Three Fantastic Books For Your Nightstand
First, man do I need a nightstand (I'm coveting the one pictured here but it's a little spendy); right now I have a big stack of books sitting in a pile on the floor next to my bed. Second, one of my favorite ways to unwind and get my brain off the work/household minutia track at the end of the day is to curl up with a book in bed. Today I wanted to share three recent reads that I think deserve a place on your nightstand (or in your summer beach tote!):
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Happy last day of April! Following my 
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Friends, I'm so excited to share some fun 
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Ever since 
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When I was in New York for BlogHer, I was thrilled to celebrate my friend 
I have developed a deep appreciation for many things in the six years since I started this blog, and two of those things are photography and daily reflections of gratitude. So when my talented friend 
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Friends, I'm diverting from regularly scheduled editorial today because my mind is swimming after my trip to Washington, DC yesterday. I am humbled and honored to share that I am now part of the 
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Even though the process can become messier and the results less perfect, I love baking with kids. It makes for a fun project (just this week we had a friend of Laurel's over for a baking play date -- so fun!), offers yummy rewards, and you can choose to work in some math teaching if you like. Laurel and I recently tried a new (to us) cookie recipe from Lori Longbotham's 
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My 
I'm trying to get back into the habit of reading before bedtime, as both a means to transport and unwind. I so enjoyed 
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Hello friends! Per usual, the web was replete with interesting tips and inspiration this week. Here are some links that I thought you'd find interesting -- enjoy!
Today, 
I love 
Whether it's craft projects or food, I have always loved making things from scratch. And one thing I suspect the voracious Violet will appreciate in the coming year is homemade baby food. I was a pureeing fiend when Laurel was a baby, but this go around I'm even more excited about experimenting with baby food because I'll be able to draw inspiration from both the locally grown bounty of our CSA, and the remarkably good looking recipes in 
I met 
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I first met Alicia Ybarbo at 
The thing about my friend Jenny (aka 
Whether you're early or late in your pregnancy, read on for my thoughts on 
What a fantastic episode of Life.Style this week! I chatted about 
What a fun episode of Life.Style this week! I chatted about 
While I adore the community feel and eco-friendliness of public libraries, and the shiny newness and convenience of large bookstores, my current happy medium is the independent used bookstore. And 
Today, 
One cool thing about raising a growing reader is that we're now hitting material that: a) I remember loving as a young girl; and b) still captivates after all these years. Before the holidays, Laurel decided that she wanted to read 
It was so great to get back into the studio this week, and it was wonderful to kick off my 2011 programming talking about 
So fitting for the holiday season, 
Today, 
Given that my parents used to subject their household visitors to impromptu recitals by me and my six siblings (at a point where none of us were exactly musically proficient), I tend to cringe a little when I think of family recitals. However, recently I was overwhelmed by the awesome that was Laurel's assembly of a family recital, thanks to these fantastic 
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On 
Wow, I truly cannot get over the awesomeness of 
Thanks to 
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Today, parent educator 
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These days I don't often get out to see live music (other than, um, children's music) so it was really fantastic to host some friends this week at the 
Before it gets too hot to turn on your oven, try these cookies from Sarah Magid, recommended by 
Spring has sprung! And today, 
Today, 
Are you looking for a compact, portable reference to help navigate the kid-friendly ins and outs of our fair city? Today I share my thoughts on Kim Foley MacKinnon's new book, 
Despite leading an uber digital life, I remain loyal to the tactile joys of books and print magazines. And given my passion for simplicity and 
Today, 
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Jennifer James is one of the first bloggers I met in real life, through the inaugural 
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Let’s just say that 
Back in our sleep deprived (and admittedly clueless) days of early parenting, Dr. Harvey Karp’s 
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For me, few things signal summer like lolling on the beach with a juicy book (which unfortunately means summer hasn’t quite arrived in my household…), and lucky for those looking to load up their beach bag with summer reads, 
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Welcome to 
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As a former musician with a low tolerance for singsong-y kids music, I’m grateful for artists such as 
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Ever since realizing – with more than a modicum of embarrassment – that I 
