I’ve never seen Laurel so surprised as when I first read aloud her personalized copy of The First Adventures of Incredible You by Custom Made for Kids. Just hop online and input the names of your child’s favorite people and places; the details are then woven into the book's rhyming verse and richly colored illustrations. Even after countless reads, Laurel loves hearing the details of her fabulous first adventures with her family and friends.
Want to win a customized copy of The First Adventures of Incredible You? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “Incredible” in the subject) and name the book’s illustrator. US & Canada entrants welcome.
I’ve never seen Laurel so surprised as when I first read aloud her personalized copy of The First Adventures of Incredible You by Custom Made for Kids. Just hop online and input the names of your child’s favorite people and places; the details are then woven into the book's rhyming verse and richly colored illustrations. Even after countless reads, Laurel loves hearing the details of her fabulous first adventures with her family and friends.
Want to win a customized copy of The First Adventures of Incredible You? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “Incredible” in the subject) and name the book’s illustrator. US & Canada entrants welcome.
Next time you’re browsing the beverage aisle, consider this mojo-laden beverage, recommended by Sharon:
“What’s fizzy, savory, and sweet at the same time, has a pungent smell, yet is totally addictive? It’s Kombucha, a Chinese tea that is left to stew for 30 days to get its mojo running (time helps the tea cultivate active enzymes). This drink dates back to ancient Chinese culture, and also has been imbibed by Russian czars and yogis; the drink aids digestion and metabolism via ginger, fruits, and minerals, and provides antioxidants to support the body’s fight against cancerous agents. The Multi-Green – one of my favorites - contains Spirulina and Blue-algae, which promote cell integrity and are used in anti-aging remedies.
It’s a little pathetic when things get so hectic that you forget your own birthday. Lucky for me, last week Jon ensured a festive day by bringing home one of my favorite confections (cupcakes) from one of my favorite bakeries (Lulu’s in the North End). Boston guides typically point North End visitors to Mike’s or Modern’s, but what’s the point of standing in ridiculous lines when this cheery little gem awaits? Right this minute, I’d give anything for an espresso and a plate of their amazing almond apricot biscotti.
Lulu’s Bake Shoppe, 229 Hanover Street, Boston; Tel: 617-720-2200
When Laurel moved from purees to finger foods, I thought I was so done with the Cuisinart. And I never imagined that I’d be so excited to steam and puree again (especially for a peanut with a capable, full set of teeth), until I received Jessica Seinfeld’s Deceptively Delicious
, which I’m reviewing today per The Parent Bloggers Network.
Complementary practices can be powerful, and this month vedaPURE – an organic family skincare line that merges herbal remedies and modern treatments within the ayurvedic principles of balance and health – is channeling its holistic power to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Just pick up vedaMAMA Relax – a chocolate mint body cream that moisturizes while relieving sore muscles – and relax into a practice of self-care while benefiting others (25% of sales go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation).
Want to win a jar of vedaMAMA Relax? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “vedaMAMA” in the subject) and name the pediatrician behind vedaPURE. US/Canada entrants welcome.
I have yet to meet a pregnant person or parent who hasn’t, at some point, been subject to invasive comments and questions from strangers. But the level of unsolicited discourse seems to increase exponentially the more children you have. Today, Heather shares the most common questions and comments she gets as the parent of a preschooler + triplets, and the responses she has at the ready:
Ever since Laurel was an infant, she’s been very particular about the company she keeps, and this trait has persisted to peers (even, I swear, during the phase where it was all just supposed to be parallel play). The socialization issues continue to change as we go along, so I’m particularly grateful for Tracy’s commentary and resource lead on how to cope with difficult friends:
In this era of overwhelming retail options, there’s something to be said for simplicity. Multipurpose. One size. One price. One Big Cool Bib. Offered in a variety of stylish reversible fabrics, these bibs are one size fits kids ages 1 - 5, providing impressive coverage during kitchen helping, mealtime, and arts & crafts. We’re thinking that the culinary inspiration of the chic Scrambled Eggs design (shown) may someday lead to you receiving that much deserved breakfast in bed.
Want to win a big cool bib? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “OBCB” in the subject) and name another product offered by OBCB (other than kid's bibs). The winner will specify whether the bib is for a boy or girl, and OBCB will select the style. US entrants welcome.
Pursuant to my recent post on the Goobi magnetic construction toy, I’ve had some inquiries re: recalls such as that of Magnetix (shown; Magnetix pieces with loose parts, also see CPSC notice and NYT article). After hunting around online, I didn’t find recall information related to Goobi products and also was happy to see a report that, following the problems at Magnetix, Goobi underwent testing sessions to try to dislodge their magnet rods from the plastic casings to no avail. I also checked the plastic casings on our set and the inner magnets are firmly set.
Email, text messaging, and other technologically driven options offer convenience, but you can’t beat the tactile and visual experience of paper. Today, Kate reports on her recent experience with Tiny Prints (she got the Meadow Flowers cards; shown):
Like many kids, Laurel gravitated towards fridge magnets as a toddler, and now - with agile hands and imagination - she is crazy about construction magnets. We first learned about magnet stick and ball sets from our neighbor (a former preschool teacher), and were thrilled to receive the Goobi 61 Piece Beginner Magnet Construction Set
(in rainbow, of course) for Laurel’s birthday. A terrific open ended creative play toy, it’s impossible for kids and adults alike to resist clicking together cool structures; we need to add one of the bigger sets (104
or 202
pieces) to our collection soon.
Being a parent often means being at a loss for words when it comes to tough topics, no matter what your kid’s age is. For parents of teens, Amy Cody sent us a great article written by one of her interns; the content offers parents advice for how to navigate the rocky adolescent communication road:
The transition phase between “Hmm, pregnant?” and “Whoa, definitely pregnant!” (and vice versa) can be challenging in many ways. If you’re looking for a seamless way to hang onto your sense of style (and your pants), check out Jules’s report on an item that will endure use before, during, and after pregnancy - the Bella Band
:
We recently contracted our first family cold of the season and in the miserable middle of it, Laurel and I found great fun and relief in California Baby’s Colds & Flu Bubble Bath
. Like all products in California Baby’s impressive line, this bubble bath contains organic and sustainably grown ingredients (free of nut oils, gluten, soy, oat, dairy, or parabens) that are safe for babies, kids, and adults. California Baby also offers a number of products that are specially formulated for sensitive skin.
As new parents (and professionals who have served the applied and educational medical trenches), Jon and I relied on the web and The Baby Book
to troubleshoot our way out of unnecessary trips to the pediatrician. Now it's time to pick up Tracy's integrative child health recommendation, Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child
; this book recently proved particularly useful in providing a motion sickness remedy for Tracy's son:
I’m hard pressed not to pounce on any fresh baked treats that are set before me, but there truly is something uniquely cozy and comforting about cobbler (and no, it’s not just because you can rationalize the fruit intake). And while there's still some good summer produce available, try Jules's new cobbler recipe. No doubt it’ll make your weekend even sweeter.
Parents of kids under 5 who fear, are on the brink of, or feel trapped in the over-parenting frenzy must read Practical Wisdom for Parents: Demystifying the Preschool Years
. 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.