Dear Carrie: We hear your son is a big fan of The Wiggles. We have to ask… who is your favorite Wiggle?

Sometimes I think I know the Wiggles as intimately as I do my own family. Not only can I recite every single one of their songs (should I be embarrassed to admit that?), I also know just what makes Greg, Jeff, Murray, and Anthony tick. I’m very familiar with their nearest and dearest –including but not limited to Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Captain Feathersword, and Henry the Octopus – and I often worry about Jeff’s apparent narcolepsy, which no one else seems to take seriously. If one of your friends fell asleep throughout the day, wouldn’t you think something was up? Read the rest »

Let your child experiment and watch you. Don’t turn them away and tell them that you’re busy. Hand them a tool or a paint brush and let them try things beside of you. They will learn so much and you will enjoy them so much more.

In need of some new clothes? Tired of what you have, or don’t have much that fits you after just having a baby? Well, call in the troops and ask them to bring clothes. Their cast-offs, that is. Gather together a group of your best mommy pals who probably have lots of clothes they can no longer wear, or would like to pass on, and have a clothes swap! What better resource to tap into that your friends who have been pregnant, gained and lost weight, and probably have as much of a need (or desire) as you do for a few new things. A clothes-swap can be lots of fun and won’t break the bank. Read the rest »

If you’re a Clever Parents fan, you already know about Wee Gallery and their beautifully designed animal prints for small children that come on flashcards, wall graphics, mobiles and greeting cards.

In response to the popularity of the original series, Wee Gallery has released two new flashcard collections: Sea and Farm. A spotty stingray, curly octopus, bubbly jellyfish, stripey sea horse patterned turtle and wavy fish make up the Sea Collection. Down on the farm, you’ll find a striped bee, dotty cow, feathered hen, curly sheep, flowery pig and tall horse. In addition to being a perfect playtime toy, take them to the doctor’s office, or any other place where you hope your little one isn’t too noisy. These flashcards will entertain and the only sound they’ll elicit will be from your child’s glee.
Each flashcard set is $12.95 from Wee Gallery.

Heart disease is the most common birth defect around the world. One in every 120 children is born with a heart-defect and one-third of these children will not survive to their first birthday. Those that do survive are often so incapacitated that they are barely able to do more than eat and lay listlessly; condemned to lead unfulfilling lives. Read the rest »

I don’t know about you but the Tour just doesn’t have the same excitement for me yet as it has in previous years, probably due in part to the drug/blood doping scandal eliminating all of the major tour contenders. I’m sure that LA’s retirement also lends itself to my disinterest as his involvement made every race exciting. As a fan of cycling, I know I’ll ‘get into it’…it’s just taking some time to adjust to the new dynamics and personalities. Read the rest »

As she was making the transition from Spanish teacher to full-time Mom, Jennifer Manriquez inadvertently fell into the perfect business opportunity for her. Knowing that Jennifer and her husband, Mark, were raising their child in a bilingual household, friends would constantly ask for an informal ‘Spanish playgroup.’ After enough requests, Jennifer figured she had the makings of a nice business that would enable her to stay home with her children and keep one foot in the educational world. Read the rest »