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Enjoy
this unique array of articles and journals.
Updated weekly, brought to you by Lilypad Place. Click on the image
below to visit Lilypad Place today!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Caffeine Awareness Month
March is Caffeine Awareness Month. According to Howtodothings.com, 90% of Americans consume some caffeine every day.
It's in our coffee (and coffee flavoring), tea, sodas, chocolate,
herbal stimulants, medications and candy. Coffee is the number one
source of our daily consumption and that means the earth is abundant
with coffee grounds. Get busy this month reusing your coffee grounds
around the house and garden. Did you know that coffee grounds can
enhance growth in your garden? My mother-in-law uses the grounds for
her roses, azaleas and camilias. She finds bags of the grounds for free
at her local coffee shop. For great articles on what to do with coffee
grounds, visit Howtodothings.com for tips and information. I am planning to make the body scrub and I will keep you posted.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St. Patrick's Day and Happy Easter
This is one of those weeks-wear green on Monday, hide eggs on
Sunday! Happy holidays would be appropriate even if you're not a wee
bit Irish. Celebrate today with a little green and think green for
Easter.
If you're like us, you might be trying to cut down
on the amount of candy and chocolate this Easter. We are planning to
hide colorful eggs this year but we are using fewer plastic eggs and
filling them with stickers and other small non-food treats. Heck, they
are fun to play with and can get tossed or recycled at the end of the
day. Get creative and go green. If you're decorating eggs (or just need a good resource in general), practice food safety and visit FightBac.org for great tips, teaching tools, downloads and more!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Just Say No to Junk Drawers
We all have one in our kitchen and some of us have more than one. I tried to document my junk drawer but the shame was too
great. I try to keep it organized but it is the "pre-filing" dumping
ground for everything from convention photos from the early 90s to the
latest pre-school hot lunch menu--not to mention all of the leftover
(?) pieces from every assembly required Ikea product we own. I would
like to say there are more recipes than take out menus, but my friends
would easily call me on it. I found the solution in a beautifully
designed and so well crafted organizer from momAgenda.
The Kitchen Folio features include:
*Clear plastic page protectors for class lists, school schedules, sports schedules, menus and more.
*Interchangeable tabs so you can categorize by child or by activity.
*A stain-resistant finish that holds up well in the messiest of drawers.
*Includes forms for Birthdays/Anniversaries, Babysitter's Info, Medical Info, Important Phone Numbers, and more.
momAgenda
offers many more products with the same unique design and
functionality. The planners are ingenious and you can take a test drive
on the site. Visit: momAgenda.com
Monday, February 18, 2008
Fun Solution for the Bathroom
You don't want your children in the medicine cabinet and you really shouldn't have their little toothbrushes
exposed to the air in the bathroom. What do I do, you ask? Try a holder
from Flipper. These cute little toothbrush holders grip the mirror with
a sturdy suction cup and provide a sanitary resting place for any
toothbrush. The unique design flips open for easy access and stays
securely closed with the toothbrush when not in use. The fun styles fit
any personality. We have the puppy, of course. Find your style (and
razor holders!) here: myflipperusa.com
Monday, February 11, 2008
Did you ever read the label?
So we have decided to supplement with formula. I never did this with
child #1, but every situation is different. Child #1 goes to well
visits and that's about it. We've been in to the Doc with #2 more in
the last two months than you want to even imagine. Forget the sleeping,
we're working on the big A, asthma. That's another story. Back to
formula. Did you know the first ingredient listed in some baby formula
is Corn Syrup and one even had High Fructose Corn Syrup? Nutrients
aside (and let's put the breastfeeding argument away momentarily) high
fructose corn syrup is derived from corn starch and a complex process
is used to make glucose into fructose. I will not get into the
polysaccharides, enzymes, glucose molecules, refining, fermentation,
glucoamylase etc used in the process but I think you get where I am
going with this, right? The FDA regulates the manufacturers for safety,
but do you really know what your giving your baby? Read the labels!
Would love your opinion on the matter!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sponsorship Says What?
We have started a new advertising and sponsorship program here at
Lilypad Place. We are partnering with some wonderful companies with
great products so please take some time to visit their ads and sites. I
want to assure you though, all the product reviews are strictly held to
products that we test ourselves. We never accept payment for advertorial coverage.
We take the time to test each and every product and service that we
find or are introduced to by our friends and family as well as
manufacturers, PR firms and our other neighbors here at Lilypad Place.
We also search out the new hot items and services at stores, retail
shows, trade shows and more. I guarantee we will continue to provide
unbiased opinions. If you have submitted a product or service and have
not seen a review, please be patient, we are doing our best to get to
everything. We will provide either a positive review here on the site
or constructive feedback directly to you. Our testers are honest and
sincere and we love to try just about anything. Feel free to submit
yourself or a friend to be included in our featured neighbor section.
Have a wonderful week and if you're interested in advertising here, please send us an email for our advertising rate card.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A "Grate" Web Site
There is no immediate shortage of babies, that's for sure. This
month alone we added three new babies to our little world around us.
That also means we've been busy either planning or attending baby
showers galore. Bliss! Weddings Market makes finding the perfect baby
shower favor a breeze. This site offers a
new huge selection of baby shower favors. We fell in love with this
"World's Gratest Mom" cheese grater. It's simply adorable-the handle is
the preggo belly. You can find other unique items like personalized
tea, plantable wildflower cards, candles, cookie cutters and more. The
prices are incredibly reasonable.
Since weddings don't seem
to be slowing down either, the site is also a great resource to look
for original and unique bridal shower favors. Shopping by theme is the
way to go if you're looking for an eco-friendly (or Vegas) occasion.
For the DIYers, the owners of the site also include some helpful how to
videos. I got married prior to the internet explosion (what?) so I can
only imagine how much time and effort would be saved with this one stop
shopping experience.
See it all at blissweddingsmarket.com.
Monday, January 7, 2008
If I Am Lost
I always have a fear that one of these many trips to Disneyland (season passes are must when you live this close) will include a
trip to the "missing child" center. The crowds are so big and our
oldest refuses to ride in a stroller. She rarely wanders very far, but
you just never know. We are working on the telephone number, but we
have three to memorize--a huge task for a 5 year old. These innovative
tattoos recently hit my desk and I can't think of a more brilliant way
to feel more secure while we're out of the home.
Tattoos With A
Purpose now offers a simple and affordable solution. The temporary
tattoos come in a variety of styles and can be easily applied. When the
tattoo is dry, you simply write in the contact number. They last a few
days but can be removed as well. Now if lost or injured the child
simply needs to look for the tattoo.
I must admit, as a child my
mom had to pin a note to my back that informed anyone to call if found.
I had the propensity to wander off and I can't even imagine how much
sleep she lost. These tattoos seem like a better answer to her problem.
Ah, if we had a time machine.
For more information: Tattoos with a Purpose
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A Glowing Road Test
We take our product testing here at Lilypad Place very seriously. I decided to give a new product Glowing, Pregnancy Mask
Cream a try. This new product from Bella B Natural Bodycare (the makers
of Tummy Honey) is a bleach-free lightening cream ideal for preventing
and reducing the dark facial patches that often occur during pregnancy.
