To the Sock Manufacturers

Letter to the Kids Sock Manufacturers Who Don't Put Something On the Bottom:

You suck.

Signed

A Mom Sick of "Kiss My Butt, Mommy. Kiss it. It hurts."

OK, now that I've got that off my chest. I've found the solution for those of you who have found yourself in my predicament - lovely wood floors (which I admit are in need of refinishing, but with Christmas coming, who has the money?) and a little kid who insists on running full speed across the (very slippery) floor.

Grippies stick right to the bottom of little socks to give that pitter patter some extra grip. Come winter, when stockinged feet are an every day occurence, there's no reason bumps and falls need to be as well. With iron-on or stick-on options, the Grippies stick for good (even through the wash - trust me, I checked).

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Happy Halloween!

Tattoo Time for the Elephant and the Cop

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She Must Like Books, But She Wins a Toy

We apparently have some Calico Critters fans in the house! The Halloween-themed set of Calico Critters drew a record number of entries, making Random.org all that much more necessary in picking a winner this time.

I'm sad to say I don't have more of these to give away, but I do have some great giveaways coming up (as well as the current ones open right now), so keep coming back and entering guys!

As for the winner (putting it off like this makes me feel like Ryan Seacrest) . . . NYLibraryGirl has 72 hours to claim her child's new set of Calico Critters!

Want to be our next winner? Subscribe at left to find out first when new giveaways go up. And thanks to everyone for being such big supporters of Inside Out.

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You Can't Have it All, But You Can Carry It

My non-Martha-ness isn't something I've let get me down. The way I see it, I can't be roped into helping at the holiday craft fair come PTA time if I shout it loud enough now.

So I shared some "fake it like Martha" products over on PeekabooPicks this week. What I failed to admit? I've got a kid who's relatively crafty. I'm not kidding myself about her abilities here - she's your average 3-year-old (no Kathie Lee bragging moments you have to run from). But there's no page that goes un-colored in her coloring books . . . or any other book for awhile there.

If you're a "with crayon, will travel" kind of family, The Piggy Story Carry All Caddy guarantees you'll never suffer a craft-tastrophe on the road. Made of nylon, it's sturdy, washable and waterproof, with half a dozen different pockets for all their odds and ends. Shove a change of clothes in the middle for a quick change after they've markered their t-shirt, stow a packet of wipes, or fill it to the brim with toy truck.

Over at FatBrain Toys (bookmark it for educational toys of any type), the Carry All Caddy comes in three funky fabrics, but we had our designs on the fairy-tale-inspired dragon caddy. It will huff, puff and blow you away.

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Sugarbooger for Your Little Booger

I blame my husband. I didn't say words like fart or laugh at bathroom humor before he came along. OK, well, not that I'd admit in the blogosphere. But I got over it - I admitted to pooping in a column the other day. Shhh. Don't make a big deal out of it, just hold your nose and dive in.

I promise this one ISN'T about poop. Just boogers. Sugarbooger. See, having a kid means your mind has gone South too. Have you got a cupboard full of melamine plates and bowls with every character they've spun off of TV and onto a piece of plastic? Sick of them? Me too.

Sugarbooger's Rocker Kids set is making kids sing a different tune come dinner time, with a divided plate, tumbler and fork and spoon that salute those about to rock (the fork and plate assure them, you rock, as if they didn't know). A round well atop the plate keeps the cup in firm position, and the entire set is rock steady . . . steady enough to make it through many a meal and steady enough to handle many dishwashings - which you'll be doing plenty of, cause they'll be singing for this set morning, noon and night.
The Chocolate Cake Club has a whole line of Sugarbooger sets, and there are a few on sale now, so get on over there before the dish runs away with the spoon.


Just for Fun:

More Stuff Parents Dream About: Being Alone in the Bathroom

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Prima Princessas - All of Them

There are days that I thank my lucky stars I live in the middle of nowhere. My daughter hasn't been bitten by the ballerina bug quite yet (she thinks her PrissyPoofs are just fancy dresses).

So when you question why I let her watch the Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake DVD, I have to throw up my hands and admit it, the bug is catching. I clearly remember my trip to the Nutrcracker when I was a kid, the dress I insisted was too tight around my neck (handmade by my mother, the red corduroy pinafore with a goose on the front was lovingly saved and is now in my daughter's clsoet). But the Christmas story my mother read to us every year was magical onstage.

And so to is Swan Lake, brought to life by the Paris Opera Ballet and students from the New York City Ballet school. The grace of the dancers, the intricacy of the costumes, doesn't have to cost $100, a trip to the city and the chance that they'll be ready for a nap just as the matinee is ready to start (who schedules matinees mid-afternoon? Kids are starting to wind down then, not wake up). The Prima Princess DVD culls it all down to 40 minutes, with a flitting animated fairy and little girls in tutus to make the magic relateable to little kids who can flit around their living rooms in time to the music.

And rumor has it, they'll be bringing out The Nutcracker next!

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JakFish - So You Don't Feel Like an Elephant

I was a miserable pregnant woman. It's OK, I can admit it. Although, in this case, the first step to recovery was delivery!

But even the happiest pregnant lady usually moans about her clothes - or for many of us, her husband (boyfriend/partner's) clothes. The choices out there are as miserable as I was during my pregnancy.

Or they used to be. What I wouldn't have given to find Jakfish four years ago. The maternity wear company that readily admits you're not going to find "another big sweatshirt," is likewise home to the kind of clothes you can actually see yourself wearing post-pregnancy. Made from Polartec, the Owen hoodie is cool when you're hot and warm when you're cold (in those very rare moments that you might be). The fabric hugs the body just enough to wick away sweat when you're walking off the pregnancy pudge, and it stretches as you grow. With side vents to unzip as your belly grows and rezip as you slim back down, the Owen hoodie looks good on Mom before, during and after pregnancy. We're talking an investment that lasts beyond nine months.

Paired with Jakfish's Ryan Pants, which boast the same material and the same stretchy forgiveness, you're as ready for the grocery store as you are for yoga, and you'll be holding tight to these babies once your real baby comes along!

