Two Little Monkeys
Today, Kate shares a great find for relocating your outgrown kid's clothing and gear:
If you're like me, you occasionally find yourself looking for good ways to pass along the clothes, toys, and gear that your kids have outgrown. Due to generous grandmothers, my daughter's dresser is often overflowing, and I search out ways to share the bounty. Two Little Monkeys, a new children's resale shop in the Union Square neighborhood of Somerville, is a great resource for anyone looking to either unload or pick up clothing, books, toys, and gear (including high-end strollers at terrific prices) for babies and children.









I've been an avid label reader for well over a decade so it's been disturbing to learn about the US's lack of regulation when it comes to ingredient disclosure. I shared about this in 2008 regarding
When it comes to baby and kids stuff, I'm all for
When Violet recently turned 6 months we embarked on the solid food journey. And it's been 10 days notable for cute firsts (first cereal! first yams! first pears!), not the least of which was testing the
Last week I had the pleasure of hearing
Today,
My friend Amy recently sent me a teething toy that perfectly marries Violet's insatiable oral fixation with our love for simple, eco-friendly toys and musical merriment. Handmade of locally sourced hardwood and crafted with a smooth, sweet silhouette,
Since Violet's birth, I've developed a bad habit of waiting until the last minute to restock on disposable diapers. So I've been thrilled with
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!
I love supporting the businesses of friends and family, so last year, when I learned that my high school pal Ashley was an
Hello everyone -- I hope you have fantastically relaxing plans for the Memorial Day long weekend! We're going to be staying local and keeping it low key since June will be a bit crazy, but at the very least, yummy food and fun and games with Laurel and Violet are on the docket. (Admittedly, hopefully we'll also chip away a bit at some household to do's.) Meanwhile, I thought I'd share 12 bits of web awesomeness to entertain you over the long weekend. Enjoy!
I consider myself a total eco-geek, but clearly you can never stop learning. I picked up tons of
As I mentioned
It was so fun to return to Life.Style this week, and especially cool that technology allowed me to host via Skype so I could remain close to baby Violet. I had a fantastic time chatting with Melissa Massello and Amy Chase of 
My friend
Today's
I know I've been lucky to have such a wonderfully smooth pregnancy, carrying on per usual with everything in life. However, some typically onerous chores have take on even more onerous dimensions -- such as house cleaning. I'm good at cleaning when I get to it, but it's just not among my favorite things to do, particularly when super pregnant. Subsequently, a few weeks ago I called some eco-friendly cleaners to book a one-time pre-baby cleaning, but I either received no response or was told that there was no immediate availability or that one-time cleanings were not possible. So last week, when a
What a fantastic 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
Now that we've hit five weeks until baby, in addition to the
Today,
I love gifting photo calendars. Yes, it takes a bit of effort to collect the photos (and, if you're like me, neurotically arrange them so that the photos are seasonally in line with the months), but they're always a hit, particularly with Laurel's grandparents, who not only love the photos, but also favor paper date keeping. And last month I was thrilled to discover
I carry reusable totes everywhere; our car is loaded with them and I always have one scrunched up in my bag du jour. But my collection is getting rather tired so I was thrilled to learn about
I've long been a fan of
I'm not sure whether it's due to our full docket of holiday entertaining over the next couple of weeks or pure maternal nesting mode, but I've been tackling a lot of home projects lately. And last weekend, I became obsessed with the need to repaint a console table that, ironically, I last painted when I was pregnant with Laurel. And given that I'm
If you didn't have a chance to watch
As someone who practices yoga regularly at home, I am -- unfortunately -- frequently reminded of my negligence in the vacuuming and sweeping department. And realistically, I just don't imagine improving on either of these chores once our baby arrives in March. So that's why I dig