It is supposed to work on sunspots and age spots as well. I also like
that it is free of petroleum, lanolin, mineral oil, and parabens. I am
not a fan of putting harsh chemicals on my on face, especially since I
am nursing my little guy. I used this product as directed and not only
found a difference in my overall skin tone, but also noticed a
reduction of my lingering pregnancy mask. I have
naturally dry skin so the consistency of the product got me hooked.
They added a little SPF 25 in there too. It's available at several online retailers. To find out more about this product and their entire line of wonderful products: Mother's Intuition
Monday,
December 17, 2007
Measure Twice,
Cut Once
How important is it to measure twice and cut once? Ask the guy who took
a saw to the wrong end of my French door. I am sure he didn't want to
make the call to his boss to tell him he needed to reorder an entire
door! The incident made me think of how important it is to slow down
and think twice. We, as a society, are moving too quickly, expecting
things yesterday. When mistakes happen, it baffles us beyond belief.
The world doesn't work perfectly for everyone all the time. Imagine how
much time you would save if you took a few minutes to think about an
action before doing it. It could be anything--in the car, at work, with
your children. Stop to measure, whatever your "measure" may be, measure
again and then cut. If you're shopping, your measure may be "do I need
it?" or "will it change my life?" and if you can't answer yes to both,
keep shopping no matter what the bargain may be. If you're dealing with
your children your measure may be "will how I handle this be a
teachable moment?" or "will my action cause damage?" and if you can't
answer either of those questions, stop and think about it until you
can. A pause in activity might diffuse the situation long enough to
handle it effectively. In the car, ask yourself "will this call
distract me from driving?" or "will this call change my life today?" If
you can't decide to pull over to take the call or wait until you get
home to answer the phone, stop and think about how important is to
everyone on the road that you focus on driving.
It's the holiday season. Slow down and think about it your actions. It
just may be the moment you need to make the right decision and save
yourself more time for what's really important.
Monday, December 10,
2007
Small Space Gift
Ideas
Every year I get anxious about more stuff coming into my home during
the holidays. We want to give each other and our children a wonderful
holiday, but the house gets smaller and smaller come January. This
year, I thought it would be fun to give the people in my life a gift of
an activity rather than an item. Here are some great ideas that don't
require a gift box.
1. Ice skating lessons-a great gift for any age
2. Session with a trainer at the gym-start the New Year right
3. Sushi making class-fun for anyone looking to branch out from the
average cooking class
4. Dance lessons-a great gift for newlyweds
5. Spa Treatment-who doesn't love the gift of relaxation
6. Home made coupon for babysitting-any length of time you can commit to
7. Wine tasting class-anyone can be a budding enophile
8. A session at the Batting Cages-great for all ages
9. Credit at the driving range-any golfer would love the practice
10. Sitting fee for a photo session-even the family pet needs a
portrait
Think outside the box this year! Remember online gift certificates are
a fun paper less way to spread the joy. Enjoy the countdown and get
creative at the same time.
Monday, December 3,
2007
Avoid That
Holiday Add-On
Ok busy people, you have 10 minutes of free time. It might be your only
10 minutes of free time in the entire day. I know this story all too
well now. Fight the Holiday 15 (similar to the Freshman 15 only it
happens in one month instead of the entire year and it's much harder to
avoid) with this DVD Boot Camp 2. Fitness expert, Lindsay Brin, created
this Boot Camp style workout with the busy mom in mind. You can choose
from 6 different 10 minute workouts that burn fat or 6 progressive 5
minute core workouts. The interactive menu offers 300 unique workout
combinations. It's impossible to not find something you can fit into
your schedule. Happy workout! For more information: MomsIntoFitness.com.
Monday,
November 26, 2007
Never to Young
to Learn Good Manners
With the holidays right around the corner, now is a great
time to start talking about manners. It's never too early to start
teaching graciousness in giving and accepting gifts. It's obvious that
email is replacing letters and cards but for a special gift at the
holidays, an email (unless you have an arrangement with your friends
and family) is not a formal thank you card. While you never know what a
child is going to say when opening a present, you can help them say
thank you in a sincere manner. Whether helping a very young child to
write a note or guiding an older child in penning his or her own, take
care in the wording of the note. You certainly don't have to have a
degree in creative writing, but these tips should help the creative
process.
1. Start with addressing the person who gave the gift-without it, it
seems generic. If the gift was from a family with a child (i.e., cousin
or friend), always include the entire family in the thank you note.
Unless you have it on fact that Jr. got on his big wheel, went to the
store, picked out the toy, bought it and wrapped it all by himself,
leaving out the person or people involved in the process can be
insensitive.
2. Thank the gift giver for being able to visit during the holidays. If
the gift was mailed, acknowledging the thoughtfulness of remembering
the recipient is always appreciated.
3. Thank the gift giver for the gift. Stating what the gift is helps
acknowledge that you received the correct item (especially if mailed)
or that the gift wasn't lost in the shuffle. This is the section to
share something special about the gift as well.
4. The closing-signing with a term of endearment or another thank you
before the name is just plain nice in anyone's book.
Teaching young children the proper way to say thank you is an
invaluable tool to have all year round and certainly one that will come
in handy throughout life.
Tuesday,
November 20, 2007
Airplane Travel
with a Toddler - A Survival Guide
The holidays are quickly approaching. It’s time
to plan ahead for the trip to Grandma’s. If your trip calls
for airline travel, here are some helpful hints to make the flight as
painless as possible for everyone involved.
- Try to schedule the flight early in the morning. The
flights are less likely to be delayed and toddlers or preschoolers who
fall apart at the end of the day will start the day off on a more
positive light.
- If you are flying with an infant and you think you can pull
off the “lap child” option, here’s a test
to see if it’s right for you. Grab your dinning room chair
and try holding your child in your lap for at least three hours. If
you’re falling apart emotionally and your arms turn to jelly
in a mere 20 minutes, purchase a separate seat. Infants are also safest
during flight if they are strapped in their own infant seat.
- Pack along enough snacks for the entire trip. Most airlines
have discontinued all in-flight meals and the snacks are in short
supply. Planning ahead with individual bags of treats and water (or
milk) will not only make the flight more bearable but may be your
saving grace during any flight delays whether on the plane or in the
airport.
- Remember to pack a change of clothing for everyone in a
small carryon. You never know when you will all need a fresh outfit.
Disposable bibs and individual hand wipes are a must.
- Bring along a bag of “goodies” that are
age appropriate for each tiny traveler. If you take the extra time by
“gift wrapping” each of these items, you will
extend the interest and add more distraction time in the unwrapping of
the items. Try to find small games, cards, travel art projects, books
and let the imagination take over.
- Not every budget allows for this, but the best (and most
fun if you limit this at home) way to pass the time is a movie. DVD
players are getting less and less expensive and bringing along a player
and a few short and long playing DVD movies or collection of age
appropriate television shows will save the day.
- Discuss the rules of travel with your children. It is never
too early to practice good manners.
Tailor these tips for each age. Remember, taking the time to plan ahead
will help make the trip easier for the entire family as well as your
neighbors in the sky.
