Girls asked the contributor community who would like to present the person of their choice with a year's worth of vision coverage, I totally jumped at the chance because I knew exactly who to give it to.   Meet Sonya! Sonya is a doula, early childhood educator, and nanny extraordinaire, and is also one of my best…

• Storytime with Emi #3

  Julie Kang

  15 May 2013 | 10:52 am

  Emi has been writing little stories for her kindergarten teacher every week, and last week's was hilarious: Did you know my dad has a musl (muscle)? I love my dad. He is kind. Sometimes he sings too loud.

• The Boy Who Made Me a Mother

  Julie Kang

  11 May 2013 | 1:42 pm

  Nine and a half years ago, a ten-and-a-half pound mutant baby burst into the world, transforming me into a mother. I was always pretty good with kids, having babysat or taught for most of my life, but I never thought I would raise my own. But sometimes fate twists the chaos knob to 11, microscopic odds are not ever in your favor, and two idealistic but not-quite-ripe people become parents. We were not that great. A lot of our lessons were learned on the fly. Parenting is exhausting, isolating, and expensive. Our youthful energy helped us keep up with this active little bundle of boy at least,…

• Smiling for the camera

  Julie Kang

  9 May 2013 | 2:25 pm

  My daughter is not who you would describe as a happy girl, and sometimes I worry about that. But I know she is also often a loving, creative, and playful person, just not all the time, and hardly ever in front of a camera lens. Maybe I should instead wonder why we expect our children to be "happy" all the time. But for now, here's to the quiet, serious kids. You are equally beautiful and don't ever have to fake a smile for the camera.

• I just published a book...really limited edition

  Julie Kang

  8 May 2013 | 9:27 pm

  So limited, in fact, that only one copy exists in the world!   I had a coupon I needed to use up for a photo book, so I decided to gather together some of my favorite Instagrams of the kids and assemble them into a storybook.  Both of them tend to focus on the negative, so I hope this book can help them remember some of the good experiences they've had.   Click here to view this photo book larger Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.  

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  theAsianparent.com

• Moving your baby out of your bed and into his own cot

  Darla Noble

  24 May 2013 | 9:57 am

  [caption id="attachment_87528" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Find out how to move your baby from your bed to their cot[/caption] You’ve made the mistake of letting your toddler climb into bed with you each night or have reasoned with your spouse that they simply can’t sleep in their own cot (for whatever reason). But now the time has come that you want (and need) to take back your bed. The problem, though, is how? RELATED: My baby keeps us awake at night Making the transition So the mission is to reclaim your domain and be able to sprawl out all over your bed when going to sleep…

• Skoolbo releases Zalairos Adventures collection for free

  theAsianparent

  23 May 2013 | 5:24 pm

  Skoolbo today announced the release of the special edition of Zalairos Adventures for the iPads for free. The collection contains all 25 audio books with more than 12 hours of enthralling content. [caption id="attachment_87035" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Skoolbo Releases Zalairos Adventures Collection for Free[/caption] The eBooks have been designed to foster a love of stories amongst children aged from four to eleven. Through extraordinary adventures, the Zalairos teach children important values such as teamwork, respect and kindness, having an active mental and physical lifestyle as…

• Singapore women: “Lift your skirt, save your life”

  Will Gibson

  23 May 2013 | 5:17 pm

  [caption id="attachment_87309" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Source: Cervical cancer awareness campaign official Facebook page[/caption] It is already causing a storm on the internet. Bloggers and columnists across Singapore have rushed to their keyboard to eagerly air their opinions. The new advertisement aims to promote Pap smear tests, which reduce the chances of women developing cervical cancer. The smear test procedure inevitably involves patients ‘lifting their skirt’ and the copywriters have used this idea in the bluntest possible way. The advertisement, which can be seen across…

• List of Preschools and Kindergarten (South)

  Sarah Emi Martin

  23 May 2013 | 5:16 pm

  [imagebrowser id=294] Hope this article on recommended preschools and kindergarten within South of Singapore was informative. Here are some other Preschool articles that you might like: How to identify a gifted child How to save for your child’s education despite financial difficulties List of Preschools and Kindergarten (Central)   The post List of Preschools and Kindergarten (South) appeared first on Singapore Parenting Magazine for baby, children, kids and parents.

• Cancer causing agents in Johnson & Johnson products?

  Felicia Chin

  23 May 2013 | 5:14 pm

  No more tears—but all the fears! How is it possible that Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, a product that is supposed to be safe for even the most delicate baby’s skin, can contain potentially cancer-causing chemicals like dioxane and quaternium-15 that releases formaldehyde? It has been reported that Safe Cosmetics has been urging the above-mentioned household name to remove these chemicals from their products for over 2 ½ years now. RELATED: Tips to minimize skin cancer risks Is Johnson & Johnson making safer products now? According to reports two chemicals that are hazardous to babies…

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  Child Behavior Help

• Parental Roles: How to Set Healthy Boundaries with Your Child

  14 May 2013 | 8:30 am

  People talk a lot about the need for "boundaries," but what does this word really mean? As a parent, you can think of a boundary as the line you draw around yourself to define where you end and where your child begins. This isn"t always easy. The lines can get blurred when we see our kids struggling, when we have a defiant or argumentative child, or when we have adult kids living back at home. And let"s face it, kids push our boundaries every day, all the time. They are wired to test us and see how far they can go; it"s in their nature. But understand that one of our most important jobs as…

• "Do it for Me!" How to Prevent Learned Helplessness in Young Kids

  7 May 2013 | 8:34 am

  Rachel has just arrived at her child"s daycare after a stressful day of work. Her 5-year-old daughter Kyla immediately begins whining, "I can"t find my coat! Can you go get it for me?" Stressed, tired, and trying to avoid a meltdown in front of the other parents and teachers, Rachel rushes from room to room looking for it. When she finally hands Kyla the jacket, her daughter screams, "You carry it for me!" Rachel complies, all the while stuffing Kyla"s things into her backpack for her. "Are we ready to go?" Rachel asks with a sigh, only to hear, "Yes, but you forgot my lunchbox. It"s in the…

• Parenting Truth: You Are Not to Blame for Your Child's Behavior

  29 Apr 2013 | 10:56 am

  "I wouldn't be in trouble at school if my mom had just written me an excuse," complained a teen I was counseling recently. "And the teacher didn"t have to fail me he could"ve let me off with a warning!" As I listened to this bright 15-year-old kid explain why everyone was at fault for his situation (except himself), I encouraged him to take personal responsibility for his own choices. He looked at me as if I was speaking a foreign language or had simply lost my mind. Rather than being the exception, I think this example has become the rule. No one, from politicians to celebrities to our own…

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  Odd Dad

• What happened to At Dawn They Wake?

  Todd Wiese

  7 May 2013 | 1:41 pm

  Lots of folks have been wondering what happened to At Dawn They Wake, the blog. Well, it's still around in the form of a podcast: at Spreaker.com, but I deleted all of the posts here because I wanted to keep this page as family-friendly as possible. Some of the posts on here weren't suitable for the average listener of Odd Dad's Records. It is a swing/nostalgia show, after all.You can click the link above and listen to any old episode of At Dawn They Wake. I doubt I'll be doing more posts comparable to those in the past on this blog page. I want to keep this one radio related. I should start…

• Odd Dad's Records

  Todd Wiese

  1 Mar 2013 | 7:05 am

  Granddad's Records lives on! Under a new name, Odd Dad's Records, I'll be spinning some swing, jazz, big-band, lounge, etc. every Thursday night from 8 pm to 10 pm on http://garage71.com. It will be the same show you're used to except it won't be on Spreaker anymore, it will be on http://live365.com. Just click the player to the right. I'm going to try to see about archiving the shows for listening on demand, but for now you have to catch the show live.I used to co-host with Stretch on Friday nights on The Junkyard, the heavy metal show, but I discovered that the show wasn't for me. So, I…

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  I Thought I Knew Mama

• Wordless Wednesday: Vermont Family Weekend #Linky

  Charise Rohm Nulsen

  22 May 2013 | 6:03 am

• Take a Ride on Thomas the Tank Engine at Edaville USA!

  Charise Rohm Nulsen

  22 May 2013 | 4:30 am

  My almost three year old son has really enjoyed the Thomas the Tank Engine books and the occasional TV episode for the past year or so. He loves all of the different characters and the lessons that they learn at the end of each book or TV episode. We live fairly close to Edaville, a family fun park where Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as other well known characters, visits each year on certain dates. We haven’t had the opportunity to go yet, but when we saw that Thomas would be at Edaville the day after my son’s third birthday, we thought it would be a really special birthday…

• The Tuesday Baby Link Up – Week 31

  Charise Rohm Nulsen

  21 May 2013 | 4:27 am

  Welcome to week 31 the Tuesday Baby Link Up! This morning, our thoughts and prayers are with the families in Oklahoma affected by these devastating tornadoes. Grab the Badge   Your Hosts Shannon at GrowingSlower Jennifer at Every Breath I Take Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama Christine at African Babies Don’t Cry Melissa at Adventures of Captain Destructo Featured Post Today’s featured post is The Importance of Reading to Babies by The Parenting Patch. I started reading to my babes when they were just a few weeks old. They both have a very intense love of…

• Boston Summer Fun with Boston Harbor Line Sailing Cruises

  Charise Rohm Nulsen

  17 May 2013 | 7:36 am

  There are so many wonderful things to do in Boston during the summer time, but one of the things we are looking forward to most is taking our family on a Boston day sail. Boston Harbor is so idyllic, and I can’t wait for the kids to experience it from a new perspective. Big Brother has been to the Boston Harbor Islands, but that is the only time he has actually been out on the harbor. This will be the first time for Little Sister. She loves anything adventurous and related to water, so I’m sure she will love it. Other Boston area activities that we are looking forward to this…

• Wordless Wednesday: The Faces I Love #Linky

  Charise Rohm Nulsen

  14 May 2013 | 10:00 pm

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  STL Family Life

• New Delivery Service Brings Natural Foods To St Louis Doorsteps

  Melody Meiners

  24 May 2013 | 7:44 am

  As the parent of two small children, one thing that is a constant source of worry for me is food. Are they eating enough? Are they eating too much? And most of all, am I feeding them the best and most nutritious food possible? The debate over organic foods still wages, but our family has come down on the side of natural and organic is best. We are blessed to be surrounded by a lot of grocery stores, but as it stands we are stuck choosing from an extremely limited organic selection of produce that frankly tends to look unappealing and close to turning at best, and often times comes at a huge…

• Snacking 101

  Harriette Kraus

  20 Feb 2013 | 5:54 pm

  I really love sitting down to a great meal, but I have always been a food “grazer”.  I was never one who could starve myself all day so I could save the calories for my evening meal. Not only would my stomach start to growl, but I would experience a frightening personality change from the lack of food! Our blood sugar typically dips around three to five hours after we eat, so eating small, frequent snacks keeps the metabolism revved up and helps normalize our blood sugar. Hunger can throw the body into famine mode, which slows metabolism; making it easier to pack on the pounds. A few…

• The Foundry Art Centre Debuts New Children’s Attractions at Free Family Fun Day

  Melody Meiners

  7 Feb 2013 | 2:38 pm

  Enjoy an afternoon of free, family fun at the Foundry Art Centre in downtown Saint Charles! The Foundry Art Centre would like to introduce families to their new attractions in the Baue Family Children’s Gallery with a free event featuring live entertainment Peppy Puppet Troupe with Michelle O’Donnell & Stan Gulick. The puppet show will be an original take on “Little Red Riding Hood” that combines live action, puppetry and music. The performance rakes place from 1:00-1:45pm. Kids 12 and under are invited to make puppet crafts, and everyone can enjoy cookies and lemonade as they…

• Giveaway: Win Four Tickets to Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!

  admin

  9 Jan 2013 | 11:54 am

  If you are the parent of a toddler you know how exciting it is to blow your kids’s mind. And in the same token, you also probably know that should they happen upon Muno, Toddie, Foofa, Plex  or DJ Lance Rock from Nick Jr’s hit show, Yo Gabba Gabba, it is likely that their head would explode. We here at STLFamilyLife.com want to help make you win the “Better Than Santa” award for awesomeness by giving you four tickets to Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! at the Fox Theater in St Louis on Friday, January 18 at 7:00pm. Unless you’ve been hiding under a…

• Adapting Your Workout to Fit Your Current Lifestyle

  Harriette Kraus

  5 Nov 2012 | 3:18 pm

  In just about a week, I will be in another decade of life.  Didn’t I just have a surprise party to celebrate the beginning of this decade? It can’t be that long ago, because I’m sure I still have the outfit I wore to the party! But, it’s true. Each 10 year span goes by faster and faster, and nothing I do will slow it down. I think I’m still the person I was before the years started piling up, but I have to admit, many things have changed While I used to wake up a 4 AM and finish my workout by 5:30, I now regularly hit the snooze button, and often don’t get there until 9. The…

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  Life With Sharon | Texas Mom Blogger / Vlogger Lufkin, Houston, Texas

• Looking for signs of pests

  Sharon

  18 May 2013 | 11:16 am

  I have never really been a person that has been afraid of pests like roaches, rats or even spiders. I have always been the type of person that when I saw one I would take care of it and make sure that there were no more where that pest came from. Now days though I have to watch for signs of a pest infestation more carefully. My youngest son is super afraid of spiders so we have to be careful of them. It is like he has a sixth sense and knows when there is one in his vicinity. So that being said we have to be extra careful about pest infestation. So it helps to look for the signs of one:…

• Getting Smooth for the Summer with Nair Hair Removal! #NairSummer #sp

  Sharon

  11 May 2013 | 7:42 pm

  I have been a fan of Nair for years. Like since I was a teenager and discovered how much shaving is not really fun. But of course it is all necessary if you want to have nice and smooth legs for the summer. I know, I do. Don’t you? Well I recently tried a couple of new hair removal products from Nair to get ready for the summer. The first new product from Nair that I tried was the Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Total Care™ Body Trio is the only 3-step in-shower depilatory system, including the convenient Nair Shower Power® technology that works while you shower. The suggested retail…

• Kentucky Derby Fashion

  Sharon

  29 Apr 2013 | 10:16 pm

  I do not even own a horse, and I have begged my kids to let me get a pony. They won’t let me in an odd reversal of roles. Maybe because they are boys and just not into ponies. But even though I do not own either a horse or a pony I still think there are some really cool things about the Kentucky Derby. For example racing horses is really cool, that you can bet on Kentucky derby is awesome and of course Kentucky Derby Fashion. Such as this really awesome hat: Now isn’t this an awesome hat for the Kentucky Derby? I love that it is colorful and that it has feather would be perfectly…

• Medical Care

  Sharon

  29 Apr 2013 | 8:50 pm

  I hate to think about the future, and when old age sets. But I do realize that with old age and limited mobility that my lifestyle will be way different. But until them I imagine myself to be one of those older ladies wearing track suits and power walking to get where I need to do. That is my plan anyway and hopefully that will be my future. I also hope that I can pridefully wear silver hair when I am 80 and the track suit has to be hot pink. Or at least a great shade of fuchsia. I would rock it big time. But in the even that I can’t get around I want to make sure that my home and life…

• Shopping for Work Clothes?

  Sharon

  25 Apr 2013 | 2:24 pm

  Having durable clothing is a wise idea for any job. Many employers even require a good set of work clothes to help make the workplace safer. Dickies is one of the leaders in work wear worldwide. A company built around honesty, Dickies provides a wide variety of clothing options suitable for any work environment. Many employers choose to build their work uniforms through Dickies. This is because Dickies is well-known for their quality clothing that is built to last. The Dickies online store divides its inventory by profession, making selection for employers easier. Employees can then go to the…

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  Confessions from Householdsix

• Please Stop the Ride

  Amanda

  12 May 2013 | 3:40 pm

  I’d like to get off now. Please. The last few weeks have been a ride. Both boys are now going to be getting speech therapy from the cyber school. In addition to all the other therapies. I’d like to say we could quit some, but we’ve doubled our therapy hours in the last few months due to new developments and learning the boys have health needs and are behind in some areas that need catching up. Hopefully school will also go a little more smoothly for the boys as it’s a very language and writing rich curriculum. I also FINALLY got my doctor to test more than my TSH on…

• Autism Awareness Today and EVERY Day

  Amanda

  23 Apr 2013 | 7:05 am

  Today’s post is brought to you by the lovely Varda from The Squashed Bologna: a slice of life in the sandwich generation. I do hope you’ll visit her blog and show her some love here. As you (hopefully) know, April is Autism Awareness Month. But around here? Well every day is really about Autism Awareness now, isn’t it?There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not acutely, astoundingly, profoundly and matter-of-factly aware of my son Jacob’s autism. I want to tell you all about the beauty of my son Jacob, who is on the autism spectrum… or has…

• Go Ahead, Laugh AT Me

  Amanda

  12 Apr 2013 | 5:30 am

  I’ve been a tad melancholy and reflective lately, but here, laugh at me. I’m not quite over the trauma to laugh at myself quite yet, but I do appreciate what we did here that others will see the humor. In out infinite wisdom, the day before Easter, we woke up and I said, “It’s Saturday! It’s gorgeous! The snow is finally gone! Let’s get out of this house!” My husband said, “What are we going to do?” I said, “You pick. You’re driving. We can go ride the trains (Strasburg), or we can go to Chocolate World (Hershey). Aaron’s…

• The Math Doesn’t Add Up

  Amanda

  11 Apr 2013 | 5:24 am

  I know my blog readers are used to my being candid in my writings. My silence feels like I have stepped away from that. I feel like I just haven’t had the time. When I do sit down to write or to read other blogs these days, I tend to lean towards my list of things that are not autism or health related. This April I am all too aware of autism. I don’t need an awareness month. We had a good year last year. We dropped two specialists from our team. We were mostly at the doctor for routine checkups. We stepped down appointments with another specialist, and attempted to do the same…

• April Began Four Days Ago…

  Amanda

  4 Apr 2013 | 5:23 am

  April began four days ago, and it’s taken me this long to write my yearly Month of the Military Child and Autism Awarenesss/Acceptance month post. I think there are a few reasons I’m struggling this year. Some of which stem from the reasons that not a lot has changed since last year. Let’s face it, I find it highly ironic that both begin on April Fool’s Day. Lately, I feel like every day I have to deal with the big Army machine is April Fool’s Day. One reason I’m struggling with Month of the Military Child posts this year is because Facebook is absolutely…

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  sevenclowncircus.com

• How to Do an Upside-Down Braid Into a Bun {hair tutorial}

  Angie

  23 May 2013 | 12:02 am

  How to Do an Upside-Down Braid into a Bun is my absolute favorite Up-Do style for the summer.  My thirteen year old daughter started doing this style on herself this spring and then tried it on me this week and I’m hooked.  If you know how to french braid, you’ll be able to do this style with ease, if not, here’s a video tutorial (you just have to do it upside down).  It just takes 3 steps and you have a gorgeous up-do that’s not fussy and lasts all day. How to Do an Upside-Down Braid Into a Bun Step 1: Flip your hair over and brush out all your hair. French…

