Community Server

Not So Desperate Housewife

Maria Pilar Clark — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:47:00 GMT

Once you get your pretty little mitts on the lightweight, Teflon treated (for water repellent action), satin nylon-lined Bedford Nylon Kate Bag (shown at top left, $390) from MZ Wallace, you'll feel just as put together as any of those perfectly manicured, perfectly coiffed characters from Wisteria Lane.

With pockets galore, including 4 exterior pockets, 2 side pockets and 10 interior pockets - 1 large zipper pocket with two hidden pockets inside; 6 accessory pockets each wide enough to accommodate a Blackberry, Treo, iPhone, baby bottle, diapers, etc.; 1 business card pocket and a changing pad - it's like having a home away from home at your fingertips, and its large size makes for carry-all convenience.

It even comes with an additional, attachable shoulder strap and features luxe Italian leather and custom hardware - the ultimate guilty pleasure (and maybe one better saved for that holiday wishlist).

Oh, and let's not forget the detachable market purse that becomes a trendy attachment strap key ring clip combo.

Eat your heart out, Gabrielle.

Hair's The Scoop

Maria Pilar Clark — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:03:00 GMT

No gal likes having her hair brushed, combed, pulled, tweaked and twisted into pigtails and pony tails, especially feisty little ladies belonging to the pre-school going set who have playtime not plait-time on their minds.

Cue Ribbies Clippies (shown at top left, $6 a pair), the modern alternative to ginormous floppy bows and pinchy, pointy barrettes. With cool names like ashton blocks, ava argyle and sophie grapefruit diagonal, just to name a fabulous few, each grosgrain-covered, patterned hair clip (solids available, too) is designed without embellishments to be simple (no magnets or clasps) yet functional while maintaining an air of trendiness and cuteness without being precious.

Better yet, each clip helps to highlight - not hide - baby's face pinning uneven bangs in place with a color-coordinated foam grip that easily stay in no matter what the hair type - thick curls to super fine locks get the same sweet result.

Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Be the belle of the baby shower when you show up with a Ribbies Clippies gift set ($14) that includes five clips with varied patterns in the same color family.

Knick Knack Pak Nak ....

Maria Pilar Clark — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:49:00 GMT

Instead of giving a dog a bone, why not spruce up your kiddie's still relatively brand newish backpack before it gets all cruddy from rides on the school bus with friendly, furry-faced Ralph (shown at top left, $3.99) from Pak Nak?

Pak Naks, otherwise known as the company's rubbery, 3-D, interchangeable (thanks to Velcro) namesake charms are the product of two energetic, majorly creative moms getting together over two cups of tea, involving two husbands, their three children, two cats, one dog and one dream to start a business of making simple kid's accessories like backpacks and lunches tons of fun with an array of cool and cuddly characters like William the Starfish, Manfred the Snail, Boo the Ghost (shown at bottom right, $3.99), Claire the Cat (named after one founder's daughter who is infatuated with felines), Mike the Monster (he loves eating marshmallows), and Tabby the Penguin to name a few, who have their own personality, complete with a list of favorite foods, best friends, favorite activities, and where they call home.

They even come with trading cards!

Each charm is easy to attach to an array of surfaces since the self-adhesive, flexible, weatherproof designs stand up to tough kids and tough play. Better yet, they don't involve much time, hassle or work from mom and dad, which makes everyone happy, right?

Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Like what you see?

Good, because there's tons more to do on Pak Nak's web site including downloading the entire Pak Nak character coloring book and getting addicted to the Nak-Land Game.

It gets better!

Enter discount code DE15 for 15% off your total purchase.

SUPER COOL COSMOTOT GIVEAWAY!
One reader drawn at random will get 2 sets of 5 Pak Naks (your choice!). Just email mamascosmotot@yahoo.com by midnight tomorrow (October 7th) with PAK NAK in the subject line and tell me what Kyla James likes to eat.

Say Cheese!

Maria Pilar Clark — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:58:00 GMT

Dust off those cameras, download all those pictures from last year from your memory cards, and start snapping away. Learning Curve is partnering with Waterfront Media (publisher of every mom's personal baby Bible, What to Expect When You're Expecting and author Heidi Murkoff's other What to Expect titles) to launch a national search for the cutest baby ever through an online photo contest. This of course means your darling little offspring or offspring-ette.

The resulting Baby Star Photo Contest will run now through October 27 on WhatToExpect.com. To enter, visit the site, submit a non-professional photo of your cutie (who must be between 4 weeks and 10.5 months of age at the time of entry). Each image will be judged and voted on by the site's daily visitors, and daily winners will get prize packages filled with tons of loot - aka Learning Curve's award-winning infant and toddler products.

The 28 finalists will then compete in the Grand Prize round and a winner will be chosen based on his or her ability to giggle, coo and otherwise promote Learning Curve's image while showing off their fabulously playful, fun and cheerful personality.

A runner-up will be chosen to receive a True Fit Convertible Car Seat along with an assortment of Learning Curve products valued at $300. The Grand Prize winner will get a Learning Curve prize package valued at $350 along with a trip to Chicago, with baby and guest for 2 days for a fancy-schmancy professional photo shoot.