Monday,
November 12, 2007
The Binky Fairy
I have to tell this story from my friend because I cannot
speak from experience. My first refused the pacifier and now the second
is doing the same. My friend Jennie recently had to hold her young
son's hand through the letting-go-of-the-binky process and this is how
she did it. She talked to him about the existence of the "Binky Fairy"
and what the binky fairy does in this world. She told him that it was
her job to collect all the binkies and distribute them to the new
babies that were on the way. They took little baggies and wrote notes
to the new babies and placed each binky in the individual baggies. He
put them on the dresser so the Binky Fairy could easily find them and
by the next morning POOF! they were gone. Now, he did give up his
afternoon nap for a few days, but it's been a week now and there has
been no fussing for the binky. Very creative. You might want to give
this one a try.
Since the holidays are coming, get in the spirit and dress your little
one accordingly. My Pacifier is the mommy-invented product that helps
avoid the spread of germs from pacifier swapping. Available in a
variety of colors MyPacifiertm Personalized Pacifiers are made of the
finest quality materials and can be personalized to fit your
imagination! Check them out here: MyPacifier.com
Monday,
November 5, 2007
Worth Every Penny
We recently added a new little guy to our lives and home. We all know
how to sleep soundly all night and have been doing so for years. If
only we could get this one to follow the game plan. We have been
working non-stop to get a good night's rest. We rely heavily on our
video baby monitor. We use the Summer Infant Day and Night Monitor.
This is our second time around with the product (the video went out on
the first after 4 years, which is not bad). This one came with wall
mount tools so we can position it safely above the crib. Our friends
told us about it years ago. They were having trouble "checking" in on
their daughter. She would be rustling and snorting in her sleep so when
friend/dad would check on her, her eyes would pop open and story over.
The monitor changed everything for them and now us. Now you can hear
the rustling and fussing but you can simply hit the button to see what
baby is doing without opening any doors and starting a mid-night party.
I do have to say, it also comes in handy with older babies. If the
fussing and negotiating turns to a crying session, you can watch and
know they are safely throwing a fit. Speaking from experience, of
course. The downside is the price ($99) but we got 4 years out of our
first monitor. Also, in my opinion, the lowest volume setting could
stand to be even lower. Check it out for yourself here: babiesrus.com
Monday, October 22,
2007
All The Work Is
Done
You would never believe how many years I have tried to plan our family
dinner menu a week in advance. It's been a dream of mine to be so
organized. I picture myself going to the store just once to gather all
of my items to flawlessly prepare meals each night of the week. Of
course, it never happens that way. My dear friend shares my dream but
she found a solution and passed it along to me. She signed me up for
six months of "The Six O'Clock Scramble" weekly email newsletters. What
a brilliant idea. Each week I get five step by step recipes and a
number-coded shopping list. It doesn't get any easier. These simple to
follow recipes usually take less than 30 minutes to prepare and they
offer a nice variety and simple variations. Each newsletter also
contains bits of advice and helpful hints—well worth the
price. Learn all about this innovative and inspired idea from a busy
mom. thescramble.com
Tuesday, October 16,
2007
Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. There are so many ways to
support the cause and help educate yourself on the importance of an
early detection plan. According to the National Breast Cancer
Foundation, when breast cancer is found early, the five year survival
rate is 96%. Mammograms are the most effective early detection tests,
yet so few woman receive them. You can help women receive free
mammograms by supporting this great site. TheBreastCancerSite.com.
Click to visit the sponsors who support this great program.
Another way to support the cause AND help the environment is with the
purchase of this pink water bottle. Cut down the amount of plastic
bottles in your life! The screw-on lid is leak-proof and this pink
polycarbonate bottle is virtually indestructible and dishwasher-safe,
and holds 28 oz. The $9.95 price can't be beat. (Buy some for your
friends and start training a group to walk for the cure.) There are
hundreds of over products to choose from. Add some pink to your life
and help others.
Tuesday, October 9,
2007
Fire Prevention
Week
October 7th through the 13th is officially Fire Prevention Week. This
year's theme, "Practice Your Escape Plan," highlights the importance of
creating a fire escape plan and knowing the routes to quickly exit a
burning building. Fires injure or kill thousands of people each year.
You can help reduce the devastating effects of fires with careful
planning and by installing smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. By
taking special precautions, lives can be saved. Take the time to go
over this list with your family this week.
1. Make A Plan—a schematic of your home,
even a hand drawing, will help everyone understand the exact escape
plan. Make sure you account for your pets!
2. Practice the Plan—do your own fire
drill and practice getting out of the house.
3. Talk About Fire Safety—teach the
"stop, drop and roll" technique and talk about fire dangers in and
around the house.
4. Check Your House—use this time to
test and/or replace all your alarm batteries and extinguishers.
5. Clean Up Your Act—rid your home of
hazardous materials like trash, old mattresses, flammable materials and
both household and gardening debris. You might want to have your
heating vents checked and cleaned prior to the cold winter weather.
Have a fun and safe week!
Tuesday, October 2,
2007
Why Are Shipping
Rates So High?
As an online retailer, I get this question quite often. This is my best
explanation and I am sure my answer will apply to most companies across
the board. Shipping rates are settled upon by more than just the cost
of postage. There are many factors that make up a fee for sending a
purchase or gift through a private carrier or the US postal system. The
first factor is based on the cost of postage and I am sure you've
noticed the rate increase recently. (As high as they are, the US has
some of the least expensive rates worldwide. The next eight postal
systems in the world collectively equal 1/2 the US mail volume and have
postage rates that double and frequently triple the cost of our .41
stamp.) The second thing to consider is the packaging. Your items need
to be shipped in something that protects them from the elements and
from the riggers of the trip that it will take to your home. Most
packages include a protective wrap, some cushion and a sturdy mailing
envelope, not to mention a packing slip and shipping label. The third
thing to consider is the time used by the person that physically
handles your package from the packing of the inventory to the drop off
to the carrier. This includes billable work hours and sometimes gas and
mileage for that person to deposit your package into the carrier's
hands.
Why should you have to foot the bill for these charges? Simple.
Convenience. The only thing required on your end was an internet
connection and the time it took to choose your purchase and process the
order with your payment. The time and energy saved includes the drive
time to and from the store and the compliance to business hours. The
ability to shop in your jammies is a bonus. Worth the price? That's
your call. If that hard to find item took two to three stores, what is
that time worth to you? If you need to send a gift across the country,
calculate the time it takes to drive to the store, choose the gift,
find a card, sign the card, wrap the gift, package it for mailing and
drive it to the post office. Is your time worth the shipping cost?
Monday, September 24
It's P.A.C.K Week
P.A.C.K. Week: Pack Assorted Colors for Kids Week, September 24-28,
2007, is a new national healthy-eating initiative to encourage kids to
eat more fruits and vegetables while at school. Brought to you by
Welch's, this fun and educational program is in support of Fruits
& Veggies-More Matters™ Month. The focus of P.A.C.K.
Week is on eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, as
each has its own nutritional benefits.
Each day of P.A.C.K. Week has been assigned a different color, and
parents/guardians will be encouraged to send their children to school
with a fruit or vegetable for lunch or snack from the designated color
group each day. If your children don’t typically pack a
lunch, encourage them to make a colorful fruit or vegetable choice in
the cafeteria each day.