• Wordful Wednesday – Visiting Grand Cayman

  Angie

  21 May 2013 | 10:00 am

  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. We visited Grand Cayman on our recent vacation, and it was amazing.  I wish we could have stayed longer.  We only got to spend one day on Seven Mile Beach, but it was a highlight for sure.  I’ve never seen a more beautiful beach with such clear…

• DIY Clothes Hanger Belt Organization {gift idea}

  Angie

  20 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  How to organize belts using clothes hangers is super simple with a little DIY work.  All you need to do is drill a few holes into the bottom of a wooden coat hanger, screw in some hooks and you have the perfect DIY belt hanger organization that is sturdy, functional and best of all, space saving.  Once you’ve made one of these belt hangers, you’ll never want to use anything else to organize your belts!  Inspired by my DIY Clothes Hanger Jewelry Organization project, this makes a perfect gift for dad!!!! How to Make Belt Hangers: Find/Purchase wooden hangers to use for belt…

• How to Make a Braided Sock Bun {hair tutorial}

  Angie

  18 May 2013 | 12:01 am

  How to Make a Braided Sock Bun is the most time consuming of my top Up-Do styles for the summer.  It’s easy to do, but takes a bit of time because it requires a few small braids within the bun and those will take a few minutes.  The pictures don’t really show how pretty the braids are within the bun.  They really pop and add dimension to the hair do that is unexpected and super pretty.  I just love the braided sock bun up-do!  Here’s how to do it in 5 easy steps! How to Make a Braided Sock Bun Step 1: Put your hair into a high pony tail. make sure all your hair is…

• How to Make a Staircase Bun/Braid {hair tutorial}

  Angie

  17 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  How to Make a Staircase Bun/Braid is a fun Up-Do style for the summer, and I can almost guarantee you won’t find anyone else with the same hair that day.  This hairstyle requires a dutch braid on a diagonal so it’s a bit difficult to do it on yourself.  If you have a friend or daughter that loves to do hair, I’d get their help with this one!  Here’s how to do a Staircase bun/braid. How to Make a Staircase Bun/Braid Step 1: First, part your hair diagonally. Use a rattail comb to make the part a clean line. Put the top section of the part in a pony tail. Step 2:…

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  It Builds Character

• #SendKristinToKona: A change, and we need your help

  ChiMomWriter

  14 May 2013 | 7:54 am

  Many of you have followed my friend Kristin McQueen’s story. I’ve written about her numerous times over the past several years, but this spring is special. We’ve been trying to win Kristin a slot at the Ironman World Championships in Kona. You can read more about the background in this post and this one. Since those posts, Kristin has undergone brain surgery #10 and is currently in a lot of pain recovering on her couch. In the meantime, the Kona Inspired committee for Ironman made a change to the rules and deadlines for the contest. Voting for Round 1, which was supposed…

• Listen To Your Mother: What It Meant

  ChiMomWriter

  10 May 2013 | 8:45 am

  I’ve been trying to write something all week about last Sunday’s Listen To Your Mother experience. All of my words were apparently left out on that stage because being able to properly articulate what LTYM has meant fails me. I have spent a lot of time scrolling through all of the pictures. Some make me laugh – Silly antics as we nervously giggled, rehearsed, lip glossed, tried not to sweat too much.   Sabrina, of course, caught a picture of me eating a PB&J sandwich in a corner. (I’m not all that different than my kids, in many ways.) Some images make my eyes…

• A different Mother’s Day

  ChiMomWriter

  7 May 2013 | 10:01 pm

  I am going to admit something: I am afraid of Mother’s Day. A year ago this week, my world looked much different. During this week last year, I filed for divorce. Last Mother’s Day, just days later, the four of us spent the day together at the Arboretum. I will never forget my ex half-joking on the car ride over, “Aren’t we supposed to be hating each other right how?” There are layers to grief. I’ve moved through some of them, and although my days are sunnier and my rhythm more steady, there are still harsh moments that catch me. There are moments when I…

• Parenting perspectives: Happiness is relative – Earning your balance

  ChiMomWriter

  6 May 2013 | 10:01 pm

  This is the final piece in a series of guest posts about single parenting. The background: I recently wrote a post responding to a piece Kerri Zane published at Huffington Post. Zane’s piece, entitled “5 Reasons It’s Better to Be a Single Parent,” left me angry and baffled. It also got me thinking about what the landscape of single parenting really looks like, and what it means to those of us at different stages of the journey. Accordingly, I am hosting a group of guest posts from other writers who have at some point been single parents to get their perspectives. Some will be a…

• My LTYM Reading: I’m My Mother’s Daughter

  ChiMomWriter

  6 May 2013 | 9:07 am

  Photo credit: Sabrina Persico At some point soon, I will write about yesterday’s Listen To Your Mother Chicago experience. It was incredible and I’m still processing all of it. Video of all of the readings will be available on YouTube later this summer. In the meantime, I am sharing the piece that I read here. This piece was one of the first that I wrote, originally published as a guest post for Jill Smokler of Scary Mommy. Although my writing has evolved since then, I chose this piece because it’s the one that feels most like home. Simply put, it’s “me.”…

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  Toy Reviews | Toy Queen | Educational Toys | Toddler Toys | Best Apps for Kids | Toy Giveaways | Preschool Games | Baby Product Reviews

• Super Why! Live Tour

  Keriannot

  20 May 2013 | 1:44 pm

  Super Why! Live VIP Meet & Greet Disclosure: My family and I were provided with free VIP tickets to the Super Why! Live tour at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium for the purpose of this review. Any opinions stated are my own. Gavin being 3 1/2 years old, we’ve gone through several rotations of his favorite television programming. What I’ve notice these days as the trend is that shows I thought he wasn’t interested in any longer tend to circle back to the forefront of his mind and completely entertain him on a different level as his thinking skills advance. Last summer…

• Angry Birds Star Wars Toys (Giveaway)

  Keriannot

  10 May 2013 | 3:33 am

  @Hasbro Spend 10 minutes with boys in the 5-10 year-old age range, if they aren’t wearing an Angry Birds t-shirt, within that timeframe it won’t be hard to engage any of them in detailed conversation about their obsession with the Angry Birds apps, toys and the latest addition to the flighty destructive bunch, Angry Birds Star Wars toys. Hasbro “joined forces” with the Angry Birds phenomenon by launching one of the most amazing co-branding initiatives in their development of Angry Birds Star Wars games. The games feature the famous birds and pigs as Star Wars…

• Disney Planes Printables

  Keriannot

  7 May 2013 | 4:52 pm

  @Disney At Toy Fair this year, I heard about a new movie release from Disney, Planes, a 3D feature that will hit movie theaters on August 9th, 2013.  The premise of the movie includes Dusty (the voice of Dane Cook) who wants to be a high-flying racer, who also happens to be afraid of heights. At Toy Fair this year, I learned about it because some companies like Mattel were  debuting new toys, like the Dusty Crophopper Remote Control plane that will be available as well in August for $39.99. This particular plane will move by imitating how the child moves! So to help excite children about…

• Customizable Labels from Kiddo Tags

  Keriannot

  3 May 2013 | 2:10 pm

  ©Keri Wilmot Just a few weeks ago when Spring began to arrive, I started cleaning out some of the cabinets at home.  Gavin’s been attending daycare for 3 years, and in an effort to save some money and be a little greener, I invested in reusable snack containers with lids. While trying to organize the chaos that is that cabinet, I could have sworn I had bought way more than what we had left.  It seems as if I had failed one of the most important jobs as a dutiful daycare parent. I never followed the instructions to label all his clothing or ANY of his personal items. It was perfect…

• Plug-In Air Fresheners from Air Wick

  Keriannot

  17 Apr 2013 | 7:50 am

  @Air Wick I’ve really never been one to use plug-in air fresheners or honestly really any air fresheners or scented candles post-having kids at all. I was worried about Gavin burning himself on a candle or me being so tired I’d forget to blow it out. If I used any scented fresheners, it was generally some form of aerosol antibacterial spray. I did away with the diaper pail years ago, because I felt like it just harbored awful stinkiness in one spot, so we resorted to throwing poopy diapers in our kitchen trash. However, when you have a child and are putting smelly diapers in the…

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  A Space To Grow

• Silent Sunday (5th May 2013)

  Kat

  4 May 2013 | 7:25 pm

       

• Silent Sunday (28th April 2014)

  Kat

  27 Apr 2013 | 8:01 pm

   

• Silent Sunday (21st April 2013)

  Kat

  21 Apr 2013 | 3:22 am

   

• Exploring Lotherton Hall

  Kat

  15 Apr 2013 | 6:11 pm

  If you were wondering where on earth we found that snail featured in my last Silent Sunday post then read on… A very rare thing happened on Saturday. Moo Boy finished work extraordinarily early so we got to go on a rare family day out. We took advantage of our Friends of Leeds City Museums membership and took a drive to Lotherton Hall. There's lots to discover in the grounds and we started with the Bird Garden. Wee Man loved running around seeking out all the species of birds he'd never seen before and even spotting quite a few we grown ups missed. I had Bod on my back in the Ergo…

• Silent Sunday (14th April 2013)

  Kat

  14 Apr 2013 | 12:10 am

   

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  Found the Marbles

• Is this Social Responsibility or Oklahoma-Washing?

  Jessica

  24 May 2013 | 6:29 am

  The post Is this Social Responsibility or Oklahoma-Washing? appeared first on Found the Marbles.

• Thoughtful Thursday: Timely Trace Adkins Win

  Jessica

  22 May 2013 | 6:04 pm

  The post Thoughtful Thursday: Timely Trace Adkins Win appeared first on Found the Marbles.

• Boys, Respect Girls. Girls, Respect Your Selves.

  Jessica

  22 May 2013 | 3:24 am

  The post Boys, Respect Girls. Girls, Respect Your Selves. appeared first on Found the Marbles.

• Eating Gluten-Free for Life

  Jessica

  20 May 2013 | 3:52 am

  The post Eating Gluten-Free for Life appeared first on Found the Marbles.

• Giving Back to New Jersey

  Jessica

  17 May 2013 | 6:01 am

  The post Giving Back to New Jersey appeared first on Found the Marbles.

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  ParentWonder.com

• Kitchen Renovation Strengthens Healthy Eating

  Abel Cheng

  21 May 2013 | 11:02 pm

  You know what. The type of kitchen you have determines the type of foods you serve your family. It’s important that you have the right type that promotes healthy living. No way! You actually believe that! Forget about that. It was not what I meant. That is not the case but somehow something happens to our family that made me realize how big the influence of what we teach to our children. The story goes like this: Two days ago, we started a minor renovation for our kitchen. We have to replace old tiles that were falling off from the wall. It took two days to complete (plus painting work…

• How a puppy taught my children about time and promises

  Abel Cheng

  14 May 2013 | 11:05 pm

  Photo Credit: M&Co J and K love animals. Dogs especially. They have been bugging me to adopt one since a long time ago. But I turned them down. Reason: too much responsibility. Their life took a turn for the better when our neighbor brought home a Rottweiler puppy last February. J and K immediately befriended the neighbor with the intention to get to play with the dog. When you put kids and puppies together, exciting things happen. They mix very well because both are playful. That’s almost how J and K spend their evening ever since. But there’s one problem though. They are so…

• Banned baby names that parents use

  Abel Cheng

  3 May 2013 | 12:20 am

  When you’re expecting next time, be careful how you name your baby. There are rules that you can’t break. Yes, even though it’s your baby but you can’t just name her/him as you wish. And this includes promoting your baby to a higher ranking such as King or Queen. According to the Department of Internal Affairs of New Zealand, it has released a list of baby names that put forward by parents but were rejected. Reasons? Too bizarre. Too offensive. Here are some examples of such names: Anal “.” aka Full Stop 4Real V8 Queen Victoria King Duke Princess Though you…

• What lousy politicians can teach you about parenting

  Abel Cheng

  24 Apr 2013 | 5:50 am

  Everybody has a fever. No it’s not the virus that I am talking about. It’s the election that I am talking about. Malaysians would go for the 13th election come May 5th. Not that politicians are without jokes on normal days, but during election season, they are more rampant and daring to say and do things just to fish for votes. They prompted me to write this post. For the record, I refrain myself from touching on politics. If you notice, I have never written anything about it in the past. It’s different this time. Because I have found some useful lessons parents can learn…

• Day Trip to Banting, Jugra, and Jenjarom

  Abel Cheng

  17 Apr 2013 | 4:52 am

  I couldn’t stand the itch of not traveling during the recent one week school holiday. By hook or by crook I had to bring the family somewhere. I have a list of “Where to Go” and Banting and Jugra are on the list. So that’s how our Banting road trip started. I began planning the trip a week before and had a few items lined up. We wanted to get more people to go but everybody was busy with their own plans. As a result, only four of us embarked on the day trip. Let’s go through where we went one by one: Paragliding Tell you a secret: What attracted me to go to…

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  Life with Boys

• I Might Actually Finish This Time

  23 May 2013 | 6:08 am

  For years, it’s been my dream to write a book.   And for years, I’ve started one. And...

• Most Heartbreaking My Immortal-by Evanescence I cry everytime I...

  23 May 2013 | 5:56 am

  Most Heartbreaking My Immortal-by Evanescence I cry everytime I hear this song.  I dare you to actually listen to the words and not be moved. And Amy Lee, one of the most underrated voices out there.

• Keep It Off Facebook

  20 May 2013 | 7:50 am

  I will admit that I’ve shared personal things here.  As strange as it may sound, it’s...

• l0serzdance: lifewithboys: I LOVE this show.  I look forward...

  20 May 2013 | 7:37 am

  l0serzdance: lifewithboys: I LOVE this show.  I look forward to this coming back on once the warmer weather gets here. And this young man is exactly who I would vote for. He’s confident on stage, he’s smooth, but when he spoke with the judges he was sweet and humble.  Hope he does well in Vegas! Thank you! Idk if you’ll see this but I’m so thankful for that comment. I’m so happy to hear that. :) AHHH…call me a dork, but I got a huge kick out of this!  Loved this young man’s audition, and had to share with you guys.  And then he noticed!  Call me a fan!  Watch the video if…

• I LOVE this show.  I look forward to this coming back on once...

  16 May 2013 | 10:17 am

  I LOVE this show.  I look forward to this coming back on once the warmer weather gets here. And this young man is exactly who I would vote for. He’s confident on stage, he’s smooth, but when he spoke with the judges he was sweet and humble.  Hope he does well in Vegas!

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  The Young Mommy Life

• To All The Moms Who Don’t Quite Have It All The Way Together

  Tara

  20 May 2013 | 4:30 am

  Last Monday, I was on FIRE! I did two loads of laundry, cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner with a smile, handled ALL of my client work by 2 p.m. and had enough time to take my son to the park. I had to give myself a high-five and a pat on the back for handling my business and handling it well.  But then Tuesday was a HOT mess. I burned dinner, I was late picking up the kids from school, and a crisis broke out at work that had me losing sleep for the next three days. I was fussing and cussing all day. A MESS! What I know now that I didn’t know before is that this happens to the best of…

• Mission Accomplished! Master’s Degree? Check!

  Tara

  14 May 2013 | 8:56 am

  My husband was browsing through his computer yesterday and found this, my written statement for my Master’s program application. I wrote this as I was trying to convince the coordinators why I would be a good fit for the program and what I hoped to get out of it. Three years later I can say, “Yes. I did all that reading and research and studying and writing for ALL the right reasons.” I discovered I was pregnant my junior year of college. Having a child was the biggest shock of my life and I was in no way ready for what it entailed. As a young mother, there is so much you…

• Urge Your Representatives: Support Pregnant And Parenting Students!

  Tara

  8 May 2013 | 4:30 am

  When I discovered I was pregnant my junior year, my first inclination was to hide the pregnancy. I didn’t want anyone to know I was pregnant, I didn’t want anything to make me stand out on campus and I didn’t want my professors to begin treating me differently. What I wish I had known was that as a pregnant and soon-to-be parenting student, I had rights. Title IX protects against sex discrimination in federally funded programs and activities. This means, for starters, that I could not be “punished” for having a child (since women are the only ones who can get…

• {In The Kitchen} Pumpkin Pie Waffles

  Tara

  7 May 2013 | 7:18 am

    I’m a pretty simple woman. When my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I said a waffle maker. I saw one at Walmart for $15 and figured, why not? My son loves waffles and the frozen ones taste like cardboard. I was playing around in the kitchen this past weekend and came up with this recipe for pumpkin pie waffles. I had a can of pumpkin puree in the cabinet that I had to keep moving out of the way in order to get to everything else, so I figured, why not just use it? I know it’s technically spring and pumpkin pie-anything feels like a fall meal, but it’s…

• GoalDiggin’: My Goals For May 2013

  Tara

  1 May 2013 | 8:23 am

  I’ve got to admit – I’ve been in a bit of a funk that past couple months. I think the weather has a lot to do with it. When it’s gloomy and wet and cold outside, you tend to spend a lot of time indoors, staring at the same four walls all day. It drove me bonkers. But now that spring is officially here I’m feeling better. I’ve got a pep in my step, I’m smiling more and I feel on top of things. So let’s resume the monthly goal list, shall we? This month, I pledge to: Figure out what I’m doing with the kids this summer. Summer camp,…

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  Athena Bee's

• End of Year/Teacher Appreciation Gifts. What do you buy?

  Nadja Brocus

  7 May 2013 | 1:10 pm

  As I mentioned in my fruit-sculpture post yesterday this week is teach appreciation week. I am on the board of Athena's school's PTO and we put on a luncheon for them and gave the teacher lounge a Keurig. The year is almost over so this has me thinking end-of-year thanking as well. This is Athena's very first teacher, she really likes her, and watching my child blossom has been an incredible gift. Since I've never dealt with teachers in this capacity before, what's the protocol on Teacher Appreciation/End of year gifts? What do you do? End of year/teacher appreciation gifts: Do you buy them…

• Fresh Fruit Watermelon "Cake"

  Nadja Brocus

  6 May 2013 | 8:21 am

  Athena's very first year of school is coming to a close and this week is teacher appreciation week for them. These fine people have transformed my baby into a reading, writing, singing big girl STUDENT. She's had the best experience so far and I want them to know the parents are grateful.The PTO is putting on a luncheon tomorrow with donations from parents and board members. I volunteered to make a fruit salad. But not just ANY fruit salad. I wanted my fruit salad to say "Hey teachers! I took the time to sculpt up this fruit into a cake just for YOU because I appreciate YOU! No bowls of…

• It is my kids' fault if I never get Gangnam Style out of my head.