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This post is a bit oddly juxtaposed to the 
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Does your child have a tendency to look at life through somewhat darkened lenses? Today, Tracy offers a review of 
Last week, it was with more than a shred of embarrassment and regret that I realized I had not read a single book all year (I’m afraid my perusal of The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and In Style just doesn’t count). Reminded of my love of reading by Amy Bloom’s gritty and gripping 
For parents seeking guidance on how to negotiate their kids through today’s sexualized commercial culture, tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7pm), Jean Kilbourne and Diane Levin will speak at Simmons College about issues and coping strategies raised in their book 
Welcome to 
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I’ve always loved the tradition and timeless calm of folk music, and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary just released two fabulous songbooks - 
Welcome to 
Welcome to 
Sometimes I wonder how being raised by a pair of psychologists impacts Laurel. Jon and I definitely have had moments where we stop and listen to ourselves speak, and wonder whether we’re just flat out being too verbose with her. But a couple of new books from 
Looking for a way to bond with baby while encouraging relaxation and good digestion? Today, 
Nothing says summer like juicy beach reads and July fireworks, so we’ll start our 
Today, 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Although guest contributor 
Are you ready to venture beyond typical toddler fare? Today, 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
New mamahood sometimes seems akin to stepping into an amnesic vortex: you feel as if you’re spinning in a whirlwind of chaos and activity, but at the end of the day, you can’t recall how you spent your hours. Or rather, perhaps it’s just that the “little things” you’ve done all day don’t seem as noteworthy as your frantic working girl episodes. Never mind that many of those little things result in keeping another human being alive.
Today, 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
As supportive and involved a dad as Jon always has been, the one thing he just wasn’t into was reading those textbook-like, geared-towards-mom baby manuals. Luckily, for new dads, there’s 
Like it or not, talking the talk is necessary to keep your kids safe in our increasingly complex world. Today, 
While we all likely can recite 
I’m thrilled to welcome new guest contributor 
Today, 
I generally consider myself a pretty tuned in, communicative parent, but there’s no denying the moments when stress, fatigue, or just being human result in a short fuse and loss for words. And for those moments there's Betsy Brown Braun’s 
Today, 
Weekend Reading: 
Reader Erica from Northampton 
When we finally got around to transitioning Laurel out of her crib a few months ago, it was a joyful (for her) and emotional (for me) moment. Despite being decidedly short on leisure time, I decided to commemorate the occasion with a quilt, and found excellent inspiration in 
Whether you're disappointed that folk singer/songwriter 
Whether you’ve just started reading labels, or already are committed to organic produce and natural foods, you’ll likely find inspiration to fuel your family well in 
. Created by the founders of Earthbound Farm, Food to Live By is an excellent general cooking resource, covering all the major meals and categories via clear instructions, helpful cooking tips, and resplendent photography. Also included are demystifying notes on everything from selecting produce to USDA organic certifications. We’ve enjoyed easy-to-make classics (apple bran muffins) and classics with a twist (an herbed turkey loaf that cleverly embeds a layer of spinach and arugula), and next plan on trying ethnic favorites (such as lamb curry).
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
. Written by a former New York City beauty editor, this book cuts the concealer, as it were, to bring you the straight scoop on beauty (including recommendations for products worth their weight in gold, and those just as well procured at the drugstore). I’m reviewing this book today in conjunction with 
. Starting with the handbag’s modest pouch origins, ending with celebrity arm candy and man-bags, and hitting all the iconic bags in between, Handbag traces the sociohistorical context of the handbag within a stylish spread of illustrations, product stills, and model/celebrity shots.
is replete with evidence that black is nowhere near boring. Black Dress offers an accessible historical essay on the evolution of the classic, embedded within a chic spread of black dress fine art, illustrations, and photographs. The origins of each image are detailed in a terrific pictorial annotated bibliography of sorts at the conclusion of the book.
. Similar to Boys in coverage of survival, literacy, sport, and history, Girls also explains topics and rules vaguely understood during my days in the schoolyard (e.g., palm reading, hopscotch, jump rope, friendship bracelets), and ones I’m keen to learn about now (e.g., how to tie a sari, putting your hair up with a pencil, fabulous women in history). This book no doubt will come in handy as we raise an inquisitive daughter who’s raring for adventure each and every day.
. Vintage Fashion traces the evolution of designer trends from 1900-1990, culturally framing the key looks, details, and designers of the decades within lavish photo spreads that will make you want to reach in and touch each and every creation. An amazing resource, this book is positively making me itch to learn to sew clothing.
