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 His Cheshire cat expression, fiery red ponytail and beard, and jolly, offbeat style accented by bright candy-colored clogs, cargo shorts and a fisherman-style vest make award-winning chef, restauranteur and media personality, Mario Batali, seem larger than life.
The Seattlelite originally blazed his own trail studying the golden age of Spanish theater at Rutgers University, followed by his first disastrous foray into culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu, London. It wasn't until he took on an apprenticeship with London's legendary chef Marco Pierre White along with
three years of intense culinary training in the tiny Northern Italian village of Borgo Capanne (pop. 200), that Batali found his true calling as a creative master chef full of heart, marinara, and moxy. Though he has numerous best-selling cookbooks under his belt, not to mention highly acclaimed wines from his vineyard to his many philanthropic
efforts, everything that Batali does is on a bold, brash yet always beautiful level, which carries over into the time-honored traditions he maintains with his wife, Susan Cahn (of Coach Farm, an authentic, regional, artisanal producer of fresh goat cheeses and goat's milk yogurt), and their two sons, Leo and Benno as they split their time between New York's Greenwich Village and a home in northern Michigan.
Batali took the time to give City Sandbox the dish on what it means to live, laugh and love ... all while operating a business and keeping a kitchen organized. CS: You’re quite the character – perhaps thanks to your red hair and Spanish theater background. What originally inspired your trademark shorts/vest/orange clogs ensemble? MB: My wife gave me orange clogs the year we were married, and then gave me Crocs when they came out. CS: Do you ever run into "Batalibees" (wannabe Marios) that have adopted your style as their own? MB: Yes! Halloween especially.
CS: What turned you around from having a “lack of interest” in the culinary arts while at Le Cordon Bleu London to coming off of three years of intensive culinary training in Borgo Capanne ready and raring’ to, and I quote, “plant his orange-clogged foot firmly in the behinds of the checkered tablecloth-Italian restaurant establishment.” What a great visual. MB: Cooking school was slow and the rest of the world is not. The adrenaline is remarkable.
CS: Do you think you accomplished your goal of turning the staid restaurant industry on its ear? MB: No, I have merely brought good, regional Italian food and the bounty of America to the tables at my restaurants.
CS: As a master gastronome on the Food Network's Iron Chef America, you make the process of coming up with six gazillion original dishes in an hour look so easy. Was it always that way for you? Any words of wisdom now that you look back on your many accomplishments?
MB: I enjoy cooking in a bit of a hurry, and I love the whole Iron Chef vibe. It's fun, [although] the most important thing is to relax and cook through the dishes.
CS: Do Leo and Benno share your passion for Italian cooking and all of the delicious food that comes along with it? What is your family’s favorite dish?
MB: Yes, of course! Our fave dishes are fish tacos on Lake Michigan, the Pici Pasta they make with their grandparents, Armando and Marilyn, and I think we love our Christmas ham cooked in the wood oven.
CS: How does Coach Farm come into play in terms of your restaurant menus if at all? Does Susan encourage you to use goat cheese in your recipes? MB: We use a lot of local products and Coach Farms produces one of the best [cheeses]. Susi never suggests menu items, but I make her whatever she feels like [eating]. 
CS: I always wonder if professional chefs cook at home – do you? If yes, do you ever get tired of it? MB: I do, and I never tire of working with the boys in the kitchen. It provides some of our greatest moments.
CS: At the end of the day when the book signings are over (I hear you were just in my home town, Chicago, promoting your latest cookbook, Italian Grill), your restaurants are closed for the night and it’s just you and the boys at home, what do you do as a family to unwind, reconnect and relax? Any favorite family traditions? MB: Just have dinner and discuss the day.
CS: What inspires you to keep going, opening new restaurants (I think the grand total is somewhere around 14 establishments) and creating new and fabulous recipes, and the cookbooks that help us kitchen-counter chefs become neighborhood gourmands? MB: I have a great team who needs to be challenged with new stuff pretty often, and it is these challenges that make us better and allow us to have more fun.