  Nadja Brocus

  3 May 2013 | 1:08 pm

  How long has this stupid song been around now? Everyone is past this, the Harlem Shake, and have moved onto something new, no?Not my children. They watch every freaking version and parody of it DAILY. This particular scene is their absolute favorite:They do it all the time :/I don't know which is better... this performance or when they sang Nicki Minaj "Starships" with their garbled "higher than a m****er f****er." Louis and I win at talented kids.

• A Terrifying Parenting Lesson Learned

  Nadja Brocus

  1 May 2013 | 7:29 am

  Last night I almost lost Zofia. Typing that sentence, reliving the moment, is making my hands shake to where I can barely type.We were folding laundry together in the living room like we do every week. She was taking clothes to her and Athena's rooms to put them in their dressers just like she always does. She makes the task take so much longer and their drawers are a disaster, but she loves to help her mama. I was preparing another pile for her to take when I heard s terrifying scream and a thunderous crash. I flew into Athena's room like a woman on fire and I couldn't even see Zofia.

• Oh, hey! I have a blog! I, like, totally forgot.

  Nadja Brocus

  17 Apr 2013 | 8:22 am

  I am the guy in red. Zofia and Athena are the guys in black. This is what happens when I sit down to do ANYTHING. I'm SO grateful that I actually have work to do, but DAMN GENA! Get off me for a sec! I'm hoping that Spring's arrival will mean more outside play time and less lap fights. I need to get centered again. I need to stop feeling so irritable all the time. I need... I need... I need a lot of things right now that I'm not getting right now. I'm going to work on that.

• 

  The Parenting Science News Feed

• May 24, Neanderthal teeth offer clues about the evolution of breastfeeding

  24 May 2013 | 12:25 pm

  An interesting new study suggests we can learn about the breastfeeding habits of fossil humans. How does the new technique work -- and what have researchers already learned? Some people are already citing the study in the context of debates about extended breastfeeding. But that's pretty goofy. Read more in today's Science Notes.

• May 23, What do we make of the latest study about bed-sharing?

  23 May 2013 | 9:37 am

  The popular media are abuzz with news about the latest meta-analysis of five European studies of SIDS risk and bed sharing. But while this study contributes new estimates regarding specific risk factors, it seems to me the take-home message hasn't changed much since I first wrote about bed sharing in 2009. When basic safety guidelines are followed, bed-sharing appears to pose no special risks for babies over 3 months of age. For babies younger than 3 months, bed-sharing -- as it is typically practiced by Europeans -- is associated with higher risk. Can parents greatly reduce -- perhaps even…

• May 22, Are U.S. kindergartens teaching math that kids have already mastered?

  22 May 2013 | 10:48 am

  Ella is going to start primary school this fall, and her parents look forward to seeing her expand her understanding of mathematics. But there’s a problem. Kindergarten will mostly be teaching material she’s already mastered.

• May 21, Genes may predict who gets postpartum depression

  21 May 2013 | 12:44 pm

  Why do women suffer from postpartum depression (PPD)? Researchers are still trying to figure out the physiological mechanisms. But a new study suggests that some women may carry genes that put them at special risk. Are you or your partner one of them? Someday, a blood test may tell you the answer.

• May 18, How children make themselves

  18 May 2013 | 10:22 am

  Kids aren’t passive lumps of clay. Their behavior influences the kind of feedback they get. And to the degree that children are given any freedom, they make choices that can influence they way they turn out.

• 

  When Did I Become My Mom

• Insomniac Musings

  Nicole

  15 May 2013 | 5:11 am

  Netflix considering changes to subscription policies – analyst says 10 Million watch for free Netflix is reportedly looking at changes to its current subscription model which allows 2 devices to stream content simultaneously on 1 subscription. Analysts claim as many as 10 million individuals are getting a free ride, and effectively stealing content. Netflix is considering family plans that will allow them to charge for these freeloading preschoolers. [Bloomberg] Blackberry taking BBM to Android and iOS Blackberry is finally looking to make its signature messaging service available on…

• July-August Camps 2013 *Trinidad*

  Nicole

  14 May 2013 | 5:20 am

  North-West [Show as slideshow]   TT Sailing Association Sailing Camp Ages: 7-15yr olds Cost: TT$850 per student per week Venue: TTSA, Chaguaramas Times: 9am-4pm daily Contact: academy@ttsailing.org (Specify camp dates, child’s name, age, sailing level & parent contact details) Further details: 5 day sailing camps, limited space available!! (Max 27 students) 6 one-week camps 8th-12th Jul – Camp A 15th-19th Jul – Camp B 22nd-26th Jul – Camp C 29th Jul-2nd Aug – Camp D 5th-9th Aug – Camp E 12th-16th Aug – Camp F Trinidad and Tobago Surf…

• Sundays in My City – Macqueripe Bay

  Nicole

  12 May 2013 | 1:18 pm

  Mother’s Day at the water’s edge… [Gallery not found] VIDEO: Silk Cotton floats down to the waves on Macqueripe Bay. The silk cotton barely shows up in the video, but I’m leaving it up for the sound of the waves. It was such a magical feeling floating in the waves and having the silk cotton sprays float down everywhere around you. Half expected to see fairies hitching a ride! Let’s travel the world together!

• Freebie Friday Roundup – May 10, 2013

  Nicole

  10 May 2013 | 6:59 am

  It’s FREEBIE FRIDAY! After SEA Special Edition This week’s selections are especially geared toward the pre-teen age group. Hard working students need to wind down and relax! Don’t have a Kindle? No problem! Kindle selections can be read online, anywhere at http://read.amazon.com! Note – these are free for a limited time. Amazon updates its prices often, so better move quickly before prices revert! The Time Hunters (Book 1 of the acclaimed series for children of all ages) ‘The Time Hunters’ is a thrilling adventure that takes Becky, Joe, Uncle Percy and Will…

• One Trini Mother’s Thoughts on Charles Ramsey

  Nicole

  8 May 2013 | 2:21 pm

  Very early yesterday morning I came across an article about Charles Ramsey – the Cleveland man who kicked in a door and called 911, rescuing Amanda Berry who had been missing for 10 years. The article included a video of the gentleman and stated that Mr Ramsey was about to be famous – the next “Sweet Brown” – and they were right. By last night that video clip had gone viral, and Charles Ramsey’s animated retelling of the story had been seen all around the world. Now I won’t lie, I watched it. I forwarded it. What a story! And what a retelling!

• 

  The Zen Mom

• Building Self-Esteem: 5 Ways To Find Your Daughter’s Spark

  Erica Rood

  19 May 2013 | 10:31 pm

  6 in 10 girls stop doing what they love because of their looks. But imagine a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. A few weeks ago I was at the Mom 2.0 Summit where Dove... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

• The Zen Mom TV: PMS Healthy Smoothie Recipe

  zenmom

  13 May 2013 | 7:04 am

  I love smoothies. It’s a great quick and easy way to get a healthy start to your day or as an afternoon pick me up. Here’s a tasty smoothie recipe that may also help with PMS symptoms. Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

• DIY Beauty Tricks: Turn Your Kitchen Into A Spa Getaway

  zenmom

  9 May 2013 | 10:29 pm

  Who doesn’t love a day at the spa, especially for Mother’s Day. But if you don’t have time to get to the spa, but still want to get some spa zen at home. Here are some are some... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

• Find Your Zen In The Spotlight-Introducing Zen Media Inc.

  zenmom

  6 May 2013 | 1:04 pm

  “For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sign of the stars makes me dream.”-Vincent van Gogh This quote was on my pillow in my hotel room at The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

• Zen Tips: Ready, Set, Go: How To Plan For A Summer Vacation

  zenmom

  29 Apr 2013 | 1:49 pm

  Vacations are supposed to be fun, but getting ready for them can sometimes be a bit stressful, unless you’re prepared. This summer we are doing something totally different  we’re going... Click on www.thezenmom.com or title for more.

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  Raising Great Men™

• 5 Tips for Raising an Exceptional Man

  mroker

  19 May 2013 | 3:23 pm

  If you ask most parents what do they want most for their children, the response will more likely be: to raise happy, healthy and successful children. We sometimes forget that what we want for our children has to be what they want for themselves.  It’s more important to raise children that have an understanding of their values and do their best to live by them.  You may raise a successful child, but if he has no compassion, love or integrity, what good is his success to the world? The key to raising better children is simple: Live your life as a better person. Yes, this is easier said…

• Mom, I’m Not Your Husband!

  Marie Roker-Jones

  13 May 2013 | 7:25 pm

  I was so upset when I overheard a single mom at the supermarket tell her friend that she didn’t need a man because her son was her husband. Granted, I should have been minding my own business, but if you talk loud enough, I’m going to listen. I wanted to find her son and tell him to run for his life.  It’s an unfair situation when mothers make their sons their surrogate husbands. These moms feel so deprived of love and attention that they turn to their sons for comfort and emotional support.  These moms are either single or in a marriage that is unfulfilled or…

• Get Active With Your Sons- The Active Family Project

  mroker

  9 May 2013 | 4:32 pm

  On Monday, I had the pleasure of attending an event with other parents about ways we can stay active and play with our kids, even with our busy schedules. The Active Family Project provides moms, from sources like its Play Council, with family-friendly tips and advice. Brought to you by Merck Consumer Care, Inc., this health and wellness initiative is designed to help moms overcome their worries about doing it all and truly be at their best by being active and enjoying time with the ones they love. The event was sponsored by Merck Consumer Care and TV personality and The View co-host, …

• Where’s Daddy?

  mroker

  5 May 2013 | 7:54 am

  On Sunday, May 5 on Life Class on the OWN Network, Oprah Winfrey and Iyanla Vanzant are addressing a sensitive topic that needs more awareness: Fatherless Sons. This two part show is a must watch for families. We need to start the healing process for men who grew up without fathers, we need to set the example for our sons to be better men and fathers. First Look: Oprah’s Lifeclass on Fatherless Sons What if America’s sons didn’t have to grow up without their fathers? What difference could it make? It’s a problem that’s been going on for too long and at too great…

• Iron Man 3: How Fathers Create Their Sons In Their Own Image

  Marie Roker-Jones

  2 May 2013 | 4:40 am

  He was cold, calculating, never told me he loved me, didn’t even tell me that he liked me, so it’s a bit hard for me to digest that he said the whole future is riding on me thing, you’re talking about a man who’s happiest day of his life was shipping me off to boarding school.   ~Tony Stark, Iron Man 2 There is one thing that can reduce a powerful man to a little boy. It’s the need to gain his father’s favor or approval. We see it with powerful men who work tirelessly to live up to a father’s legacy of fulfill a father’s unfulfilled dreams.

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  Mindful Mum

• Cute summer rompers for baby girls

  Alison McHugh

  6 May 2013 | 6:39 am

  By Ali McHugh – Mindful Mum Romper suits are not only adorable on baby or toddler girls, they are also practical. No need to worry about fiddly buttons or zips. Just a few  poppers and nappies can be changed very quickly. Rompers are the ideal outfit for showing off your little girls adorable chubby knees and the perfect alternative to shorts and t-shirt this summer. Here is our selection of the cutest summer romper suits for toddler and baby girls. Baby Gap – Ruffle dot one-piece £6.99 Toucan Kids – Lily and Sid Heart Pocket Romper - £20.00 Girls Summer Romper IDO  -…

• Child-friendly meals or family pot – what’s healthier?

  Alison McHugh

  6 May 2013 | 5:24 am

  In recent years supermarket shelves and restaurants have included an increasing number of  ’child friendly’ snacks, meals and menus. However a large study of family meal times by The  University of Edinburgh shows that eating the same meal as their parents is a more nutritious option for children in the long term. The research suggests that ‘child-meals’ are more likely to be nutritionally inferior. Author of the study, Valeria Skafida, said: “Offering separate ‘children’s food’ for a main meal may often result in children missing out…

• Top Children’s Eco Films

  Alison McHugh

  6 May 2013 | 3:39 am

  By Kate Fathers – Mindful Mum If you look hard enough, you can find an eco-conscious message in any film, particularly a kid’s film. But which ones are the most interesting? Here are a few of my favourites The Lorax (1972 and 2012) The first film based on The Lorax was a television special made in 1972, with a teleplay written by Dr Seuss. Only 25 minutes long, it is almost identical to the book (see: Eco Entertainment: Children’s Books http://www.mindfulmum.co.uk/eco/2012/childrens-books-with-an-eco-message/), and the alterations it makes only serve to make the subject matter more…

• Wendy Macleod’s summer fitness workout

  Mindful Mum

  2 May 2013 | 6:45 am

  Summer fitness countdown Due to the style of these exercises and layout of the plan, your metabolism will see a boost and will teach your body to burn calories more effectively even when at rest. Stick within the recommended guidelines for the first couple of weeks and build up timings and amount of circuits, as and when you feel able to. Always begin any routine with a 5-10 minute warm up involving mild to moderate cardiovascular activity. Side lunges or wide stance squats – 45 secs -1 min Tricep dips on flat feet (easy) or heels (hard) – 30 secs Thrusts (do legs half way to make easier)…

• Baby flash cards on your iPhone5

  Alison McHugh

  2 May 2013 | 4:47 am

  By Ali McHugh – Mindful Mum Not wanting to pour water on his kindness, I gently explained, “I mean word and picture flash cards like those Beyoncé and Jayzee are using with their baby girl, Blue Ivy.” He looked at me as if I had just landed from planet Krong. To help, I suggested he use his swanky new iPhone 5 from CarphoneWarehouse, to ‘Google’ it and find the best app for our boys. What are baby and toddler flash cards? Parents have been using flash cards as a game for babies and toddlers long before the digital camera or iPhone was invented. Traditional baby…

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  wegotkidz.com

• The Evolution of Braces: Bye, Bye ‘Brace Face’ and ‘Tensile Teeth’

  Kesha Phillips [Editor]

  24 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  I remember being in the sixth grade and my best friend coming to class one day with a mouth full of metal. “Cool!” I exclaimed after seeing her “magnetic” smile. “Neat right?” she replied with [...] Related posts: Teen Pregnancy Is Awesome! WTF? How to Talk to Teachers So That You Can Get What You Want For Your Child We Got Kidz Celebrity Special – “The Evolution of Rihanna” [Infographic]

• Mother’s Day Versus Father’s Day: A Side By Side Comparison [Infographic]

  Kesha Phillips [Editor]

  24 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  Father’s Day is less than a month away. (Time sure does fly.) Daddies need love too; so I wanted to take a moment to drop some knowledge on you about their notoriously underrated holiday. I [...] Related posts: The Grown Up Brain Versus the Toddler Brain [Infographic] Stumble Saturdays – “Gangstas Versus Rednecks” Via Cracked.com [Infographic] The Cost of Love: A Valentine’s Day Infographic

• Potty Training 101: Transitioning From Diapers to “Pretty Panties” With the Help of Parent’s Choice

  Kesha Phillips [Editor]

  23 May 2013 | 9:00 am

  Here’s an obvious, yet rarely discussed, fact regarding babies, and diapers: as your kid gets bigger, their “movements” get bigger; and the once adorable “tee-tee” that you weren’t afraid to get on your finger begins [...] Related posts: Much Needed Play-dates, Mommy Togetherness, & Wal-mart White Cloud Diapers… Oh my Getting Down & Dirty With Diapers 2012, Home Training, and Diapers On End Tables

• Join the Real Bratz Movement and Enter for Your Chance to Win!

  Kesha Phillips [Editor]

  21 May 2013 | 4:14 pm

  When the Bratz dolls premiered back in 2001 I can’t deny that I was intrigued by those fabulously funky fashion focused toys. They were bright, unique, and their signature almond eyes were unforgettable. Now, the [...] Related posts: Need An Awesome Valentine’s Day Gift… For FREE? Enter For Your Chance to Win Rose Elegance™ Premium Long Stem Roses! Monster High – Life Lesson in a Fashion Doll LEGOs: Not Just Awful Things That Get Embedded In Your Foot – They’re Great for the Imagination

• ’2-year-olds, Sad Days, and a New ‘Do’ – A We Got Kidz Exclusive Video

  Kesha Phillips [Editor]

  20 May 2013 | 8:18 am

  It’s been a while since my last video installment. This one is extra special as I’ve joined the big leagues and purchased a new camera – a Nikon d3200. This camera is stinkin’ awesome, and [...] Related posts: ‘Life With Twin 2-year-olds’ – The Ugly Yet Adorable Truth | We Got Kidz Exclusive Video Dirty Dancing, Dangerous Diapers, and Other 2-year-old Exploits [We Got Kidz Exclusive Video] Facts That Prove That One-Year-Olds Are Cold Calculating Heartless Creatures… That You Can’t Help But To Love

• 

  Life With 4 Boys

• The Search for the Elusive Perfect Night's Sleep with #Serta

  Kathleen

  24 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  Our mattress is old. As in, it was given to me by someone who owned it before and there is really no telling how long it has been around. By the time it came to me, complete with mystery spots and pre-made body impressions, there wasn't much chance of that famous "perfect night's sleep" happening. That is why I was jump up and down and scream like a banshee happy when Serta approached me

• Holding Steady

  Kathleen

  23 May 2013 | 9:17 am

  This is my third month as a blogger in the Shaklee 180 program. I realize that I have failed to be the inspirational role model that I had hoped to be so far. However, I am pleased to say that I am at least holding steady. That is something the Shaklee program has taught me. How to maintain my current weight. So while, I have only lost two pounds in the last month to take me back to what I was

• Homemade Fire Starters

  Kathleen

  22 May 2013 | 9:51 am

  There are officially 9 more days until we leave on our massive family camping trip. Unfortunately, building a good campfire is not one of my strong suits, so it is usually left to my oldest to do. He does a great job, but building a good campfire requires good fire starters. In a lot of the state and national parks we will stay at, collecting downed wood is a big no no, and fire starting

• 5 DIY Projects to Help Beautify Your Backyard

  Kathleen

  21 May 2013 | 6:54 am

  This is a partner post brought to you in cooperation with RONA.ca. If your backyard looks anything like mine right now, it probably resembles a scene out of Jumanji. Ours comes complete with the pool that need to be cleaned out from the winter months, overgrown   azalea and jasmine bushes and tall grass with all manner of insects lurking in its blades. We have a fenced in acre for a yard and

• Thank-you Brandcation Sponsors!

  Kathleen

  20 May 2013 | 7:16 am

  I can't believe it has been a week since I came back from my trip to Brandcation in Destin, FL. where I was able to recharge my batteries and get some "me" time while forming some great relationships with both other bloggers and brands. While there, we were introduced to some amazing new products that were sponsors of Brandcation in one way or another. Trisha, Lynsey, Kim and Blondie all did a

• 

  Hope Coaching with Ronae Jull

• The Truth about Sales

  RJ

  22 May 2013 | 4:15 pm

  That “Sales” word has the ability to send normally capable and confident adults into a tailspin of uncertainty and sometimes outright fear: SALES. (Cue spooky music and roll in the fake... Come on over to RonaeJull.com for more!