Jakfish mom Steph has offered to give one Inside Out reader a boost with new duds! Want to win? Check out the Jakfish site, and come back to comment on your favorite set of all. For extra entires, as always, grab my badge and/or blog about the contest, then leave the link in comments. The contest will close on Wednesday, November 5, and it's open to residents of the US and Canada only. Make sure you check back to see if you're a winner, or subscribe to be the first to know about any of our giveaways.

Strollerderby link of the day:

Five Movies You Shouldn't Watch While Pregnant

Or Check out the Bloggy Carnival for more giveaways

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Wild Winner

Max is headed home. Comment number 30 won the Where the Wild Things Are giveaway thanks to my husband (I told him to pick a random number - he looked at me like I was crazy, but obliged).

Millie has 72 hours to shoot an e-mail my way with her information to claim her prize! Everyone else - two giveaways currently up, and more coming! So subscribe, keep checking . . . and congrats to Millie.

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It's That Time Again

One week to go. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, stop reading now.
I’ve watched the last few weeks of election season the way you’d watch a train wreck, with my hands clamped over my eyes, my fingers spread wide so I can catch a peek.
I can’t look… away.
It’s one-part neuroses, I admit it. But there’s a part of me that feels empowered by election season.
In one week, I’ll have a role to play.
So too, will everyone else in this country, but somehow that doesn’t change the little bubble of pride bouncing around in my chest.
And if that makes me preachy, what the heck. You’ve only got one more week to hear it from me.
So here it is: as reporters, we simply report the news. We aren’t supposed to believe that either side is right, and we can’t join your fight.
We aren’t here to drum up votes for your candidate. We aren’t here to make the good and bad balance out.
That’s for you to do.
And when we walk out of the newspaper building, we are doing just what you are.
We’re taking the information we’ve gathered and finally getting to form opinions.
We have that right too.
We have that responsibility.
See, I told you I’d get preachy. But there’s that bouncing bubble that just won’t stop. It’s the kind that reminds me of soda fizz when it gets in your nose. You want to giggle, but you can’t – it would only get worse.
And I can’t talk politics, at least not out in the open. A town justice once told me the irony of being elected was that he could no longer be political. He had to campaign to get there, but it’s a post that requires pure impartiality.
And so his opinions stay buttoned up. He has big ears, but a small mouth.
My mouth is somewhat bigger – helped along by opinion columns like this one – but the life of a journalist is a paradox.
We shed light on injustice; we don’t stand up for it. We investigate politicians; we don’t castigate them.
We promote the right of freedom of speech; but we can just barely practice it.
And yet, at the end of the day, we wouldn’t be anywhere if we didn’t guarantee another day of it.
Our impartiality in print makes us that much more vital to the chain of the electoral process.
So, yes, we walk out of the office and head to the polls. At the end of the day, we support one side or the other.
Would you really be able to trust us any other way?

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Twas the Night Before I

If you're one of those people who's ready to put up the Christmas decorations, you might want to listen up. And if you're not, well, keep reading anyway. Because the economic downturn means I'm buying early to keep myself from that last minute buying frenzy that always ends up costing me more.

It's been a rough week. Writing for Strollerderby, I've started reading some of the more depressing news stories while pawing through for ideas, and last week's piece about the kids who planned "Hit a Jew Day" at their school made me once again consider home schooling. Do I have to expose my kid to these little monsters?

But the best way to fight intolerance is with education, and so inspired by last week's giveaway (winner announced today, so stay tuned) and looking toward the holidays, I opted instead to spin a little multi-culturalism around the house to remind myself I'm raising a kid with a big heart.

The Night Before Christmas and More Classic Holiday Tales is another in Scholastic's Storybook Treasures line, another "read along" DVD that brings books to life onscreen with a narrator reading out loud the words flashing across the bottom of the screen. It's a comfort to know our kids are getting education on a multitude of levels.

But it isn't just a Christmas movie. After the telling of Clement Clark Moore's old-fashioned story of St. Nicholas, there are tales of Hannukah and Kwanzaa. Gary Soto's South American holiday story of little Maria and the Too Many Tamales makes mouths water as they tear open the delicacies and doubles as a lesson in not "borrowing" others' most precious belongings.

Three more stories round out the bunch along with an extra Spanish version of Tamales, but what makes this a true treasure is the reminder the holidays aren't for one kid. They're still for all kids.

Some Strollerderby Shares for the Day (because sometimes we need a laugh):

Furniture Industry Won't Suffer as Long As We Keep Making Babies

Australian Family Says They Were Served Poop Ice Cream

Facebook Kicks Teddy Bear Offline

Not getting your Inside Out every day? Subscribe and be the first to know about our giveaways!
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I Sit and Stay, You Win

I don't always believe books have to be educational. I'm a firm believer in trash as escape from real life. But when a book I'm reading to my daughter is imparting the kind of knowledge that will keep her safe in this scary world, I'm not going to complain.

I Sit and Stay, isn't from a fancy publishing house with fancy illustrations and cutesy sayings. It's the product of a member of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team. Leah Waarvik spent the weeks after Hurricane Katrina rescuing pets in New Orleans with her partner, Emma, a gorgeous Australian Shepherd who graces the cover of I Sit and Stay.

Inspired by stories of all the kids who have been lost in the woods simply because they didn't know what to do, Waarvik decided to sit down and write a book. "I came to realize that the great presentations put on by search-and rescue teams weren’t reaching enough children," Waarvik explained. "I wanted to create an option that was a bit more available and interactive for families that enjoy being outdoors."

The result is a simple survival guide, accompanied by a whistle (Warning to parents: hide this until you're actually taking them outside. It's plastic, but that doesn't mean it isn't loud!!) anda plastic poncho that can double as a cushion when stuffed with leaves or a bright yellow signal when search parties are getting close.

To be honest, my daughter was attracted to the book because of the pictures of Emma on the front (once you see her, you'll understand - we're dog people). Then there's what whistle . . . But dig inside, and I Sit and Stay offers a valuable tool for parents as we learn to let go of our kids.