The colors for each day of P.A.C.K. Week are:
Monday, September 24: Pack Purple Day
Tuesday, September 25: Pack White Day
Wednesday, September 26: Pack Red Day
Thursday, September 27: Pack Yellow/Orange Day
Friday, September 28: Pack Green Day
Get involved, get motivated and get educated! Find out more information
here: www.welchs.com
Thursday, September
20, 2007
Only 40 More
Shopping Days...
Until Halloween! That means you can't walk through a major retail store
without ghosts, witches, skeletons and ghouls coming at you at every
direction. It also means, if you shop with a toddler or preschooler,
your children are being exposed to some pretty scary images. Our local
outlet even has a dark, spooky village with a floor to ceiling haunted
house playing creepy music (although I am pretty sure I heard it
playing Christmas carols, but that's just my paranoia).
Now that your imaginative kids have efficient enough evidence that the
creepy crawlers actually exist, prepare yourself for major nighttime
trauma complete with nightmares and refusals to sleep in their own
beds. We found a spray that just might do the trick—invented
by a mother of three children with their own active imaginations. They
were afraid of the "monsters" under their beds. This crafty mother
developed a "monster spray" for her kids to spray to guarantee the
monsters would be held at bay once the spray was used. Of course, the
fragrance is so pleasant, what monster would want to hang around?
We have used it all over the house and I must admit, the combination of
lavender oils and vanilla fragrance is helping us all even sleep a
little better. Bonus? It's made with all natural ingredients and won't
stain. I have given you enough time to get your own before Halloween.
Find the I'm Not Afraid Monster Spray here: monsterspray.com
Tuesday, September
4, 2007
A Noodle on an
Idea
To beat the heat, we trekked over to our FWAP's (friends with a pool)
house this past weekend. When I took their almost 3 year old upstairs
to find some clothes après swimming, I noticed her bed had
raised "rails" under the sheets. She stated it was her big girl bed and
she didn't fall out. The two long raised sides created a scooped out
bed in the middle. I quickly asked my friend what the new device was
that I had not seen before. Her answer: pool noodles. Those long
sponge-like floaty tubes. How clever is that? Just take two and tuck
them along the long side of the bed (just one side if you push the bed
up to the wall) under the fitted sheet and you've got a little safety
buffer without the expense and sometimes difficult to install
instructions of a traditional bed rail. Just to be on the safe side,
surely you'll only use this idea with older children, right? Find them
at your local retail outlet before the summer weather is completely
over.
Tuesday, September
4, 2007
Ahhh....Back to
School
We had our preschooler in summer school so her short one week break was
all she needed to realize how much she missed her school, teachers and
friends. She went back to school with a new teacher (and a new class
bunny and fishbowl) this morning. We had to pack an earthquake kit for
her to keep there and it reminded me that we needed to review our
family plan in case of an emergency. Experts recommend that you should
be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. I found a
site created by the San Francisco Department of Emergency Services that
spells it our for you in the simplest terms. You can choose your "what
if" situation like earthquake, flood, fire, etc and then read the
recommendations of what to have on hand or prepare to be able to take
care of you and your family for three days. You need to make a plan,
build a kit and prepare yourself. Make this back to school season a
time to do your homework and revisit your own plan. www.72hours.org
Tuesday, August 28,
2007
I
Love My...
We all have that
one product that we love and can't live without. Mine is a new sling
(man do I wish I had this the first time) from Green Pea Designs. I met
this wonderful team at Baby Celebration LA and had to have their "Reid"
Pouch. It is extremely comfortable to wear and with an active
preschooler and business, I am wearing it all of the time. Check out
their site and read over the information on the benefits of "wearing"
your baby. My little guy is comfy and cozy. It features breathable
cotton fabric and is so simple to wear (of course, after you get the
step by step instructions both in pictorial and video). They offer
different sizes because we are not all made in the exact proportions.
Bummer that my husband can't wear my size, but he's a Bjorn kind of guy
anyway. Slings are the new black. Check them out here: greenpeadesigns.com.
Monday,
August 13, 2007
A Little Toast to a
Friend
I
love it when good friends are inspired to do something they are
passionate about. To all you Los Angelenos, check out this new venture
from my friend Nicole Daddio, City Sip LA.
A wine
enthusiast, she earned her wine certification and just launched her own
business that's all about da wine, of course! She is sharing her
knowledge and is now offering unique classes in wine tasting. Get a
group together and try one of her signature classes. Class Locations
vary from art galleries to private homes on the Eastside of LA
(Silverlake, Echo Park, Downtown). The current class schedule is as
unique as the owner. Classes include "The Essentials", "The Rain in
Spain", "Que Syrah, Syrah" and an Italian evening called "The Sopranos
Fiasco" so you are sure to find a new and exciting class at an
unbeatable price. Make an evening of it! www.citysipla.com
Monday,
July 30, 2007
The Tooth Fairy of
Equality
Say
you have a child with a missing tooth. This child has been given a
shiny new quarter by the tooth fairy. That same child just went to
school to find out a classmate was dished out a hefty $20 bill for his
tooth. Fair? Of course not! Gonna happen? You bet.
I recently
came across a wonderful explanation for what must seem like the unjust
tooth fairy disbursement system by a child of any age. A clever group
of parents in one classroom explained to their kids that the tooth
fairy leaves her home each night with a set amount of money. If several
children all over the world lose teeth that night, the kitty would be
small. If no one else lost any teeth, the lion's share belongs to just
one child. Seems to be working. The parents leave a quarter one night
and then maybe a $10 bill or more for another tooth the next time. The
children are just the age to believe in this money for teeth commerce
exchange. And no one had to dress up in tights and wings. To the
parents leaving $100...give us all a break!
Monday,
July 23, 2007
A Warm Welcome
I am doing my best to keep up with a hectic schedule. I posted
a few weeks ago asking you all not to give up on me if I should
not post for a few weeks. My son arrived a mere 18 hours after my last
post. He's healthy and wonderful and my first is pulling the textbook
older sibling jealousy bits, right on cue. It was a speedy delivery and
went without a hitch. We are all adjusting to a new wrinkly invader to
our small home. His lungs work...very well, but he is just amazing.
Look
forward to more product reviews in a wider age group and new
needs...since my policy is to not review anything we have not
personally tried. I will get on it as soon as I catch my breath.
I
also wanted to share the well wishes from my dear friend, Steve. He's
probably not aware of how much his comment touched my heart. After
years of trying to have children and using science to get a wonderful
child four years ago, the arrival of this baby was a miracle. He
congratulated the "little family that could" and it couldn't be more
true. That's for another time. Enjoy the week and enjoy your sleep.
Monday,
July 9, 2007
Get the
Complete Breakdown
You
know there is a movie giant out there cranking out multi-billion dollar
generating movies geared just for the children. You can't avoid it.
Most of the movies are rated G and yet in almost every one, someone's
mother usually ends up dead. We have the complete collection of these
movies and I have to say, I watch each one at least once to see what my
preschooler is actually watching. This weekend I heard about a great
web site. It is called
Kids-In-Mind and they have devised their own rating scale based on a
numerical listing and full descriptions of the ratings for sex
&
nudity, violence & gore and profanity. You can find all the
movies
broken down into these categories with more details than you can
imagine. I found it to be very useful and informative. While I still
have a G rated preschooler to consider, my neighbor uses this site to
distinguish that fine line of PG-13 for her 10 year old and 14 year old
daughters. Brilliant, yes? Find this great site at: kids-in-mind.com.
