Friends, you are amazing. Simply amazing. Asha and I are so grateful to everyone who participated in our #HelpWomenAtRisk fundraiser for Ethiopian women. Every book purchased, every blog post and social media update, every moment of attention helped us honor a journey that began in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, shortly after we turned in the manuscript for Minimalist Parenting.
Today, Katy shares 7 tips for coping with nighttime fears:
We're a little sensitive around the dark and night time at my house, and I've been looking for ways to deal with bedtime and late night anxiety. With all of our many sleep travails, we have a veritable library of advice books on sleep in general, including numerous chapters on fear of the dark and going to sleep when nighttime is scary; our own pediatrician has weighed in as well. Here's what we've taken away (and ignored!) from the legions on this topic:
Today, contributing writer Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) shares a roundup of cute unisex pajamas:
I love pajamas. Few things are more adorable than a pajama-clad kid, whether it's a chunky toddler or a lean 9-year-old. Now that it's cooler again, my children are back to happily pulling on their PJs after bath. And given that I have an older daughter and younger son, I'm always looking for unisex pajamas, so that they can be easily handed down. Here are six of our favorites:
Today, contributing writer Carole Arsenault (of Boston Baby Nurse) shares about the benefits of skin-to-skin contact.
You may have heard of the fourth trimester. It's the idea that the first 3 months of life are very much an extension of life in the womb for the baby. While you are adjusting both mentally and physically from pregnancy and birth, your baby is transitioning to life outside of the womb.
Do you know about fashionABLE? Not only are their products amazing, but this company works to give vulnerable women in Ethiopia opportunities for employment so they can lift themselves out of lives of prostitution and are not dependent on charity. I had the honor of visiting fashionABLE in Ethiopia last fall and these women are why Asha and I are donating 100% of book royalties this month to Women At Risk (order the book via http://bit.ly/helpwomenatrisk to help the cause!).
I had such fun pulling together the 12 chocolate cupcake recipes post last week (research, right?) that I decided to round up another dozen incredible looking cookie recipes in these fleeting days of October (which, apparently, is Cookie Month). Whoever is making up these holidays, I love you! I'm super excited to try all of these recipes -- perfect for fall/winter baking inspiration! Which recipe will you try first?
Hey, so apparently tomorrow (October 18) is Chocolate Cupcake Day. I don’t know who makes up these random holidays but I'm on board, are you? I love chocolate. I love cupcakes. I love cute little wrappers. I love piping bags. So in honor of this delicious random holiday, I assembled a collection of 12 chocolate cupcake recipes via Pinterest. Now, to decide, which recipe to try first?
Is it possible to jump up and down with excitement while sitting at a laptop? Well, I'm doing some version of that right this second! To celebrate my new decade, I wanted to give this site the looong overdue gift of a makeover. It’s been seven years since I built Boston Mamas (I can't believe I used that awful pink background for so long...SORRY!) and I kept telling myself I'd get around to redesigning it myself and I kept not getting to it. Frustrating.
Well hey there, today is my birthday! My 40th birthday to be exact. Whenever my age has come up during the past year people typically respond with, Oh no, are you totally freaked out?! It's made me think a lot about how bent out of shape our culture is about the natural process of aging. Today I'm asking you for a birthday gift: to read this post, reflect on your milestones, think about the good things that are happening in your life right this second at the age you are, and, if you feel so moved, to share this post with others and encourage them to similarly reflect. This is why I think 40 is the new 40:
Today, Judy (also of Talking Thirty) shares ideas for managing screen time for kids:
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how to effectively limit screen time for my toddler. We managed to keep his life screen-free for his first 12 months, but as he gets older, it's becoming increasingly difficult, especially now that he's more verbal about his wishes, strong-willed, and adept at manipulating electronic devices on his own (I'm not sure whether to be proud or embarrassed that he's mastered the Apple swipe!).
I'm a huge fan of slow cookers (aka crockpots). In fact, I think crockpots are downright sexy. Well, perhaps we won't agree on that, but what we likely will align on is how incredibly handy slow cookers are for simplifying mealtimes. When faced with a slew of CSA tomatoes (that we were told were best for sauces), I recently whipped up a batch of slow cooker marinara that made the whole family insanely happy. Here's the how-to (awesome spoiler: no blender required!):
In honor of Improve Your Office Day tomorrow (who knew?), today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) shares four easy ways to upgrade your office:
Have you ever had a moment when you look up from your dusty computer after a long day, turn off your company-issued brass lamp, glance at the framed snapshots that you haven't changed since your first child was born nine years ago, grab a leaky pen from your "Team Building 1999" mug to write a quick note, and think "how did my office get like this?" Yeah, me too.
I haven't been in a rush to potty train Violet, partly because my brain has been consumed by other things and partly because in some ways, diapers are sooo easy. But once Vi started insisting on wearing Laurel's underpants over her diapers I figured, OK, it's time. And it's been shockingly easy. Like, basically done in a weekend! For those of you thinking about or ready to take the plunge, I wanted to share 8 tips for less stress, less mess potty training:Friends, it's hard for me to believe that at this time a year ago I was preparing to travel to Ethiopia with ONE Moms. The journey impacted me in so many ways and today I want to announce a very special fundraiser that Asha and I have coordinated to benefit Women At Risk, an organization that helps Ethiopian women lift themselves out of prostitution by providing them with practical support, job training, and viable employment. (We met women who have benefited from this program during our site visit to the amazing fashionABLE...see photos below.)
Has the duct tape craze hit your house? It's been sticky craft madness around here ever since Laurel discovered it! We've got duct tape flowers, wallets, bookmarks, coasters, and more around the house. The other day when Laurel asked about ideas for a new project I -- ever the proponent of usable items -- suggested we make some cute belts. It's such an easy and cute project and I wanted to share the DIY with you today.
Today, Debbie (also of Two Adopt Two) shares tips for welcoming tortoises as pets:
Our problem: The kids were begging for a pet. We wanted them to have one, but I'm allergic to everything with fur and feathers. What were we do to? Our solution came in the form of a tortoise. According to a breeder I met, tortoises know their names. They respond when petted. They're curious and communicative. They're non-allergenic! My family recently added two young redfoot tortoises to our household, and we couldn't be happier.
Today, Kate shares a favorite gadget that inspires her to take advantage of the (seemingly small) fitness moments:
If you're like me, you spend a large part of your weekdays at a desk, in front of a computer. Time for exercise has to be found in the early mornings and the evenings, after work and parenting and all of the other things that you need and want to do. Or does it?