• Blogging for Business Success

  RJ

  21 May 2013 | 4:53 am

  I’ve gotta say it – I LOVE blogging. Maybe its all about simply having a “platform” and an audience who listens to what I have to say. Or maybe its that I am passionate about... Come on over to RonaeJull.com for more!

• My First Product Shipment as a Coach with Body Fx

  RJ

  16 May 2013 | 6:03 pm

  I’m SO super excited! Today was the day that I received my very first product shipment from Body Fx. As a Body Fx Coach, I get “one of everything” right up front – and we have... Come on over to RonaeJull.com for more!

• Network Marketing 3.0

  RJ

  9 May 2013 | 10:23 am

  If you’re an old “networker” like me, you remember meetings in your living room, endless prospecting, and that old adage “Ten percent do the work while 90% complain”.... Come on over to RonaeJull.com for more!

• Find Me A Career Path – Resurrect Your Dream

  RJ

  28 Mar 2013 | 8:00 am

  I’m 51, and I’m going back to school, again. Before you roll your eyes and say, “What the heck is she doing?!”, let me explain. I’m sure you’ve heard that... Come on over to RonaeJull.com for more!

• 

  Sweet Memoirs

• Smart tips to personalize your belongings

  23 May 2013 | 8:09 pm

  I don’t know about you but I love owning items that I know no one else will have. It makes me feel really unique and a little bit special. Not everything we purchase can be a one of a kind however. The following article lists some great way you can personalise your belongings.PrintingThis is obviously considering when you have not already got an item to work with. There are a variety of online sites that do customise printing for pretty much any item. There is the option for customisable clothes, glasses, mugs, postcards and the list goes on. Most of the sites will have built in layouts or…

• d' Good Café at Holland Village

  22 May 2013 | 11:54 pm

  OpenRice Singapore invited me for a food tasting at d' Good Café last Tuesday night. The session was scheduled to start at 7pm but I knocked off from work at 6pm and Holland V is just a stone throw away from my workplace so I came super early.Being the earliest bird, I took the opportunity to capture images for this post. I looooove how they painted (or is it a sticker?) the stairway to the  café with their signature coffee creations and "Your Best Cup of Coffee of the Day Begins Here" statement! Very creative.Let me tour you around the rest of the place...1st stop: THE BARAs you…

• What Baby Clothes Should You Buy?

  22 May 2013 | 10:06 pm

  Planning ahead makes a big difference when you are shopping for baby clothes. Baby clothes will be changed a few times a day when you first bring your baby home so it is important to ensure that the clothes can be put on or taken off easily. Generally, soft, comfortable clothes make the best buys and remember to watch out for tags or seams which might irritate.In terms of size, babies vary widely so it can be hard to choose the correct size at first. Newborn clothes tend to be outgrown quickly and some big babies may not even need this size at all. A good idea is to buy baby clothes in a few…

• Baby DIY Photoshoot: First Six Months

  22 May 2013 | 7:59 pm

  #ThrowbackThursdayI am a self-confessed photo enthusiast. I used to photograph lots and lots of flowers, critters, sunsets, landscapes and what-nots but ever since G was born, I focused my camera lens on this precious little angel.I took this photo when my boy was a newborn. Hubby and I packed along our DLSR camera when we went to the hospital for the elective caesarean birth. We also brought along the baby basket and throw blanket with DIY newborn photography in mind. We had a blast documenting G's newbornhood. Just look how angelic he is while sleeping soundly and comfortably…

• How to Establish Your Theme with Party Invitations

  21 May 2013 | 9:34 pm

  Having a theme for any party will give your guests a great experience during the event. A great way to get guests excited about your event is to include your theme in your party invitations. This way the guests know what to expect even before they arrive at your party. It’s kind of like a sneak peek into what fun things you are going to have planned.Before you order or make your party invitations, make sure you have a solid theme set. It does not matter what the theme is. If you do not have a solid plan in place, then your guests will not know what the theme is and they may be disappointed…

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  Kids in Sports | Character Building | JBM Thinks

• How do sports parents annoy other sports parents?

  Janis

  24 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  Annoying is a word that some athletes use to describe their parents’ behavior, and it is also used by coaches to describe some sports parenting behaviors. There’s a third twist to the annnoyances: parents annoying other parents. I did a little digging to find out how sports parents annoy each other. Maybe it will give you [...]

• Parenting tip: the secret to building relationships

  Janis

  22 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  There’s a secret to building relationships with people. It’s also a parenting tip that can might just provide a lot of insight into your kids. The secret to building relationships isn’t in the words you say, but in the questions you ask. Justin Zoradi says in his post The Simple Step to Become a Remarkably [...]

• How you can prevent youth sports eye injuries

  Janis

  20 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  According to Prevent Blindness America, 40,000 eye injuries related to sports and recreation occur every year, and over 90% of them can be prevented with the proper use of sports eyewear. Baseball and basketball make up the majority of youth sports eye injuries. For children ages 5 to 14, baseball is the No. 1 cause [...]

• Sports nutrition: 10 Foods that will boost energy

  Janis

  17 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  Sports nutrition is just as important to your child’s game as practice. You can help your child be prepared for his games by feeding him the right foods to boost his energy. For many athletes, it may seem like a good idea to have an energy drink or  something caffeinated before going to practice or [...]

• 4 Simple Steps to Help Prevent Ankle Sprains in Youth Sports

  Janis

  15 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  Today’s guest post is about one of the most common injuries in youth sports: ankle sprains. Michelle Meier from Ektio writes about how to help prevent ankle sprains. Sooner or later, your young athlete will suffer from one. These tips are simple and may seem rather obvious to you, but I have a feeling that many [...]

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  Tales From the Nursery

• An Amazing Twin Birth Story – Part 1

  Darcy Zalewski

  24 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  This twin birth story comes from one of our readers, Erin B., a mother of 4.  She was always so encouraging when I posted about my pregnancy on our Facebook page, especially when I was considering a doula.  After she shared her story with me, I thought the rest of you would be interested too and asked to feature it here!  After you read her story, check out the end of the post to find out how you can contribute a parenting story too. Oh and she has a recipe for lactation muffins that you should check out.  I want to make them…. It started with a fascination I have always been…

• DIY Baby Shower Gift Basket Idea for Under $35

  Darcy Zalewski

  23 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  I received a fun baby and toddler gift basket from CVS.  Normally I wouldn’t promote disposable diapers, but as I shared recently, we are not doing cloth diapers full-time right now.  Plus, the reality is that a lot of people do use disposables and appreciate receiving them at their baby showers. When you go shopping for baby showers, sprinkle parties or some other version of “she’s having/had a baby and I need to get her a present” type party, where do you usually go? How much do you spend? I’m guessing well known stores and a minimum of $25 (but probably way…

• Life Lessons: Best Friends in the Moment

  Darcy Zalewski

  22 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  Have you ever met someone that you connected with instantly and were best friends in that moment? For that one hour at the park, that one week at camp, that one semester in English class?  I forgot how intense that could be until my daughter had her first one time friend. Sometimes I feel bad that Rissa doesn’t have many friends.  She calls family, our adult friends, her toys and even strangers “friends.” Where’s that friend going, mommy? Friends waved at me! She is very social and will recount random conversations and memories with people she meets.  Other than…

• Fun With Textures and Tummy Time

  Darcy Zalewski

  20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm

  This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Comfort and Harmony for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. Xander's idea of the perfect day consists of sleeping, eating, playing, and pooping.  This is pretty much the norm for babies, isn't it?  Rissa was the same way.  Now that Xander is 5 months old, he wants to sit up all the time or if he's on his tummy he's doing mini push-ups or imitation swimming. With my daughter I was all about the nursing pillows, but with X… it seems like I never have the time to get situated with one.  Maybe now…

• The Perfect Bear Family for This Brother and Sister

  Darcy Zalewski

  20 May 2013 | 7:06 am

  If you have a son and daughter close in age, then I’m sure you know what it’s like to find toys and movies that interest both of them.  Or to make them each feel special.  When Rissa helped me open our latest review package from Phase 4 Films, I was surprised how she split everything up. One of the best parts about reading with your child is rediscovering your old favorites.  I was a big fan of the Berenstain Bears books and even had a Sister Bear hand puppet.  Their family seemed almost perfect – every issue got resolved in a positive manner.  As a mom, I really…

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  One Little Mister

• Wordless Wednesday: First Experience With Grass

  Ashley

  21 May 2013 | 11:37 pm

  This is a content summary only. Visit www.onelittlemister.com for full links, other content, and more!

• Healthy Surprise Review and Giveaway

  Ashley

  19 May 2013 | 9:51 am

  I’m a big fan of subscription boxes. Surprises in the mail each month? I live for surprises in the mail! I also love food. I own my fat kid status with enthusiasm. But you know what? Sometimes... This is a content summary only. Visit www.onelittlemister.com for full links, other content, and more!

• Cupcake Soap from Actz Cosmetics Review and Giveaway (2 winners!)

  Ashley

  18 May 2013 | 10:52 pm

  Mmmmm. How delicious does that cupcake look? With it’s light, creamy, perfectly swirled frosting? It’s rich chocolate cake? And it’s sweet little sprinkles? Well, would you believe... This is a content summary only. Visit www.onelittlemister.com for full links, other content, and more!

• Baby Banana Oatmeal Muffin Recipe

  Ashley

  18 May 2013 | 2:16 pm

  I was looking at a box of baby cereal the other day and realized all of the ingredients? Flour. I wondered to myself if it could be used in place of actual flour in a baking recipe. And of course I... This is a content summary only. Visit www.onelittlemister.com for full links, other content, and more!

• Five on Friday: May 17th

  Ashley

  17 May 2013 | 4:42 am

  My friend Ari always does Five on Friday on her blog, and I love reading it. It’s important to take time to think positively, especially since my life has been so crazy, stressful, and negative... This is a content summary only. Visit www.onelittlemister.com for full links, other content, and more!

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  Before the Baby Wakes

• Porn for New Moms

  Alexandria Campbell

  9 May 2013 | 6:57 am

  I was somewhere online hopping and stumbled on Porn for Pregnant Ladies. That’s some funny stuff isn’t it? But I think there is some better porn that pregnant ladies & mom ladies would like a lot better. Sit back, lock your door & enjoy yourself ladies. Was it good for you? 2 comment(s) for this post: Alexis Grace: 12 May 2013 Hahahahaha!!! So SO SO TRUE! Happy Belated Mother's Day!!! (And Great new layout! ) Janessa Furrh: 16 May 2013 hahahaha great post, can't stop laughing now :D Write a quick commentThe post Porn for New Moms appeared first on Before the Baby Wakes.

• Whatcha Got Pork Fried Rice

  Alexandria Campbell

  7 May 2013 | 6:37 am

  In the past when I have to be an occasional single parent for the evening dinner is usually at my parents house or macaroni & cheese or a bowl of cereal. I never got the point of cooking just for me & Phoenix so I usually throw together whatever I can find that can be done in the microwave. But a few months ago Shawn got really super busy and I hadn’t cooked in a long time  & I absolutely love to cook. I decided that at least twice a week I would make the boys & I a good home cooked meal. A few weeks ago I threw this fried rice together and loved it so I decided to…

• A little bit of housekeeping

  Alexandria Campbell

  6 May 2013 | 6:04 am

  How do you like the new digs? A new blog design has been so so so so long coming. My last one, let us just be honest was really bad. I hated looking at every time I would log on. I also hated the weird way it would format the post & pictures. It was all kinds of bad & annoying. But thanks to the talented Sarah at One Starry Night I have gotten a much needed overhaul. Besides the new look the other new addition is the Best Of page. If you are a new reader or sporadic reader this might be a good place for you to check out. The reasons things have been so quiet lately have been major…

• Some days

  Alexandria Campbell

  18 Apr 2013 | 6:15 am

  Some days he’s all… Why do you always make me do stuff I don’t want to do? Gosh! I hate this! I’m running away! Your house is boring! I’m not going to eat your nasty food. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! This is dumb. Your dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. I hate chores! I am a teenager! I want to stay up until 9 billion. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Mommy you have to go to sleep when I do. It’s not fair! I don’t want to go school. I hate school. Homework is boring. And then some days he’s all… Mom I love you, I’m going to buy you a magazine.  …

• Duck, Duck, obey

  Alexandria Campbell

  15 Apr 2013 | 6:01 pm

  If you follow me on Twitter you heard me desperately cry out for help on Friday as we almost witnessed a complete and utter maternal catastrophe in nature. Walking home from Phoenix’s school we passed a man-made waterfall/pond in front of an apartment complex that had a Mommy duck & 13 of her little babes swimming around. Caspian was fast asleep in his Ergo so we decided to watch them for a bit. After watching them for almost an hour the unthinkable happened. At this particular complex there were two pond areas so after swimming in one & unsuccessfully trying to make it across…

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  The Potty Diaries

• Conversations with children; not for the faint-hearted

  24 May 2013 | 11:18 am

  If anybody had told me about the conversations I would have with my children before I had children, I must admit that some of them might have made me pause - just for a moment - and ask whether or not joining the baby race was such a good idea.  Well - that, or I just flat out would never have believed them.  Edited highlights include (but are not limited to):Conversations about lions and sharks and which would win in a fight (note; remarks regarding the incompatibility of these animals natural elements are usually ignored). Conversations about dinosaurs and terror birds and which…

• On Funnel Web Spiders, Small Boys and Dung Beetles*

  22 May 2013 | 4:25 am

  My sons crack me up.  This is a Good Thing, because a year of solo parenting 4-5  days a week is beginning to get to me, and my sense of humour is starting to wear thin.When possible, I eat dinner with my children so that we can discuss their day.  Today's hot topic was what could only ever be a winner in terms of hilarity; Dung Beetles.  It all started innocently enough; Boy #2 is doing a school project on insects and arachnids, and his chosen creature for closer study is the infinitely cute and cuddly funnel web spider.To quote a fellow blogger in her hilarious post…

• Mothers; Know your limits...

  17 May 2013 | 1:45 am

  I love to cook for my kids.  It's part of my internal template of 'being a good mother'; scratch cook where I can, and always have home-made cookies or cake in a tupperware container on the counter-top.  What can I say?  I blame my own mother for being the ultimate domestic goddess.  Well, that and the fact that living with two children with allergies means that many pre-made and processed foods are - literally - off the menu.So, in a moment of madness, I actually kept the chicken carcass from yesterday's (shop-bought) roast chicken, thinking, 'Ooh - I can make stock with…

• Onwards and Upwards

  15 May 2013 | 2:47 am

  I've struggled a bit so far this year. The Russian Winter seemed longer than ever before, mainly because it WAS longer; it started in October and left it's white dandruff on the ground until mid-April.  (And yes, that, right there - that use of the word 'dandruff' for what I would formerly have called 'snow'-  is a pretty good representation of my disillusionment with a season that in previous years I was enchanted by).  The days seemed darker and shorter, and the evenings longer and lonelier than in the previous years we've spent here.  Again, there is good reason for…

• BritMums Live! Hello...

  13 May 2013 | 2:08 am

  Nearly 6 months ago I told Husband that come hell or high water, I was going to BritMums Live! this year.  I've been to two out of the three conferences that they've held so far and I can't tell you how miserable I felt in June 2012 watching all the buzz about it beforehand and knowing that I wouldn't be there. Well, guess what?  It's coming up in less than 6 weeks time.  How did that happen? All of a sudden I need to start thinking about logistics and - gulp - planning what to wear.  Obviously, the first - who will collect the Boys from school, will my Husband even be in…

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  Positive-Parenting-with-Purpose-Blog

• Parenting Articles by Guest Posters

  15 May 2013 | 10:49 am

  I've been asked over and over if I'd take parenting articles by guest posters.  There are a lot of parents with some insight that they want to share out there! (This isn't for this parenting blog so much as it is for my positive parenting website. ) In the past, I just didn't have time to put together a specific place for guest articles on parenting, but as of a couple of days ago, it's done! Now I'm calling for parenting articles, written by readers, by either credentialed parenting authors and moms and dads who have some specific advice on how to go about positive…

• Parenting and Sports

  21 Mar 2013 | 11:05 am

  I haven't written in a while.  I've been trying to parent around and through all of the sports.  What I mean is that I've got all my kids in many different things after school.  Parenting and sports can be a great thing, but it can also make things nuts. And, yes, I did mean to say that "I've got my kids in many different things after school." Truth be known, it started out with me pushing them to try different things.  Many parents do this.  You put them in something when they're young and they try it out to see if they like it.  Eventually, they might just land…

• Teaching Kids Personal Values

  18 Jan 2013 | 7:58 am

  I read and watch all of the chatter surrounding Lance Armstrong and his eventual confession about actually doping while participating in professional cycling, and also his confession about lying for the past several years.  So many thoughts go through my head. With all of the hype around the topic, it's no surprise that my 10 year old asked me the other day, "Mom, what is 'doping'", followed almost immediately by, "Why did he lie about it?"  Obviously, I had to explain the term to him and then explain reasons why it's been such a topic of discussion recently.  The second…

• Top 10 Baby Products Needed When Having a Baby

  7 Dec 2012 | 9:23 am

  It sure is difficult to narrow a list of baby products down to a Top 10 List of Baby Products Needed When Having a Baby, but I've come up with my own version, cheating a little by combining a couple.  But here's the list of the items that I think a new parent should make sure that they have before bringing your new addition home: Diapers and Wipes:  Whether you use disposable diapers (there are so many brand available today including top brand names such as: Huggies Disposable Diapers, Pampers Disposable Diapers, and Luvs Disposable Diapers; generic versions, and even good discount…

• Kids' Belief in Santa Claus

  30 Nov 2012 | 9:38 am

  I was talking with a couple of friends the other day.  We started discussing Santa Claus and whether or not our children believe in him. The conversation started in a lighthearted way, but changed a little as we got deeper into the conversation.  One friend felt very strongly that it is awful to perpetuate a long-existing myth with your children.  Most of the other moms were taken back by this and didn't quite know what to say.  (This particular mom doesn't celebrate Halloween or allow her kids to either, albeit for a very different reason.  She believes that people…

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  AWESOMELY AWAKE

• 12 Ways to Trust Yourself as a Mother

  Shawn

  22 May 2013 | 6:14 pm

  I’ve been on this mothering journey for a little more than seven years. I am sure that a few years from now, I could add to this list. But, for now, I really wanted to write a post that gives any mother a little sigh of relief about a touchy topic. Trusting yourself. I talk a lot about putting away the parenting books and the parenting magazines and just using your intuition on knowing what’s right for this moment. I believe strongly that we’ll never have the same experiences as parents. Our family cultures vary more than our backgrounds do. What’s good for you…

• Trusting ourselves as mothers

  Shawn

  21 May 2013 | 5:45 am

  “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.” ~ Maya Angelou   “I love Dr. N.,” my daughter said recently about her principal, a wonderful woman who has been kindly mentoring her in advanced math. We were eating dinner. I had made tacos. Hers was broken in half and topped with the perfect amount of refried beans and cheese, just as she likes it, and a generous side of avocado. She asked for more. I encouraged her to eat what she needed to take care of her body. We had just spent a great deal of time outside where I counted how long it took…

• Buddha wakes at 5 a.m.

