Blogs & Tips

I enjoy websites that make me feel good about motherhood and acknowledge that there are often stressors that we don't anticipate and need some strategies to help us cope.  This website is supportive

Google's satellite maps gives you a birds-eye view of virtually anywhere in the world.  Zoom in to locate your house all the way from satellites in space.  It's kind of fun to locate landmarks

From infancy onward, predictable routines are valuable to a child's day.  Guided by actions within the home environment, routines are important in helping your children anticipate events that occur habitually

My youngest daughter has eczema and after seeing a dermatologist last summer, he recommended bathing her with good old Cetaphil.  This isn't a remedy b/c she also uses a prescription ointment

When my daughter was learning to bake, and was afraid to pull out the oven rack to retreive her cookie sheet, I could relate. I have always been scared of it too! So I found this oven rack push pull, and we love

Here's an article accompanying the Good Morning America story I saw this morning about new uses for old things. It has a few interesting things, like using baby powder to prevent perspiration stains on white

It’s really hard to store batteries, especially when you get the huge Costco pack.We found this container at The Container Store and it makes it so much easier!By the way, conventional wisdom says to store

Adoption Mama carries shirts for adoptive moms that are cute and fitted, and not like the shapeless t-shirts you usually find. Some have snappy comebacks, such as "Yes, I am still adopting. No, I haven't

Print out this great stain removal chart and hang it by your washing machine.  I never knew half of these stain removal tips.  Vinegar seems to be a popular remedy for many stains - who knew?  Martha

CVS pharmacy and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a recall for the Playskool Toddler No-Spill Sippy Cup because there have been reports of several children chewing through the plastic spout and

In the summertime, we are always going outside and with two young kids who just want to get out the door ASAP, I was tired of always rummaging through the beach bags trying to find the sunscreen, their hats

Here's a way to solve two "problems" at once. (How wonderful life would be if these were our only problems!) At yard sales, I often see beautiful dishes or serving platters that I can't possibly

I was in the market for more natural cleaners and I came across lists of the many ways you can use plain old vinegar to naturally clean your house.  Even Martha Stewart extols the ecofriendly benefits of vinegar. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall today of Hasbro’s Easy-Bake Ovens, because children can insert their hands inside the oven’s opening and get their hands or fingers caught

When I buy items such as curtains, they always come in those plastic packages with the snaps so I save the packaging.  I re-use it for organizing small toys or even the small board game pieces. 

I found this cleaner a few years ago, and I recommend it to everyone, since it seems like a lot of people have never heard of it.  You can use it to clean your nice stainless steel pans, and it makes them

Sick of Quicken and its ten thousand features you never use?  Just want a quick way to balance your checkbook and track spending?  Try out Clearcheckbook.com.  Money Magazine reviewed it as a way

Stuck on You labels are really neat.  My favorite ones are the Vinyl Shoe Labels that go insude the heels of your kids' shoes.  The teachers at my child's preschool recommended them because all

I just got my Westinghouse Sweepeze, and I love it!! It's a smallish (between a toaster-oven size and a breadmaker size) electric appliance that you plug in and leave plugged in, in your kitchen or other room

Here’s what I do to clean my rings and earrings – I fill a glass with warm water and put some mild dishwashing liquid in it, put the jewelry in the glass and let it soak for a few minutes, and then

All the personal finance gurus say it is important to review your credit reports at least annually. This website makes it easy. No more waiting for the credit reports to arrive in the mail. Answer a few questions

Simplymilk Kits are another fantastic idea from Julene at (www.presentbydesign.com).  I truly wish I had this kit when I was struggling with breastfeeding - I know it would have been a great help to me! From

Today's Wall Street Journal article on Lice ("A Head Scratcher: How To Get Rid of a Pesky Parasite" page D1), reminded me of a bunch of websites and services our school nurse told us about during

Too much junk mail?  Get rid of the prescreened credit card & insurance offers via this website [run by the big credit rating companies].  Opting-Out refers to the process for removing your name from

Here are a few helpful window cleaning tricks so you tackle your windows like the professionals do.... 1 - Use up and down strokes on one side of the window (inside) and side to side strokes on

Want to know if there is a rebate out there for a product you are going to buy? Check out smarter.com's Rebate Finder.  Find by manufacturer and/or sort by newest, expiration date or rebate amount. 