 Make like Mario with the delicious shrimp recipe featured below, courtesy of his latest cookbook, Italian Grill. In it, Batali brings together his passion for food with his love of grilling to create tasty, smoky simple Italian food.
In addition to 80 recipes, informative side-bars and 60
four-color photographs throughout, the book is a complete reference for
grilling basics and techniques. Grilling has never been more popular,
and Mario's cultural and historical Italian approach is a must-have for
home cooks everywhere.
SHRIMP ROSEMARY SPIEDINI ALLA ROMAGNOLA
The
rosemary skewers, which are easy to make, impart an herbal fragrance to
the shrimp, and they look both rustic and elegant at the same time. Alla romagnola means that these spiedini are a specialty of Romagna, the eastern part of the region Emilia-Romagna. - 1 bunch Italian parsley, leaves only (about 2 cups loosely packed)
- 1 bunch basil, leaves only (about 2 cups packed)
- 2 cups fresh bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt [need to check this amount again]
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 pounds large shrimp (21–30 per pound), peeled and deveined
- 12 large rosemary sprigs, prepared as skewers (see sidebar) and soaked in water for at least
- 2 hours, or overnight
- 2 lemons, cut into wedges
Toss
the parsley and basil leaves into a food processor, add the bread
crumbs, salt, pepper, and ¼ cup of the olive oil, and zap until the
herbs are chopped and the bread crumbs look green. Transfer to a pie
plate or wide shallow bowl, add the shrimp, and toss to coat well.
Skewer
4 or 5 shrimp on each rosemary sprig (the easiest way to do this is
line up 4 or 5 shrimp—“spoon fashion”—at a time on a work surface and
run a skewer through them; then separate them slightly so they will
cook evenly). Dredge on both sides in the bread crumb mixure, place on
a platter, and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Preheat a gas grill or prepare a fire in a charcoal grill. Put a piastra on the grill to preheat.
Spritz
or brush the piastra with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place
the skewers on the piastra and cook, turning once, just until the
shrimp are opaque throughout and some of the crumbs are browned, 2 to 3
minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with the
lemon wedges.
Remove from heat and serve immediately with Cherry Barbecue Sauce
Rosemary Skewers
It’s easy to make skewers from rosemary sprigs. Choose large sturdy
sprigs that are about 8 inches long. Pull off most of the leaves from
each sprig, leaving a nice tuft of leaves at the top (use the remaining
leaves in the dish you are making, or reserve for another use). Using a
sharp knife, cut off the bottom of the sprig on a diagonal to give you
a sharp point. The skewer will slide easily through the shrimp when you
skewer them.
Shrimp Sizes: Shrimp
are categorized by weight, using a system based on number of shrimp per
pound: “U-12 shrimp,” for example, means that it takes 12 at most of
these huge shrimp to make a pound. However, the signs you see at the
market do not always reflect this system, and one store’s large shrimp
is another one’s medium. But the fishmonger should know the “count,”
shrimp per pound, so you can always ask him about their size. In
general, the larger the shrimp, the more expensive they are. Peeled
shrimp, of course, are always more expensive than unpeeled.
Super-colossal (U-12): 12 or fewer shrimp per pound
Colossal (U-15): 11 to 15 per pound
Extra-large: 16 to 20 per pound
Large: 21 to 30 per pound
Small: 36 to 40 per pound
Cocktail or salad: 41 or more per pound
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 No, I'm not trying to be funny. In fact, I'm dead serious about the huge Cosmotot crush I'm currently having on mommytrack'd, a web site touted as the working mothers guide to managed chaos.
As we all know, being any kind of mom, be it one who's based at home or one who has to hoof it to the office every day, is a twenty-four hour job that runs 365 days a year. Amy Keroes, the mom and metropolitan bigwig behind the site's conception gets that, and offers parents from all walks of life helpful and handy tips (for survival), hot topic articles, giveaways, a store packed with swag and more in a contemporary, fresh and most of all, fun wrapper. Take The Eat Sheet (shown at top left, $10) for example. Not only will the easy-to-fill-out and easy-to-follow menu tracker/grocery list combo notepad help kitchen-counter chefs remember to re-stock the pantry with organic mac n' cheese and the fridge with some well deserved California rolls or chocolate pudding, but it'll make sure that at the end of a dog day, you're not working like one to get something delicious and wholesome on the dinner table (Chinese takeout counts).