  Shawn

  20 May 2013 | 7:20 am

  “Wake up, that’s what my children say to me each day. They say it when they tell me about their dreams at night.” I am truly honored to offer this introduction of a guest post I wrote for Cheerio Road, the online home of Zen Buddhist Priest and “Momma Zen” Author Karen Maezen Miller — a longtime friend who saved me from my own thoughts years ago and continues to do so today. Please click through and read it.   We sat in a circle in the lovely, peaceful home of Lil Omm Yoga Studio in Washington, DC. I listened as Maezen’s voice soothed me. It sounded…

• Project 52 | Trust Yourself

  Shawn

  19 May 2013 | 5:25 pm

  “As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” ~Johann Von Goethe   This is Week 20 of {Project 52} Stay Awake. You are welcome to join in anytime during this year-long mindful living photo project. please upload your photos to our Project 52: Stay Awake Flickr group so we can see what an Awake life means for you. And, if you also use Instagram please use the hashtag #awakeproject13.   Perhaps this is the biggest tip of all to staying awake. Trust. And, as I head into self-employment this week, I’m calling upon this little piece of advice not just as a…

• Going on a joy hunt

  Shawn

  15 May 2013 | 5:51 pm

  “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” ~ e.e. cummings   Her lips formed into that perfect, oh-so-tired pouty face. Arms crossed. Head down. She exudes stubbornness. Of course. It was 7:30 p.m. She’d been up since 5 a.m., unable to sleep — a challenge she faces quite often. Hugs didn’t work. Tickles didn’t work. Offers of a bedtime snack didn’t work. Visions of a long, drawn out fussy bedtime flashed through my mind and I recalled my favorite parenting tool — a trick I didn’t get from a book or watch on a morning television…

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  SingleMommie.com

• Turn off the Tube and Encourage the Kids to Exercise

  Sierra Greenman

  23 May 2013 | 11:36 am

  If your children have the habit of sitting in front of the television or playing video games all day long on the weekends and at night after school, you may want to think twice about your week and weekend rules. Not only does sitting in front of the tube make kids grumpy, but it does not encourage them to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors during the spring and summer time. If you’re having a hard time enticing them to stay healthy and exercise, not only will setting guidelines improve the situation, but being a single parent who sticks to her rules will too. Setting Up Guidelines…

• South Carolina Scholarships

  Donnetta

  22 May 2013 | 4:06 pm

  Paying for a college education can be very expensive. Thankfully there is a lot of money available to help you pay for it. And if you are willing to do a little research you will be able to find more scholarship money than you ever thought was available. Below I am going to share with you are few South Carolina scholarships that are available: Furman University Palmetto Fellows This scholarship is worth a total of $6,700. The amount each student receives will vary and will be determined by the South Carolina Legislature. It is for residents of South Carolina who meet the guidelines. The…

• 7 Classic Board Games You Should Be Playing With Your Kids Right Now

  Andrew Kardon

  21 May 2013 | 8:11 am

  Lately I’ve been reliving my youth. No, I’m not having dreams that I’m walking around my high school in my underwear as everyone points and laughs. Uh, not that I’ve ever had those kinds of dreams. Anyways, I’ve been playing a lot of board games with my two boys lately, Jason especially. I have such awesome childhood memories of hanging out with my neighborhood buddies Ethan, Eddie and Gary. We’d spend so many days and nights in the summer doing nothing more than playing board games. Gary, who had two older brothers, must’ve had about 97 different…

• Rhode Island Grants

  Donnetta

  20 May 2013 | 3:58 pm

  Over the last few decades the price of college has continued to rise. As a result its becoming harder and harder to pay for college. And that’s where grants come in to play. Grants are basically free money that can be used to pay for college. Below I am going to share a few grant opportunities available to Rhode Island residents. The Rhode Island State Grant Program The Rhode Island State grant program is available to those who cannot afford to pay for college. It is the only state grant for families in this state. If you fill a FAFSA application by the deadline and list Rhode Island as…

• Rhode Island Child Support

  Donnetta

  19 May 2013 | 2:48 pm

  Rhode Island Child Support Guidelines In Rhode Island the income share model is used to calculate how much support the child would have if the parents would have stayed together. That amount is then divided proportionally between both parents. To come up with this amount you will need to fill out a child support worksheet as well as turn in some of your past pay stubs of W-2 forms. Let me give you a quick example of how this process would work. Which ever parent has the higher income will be responsible for the greater portion of child support. On the same hand, which ever parent has the…

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  Two Martini Lunch

• Sign After Sign After Sign

  Kim

  23 May 2013 | 11:34 pm

  Source: christinehassler.com A few months ago, I wrote Evolution of a Dream about my quest to work at the World Series of Poker. I started the wheels in motion by sending in a resume to PokerNews to apply for the job of Poker Blogger. On paper I am not at all qualified although I know I am perfect for the job.  I have no formal writing experience and I have no documented experience in the poker world.  What I do have is a passion for the game and a love of blogging. Apparently that came through in my cover letter, because I was scheduled for an interview. The interview happened just hours…

• My New Normal

  Kim

  22 May 2013 | 6:01 pm

  The minute I got the call from my sister, I knew my life would be forever changed.  It happened 26 years ago and I know it will happen again. That isn’t to say the decisions and choices I made 26 years ago because of Lisa’s death didn’t lead to some wonderful things, they did.  I joined Pan Am to escape the pain my surroundings held for me at the time.  It led me to traveling the world which led me to meeting Way which led to two wonderful (yet slightly obnoxious) teenagers.  It is hard to say where my life today would be if it hadn’t been for Lisa’s death.

• Time to Write

  Kim

  21 May 2013 | 11:30 am

  Sitting down to write is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Usually I have no problem writing. I write like I talk and I talk a lot (usually with lots of hand motion). Therefore, I usually have no trouble writing. Writing has always been my therapy so you would think I would be clamoring to get to my keyboard.  Staring at a blank screen is much easier these days. Today I took my first step towards my new normal and made the conscious decision to start writing again. I got up, made my bed and took a shower. Time to get back on a schedule which is how I work the best. So here I am…

• My Latest on Instagram

  17 May 2013 | 9:12 pm

  My latest photos on Instagram.  Come find me (kimyuhl). While you are here, check out:My Latest on Instagram My Latest on Instagram My Latest on Instagram My Latest on Instagram

• And Life Goes On

  Kim

  13 May 2013 | 11:08 pm

  Balloons released in memory of my brother.Thank you to my cousin, Janice, for the wonderful photos. The services, memorials and tributes are now over which means today is the day we are supposed to get on with the business of life. As I plan my day which includes a visit to the bank and several stores to return items, it just doesn’t seem quite right. It seems wrong to try and make plans, post on Facebook, write blogs and pursue dreams when a piece of you is missing. Most of all it seems wrong to laugh and have fun. I know Doug would not want us to wallow in sadness. He never did. He…

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  Project Motherhood: Diary of a New York City Mama

• This Calls For a Family Meeting!

  Allison Cooper

  24 May 2013 | 6:14 am

  Dear Diary, We don’t have a dog, but if we did, wouldn’t the above picture be a cute way to call a family meeting? But, the picture isn’t the point … Continue reading →

• Job (Almost) Well Done

  Allison Cooper

  22 May 2013 | 3:57 am

  Editor’s Post about College Admissions, by Deborah Hetrick Catanese You taught your children to wash their little hands, how to tie their shoes, how to write their name.  You taught … Continue reading →

• From The Mancave…

  Allison Cooper

  20 May 2013 | 5:53 am

  Captain’s Log, Stardate 5/20/13 As I write this guest post, I am sitting in my Mancave, also known as the bedroom that I share with my wife that turns into … Continue reading →

• That’s The Way Love Goes

  Allison Cooper

  17 May 2013 | 5:48 am

  Dear Diary, Relationships are not easy. EVER. End of story. BUT, not the end of this discussion! As you get older, throwing children and full time jobs into the mix … Continue reading →

• …Bring May Flowers

  Allison Cooper

  15 May 2013 | 6:11 am

  Dear Diary, We have made it through rainy April and now blue skies are headed our way (at least we hope)! We have learned how to survive dreary days through … Continue reading →

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  The Mommist

• Appebon Kid's Mom's Grocery Blowout Promo!

  Len Cruz

  24 May 2013 | 12:26 am

  May is mom's month! I don't know if that is official, but we mom's like to think that it is! Pampering mom's and making the them extra happy is what this mom's month is all about. Various celebrations have been done in honor of mothers and it's still not over yet! Appebon Kid, daily nutrient supplement for kids, is giving away PhP 10,000 worth of grocery shopping spree! Now, this is something that I'm 100% sure mom's will really appreciate. This will be a big help given the bloating prices of commodities. Grrr!!! Okay, breathe and one, two, three....wooosaaaaah. I'm not going to ask you…

• The Farm Resto: Serving More Than Just Organic Beef

  Len Cruz

  22 May 2013 | 8:31 am

  Seeing delicious photos of burgers on Instagram care of Kariz Favis - wife of Tom Favis, owner of The Farm Organics and the restaurant - prompted me and my glutton crew to visit the new The Farm Resto a couple of days ago. It was just too enticing to resist, I tell you! I've been a big fan of their products since I saw them on the freezer shelves of Rustan's Fresh Shangri-la Plaza Mall last year. Aside from the beef being organic, I also like the fact that they are vacuum packed {sealing the all important juices in}. It keeps the product fresh and odor-free.  Organic beef are those that…

• Eco-Friendly Bamboo Cloth Nappies

  Len Cruz

  19 May 2013 | 5:07 am

  As the saying goes...start 'em young! In terms of healing the planet, that is. Our generation and the future ones are geared towards helping Mother Earth renovate from the abuse she has received from the past. I'm a supporter and a patron of sustainable, eco-friendly products. One such local environment friendly product that has captured my attention is these cute nappies from Dappy! What's so good about these diapers? Bamboo cloth doesn't irritate the skin because it's organic and breathable.  The fabric contains a natural antibacterial and anti-fungal agent called Bamboo Kun. It is…

• A Retrospective Look at Sixties Decorating Style With A Twist

  Len Cruz

  18 May 2013 | 10:39 am

  I prefer homes that are a myriad of fine things that looks amazing when combined together. There's just so much character in these types of abode. It looks unruly at first glance, but its beauty emerges when stared at. I like homes where each piece is a conversation starter {not just for aesthetics}and has a story. I've been heavily coveting on tweaked sixties style of decor as of late. The one below is a great example of mismatched styling done right. It's not a home actually. It's one of my favorite denim's showroom in West Hollywood: Citizen's of Humanity. It has the great components of a…

• Don’t Read This if You Don't Want to Raise A Humble Child

  Len Cruz

  17 May 2013 | 6:20 am

  source In social media networks, parents are notorious for uploading pictures of their kids’ achievements; from winning a gold medal in a rhetorical competition to as simple as a potty training success.  Most of it is justified, while the rest is just completely exaggerated and sometimes, annoying. There’s more to the I’m-just-proud-of-my-kids demeanor. A child’s achievement is clearly a reflection of one’s parenting. Their children are their bragging rights. In tattling the glory of their children, have you ever seen a status that denotes anything about their children’s…

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  MagicalDaddy.com

• Halloween in May

  MagicalDaddy

  20 May 2013 | 2:03 pm

  For the past couple of years our family has been celebrating Halloween in May. Much like Christmas in July, Halloween in May gives us a chance to enjoy our favorite holiday films, as well a few traditions without waiting an entire year before Halloween comes around. A few years back, the Disney Channel aired a “Halloween in May” […]

• Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2013 | A Story of Day 1

  MagicalDaddy

  13 May 2013 | 2:10 pm

  My family and I had an absolutely amazing time at the 2013 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Thank you, Leanne Jakubowski, Gary Buchanan, and the MANY others who worked so hard to create magic for all of us! What an incredibly wonderful event!  Below is a sneak peek of day one that I created using […]

• What’s Happening at DisneySMMoms?

  MagicalDaddy

  7 May 2013 | 1:37 pm

  This week’s Disney Social Media Moms Celebration will surely create a lot of online buzz. Follow along with the excitement on Twitter (@DisneySMMoms and #DisneySMMoms) and keep up on the latest Disney Parks news by reading the Disney Parks Blog. You can also stay connected with me while I’m in Walt Disney World with these social […]

• Photo of the Day | April 2012 Flashback

  MagicalDaddy

  7 May 2013 | 10:04 am

  After last year’s Social Media Moms Celebration, my family and I moved over to the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. My sister recently found this photo of me and my youngest son on her camera from that trip. Look at that cute little guy! Tagged: Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, Disney's Saratoga Springs […]

• DisneySMMoms 2013 is Almost Here!

  MagicalDaddy

  6 May 2013 | 2:03 pm

  In just a few more days, my family and I will be traveling to Walt Disney World Resort for the 2013 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!  To helps us countdown this year, certain clues have been featured on the @DisneySMMoms Twitter account. Check out the gallery of clues shared. The last photo recaps our correct guesses.    […]

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  The Kerrie Show

• Review: Ride Along Dolly Doll Bike Seat

  Kerrie McLoughlin

  22 May 2013 | 8:33 pm

  Okay, so this Ride Along Dolly Doll Bike Seat came in the mail so I could review it and stuff. My girls were super excited, but only one has a "real bike" ... so Callie was chosen to try out the product. Mr. Kerrie gives it a thumbs-up in the easy-to-assemble department Callie would not get off her bike and rode up and down, up and down the sidewalk with her American Girl Doll-knockoff (how well do you think a $100+ doll would fare in my house, people? So we just don't even go there ... we get the $30 Our Generation Dolls from Target, thank you very much). Rather, SANTA does. My little model…

• WebHangman.com ... Play Games Online for Brain Power

  Kerrie McLoughlin

  20 May 2013 | 8:17 am

  I hate to admit this, but I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. When I was a working girl (not that kind of working girl, people), I used to play games on the computer during my downtime. I'd mostly play solitaire and other things that were pre-loaded onto the computer, but that was a long time ago. These days there are so many options for the person at work on a lunchbreak or for the mom or dad who is a bit bored during the day when kids are in school. Online games are also great for those who can't sleep at night ... play some games, build up your brain power, make your mind sleepy…

• Bubblews Posts Weekly (?) Roundup

  Kerrie McLoughlin

  18 May 2013 | 8:18 pm

  So you all know I write at another site sometimes and get paid super decent to do so. In fact, when you head over to see me there I get a few pennies, which add up and get my family closer to our dream of being urban homesteading geeks. But first to replace the roof, get brakes on Hub's truckie-poo, pay off all my library fines and remodel the kitchen. That's a LOT of pennies, folks. So here we go with a possibly-weekly roundup of some original stuff I've got going on over at Bubblews. By the way, anybody can write over there. Anybody with some recipes or opinions or thoughts in their head.

• Glo-Stick Fun With Friends (Mom Swap)

  Kerrie McLoughlin

  15 May 2013 | 5:47 pm

  Okay, rather than post the whole she-bang again, I'm going to annoyingly send you over here, where I originally wrote about this evening of fun. The pictures would not post over there, though, so you get to see them here! Let's just say I had a lot of fun at a friend's house. Her husband so kindly supervised my kids riding their bikes out in the street, and my oldest son/husband could not make it because they were at a Scout thing, unfortunately. Still, we are planning to do it again in June for Father's Day ... a dad's swap ... we have some naughty ideas, but that's another post.  …

• Kids and Cell Phones

  Kerrie McLoughlin

  14 May 2013 | 3:14 pm

  As parents, we want to keep our children safe, and cell phones seem to promise to do just that. But at what age does a child become responsible enough to be able to handle all that might go along with a cell phone, like texting, the Internet, minutes and charges, manners and more? And what guidelines do you need to have in place before handing over that phone? Some parents are dead set on their pre-teen not having a cell phone. Jennifer McClure, mom of 3, makes the point, “I don’t think a pre-teen needs a cell phone. Until they or their classmates are old enough to drive, they shouldn’t…

• 

  Optimommy

• When you’re feeling behind and unaccomplished

  Optimommy

  1 May 2013 | 11:22 pm

  It’s the beginning of May and you might be wondering where the months have gone. You’re almost at the year’s halfway mark and you might be feeling a little behind. You take out your goals list and bring out the weighing scale. And you measure not just the weight of your body but the weight of your accomplishments. You might be disappointed at what you see. The body is still seemingly heavy, yet the efforts weigh extremely light. And you decide, this is not enough. You are not enough. I want to lift your head up, hold your hand, look you in the eye and tell you, “Look…

• How to truly listen to your children

  Optimommy

  25 Apr 2013 | 12:18 am

  “I wish I could buy this big Spongebob doll so I’ll have someone to play with and I don’t have to ask you to play with me.” I looked up from my laptop almost too quickly, my neck almost popped. My eldest girl was looking at a photo of a Spongebob plush on the Ipad as if she wanted to pluck it out of the screen and plop it right next to her. I felt a stab of pain in my chest, how could she say that? I was in the middle of doing a presentation for an upcoming talk and I had clocked in very little play time that day. But what about all those other mornings when I played…

• Want to make your husband happy? Do this

  Optimommy

  18 Mar 2013 | 2:03 am

  I came home one night with a goodie bag of choco mint truffles. “But they’re not for eating,” I was told. “When you open the bag, you’ll see.” I opened the glossy brown packet to find five heart shaped moisturizing bars wrapped in silver foil. The refreshing scent of mint, cocoa and vanilla wafted up my nose. I unwrapped one bar and let it glide on my arm. Mmm… just perfect for “me time” and special spa days. I put back the foil wrapping and slipped the bar back into the packet, I wanted to reserve them for when I want to feel extra…

• On true love and praying for passion

  Optimommy

  11 Mar 2013 | 3:25 am

  “Can you massage my leg please, before I go to sleep?” My big man whispered in the dark, across our two angels sleeping soundly sprawled on the queen bed. He had been preparing for his big race for weeks. He said his limbs felt like they were beaten black and blue because of hard core training. “Okay, just a minute,” I said, as I tried to finish a layout I was doing for a client. I try to make the most of these quiet times. When the kids wake up the next morning, I will hardly have time for anything else. And so once my girls’ tiny eyelids close and their soft…

• How to love and accept yourself

  Optimommy

  27 Feb 2013 | 12:57 am

  Face your fears. Forgive yourself. Open up to love. I’ve been doing the “May Cause Miracles” journey for a month now. And these are the messages I am embedding in my mind. It’s been an incredible and enlightening journey, one that has allowed me to dig deep into my past and excavate the fears that have kept me in the dark. It moved me to release pain, anger, envy, regret, washing away all the blackness of my mind. It wasn’t an easy journey. There was one whole week when I could barely keep up with the exercises because too much negative emotion has taken over me.

