When one scoop of detergent can take a toddler diaper Houdini's bedspread from poop-ravaged nightmare to deliciously clean in just one wash, I have trouble holding back my enthusiasm. Still, it takes more than that to impress me, and I'v…
We just love it when one of our favorite little mom-run brands makes it big. Not only because that means that quality construction and design reap the rewards they deserve, but because even more people will get to discover a great new st…
We've been such fans of Beatrix NY over the years (you might know them as Dante Beatrix), because everything they make is pretty much awesome. Their motley little menagerie of creatures range from robots to bunnies to not-particularly-sc…
My son is the proud owner of a Skip Hop Zoo Backpack (a froggie, in case you were wondering), so when I found out they were making a line of tableware to match, I got excited about the idea of luring my son to dinner with something besid…
As you probably know by now, there's a bill in Congress to ensure that toys and clothing are free of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Which is good. Unfortunately, while the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act is well-meaning, th…
I'm one step closer to becoming a treehugger. My new toy crush is made with organic maple, cherry and walnut wood and tackles balance, problem solving, pattern recognition and fine motor skills . Oh, and it's for babies. The Brainbow Sta…
My daughter used to be the kid who would try anything. She liked broccoli. She ate eggs. She even liked horseradish. My husband and I would brag about it. Well, now she's a typical, picky three-year-old and she has a few eating quirks. O…
My older three kids gave me a heck of a time when it came to taking a bottle, so with number four, I'm determined to find one that she not only takes, but doesn't add to the challenge with extra gas. And I may have just found the answer …
"Gosh, honey. I'd love to give you my water bottle and have you spit a bunch of germs and floaty pieces of avocado into it," I said. "But Mommy's new bottle is GLASS, so it's not for kids." ...and that's how I finally got to taste normal…
We're kind of in love with Joanne Dugan around here. She's an amazingly prolific photographer, with her work in about a zillion ads, the awesome Taxi Driver Wisdom book, and most importantly to us, a magical series of children's books: A…
Angry winter weather is coming - yes, even on the left coast, where a cold, dry wind comes off the ocean and ages my skin (and forces me to eat leftover pumpkin pies for breakfast. A la mode). This winter, though, I am more prepared - I …
I had not yet felt a great need for mom jewelry. For me, wearing my child's name around my neck felt redundant because frankly, she is hanging around my neck.(After 15 months of breastfeeding and a total failure to ever accept a bottle, …
Ok so maybe teething doesn't really rock. In fact, it can be pretty painful for all parties involved. I recall more than my share of sleepless nights when my son's teeth were coming in. Not fun. But maybe the teethers can be? I only wish…
While plastic toys tend to fall a bit lower on my own personal shopping list, I wouldn't complain one bit if the brand spankin' never seen before holiday themed toys from B. Toys just happened to fall out of Santa's sack (or Grandma's pu…
I'm definitely an eco-minded person, but I don't think I'm alone when I admit that sometimes convenience wins out over conscience. For years I've stuffed my son's lunch box with pre-packaged snacks or plastic snack bags, but I think I've…
You might notice that a lot of our beauty posts highlight the fact that the product is eco-conscious and doesn't contain yucky, icky, no-good chemicals. But this pick is triply good: good for the environment, good for your skin , and mak…
For the first year ever, since becoming a parent, I actually have my kids' Halloween costumes ready to go with more than 2 hours to spare before the 31st. Well, almost. The last thing we have to track down is some black cat nail polish ,…
If you mamas are owners of the Graco Quattro or MetroLite strollers that was bought before November 2007, check the serial numbers because they've been voluntarily recalled by Graco and the CPSC. The CPSC reports that babies can try to s…
Looking back to my baby's first music class, I see a woman in sweats, no make-up and a silly grin on her face. I was just so happy to be, finally, out of the house! New to my neighborhood, I was also convinced I was going to meet all my …
I have a huge sweet tooth. But, I don't want to eat yogurt that's impersonating a strawberry shortcake or alcoholic beverage. If I want shortcake, I'll have shortcake! That's one of the reasons I'm a big fan of Stonyfield Farm's yogurt: …
We've been toting our drinks around in stainless steel bottles and containers for years now. But what about the babies? Well, obviously when they're drinking their milk straight from the source, they've got the best drink container out t…
Once upon a time, there was a girl who wasn't a very good housekeeper. Then she flew to Minnesota--which is cooler than she could have imagined--and met a fairy grandmother who taught her that cleanliness is next to just-plain-goodness, …
My job as a parent has always been playing defense, which is why I'm the one who slathers the family in SPF 50, sorts the recycling, and saves fifty cents on black beans with a coupon. My favorite strategy these days is reusing bags, and…
When I first heard that Johnson & Johnson was coming out with a line of natural baby products , I was intrigued. My first thought was, it's about time that there's a choice like this for the moms out there who can't afford the high-end n…