Today, Heather shares a fabulous family photo system find, SmugMug:
“I’ll admit to my uncontrollable need to document my 4 children's every smile, frown, silly face, and everything in between. With my first child I was vigilant about taking, loading, and emailing loved ones about photos that were ready for viewing. I tried various online album services, but my main complaint was the requirement for viewers to create an account to log in to view. I also needed to send an invitation email in order for friends and family to check out the latest collection.
Today, Heather shares a fabulous family photo system find, SmugMug:
“I’ll admit to my uncontrollable need to document my 4 children's every smile, frown, silly face, and everything in between. With my first child I was vigilant about taking, loading, and emailing loved ones about photos that were ready for viewing. I tried various online album services, but my main complaint was the requirement for viewers to create an account to log in to view. I also needed to send an invitation email in order for friends and family to check out the latest collection.
It’s almost as if Michelle knew I was on side dish duty this Thursday. Today she shares two tasty Thanksgiving recipes – Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cherries and Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Apples – along with her typical fabulous tips on how to involve kids in the cooking process. I hope your little helpers look as happy as these cuties!
As joyous an occasion as baby showers are, the novelty of opening layette basics and other necessities wears off quickly. For a gift that undoubtedly will boost any baby shower with a heartfelt round of “aww’s!” check out the fashionable and functional layette bouquets by BabyBlooms. These gorgeous, artfully assembled pink, blue, and neutral toned bundles include flower buds rolled from an assortment of baby socks, hats, bibs, and onesies, interspersed with silk flowers and foliage. We especially love that the garments in their Natural Cream Bouquet are made from 100% organic cotton.
Want to win a BabyBlooms Natural Cream Bouquet? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “BabyBlooms” in the subject) and name another type of gift product available at BabyBlooms. Worldwide entrants welcome!
Mamahood has exacerbated my negligence about tidying up clothes at the end of each season; when I broke out my fall sweaters, they were laundered but teeming will pills. After some hunting around, I was thrilled to find the Evercare D-Fuzz-It Sweater & Fabric Comb
Perfect for cool weather, here’s a recipe from Jules that will satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping the calories in check:
"In my house, the onset of fall means comfort food; autumn and winter are our prime time for cooking heady, comforting meals with hearty desserts. But cool weather weight gain happens for a reason; hearty meals and treats are often rich, laden with calories. These reduced fat peanut butter chunk cookies are perfect served warm with a tall glass of milk. Or if you’re looking to add some richness, top them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
You can’t go wrong gifting new parents with diapers. Reader Sharon from Henderson, NV wrote in with this tip on gifting diapers with style: “I just got [a Diaper Cakewalk diaper cake] for my friend's baby shower and it was just too cute! Everyone at the baby shower raved about what a cute idea it was, and most had never seen one before. I got the pink and brown one with the Burt’s Bees products. It smelled great, and my pregnant friend loved it; she got everyone's picture taken with the cake. This is my new go-to baby gift for pregnant friends and family!”
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.
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):
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.
I have yet to meet a mama who doesn’t grumble about the overwhelming nature of household minutia. And if your to-do list is getting the best of you, consider the creative concierge services of Lisa’s Hands of Time, where owner Lisa Schreider uses her resourcefulness and cheery energy to kick your shopping, errand running, and organizational needs to the curb so your time can be more happily spent. Overwhelmed moms will do well to hint or directly ask for a Hands of Time gift certificate, stat.
Want to win 2 hours of Lisa’s services ($100 value)? Email us by midnight EST tonight and name a specific service that Lisa offers that you desperately want help with. Also include the town you live in; entrants must live within the Greater Boston & Metro West areas (e.g., Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, Needham, Wellesley, etc.).
Before the weather turns frigid, I wanted to write a post about tie dyeing, the central activity of Laurel’s recent Color Party. I obsessed about this topic more than I’d care to admit because I wanted the activity to be fun, safe, and hopefully minimal in the mess department for both kids and parents. I’m thrilled that the activity worked out favorably on each of these counts; here are the tips to get your own groovy color party going.
Fall means school's in, leaves are down, and it's time to crank the oven back on. Today, Little Lettice's Sara Cabot shares some easy ideas for how to prepare butternut squash for the whole family:
"Now that the local butternut squash is here, we need look no further for a wholesome, delicious, and nutritious vegetable to grace our table. And how much better the local gourds taste than those shipped over from the West coast. Farmers’ markets are full of all kinds of winter squashes, all of them pretty similar in terms of nutrition. I like the butternut as it is large (good for large families like mine), easy to peel, and tasty.
Laurel and I loved baby wearing, but we stalled out once she outgrew little pouches, bigger slings, and the Bjorn
For baking enthusiasts, leisurely long weekends no doubt represent a call for treats; this weekend, consider trying out Jules's original Walnut Cake recipe (click photo thumbnail to enlarge). For the reduced fat version, just bake the cake; to up the sweet ante, add the chocolate ganache and sweetened walnuts topping:
Whether it’s due to planetary or personal health concerns, the introduction of a pure little newborn, or a combination of these factors, I’ve seen a lot of families and friends go green when it comes to food and household products. So on the latter, I’m thinking that the amazing Get Clean Starter Kit is going to be my new go-to housewarming, wedding, baby shower, or I-love-that-you-want-to-save-the-planet-too gift (didn’t I just write today about loving clutter-free, consumable gifts?).
Little Lettice’s Sara Cabot and I are well aligned in our food philosophies, and our families similarly share a passion for popsicles. Today, Sara shares information on sugar content in commercial popsicles as well as tips for homemade popsicles. I add comments at the end of her feature regarding popsicle molds and homemade chocolate pops:
When I was pregnant with Laurel I carried a bag of trail mix wherever I went, lest the hungry beast emerge (my mom warned Jon before we got married to never, ever let me get to a state of hungry delirium). Today, our resident foodie Jules offers a snack recipe to suit both sweet and savory cravings:
During my last trimester with Laurel, I often couldn't believe that my belly had ever been flat. And I have moments now when I see pregnant women and am amazed that I ever carried that giant, fantastic belly. It makes me wish that I had captured tangible, tactile evidence of my pregnant self.
If we go the baby road again, I plan on molding my form with the Belly Imprint Spa Treatment & Sculpting Kit by Belly Vita. A beautifully packaged go-to gift for expecting moms, this kit offers a multimodal means to indulge the senses, calm the mind, create an extraordinary keepsake, and connect with your partner before the chaos begins. The process takes about 30 minutes and involves massaging soothing oil onto the belly, prepping then wrapping the sculpting fabric on the belly and chest, and relaxing while the sculpting fabric sets. (Note: This is the perfect time to solicit a hand and foot rub.) Once dry, your belly mold can continue to evolve into a work of art with simple paint, pretty paper decoupage accents, and/or ribbon or other embellishments.