Thanks go to Leah, who wants to share the story with and Inside Out winner. One I Sit and Stay kit is up for grabs - all you have to do is leave a comment about some of the survival skills you've imparted to your kids. For extra entries, as always, grab my badge and/or blog about the contest, then leave the link in comments. The contest will close on Monday, November 3, and it's open to residents of the US and Canada only. Make sure you check back to see if you're a winner, or subscribe to be the first to know about any of our giveaways.

Read More Strollerderby Bits About Parenting and Pups:

Renting Drug Dogs to Search Your Kid's Room: Over the Top or Not?
Pit bulls and kids: Scared or Perfectly Comfortable?
Keep Kids From Getting Fat - Get a Dog

Or Check out the Bloggy Carnival for more giveaways

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Free Your Face . . . and the Rest Will Follow

Sometimes I get things in the mail and wonder, huh, did I ask for this? It's not that I'm disorganized (at least that's what I keep telling myself). I've got mom brain, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

The thing about the Tassi is, it's made for holding back your hair. OK, if you're reading this online, look to the little picture at the left of the page. The one of me with my husband and daughter. Are you seeing a problem? Yeah - no hair.

Fortunately for them (and sometimes for me?) my daughter does. A lot of it. Less than a few days ago, but still, she of the long locks was the only hope for a product that promises you can Free Your Face.

For you moms out there with little girls who hate having their hair in their face when they're brushing their teeth in the morning, this thing rocks! And I'd imagine it's the kind of thing all you long-haired freaks, er, people (sorry, I really like long hair . . . on everyone but me!) need for keeping your face clear for makeup mornings and the like.

It looks like a giant scrunchie, but the Tassi is actually a soft band with just enough elastic that it will hold the bangs off the face and maintain the mane while you get things done. Think a shower cap without the ugly plastic or that awful red line that remains when you take it off. It's terry-cloth soft, and it won't mess up your hair!

For any mom who has struggled to get their daughters' hair "just right" then realized you have to do a scrub-down of grape jelly off the cheeks and eyelids . . . when you're already 10 minutes late for work . . . the Tassi is a lifesaver.

Buy two now, by the way, and they're offering free shipping. I'm thinking stocking stuffer.

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Simply Sarah Holds It All

I'm not quite the bag fanatic that my friend Jennifer is (she of the Durtbagz borrowing!), but since I've started collecting all those totes, the closet floor is filling.

It's not exactly a good example to my kid - who I keep telling to CLEAN UP THE MESS. Think she listens? Hehe, you give me too much credit.

So what's my new solution? The Handy Hold All from SimplySarahShaw hangs in any hook or nail or an over-the-door hook (included on certain models), and it cleans up the mess. The straps lining the long sturdy strip of cloth all snap to the back. So reaching into your closet to pull out a sweater you don't accidentally knock everything over and end up spending your five minutes before you have to leave for work cleaning up a pile of purses.

Think of buying the Handy Hold All as saving yourself from having to buy new bag too soon. It's frugality at its best.

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Fancy Audra? She Wins Fancy Nancy

The Fancy Nancy Giveaway closed last night, and Random.org helped me pick a winner (because I can't choose between them all!).

The fancy prize (for a fancy girl?) goes to Audra, who has 72 hours to shoot an e-mail my way to pick a game! Oh, and since we're talking about responding, I've got good news and bad news. Only two of the winners from the Pedia-Lax giveaway responded, so I get to pick an extra new winner! This is why I'm such a nudge about subscribing - because I hate to let something good pass you by! So if you haven't, do it, and maybe I'll leave you alone.

As for the winner, ahem . . . ., Danielle is the final pick on the Pedia-Lax giveaway.

Remember to check out the other giveaways I have up, I'm going to go eat dinner (my husband picked up pizza, yup, I've got him well trained!).

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Download a Story

Going into this economy, there's still one reason I'm glad we bought a new car this year - despite the accompanying monthly payment. The auxiliary jack for my iPod keeps me sane driving from interview to interview. Yes, I know there are other iPod-to-car stereo hook-ups that are a lot cheaper than the mom wagon. But, hey, we all need to find the silver lining.

There's a secondary benefit - I've always got to find the mom side. Now that mp3 players and the ability to play them have taken over, the 'net is brimming with places to download mp3s of kids stories, so they can "read" without dragging a pile of heavy books on the road. The bulk of the tales of them come in video form, with "pages" so the kids get to see the pictures and the words, and if you plug in their headphones they hear the stories playing out for them.

Speakaboos is still building up its repertoire, but fairy tales, fables, nursery rhymes and more are read by stars like DJ Skribble, Chazz Palminteri, Nick Cannon and Ally Sheedy. Downloading costs the same as a standard download, or they can be watched on-site for free (for when your babysitter calls out, and you have to drag the kids to work).

Maggie Tales are read by unknowns, but the host of stories are fresh, giving kids a chance to expand their "bookshelves." The price is even better - free downloads are available for iPods, Apple TV, Sony PSP and a list of other platforms.

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Calico Critters - A Wholesome Chance to Win

They're teeny tiny, they're cute and they come with a teeny weeny accessories. They're every little girl's (in my case - probably little boys too!) dream. I just hope I don't regret this.

OK, I'll be honest. Calico Critters are just too darn cute. And after reading a piece over at the Daily Green about a green mom who gave in to the creatures because they're made from non-phthalate PVC, I bit the bullet. It helped learning they're made by International Playthings - I got hooked on their sink/sandbox for a Babble review over the summer.

Now I've been bitten by the Critters bug too. They remind me of the old Polly Pocket - when she really fit in your pocket (some classics should never be messed with). The fuzzy bunnies, cats, squirrels and other . . . well, critters . . . are as tall as my short stubby fingers, and come boxed with everything kids need to dress them up, down and ready for town. And did I mention they're cute?

The name itself reminds me of something out of Laura Ingalls Wilder - with her calico dresses - and dressing up little animals is the kind of harmless, wholesome fun I can get behind.