And, while you're getting used to the idea that your bad-ass super mom self can be even more organized that you though humanly possible, why not serve up another extra caffed cup of joe in mommytrack'd's super-size 11 oz. Power Chick Mug (shown at bottom right, $10 - also available a Two-Headed Mom style). The cartoon-style graphics are very Family Circle, with punchlines updated for moms of the millenium.  By the time you down that, you'll have plenty of energy to make sure you're up to speed on everything in mommytrack'd's Mom's Ultimate Family Organizer (shown at bottom left, $24.95) -- otherwise known as the Incredible Hulk of daily planners. The comprehensive,
one-stop organizer is an essential must-have tool for keeping track of everyone's whereabouts - better than a high-powered GPS could I bet - packaged in a sturdy mod binder that's perfectly suited for managing motherhood. Calendar pages keep track of family members' schedules, directory
pages seemingly have the ability to locate anyone in a New York minute, and planning pages keep birthday parties or that long overdue family
vacation on the front burner. The included sticky notes and tear-out lists make it even easier to stay on top of things, while survival tips and tricks from real moms offer
endless amounts of encouragement. 
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 Decaf can be a good thing ....
You'll see what I mean when you watch Kids Love Spanish (shown at top left, $17.99-$99.99).
The perky DVD series is an upbeat self-proclaimed excellent educational tool for kiddies 1-8+ whose parents want to expose them to more than just the madcap antics of Dora the Explorer or Rosita, the Hispanic fruit-bat Muppet on Sesame Street who immigrated to America from Mexico as a, um, batling. Each disc introduces youngsters to basic, beginner level Spanish words via repetitive teaching methods, bright colors, music and Brock, the precocious six-year-old son of co-founder Julie Brock Campbell, his aunt, Krisse Brock Kelly, not to mention 75 of his friends. As a native Spanish speaker, I have to say that the series was not my cup of tea, but I did think that the sister/mom duo behind the cultural concept had good pronunciation skills yet were Americanized enough in their approach to aid kids in learning the phonetic fundamentals. Psst ... If you're looking for bonafied born-and-raised native speakers, they aren't it. However, if it were just a matter of turning on Univision every day for a few hours and letting the kids watch and learn to their hearts content, everyone would be bilingual, right?
Oh, and keep in mind - while tots might dig the bright backdrops and corny songs a la Barney, older siblings, and you, probably won't, making fast forward your best friend. 
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 Nothing says summertime fun like a juicy weenie on a bun, although Heavy Tees' super popular infant and tot Mini Rotation line, designed especially for couture-loving cuties, is most definitely a close second.
Wills totally digs their quirky Hot Dog High 5 design (shown at top left, $28), and I can only imagine how cool a charmingly sweet little gal would look in their smiley Banana Split style (pictured at bottom right, $28). The 100% cotton, completely comfy yet appealingly goofy designs celebrate gourmets of all sizes, and will have wee ones looking even more delicious than they already are. 
The Mini Rotation collection packs more than pretend calories into their line, too, with styles that satisfy little ones' urge for everything from the equestrian (try the Paint By Numbers Horse ringer tee, not pictured $32) to the odd Roald Dahl-like mod (you'll see what I mean with the Buttons tee, not pictured, $28). Cosmotot's pick is the universally appealing Happy Arms top (shown at bottom left, $28). Who doesn't love the idea of a patch-eyed, friendly-faced, pirate-like octopus who's ready to share hugs galore? There's plenty of trendy picks for moms and dads in Heavy Tees' adult line, too, that offer many of the same endearingly offbeat styles created just for junior. 
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 Although, if your bottomless pit's worst offense is skipping the napkins and getting busted for his love of wearing rich tomato sauce, ooey gooey cheese and various yummy toppings, then who the heck cares! 