The winning baby will be announced in November. Maybe it'll be your dimpled diaper wearer!

Not your ordinary M&M

Product Test — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:23:00 GMT

Believe it or not, we’re already in the month of October with Halloween just a few weeks away. To celebrate the candy and costume holiday a little early, we tried out the new M&M’s Premiums, available in Raspberry Almond, Mocha, Mint Chocolate, Chocolate Almond and Triple Chocolate varieties. As you can probably tell from the flavors, these aren’t your regular milk chocolate M&M’s. Each comes in a stand-up box with a resealable (always a plus) bag inside. The Mars press release calls the candies “shimmering chocolate gems,” and that’s really an accurate way to describe them. Each M&M looks like it has been hand-painted a range of shades of one particular color from deep red to emerald green to majestic purple. They really are a pretty candy.

Of course, looks only go so far. Thankfully, these M&Ms taste as good as they look. Favorites in our office were the Raspberry Almond (raspberry-flavored white chocolate and almond with a layer of dark chocolate) and Mint Chocolate (white chocolate mint with dark chocolate), but everyone enjoyed every variety. They don’t have the candy crunch of regular M&M’s, but we certainly didn’t miss the candy coating. Although these might be a little too fancy to hand out for trick-or-treating, they’re a great special treat for home and, looking a little further ahead, would look lovely in holiday candy dishes.

M&M’s Premiums have a suggested retail price of $3.99 per six-ounce box. For more information visit mms.com.

Bullying, Part 2: Cyberbullying 101

Jennifer DuBose — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:07:00 GMT

My kids think I’m a ninny. If you ask Noah and Holly, I’ve missed the boat and the last big wave, and definitely am not as cool as so-and-so’s Mom. After all, she lets her children have internet access in their bedrooms and I don’t. Well, phooey, I’ll just have to deal with being un-cool. I may be not be as tech-savvy as some parents, but one thing I do know for sure is that bad things can happen to good kids – even on-line.

Things used to be simpler. It used to be that wiping away the tears when something went bump in the night, or even intervening when a playground bully needed a talkin’ to about covered it. These days, though, not only do we have to keep internet pedophiles at bay, for Pete’s sake, but we must warn our kids about those faceless bullies that many kids encounter on-line or via text-messages: cyberbullies.

It’s enough to make this Mom just wanna pull up the covers and pull the plug on all of this ‘progress.’

My own kids haven’t experienced cyberbullying yet, but if statistics bear out it’s only a matter of time before they do. Did you know that 42% of kids in grades 4-8 report being bullied on-line and 58% never tell (source: I-Safe.org)? October marks the second anniversary of thirteen-year-old Megan Meier’s tragic suicide following a period of cyberbullying, perpetrated by an adult who posed as a teenaged boy on-line. As in Meier’s case, cyberbullies usually know their targets, but because they can hide behind anonymous cyber-ID’s on-line (which creates a sense of the “faceless bully”), their bullying behavior can be experienced as harsher than a playground taunt. Because there is greater ‘distance’ between these bullies and their targets their inhibitions are diminished. Cyberbullying can also be more damaging because it can be so far-reaching: rumors and personal information can quickly be broadcast to many others with one swift click.

Another feature of this type of harassment is that the victim’s home feels less like a safe haven. Cyberbullies can reach their targets there, and virtually anywhere, with text-messages to cell phones.

Is your child already the target of a cyberbully? Loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, school avoidance or declining grades, diminished interest in friends or activities, or a dramatic increase or decrease in time spent on-line or in cell phone bills are all potential warning signs, which can also be signs of depression, a potential side-effect of bullying. Counseling should be sought if these symptoms persist. Tragedies like Meier’s can be averted.

So what’s a parent to do?

If you do nothing else, by golly, at least keep internet access in a public place (never in your child’s bedroom) and supervise internet use. WiFi wireless cards for laptops can make this a challenge, so bear this in mind when considering them. Discuss internet safety with your kids. Expect a lot of eye-rolling and sarcastic comments. “You’re a worrywart, Mom,” and “You think I’m an idiot, Dad. Thanks a lot,” are two of Noah’s standbys. Teach children that internet use is a privilege, and remember: you’re not likely to hand over the keys to the car without a few driving lessons, and the same is true for cruising the internet. There are lots of beautiful and exciting destinations on-line, but it’s easy to get lost and hazards are just one click away. Teach your children to never reveal passwords or identifying information (teach them what identifying information is) and tell them to not share personal information or to write anything in e-mails or text messages they wouldn’t want their whole class to read. Teach them that their messages can be edited and forwarded to others, and that their passwords can be used to send nasty or otherwise unflattering e-mails from their accounts. Kids often don’t tell anyone about cyberbullying because they fear their parents will revoke their internet privileges, so make sure your children understand that bullying of any kind isn’t their fault.

Don’t forget to share information and tips with other parents, especially those in whose homes your kids spend time. Encourage your children to develop positive friendships and to befriend kids who are bullied, as bullies tend not to pick on kids with strong social supports. My favorite advice? Ramp up the rapport with your kids. Express curiosity about their interests and make one-on-one time a priority if it’s now freakishly rare. Then, they’ll be more likely to wave the white flag when they hit speed bumps along the information superhighway.