I have always found drain cleaners to be scary and toxic - I hate to have them around the house with the kids.  So when I happened across this natural drain cleaner recipe, I was thrilled.  This is one

So we just broke in our new grill and found ourselves without a wire brush to clean it. My mom told me this great tip - scrub the grill with a wad of used aluminum foil. It worked like a charm.  Not a

Do you have a travel mug or favorite coffee mug that is totally brown from coffee and tea stains?  Well just pour hot water, the hotter the better (boil it too) into the mug to the top.  Then add about

There have been a lot of news stories lately about how working moms would prefer part time schedules. But they are hard to find. The Wall Street Journal had an article about a website that helps you make the case

Did you know that the FDA doesn’t regulate all chemicals in bath products?  The Environmental Working Group released a report on children’s shampoos and body washes and found that some contained

This website, in conjunction with the United Way, has all types of volunteer opportunities for families to do together. All types. There is also a page with lists of different things your family can do on your own

Audrey Hepburn is my childhood idol - she exudes class, composure, beauty and wit - attributes we all encompass.   Enjoy one of her best poems!  Beauty Tips by Audrey Hepburn For attractive

MotherVerse Magazine is a great place to send your writing if you are a mother looking to get published. They accept submissions to the print/digital magazine as well as to the blog. You can submit everything from

This is a "I wish I had one of these when the kids were in strollers" item!  These gorgeous stroller totes are beautiful, functional and don't look like a diaper bag.  The website also offers

I am a fan of Spiffies Tooth Wipes.  They are basically a "Wet Nap" for teeth.  They come in a box of 24 and are individually wrapped.  Great for travel.  They come in different flavors

Vicky's Deals  - The best site that saves you money.  This is a community forum filled with people that want to help you save money and would love for you to tell them how they can save money!   

Dads may love to talk on a lot of subjects. But there are some things dads will never say to their wives. Honey, I think we're lost. Let's just pull into this gas station and ask for directions

Swap Tree is a fantastic new service on the web! This website allows you to trade books, CDs, DVDs, and video games at no cost JUST postage.  The really smart team has cool formulas to match you up with your

In case you didn't see this segment on Good Morning America this morning...here is a link http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/Story?id=3369894&page=1 A recent study found high lead levels in ordinary garden

I didn't believe this website when I found it a year ago or so - but then I tried it with a few test searches.  There are a lot of misspelled Ebay listings out there and very few people can find them - so you

My 7 year old loves KidPix [and my 4 year old loves the sounds it makes!].  It is an amazing program that lets kids create "dynamic works of art using a variety of virtual media."  They even

Manage a busy household as you balance the needs of the family you've been hired to help. keep the house clean, look after four mischievous kids, prepare dinner, and handle hectic day-to-day schedules

Belly Bands - WHERE were you 4 years ago when I was a very pregnant mommy?  This product is ingenious! Belly Bands are a soft and comfortable band of fabric that covers your waistbands or shirts that

My friend recently told me about the 5 to 15 minute rule...if your baby falls asleep in the car, it's safe to transfer them to the crib if they have been asleep for at least 5 minutes but less than 15 minutes. 

I was never a savy nurser in public with my babies...all my friends (the 'cafe nursers' as I called them) were able to do it at Starbucks discreetly, but not me.  If I had this nursing cover from Hiccupshop

Tired of 800 number phone trees and don't have time to navigate complicated customer service help lines? See if the company you need to call is listed at GetHuman and save time.  Get a live person on the

If you are a fan of the What to Expect series of pregnancy books, take a look at its companion website.  I just happened across it and it is really useful.  Helpful interactive tools, charts and planners

Spendfish organizes all of the Amazon.com deals, coupons and sales and makes them easier to find.  Features include: Daily and weekly email updates "Filler Item Finder" to get your order over

Erin, the owner of Stella Bella Boutique, hand makes her blankets from scratch. Each blanket is lovingly made and made to last.  These blankets are luxurious!!  I have ordered 4 blankets