Celebrate his or her epicurean excitement with a tasty unisex "Pizza Is The Best" tee from Busted Tees (shown at top left, $18.99). Available in sizes that range from 2T to 12 youth, each hilarious design is available in kid (limited styles apply) and adult sizes for endless opportunities to mix, match or just make fun of one another in a lighthearted, loud-and-proud ensemble kind of way. Cosmotot's pick is the sweet "I Choo Choo Choose You" tee (shown at bottom right, $18.99) that's very popular with my train-loving Wills. It's a little Soul Train meets 80's throwback all mixed together to make for one too-cute top.
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 Nothing says lovin' like a mom rubbing that bit of extra crusty, dried on whatsit from junior's face with a dab of saliva from her very own mouth.
We've all endured it, said we'd never do it to our kids, and frankly, we lied. But, there's a better option to chasing, holding down, then licking your kids faces like a lollipop courtesy of oh so appropriately named company, MomSpit (product line shown at top left, $7-$14).
Inspired by the original (but containing no real human saliva), MomSpit no-rinse personal care cleansers are like having wipeless wipes on hand for everyday messes since they allow parents to get kids clean anywhere, anytime without the need for a kitchen or bathroom sink. And, each premium grade, user-friendly cleanser for hands and face is infused with fresh and gentle scents, are pH balanced and fully biodegradable.
As the company likes to say, MomSpit is "designed for when you're on the move and in your groove" (I just love that line), or for those change meetings with dirt that are an inevitability when little mini-mes come into the picture, and every product comes in convenient and portable 2 oz. and 7 oz. moussing bottles in
three unisex scents, including Fig & Green Tea, Lemon & White Tea, and Unscented. 
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 Or at the very least, feel free to vamp a little when that sweet darling baby daughter of yours wows her fellow wigglers with her very first pair of soft-soled crib shoes turned satiny faux high heels, courtesy of comical company, Heelarious (Sophie style shown at top left and bottom right, $35 - for babies 0-6 months).
An elastic top strap and additional elastic built into the heel of Heelarious' sky-high heels helps the shoes stay put on little feet. However, keep in mind that that these nifty little numbers are meant for non-walkers or crawlers only. The heel collapses if any real weight is placed on them since Heelarious is all about mini flights of fancy, not actual hiking gear.  Each pair has plenty of personality and showcase hot patterns like leopard print and zebra print mixed with black satin lining, and even shiny pink or black patent styles for extra fabulous fashionistas. The packaging is completely girly-glam, too, and features each set of heels tucked into an adorable purse-shaped gift box, complete with rhinestone closure.
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 Although my husband has first-generation English and Scottish roots, mine are somewhat diluted and lean much more heavily to the Italian side of Europe - and of course, head down toward South America to round out my muttiness. Wills enjoys a combination of it all, and is perhaps, the best mixed drink of all when it comes to his happily blended origins and diverse cultural background.
However, we all got to be Scottish for the day when we headed off to the Illinois Saint Andrew Society's (ISAS) 22nd Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games, which were held on June 20 and 21 at the Oak Brook Polo Grounds in none other than the quiet western suburb of Oak Brook, just a stone's throw of my hometown - Hinsdale.