Tips for Parents:

1) Tell kids to save and print evidence of cyberbullying, and to

2) tell you or another responsible adult.

3) Block cyberbullies’ messages and e-mails.

4) Report cyberbullying to your internet service provider.

5) Alert the police about any threats of harm.

For more about bullying in general read my 9/1/08 post, "Bullying, Part 1"

–Jennifer DuBose, M.S., C.A.S., LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Batavia. She has been a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) since 1995.

The Chat In The Hat

Maria Pilar Clark — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:35:00 GMT

Although in this case, it's the chat (French for "cat") on the shirt that's really stirring things up.

Enter Blabla, a perennial Cosmotot fave, and irreverently nifty purveyor of tops, bottoms, sweaters, pillows, dolls, rattles, blankets, mobiles, backpacks, and other endearingly offbeat accessories for kids handmade, hand-knitted and otherwise hand-crafted by skilled Peruvian artisans.

Blabla's leading team of designers is forever experimenting with the nonsensical to make it approachable, and the end result is a delightful one of whimsical proportions manifested in a new line made-to-match tees (shown at top left in Bubbles (chat), $16 - also available in other characters) that pair divinely with Blabla's existing line of super-soft, cheery-faced bestselling Classic Dolls (Bubbles the Cat mini shown at top left, $34+).

Not to be missed either are the newly hatched Boogaloo Dolls (Aqua-Lee shown at bottom right, $38 - other characters and colors available), who aside from being fun to name (try saying Boogaloo three times fast without inspiring giggles), are equally as fun to squish, hug, tote around or otherwise become your wee beastie's latest snuggly love.

The crib-bound crowd will go loco for Blabla's new line of easy-to-grab Bird Rattles particularly since each knitted character comes sans choking hazards like googly eyes or loose parts.

Each Rattle has its own personality, too be it via a jaunty beret, somber kercheif or perky sailor's beanie, with names like Octavio (shown at top right, $29 - other characters and colors available), Musette, Ukelele, and Tambour that will delight little learners' ears.

Everything must go!

Product Test — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:24:00 GMT

We here at Chicago Parent love the Disney Store for its cute toys and adorable clothes and costumes, but in these tough economic times, it can be a bit pricey. That's why we wanted to pass along word of a big sale going on through Oct. 7 at Disney Stores nationwide. Thousands of items, including back-to-school apparel, toys and tween merchandise, are at least 50 percent off. Plus all Halloween costumes and accessories are 25 to 40 percent off. So whether your kids need some additional clothes for school or your trick-or-treater is just dying to be a Disney princess or pirate, you can make them happy and save some money, too. To find the Disney Store closest to you, call (800) 757-5933 or visit disneystore.com and click on "Store Locator."

From Topham to Bottom ...

Maria Pilar Clark — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:04:00 GMT

... Local yokel company, Learning Curve, has everything the little train lover in your life could possibly want, need or dream of for the holidays in its award-winning Thomas & Friends Deluxe Sights & Sounds Set (shown at top left, $480+ - varies by retailer).

The impressive 86-piece wooden set is fully loaded and will keep track-minded tots entranced for hours comes Christmas morning (a bonus for parents who have been assembling toys until the wee hours of the morning), and includes a ton of trains, tracks and accessories like Thomas (of course), vain James, drama queen Henry, offbeat Annie and Clarabel, competitive Bertie the bus and Sir Topham Hatt, the railway bigwig, along with interactive architectural pieces from the TV show like the Knapford Covered Bridge, Windmill, Stop and Go Station, Deluxe Roundhouse, Deluxe Cranky, Sodor Scrub & Shine and Mountain Overpass to name a few.

Best of all, everything fits conveniently and easily inside the included storage bench that's fully decorated with Thomas, Percy, James and Harold. Safety features like locking caster wheels and removeable seat cushions prevent little fingers from getting pinched or poked, and the bench itself is sturdy enough for parents to perch upon.

Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Parents will be happy to know that assembly time is quick - it only took Wills' dad about 20 minutes to put the bench together, and that was only because Wills kept nabbing his electric screwdriver to play Handy Manny.

The trains are securely packaged ornament-style - not in individual plastic packaging like their single counterparts, so there's no need to worry about nicks and chips, and as for track configurations and set-ups - leave that up to the cute little conductor whose eyes are about as big as saucers while unwrapping this behemoth.

A Star Is Reborn

Maria Pilar Clark — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:32:00 GMT

Not to mention replenished, renewed and refreshed, courtesy of the Red Carpet Recovery Kit (shown at top left, $60) from wholesomely organic lotion- and potion-touting company, Woodsprite Soap.

But don't let the hippie-esque name fool you. Woodsprite Soap is dedicated to crafting and selling only 100% natural, world-class organic bath and body products of uncompromised quality that just smell plain yummy.

Each luxuriously named product from their olive oil soaps to soy aromatherapy candles and scrubs begin with pure botanical ingredients. Only the finest whole or organic herbs and herbal extracts are used in every line-up of products, in addition to distilled pure essential oils and cold-pressed exotic organic fruit and nut oils and butters.