Which is why I'm offering up a Halloween set of Calico Critters for one lucky Inside Out winner to celebrate the holiday! With a bunny in her witch costume, a squirrelly ghost and a host of tricks and treats, this will be your child's new favorite friend for stowing in her pocket.

Want to win? Check out the Calico Critters' site, and come back to comment on your favorite set of all. For extra entires, as always, grab my badge and/or blog about the contest, then leave the link in comments. The contest will close on Wednesday, October 29, and it's open to residents of the US and Canada only. Make sure you check back to see if you're a winner, or subscribe to be the first to know about any of our giveaways.

For More Halloween Fun, Check Out My Holiday Goodies Over at Strollerderby:

Just in Time for Halloween: How to Make Your Own Slime!


How To Fake Being the Crafty Mom This Halloween

Or Check out the Bloggy Carnival for more giveaways

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Where Jilly Goes, WheeGo

I'm going to confess to a little narcicism at work with this review. The name of the main character in the WheeGo game for kids? Jilly. Oh, come on, I had to check it out!

Fortunately, the little treasure chest that sends them off on an adventure around the house is almost as cute as the girl who shares her name with Jilly the Jouster (I said almost).

Definitely a game that must be played with an adult or older child acting as "Captain WheeGo," the game tests little explorers' ability to follow directions as they follow clues. Stocked with two games, the chest allows them to take turns as Jilly the Jouster or her buddy Cody the Country Singer, running from place to place to find the hidden treasure.

After they get a handle on how to follow the clues, repeated play boost their "remembering" and WheeGo becomes a "I can do it myself game" that keeps the family from going stir crazy as winter sets in. Get it over at WheeGo's Website, and print out coloring pages of Jilly the Jouster (my favorite) and Cody . . . for quiet time after the excitement of adventure subsides.

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Her first haircut, and she took the initiative

It was a long time coming. Three years to be exact.
But I finally picked up the phone last week and made my daughter’s first appointment for a haircut.
If you want to get really technical, it was her second time in the chair – when she was younger Jonathan sat in the seat over at Shear Pleasure in Callicoon so stylist Janayna could snip of the dark tail ends of her blonde hair.
There was no shaping, no layering, nothing more than a snip, snip, snip . . . and we were done.
I was putting off the real cut for as long as I could, helped along by every one who sees us out on the road doing interviews for the Democrat who stops me to gush about those long curly locks.
I’m sorry, folks, but it was time.
Jillian, as so many 3 year olds are wont to do, wrapped her little hands around a pair of safety scissors while I was on the phone doing an interview. Made for kids and bought specifically for our little kid, they were within her reach – just like the crayons, markers and other crafting goodies are in our house.
I should have known better.
Because even sitting in the same room as my kid while I’m on the phone, hard at work, she can get into trouble.
All it takes is 5 seconds, time spent with my eyes focused on the pen and pad in front of me, and she works black magic.
It was red, not black that I saw when I got off the phone and found bits of blonde scattered across the living room floor.
Mixed in were bits of brown and pink. She can’t be accused of hogging the glory.
She’d shared the pampering with her Dora doll and pink ride-on horse.
She thought I would be proud.
I was shattered.
Three years of waiting.
I’ve shaved my head twice in that span for St. Baldrick’s, submitted to hot wax being spread across my eyebrows countless times, submitted to the buzzing clippers again and again.
And still I waited.
So please, when you see her with her new ’do, don’t blame the mother.
She’s growing up despite me.

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You Wanna Be a Rock Star?

Thanks to Shrek 2, my daughter now runs around the house singing "Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on. . . " Long live Smash Mouth.

It's prompted a request for a guitar that sent me poking around for a toy version that won't drive me too insane this holiday. So far, no dice. But guitar t-shirts I have found, and my favorite is over at TrendyTwinShop, the home of the Trick or Treat tees that are all treat.

The Rockin' Guitar Tees are a treat in part because of the size range - unusual for a lot of today's cool kid shops (and one of the reasons I have become a Trendy Twin fan). They go from 6 months right on up to size 12, which works for moms who like to buy a little big so their kids can grow into their clothes.

With textured embellishments and a soft-on-the-skin feel, these tees will make your little wild thing's heart sing.

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Where The Wild Giveaway Is

The first time my daughter pointed to my t-shirt and said "Mommy, that's from my Wild Things book," I knew I was having an impact. We read like crazy around here, and I keep crossing my fingers that the reading bug that bit both my husband and I a long, long time ago will keep her company throughout the rest of her life.

At her age, the books are "read" by herself in a corner where she makes up a story to match the pages or really read by us before bed or during breaks throughout the day. The Scholastic Read With Me DVD series takes that a step farther. Instead of a traditional movie rendition of their favorite books, the films are animated versions of the books. The words from each page appear at the bottom of the screen, and as the narrator reads, the words he's imparted are highlighted - like that old bouncing ball over the sing-along movies.

We started Jillian's collection with Where the Wild Things Are and Five More Stories by Maurice Sendak in a tribute to my Wild Things shirt and our adventures several nights a month off to the land where the wild things roam with Max. It's helped me introduce her to some of Sendak's other classics, including my old favorite, In the Night Kitchen, which I had somehow forgotten. I've already got it on our library list so we can sit down and pour over the real thing, but the stories on the DVD provide TV fare that we can feel OK allowing our children to watch.

Where the Wild Things Are and Five More Stories by Maurice Sendak is animated with Sendak's original illustrations, retaining the flavor of the fun even as it's redone for a new audience.

Thanks to Scholastic, the DVD is also up for grabs for one Inside Out reader! To enter, check out the Scholastic Store and find your favorite from childhood. Then come back, comment and tell me what it was and whether you've had a chance to share it with your child yet. I'd love to hear suggestions of new books to share with my daughter! For extra entries, grab my badge and/or blog about the contest, then leave the link in comments. The contest will close on Monday, October 27, and it's open to residents of the US and Canada only. Make sure you check back to see if you're a winner, or subscribe to be the first to know about any of our giveaways.