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  A Juggling Mom

• Blessed by a child

  Susan

  19 May 2013 | 7:30 pm

  Last week, Sophie’s form teacher wanted to talk to me when I reached her childcare. I was expecting it to... Continue reading »The post Blessed by a child appeared first on A Juggling Mom.

• London’s Borough Market in pictures

  Susan

  16 May 2013 | 6:55 am

  I’ll be leaving for my holiday to Taiwan and it occurred that I haven’t even blogged about my recent holiday... Continue reading »The post London’s Borough Market in pictures appeared first on A Juggling Mom.

• Lessons from a coffee stained top

  Susan

  13 May 2013 | 5:00 pm

  I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most patient mum in the world. In fact, I’ve lost... Continue reading »The post Lessons from a coffee stained top appeared first on A Juggling Mom.

• Motivational Mondays-Celebrating Motherhood

  Susan

  12 May 2013 | 9:25 pm

  This year marks my 4th Mother’s Day and I’m happy to announced that I’m still surviving! We had a simple... Continue reading »The post Motivational Mondays-Celebrating Motherhood appeared first on A Juggling Mom.

• Tulipmania at Gardens by the Bay

  Susan

  9 May 2013 | 7:30 pm

  Sophie has been telling us that she wants to visit Gardens by the Bay because a particular boy in her... Continue reading »The post Tulipmania at Gardens by the Bay appeared first on A Juggling Mom.

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  Awake Parent » Blog

• 12 Ways to Encourage Failure and Why You Definitely Want to Do it

  Shelly

  22 May 2013 | 3:22 pm

  Now why in the world would I suggest that you’d want to encourage your child to fail? Well, current research is telling us interesting things about which character traits are associated with lifelong achievement and success. It’s also showing us that these “traits” are not simply inborn, but can be actively taught. Character traits like grit, perseverance, and tenacity turn out to be much higher predictors of accomplishment than test scores, grades, or even IQ. It turns out that even smart kids who lack these skills often end up leaving college without a degree or have a difficult…

• You Don’t Have to Work So Hard to Entertain Your Baby

  Shelly

  15 May 2013 | 3:16 pm

  Well, the secret’s out. We’re expecting! And as I contemplate the inevitable chaos of introducing an infant into all of our lives there’s one idea that brings me a huge amount of peace and calm. It’s the notion that babies can actually entertain themselves. I was first introduced to this idea by Janet Lansbury and if you want to explore this further, I highly recommend her website janetlansbury.com It’s filled with information about how to be respectful to even the youngest infants and some of the underlying messages I’ve gotten from her work with babies are: 1)   You don’t…

• 4 Keys to Setting Boundaries That Get Respected WITHOUT Using Bribes, Threats, or Punishment

  Shelly

  8 May 2013 | 11:42 am

  My daughter is about to turn three and her willfulness is definitely growing, as is her ability to reason and negotiate for what she wants. I wish I could say that this means that conflicts and tantrums are even further reduced, but on the contrary, it seems that her new negotiating skills simply fuel the fire of emotional upset when she doesn’t get her way. I’ve noticed that gentle discipline is often misunderstood and mistaken for permissive parenting, however, the two are definitely not the same. Permissive parenting involves avoiding setting any rules or boundaries and definitely…

• 7 Keys to Getting Kids to Listen

  Shelly

  1 May 2013 | 3:48 pm

  Isn’t it amazing how selectively our kids listen to us? If they don’t like what they’re hearing, they have an uncanny ability to tune it out and engross themselves in a book or toy instead. I’m sure you’ve experienced this universal kid skill. The thing is, it’s not just children who tune out. We do the exact same thing to them all the time. In fact, I’m guessing we’re where they learned the skill in the first place. Not a pretty picture, but a good place to begin if we want our kids to truly listen and respond to us when we speak to them. 1)   Listen to children— Good…

• Guest Post: Finding Contentment in the Midst of Chaos

  Heather Chauvin

  24 Apr 2013 | 2:57 pm

  Guest Post by Heather Chauvin I used to believe that parenting was this ‘life sucking’ transition where you no longer can do anything for yourself and only give give give. That parenting model wasn’t working for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I knew something needed to change. The scariest part of it all was, “how do I change?” It was about 4 years ago when I was introduced to the concept of ‘mindfulness’. I’m not talking about going to yoga everyday or sitting on a cushion meditating for an hour in the morning. I’m talking about mindfulness as a…

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  92three30.com

• Carex Family Favourites Review

  Erica Price

  22 May 2013 | 6:30 am

  Over the last few weeks we’ve been reviewing Carex Family Favourites handwash products.  Carex has done some research and have found that chocolate orange was the favourite fragrance of most children.  It’s not difficult to understand why either when you smell your hands after washing with Carex Family Favourites’ Chocolate Orange handwash.  It’s gorgeous.  H seems a bit keener to wash his hands when they are going to smell of chocolate.We also liked the strawberry laces variety which is also fun and it’s very pink, so that might be particularly good for…

• After School Flapjacks – A Guest Post

  Erica Price

  19 May 2013 | 8:52 am

  Hi Everyone. Erica has very kindly let me takeover her blog today as we both went to Tots100 BlogSummit in Birmingham last weekend. As part of BlogSummit, we all had to put our blog names in an envelope and randomly pull one out of the hat and do a guest post on that blog. I was very pleased when I got Erica’s blog as she is not only very local to me and I love reading her adventures with H. My son Thomas is only 18 months old so it gives me a taste of things to come!I first started blogging as a food blogger five years ago at Jo’s Kitchen. I started my parenting blog, Jo’s…

• Week 20 Project 52

  Erica Price

  18 May 2013 | 10:42 am

  This week has been all about getting back to normal after our holiday.  Settling into the routine has been easy enough generally, although I have been waking up at Greek times (4.30ish instead of 6.30ish), which has not been much fun.  H returned to school on Monday with lots of stories to tell his teacher and classmates.  Inevitably he wasn’t very keen to go back: he’s a boy who loves his school holidays.  He’s only got to do another week though before half term comes around.I’d taken a Sofia Mia Tui bag on holiday with me as my only handbag.  It was incredibly…

• Saturday is Caption Day: Sitting Tree

  Erica Price

  17 May 2013 | 4:00 pm

  Whilst we were on holiday last week, I came across this great big tree trunk ‘sitting’ on a deckchair type structure.  Out came the camera phone for a quick ‘Saturday is Caption Day’ snap.  Can you caption my sitting tree?

• Monarch Airlines Serve Child’s Meal In Middle Of Night

  Erica Price

  17 May 2013 | 10:34 am

  We recently got back from a holiday in Crete.  Overall we had a lovely time, but our return journey was made a lot more stressful than it needed to be by the actions of Monarch Airlines.As a budget airline Monarch will charge you for everything they possibly can: seat allocation, food, drink, baggage, etc.  We weighed up all the options and studied their website before we went and decided which ‘extras’ we would go for. The times of our flights were such that we would need to allow for a meal on the journey.  We decided that rather than rushing to find something to eat in the…

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  mumseword.com

• This is my 100th post!!

  mumseword

  20 May 2013 | 5:00 pm

  I’ve reached my 100th post! The first post on 10 Aug 2012 seems far away. Then my focus was blog about Nadine and her therapy sessions and tell the countless stories about my parenting journey. Little did I know that I slowly added stories of my experience with faith and life, and tiny peeks into my personal life! Interestingly, the following posts are the two most popular thus far in this blog! Can you Squat & Pee? Love talk with Kids And of course all posts from my Therapy 101 series were a big hit too! Over the past 100 posts, I hosted a few linky parties too! (What was I thinking? A…

• How do you boil Water

  mumseword

  16 May 2013 | 11:26 pm

  Something died in our family this week. Our faithful Hot Water Pot that we bought when I was pregnant with Nicole. I remember we bought this because we wanted to boil water real fast (this is much faster than using a kettle over the fire), and we could choose the temperature to set it at, and it could keep the water warm! We figured as first time parents, it is so so important to make milk FAST! Well, something happened… I think water got in the cabling or something. The water didn’t boil, it just stopped working. So we have been boiling water using a little pot. (No kettle in the house!

• City Harvest Church’s Unity in Action

  mumseword

  14 May 2013 | 5:30 pm

  This week, one picture says it all. “… knit our hearts together, that your glory may be seen in us…” The post City Harvest Church’s Unity in Action appeared first on .

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  Meet Mums

• If Toddlers Were On Facebook

  Meetmums

  24 May 2013 | 10:16 am

  Can you imagine toddlers on Facebook? This is hilarious. They comment about how they piss their mums off, throwing tantrums for the laugh and freaking out when they loose sight of mum… Dont miss out on more news, competitions and funny pics! Sign up to our newsletter now! Other Highly Interesting ArticlesFunny Things by Little People [Pics]A Visit to the Public Toilet with Kids VS without KidsWhat Is It Like to Play Hide & Seek With a Toddler [Video]Creepy Things Children SayHow to Raise an Assertive ToddlerMy Child is Having Nightmares

• Watch Men Suffer Labour Pains [Video]

  Meetmums

  17 May 2013 | 6:53 am

  Men suffering! High Five Sister! I dont know what is it about these videos of men attached to labour pain simulators and watching them scream and pant in pain that is SO funny. It is probably because, as these two lads say in the video, they think women exaggerate when we talk about our birth stories and after suffering simulated labour pains, they realize we are definitely not exaggerating. I remember once when my other half twisted his ankle and told me it was the most painful thing in the world, even more than giving birth, he was sure about that. Granted. I have never twisted my ankle so…

• The Breastfeeding Buddy System: A New Support Option for Mums

  Meetmums

  16 May 2013 | 3:31 am

  This is a guest post from a “Buddy System” volunteer, a great initiative from Friends of Breastfeeding to support breastfeeding mums. At the moment it only covers areas of Dublin West and North Kildare and is on trial basis but we really hope it will soon cover many more areas. Being a breastfeeding mum in West Dublin/ North Kildare has never been better. Since February 2013, 17 experienced “buddies” have been paired off with brand new breastfeeding mums to give them one to one attention in those precious early days. Peer support is key to a successful breastfeeding…

• Look at These Babies Swimming and Diving [Video]

  Meetmums

  13 May 2013 | 4:47 am

  Awww this is so cute. It is amazing how little babies can dive and swim confidently. I was just yesterday at the swimming pool with my 5 year old and I could see how he is a bit afraid of the water. He still doesn’t know how to swim. He has not done any swimming classes yet, but he loves the water. He swims with arm bands and looking at these babies swimming fearlessly, I wished I had brought him to one of those baby swimming classes when he was little. Does your baby/toddler know how to swim? There are several baby swimming classes happening around the country. Check our website for…

• How Much Did You Spend On Your Baby Stroller?

  Meetmums

  8 May 2013 | 3:48 am

  There is a little bit of controversy following the reported amount that Kate Middleton has  spent on a new baby stroller for her soon to be firstborn. Reports say that the Duchess of Cambridge has bought one of the best -known brands of stroller, indispensable for today’s yummy mummy’s lifestyle. A Bugaboo. She has also bought a wicker moses basket at a high-end London baby shop, for a total of $1800. I was the opposite of yummy mummy, spending as litle as I could on my son’s first pram. I bought it on an Ebay shop and I paid less than 150E for it. I completely refused to…

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  Helicoptermamma

• Senior Exhibition

  Carolyn

  24 May 2013 | 1:09 am

  The Senior Graduation Portfolio is a student-selected, collection of work which represents his/her reflections and achievements in academic studies, personal growth, and extracurricular activities. As the student completes his/her high school years and continues towards future goals, this portfolio provides an authentic assessment tool for the students to evaluate their learning, for the staff to [...]The post Senior Exhibition appeared first on Helicoptermamma.

• Driver’s License Test

  Carolyn

  23 May 2013 | 2:59 pm

  Next week is the big week.  Arthur will be taking the official drive test and should he pass (fingers crossed), he will be getting his driver’s license.  Currently, he’s cruising around town with my husband or myself in the car; because he merely has a driver’s permit and cannot drive alone (without a licensed adult) [...]The post Driver’s License Test appeared first on Helicoptermamma.

• Hangover Trilogy – The End (Oh No!)

  Carolyn

  23 May 2013 | 9:03 am

  I am planning to go see The Hangover this evening.  My son and I make it a point to get there on opening night.  The premier was last night, but who wants to go see a movie at midnight?  I don’t.  So, all you Helicopter Moms who plan to see Hangover III save me a [...]The post Hangover Trilogy – The End (Oh No!) appeared first on Helicoptermamma.

• Duck Hunting

  Carolyn

  22 May 2013 | 1:13 pm

  I saw this beautiful creature and couldn’t resist posting it.  Look how beautiful.  The post Duck Hunting appeared first on Helicoptermamma.

• Mud

  Carolyn

  19 May 2013 | 1:24 pm

  Enjoyed this movie.  You gotta take the kids – all ages and go see this film.  It was great.  Two thumbs up!  Matthew M. was sensational!The post Mud appeared first on Helicoptermamma.

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  Forever In Mom Genes

• EEG Results Are In

  24 May 2013 | 8:43 am

  To the untrained eye, these wavy lines are a series of peaks and valleys forming scribbles across a page. It seems incredible to me that anyone can decipher their meaning.A neurologist can examine these lines and see inside my child's brain — she's breathing, she's dreaming, she's learning, she's remembering; the lines tell a story. Every thought, every action, every emotion is recorded and preserved within these lines.To the casual observer these lines are a curiosity. To somebody with Epilepsy, these lines are a gauge. A disruption in the electrical current may reveal seizures lying in…

• Peelin' Pops.... the sweet new taste of summer

  22 May 2013 | 8:00 am

  Banana fana fo fana, fee fi fo fanana, BANANA! Despite that enthusiastic musical intro, I have to admit that I'm not the biggest banana fan-a. True, I could drink a banana daiquiri smoothie every day, but as a rule, banana is not my first flavour choice. My kids however, go bananas for you know, bananas. So when we got a box of Peelin' Pops to sample this sunny long weekend, I was curious to see what my kids thought. Trying to find a frozen treat for my son is tough. Did I mention he has an intolerance to chocolate? True story. I sometimes question whether he's my son, but then…

• Best Little Laugh

  21 May 2013 | 11:53 am

  I adore the internet. My son would say, "If you love it so much why don't you marry it?" Silly boy, that would make me a polygamist.Despite my screen being dotted with the odd spot of negativity, the bright spots eclipse the darkness. One of the brightest spots for me is my relationship with Fisher-Price. Toys, babies, supportive moms, playful kids. Hello, it doesn't get sunnier than that.Speaking of sunny, check out these two goofballs. Aka, the lights of my life....Nature has assured that parents find their children impossibly adorable and entertaining so that we don't lose our minds on…

• My Break Up With Joe and Why We're Getting Back Together

  17 May 2013 | 7:54 am

  I gave up coffee and now I mourn it every morn. You might be thinking, "Why would you give it up in the first place (you stupid self masochistic woman)?"It's because of the jitters. That may sound like a fun 1950s musical group, but I assure you, the jitters ain't fun. I've been on edge, worried about things — things I can't possibly control. I thought by eliminating caffeine I might at least be able to control those pesky jitters, at least a little.So bye-bye coffee, hello pissed off, tired, she-bitch.It's not like I drank a lot of coffee. One cup a day. Maybe two on the weekend. I've been…

• Disney Park Guests Who Abuse The System Spoil The Fun For Everyone

  14 May 2013 | 11:40 am

  Recently I wrote about how grateful we are to Disney World for ensuring that every family is able to enjoy the magical experience to the fullest.For many children like mine with special needs, line ups and crowds can pose a challenge. The Guest Assistance Card issued to us made the world of difference to our family.I also wrote, "Sadly there are those who seek to abuse any system..."It's true and to be expected. But this? THIS?!I am speechless... "Some wealthy Manhattan moms have figured out a way to cut the long lines at Disney World — by hiring disabled people to pose as family…

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  Affluent Student | To earn, learn - To lead, read - To live, give

• Chick-Fil-A Leadercast Follow-Up

  Paul McGuire

  19 May 2013 | 5:50 pm

  I wrote a post recently about the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast. In that post I mentioned ways to make the event more productive and useful to the attendee. After all, the point behind learning something new is to apply it to your life.

• Are You Living or Existing – A Book Review

  Paul McGuire

  30 Apr 2013 | 3:16 pm

  This week my friend Kimanzi Constable has released a new book. It is entitled "are you living or existing." While books titled like this are normally a dime a dozen, I think it's important that you take a look at this book and see if it helps you toward your own goals. I'll explain why.

• Why the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast will be a Waste of Time

  Paul McGuire

  29 Apr 2013 | 3:30 pm

  Events like the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast fall into this category. There will be 9 world-class speakers on this day, all with life-changing information to share. Sadly, you will likely fall into the trap of not using the information that you hear during the event unless you have a strategy in mind. Here are five things you can do to make sure that you get the most out of this day.

• Jilted and Disillusioned

  Paul McGuire

  16 Apr 2013 | 7:30 am

  So what happens when you do all that work and get rejected by your top college choices? You have a fabulous GPA, your test scores are in the top 5%, and you have a diverse background but still get those rejection letters. One high school senior took to the keyboard and typed out her frustrations.

• Trapped By My Own Doing

  Paul McGuire

  28 Feb 2013 | 5:16 pm

  Ever set out to do something then find you've worked your way into a corner? That's where I am right now. I put out a goal/resolution earlier this year to publish seven books by year's end. Today is the last day of February and I haven't published one. What happened?

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  momaroo's Momaroo

• Newborn Twins Grab Each Other's Hands In Viral Video

  24 May 2013 | 9:34 am

  Talk about a sibling love like no other. These sweet newborns, born in Spain, linked hands and held tight to each other before they were even held by their mother. What a heart-melting image. According to THIS article, the babies are now four months old and no longer hold hands, but will smile at each other. More Here...

• Beware, Your Kids May Be Watching Cyber Porn

  24 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  I just saw a disturbing report. Parents take note.Kids start watching porn from as early as the age of 6, and begin flirting on the Internet from the age of 8, according to a survey of over 19,000 parents worldwide.What's more, kids are accessing instant messaging and computer games at a much younger age than just a few years ago. At the extreme, 3.45% of kids covered in the analysis used Instant Messaging to chat with friends while 2% of computer game addicts were just 5 years old. More Here...