Thursday,
July 5, 2007
Just One A Day
We have spent a few months now making small changes around our
home and office to make our home and company more
energy efficient and environmentally friendly. We have
switched to more eco-friendly cleaning products and more energy
efficient light bulbs (more than the 5 suggested by Al Gore, I might
add). I
was watching an Oprah Show on going green and she introduced Elizabeth
Rogers, a working mother who put together The Green Book, a
book of 500 "little things that make a big difference" so of course, we
had to check it out. Her biggest suggestion on the show was to cut out
just one napkin a day. Just to step it up a notch, we decided to cut
out just one napkin (although we primarily use cotton napkins that can
be reused) AND at least one paper towel. I found a reusable,
anti-microbial kitchen towel at Trader Joe's (a 2 pack for less than
$3.00). Turns out we are reducing our towel and napkin usage
by more than 10 or so a day by using the kitchen towel for small messes
and clean up. Try the challenge and see how much you can reduce!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Teacher Appreciation
It's
that time of year again. Your child's teacher has just spent the entire
year instilling the education you hoped for as well as the love and
attention you dreamed of. Great teachers are hard to find and they
should be told on more than one occasion that they are appreciated. The
end of the year is the perfect time to bestow of token of thanks in the
form of a unique gift for a job well done. Most of my girlfriends are
early childhood educators ranging from K to 5th grade. While they don't
expect gifts, they helped with some insight on great gifts that always
go over well without breaking the bank.
1. Gift Cards: Even if it sounds impersonal to you, a teacher with
tastes unknown to you would love the opportunity to shop with a gift
card. You never know, your teacher might have been eyeing an outrageous
handbag and can now combine gift cards to treat herself. A gift card to
an electronics store for a male teacher would be a dream for most.
2. Movie Tickets: Most movie theaters sell packs of tickets to give as
gifts. The summer is the perfect time to catch a great movie with a
spouse or friend. Matinees are a great way to beat the summer heat!
3. Spa Gift Certificate: This one is easy to go in as a group to treat
a great teacher to some much deserved pampering. They can choose their
favorite treatment and spend the day escaping from reality.
4. Personalized Indulgences: We found great slippers (nicely priced)
from RedEnvelope.com. They are luxurious and can be personalized with
an initial. From a practical standpoint, I personally would never buy
these for myself and neither would my panel, so they came up as the
perfect gift.
The most important thing to remember is these teachers are people first
and teaching is what they do. A token of thanks need not be in the form
of a "teacher" themed gift but rather a gift that closely matches their
personality.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Travel And Tell
So many of us here at Lilypad Place and Lilypad Baby do
extensive traveling when the time permits. One of our family members
has traveled to more places than you would ever begin to imagine. While
my personal travels have taken me only part way around the globe, she
has seen the world...twice. It inspired me to start a new section of
the web site with contributions from our community members as well as
associates, friends and family members of LP. I started with my
favorite California destination Indian Springs Resort & Spa in
Calistoga, CA. Find the info here: www.lilypadplace.com/favorite-places-on-earth.
As always, we count on you to share your favorite places...they can be
anywhere—a campground, hotel, beach, mountain, etc. Share
with
everyone! It's so hard to plan a get-a-way without some solid advice.
With any luck, I will get our travel sister to share some of her
experiences and tips. Happy travels!
PS: If for some reason I
miss an up coming week, please don't give up on me. It just means we
added another little person to the population and I will get back as
quickly as possible!
Monday,
June 11, 2007
Father's Day
Remember
this coming Sunday is Father's Day. It's a day to celebrate and
commemorative your father, stepfather, grandfather or anyone who has
been like a father to you in your life. Find a great sporting event,
exhibit or start a new tradition of your own. I was recently featured
in an article for Redbook magazine about a great
activity that is reserved for only dad and daughter in my family.
“Scott is a private pilot, so it was natural for
him to share his love
of flying with our daughter, Gabriella, 4. Nearly every weekend they
drive up a little hill alongside Los Angeles International Airport.
They lie on the grass and watch the planes fly over their heads.
Together they shout out a five-second countdown to landing and
high-five each other when they see the white smoke from the
airplanes’
tires as they touch down at high speed.”
This is certainly
how he will choose to spend this Sunday. Celebrate with more than a
tie. Get creative and have a wonderful Father's Day!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Playdate Flair
How often are you at the park when you meet a sweet child and parent
and can't find anything to write on to exchange numbers?
Do you find yourself knowing parents by the child's name only? "Oh,
Lydia's mom, how are you?" When I first heard of this next concept, my
closest allies thought it was silly. A business card for your child?
Well, a playdate card is the official name for it, but that's
essentially what it is for networking amongst the toddler and
pre-schooler set. It's really brilliant when you get down to it. It's a
simple card to carry with your child's name and your name with all the
important contact info. Easier than juggling a pen and paper at the
park or in the parking lot after school. I found some beautiful
versions of this concept at Felix Doolittle in the Doolittle Junior
section. The illustrations are precious and unique and the site is so
easy to use. Find the best illustration to match your junior's style.
Giggle all you want but playdate cards are the wave of the future.
Trust me on this. Find some great cards here: www.felixdoolittle.com.
Tuesday,
May 29, 2007
In The Spirit of
Memorial Day
I hope you all had a wonderful Monday off in celebration of
Memorial Day. An Army brat myself, I certainly spent the day
remembering and appreciating the work that our men and women in service
do every day for our country. My father was in Viet Nam when I was
born. There was no email to send pictures and no cell phone to announce
the play by play of my birth, but I do have the original copy of the
pink telegram informing him of my arrival. It simply said,
"congratulations...baby girl. Mother and baby doing fine." He kept it
safely in his wallet. It was dated two days after I was born and it
would be another eight months before I would get a chance to meet him
in person. That was another time.
Supporting our troops abroad
is easier to do now than ever before. Here are some great sites to help
you organize a way for you (and your family) to offer support at all
levels. Send a letter, a care package or a simple email of
encouragement. Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend.
amillionthanks.org
www.treatsfortroops.com
www.operationusocarepackage.org
www.uso.org
Monday,
May 21, 2007
Keeping My Sanity in
Wine Country
A
woman at my stage of pregnancy at a wine festival for the weekend?
Crazy? Nah. I attended a long standing ritual of our girls only weekend
in Paso Robles, California. It's a sleepy but growing town towards the
coast of Central California. I went with 8 of my girlfriends from
college. We have traversed this great state for these weekends for 13
years now. We came from all over the state to catch up and spend some
fun time together. We were once the rowdy girls running about town late
at night (sorry about that Catalina Island and Lake Tahoe) and now
we're all moms in our jammies crawling into bed by 10 pm for some
uninterrupted sleep.
It
was just what I needed to get away, read a great book (while the other
girls attended the wine festival), visit a spa, eat great food and
laugh until it hurt. We luckily snagged a new vacation rental home that
comfortably slept all nine of us. It is located close to quaint
downtown Paso and is impeccably decorated and accommodating--no detail
overlooked. See the great rental here: www.pasovinehouse.com.
