Archive for January, 2010
Jan
26
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Ruth Spiro, Disney FamilyFun magazine
Fans of Hannah Montana, Transformers and other kid favorites can rub virtual elbows with live or animated stars, thanks to Shutterfly’s CenterStage posters. Just upload a high-resolution digital photo of your child to the Web site, choose a character, and click send.
In about one week, you’ll have a unique poster of your child stealing the scene.
Available in three sizes, starting at 11 by 14 inches. All ages. Shutterfly.com, $20 to $35....
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Jan
25
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Kate Shatzkin, The Baltimore Sun
Every mom has to have a great chocolate chip cookie in her repertoire. This is my all-time favorite, courtesy of the great Dorie Greenspan. I like it because it’s an exceptionally tidy, beautiful chocolate chip cookie — beloved by kids, but decidedly grown up.
First of all, it uses not chocolate chips but chocolate chunks, which allows the baker to indulge in better chocolate than you might typically find in chip form. (I made this recipe recently because I needed to use up some good-quality milk chocolate bars—not normally so great for baking—and I found they were great mixed in with bittersweet chunks.) Secondly, the well-creamed dough turns out a nice, thin cookie that’s in great control of itself, as you...
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Jan
25
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
“DK Biography: Harriet Tubman” by Kem Knapp Sawyer
c.2010, DK Publishing
$14.99 / $17.99 Canada
128 pages
Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez
Always keep away from “It.”
That’s the most important rule you learn when you play Hide & Seek. “It” covers his eyes and counts, while you run and hide. Then, while “It” looks for you, you try to get Home safely.
Hide & Seek is a game you learned long ago. You’ve played it now and then but what if it wasn’t a game? What if hiding and getting back home was a matter of life or death? In the new book “DK Biography: Harriet Tubman” by Kem Knapp Sawyer, you’ll read about a serious and brave version of Hide & Seek.
…
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Jan
24
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Debra Legg, debralegg.com
We’ve made posters just like Boots’ teacher helped him with at school, and we’ve created a living room salute out of old boots, an extra beret and Dad’s favorite mug.
They’ve adopted new Bear Force bears, and they’ve set an old alarm clock to Daddy Time. As soon as I can find a globe, we’re going to add it to the display so we can track Dad’s travels around it.
The biggest hit, though, arrived in a battered brown shipping box over the weekend: A 17-inch Hug A Hero doll featuring Dad in full battle rattle. Helmet, body armor, the works.
“Daddy! You’re home!” Big Guy cheered. “We’ve missed you.”
The choice of picture would not have...
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Jan
23
Posted by
Alicia Castelli
I hate reality television. Deeply and passionately.
My own reality is something I prefer to escape from. I have no interest in watching other people try to deal with theirs.
I have found, however, that I will do pretty much anything for my kids.
Which is why, eight seasons in, I found myself watching “American Idol” last year with my son…and actually looking forward to it this year.
Ten-year-old Ryan is in his school choir and longs to take guitar lessons. He loves music.
His 6-year-old brother, Ethan, is constantly singing little made up songs despite his offended insistence that he DOES NOT SING. I don’t think Ethan’s even aware he sings ALL THE TIME.
Four-year-old Keira loves to sing and dance almost as much as she loves books and baby...
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Jan
22
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Nicole Paitsel, Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)
No matter where you work, some days are just hell on earth.
One such day plagued me when an inconsiderate source collided with uber-tight deadlines and last-minute decision making. My own stress level did nothing to calm the situation.
Coincidentally, I also was working on a radio spot that included a pre-recorded version of my 19-month-old son’s laugh. The morning’s mayhem was basically solved by the time I began the voice-over, but my nerves were still bouncing.
All of the sudden, Brody’s sweet giggle projected through the studio speakers, and my aggravated attitude dissolved. My shoulders settled down a notch, and a smile crept back onto my face.
Some of the day’s problems...
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Jan
22
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Colleen LaMay, McClatchy Newspapers
Ten months have changed Richard Finken from a man who had never held a baby to one who casually holds two at a time and who changes diapers in Olympic time.
His best advice for new parents? “Take it one day at a time.” Try “one hour at a time,” his wife, Tracy, amended with a wry smile.
The Finkens are proud parents of four babies born March 17 at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.
Alexander, Benjamin, Samuel and Emilee may be the first quads born in the Treasure Valley in 15 years.
They were born without major complications at 30 weeks’ gestation, compared to an average of 40 weeks for a single baby. The quads still are littler than most 10-month-olds,...
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Jan
21
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
To commemorate Martin Luther King Day, we honor some of his fellow heroes and heroines of the civil rights movement. It would be impossible to list all of them, so here are some of the most worthy namesakes.
- AMELIA Boynton Robinson brought Dr. King to Selma in 1953.
- ANGELA Davis radical Black activist, advocate of racial justice.
- CARLOTTA Walls youngest member of the Little Rock Nine students who desegregated Central High School in 1957.
- CHARLAYNE Hunter-Gault one of the first two African-American students to enter the University of Georgia in 1961.
- CLARA Luper activist known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”
- CLAUDETTE Colvin refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus nine months before Rosa...
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Jan
21
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — About 1.5 million Graco strollers sold at Wal-Mart, Target and other major retailers are being recalled after some children’s fingertips were amputated by hinges on the products.
The recall by Graco Children’s Products Inc. includes certain model numbers of its Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems. The Exton, Pa., company received seven reports of children placing their fingers in a stroller’s canopy hinge as the canopy was being opened or closed. Five children had their fingertips severed and two children received cuts on their fingertips.
The strollers were made in China by Graco and sold at AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Kmart, Fred Meyer, Meijer, Navy...
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Jan
20
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A Barbados-based company on Tuesday recalled about 635,000 cribs sold by Kmart, Sears, Wal-Mart and other stores after the death of a 6-month-old boy and multiple reports of injuries.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of 20 models of Dorel Asia cribs with both drop sides and fixed front rails.
Some of the Chinese- and Vietnamese-made cribs were recalled because their drop sides can detach, creating a space where a child can be trapped and suffocate or strangle.
A 6-month-old boy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, strangled after getting trapped in the crib when the drop-side hardware broke. His parents were using the crib after trying to repair it themselves.
A statement from Dorel describes...
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