The Red Carpet Recovery Kit offers every diva (or just well-deserving mommy who doesn't have the time or energy to visit a spa this holiday season) amenity sizes of best-sellers like the Dead Sea Mud Organic Spa Soap and Masque, Seaweed Organic Spa Soap, Grapefruit-Mint Sea Salt Glow, Vanilla Creme Organic Sugar Polish, a 16-hour Clarity Aromatherapy Soy Votive, Muscle Mender Massage Balm, Overnight Sensation Organic Shea Foot Butter, Feel Better Spa Salts, Cool Your Heels Soothing Spa Foot Soak and tons of other goodies better than any celebrity swag bag could promise.

Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Every product is lovingly made from scratch in small batches, too, which means the ultimate in quality control. Ingredient lists are available for every item available in the e-store, and promise to tantalize your senses with descriptions of infusions and tonics that'll have you skipping like a wood nymph - and looking like one, too, in no time.

Believe it or not, Woodsprite Soap doesn't even do that much marketing and advertising, relying instead, on customer satisfaction to spread the word.

Chak Your System

Maria Pilar Clark — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:36:00 GMT

I'm sure every mommy has a "momtra" - be it waking up and aligning chakras, getting bendy during a yoga-rific sun salutation (Wills joins me with his own personal, Babar-inspired style) or even simply just uttering a soothing, calming "ommmmm" accompanied by deep, even sips of that steaming mocha latte no matter how much those cute little munchkins pounce and bounce all over.

MamaOm mommy and me e-boutique channels all of that serenity into its funky yet fashionable clothing, swimwear (be warned: it's skimpy - I'd need two bikini tops to cover just one of my own jumblies) and accessories for girly infants, toddlers and their hot mamas that promote trendy style with a planet-friendly conscience.

Founder MariaFernanda and Nena made their most recent launch of totally cool, conservation-minded 100% organic cotton tees totally diggable, since they're printed with water based inks, which she likes to call the environmental alternative to screenprinting.

The fact that they bear super cute sayings and styles doesn't hurt either. Cosmotot's pick is the endearing "Mom Rocks My World .... And I'm Pretty Sure I Rock Hers Too," (shown at top left, $24).

And, while you're all into celebrating motherhood and chanting "Namaste", why not pick up a pair of super cool, lightweight kid kicks, courtesy of MamaOm's extensive Victoria brand line - imported fresh from Spain - to complete the look.

The eco-friendly shoes (Flower Mary Jane in Orange shown at bottom right, $37 - also available in Pistachio and other colors/styles) are made from 100% cotton, contain no synthetic fabrics, and boast rubber soles made from all natural materials - that means no petroleum or PVCs.

Makes you want to get into the lotus flower position just to take it all in, doesn't it?

Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
MamaOm is committed to giving back with 5% of profits going to organizations that take care of the planet and the people who live in it.

Better still is that all of MamaOm's pieces are inspected by the founding mommies, which means they take the time to make sure only the best materials are being used.

The gals also support Fair Labor Trade and make sure their wares are produced in a proper working environment - that means absolutely no sweatshops or child labor promotion.

Getting them organized…where to find the cool stuff from my CBS2 segment.

Meredith Sinclair — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:23:00 GMT

I visited the folks at CBS2 Chicago on Saturday and shared some easy ways to get you and your kids more organized this fall. Here’s a little re-cap, and some information on where to find the cool products I shared.

1. The Ultimate Family Organizer and the Mom Essentials One Stop Organizer. These are two really useful and fun tools to help you keep track of all the stuff you have to do, people you have to see, and papers you have to keep.

2. Keep the stairways clear of clutter by using small, step-sized baskets for all the stuff that needs to be taken back upstairs. The ones I showed are the medium sized storage baskets from Pottery Barn Kids, and they fit perfectly on a step. They also come with cool chalkboard tags so you can label them...one for each kid.

3. Help your kids start to take some ownership of their own laundry with these cool collapsible laundry bags from The Container Store. Each kid gets their own, and sorts their clothes into it from the main laundry basket. Depending on the age of your kids, they can be responsible for folding or just putting away the stuff you’ve folded for them. Either way, when the bag is empty, they smash it down and get it back to you for the next fill-up.

4. If you don’t have built-in shoe cubbies for your kids, here's an easy system to create some for yourself. I found this great, very inexpensive cubby system at Bed Bath and Beyond that comes with four individual cubbies and two bins. And the best part is that they are completely washable and are as easy as pie to put together.

5. If your kids' dressers and nightstands are loaded with their little treasures like super balls, trading cards, rubber bands, and fast food toys, this idea is for you. Select a special “treasure box” in which only these little trinkets will be placed. I chose one that looked like a pirate treasure chest from Michaels craft store. The trick is that when the lid to the box no longer closes, it’s their signal that it's time to clean it out. Help your child decide what is garbage, what is a keeper, and what could be donated to the Trick-or-treaters this Halloween.

Click here to view the video on CBS2.

Monitoring the situation

Product Test — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:18:00 GMT

When it came time to register for baby items, my techie husband was all for the video monitors our local baby emporium offered. I thought it was a little creepy—having a video camera watching over your baby all the time. Plus I thought it was unnecessary, so we went with a traditional audio monitor. When the opportunity came to try the Portable Color LCD Digital Wireless Monitoring System from Lorex Technology Inc., though, I thought it couldn’t hurt to try a video monitor. Plus I knew my husband would love playing with it.