Don't you feel like emailing your closest friends and putting
together a special weekend trip, now?
Monday,
May 14, 2007
Give Them
Something To Talk About
Kids
say the darndest things...and now babies can too. MeMo Inc, offers
babies a chance to tell it like it is on their own little one-pieces.
This unique company uses high quality 100% cotton materials (no fake
synthetic stuff here), just so happen to be globally conscience (earth
friendly), put safety and comfort first (wouldn't you?) AND donate a percentage
of their proceeds to kids in need. This is my favorite part--to help
preserve our earth, MeMo uses limited packaging made from recycled
materials and wrap each one-piece
in a unique and reusable cloth diaper. I am a big fan of their
newsletter. You'll find much more than product plugs and promos in
their informative and fun emails. Find their great site and products
here: MeMoBaby.com
Monday, May 7, 2007
Happy Mother's Day
Mother's
Day is this Sunday, May 13th. Have you spent hours finding the perfect
gift? I have
a great idea. Why not give your mom (and all the versions they come in)
the most precious gift you can give—your time. Presents are
wonderful,
but what about making a special trip, inviting her over for a home
cooked meal or taking her to a local place that interests her? You can
find a great botanical garden, museum or library for very little cost
or none at all. Spending quality time with mom
may be just
what she needs...more than a bouquet of flowers that only get tossed a
few days later. Remember to take a camera and snap some great shots to
remember the day (and send copies to her, of course).
If a
trip to mom's house is out of the question or you aren't able to be
with your mother, why not contact a local retirement home or assisted
living center? Chances are you might be directed to someone who rarely
gets visits or has no family in the area. Letting a mother know she is
appreciated is what the day is all about...it doesn't necessarily have
to be your mother and you may meet a new friend.
I am crossing my
fingers that there might be a handmade cheerio necklace and sloppy
kisses (and maybe breakfast in bed) in my future. Enjoy the day and to
mothers everywhere, Happy Mother's Day.
Monday,
April 30, 2007
A Baby Celebration in LA
We
spent the entire weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center at Baby
Celebration LA. We found the newest gadgets and coolest products to
bring to you here at Lilypad Place over the next few months. The show
was filled with informative speakers, great music, drawings,
demonstrations, fashion shows and crafts for the kids. It was an
energetic atmosphere and filled to capacity. There was also some great
celebrity watching. We saw Jenna Elfman, Ali Landry, and Nicole
Sullivan. We also spotted two hot dads from Third Watch, Coby Bell and
Anthony Ruivivar. Guests were also treated to a glimpse of the original
Supernanny, Jo Frost. Stay tuned as we will be bringing new product
reviews, mom inventors and resource sites we think you'll love.
Monday,
April 23, 2007
Grow Your Mind and Soul
There is a great
festival this weekend in Los Angeles at the UCLA campus. It's called
the
Festival of Books and the kids area is free. You can catch great
musical acts
like Hi-5 and the SqueeGees as well as hear wonderful readings from
authors
like Julie Andrews, Thanks to You: Wisdom from Mother
& Child,
David Kirk, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends and
John Lithgow, Mahlia
Mouse Goes to College. There will be vendors, activities and
book
signings. Take a tip from us, the campus restaurants are a less
expensive
alternative to the food booths available, however, fair food is always
a treat.
More Info: www.latimes.com
Details:
Saturday, April 28 • 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday, April 29 • 10 am to 5 pm
UCLA Main Campus, Admission to the Festival of Books is free. Parking
is $8.
If you're in the
New York City area, NYC GROWS Garden Festival will be held on Saturday,
April 28th. This annual festival features adult and
kid-friendly
workshops conducted by nationally known gardening personalities,
gardening-related exhibitor booths, food demonstrations, a prize
drawing, and
much more. NYC GROWS also features healthy cooking demonstrations by
celebrity
chefs from Les Dames d’Escoffier, explorations of art in
nature by renowned
local artists, gardening tips and advice from garden writers,
television
personalities and radio show hosts. What a nice way to ring in spring
with your
family.
More Info: www.nycgrows.org
Details:
9 am to 3:30 pm in
Union Square Park, South Plaza
Broadway & 14th St., Manhattan, NY
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Monday, April
16, 2007 at 09:48AM
Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is this Saturday, April 21st. Celebrating the 37th
anniversary of Earth
Day, groups all over the world will spend the day
demonstrating concern for the
environment in many ways. This day to unite for the betterment of our
home
creates a positive venue to celebrate our achievements as well as
inspire
awareness of further opportunities to make positive global changes. We
should
all educate ourselves on ways we can personally make an impact on the
future of
our environment.
Great Ideas for Earth Day
- Go on a Family
Nature Walk
- Check Out Your
Local Paper for Organized Activities
- Clean Up a Local
Beach or Park
- Plant Trees In
Your Yard or With a Local Program
- Visit a Recycling
Center or Call Your City to Find Out More
- Change At Least 5
of Your Light Bulbs to Energy Efficient Florescent Bulbs
- Buy
and Install an Energy Efficient Thermostat for
Your Home
Monday,
April 9, 2007
Kids
With A Cause
Kids With A Cause was founded by Linda Finnegan in
September, 1999, to teach the principles and practices of philanthropy
to
today's youth through interactive programs.The unique
perspective of Kids With A Cause is the empowerment of children helping
children. Their
goal is to provide solutions to specific problems affecting children
who suffer from poverty, lack of education or health-related issues.
We experienced KWAC first hand at our hospital stay last summer. Our
three year
old was admitted to the pediatric ward for a brief stay and was met by
a child
advocate with a KWAC care package for her. It included a blanket,
pillow,
coloring activities and a stuffed duck named KWACers. It was a
wonderful
distraction for her and she still uses the blanket and pillow. Upon
further
investigation, the organization is actually supported by young
entertainers and
donations. If you'd like to help their philanthropic endeavor, visit www.kidswithacause.org.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Baby
Celebration Los Angeles
Mark you calendars now! Baby Celebration LA, an
extraordinary marketplace of the most innovative and creative products
and
services all things baby...is due to arrive at the Los Angeles
Convention
Center April 28-29th, 2007. Baby Celebration LA truly embodies and
supports the
entrepreneurial spirit by creating a boutique environment with elements
sure to
please those wishing to choose the good life for their children. From
extraordinarily opulent nurseries to wondrous birthday parties styled
to
perfection, and to uncommonly cute fashion thrills...there will be a
bounty of
treats in store for every taste. It will be a great opportunity to see
some
brands you may have never heard of and see new products from the ones
you have.
With up to 400 exhibits, Baby Celebration LA promises inspirational
speakers,
extraordinary entertainment, bountiful gift baskets, memorable
demonstrations,
innovative designs and fun, fresh fashions for hip moms and trendy tots
alike.