Read More About Some Children's Book Faves Over at Strollerderby:

Banned Books Week: Shel Silverstein

Banned Books Week: R.L. Stine's Goosebumps

Cloudy With a Chance of GI Joe? Hunt's On for Man Who Threw Action Figure

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Take the Monster Out of the Tub

My love of bathtime has one drawback - the end. Getting out of the warm water into the cold air is enough to send me running for the bedroom to curl up in the comforter.

I was jealous of my daughter's little hooded towels when she was an infant. Now I'm jealous again, thanks to Sue over at Chocolate Cake Club.

The store name alone had me hooked - if you're not a chocolate fan, I don't know if I can be your friend. But Chocolate Cake Club sweetens the pot by supporting mompreneuers, stocking the store full of products made by mom so they actually work for mom.

That includes the Yikes Twins towels that make climbing out of the tub the best part of the experience for little monsters. Big enough for kids from 2 to 8, they're sized just right to wrap them up and rub them dry before they take off running through the house roaring that little monster laugh. They're more expensive than you're every day towel, but after dozens of tumbles through the washing machine, they remain fuzz-free and soft enough for their skin - just long enough for them to grow into big monsters.

Have you "liked" Inside Out Motherhood on Facebook yet?

Happy Panda Dresses Them Up Without the Itch

I am a sucker for a cute face. Especially when it's big and furry with little black patches around the eyes and a roly poly body below. Honestly, can pandas get any more scrum-diddly-umptious?

They just did. Happy Panda has just one - which they're in the process of fixing with a line expansion - their clothes don't come big enough for my kid! But with plans in the process to expand the line, and plenty for the little bear cubs already online, I promise you'll find something (almost) as cute as the critter they're named for.

For legs that are growing by leaps and bounds that aren't quite matched by tummy growth, the Panda Pants are a solution to keeping our kids from earning a reputation as a diaper flasher. As cuddly as a panda, they're soft and tagless - as are all the panda tees, onesies and other attire. Happy Panda's printed-on "tag" will leave baby's skin itch-free. See - cuddly as a panda.

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The First Haircut

Have you "liked" Inside Out Motherhood on Facebook yet? 

Winning in the Name Of. . .

The Liberty's Kids giveaway ended last night, right after the DVD finally hit store shelves! But two lucky winners don't have to pony up the cash - they'll be getting the entire PBS series in the mail courtesy of SHOUTFactory.

Fans of The Electric Company and Fraggle Rock (among others), Catscott and Chase'sMom need to contact me within the next 72 hours to collect the newest addition to their DVD collection!

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Because We All Rock

Thank you to all the moms who pitched in to help me with the mystery of having little boys. I finally put together my piece (I'm behind with EVERYTHING these days - I think that's what they call being a parent).

It's up at Strollerderby if you want to take a gander: Part II: Why Parents of Boys Have It Better (And Why They Don't). And for those of you who missed it: Part I: Why Parents of Girls Have it Better.

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Clickfree is the Way to be

With all the writing I do, I sometimes feel like I’m married to my computer. Fortunately, my real husband realizes I could be cheating with electronics of another sort, so we’re OK.

But unlike the spouse I can sweet talk and con with a new video game, this baby needs to be watched like a hawk. My biggest fear? The day it crashes and takes every wedding photo I’ve shot in the last year and a half with it.

How many of you have backed up your hard drive? I know, boring computer geek stuff, but it has to be done. And now it doesn’t take the geek in you to do it!

Clickfree takes plug and play to the next level. Slightly shorter than a DVD case and just a bit fatter, the back-up drive is portable and literally plugs in and starts working. No downloading drivers. No inputting numbers. No installing software. Plug it in, and it starts looking for files, which it grabs, copies and stores.

Just think of it as a pre-nup!

By the way, the makers of Clickfree are currently offering free shipping, so get on over there and start saving your memories
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Win Your Own Durtbagz!

I've got a warped sense of humor. But they say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.

So there's no shame in shouting it from the rooftops. Or carrying it over my shoulder in bag form. Which is why Durtbagz fits me to a T. The bags (and more recently t-shirts) sport your standard street sign redrawn to crack you up along with a pile of signs created purely out of thin air . . . to crack you up. Creator Erin jokes Durtbagz are one part beer plus two parts time on our hands.

That she'd plaster a giant yellow diamond on a comfortable and genorously-sized bag is part of the hilarity. Slung over the shoulder, Durtbagz are right out there on your body, with a sign saying laugh and the world laughs at me, er, with me. They're a much-needed laugh where you can stow your stuff.

My pick was the pyramid of stick figure cheerleaders, with one falling from grace. Stolen by my friend Jennifer (yes, they're that cool, and yes, I'm just that good a friend!), I had to go back to the site to shop for more. I found one more appropriate for motherhood: Baby is Bored (a take-off on "Baby On Board" in case you didn't catch it). And a Mullet Crossing bag I know would make me a marked woman in this here part of the country (but hey, you have to die laughing, right?).

Think you can do Durtbagz one better? Good, because we've got one bag up for grabs, and Inside Out readers can play a role in the next sign to appear on a bag near you. We've all seen the "Men Working" signs. What would a "Men Working" sign on a Durtbag look like? Leave it in comments, and you'll be entered to win your bag!

For extra entries, grab my badge and/or blog about this contest, then leave the link in comments. The contest will run until next Wednesday, October 22 and is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Be sure to check back to see who won or subscribe to be the first to know!

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Do-Gooders Get a Discount, Dogs Get a Life

Now that I've hooked you on the Outlaw bag, the moms at Tiny Revolutionary are offering you a chance to save some money while you're saving the planet.

In honor of Adopt a Shelter Pet Month, Tiny Revolutionary is offering a $15 discount to anyone who sends them a picture of their shelter pooch. It's a cause near and dear to my heart - all but one of our five animals was a rescue (the fifth wasn't purchased, just selected from a big box of kittens being shown off by a little girl at the Callicoon Tractor Parade!). She might jump too high and lick too long, but is shudder to think what would have happened to my Livvy if we hadn't come along as a new Mom and Dad.