As predicted, my husband loved the monitor and surprisingly, I did too. Being able to see if a noise from our little one was just a quick cry while still asleep or the beginning of a full-on fuss because he had lost his pacifier was really helpful. It meant that we didn’t wake him unnecessarily by walking into his room since we still haven’t gotten to the point where we can let him cry for too long without checking him. Although the screen on the handheld receiver is small, the picture quality is wonderful and the night vision, while a little creepy with its green tint, is crystal clear in total darkness. If you want a slightly bigger screen, you can easily hook up the receiver to a TV or computer monitor, making the picture bigger without losing any quality (see the photo of our little guy sleeping peacefully in his crib below). The included camera is small and easy to adjust and you can even order additional cameras to monitor several rooms at once (or just have them available for whichever room baby happens to be in at the time). Both the camera and the receiver can be operated wirelessly up to 450 feet, just keep the batteries charged.

The one downside was the sound—the speaker on the receiver isn’t great and the sound turns off when all is quiet, kicking back on when baby makes a noise. Not being able to hear anything for spans of time might be disconcerting to parents used to audio-only monitors (I know I missed the reassuring hum that let me know the sound was on but baby was sleeping soundly), but the main feature is the video after all.

Overall, I definitely changed my mind about video monitors after using one, even if this one isn’t necessarily marketed as just a baby monitor (the packaging shows uses for older kids and for security purposes). Once your kid is in school, though, it might be time to afford him some privacy.

The Portable Color LCD Digital Wireless Monitoring System retails for $269.95. For more information or to order visit lorexcctv.com.

Testing this tube

Product Test — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Combine the Tamagotchi of the past (although apparently they are still around, according to a quick Google search) and the Webkinz of today and you get My Meebas from Mattel. On the front of the colored plastic tube is a little sliding LCD screen (reminiscent of the Tamagotchi) where you play games and activities with your Meebas. It starts out looking slightly like a tadpole and as you play more games (and earn more hearts), the bigger it gets. Slide the screen up and down the tube to make the Meebas travel through its “world” to find more games and things to do.

Each of the seven different levels (you get to each level by earning a certain number of hearts that you then “redeem” to get to the next level) has different games, with bowling and memory consistent through all the levels and a third rotating game that includes basketball, dropping seeds into pots and a shell game. You can do other activities with your Meebas at each level, too, from riding a roller coaster to getting a facial. At the end of the seventh level, the top of the tube pops open, revealing a small plush Meeba that you can carry around and collect.

Getting through all seven levels took us quite awhile, and even though kids might have a little more time to play than adults, getting through a couple of level still took at least an hour of consistent playing. For kids who don’t mind waiting for the ultimate payoff of the plush Meebas, this can be a great toy, especially for car trips. The main downside—the sound level and price. There is no volume control and the constant sound effects are fairly loud. As for the price, for one toy it’s reasonable, but My Meebas is marketed as a “collect them all” kind of toy, with four categories (intelligence, love, friendship and happiness) currently available with 10 different Meebas in each one (plus two more categories coming out this winter). If you can convince your kids that they can’t actually “collect them all,” then this toy is definitely worth checking out.

My Meebas retail for $19.99. To see all the different available Meebas, check out mymeebas.com.

The Wonder of Galena

Cindy Richards — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:21:00 GMT

Driving across the northern part of Illinois is a study in determination--will you be bored to sleep before reaching your destination? Then, as a cosmic reward for your endurance, you enter Jo Daviess County and are transported to another world.

In this world, the trees form a canopy over the road, the crickets sing you to sleep at night and the hills roll gently toward the horizon.

I made the trip Friday afternoon and arrived in The Galena Territory to find the first hint of fall touching the tips of a handful of trees. Another two weeks and this place will be ablaze with the red, orange and yellow of autumn.

I'm staying at the Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa just outside the historic town of Galena. It's a sprawling resort encompassing almost 11 square miles of land. The accommodations range from your standard hotel room at the inn to a huge, eight-bedroom house a couple of miles away from the registration desk. My spot is a cozy two-bedroom unit with full kitchen overlooking Lake Geneva. I'm on the screened-in porch, the golden sunset serving as my muse. The only downside for me: You really need a car here since everything is so far away.

We spent the morning on a horseback ride, one of the best beginner trail rides I have experienced. The horses walked nose to tail, but we trekked up and down hills, around bends and through the woods, so it was far more interesting than your basic ride on the flatlands around Chicago. To join the trail ride, kids must be at least four feet tall and weigh at least 65 pounds. Younger, smaller kids can do pony rides.

We headed into Galena for the afternoon. It's a quaint town overrun with kitschy shops and filled with history. Since I'm not much of a shopper, I hopped on the one-hour Tri-State Trolley tour of town. Ron McIntyre, a Galena resident and history buff, drives the trolley and shares his wealth of knowledge about the town, its historic houses and its most famous resident, Civil War General and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. The one kid on our tour was a little bored, but I loved it.