Wow, I truly cannot get over the awesomeness of
Do you -- like me -- enjoy taking pictures but want to take your photography to the next level of awesome? Then tune in to
Hi folks, if you missed
I'm super excited about tomorrow's episode of
Last year, I loved all of the suggestions that rolled in when I queried about
Wow, wow, wow. I had such a fun time launching
My dad used to tell me that I should be a lawyer, diplomat, or talk show host since, well, I love to talk with people. And as it turns out, tomorrow I'll take a step closer to the talk show host thing. I'm thrilled to announce that starting tomorrow, I'll host a weekly live talk video show (like talk radio, but streaming live on the web...apparently you can also tune in via iPhone or iPad) called
A few weeks ago I admittedly got pretty riled up when I heard about the Corn Refiners Association's (CRA)
Here are some links that caught my eye this week, and that I curated over at
Today's
I have been a fan of
Oh, bottles. How I wish I had introduced you earlier to Laurel (we didn't get around to it until she was three months old, by which point she was set in her nursing ways and refused other feeding options). And thus, to new mom friends, I recommend that bottles are introduced once baby has the hang of breastfeeding, in order to allow mom the occasional walk or haircut without panicking about baby's hunger level. Not surprisingly, I always recommend BPA-free plastic or glass bottles (
I have always advocated for the airline mantra, "Put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others" when it comes to parenting, and expecting and newly delivered moms are especially in need of some time to put themselves first. Whether you want to get some self care goodies for yourself or a mom friend, check out
Oh the irony of sleep: parents love it and long for more and kids resist it. Either way, pretty bedding helps create a welcoming environment (and yes, I've used cool bedding to make Laurel's bed more enticing for sleep). Whether you're looking for bedding sets, or need a top to bottom room makeover (furniture, décor, etc.), check out
In the last few years, it's been fantastic to watch the evolution of cloth diapering (we cloth diapered Laurel in her first six months with traditional diapers, liners, and covers that were a tad challenging to keep in place with our squirmy one). And it's especially fantastic that there are stores such as Somerville-based
Few household chores overwhelm parents like laundry; indeed, I will confess to poor folding practices (I hang everything or toss clothes haphazardly in drawers) and ironing (I avoid it at all costs). And whether you need dry cleaning services, or want to treat yourself to or make wash and fold services part of your routine, check out
I love when I visit a new website that is easy to navigate and loaded with cool eco-finds and learn that it is based locally. Such was the case with
During my recent quest for non-tchotchke awesomeness for Jon's birthday, I was thrilled to discover
The bold and cheerful clothing of Swedish outfitter
I'm a major proponent of tchotchke-free gifting and one of my favorite gifts to give is soap; it's useful, one can never have enough of it, and it can look like little works of art. Jon and I have a tradition of soap gifting around his birthday and this year I wanted to try some new brands. Following a query on
As much as I love shopping for pretty new things for Laurel, I'm also keen on finding pretty used things for her, given my eco and
As the parent of an avid crafter, one of my favorite things about the green movement has been the emergence of eco-friendly art supplies. And I adore the prettily (and of course responsibly) packaged wares of
Today,
I've long been a proponent of
Today,
When I was training for
When the warm weather returned, so did my voracious appetite for salads and cold things such as hummus and tabbouleh. We've been consuming vast quantities of these foods (I especially like hummus because it reminds me to eat carrots) and I soon found myself disgruntled by the volume of plastic containers we were acquiring. We reuse them all for storing leftovers or Laurel's craft supplies or other odds and ends, but we definitely don't need more of them. So I decided to start making more of these small container items from scratch. I'm still tweaking my tabbouleh recipe and will share that when I land on just the right blend; meanwhile, if you have a food processor, hummus is ridiculously easy to make.