So get your camera ready and celebrate the love of a hound from the pound.

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Get a Case of the Giggles

It holds some of my favorite memories from my childhood. I never wanted to give up bathtime.

Splashing the walls, the toys . . . the floor. It's enough to give any kid a fit of the giggles. Wet Giggles. Or should I say Wett Giggles? If you prefer your giggles with a fruity flavor, check out the New York-based company's line of little glycerin soaps with a funky nail brush in the center of the cake.

The "let me do it myself" phase has come in like a lion at our house, and Wett Giggles animal nailbrushes have helped us negotiate a peace treaty. Perhaps it helps that there's no lion in the bunch? There is a cow, though. A puppy dog, a frog, a bear and a hand full of other critters encased in gentle fruit-scented soap to help you glide through the fight and back to fun at bathtime too.

The soaps, made of shea butter and essential oils, is gentle enough for giggling kids' skin, and can be purchased separately. But you'll be losing some of the giggle. . .

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Firing Up the Kids

It was supposed to be a trip for the kids.
That the adults chaperoning the nursery school visit to the Callicoon Firehouse last week were equally awed was to be expected.
Fire Prevention Week gives kids across the nation a rare look inside a firehouse – or at the very least a firetruck – each year. Luckily for us, it does the same for newspaper reporters.
Last week, I was luckier still doing double duty as the reporter on the scene and the Mom lending a hand.
I was one of those awed adults.
Somehow, it doesn’t matter how often I get inside a firehouse for a story, how familiar the faces have become.
There’s a little part of me that still remembers that first ride in a firetruck in kindergarten on Fire Prevention Week, a plastic chief’s helmet on my head, my heart racing, my cheeks stinging from the width of the grin.
Kids dream of growing up to fight fires.
The fact that it’s one of those danger-filled jobs is part of the appeal.
Kids love to be scared, to listen to campfire stories or leap from the couch just to feel what it’s like to fall.
It’s something we too often lose as we grow up, get dosed one time too much with reality and stop taking risks.
But step inside a firehouse, and a bit of it comes back.
It helps that we have firefighters here in Sullivan County who are volunteer professionals, grown-ups who have enough of a child’s heart to take on the danger and just enjoy the ride.
Leading a big bunch of kids (some slightly taller than others) around the Callicoon Firehouse last week, Fire Chief Willy Maxwell and Fireman Roy Sumfleth (head of the board of fire commissioners) imparted the same old information without once giving it the same old feel.
These guys love what they do – despite the danger, the (non-existent) pay, the ever-growing list of edicts from the state.
They’re grown-ups who get to be little kids again, and for little kids, they’re a bunch of grown-up heroes.

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Give It up for Goofy Girl

In case you're an e-mail subscriber and haven't gotten a look at the new Inside Out, and for those of you who've noticed some things looking different around here, I'd like to send a thank you out to GoofyGirl for her help in my redesign. She's a talent graphic artist and easy to work with - which is almost as important.

I wasn't sure when I started doing product reviews over here what I'd be doing with this site. It's still the main source for my weekly newspaper column of the same name, but I get so many things across my desk for other gigs that I think deserve a little play. So I try to get them up on here.

With interest and the subscriber list growing, the twice weekly giveaways making me run like mad and more time spent shopping than I really should, I decided it was time to invest in this part of my job. Thus, GoofyGirl's hiring and subsequent magic working.

What do you think? I'd like to hear some feedback. Anything else I should be doing?

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Potty Training Helpers on the Way: Look Who Won!

Poop might happen, but it doesn't have to. Which is where the winners for last Monday's Poop Happens giveaway come in. I have three goodies to give away, including the plush penguin from Pedia-Lax, and random.org helped me pick three winners.

In an attempt to be fair - I'll hand the prizes out in the order that the winners answer me! So Jenny, Donna and Mommyhood is Thankless have 72 hours to send an e-mail my way to claim their prize.

As for the rest of you, there's a new giveaway going up tomorrow and two more waiting for you to win!

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Trap the Cap and Save the Cash

I was ready to bid the markers goodbye for good. It's not the drawing on the floors that gets me going (three words for you: Pledge Multi-Surface Spray . . . works on EVERYTHING!). It's the caps found under the couch, the dried out marker on the table.

I know, they're little, but why can't they learn after being told 500 times? Will it sink in at 501?

Unfortunately, saying goodbye to markers is easier when your friends don't buy them for your child. Since I've been cursed, er, blessed with the kind of friends who prefer to obey the whims of my 3-year-old, I've come up with second best.

CapTrappers came from the mind of an equally frustrated mom - and teacher to boot - who was fed up with grabbing a marker to write up a lesson plan and finding it was dry 9 times out of 10. The strips of rubber fit most size markers, keeping caps handy so Mom won't find them under the couch or inside the refrigerator (trust me, I don't know either). No more rolling off the table,no more "but moooooom, I didn't know where it was." Stuck on the strip, the markers won't roll either, which means less marks on the floor - and less clean-up for you.

Have you "liked" Inside Out Motherhood on Facebook yet? 

Fancy Nancy and a Fancy Giveaway

I have to tell you, I was terrified of having a girl. All that pink. All that glitter. But I recently told the world (and pissed some people off!) when I admitted, I think parenting a girl is the best thing in the world (for me - no offense to you moms of boys!).

Among the 1,001 advantages - for a mom anyway - is the reliving of all of my childhood favorites that were girl-centric. Eloise, Nancy Drew (some day). And thanks to Jillian, I've added a few. Fancy Nancy cracks me up. Not just because my mother is Nancy (and she'll tell you she's definitely not fancy), and not just because I get the Reba McEntire song in my head.

With her pile of flyaway curls and her own sense of style, Fancy Nancy's one of those girls who still has character and the kind of spark little girls need today. She's wholesome and firey, the fancy millenium version of another red head of fiction (remember good old Anne with an "e"?).