We headed back to Eagle Ridge and spent an hour tooling around the lake on a pontoon boat ($50 for one hour but the boat can accommodate 10 people.) This was a much more popular choice for the kids, who took a turn at the wheel. As we headed back into the dock, we watched two hot air balloons rise over the trees. It's one of those things I'll do one day on a very special occasion, since the price is very steep.

Made The Old-Fashioned Way

Maria Pilar Clark — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:42:00 GMT

That's what we tell the newly instated big-sibs (well, sort of), so why not spread the word to other inquiring minds with super soft, fun and funky fashions like the clever "Homemade" onesie (shown at top left in white, $18 - also available in blue and pink) from Zoe & Sprout?

The snarky, stylish e-tailer strives to make folks smile, laugh or occasionally blush with infant and toddler tees and tops bearing messages like "Best Swimmer" (because only the strongest survive of course) and "Hello. My Name is No. No." (if you have a toddler, then that one needs no explanation - shown at bottom right, $20), and is also socially conscious, offering parents a 100% organic line in addition to its regular collections.

Zoe & Sprout even hopes to be completely organic by 2009 - a New Year's resolution we all can applaud.

Best of all, their sturdy yet silky 100% cotton interlock pieces are perfect for those poppin' fresh-baked family members, and even those who have been out of the oven for a while, especially since they're sweatshop free and American made.

Probably just like your little one.

Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Stock up on these staples (Zoe & Sprout carries cute Halloween and Holiday lines) since every order $35+ qualifies for free shipping - no promotional code required.

Not your ordinar-E robot

Product Test — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:53:00 GMT

The second I first saw a preview for Disney Pixar’s “WALL-E” and heard that little robotic voice, I have to admit, I kind of fell in love. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones at the time, but he was just so darn cute! The new WALL-E Remote Control Robot from the Disney Store is just as cute and kids who loved the movie will definitely love this toy.

With the remote, you can have WALL-E travel around the room, move his arms and make him talk. The best part—WALL-E will respond when you talk to him and interacts with the EVE Remote Control Robot (sold separately). Just have them facing each other and they’ll carry on a whole conversation, although it mainly consists of “Eve-ah” and “Wall-eee.”

We tried both robots out around the office and found that EVE was much easier to maneuver and moved a lot quicker than WALL-E. She’s also a bit more stable—one slight tap from EVE and WALL-E went toppling over. We also got a kick out of EVE’s “laser”-shooting arm and her glowing eyes. But WALL-E definitely won out on the cuteness factor. Although the robots don’t have much of a vocabulary (they didn’t in the movie, either, though), with a little imagination kids could have a blast with these toys.

The WALL-E and EVE Remote Control Robots retail for $49.50 each. The robots are only available at Disney store locations; to find the store closest to you, visit the Disney Store’s Web site.

If Ariel Had Backup Singers

Maria Pilar Clark — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:19:00 GMT

Then I'm pretty sure they would look just like the smiley-faced, festive fishtailed gals featured in Oopsy Daisy's "Mermaid Performance" mural banner (shown at top left, $126-$127 - available in stretched canvas format and other sizes) from new Cosmotot fave, Rosenberry Rooms.

The one-stop-online e-tailer's shop has an amazing, all-encompassing selection of anything and everything you could possibly need, want, or dream of when decorating your child's room, including bedding, lighting, rugs, seating, diaper bags, furniture, accessories, and of course, enough art to put the Louvre to shame.

I'm totally smitten with this fresh, upbeat, kind of folksy mural that's not only engaging for moms/pops and tots alike (Wills been wandering into the baby's room to study fabulous little details like the jewels nestled in treasure chest and the tiny porthole in the shipwreck), but is easily wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth, in case little people get big ideas about not keeping hands to themselves. Better yet, there's no glass to break, since the canvas reproduction is just that, soft, semi-malleable canvas.

Each wall mural is custom made upon ordering and comes with decorative nails and grommets in four corners for easy hanging. However, parents who are a little OCD about maintaining hospital corners like me, beware. Since this canvas is not stretched, it's not going to hang ramrod straight on the wall. Little dips are to be expected, but hey, they kind of go with the whole ocean vibe flow. Honestly, they're not that noticeable, and frankly, with all the colorful action going on, your eye ends up focusing on many more interesting aspects of the artwork than that little ripple in the right hand corner.

Information about the artist is included with each piece, too, which is nice, especially if you want to add more pieces to your collection (hint: there's a great mermaid growth chart and various coordinating mermaid nightlights along with some great non-ocean themed works) and a portion of the overall sale goes to national children's charities.

Organizing my family and driving them a little nuts in the process.

Meredith Sinclair — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:16:00 GMT

I have this not-so-secret addiction to periodicals...the evidence of which is neatly stacked and fanned-out on every end table in my house.

There is just something oddly appealing about a magazine’s glossy, elegant cover promising this season’s must have accessories and handbags, as well as the perfect table settings for the dinner parties I never have. And in every issue I pick up, there is usually an article outlining how to organize one’s life. Whether it’s our closet, our desk, or our kids’ playroom, we always seem to need help keeping our material possessions at bay.