Known as the oldest charity in our state, ISAS is anything but out-of-date when it comes to putting together an amazingly vast festival - the largest (and best) in the Midwest - that included tons of family-friendly events like the Champion Supreme Pipe Band Competition (Wills was convinced that all those bag pipers were somehow welcoming Scottish twin trains, Donald and Douglas - nothing new to Thomas fans - to the festivities); Highland Dance Competition (another Wills favorite - he loved trying to imitate the Brigadoon-like dance moves); crowning of the Heather Queen and her court (Wills made googly eyes at her); Heavy Athletics U.S. Championship; Youth 5 vs. 5 Soccer Tournament; British Car Show; cultural exhibits (think clan histories and a medieval demonstration a la knights swordfighting); Scotch Whiskey tastings and seminars (a big plus on the hub's list); live Celtic musical performances (both traditional and Celtic rock); Parade of Tartans (you've gotta love gents in kilts); Dogs of Scotland Show (I have never seen so many wolfhounds up close - literally almost eye to eye with me); a Kilted Mile Run/Walk; Raffle; kiddie crafts and activities; attendee contests like a tasty shortbread bakeoff, the Knobbly Knees event; Haggis Hurling and Haggis Eating (we passed). There was food galore, too, and we didn't hesitate to sample various edible and non-edible wares at the Celtic Marketplace and Tea Tent (the largest vendor area), and mulled over the delicious choices at various vendor stands located throughout the fest, offering everything from your standard ice cream bars to meat pies to funnel cakes to haggis for those hardcore Scots who live on the stuff. And though the stormy weather and several downpours put a bit of a damper on our spirits, the surprisingly friendly and personable staff (funny how we're not used to happy-to-be-here people anymore) and general atmosphere lifted it right back up again. The only downside to the event was the lack of activities for toddlers. Though there was plenty for older kids to do like sand art, beading and sliding down impossibly tall inflatables, there was really nothing to offer the 1-3 year old set unless plain old coloring and getting their face painted counts. (Kids like Wills, who has allergies, can't do the face painting due to the itch-inducing ingredients in the paint itself).
Wills wanted desperately to join the big kids on the inflatables, but it just wasn't safe with him being so little, and the beads and sand were obvious choking hazards. There was supposed to be a train ride at 11 a.m., but though we waited out the storm, it didn't seem to happen. There was no train to be seen, so perhaps the fest organizers had to pass due to the weather? After all, no one wants to electrocute anyone I'm sure. Safety first.
Pony rides at 1 p.m. sounded promising and exciting, but with naptime soon approaching, we bailed in favor of a leisurely drive home. We'll have to giddyup next time.
As for the impact on the family bankroll - various admission prices/passes are available for kids and their parents that are pretty reasonable, though we found that the Patron Weekend Pass was the best family value overall, since it not only included a parking pass, but also included access to the VIP tent complete with complimentary food (there was plenty of fresh fruit and even Flat Earth Chips for the taking) and drink (Guinness, too), and a merchandise coupon. Staff even brought out ponchos for the VIP guests (at no charge) once the rain started coming down, which I thought was an awfully thoughtful touch.
All in all, we all left the fest full and happy though somewhat damp and look forward to getting a little scotch again next year.
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 That's literally where the majority of newborn princes and princesses spend their early days, regally being carried to and fro, served gourmet eats fresh from the bottle or boobie at a moment's notice, and otherwise being fussed and fawned over by adoring parents, grandparents and everyone else who simply can't resist an amazingly sweet yet oh-so tiny bit of mom- (and dad-) made beauty.
Although, after getting a peek at Robeez' newly launched Luxury Collection (shown at top left in Robeez Luxury Classic Crest in blue, $39.95), I daresay the line may quite possibly add another dimension to the definition of baby beauty. 
Their supple, luxurious leather shoes are made with the same high-quality, American Podiatric Medical Association-endorsed flexible soles that Robeez devotees have come to expect and love, and incorporate exquisite details and finishing like embroidery and powder-soft pastel shades that make them the perfect gift or keepsake, especially since each pair is packaged in a specially designed, uber trendy window box (shown at bottom right). Available in specialty newborn sizing (0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-12 months). 
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 There comes a time when that sweet little diaper-clad darling turns into an underoo-wearing, free-roving, independent toddler, ready to take on the world, namely potty-training, a full morning of preschool and overnight trips at Grandma's house.
At that point, babyish diaper bags have pretty much become a thing of the past, so what can a parent use when packing up their not-so-little offspring as they face life's mini adventures? I hardly think a suitcase that's taller than said toddler fits the bill. Kushies faux leather My Bag (shown at top left in Girl and Boy, $79.99 each) on the other hand, works amazingly well, considering that it literally contains absolutely everything your child could possibly need (along with some extras) for a day away from home, all while making caregivers' lives just a little bit easier ... and more organized.