These days Fancy Nancy has made a leap off of the pages and into the playroom thanks to Briarpatch and its newest set of games. I snatched up a puzzle for Jillian's first - the 100 pieces are covered in glitter and a perfect activity for the winter months ahead. The same can be said for the card game and "posh" bedroom game that are fancy from end to end.

And to fancy up your fall, I've got a Fancy Nancy game of your choice for one lucky Inside Out reader! To register, check out the Briarpatch store, and come back to comment on your favorite find on the site. Grab my badge and/or blog about this contest for an extra entry, but make sure you come back and leave the link in comments. The contest will run until Monday, October 20, and is open to residents of the US and Canada only. Be sure to come back to see if you've won or subscribe to be the first to know when the winners are announced and a new giveaway goes up! Don't forget to check out our Wednesday giveaway before it closes.

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Twirly Girls Meet Tiny Turnip

I'm officially ready for Halloween.

The costume's been washed, the cute t-shirt bought and Jillian has a new outfit to last throughout the season. I'm not usually into seasonal duds, but the Tiny Turnip candy corn twirl skirt and matching thermal is a lot like the candy that inspired it - the kind of thing you bring out again and again.

I was looking for skirts for Jillian when I came across Tiny Turnip, and the creations from mom Rachel Luzi are pure childhood. For girls, she specializes in the twirly skirt - many with an extra layer of tulle for optimum fluffing while she spins in a little girl twirl. Delicate and simple, the skirts are the kind of girly creations that keep them young. To keep her ladylike, Luzi's created the Tubulars, men's tube socks turned upside down and sewed for a funky twist on tights.

For boys, there's the "Little Man in a Big Suit" - a onesie with a silk tie that will make it clear he's got big deals to make in the diaper set. Or check out Luzi's little cowboy tee, matched up with "shants," a combination short/pant fashioned out of real bandannas so he'll look like a comfy kid with wild west appeal.

And for us? The Tiny Turnip drawings that grace many of the one-of-a-kind outifts come in card form, for when we forget to remember birthdays, parties and well. . . I forget everything these days.

Prissy and Poofy for your Princess

Bought her a Halloween costume already? Send it back.

How about spending money on something that will last them not only the rest of the fall but another two years? In a search for the best in dress up kits (I'll explain that one later), I came across Prissy Poofs. Sorry, it's a girls only post!

The name on this one really says it all. It's a place that deals only in prissy and poofy - but these aren't your old ballet tutus. The layers of tulle come as outfits - from the Spooky Poofs for Halloween to the Princess Poofs for every day (or Halloween - if that's what she's aiming for this year). Frothy and fun, the little tutus are accompanied by headbands that carry along themes like kitten, cowgirl and more, and little additions on the hind end (a long yarn tail for the horse, a poof of cotton for a bunny) add a giggle factor.

Why spend money on a one-time only Halloween costume when you can spread the wealth (and the pretend) for a few years of poofy?

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Walking Away a Winner

The Walking Wings are a one of those lifesaving ideas I wish I'd come up with. But since Upspring Baby got to it first, I'm thanking them for sponsoring last week's Wednesday giveaway!



The winner of a new set of back-saving wings is piece of me. This mama has 72 hours to send an e-mail my way to claim her prize, and the rest of you have two more giveaways to sign up for that went up this week.


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Self Help That I Can Actually Approve

I'm not a self-help book kind of girl. I enjoy my books trashy - the better to escape into.

But when a book arrives on your doorstep, how do you say no? For someone who could live quite comfortably within the stacks of the library, free books are better than . . . well, you know. Let's just say they're almost as good as chocolate.

And The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home by Kathy Peel is surprisingly, un-self-help-book-y. For those of you who ARE self help readers, don't worry. There's plenty in there on the typical self help topics of "managing relationships" and the like.

So why is this an Inside Out find? For the REST of the book, the sections on stuff like the average life span on an appliance (under 12 years for a water heater - now I know why ours just died), or shortcuts for cleaning each room around the house (yes, less cleaning and it's approved by a self-help guru!! woohooo). I'm thinking I should bookmark the section on household emergencies - how to deal with a burst pipe, overflowing toilet, etc. - and place it out for the next babysitter. Just in case.

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Shine On Mom

I don't know that this counts as a "find," but in my ever-widening search for products that make the lazy me feel a little more useful, I have to share this one.

Since I became a parent, my hands have been in some pretty nasty stuff. You know what I mean. Somehow, that's made me that much less likely to grab a pair of gloves when it comes time to do the other stuff - the floor cleaning, the digging in the dirt, pretty much anything that normal people would cover up for.

And guess what's taking the brunt? Not may nails - if you think I have time to do them you obviously haven't met me! Nah, it's my rings. One of the few pieces of jewelry that's lasted into mom territory (I cling to them, actually, as I look like I'm about Bristol Palin's age, and I need everyone to realize I'm not a 12-year-old who popped out a kid!).

So I finally gave in and picked up jewelry cleaner, intent on sitting down to scrub the heck out of my engagement ring and show my husband how much I appreciate him (and how much I'd really, really like a little more jewelry down the line!). But when I pulled my rings out of the Weiman Blue-White Diamond Jewelry Cleaner, I didn't have to scrub.

Hallalejah! Back to sitting on my butt and eating bon bons. Er, cleaning my house.