I’ve noticed September in particular is a big month for the topic of getting one’s world in order. I really do think of September as the start of my year. A time to re-group and get things back into a routine after a summer of liaise faire homeland policies.

But just the mention of the word “organized” has the ability to make me feel either beautifully free and centered (when I am organized) and severely short-of-breath and crazed (when I’m not). I like a home that’s a bit in order, you know, a place for everything and everything in its place. I think better that way. I don’t mind a constructive play-dough kind of mess, but piles of papers and shoes gives me heart palpitations.

Nontheless, a life with children is nothing more than a never-ending state of re-organization. A constant cycle of towels on hooks, toys in bins, underwear in hampers, and the Mt. Everest shoe pile ready to cause an avalanche by the back door.

This past weekend I got a “bug up my booty”, as my husband likes to say, to whip my castle into shape. And everyone else was expected to have bugs up their you-know-what’s too. I figured since my boys’ games were cancelled due to rain, we could put that un-tapped energy into cleaning and straightening their rooms! They were actually pretty pumped and cooperative… for about the first 16 minutes.

Then it was just a matter of finding the right bribe for the job. (There is nothing wrong with positive bribery people; it’s the basis of civilization if you really think about it.) So we sorted and de-cluttered, and stored, and then hit their favorite lunch place. And now it's Monday, my kids are in school, and I'm about to start rounds 2, 3 and 4 of operation clean-up. I've already bribed myself with a brownie when I'm done.

Anyway, if you too are in a nesting state these days, trying to sort and systemize your space, check out my CBS2 segment this Saturday morning in the 8 o’clock hour. I’ve been searching for some fun products and easy ideas to help crazy busy moms like me get a little more order in their courts.

Books! Books! Books!

Amy Souza — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:44:00 GMT

What: 57th Street Children's Bookfair

When: September 28, 2008, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Where: Hyde Park - Take Metra Electric Line to 55th-56th-57th and head west. L riders can exit Garfield Red or Green.

Why: Because we LOVE books! Meet up with your favorite characters: Curious George and the Man with Yellow Hat, Clifford, Franklin, Miss Spider, the Stinky Cheese Man, Strawberry Shortcake, the original Winnie the Pooh, Madeline and of course Mother Goose!

Revisiting 9/11, Seven Years Later

Jennifer DuBose — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:12:00 GMT

This morning I turned on the television before I even got out of bed and propped myself up on my squishy pillow, ready for my Waltons fix with the kids before school. Before they ran in to snuggle with me under the covers I channel-surfed to make sure the sky wasn’t planning to fall, like I always do. (‘Cause if it’s gonna fall, see, I figure we’ll just hunker-down under my old quilts for two back-to-back episodes of The Waltons followed by two more of Little House on the Prairie…)

Today, though, on Today, I got to relive the morning of 9/11 all over again. I’d all but forgotten that today was the anniversary, and sat transfixed once again by the annual re-run of the very same newscast I watched in horror seven years ago this morning. Holly was an infant and Noah was just three, and back then our family rented a tiny little ranch in a rural southern town where everyone knew our names. Concerns I’d never before considered pierced my “all-is-right-with-the-world” Mommy bubble. I wrote the following column a couple of weeks later, following the first Anthrax scare:

No longer can I fool around with the expression “germ warfare.” Until recently, I used it to refer to that icky thing that happens when little kids with green boogers deliberately spit into my tea. Instead, no longer innocent in my whimsical use of the vernacular, I hear myself saying new things that before “That Day” (9/11) I wouldn’t have said – Like today, when Noah decided to pitch a fit because I wouldn’t let him drink directly out of the quart-sized milk bottle like Daddy sometimes does. How did I respond? I told him that if he was going to have a temper-tantrum he would have to get out of my “airspace.”

I think too about my rather carefree way of being in the world and wonder if I should make some changes. Should I lock my doors? Should I handle my mail with gloves and a facemask? Should I even bother to open the mailbox anymore? Like other parents, I consider the scary possibilities of war and wonder, for what should we prepare? Should I keep a few essentials and changes of my family’s clothing in the car in case we need to evacuate? Do I need to have my little ones fitted for facemasks to protect them from the evils of bioterrorism? It quickly occurs to me that those masks are probably useless against invisible attacks, lest we wear them ‘round the clock, so I decide instead to strive for a healthy balance between prudence and frivolity. On that note I think I'll store a few extra boxes of Holly’s favorite cereal, rice and bananas, just in case they’re needed – but perhaps I’ll start feeding it to her from those china teacups I’ve been saving for special occasions.

We’re learning that no time is more special than the present.

It seems I’m not alone in my efforts to make sense of recent events. I’ve watched as my little boy works it out in his own mind, too. In spite of my intentions to limit Noah’s television viewing the day of the terrorist attacks, my own need to stay informed and be a voyeur to the destruction won out. I know, I should know better. I hate to admit that he saw the planes crash into the World Trade Center towers more than a few times, resulting in his concern that his stuffed animals might not survive a similar attack on our home (translation: “Would I?”).

I have also been awed by Noah’s natural impulse to help. The day after the attacks, Noah asked if “Bob the Builder,” a character from one of his favorite television shows, might be of assistance now.

