I was thinking about writing a Milk & Cookies article on different stroller brands, and it occurred to me that instead of all that tedious research, I could just ask some of my fellow parents what they thought about their own strollers. Using the highly scientific method of posting a call for help on Twitter, here’s some real-world feedback on strollers:
Read the rest of this entry

This is the second in a series of periodic posts in which I test out easy, low-mess, low-parental-involvement activities for young children to do.  In the first, I tested, um, dry pasta in cake pans.  Today’s somewhat more promising test:  using paintbrushes (instead of the included water pens) with Aquadoodle mats.

Intention
The children will paint using water, and therefore satisfying their painting instincts without making me crazy with THE PAINT THE PAINT MY GOD IT’S EVERYWHERE
Read the rest of this entry

Today’s topic doesn’t really have to do with Top Secret, Little-Known products you’ve never heard of, but rather a collection of a few things I’ve found immensely useful over the last few years that maybe aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think “Parenting Must-Haves”. I’m hoping you share some of your own in the comments!

Read the rest of this entry

If you like pink, October is a good time to shop:  a lot of pink stuff is available for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  If you’re like me, you like supporting that cause and also really like the way it justifies a purchase.

Coffee-Mate is offering a pink mug for $12.95; $5.00 is donated.
Read the rest of this entry

Can we talk about hair-care products? You know, AGAIN? It’s one of my favorite subjects, really, second only to zombies. If only there was a magical juxtaposition of the living dead and a really wonderful styling lotion . . . it could be called Straaaaaaiiiiiiggght and maybe the packaging could feature this awesome photo.

Anyway! Here is a list of my top favorite hair products, in no particular order:
Read the rest of this entry

It is pouring rain as I type this, and I have two 3-year-olds to entertain indoors. Hee. Do you like how I’m implying that if it weren’t for the rain we’d be out in the healthful fresh air? Even if it weren’t pouring rain, I’d still have two 3-year-olds to entertain, and for at least part of each day I’m looking for ways they can entertain themselves while I get some work done. A girl can dream.

And so this is the first in what I hope will be a series of periodic posts in which I test out easy, low-mess, low-parental-involvement activities for young children to do. This is new territory for me, so I hope you’ll have mercy with the lameness of ideas. And could you please generate some of that mercy right away, because the first activity I “thought up” was Dry Pasta in Cake Pans.

Read the rest of this entry

So, it turns out an 8-month-baby is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ENTITY than, say, a newborn. In many ways they are a vast improvement on their squashed, red-faced little counterparts, but unlike a newborn, an 8-month-old does not sleep all day. Nor can you plop an 8-month-old on their back, dash out of the room to use the bathroom, and be confident they’ll be in the same spot when you get back. Which, um, I may have learned the hard way recently. What? He was fine, just a little tangled up in some chair legs.

Also, they want stimulation. My god, always with the “learning” and “developing” and all. My son Dylan is in constant movement: grabbing at this, pounding on that, eyeballing all the many, many items he plans to shove in his mouth. He gets frustrated and squawks if he’s left in one place too long, because the world is quickly revealing itself to him in its many sights, sounds, and flavors, and he’s got stuff to DO.

Much as I might want to, I can’t always spend every minute of the day engaging him in Baby Einstein calculus flash cards and immersive Latin lessons, so right now I’m pretty interested in various baby-appropriate distractions. What, OH WHAT, can I give my baby to occupy his time for five or six minutes in a row? Here are my current top picks:
Read the rest of this entry

I recently complained on my own blog about a search for flush-mount (flat against the ceiling, rather than dangling from it) light fixtures for our new dining room. I went to a local lighting store, where almost Every Single Option looked like a BREAST.

This Ashton Manor fixture from LightingUniverse.com gives the basic idea.  It was even more comical as I stood in the display room looking up at row after row of similar choices.  And, er…..I needed TWO.
Read the rest of this entry

You guys, how did it get to be October already? How is almost Halloween, for crying out loud?

Well, at least if we have to say goodbye to summer, it’s while ushering in such a beautiful time of year. I love fall, and I especially love Halloween. Skulls! Monsters! Pumpkins! And most importantly: fun-sized candy bars, all the better for cramming in my mouth by the fistful.

We’ve got a few archived Halloween posts you might be interested in: Kristen’s baby costumes and Amazon gift certificate giveaway (hurry and leave a comment, the contest ends on Friday, Oct 3, at 12 PM PST), and from last year, some craft ideas and general Halloween product picks.

Today I’m featuring some fantastic Etsy alternatives to that boring pumpkin-shaped plastic Halloween treat bucket, so you can add just the perfect little unique touch to your kid’s costume this year. Or, you know, just hang these bags around the house as decorations, because they’re just that awesome. Check them out:
Read the rest of this entry