by Whitney
Let’s stay realistic. Bubble blowing is not something that you can build your whole day around, so it’s the type of thing I usually refrain from posting here.
But, watching your baby react to bubbles IS pretty fun. So take them with you in your diaper bag and pull them out whenever you need a distraction.
Bubbles are in the toy aisle of drug stores and can be a fantastic surprise for your baby. If you are lucky enough to find an older child nearby, ask her if she would like to show the baby how bubbles are blown. Then sit back and watch.
I will confess that when my husband calls and says he’s on his way home, we often go wait on the front steps. Bubbles can kick it up a notch. And, one more opportunity for the neighbors who walk by to notice how awesome I am at this mothering thing.
photo: macronin47 on flickr
by Whitney
Dutch from Sweet Juniper is psyched about passing on his love for thrift stores to toddler Juniper. His recommended outing sounds best for a toddler who will truly enjoy the piles of broken baby dolls, rusty toy cars and weird furniture that a thrift store has to offer.
(photo: Sweet Juniper in a thrifted outfit)
If you are all about the 80s, vintage dresses, and velour, venture out to a thrift store, and bring baby with you.
We tried it when we had two toddlers and Holden really enjoyed hiding among the dusty clothing racks while Julian pushed the laundry baskets of books from here to there over and over. The store we tackled didn’t have much for kids but as we left we saw a trendy mom pushing a happy baby in a stroller with a Goodwill bag over her arm. Did she read my mind and know about this outing already? Did she find board books for $0.25? We didn’t. But we will try again in a sketchier neighborhood next time.
by Whitney
Rosie, who is the owner of the Etsy store “RosieGoa“, and the mother of the little boy pictured below, tells us how they make gift wrapping special in their house. Before we look at that, however, let’s appreciate Rosie’s cloth creations: well-crafted and Indian-inspired, her pieces will make your baby look bohemian-chic. I just love the colors and the details in the tunic tops and drawstring pants.
This scary pirate spent the morning before his friend Zaal’s birthday party collaging a personalised gift wrap. A glue stick and a pair of scissors is a huge part of the gift-giving ritual at our house. We grab all those gorgeous deco magazines and snip, snip, snip. The images are glossy, colourful and feel great. The gorgeous items may not make it into our house in physical form, but we feel like we’re having it all.
We hoard any kind of box (cereal, chocolate….), thick shopping bags, padded postage envelopes, ribbons, beads, flyers, labels…. the list is endless…. that can be upcycled and used for gift boxes and bags. It can be as simple or as complicated as you like, and take time as little or as long as you have. Go simple with a few pages of great images stuck together, then the friends name spelt out in letters of different size, colour and font (thank you Sex Pistols). Or go wild with macaroni, lentils, glitter, beads, sequined and embroidered embellishments.
Friends on the receiving end have sometimes loved their box, wrapping, or bag, more than the gift itself. We love the time spent together and the conversations inspired by what we see, and how that looks when cut-up and made into something new. It gives great joy to pass on so much cut and paste love. I will never, ever, buy gift wrap again, unless of course it’s to turn into something else.
by Heather
My fellow Americans, history is upon us. It’s an election year. If you have a newborn in the house, it can be like living under a rock for several months. But you can still be in on the fun.
It’s time to throw a debate-watching party to reconnect with your childfree friends. You supply the house and TV, your guests bring the pizza or real food and dessert. Tivo makes this kind of event easier, but it’s not essential.
Here are some games you can play to keep the party lively:
- Baby chooses the (vice) president. Take note of which debater makes your baby more fussy. Vote for the other ticket.
- Mommy bingo. The good folks at Mom’s rising have put together a bingo game. Score when someone mentions a key word for moms. Fun and informative.
- Old school drinking game. For the first McCain/Obama debate we were supposed to do a shot when McCain said “friends” or when Obama said “change” — Anyone know if it’s been updated for the next ones or what the rules are for the Veep Debate?
Upcoming debates are:
> Thursday, Oct 2, 2008: Vice Presidential debate in St. Louis
> Tuesday Oct 7, 2008: Pres. debate in a town hall format Nashville
> Wednesday Oct 15, 2008: Pres. debate on domestic policy
> Tonight, last week’s debate. My house.
Each debate will begin at 9pm eastern, 6pm pacific time and last for 90 minutes on many many channels.
It’s social, it’s political, and it’s no fuss for you. No cooking, no dishes, good times. Go ahead and compost those paper plates and biodegradable corn “plastic” ware.