• Best Friends Were Found Holding Each Other In Oklahoma Tornado Disaster

  23 May 2013 | 4:15 pm

  When you're in elementary school, your best friend is your entire world. She knows your stories, your secrets. She knows how much you can't stand that your little brother annoys you, and she knows who you have a crush on. You probably even told your best friend that you will be friends forever, and since you are so young and naive, you believe that. But for two beautiful 9 year olds in Oklahoma, they truly were best friends forever.When the tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, Antonia and Emily huddled together and held on to each other as their school building was destroyed around them.

• Sponsored: Moms Have Power With #SocialPower

  23 May 2013 | 1:29 pm

  This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Social Power. All opinions are 100% mine. Social Power lets YOU find an issue and help spread the word to your social following (think Facebook and Twitter) to help find a resolution. For us moms, there are so many issues that we face on a daily basis that we could turn to Social Power for some help. We thought of one issue that we hope many of you can agree on - universal sizing for children's clothes! Think about it - one brand's 6 months is not the same as anothers. How much easier would it be for both our sanity and our wallets if…

• Secret Mom Truths: The Internal Thoughts and Admissions From Real Moms, Everywhere.

  23 May 2013 | 8:00 am

  *SYNDICATED*WARNING: The Type of Humor ahead, is NOT for everybody. The following words are intended to be funny and not a true indicator of whether these moms are "good", "loving" or "decent" in any way. Enjoy!Real Mom Confessions: There are mornings, where I seriously ponder adding Kahlua to my coffee. Seriously. Sometimes, I think it would just be better if we gave  the third one away. Sometimes, when my husband leans in to kiss me, I have to consciously refrain from screaming, “Eeeeewwwwe.” I secretly know that I’m a better mom than my friends are. I…

• 

  Manbuilders - What Every Boy Should Know

• 101 Summer Boredom Buster’s for Boys

  Joshua Kissee

  16 May 2013 | 8:20 pm

  101 Summer Boredom Busters for Boys The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. -Dorothy Parker Are you dreading your boys asking to play video games, watch TV, or sit at the computer when they get bored this summer? I am. They do it now and it’s not even summer yet! Solution: Have a list at the ready of boredom busters that do not need you to shell out a ton of cash, feel the guilt of putting your boys on screen-time autopilot, and continue to build the curiosity bound up in their heart! Prime the Curiosity Pump Spend 15 minutes with your son(s) and talk to them…

• A Fathers Confirmation comes later in life, Not while you are Man Building

  Darrell Walker

  30 Apr 2013 | 10:52 am

  A Fathers Confirmation comes later in life, Not while you are Man Building As I stood in the lobby at the ice rink watching my son tie the skates of my grandson, my mind wandered back in time some 20 years earlier when I was doing the same exact thing for my son. I remember the early morning hockey games, many before the sunshine appeared for the day, a half-awake boy in the locker room trying to get dressed for the big game. Yes, this was my son, my pride and joy. Little did I know what I was doing at the time, I was just being a father. As a father, you continue with this routine through…

• Is your Son being Dis-Respectful? Build Respect Today

  Rebecca Kissee

  18 Apr 2013 | 4:40 pm

  (Photo credit to Brenda Yoder of Life Beyond the Picket Fence) Is your Son being Dis-Respectful? Build Respect Today One of the loudest ways to reach your son is through respect. The old adage “treat others the way you want to be treated” applies here. Luke 6:31 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As a mother of 5 boys, I often find myself correcting my sons when they are being dis-respectful or too wild. (Mothers of boys should be able to relate to the wild part!) After the 5th time of correction in as many minutes, I catch myself becoming disrespectful back to them.

• Spring into the Yard: Teach your son to service a lawn mower!

  Joshua Kissee

  11 Apr 2013 | 5:14 pm

  Spring into the Yard: Teach your son to service a lawn mower! The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.  – Former President John F. Kennedy If your son is old enough, this activity is a quadruple win! Teach your son to service your lawn mower this spring and enjoy the benefits. Spend time with your son. Do something manly that involves dirt, grime, oil, sweat, & tools.  Your son gains valuable skills he will need one day as a man. At some point, he can service the mower without you, reducing your work Lets get started. Removing & Sharpening the Blade If you want…

• Improving the Relationship with Your Son: Part 5. The Power of Bragging on Your Son

  Joshua Kissee

  4 Apr 2013 | 11:47 am

  (Photo credit to Kifo via Flickr Creative Commons) Improving the Relationship with your Son: Part 5. The Power of Bragging on Your Son People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing and thats why we recommend it daily. – Zig Ziglar The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions, the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look or heartfelt compliment. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge Your son needs you to compliment him in front of people. Even brag about him in front of them.  Is it your job to “puff him up”,…

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  Asparagus P

• Happy Human Being Day, Mothers!

  Liz P

  12 May 2013 | 5:20 pm

  When I was in middle school, we had an assignment in English class to write about a hero. I wrote about my mother and how she was an inspiration to me in her strength and success and how she even managed to look good doing it all. And she WAS my hero (and she DID look good doing it). So when the inevitable shit-storm of puberty and adolescence and hormones hit I remember being really floored by the epiphany that although she certainly was a super hero for being able to deal with ME as a teenager, she also was (gasp) HUMAN. Looking back, I suppose that is the true start of developing…

• There IS (better) life after High School

  Liz P

  7 May 2013 | 6:45 pm

  I found myself not too long ago having a heartfelt conversation with a 17 year old girl whom I happen to like very much. She was complaining about her life, as is the way of 17 year old girls, and I was dispensing advice, as is the way of wise (kidding!) 33 year old women. And then all of the sudden I was struck by this out of body realization where I saw myself as her. I was suddenly reminded of ME at 17. Except at 17, I was an exceptionally miserable human being. I was an especially attractive pile of insecurity, meanness (caused by said insecurity),…

• On women, eating disorders, pregnancy, and true beauty.

  Liz P

  23 Apr 2013 | 5:31 pm

  As anyone who has seen me from a five mile radius in the last couple weeks probably knows, I'm pregnant. And as such, I have spent a lot of time recently studying my body, thinking about my body, worrying about my body, even hiding my body. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, I spent a lot of time in front of my mirror, looking at my side profile, scrutinizing for a "bump," trying with excitement and anticipation to gauge whether or not I could see my baby growing inside of me. Yet even as my middle started to grow undeniably, the anticipation predictably began to take a turn…

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  over 50 under 5

• waiting to walk

  blog admin

  23 May 2013 | 6:49 pm

  It has been a week of distractions and projectile vomiting, but one thing is certain. The baby is 11 months old. He will be walking very soon. I know this as an experienced father watching him pivot on one foot and spin gracefully to the floor, except for the part where he clocks the underside of his chin against the table on the way down. It reminds me of the way the novelist Raymond Chandler describes getting punched  - he would write ‘the floor came up to meet me and hit me in the face.’ The phrase captures the surprise on the baby’s face as the table gets in the way of…

• My SuperMommy

  babyblogger

  13 May 2013 | 8:22 pm

  My mommy is a hero to me in so many ways, and not just because she is a superior food source. The other day I got into a fight with a chair. The chair won, pinning me to the ground. I have to tell you, there is nobody on earth who could have lifted that chair away from me. Look at the size of it in the picture. It is HUGE. It would take superhuman strength to lift something like that, but my mommy can do it, and she did. From time to time my daddy asks me, ‘Hey, how’s the neuron construction going?’  ’Pretty good,’ I always say, ‘pretty good.’…

• My East Coast Tour

  babyblogger

  4 May 2013 | 8:08 am

  From time to time you have to reach out to your base. You know, touch the grass roots. Give a listen to the vox popoli. Press the flesh, smile at people you’ve never met before, and squeeze a few cheeks. No, I am not declaring for Mayor of New York even though I know I can beat Anthony Weiner. (Note to self: do not open a Twitter account.) I do know, however, that a lot of east coasters read this blog, and I told my parents it was time to put in an appearance over there. (I don’t know where the East Coast is but we took a plane to get here.) I already met my grandpa Al and sister…

• Don’t Sit Next to this Guy

  blog admin

  2 May 2013 | 6:00 pm

  I have just completed a five-hour plane trip with the guy pictured above. If you see him on your plane, may I suggest that you change seats with somebody or even change planes if you can? Now, don’t get me wrong – he had a great time. As you can see from the picture below, he was only slightly perplexed that they didn’t bring his snack right away once he pressed the touch screen. For the father traveling along with him and his angelic mother, however, different story. First of all, since I am the father in question, I couldn’t change seats to get away from him.

• Getting Stuck

  babyblogger

  25 Apr 2013 | 3:20 pm

  Here’s the thing. I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to pull myself up on things. I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to stand up in my crib. But nobody – and I mean nobody – tells you how to get down again. Have you ever had this happen? It’s three-thirty in the morning. You’re alone in your crib. You decide to pull yourself up and have a look around, you know, to see what’s shaking at three-thirty in the morning in your room. It could be exciting outside your crib – you have no way of knowing until you stand up. Mel Gibson could be…

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  Momfever

• Are my husband and kids trying to tell me something?

  Momfever

  22 May 2013 | 12:14 am

  I got this unexpected present for my family. Are they trying to tell me something? Almost Wordless Wednesday The post Are my husband and kids trying to tell me something? appeared first on Momfever.

• Don’t you go looking at my timeline!

  Momfever

  20 May 2013 | 3:12 am

  ‘I don’t want you looking at my timeline!’ It sounds like a line from a futuristic science fiction movie, but I swear it’s straight from my daily life as a mom in the year 2013. Last Friday I was busy in the kitchen, having my cake and eating it too, when the phone rang. It turned out to be my eldest son’s ex-girlfriend, who dumped him because she wanted to see if the grass was indeed greener on the other side. Even though I don’t feel very warm and fuzzy towards her, I obediently took the phone up to my son’s bedroom. After I’d handed him the…

• At Home: Ways to Stay In and Save

  Momfever

  16 May 2013 | 9:27 am

  Guest post by Jenny In an effort to rein in spending, we have been spending a lot of nights home lately. Our family is accustomed to going out, so becoming homebodies has been a bit of a rude awakening. After a week of staring at each other blankly, getting into arguments, and withstanding the chorus of “I’m boreds” enough was enough. Being at home doesn’t have to be boring, but building in activities and structure becomes key in preventing the kind of doldrums that lead to tantrums and bad behavior. Family Meals Each member of the family is now responsible for…

• Male Dutch tv-host drinks from woman’s breast

  Momfever

  14 May 2013 | 5:30 am

  Some women would love to breastfeed, but are somehow unable to do so. If they really want their baby to have breastmilk they can turn to a Mother’s Milk Bank. To let more people know about Mother’s Milk Banks it was the topic on a popular Dutch talk show. However, the male host suddenly asked one of the women in the audience if he could have a sip, and then he had one. Even though this action definitely got everyone’s attention, I feel it was gross and disrespectful. Take a look for yourself if you dare to… I have to utter this warning: this video may be shocking, and…

• Thrift store find!

  Momfever

  7 May 2013 | 11:56 pm

  Wordless Wednesday The post Thrift store find! appeared first on Momfever.

• 

  Your Daily Serving of Mommie Daze

• Chewy Chocolate Cookies

  Colleen Stout

  23 May 2013 | 8:18 am

  These chewy chocolate cookies are one of my favorites. They’re just a little crunchy on the outside and chewy — almost creamy — on the inside and full of chocolatey goodness. Growing up we always called these Hershey Cookies, because they get their chocolate flavor from Hershey’s Cocoa powder. I’m sure you could use any brand of cocoa powder, but why would you want to use anything else? As far as I’m concerned Hershey is chocolate and chocolate is Hershey. These cookies are perfect for just about any occasion, because who doesn’t like chocolate?

• Do You have a Family Disaster Preparedness Plan?

  Colleen Stout

  21 May 2013 | 5:56 pm

  Tragedy. There’s been so much of late. Sandy Hook. The Boston Bombing. The Texas fertilizer plant explosion. The Moore, OK tornado this week. This heavy-hearted feeling of mourning with people I’ve never met, but with whom I sympathize, empathize and feel bonded to as an American, human being and parent is becoming far too familiar. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom of young kids, but it’s the stories about the children that hit me the hardest. And now news of yet another elementary school where some of the students will never come home… And as this…

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  KiddyCharts [beta]

• Parent Blogging All Stars #7: The Gingerbread House

  Helen

  24 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  Parent Blogging All Stars #7: The Gingerbread HouseWe chatted with Mums Do Travel last week, and this week we have the pleasure of another piece of sage advice from one of my fellow parent bloggers. Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers which have featured within the Parent Blogging All Stars over the weeks too. Your Name: Jenny Kearney Blog Name: The Gingerbread House What are the sexes and ages of your children?: I have one boy who has just turned 3 and a girl who is 15 months What got you into parent blogging?: My blog was originally a craft blog. When I was pregnant I…

• Dust mites: There’s a what in my bed…?

  Helen

  22 May 2013 | 6:47 am

  Dust mites: There’s a what in my bed…?This is a sponsored post in association with The Bedding Company. For those of you who don’t like little crawly things, than I suggest you look away now, or go make a nice cup of tea, grab a hob nob and read the paper. I have some news for you, this infographic gives you a few chills in the bugs department, doesn’t it? I knew about dust mites, but I really didn’t know quite what a ball they might be having in our bed linen. In fact, I am not 100% sure I am glad I now know, as it may mean I become overly obsessed with the…

• #PinItForwardUK: Potty Training the Pinterest Way

  Helen

  22 May 2013 | 12:00 am

  #PinItForwardUK: Potty Training the Pinterest Way Thanks so much to Capture by Lucy for introducing me in #PinItForwardUK. Bloggers across the UK have been asked to talk about why they use Pinterest. So here very much goes…. I have been using Pinterest alot for quite a while now, and not just because there are some jolly nice pictures on there, oh no. I go there for advice. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great products, wonderful designs, and lots of lovely things on their I wish I could make and afford. But the best thing about Pinterest is the content it leads you to. The…

• Spring for children: Top Ten Reasons why life is easier

  Beckie

  21 May 2013 | 5:04 am

  Spring for children: Top Ten Reasons why life is easierAlthough the last few days have been a bit colder, I am so glad that spring has arrived and more importantly the clocks changed a month or so ago. Spring for children just seems that much easier…and this is why: The kids can play in the garden when they have friends around We can go to the park after school and let off steam We can resume our rather entertaining attempts to play tennis as a family. I think the laughter is as good for us as the exercise! We can get the bikes out and explore some of the local area. We can go out…

• Take advantage of special offers for Mother & Baby from Boots

  Helen

  20 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  Take advantage of special offers for Mother & Baby from BootsThis is an advertorial in association with Boots plc. We know that juggling a new baby and a tight budget can be a delicate balance. So to help make life that little bit easier, Boots are offering you exclusive online offers on the biggest Mother & Baby brands, along with helpful advice and children’s health news when you shop at Boots.com. To help mums every step of the way, Parenting Club members also get 10 Advantage Card points for every pound spent, so you can make the most of your budget and stretch every penny…

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  Baby Sign Studio

• Little Miss Muffet – Sign Language for Kids

  Marcie Paige

  5 May 2013 | 4:15 pm

  Toddlers always get excited learning songs or nursery rhymes that include visual effects. Your kids will love this ‘Baby Sign’ version of Little Miss Muffet! In this video you’ll learn: little, sat (sit), eating (eat), spider, frightened (scared), away. Little Miss Muffet Sat on her tuffet Eating her curds and whey Along came a spider And sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away! *signed words are in bold

• ASL Signs for Easter – Video Lesson

  Marcie Paige

  28 Mar 2013 | 9:13 am

  Easter is comming up this weekend so it’s time to brush up on your ASL signs for Easter! In this video you’ll learn: Easter, Bunny, Easter Bunny, Basket, Easter Basket, Egg, Find Easter Eggs, Chocolate, Chocolate Bunny, Chocolate Eggs, Candy, Chicken, Happy Easter. *For access to our complete ‘video-based ‘Sign Language for Babies: Beginner Series‘ course, enroll today for $1!

• 7 Ways to Show Your Kids How to Engage in Healthy Relationships

  Marcie Paige

  14 Feb 2013 | 5:58 pm

  This is one of my favourite quotes… Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. – Robert Fulghum It’s human nature for your toddler to learn life skills by mimicking your behaviour. And as your kids get older the behaviours they mimic on a regular basis will likely become life long habits. This makes modelling a positive attitude, proper manners and being respectful to friends and family extremely important. You can preach to your kids all day long about the importance of saying “please and thank you”, apologizing…

• ASL Signs for Valentine’s Day – Video Lesson

  Marcie Paige

  6 Feb 2013 | 9:12 pm

  Valentine’s day is just around the corner so this week I have a really fun video showing you how to sign several ASL signs for Valentine’s Day! In this video you’ll learn: Happy Valentine’s Day, Candy (or Candy Box), Red, Flower, Roses, Heart, Sweetheart, Friend, Kiss, Love, I Love You and February. *For instant access to our complete ‘video-based ‘Sign Language for Babies: Beginner Course‘ enroll today!

