As much as you may protest, there are a few classic children’s songs that you secretly enjoy as much as your kids do. Just watching your daughter’s ebulliant face as she makes the ‘people on the bus go up and down’ hand and body movements are enough to endear you to the oldies. Enter Candace Alper and Name Your Tune. As Candace’s year-long maternity leave was coming to an end, the thought of going back to work and leaving her daughter in full-time day care inspired her to propell a creative business idea forward at full speed.”The idea for Name Your Tune came from many places. My husband, Eric, had a vinyl record when he was a kid that was a personalized birthday song,” says Candace. “His mother still brings it out for his birthday dinners….30 years later! We sang and played music for Hannah since she was born (and before that too, if that counts) and she has always loved it and been very responsive. At the park, just the two of us, I used to sing many of the songs that are now on Name Your Tune to her with her name in it to get her attention and to make her smile…it worked everytime! My husband works in the music business and we have a host of talented friends and colleagues, so the ultimate creation of Name Your Tune, was really quite organic.” Read the rest »

1. String Cheerios or Friutloops on a piece of string/yarn to make a bracelet/necklace.
2. On a special outing, like the beach, pick up beautiful seashells and other beach things and place them in a bag.  Mark the bag with the place and date and add it to a keepsake box.  You can reminisce about these things on a rainy day.
3. Grab a blanket and lie on your back to watch the clouds, birds and planes go by.
4. Plan a garden together using small pot (herb or flowers).  You can place them on the porch or near an inside window.

It happens to the best of us. We pack our days full of work, family activities, and chores around the house. We think we can do it all, and then, zap! Our energy is suddenly gone about mid-afternoon, and we barely make it through to dinner, bath-time, and getting the kids all tucked in before we are just ready to collapse. Read the rest »

I received many great gifts for my recent birthday (no matter how old I get, I still love gifts), and I wanted to share with you a few things which have already become favorites — meaning I wore it 3 days in a row after receiving, or am not ever going to wash it for fear of messing up the perfect fit. I won’t tell you which items fall under which category, but here are my new favorites:

1. Graphic Pocket Tee from the Gap. This tee (which I received in pink) says “Summer of Love Music Festival” and takes me back to the days . . . Who am I kidding ? I was never a music festival kind of gal, but I play “pretend” all day with my four-year old, so why stop now ? This tee shirt fits great and is a little longer the tummy which I think has a slimming effect (Let me think this, ok?). Anyway, I love it!

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Enjoy your weekend, live longer? Think cardiovascular health only means running or logging time on a machine at the gym? Think again, new research shows that a little weekend R&R might save your life. According to an article on msnbc.com, researchers from Finland tracked 800 people over 28 years and found that those who said that they ‘failed’ to recover from their workweek over the weekend were up to 3 times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who were able to recover. Not since the news that red wine is good for your heart has science been so kind…. Read the rest »

“I just wanted to thank you for making my delivery both comforting and relaxing.” If only you had a nickel for every time you heard a new mom say that. But that’s exactly what one happy new mom said of Lighten My Labor’s ‘Labor Comfort Collection kit,’ a system of products developed by OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Ann Marie D’Onofrio to ease expectant mothers through each phase of labor.Featuring whipped massage gel (for use in Early Labor), a mild linen room mist (for use in Active Labor), a body mist therapeutically formulated to cool and refresh you during the final phase of labor - the Transition, and an after-baby bath soak designed to aid in soothing those areas that need it most.

Learn more and buy online at www.lightenmylabor.com

Does your child love Elmo? Put her on Sesame Street right next to Big Bird, Cookie Monster and the rest of the crew. Enter your child’s name, birthday, hometown and upload a picture and for $29.95 you’ll receive a hardcover book (like the one pictured here) with more than 40 full color personalized pages and your child in every scene! Buy your photo-personalized storybook here.