To preserve mushrooms in your refrigerator: remove the original plastic wrap from the container. Cover the container with a paper towel and insert into a Ziploc bag. This keeps your mushrooms from absorbing odors and moisture from your fridge.

Download a Monthly Chore and To Do list from the Clutter Busting column that you can customize for your household.

Download here: monthly-chore-checklist.doc

When I taught Kindergarten it was important for the kids to know how to retell and talk about a story we’d read. Charlie and I spend time before naps and bedtime “remembering the day” - a concept I took from 5 year olds retelling a book. I think it is a great skill that Charlie has learned and who knows if it has helped, but he is great remembering details and telling me about what he did in school.- Morgan, mom to Charlie, 2 and Essie, 5 months

“Get up? Get up.”

I know that voice. It is not the first time it has woken me up. Sadly, it won’t be the last, I am sure.

“Get up?!” my son says again.

“Momeeee,” my daughter chimes in.

“Daddeeeeee,” they both start to whine in unison. There’s no way they’re going back to sleep. I look at the clock.

5:28

“You want to split up?” my wife asks. That’s one of our ways we try to get our two-year (27 month) old twins back to sleep. She takes one and I take the other into separate rooms and hope they go back to sleep. I didn’t think that was likely this morning. Read the rest »

Clever Parents is excited to announce a new weekly column, Eating with Emily. Emily, mom to Cameron 15 months, is an avid foodie. With Emily’s column, you can look forward to weekly kitchen tips, features like an upcoming 3-part series on pantry essentials for all types of cooks - from a ‘Pantry Primer’ list for basic items everyone should stock in their pantries, to the ‘Uber Gourmet Pantry’ for true chefs, and more! We caught up with Emily to learn more about onion-loving toddlers, her ideas for a great date night (shocker - it involves food), her job as a kitchen consultant and flaming potholders. Read the rest »

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Allison Brooks earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in Journalism and decided to try her hand in politics by working in the US Senate. After three years working for United States Senator Max Cleland, Allison knew her hands would be happier doing something else. Read the rest »

From Betsy’s Clutter Busting column, download a sample chore list for children to customize for your own children.

Download here: Sample Chore List for Children