With fun, cool, and very easy-to-identify (read: kid-friendly illustrations accompany text) compartments for little kids' stuff along with an included insulated snack box, insulated medicine box, clean clothes bag, dirty clothes bag, soiled clothes bag with laundry insert, spare shoes bag, a pillow and blanket, not to mention a handy hook for hanging, not only will junior be set for the day, he may be set for life! 
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 I'm a big fan of baby carriers and slings, although all those constant fit and comfort adjustments from wearer to wearer - which changes every time a sling goes from mom to dad to grandma or grandpa to sitter or anyone else who wants wearable super close bonding time with baby - is more than a hassle.
After all, who wants to spend what seems like forever sliding complicated buckles here and adjusting millions of confusing criss-crossy straps there when a cute-as-a-button love child is just waiting to be cradled and carried. 
Not me.
And not Honeywear either. Made locally from pure organic and all natural
fabrics, their sweetly styled Baby Bee Sling (shown at top left in Chocolate Brown Silk Dupioni and bottom right in Eyes of the World Organic Cotton Sateen, $120 each) is truly designed with a cozy, wearer-friendly one-size-fits all design that literally grows with baby - and possibly with mommy should another wee one be on the way. A simple slide of the adjustable shoulder strap lowers or raises baby while wearing, and elasticized toggle-style cords along the edges ensure that babies and toddlers will stay on you like white on rice - if that's what makes your comfortable. 
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 Britney Spears may have coined the phrase, but Wills has adopted it as one of his regularly scheduled expressions - primarily when riding in the car.
The minute we hit a bump, take a particularly sharp turn or stop at a red light, whatever train, truck, snack or toy he's holding in his carseat inevitably tumbles out of his hands and unceremoniously rolls under my driver's seat without a chance of being within arm's reach at least until we reach our destination. With each trip and each thud, I hear "oops!" immediately followed by wailing if said lovey can't be retrieved ASAP. The mom-invented Oopsi (shown at top left in Green Dinosaur Walk, $9.95) from Book Fairy is designed to prevent those carbound cafuffles in style (think fabulously named patterns and colors like Midori Zebra and Chocolate and Turquoise Polka Dot) pretty much by leashing tots' favorite carseat buddies in place. Then, should junior drop, throw or otherwise lose his grip on whatever it is that absolutely, positively has to come along for the ride, the Oopsi will lasso it in place. Peace of mind for mom - not to mention easy access for youngsters. 
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 And bling is the thing at celeb-fave Tuni & G.
Antoinette ("Tuni") and G.G.("G"), the moms and best friends behind this super sparkly mommy-and-me (My Baby Rolls/My Mom Rocks set shown at top left - adult tee $34, infant onesie $32) label don't know the meaning of the word "shy" when it comes to their creative-spin on clothes, and I have to say, it shows. A lot.
You won't any find boring, blah ensembles here, and many regularly grace the pages of Hollywood mags like People, US Weekly, OK and more.
Instead, the fashions are studded with glittery nailheads, shiny rhinestones, matte silver stars and metallic facets that deliver bold, spicy, phrases on 100% cotton tops and bottoms for moms, moms-to-be, babies, toddlers (Fleur de Lis long-sleeved toddler tee shown at bottom right, $34 - also available in an infant onesie size and adult size) and youth. 
Cosmotot's picks are the My Grandma Rocks and My Grandpa Rocks tops and coordinating bottoms (not pictured) since there's no reason why little ones' favorite older folks can't get some love. Believe it or not, even the family's faithful Fido can get in on the flashy fashion with tops designed with canines in mind. Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Keep in mind that the mommy-and-me sets aren't really sets. All pieces are sold separately but many coordinate with each other. Just an FYI. 
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And so am I. At least that's how the month is shaping up for me .... literally. As I make my tentative foray into the midst of my second trimester, and the world of summer maternity wear, offbeat, neat, comfy and just plain cool tops are No. 1 on my list, and Bellyprints from Mamatowear seem to fit the bill. Not only does the mom- and baby-friendly e-tailer offer innovative breastfeeding apparel (think hidden nursing panels), but it serves up a healthy dose of global consciousness, too. Garments are produced locally in San Francisco with much of the material being organically grown. I'm currently digging their Bellyprints line (shown at top left, $70, $87 for organic fabric). Each top features an artsy print like a peace sign, world map (Cosmotot's pick), doily and more, and since each bloomin' belly is different - and in a constant state of flux and flow in terms of shape and size - the design changes with you, making it truly unique from month to month.