“Can Bob the Builder help build it again?” he inquired. “I can use my screwdriver in my toolbox to screw it in and hold it up,” he said, after watching the towers fall down on television. “I can help with Daddy’s tools. I’ll have to ask Daddy if I can hold his drill,” he considered, melting my heart. This little boy with a big heart who still remembers the rules, surprised me with his healthy, productive responses, while I sat immobile on the couch, stunned by the enormous losses he is thankfully too young to understand.

Later that day one of the networks aired a short documentary featuring some of the tragic images from New York City, filmed in black and white by two Columbia University film students. Set to a classic, melancholy melody, it was a very moving piece. Apparently, even Noah was touched, but in that innocent way of one still too young to fully comprehend its grave meaning. As the mournful music played on, accompanied by scenes of smoky gray pain and sorrow, my tiny son took my hands in his and asked, “Dance with me, Mommy?” Mindful of the fact that so many mommies and daddies who lost their lives just the day before would never again know the joy of dancing with their own children, I gratefully and tearfully accepted his invitation.

“Yes, baby, let’s dance.”

(Originally published in our then-hometown newspaper, The Franklin Press (Franklin, North Carolina).

Healthy meals made easy

Product Test — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The idea of quick meals that are healthy sounded appealing to our tester, who often finds it a challenge to cook a well-balanced dinner when she gets home from work. Her two daughters tried the Plum Organics Kids meals and both absolutely loved the vegetables in all of the meals, which tasted like they’d just been picked. They also really liked the Bowtie Pasta with Sweet Potato sauce—the girls had no idea what the sauce was but they gobbled it down. Some of the other meals proved to be a little bland due to the company’s commitment to keeping their products low in sodium, however these meals may appeal to toddlers who prefer a more bland diet. The frozen meals, each with a main dish and a side of vegetables, are targeted towards kids ages 3-9 and are all organic. The meals are now available in the frozen food sections of Whole Foods and Super Target for $4.49-$4.69 each. For more information visit plumorganics.com.

Shhh! I'm Hunting A Wabbit

Maria Pilar Clark — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:10:00 GMT

Wook! Mommytrack'd!

Amy Keroes, founder and bigwig behind the smart and savvy web site, otherwise known as the hottest hub for modern, working mothers who'd like to manage the chaos in their homes as well as they manage the mayhem in their offices, asked me to come on board alongside Cool Mom Picks' Liz Gumbinner as a guest reviewer for her newly launched Personal Shopper Picks segment.

There, you'll find my take on everything from brainy websters striving to spread the word on "sustainable reading" to sanity saving stick-on stay-on labels for kids' magically disappearing stuff to one-stop-shop messaging and voicemail services.

There's many more exciting and unique posts to come on everything under the sun, so click my picks often to see the latest and greatest tools perfectly suited to mom's from all walks of life, whether they work in the home or not.

Do As You're Told

Maria Pilar Clark — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:06:00 GMT

Ring a bell?

That ages-old mantra has been standard issue from grandmothers and mothers for generations, and frankly, I'm thinking that to a kid, it's a raw deal.

Until now anyway.

My Lullabug, founded by a mama who was tired of eeking out unique shower gifts, came up with a win-win solution - high quality tops and tees for infants and toddlers bearing cheeky messages about everything from hobbies to hockey to politics for unsuspecting readers like the yummy "I'm Told I Like Shopping" hot/light pink ringer onesie (shown at top right, $19.95 - also available in a toddler tee version).

Each design - for boys and girls with a few unisex styles thrown in - celebrate that wonderful and sometimes hilarious childhood innocence and the idea of doing what you're told among the sippy cup set.

Cosmotot's favorite sayings include the company's black and grey ringer "I'm Told I Like Football," (shown at bottom right, $19.95) tee, which is perfect for my Wills, considering he has no idea why he's yelling "Touchdown!" alongside his dad during ND games; and "I'm Told I Like My Brother," (sister option also available) for obvious reasons.

And, if you can't decide which one you like best for your little learner, go for My Lullabug 's Custom Shirt option (not shown, $19.95), which gives you the choice of anything and everything you could possibly think of to make a onesie or tee that much more extra special for your little wearer.

"I'm Told I Love Chicago" perhaps?

It's No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk

Maria Pilar Clark — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:42:00 GMT

So why not let the kiddies play with the mess-free kind?

Nico & Zoe, purveyor of uncommon and artisan made toys for kids that are educational and classic at the same time, stocks plenty of its popular Milk Carton set (shown at top left, $14.99) with an old-fashioned yet somehow modern dairy-fresh take in its online store.

Recommended for tots three years and up, each cardboard carton contains four friendly-faced, retro-inspired wooden milk bottles, complete with moo-arvelous cow labels painted on front and lids that velcro on and off - that's where the no mess idea comes in while the wee ones play waiter or chef in their home play kitchens.

Better yet, each bottle of moo juice meets European Union standards for safety, is made from eco-friendly plantation tree wood by skilled Thai craftsmen, and is painted with 100% non-toxic paints.

You know, just in case someone tries to get a milk mustache out of the deal.

Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Orders of $150 or more qualify for free shipping in the 48 contiguous states - no promotional code required.