, which I’m reviewing today per 
to troubleshoot our way out of unnecessary trips to the pediatrician. Now it's time to pick up 
; this book recently proved particularly useful in providing a motion sickness remedy for Tracy's son:
. Childcare veterans Nancy Schulman and Ellen Birnbaum created this informative, nonjudgmental, and assuring book to help modern parents gain (or regain) confidence in their own intuition and authority; confidence that Schulman and Birnbaum have seen crumble in the face of the extreme pressures facing modern parents. 
by Boston native Andi Silverman. Friendly and non-judgmental, this compact (easily stowed in the diaper bag) book covers the mechanics (e.g., feeding and burping positions, troubleshooting, nursing on the go and at work), common questions, and tips for nurturing your body, brain, and relationships. 
by Nina Garcia (of Project Runway and Elle magazine fame; published by 
, by psychologist Susan Newman, addresses and disputes a lot of the cultural myths of only children (spoiled, antisocial, etc.) while offering practical strategies to prevent the myths from becoming reality.”
. Written by investigative reporter and mother of two Susan Gregory Thomas, the book will take you inside the marketing blitz aimed at kids.
by Peggy Orenstein. Julia writes, “[It is] a wonderful book about the choices women make (or default into) about their lives.”
. 
of the same title, the program (narrated by Mary Steenburgen) addresses topics such as family and work balance, paid family leave, universal health care, flexible work hours, after-school programs, and affordable child care.
, which I finished the other night (morning, actually), several hours after Jon and Laurel had drifted off upstairs.
likely will provide clarity.
. There’s no chapter dedicated to squirrel catching (which Jon humanely handled with a trash can and golf club for squirrel nudging), but Dangerous provides excellent fodder to bring back the marvelous, lazy days of summer inquiry, offering the how-to on everything from survival (e.g., knots, first aid, spy codes, tree houses), to gadgets (e.g., batteries, timers and tripwires), to literacy (e.g., grammar, poetry, Latin phrases), to sporting rules, to world history and landmarks, to tales of bravery and adventure. 
offers strategies to help moms wade out of the mind game quagmire. This morning I’ll share my thoughts on this book per a review for the 
and 
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, and 
that are designed to prevent the growth of bacteria; the straw cup (shown) keeps drinks cool for up to 12 hours (from 
(shown; from 
. During the Q&A I asked whether she had suggestions for, generally, how to connect better on a day to day basis; that our workloads and daily to do lists often left Jon and me scurrying to achieve household or e-mail tidiness after Laurel went to bed. Perel asked when I last went out to dinner with Jon. I stammered about the challenges of having anyone other than Auntie Sha-Sha put Laurel to bed. She asked whether Laurel was in day care and then asked when I last met Jon for lunch. I explained that since I left my downtown job it took more time to meet up midday and that I already felt pressed for hours in the week. Even as I scrabbled for these justifications I knew that I just needed to make the time; that finding connection with my partner was worth those couple hours (and that the household chores, fortunately and unfortunately, would always be there another day).
, by Jill Kargman (best-selling co-author of 
). 
.
by Annabel Karmel. Written for parents ready to mix it up in the kitchen, this book covers nutrition basics, home prep process and gear, and recipes and menus for babies and kids. Pauline’s daughter enjoys lots of the recipes!
from Classy Mommy. A 
.
, from 
, includes a collection of essays reflecting the disparity between parenting reality and fiction. O’Brien’s perspective comes from that of a mother of three who discovered that her stay-at-home mom status (even once she started freelance writing again) relegated her – in non-at-home circles – as someone whose “experience and knowledge apparently [were] no longer relevant.”
($23.10 at Amazon). This amazing volume is great for novice bakers, or those who wish to know more about the science of baking. The collection includes clear directions, illustrations, and impressive description of how the test kitchen arrived at each recipe.
guide ($10.17 at 
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. And more cities are forthcoming!
($10.17 at 
(currently $16.29 at 
Goode’s book offers ideas and techniques on how parents can encourage their children to be confident and joyful through procession on a path that draws on their natural talents.
($14.95 at 
(shown; available at 
(currently available for $12.97 at 
may be relatively old news around Boston (author Allegra Goodman is based in Cambridge, as is the story), but this 2006 novel, detailing a plot set within the complicated, grey area-ridden existence that is research academics, is truly compelling and deserves continued kudos. 
($13.95 at Amazon).