Baby Celebration LA-April 28 & 29, 2007-Los Angeles Convention
Center Hall
K More Info Here: seascapeproductions.com
Monday, March 26, 2007
Global
Girlfriends
You can help a woman living in poverty become self
sufficient and get a great product in return. It's easy to do and I
found the
place to do it. GlobalGirlfriend.com is the source to turn to for
unique,
eco-friendly and organic products. The number of women living in
poverty is
staggering--around the globe, nearly 900 million women are living on
less than
$1 a day. Read about the products available and learn about the
programs and
vocational schools that help survivors of abuse, trafficking and
violence with
valuable life skills and business opportunities. Training and skills
allow these
women to support themselves and their families. The price ranges vary
from
$5.00 and up so buy for yourself or give as unique gifts. Find out
more: www.globalgirlfriend.com.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Kiwi
Magazine
I was sitting patiently in a waiting room expecting to pore
through an issue of National Geographic from 1976 when much to my
surprise, I
picked up an issue of Kiwi Magazine. Mind you
this was a mere week
after we launched our healthy eating section of Lilypad Place. I
couldn't
believe what an amazing magazine I had just discovered. There were so
many
articles I made notes the entire 25 minutes of my wait time. I found a
great
article on the top ten items to buy organic if possible as well as kids
cookbook recommendations, a healthy meals award for schools and more. I
highly
recommend this magazine and website as a useful tool in your family's
healthy
eating goals. Find them here: www.kiwimagonline.com
March 11, 2007
Two
Angry Moms
What
happens when two “fed-up” moms try to change the
school lunch program? You get "Two Angry Moms", a documentary
work-in-progress
about two moms on a mission to create awareness and change in our
public school
lunch programs. These two gutsy women, Amy Kalafa and Susan Rubin will
attempt
to turn 2 to 2 million angry moms concerned about what's available for
our
children at lunchtime. They want to bring real and healthy food options
into
the cafeterias. Send them your "lunch money" and help them get this
wonderful goal accomplished. Find out more here: www.angrymoms.org
Monday,
March
12, 2007
Missed
Manners
I
spent the morning at an elementary school working with a
volunteer dental program. Two wonderful dentists volunteer their time
to offer
quick dental check ups to school children. They need volunteers to do
the
paperwork that eventually makes it home to the parents. It's a
wonderful
experience, but I was absolutely struck by the lack of manners. We saw
roughly
200 children and only ONE child said "thank you" to the dentist at
the end of their exam. It really got me thinking of my own almost
school aged
child. For three years now I have been saying "what do you say?" more
times than I like. How do I know that the "pleases" and "thank
yous" I am teaching now will actually come out of her mouth without
that
prompt when I am not there? I immediately started searching for
guidance in the
manners department.
I
found two books that seem like they might be just what I need to
help with the dialogue of manners. Since mine is still focused on
illustrations, I ordered Manners, by Aliki for now. I, of course, will
be giving
a book report as soon as it arrives and we give it a spin. I also
ordered Emily
Post's The Guide to Good Manners for Kids just so I can be more
prepared for
any upcoming situations. Keep an eye out for that book report as well.
If
anyone has another suggestion, please let me know!
Monday,
March
5, 2007
Kicking
Off New Topic-Healthy Eating
Announcing
a new addition to our neighborhood, the healthy eating
category in our articles section. You'll find great information and
helpful
tools to offer your family healthy food options. Whether your short of
time,
short on resources or have picky eaters, this section will help. Look
for tips,
ideas, cookbook recommendations, articles and more! If you didn't catch
the
Today Show this morning, there was a great segment on guilt-free
convenience
options for kids. www.msnbc.msn.com.
As
always, we encourage you all to share your ideas.
Monday,
February 26, 2007
Networking
in the Toy Isle at Target
I
was shopping for my niece's birthday gift last week (the Aqua Doodle
Pad, of course) when I was questioned by a couple about my opinion of
the
product. We got to talking and I found out that not only were they new
to the
area but they were also musicians. I had just met The Squeegees, the
"irresistibly fun acoustic duo, that plays music for both children and
adults." I looked up their site and found their music extremely
pleasant
to listen to. They are going to be featured tonight, Tuesday, February
21st on
my favorite show, The Gilmore Girls on the CW. Check out their site,
the music
is great and you can purchase the CD. If you're in the LA area, they do
parties!
www.meetthesqueegees.com
Tuesday,
February 20,
2007
Meet
THE Mompreneurs
Ever
wondered why mom-owned businesses are growing and thriving on
the internet? Ellen Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe are recognized as
leading
authorities on women-owned businesses, and have offered entrepreneurial
advice
on Oprah, the CBS Early Show, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America,
and
numerous other TV and radio shows nationwide. Mompreneurs¨ has
been featured as
a top trend-setter in Time Magazine, Business Week, Parade Magazine,
and other
leading magazines and newspapers.
Between
them, Parlapiano and Cobe have over 25 years of
work-from-home experience. Moms themselves, they are experts on
juggling a home
business and a family under the same roof. They write and lecture on
work-from-home and time management topics, and consult for corporations
like
ATT and American Express. Their weekly "Mompreneurs¨" advice
column,
message board and chats appear on iVillage.com, which is visited by 7
million
women each month. Cobe and Parlapiano are also on the advisory board
for
Home-Based Working Moms, a national organization in Texas.
Spend
some time on their site and see how and why it works. It may
just be the motivation you need to start your own business. Their
helpful
advice and tips aren't just for moms or women. Their success strategies
can
apply to anyone.
Mompreneurs
Online
Thursday,
February 8, 2007
Help
From a Great Book
The
title sounds funny but this book is full of helpful advice and
scenarios. Nasty
People: How to Stop Being Hurt By Them Without
Becoming One of
Them by Jay Carter is insightful and practical. He aptly
describes all
of the
characteristics and personalities and what causes these personalities
to say
and do hurtful things. There are simple instructions on how to spot the
behavior and turn the situation around. "Nasty People will help you put
an
end to being controlled by nasty people so that you can start feeling
good
again," describes the publisher.
I agree, the
book helps you put it all
in
perspective before you become one of the nasty people.
Find
it here!
Monday,
January 22, 2007
Kids
Off The Couch
Mothers
of elementary and middle school-aged children, Sarah
Bowman and Diane Phillips Shakin yearned to take back the weekend from
the
endless crush of birthday parties and sports games. Faced with the
dreaded
creep of screen-time in their kids' lives, they made the radical choice
to get
on the couch with them. Since then they have unearthed memorable films,
from
classic to campy, and helped kids become media savvy by exposing them
to cinema
the way their teachers expose them to literature. They soon realized
they had
happened upon a winning formula and Kids Off The Couch was born.
What's
the secret? A bowl of popcorn and a memorable movie. Like a
spoonful of sugar, the magic of a good film will lure kids to cultural
outings
that are more than typical kid fare. Dubbed "Popcorn Adventures", these
Kids
Off The Couch film and excursion pairings are road-tested on real kids.
Past
adventures have helped kids ponder the universe at planetariums,
explore ethnic
neighborhoods, and learn how the local newspaper lands on their
doorstep each
morning. A subscription includes monthly Special Editions highlighting
more
vacation ideas, book suggestions and film screening invitations.
Kids
Off The Couch's founders live in Los Angeles, so this was the
launch site of their first batch of adventures last winter. Since then
they
have had kids clean up the beach, marvel at Frank Gehry's Disney Hall
and stick
their fingers in Venus flytraps at the Huntington Garden's Botany Lab.
Kids Off
the Couch helps teach kids to see what is unique to their city, while
allowing
them make their own connections between media and culture. Most
importantly,
they encourage families to have fun exploring the world together.