When Laurel started kindergarten in the fall, one transition we faced was that of being a one car family in which Jon needed the car most weekdays for his new job. The walk home from school seemed a bit long for Laurel (0.8 miles) but I was bolstered by: a)
This week when I was at the park with Laurel and some of her friends, out of nowhere, they got the idea to clean up the park. Gleefully, they ran around picking up trash, announcing their finds, and depositing the items next to me -- almost as if they knew I had this post on my editorial calendar. Today's Be
And
When I was a kid, yard work always seemed onerous because all we did was remove stuff -- weeds, leaves, cut grass, etc. But oh the joy of adding. In alignment with Earth Day, today's
Here are some lovely links that caught my eye this week around the web. Clearly I've got DIY projects (and travel) on my mind. I love this pretty
Last weekend Laurel and I had a fantastic time at the
If you are -- like me -- a total commitment-phobe when it comes to childproofing (I opted to drive myself crazy being hypervigilant rather than installing anything with screws or adhesive), I've got a chic and sleek answer for you:
Before it gets too hot to turn on your oven, try these cookies from Sarah Magid, recommended by
Today's
Given how passionate I am about
Already longing for your next vacation? Today,
Though I always remember my reusable totes when I hit the grocery store, produce bags are another story. I save plastic produce bags with the best intentions, but they never make it back to the store with me. Solution? The pretty, fabric trimmed, cinch-top produce bags by
As the mom of a sock-resistant child in a “no shoes” house (a rule stemming from my Asian upbringing and immense distaste for increased need to vacuum), slippers are a must. And if you want cute slippers for kids and grownups, check out
I’m all about useful, meaningful, and green goods, and one of my favorite finds for the school-aged set (and their parents) comes from
Looking to take dress up play to a fun, new, and eco-friendly level? Today,
April Paffrath is one of the most devoted foodies I know. No taste is too simple, no ingredient too humble. And when you read her writing, you can tell how much she relishes preparing, tasting, and writing about food. April is a regular contributor here on Boston Mamas, but today I'm thrilled to introduce her via her voice on
It's no secret that I’m a bit obsessed with kids wearing properly fitting, comfy shoes. And what I dig about
Though I’m not worried about aging per se, at some point during the last decade I started listening to my mother’s advice to stop sunning and start taking better care of my skin. I’ve heard a lot of people extol the virtues of Arbonne (including a few girlfriends with lovely, creamy skin...), but it wasn’t until late in the summer that I started using
I’ve always been a fan of the diaper bag that doesn’t look like a diaper bag, and if you share that aesthetic, you’ll no doubt dig the modern simplicity of
Whether her nails are exposed during summer or concealed by socks and mittens during winter, Laurel loves having her nails painted; she typically wants at least four colors in one sitting. Subsequently, I only use non-toxic products and am a fan of
I have long been a fan of
Despite my clean approach to food, I still periodically long for – but abstain from – classic (i.e., preservative laden) childhood confections. So I was more than a little intrigued to learn about
Davis Square’s bargain retail profile recently kicked it up a notch with the addition of
Like most parents, I periodically lament over packing lunch and snack, especially when we’re low on fresh produce. Having a stash of
If you’re looking for ways to improve the eco-friendliness of your diapering routine, consider the bamboo baby wipes and diaper rash ointment by locally operated
Today,
Today, guest contributor Robin shares a review of cloth diapering covers and doublers from
My mom and I never discussed birds, bees, or any other metaphorical critters, so it’s not surprising that I was completely unprepared when my period started. I’m thus committed to educating Laurel
Yesterday I was honored to speak about
For those who desire organic play dough but don’t have the time or interest to
Today,
Today,
As an eco-geek who truly believes that every little environmental effort counts, I also can’t help but stand in awe and admiration of those who take eco-activism to a new level of awesomeness. And as you outfit your family for fall footwear, consider supporting
When it comes to toys, I always opt for wood over plastic, both for eco reasons and because I admire those who do woodcraft on any scale. And if you’re looking for unique wooden baby toys, consider
I’m forgetful about plenty of things these days, but one thing I’m reliably mindful about is recycling and toting my reusable bags to market. And if you need to stock up on eco-wares, check out
I love the comfort of cotton but often times want something with a little more pop than a basic tee. And if you dig fine prints with a touch of urban edginess, check out
This may sound a little odd, but having diapered Laurel with basic rectangular
Crafts and toys typically occupy separate real estate in stores and playrooms, but
Today,
One of the things I love about weekends is restoring a sense of order to our home after a busy (typically rather untidy) week. And purging is one of my favorite mechanisms to achieve said order. Appropriately then, for the first installment of my new
Once again there’s no shortage of festivals this weekend; consider these family friendly picks to suit a variety of interests and locations. On Saturday:
Today,
Today,
Today,
Thankfully for those eager to celebrate green living alongside great music, the skies are supposed to clear for this Saturday's
I’ll be the first to admit that cleaning is not among my top priorities these days, but hand me new eco-friendly cleaning products and I'll roll my sleeves right up to start scrubbing, hoping upon hope to discover that the eco stuff can live up to the non eco stuff. And this was, in fact, the case when I got my hands on
On Laurel’s first birthday my friend Anne gave us art supplies and a box of
I’ve 
One of my favorite time and energy savers these days is store-bought rotisserie chicken. I don’t need to remember to prep and bake it (perfect, since there’s no way I’m turning the oven on today…), my kitchen is saved from pan dripping smoke, and the chicken is ridiculously versatile. Today, I’m sharing our latest favorite usage of rotisserie chicken: fast and fantastically yummy chicken pesto salad.