From the category archives:

Month 7-9

Activity #554: Make a bulldog photo wall

by Heather

my bulldog zebra wallI saw this activity on photojojo this morning and ran right out for bulldog clips to get started.

Unfortunately, my local Office Depot does not carry them in stock (nor does the next one down the street, which I stupidly thought was a different chain… but was the same chain!) so I got these over the top zebra-printed binder clips instead.

As you can see they match the weird zebra theme we have in the office. But that’s a story for another day.

Back to the activity.

Why’s It Cool?

Why would you cover your walls with bulldog clips and hang a bunch of photos? So many reasons. It’s super cheap, it’s ridiculously easy, and it requires practically no skill. Plus it means you can change the photos you have up at any time with practically zero effort.

bulldogIf you have binder clips around and some fun snapshots that you’re meaning to Do Something With, this project can be done in the span of the tiniest nap.

The instructions on Photojojo for the bulldog clip photo wall give variations like OCD-style and tips for not creasing your photos. Check ‘em out.

If you want to go the high-end route, read Whitney’s instructions for the classier “Family Photo Wall.”

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Activity #183: Get baby-proofing advice from an expert

by Whitney

I am not sure if I should be embarassed about this, but we had a consultant, “The Babyproofer”, come evaluate our home. He walked around and then told us all the things that could possibly kill our baby.

This sounds dramatic, but we learned a distinction that we had not been making before his visit. You must fix the things that could kill your baby. The rest might just result in small injuries or minor damages to your home decor. Example: TV falling on baby (possibly fatal) vs plant toppling onto the floor (not fatal, just unpleasant).

After paying this professional for his time, I decided a better course of action would be to invite over my friend Julie or Heather’s friend Marla, both mothers of two. I’m sure that they would have been happy to show me how to protect my child from himself, and not charge me by the hour. And this wisdom is what I pass on to you.

Next step: Ask someone who has a toddler or two to walk around your house room by room and take notes as she gives you a braindump of all the little hazards her mommy mind can count.

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Activity #131: Go to a Farmer’s Market

by Whitney

eat fresh and seasonalLook around and choose a vegetable your baby hasn’t tried yet. Bring it home and steam and puree or mash with a fork.

Does this not sound like enough action for you? Believe me, it is. Navigating the stroller through the market area is a challenge and there are so many things to look at for your baby, it’s worth the effort.

There are Farmer’s Markets in Berkeley each week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday sponsored and organized by The Ecology Center and another festive one in Rockridge on Sunday.

The beautiful Farmers’ Market in the San Francisco Ferry Building is on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Check the hours>

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Activity #233: Run Mommy run

by Heather

Before my pregnancy, I trained for triathlons with the half-asses, a subset of Team Bad Ass. Now, I really miss having a training buddy and I use that as my main excuse to not exercise.

If you like to run or walk with a partner (and actually want to get back out there), See Mommy Run can help. It is a nationwide group dedicated to helping moms find like-minded and similar-paced running buddies (or in their own words a free Internet service to help busy women find or start child-friendly running or walking groups convenient to their personal geographic needs, time constraints, and fitness abilities.)

I need to get some action between 6am and 7am before the day unravels begins, so wish me luck! 11-minute-miler Berkeley chicks, can you hear me?!

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