Says
Sarah, "our children are no more culturally tolerant than the
average soccer-playing, i-pod toting kid; we've just happened upon a
great
formula and realized that you have to get on the couch to get off the
couch!"
Friday,
January 12,
2007
A
Packed Purse
Everyone
with children has had that one moment when you wished you
had something in your purse to
provide entertainment (after some point, many of us have downsized from
a
diaper bag to a moderately sized purse, right?). Waiting rooms and
restaurants
occasionally provide activities for busy children, however, a properly
prepared
"survival kit" in your purse is worth its weight in gold. Here are a
few suggestions of what to pack and keep stocked in your purse.
Mini
photo album: You can use this time to remind your
child/children about family members who live far away or friends they
may not
see often. We like to keep a small album of trips to the zoo. We talk
about the
animals and what we remember from our visit. Young babies love to stare
at
photos of other young babies so you might consider recycling those
parenting
magazines to cut out pictures.
Ziplock
bag of stickers and index cards: Stickers are a great way
to work on fine motor skills. Crayons are easy to throw in this bag as
well.
A
tape measure: A great tool for learning measurements and math.
We like the soft variety found at any craft store.
Small
pots of play dough: These are easy to keep in your purse and
provide another great way to help with fine motor skills. It's a quiet
activity
with endless possibilities.
Kids
are busy and keeping them occupied during a good wait could
provide an excellent opportunity for learning and sharing. Have any
great ideas
for activities, let us know!
Monday,
January 8, 2007
Ringing
in the New Year
We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and we also hope your
New Year celebrations were joyous. This time of year is great for a
fresh start
and new ideas. We are spending the next few weeks planning for a
successful
2007 for both Lilypad Place and Lilypad Baby. We would love to hear
your
thoughts and suggestions.
This is an online community for everyone to share. We appreciate
those of you who shared your stories, projects and recipes. Your
continued
support in invaluable.
We're
proud to announce Lilypad Baby will be featured in a
Mompreneur segment on The Early Show on CBS this Thursday &
Friday. Please
tune in!
Here's
to a year full of positive and inspiring creations, ideas,
support and celebrations.
Tuesday,
January 2, 2007
Happy
Holidays!
I
hope you had a wonderful holiday. This is a great week to get
caught up with everything around the house! We plan on one more trip to
our
local donation drop off before the end of tax season. Now that all the
wonderful presents are opened, I love cleaning out the closets and the
garage
to try to start the new year with a little less stuff. We also take
this time
to box up old toys to rotate back in later this Spring.
Remember to take advantage of great online after Christmas sales.
You can find the most amazing things marked down (and even some free
shipping
still) this week. Check out our sites we love page for some leads on
great sale
items.
Have
a wonderful and relaxing week!
Tuesday,
December 26, 2006
Writing
A Great Christmas Letter
My
Christmas mailing has
grown over the years. I look forward to
getting numerous cards and pictures from our extensive and expansive
group of
friends and families from all over the world. I love to sit down and
get caught
up with new pictures of growing families and new details from friends
we seldom
communicate with throughout the year due to distance.
Here
are a few tips for writing great Christmas Letters:
1.
Keep it light. Everyone loves to read up on new and exciting
milestones and achievements. To keep the holiday spirit festive,
reserve the
tragic and sad news for another letter or time of year.
2. Keep it brief. Get the family involved. Have each child or
family member choose 3 or 4 achievements to write about. Let them tell
you what
they would like to share as opposed to giving information they might be
too
embarrassed or shy about having circulated to friends and family.
3.
Add some photos. Did you make to the top of Kilimanjaro? Go on
a safari? Did you adopt a pet? Add a new family member? Spicing up the
news
with simple photographs will surely add a smile.
Christmas
letters can be a great way to share the news from the previous
year. Remember the holidays are a time to celebrate so keep your
letters
exciting and cheerful so that everyone will look forward to receiving
them year
after year.
December
18, 2006
Start
A Dinner Club In 2007
With
open houses, cookie exchanges and office parties on the
Christmas calendar, this year I once again find myself most excited
about my
Dinner Club's get together. In December, we extend our monthly "ladies
only" status to invite our significant others. I have spent some
amazing
times with the eight incredibly talented and beautiful women in my
club. We've
experience boyfriends, breakups, engagements, weddings, births and
deaths. The
glue that keeps us together is our commitment to the second Thursday of
each
month: we will have an evening of friendship, support, good company and
great
food.
Starting
a dinner club is simple to do; I have written up a few
guidelines that have kept us steadfast for 8 years:
Gather 4 to 8 of your closest pals and set up a firm date
of
each month. Assign each person a month of the coming year. Rotate in
the same
order after each of the first months is assigned. The person in charge
of the
month is responsible for choosing a restaurant, making the reservations
and
also hosting cocktails and appetizers before dinner at their home. They
also
need to organize a way to communicate the specific details to the
members prior
to the night (we use email). At the end of dinner we split the bill
evenly
between us. Sometimes you pay more sometimes less, it all works out. We
do
excuse pregnant members from covering the wine bill because we've had 6
babies
between us in 5 years.
The
friendships are invaluable, as is the time set aside for
myself. Since our rule is to never go the same restaurant twice it's
also a
great way to try new places in our area.
Dinner
Club is sacred in my house and I rarely miss it. Put it on
YOUR New Year's resolution list and get a dinner club going.
Monday,
December 11, 2006
This
Modern Mom Mingled
Being
a modern mom
myself, I was lucky enough to snag an invite to a swanky celebrity
filled
evening sponsored by ModernMom.com for the launch of the book The
Experts'
Guide to the Baby Years: 100 Things Every Parent Should Know by
Samantha Ettus.
The book features expert advice on the top 100 parenting questions. The
contributing experts include Dr. Harvey Karp, Liz Lange, Wendy
Bellissimo, Kate
Spade, Gail Saltz and many many more!
The
evening also benefited The Children's Environmental Health
Coalition (www.checblog.org). The
event was held at the posh Skybar at the Mondrion on LA's
famous Sunset Boulevard. It was great for celebrity watching and
featured
Marcia Cross from Desperate Housewives among others. I got the chance
to meet
some amazing women and modern moms.
To
find out more, check out ModernMom.com for the details.
Monday,
December 4,
2006
The
"Lily" Behind Lilypad Baby
We
seem to get this question quite a bit. Just where did the name
Lilypad Baby come from? It's simple. We named the company after our
dog, of
course. We got Lily, a Welsh Pembroke Corgi, in the fall of 1999. The
process
to have her join our family was extensive and we were thrilled to
finally get
her.
Our
good friends Matt & Erika quickly came up with nicknames
for her at every visit. The names ranged from Liliput to Lilliputian
and
finally, Lilypad. It stuck and the rest is history. I can't say she was
thrilled
to have a new baby come along in 2003, but she promptly changed her
mind when
she realized that babies and toddlers drop a ton of food.
She
is not only the namesake of our company but a constant
presence under foot in the office every day.
If you enjoyed reading
this blog, please visit our sister site,
http://www.lilypadplace.com for more helpful articles and parenting
information.
You can also read other baby and parenting
articles by clicking
here.
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