Archive for September, 2011
Sep
25
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Jordan DeFrank, Disney FamilyFun magazine
Made from recycled paperboard, the pieces of My 3-D Zoo slide together without a hitch to form 10 stand-up animals. The bright colors and vibrant patterns already make for unusual critters, but our testers loved mixing and matching the body parts to form even wackier creations. Ages 3 to 6. Alex, www.alextoys.com, $17....
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Sep
24
Posted by
Melissa Linebrink
Last Saturday, I saw what my life may be like in 20-plus years.
My niece, Emily, got married
Wait, did I just say “my niece got married?”
Yes. But, wasn’t it just yesterday that she was the flower girl in MY wedding?
Technically, no, since I have been married for 11 years, but my, how time flies when you are having fun, or in my case, establishing a career and having children.
Anyways … back to the wedding.
My daughter, Katie, served as one of Emily’s two flower girls.
I know everyone who has children thinks that their children are the most beautiful in the world, but last Saturday, Katie really was the most beautiful girl. Really, I am serious.
Despite the fact that she pitched a fit when I attempted to do her hair (she...
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Sep
23
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By MAE ANDERSON, AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK — Every year, toy makers and sellers hope there will be a runaway hit toy to help spur excitement around the holidays and boost sales. Toys R Us is betting that 15 toys ranging from a flying, inflatable remote-control fish to tiny collectible monsters will be big hits this season.
Making the right picks early is crucial for toy sellers so they have the right mixture of toys at the right prices to lure shoppers. The holiday season can account for about 40 percent of a toy seller’s annual profit. In 2010, U.S. toy sales rose 2 percent to $21.87 billion, according to the NPD Group.
Karen Dodge, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer of Toys R Us in the U.S. said “there’s lots of really...
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Sep
23
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
“Race the Wild Wind” by Sandra Markle, paintings by Layne Johnson
c.2011, Walker & Company
$17.99 / $22.50 Canada
40 pages
By Terri Schlichenmeyer, Philadelphia Tribune contributor
Imagine what it would be like if you were dropped — thunk! — on a desert island with a bunch of other kids.
Would you miss your comfortable bed and your favorite blanket? What would you eat? Where would you go if it got too cold outside, or too hot?
Many years ago, a big herd of horses were dropped off near an island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. In the new book “Race the Wild Wind: A Story of the Sable Island Horses” by Sandra Markle, paintings by Layne Johnson, you’ll find out how they survived. …
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Sep
22
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
McClatchy-Tribune
During Banned Books Week, Sept. 24-Oct. 1, thousands of people from around the world and best-selling authors will participate in a virtual Read Out on YouTube via a dedicated channel at http://www.youtube.com/bannedbooksweek.
Also many bookstores and libraries celebrating Banned Books Week will showcase selections from the ALA OIF’s “Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2010.” The list is released each spring and serves as a comprehensive snapshot of book removal attempts in the U.S.
These are the “Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2010”:
1.“And Tango Makes Three,” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson. Reasons: homosexuality, religious...
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Sep
22
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Paula Sirois, www.RetailMeNot.com
On a whim, I bought a $1 collapsible brush-mirror for my kids the other day. My son — who proudly has not brushed his hair in nearly eight years — picked up the brush and instantly transformed into a hairstylist extraordinaire.
As of yesterday, he has styled my hair a dozen times and asked if I wouldn’t mind setting up a little hair salon in my bathroom and maybe posting some signs saying he’s open for business. You just never know what will inspire a kid (or an adult for that matter). There are many ways to stimulate the brain, see things differently and set forth the flow of ideas and creativity. If you’re looking for new inspiration, here are some brainy ideas that might surprise you:
Do the...
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Sep
21
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By BROOKE DONALD, Associated Press
PALO ALTO, Calif. — Cen Campbell travels unusually light for a mom with a young child. No wet wipes. No changing pad. No disposable diapers.
The extra baggage isn’t necessary because when Campbell’s toddler Jude needs to go to the bathroom, she brings him to the toilet. They’ve been doing this — with mixed success — since he was just 12 days old.
“I wouldn’t want to sit in a wet diaper, so why would I make my child do it?” said Campbell.
In the U.S., most new parents would count diapers among the “can’t live without” items for bringing up baby. But some are rejecting that conventional wisdom and helping their children use the toilet from the first few weeks and months...
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Sep
21
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
By Edel O’Mahony, Hybrid Mom
Being a Mom. There is nothing that can prepare you for the experience! Having brought up four children on my own, I can honestly say success came through one foundation … confidence.
Imagine how much more you could achieve, what different decisions you could make with that boost of confidence?
Poor self confidence can affect just about everything in life, from relationships to your overall enjoyment of life itself.
Here are some tips to help you build your confidence:
- Every time you find yourself revisiting the past and beating yourself up, write it down and let it go, think no more of it, be very honest with yourself and do write down every time. At the end of one week, sit down and look at how...
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Sep
20
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
Kenneth R. Ginsburg, McClatchy-Tribune
The following excerpt is taken from Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings, 2nd Edition (American Academy of Pediatrics, April 2011) by Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MS Ed, FAAP.
Isn’t t good to be a perfectionist?
No. We want children to be healthy high achievers who reach their potential, but that’s not accomplished by being a perfectionist. Perfectionists are not resilient; they live life always feeling unsettled. Why? The answer lies in the process, not the product.
The product_an A, a piece of art, a 10 in gymnastics_does not distinguish the healthy high achiever from the perfectionist. It’s the process. For example, a maestro who composes the finest...
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Sep
20
Posted by
Lorain County Moms
nameberry.com
A couple of momberries-to-be who are expecting Fall babies have written in to ask for some Autumn name suggestions, and so, as we come close to the official onset of the season, here is our annual, updated round-up of Autumn names.
AUTUMN — Autumn is ironically the hottest season name, the only one in the Top 100 where it’s maintained its status for over a decade now. The name Autumn first entered the U.S. Top 1,000 in 1969, inspired by the hippie nature names and word names. While it’s still attractive, however, it’s hardly fresh.
Names from other cultures that provide a newer route to Autumn include the Japanese girls’ names Aki and Akiko, the Turkish girls’ name Hazan, the Vietnamese Thu, and, in Chinese, Qiu for...
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