• Sign Language For Babies Is A Communication Tool, Not A Language

  Marcie Paige

  11 Jan 2013 | 4:14 pm

  American Sign Language (or ASL) is a language with it’s own grammar and is used fluently by the deaf community. Sign language for babies is made up of strategically chosen ASL signs that are commonly used between you and your and baby. And even though your baby is capable of learning the entire ASL language, and benefit from it, it is not practical or even necessary. Your child is capable of getting his/her point across with one or two signs. That’s it. Here are a few examples: Your baby wants to be nursed or needs a bottle… they sign ‘MILK‘. Your child is…

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  dadwithtwokids

• FAMILY HAPPINESS

  younglee1

  3 May 2013 | 7:15 am

  Ths is a micro post for a competition that limetree are doing.  The subject is family happiness.  Voting starts via their site from May 15th so if you like what i’ve wrote please vote for me! Often happiness is only realised with hignsight or reflection, something not appreciated at the time. This isn’t the case with instant gratification happiness, the type that entices us in after buying a new house, handbag or shoes.  But it’s  temporary and soon forgotten. Family happiness is a completely different kettle of fish. Your suddenly caught up in a good old back to…

• PHONIC SONG

  younglee1

  21 Apr 2013 | 10:58 am

  Yesterday morning I was woken up post gig to the familiar sound of the Phonic song via my phones youtube. If you’ve young children i’m sure you’re familiar with this lovely child friendly ditty. If not do go check it out, your kids will love it plus it’s a great learning tool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BELlZKpi1Zs – Phonic song 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saF3-f0XWAY - Phonic song After being lulled into a strange bliss like state whilst singing f.f.f fish I started to wonder about the guy behind the song. His name is A.J. Jenkins and he’s been…

• MOVING HOUSE

  younglee1

  14 Apr 2013 | 12:50 pm

  In one of my earlier posts ‘I’ve got 99 problems but a city ain’t one’ I wrote about whether our family should leave London or not.  I concluded that the pros far outweighed the cons and I talked like we’d never leave.  How things quickly change. Since my last post we put our East London place up for sale, sold it and have brought a house in Essex (subject to all the legal stuff going through nicely).  So am I a hypocrite? Perhaps, but alas when you have children your decisions change as much as they do. The decision to leave was a difficult one, different ideas bounced around…

• How Are Cartoons Helping Parents in Raising Their Kids?

  younglee1

  19 Mar 2013 | 10:32 am

  I’ve been very slack of late with regards to my blog and haven’t posted since the beginning of Feb.  Since my last post we’ve put our flat on the market and sold it (fingers x’d everything goes smoothly) and now in the  middle of estate agents, solicitors et al. I was hoping to write a piece this week but then this morning I received an email from a talented writer called Celina Jones very kindly asking if she could contribute an article to dadwithtwokids.  After reading some of her work I was so happy to have received her email, it was just what I needed to give…

• Day at the London Aquarium

  younglee1

  19 Feb 2013 | 2:13 pm

  With two pre school children on my hands one on one time is a rarity.  I do my best doubling up on my love, guidance and shouting but nothing beats a bit of one on one. Last week Rose’s Grandparents (Gabba and Grand-ma-ma) very kindly offered to have her for a few days.  It was a great opportunity for Theo and I to have some boy time.  Get a few beers in, football, pizza.  Well perhaps not, I’ve got a hunch that Theo won’t be into such pursuits.  He’s already regularly seen wearing pink socks and glittery tops! So instead of being an Alpha-male father and…

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  Nanny to Mommy

• How To Get Coupons for FREE...WITHOUT Digging in Dumpsters

  Diana Chastain

  23 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  ***I have been debating about posting this because I didn't want to come off as judgemental or leaping to conclusions. But after talking to several others about this, I am not the only one who thinks this way. So here we go. Please let me know your thoughts.*** Mother's Day I went and bought a paper for the first time in a while. I am so behind and so disorganized at the moment, I couldn't even tell you how long it's been. I always go to the gas station down the street to buy papers, because it's so close and when I didn't have a car I could walk there. While getting my papers, I see this…

• Thumping Thursdays Blog Hop, Week #31 - Were You Featured?

  Diana Chastain

  22 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  Welcome back to another week of the  Thumping Thursdays Blog Hop! As always, we thank you for linking up with us every week. If you are new here, welcome! This week's Featured Read is:   Interested in being a Featured Read? Just make sure to follow the simple requests   so you can receive THESE benefits too. Want to make sure you get our weekly reminder e-mails? Please add diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com to your address book. Thanks! Simple Requests: 1. Follow your hostesses and co-hosts.  Hostesses: Diana from Nanny to Mommy Blog Lovin - Facebook - Twitter -…

• Casetagram - Great for Father's Day {Review & Giveaway}

  Diana Chastain

  22 May 2013 | 7:28 am

  This is a sponsored post, written by me, on behalf of Casetagram. All opinions are 100% my own. I have been a huge fan of Instagram since before it was available for Androids (I hadn't yet converted to iPhone when I first joined). And as soon as it became available, I downloaded it. I have been in love ever since. It is a great way to share pictures with all your social networks easily and you can edit as well.With the growing popularity of IG (as we socialites call it), many companies are making it easier to use those beautiful pictures that you have taken time to shoot and edit. Casetagram…

• Wordless Wednesday {Week #32 Linky}

  Diana Chastain

  21 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  This past week we said Goodbye to The Office. The Hubby andI have been watching it since almost the beginning. I still love to catch it on NetFlix and see Pam & Jim's progression. I love when Pam mentions how she can't watch the documentary because she keeps saying how stupid she is for not SweetPea couldn't make it through.Did you watch The Office? Who was your favorite character? What did you think of the series finale? ------------------------------------ Attention Bloggers! How was your week? I would love if you'd share your picture posts with me. And please make sure to keep up with us…

• Outdoor Fun Giveaway - Win a Step2 Neat & Tidy Cottage!

  Diana Chastain

  21 May 2013 | 7:44 am

  Welcome to an AMAZING Giveaway Brought to you by: Funny Postpartum Lady Story of a Girl Mommy Needs A Break Nanny To Mommy That Suburban Momma Musings of a Single Mama The Pinspired Mom Deezy Does It Diary of a Fit Single Mom Tails from a Not So Conventional Mommy Giveaway Runs 5/22-6/12 Prizes: Step2 Neat & Tidy Cottage **Specs from Amazon Open design allows mom and dad to watch children while at play Features a molded-in kitchen table, faucet, burner and two seats Accessories not included Adult assembly required  AND  Step2 Fun Fold Jr Picnic Table **Specs from Amazon…

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  Virtually Yours

• Join the Amazing Summer Fun Giveaway Event!

  admin

  24 May 2013 | 12:56 pm

      Bloggers! You can still sign up for the Summer Fun Giveaway! This Summer Fun Event is being organized by Iowa Mom and prizes include a Skywalker Bounce-N-Learn Trampoline! My kids loved... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Share your Funny Dad Photos for a Chance to Win! #DeliveryManMovie

  admin

  23 May 2013 | 7:14 am

  Who has funny dad photos? I think I may have two or three, and you can bet I will be digging through boxes later today to see what I can find! I know there was one where he had a pile of seaweed on... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Spare One Emergency Mobile Phone Gives Back

  admin

  21 May 2013 | 9:22 pm

  I was sent a complimentary Spare One Emergency Mobile Phone to review a while back, and I’ve been so busy I hadn’t taken the time to investigate it. Living in Florida, with hurricane... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• The Lone Ranger in Theaters July 3!

  admin

  21 May 2013 | 7:22 pm

  From the filmmaking team behind the incredible Pirates of the Caribbean movies comes The Lone Ranger, the latest movie starring Johnny Depp. Check out the all new trailer on iTunes: From Walt Disney... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• EPIC #MealsTogether with Tyson & Del Monte

  admin

  20 May 2013 | 6:17 pm

  This Friday, as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias® and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, All rights reserved, we are going to see EPIC The Movie! If you’ve visited... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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  Because I'm the Mommy

• Have I mentioned my daughter's autistic?

  The Mommy

  13 May 2013 | 7:31 pm

       I was called out recently, about how often I refer to my daughter's autism on Facebook. Because in case you didn't know, she is autistic. And I'm sure the same could be said for here on the blog as well. Now I'm not going to explain the irony of that particular person's comment, because it was totally ironic but I will say here and now for everyone to judge read that yes, I mention that my daughter has autism regularly, often even! And if you have a problem with that, well... I have several comments for you. Turn the Page =>

• Songs That Make Us Sing: Losin' It

  The Mommy

  19 Apr 2013 | 5:08 pm

       The stress of getting my house ready to sell has finally gotten to me. If you saw my Instagram photo this afternoon you can imagine the chaos I'm living in AND if you're me then you understand that I just can't handle the swirling chaos. I need order. I need calm. I need for children to stop touching the FRESHLY PAINTED WALLS! I'm kinda losin' it here.... Turn the Page =>

• WW: Great Grandma B's 90th

  The Mommy

  16 Apr 2013 | 4:38 pm

      Sunday the Hubby, the children and I headed out to Chillicothe, Missouri to help celebrate a great woman. She's a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother many times over and this year marked her 90th birthday, and that is more than enough reason for a party! Turn the Page =>

• Meditation Monday: Great-Grandma B

  The Mommy

  15 Apr 2013 | 5:00 am

       This was a very exciting weekend in the Mommy Household. The Hubby's entire family gathered to honor a very special woman on a very special birthday. Great-Grandma B celebrated her 90th birthday on Sunday. Turn the Page =>

• Songs That Make Us Sing: My Crush

  The Mommy

  12 Apr 2013 | 5:00 pm

       I'll be the first to tell you that my musical tastes aren't the most... refined. I mean I still love, Love, LOVE 80's music and I have a nasty obsession with Celtic music. So when I finally discovered Mumford and Sons it was pretty much a given that I would fall head over heals. Turn the Page =>

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  Grown and Flown

• 12 Most Lip-Smacking Recipes for a Memorial Day Cookout

  Grown and Flown

  23 May 2013 | 5:38 pm

  Mary Dell writes: At the end of every month, I tear off another page of our oversize family calendar and toss the tattered sheet away. April lands in the recycling bin and I am gleeful. There, on the last line for May, is the gateway to summer: Memorial Day Weekend. At Grown and Flown, our friend and neighbor, Renee Cohen, is chef/instructor of CuisineArts Cooking School and supplied much of the culinary inspiration for this Memorial Day cookout.   1. Lemonade with fresh mint Mix together the juice of 10 lemons, 6 cups water, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 sprigs mint. Adjust to taste and add 8…

• What Was I Thinking?

  Grown and Flown

  21 May 2013 | 5:11 pm

  Lisa writes: What was I thinking? I have just about finished raising my kids.  My youngest has one foot out the door and only senior year in high school stands in the way of his liberation.  I know exactly how he feels. During my senior year, I put a huge wall calendar on my bedroom wall and crossed off each day with a black X. As if that were not enough, I counted backwards from the day I would leave home so that every morning I could stare at the number of days until my release.  As a parent I have often thought that my parents must have felt terrible seeing these markings on my…

• College Graduation and the Parenthood Abyss

  Grown and Flown

  16 May 2013 | 4:15 pm

  Mary Dell writes: My son, our eldest child, will celebrate his college graduation this weekend. Today, while I sit in the kitchen, I read the fine words of another mom whose child recently graduated. I begin to imagine the moment when our son’s name is called and he walks onto the stage to receive his diploma. I feel a familiar maternal adrenaline rush beginning to rise and recognize it as the same one I have felt every time I waited for my child to stride onto a stage or take his place at home plate.  But I also sense a new ingredient. After the ceremony concludes and we drive back…

• Grown and Flown in Today’s Wall Street Journal: Cheating in School

  Grown and Flown

  15 May 2013 | 5:40 am

  Lisa writes: Last Fall, in the wake of a number of high-profile cheating scandals, Grown and Flown examined cheating in school.  We were surprised by some of the facts we uncovered. Technology, academic pressure and changing attitudes have increased the incidence of cheating in school and made it even more important that parents discuss this issue with kids from an early age.  It was our good fortune that The Wall Street Journal found us and included us in an article this morning entitled “How Could a Sweet Third-Grader Just Cheat on That School Exam?” In this wonderful piece,…

• Motherhood and the Empty Nest

  Grown and Flown

  12 May 2013 | 8:14 am

  Lisa writes: This morning, The New York Times posted a wonderful article, “After the Children have Grown,” about motherhood and the transition to the empty nest.  The author, noted psychologist Madeline Levine, confirms what Anna Quindlen has often said, that the real empty nest begins the day our youngest child graduates from college.  Yet Levine takes a different look at our children’s separation as not a single moment but rather one more step on a long path of pain and happiness that is parenting.  She explains, Motherhood inextricably weaves growth and loss together from…

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  Four Hens and a Rooster

• Five on Friday – 80′s Music

  Kristen Daukas

  24 May 2013 | 3:43 am

  Five on Friday – 80′s MusicHappy Memorial Day weekend, friends! We made it! It’s almost summer! Now if the weather here in NC would get “normal” we’d all be happy. Thought I would start a fun new thing on Fridays called “Five on Friday” where I randomly pick a topic and list 5 that are my favorite or that I think are significant. Since this is brand spanking new, feel free to help me out and and leave a topic that I should cover in the comment section! Up first.. a favorite topic of mine – 80′s Music! These are listed in no…

• My Kind of Boot Camp – Bloggy Boot Camp Recap and Link-Up!

  Kristen Daukas

  21 May 2013 | 3:04 am

  My Kind of Boot Camp – Bloggy Boot Camp Recap and Link-Up!I hear all you girls talking about getting up at 5am to go to Boot Camp and every now and then I think to myself  “Kristen – you should get yourself to Boot Camp”. So I finally did it! Except it was MY kind of boot camp. The kind where I sat in a room full of like minded people (women) working out our blog concepts instead of our biceps and the only curls going on were the ones on my head and the ones on our faces from smiling so much. THIS is Bloggy Boot Camp, y’all! Remember back at the beginning of the…

• Making Your Own Envelopes with Kreate-a-Lope

  Kristen Daukas

  17 May 2013 | 4:59 pm

  Making Your Own Envelopes with Kreate-a-LopeAdmit it. There has been some point in your life where you have NEEDED to make an envelope. It happened to me last week when I turned the girls loose on signing cards for their Grandmothers for Mother’s Day and the Queen Mum’s birthday. They were all excited over signing the cards and then they stuff them in the envelope and start going to town on decorating the envelopes. Totally adorable, right? Until you realize that you have to address the envelope and send it out via US Postal Service. And now you have no suitable way to mail it.

• Simply Sydney – A Journey of 12 Years

  Kristen Daukas

  14 May 2013 | 3:48 am

  Simply Sydney – A Journey of 12 YearsIt’s May 14th. Just another day to many, but for us it’s a day of celebration. It’s Sydney’s 12th birthday! I hope you’ll help us party! I’m sure we’ll celebrate with some cake… Maybe we’ll get dressed up and hit the town… Maybe we’ll ride some rides.. Or a day at the spa? There will be stories told.. And, since it’s a birthday, a nap isn’t entirely out of the question.. But, no matter what we choose to do, it will all center around celebrating the life and birth of this…

• How Men Sign Cards

  Kristen Daukas

  11 May 2013 | 4:08 am

  How Men Sign CardsOkay.. we all know that men and women are different. It’s the whole Mars and Venus thing. But nothing brings that home quite like asking your husband to sign a card for the holidays. Every time it’s the same.. I give him cards to sign for the family.. I always sneak a peek at what he writes… And every time it looks like this: They do exactly what we ask them to do. Sign the card. I’m honestly surprised I get a “Love, ” out of it. I bet if they had their way, they’d just sign their name. Or even better – first initial, last…

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  The Review Wire Update

• Five FREE Friday { FREE Apps about Insects }

  Dena

  23 May 2013 | 11:00 pm

  Here is a feature called Five FREE Friday, which we feature at least 5 (this week 8) FREE apps. The apps were FREE at the time of posting so please double check the price before you download! This... ©2009-13 The Review Wire™. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at PR@TheReviewWire.com.

• Doc McStuffins App: Time For Your Check Up! Review

  Dena

  23 May 2013 | 10:00 pm

  Doc McStuffins App: Time For Your Check Up! By Disney My son has liked to watch the Doc cartoons since it was release not too long ago. If you are not familiar with Doc McStuffins, it is about a... ©2009-13 The Review Wire™. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at PR@TheReviewWire.com.

• EPIC Movie Giveaway: Win a $25 Visa Gift Card and DVD Set | Ends 6.7.13

  Dena

  23 May 2013 | 9:01 pm

    EPIC has it all – Samurai-like action and warriors, incredible aerial battles, laugh out loud humor and an adventure that will transport you to a hidden, rich and beautiful world, unlike any... ©2009-13 The Review Wire™. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at PR@TheReviewWire.com.

• Sponsor Me To BlogHer 2013

  Dena

  23 May 2013 | 8:48 pm

  Sponsor Me To BlogHer 2013 This is THE conferences to attend, especially of you are a woman! It is dedicated to women and social media. Last years conference had 5000 bloggers and vendors. If you... ©2009-13 The Review Wire™. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at PR@TheReviewWire.com.

• Weber Giveaway: Get Your Grill On With This Grill Package {RV $1100} Ends 6.7.13

  Dena

  23 May 2013 | 6:25 pm

  Grill Giveaway Are you ready to get your grill on this summer with this awesome new Weber Grill? The Weber Genesis S-310 has 3 Stainless steel burners, 7 mm diameter stainless steel rod cooking... ©2009-13 The Review Wire™. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at PR@TheReviewWire.com.

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  Less Than Perfect Parents

• Fun Summer Bucket List

  Tracy

  20 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  Our family’s fun summer bucket list is complied throughout the year. Every time we think of a something we’d like to try we add it to our summer fun list. This bucket list is a list full of traditional and old-fashioned summer fun ideas that every kid should experience at least once in their lives. I pulled together these activities from my own childhood as I was blessed with parents who gave me a magical childhood full of wonder. These are the memories that I want to pass on to my children that they will carry with them forever! Fun Summer Bucket List: Go to the library and get a book…

• DIY: Color-Blocked Stick Necklace

  Caroline Drake

  6 May 2013 | 3:38 pm

  Now that the weather is finally warming up, the children and I are able to get out and explore a bit in nature.  My children love to collect little objects they find, such as rocks, sticks, and even bugs! We decided it would be fun to make a cute color-blocked painted stick necklace with some of the sticks we have been gathering. You need to gather up a few supplies for this kids diy craft: Paint Yarn Sticks Paint brush Tape (Washi tape or light sticking painters tape) Scissors Step One Have your children paint their stick white, and allow to dry. This will help the other colors show up…

• Getting Gorgeous in NYC

  Tracy

  4 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  I was at Getting Gorgeous exactly one week ago today.  Getting Gorgeous is the brain child of Vera Sweeney from Lady and the Blog and Audrey McClelland from Mom Generations.  I signed up to attend mainly because I’m a huge fan of both of these women. Vera was actually my inspiration to start blogging in the first place, but I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this event.  I was looking forward to meeting other bloggers and maybe making connections with some brands but was looking upon it as a business opportunity more than something fun to do on a Saturday…boy was I wrong. For…

• Expand Your Children’s Culinary Horizons With A Community Supported Agriculture Membership

  Tracy

  29 Apr 2013 | 5:00 am

  It’s no secret that getting our children to love (or merely tolerate) their vegetables can prove a major challenge. For many of us, simply getting our children to even try their veggies can feel like a daunting trial that warrants rigorous parental fortitude. From implementing a mandatory “no-thank you” bite to an all-out campaign of pleading, moms and dads everywhere constantly find themselves trying every technique in the parenting arsenal as soon as anything remotely green and/or leafy graces the plates of our precious dining cherubs. Understanding The Benefits Of A…

• What to do When Visiting Philadelphia

  Tracy

  26 Apr 2013 | 5:00 am

  I just got back from Philadelphia and completely fell in love with that city.  It is so beautiful and full of culture and history plus everyone is so friendly!  This post is a guide to how to get the most out of a Philadelphia vacation is a short amount of time. Places to Stay I stayed at the Sheraton Society Hill and was more than satisfied with my experience.  The hotel was beautiful, the staff was friendly and more than helpful, and the rooms were clean and well decorated.  I think my favorite part was their pillows though.  I really loved those pillows and I’m a…