Creative printing techniques mean that the ink won't crack with that never-ending midsection stretch, and the 100% lycra cut is semi- generous but very form-fitting - it sits on the hips with a longer cut in the front without looking like a square materni-tent.
Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Definitely size up a ton with this tee. I went for a medium - my normal go-to size no matter whether I'm pregnant or not, and I literally had to pour myself into it. I think I would have been much better off with an XL since my curves, bust and getting-bigger-by-the-minute belly look much better when not being squeezed and squished. Let's just say I like leaving a little something to the imagination instead of putting it all on display. I also think less pricey tees would do just as well when it comes to fit. 
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 When I became a mom the first time around, it was all I could do to keep my head from exploding from all the information I was trying to pack into it.
My husband really couldn't get into all the birthing and daddy-to-be books either. I tackled the impending birth and delivery like I did college finals, getting stacks of appropriate books, staying up late and cramming, complete with highlighters, color-coded Post-it notes, and signing up for a Lamaze class through our area hospital at the suggestion of our OB. And I have to say, the actual live class was the only part I wasn't so psyched about. For one, it was pricey, the instructor had an obvious slant toward natural birth and exclusive breastfeeding, which to my disappointment, I can't do due to a hereditary trait, and though it was fun to meet other parents-to-be, the class was long and by the third trimester, I would get sleepy and uncomfortable sitting still for long periods of time. That mixed with the constant Braxton-Hicks contractions I was having didn't make for the most exciting situation. We both definitely could have used a little bit more of a "lighten up" attitude. Had I known about the Laugh & Learn DVD video class collection then, I might have tried that out first.
Created by Sheri Bayles, CEO and spokeswoman for the best-selling series - she's also an award-winning Lamaze
instructor and board-certified lactation consultant who also served on staff at
the prestigious New York/Cornell Medical Center for twenty four years - the point of the DVDs is to help expectant parents prepare for
childbirth and child care in a simple, easy, private and
less-expensive way. Though it's not meant to replace a live class, it can be a godsend for parents who can't afford the program or who simply can't attend due to bed rest restrictions, etc. You still get to learn every bit of information straight from the nurse's mouth (Bayles) who not only puts a joyful spin on childbirth, but also offers a ton of easy-to-digest information to make it manageable. If you miss something, no sweat. Simply go back a screen or two to review. Have to take a potty or snack break? Simply pause. Not things you can do at a live class. And she's not just some medical talking head either. As a well-respected entrepreneur, wife (married for 19 years and still crazy about her hubby), mom to twin boys, now twelve
years old, Bayles has literally been in that mom-to-be's shoes (or in the stirrups if you will), and in Laugh and Learn About Childbirth, offers up a comprehensive guide to labor and
delivery with additional helpful tips explained in a
non-judgmental voice spiked with humor and understanding. Though Bayles can be corny - sometimes too much - I have to say it's better than listening to those yawn-inducing, Ben Stein-like narrator voices while watching grainy filmstrips in Lamaze class that show folks from the 60s and 70s.
Cosmomama says there's more in the details:
Like what you see? Check out Bayles' other titles, Laugh and Learn About Breastfeeding and Laugh and Learn About Newborn Baby Care in her e-store.
I'm turned off by the opening page touting Bayles as the “Childbirth Coach to the Stars” along with glossy photos of all the celebs who love her, but then again, I don't need a celebrity endorsement to decide what works for my family. SUPER COOL COSMOTOT GIVEAWAY! One reader drawn at random
will get their very own set of Laugh and Learn DVDs. Just email mamascosmotot@yahoo.com by midnight tonight with LAUGH AND LEARN in the
subject and tell me how long Bayles has been married.
Congratulations to Susie D., winner of a Laugh and Learn DVD set!
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