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How We Party

I don’t really like talking politics.
In fact, I get sick of the talk pretty quickly. But there’s something about election season that keeps me glued to the action.
It’s like a train wreck – I can’t not look.
And somehow, my first election as a parent is different.
As passionate as I was in 2004, that passion has doubled. I argue the points with an added fervor, aware that future that’s in jeopardy isn’t just that of myself and my husband.
It’s my daughter’s future that’s too.
Ironically, I’ve tried as best as possible to remain mum on all things election around Jillian this year.
It’s not that I intend to hide political activism from her. To the contrary – I hope to raise a child who is politically aware, who develops strong opinions on the issues and is chomping at the bit on her 18th birthday to rush to the voter registrar’s office.
With a June birthday, she will be too late that year to vote on school budgets but in plenty of time for the November election.
But I’ve decided I won’t be raising a Democrat or a Republican. It’s not my choice to choose that for her really. As her parent, I plant ideas in her head. She runs with them.
It’s my ideas (and my husband’s) that I hope she’ll embrace. And I’m wary of outside influences making their mark.
Using the names – Obama, Biden, McCain, Palin – in public, she will hear responses. She will hear what people think. And at 3, she will repeat them not because it’s what is right but because 3-year-old’s are like mockingbirds.
Most people avoid talking politics with a 3-year-old. But when the words come pouring out of that same 3-year-old’s mouth, I’ve listened. People take notice. People take leave to say things they wouldn’t otherwise say to a toddler.
People brandish their opinions dangerously close to a line that I don’t want crossed with my child.
And so, at 3, I’ve steered clear of involving her in much more than what I’ve done since she was born, the walk into the voting machine.
I’ll let her help me pull the levers, as she’s done since she was big enough to wrap her hands around them.
And when we’re done, when it’s over, we will discuss what she did on election night with Mommy and Daddy.
We will discuss the reasons Mommy and Daddy are happy or the reasons we are frustrated.
We will tell her what we think and why. And we will answer the questions that come.
We won’t know what her future holds, but we’ll be preparing her all the same.

Read More About This Over at Strollerderby:

Should We Raise Little Democrats or Republicans?

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For Your Little Night Owl

There is one thing that got me through all those sleepless nights after my daughter was born. Alcohol. Oh, sorry. I wasn't supposed to share that. No, alas, I was a good mommy and refrained.

Nightgowns. I don't care if you're having a boy. I don't care if you don't have kids (you're going to a baby shower someday). You need to invest. Because in the middle of the night, when you haven't slept in three weeks and you have to do yet another diaper change, no one . . . NO ONE . . . can manage those little snaps and buttons on those cutesy wootsy sleepers. NO one.

So don't waste your money. Seriously. For the 0 to 3 month range, nightgowns were about the only thing my daughter wore - a few onesies during the day and one gorgeous dress that I got a whole day out of (Parent secret here: for the most part, 0 to 3 month clothes are a rip off. You buy them for us, our kids never wear them)

But Baby Yap Yap is the one place I've got bookmarked for every baby shower from here on out. Devoted solely to nightgowns for the 0 to 3 month set, bodysuits and tees for the kids up to 24 months, Baby Yap Yap can keep them clothed for the first few years.

Reasonably priced and ultra soft (100 percent cotton, of course), the Baby Yap Yap Night Owl gown is one of those 0 to 3 month must haves you know they'll actually use. The line drawings are simple, clean and classic - and come in other critters too. Silly Goose, Copycat and Hungry Hippo get the Inside Out stamp of approval as well.

So buy 'em up, and if they complain - tell them to shut their yap.

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Firefighter Jillian

In honor of Fire Prevention Week, in her PeriPoncho!

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Freebie in the Name of Liberty's Kids

There are DVDs my daughter watches because I'm just too exhausted to fight her. Then there are the movies I sit and watch with her, then let her watch again - and actually admit it.


When I heard Liberty's Kids was hitting the DVD rack, I slipped it right on the Christmas list. The PBS show follows a path straight through the American Revolution in an animated kid series that puts kids in the center of the action. Voiced by the likes of the most trusted man in America (the one and only Walter Cronkite), Billy Crystal, Ben Stiller, the Governator Schwarzenegger and more, the episodes are well written, well acted and well drawn.


They're proof that educational kids TV doesn't have put us to sleep. They caught my eye in reruns a few years ago when I was pregnant and more-or-less housebound, and now they're back, in a full series DVD set to hit shelves on Tuesday, the 14th, courtesy of SHOUT Factory.


And lucky for Inside Out readers, SHOUT Factory has sent me two copies of the Liberty's Kids series on DVD, worth $45 each, to give away!


Want to win? Tell me in comments your favorite PBS show - current or past - and why. Grab my badge and/or blog about the contest for an extra entry, but make sure you come back to leave the link. Contest will run until Wednesday, October 15, and it's open to U.S. and Canada residents. Make sure you come back on the 16th to see if you've won, or subscribe so you'll be the first to know when new giveaways go up and winners are announced!


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For When You're Not in the Mood

You know all those cutesy "you know you're a parent when . . . " e-mails? I warn you, this isn't one of those sites.

In my (not-so-humble) opinion, you know you're a parent when your kids embarrass the bejesus out of you in public. Yes, I just said bejesus. Bear with me, I'm trying to clean up the act now that I'm a parent.

My dear, darling daughter, has the habit of whipping things out of my purse (the Ju-Ju-Be Be Light, by the way) and sharing them with the world. Yes, my tampons too (I apologize to my guy readers, but no topic is off limits anymore. I wipe someone's butt on a regular basis.). Which is why, after all these years of discreetly slipping one out and into my sleeve, I've had to invest in something to hide them.

Fortunately, the Moodeez tampon holders could be a little bag for anything. Designed for protecting tampons from being opened in the bottom of the purse, they're finding new life as a Mom protector from outright embarrassment when our kids go fishing in the middle of a store and yell "Mom, what's this?" while pulling out their find.

Lightweight and washable, the Moodeez are available in more than a dozen styles to suit your fancy, and they can double up as a mini bag to stow little toys or little snacks. Or, better yet, keep something just for yourself for once! Oh, and buy one for your teen daughter. She might actually thank you for something before she slams the door again.

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Glory for Girls Sends Glory Your Way

I already told you why Glory for Girls was worthy of being turned Inside Out, but now the skin care line is helping keep a little extra money in the wallet.

They're offering 20 percent off to Inside Out readers with code BFF, plus a chance to win free iTunes downloads. So get on over there!

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Sara's a Super Mom - She Wins!

Thanks to Julie over at SuperMomz for hosting last week's giveaway, Sara will be walking away with a new Tyke Light for her little monkey. Random.org picked comment #12 out of the 36 comments on the site. I'd like to see the numbers grow guys, because I'm starting to get more prizes - so make sure you hook your friends up!

Sara has 72 hours to shoot me an e-mail to claim her prize. As for the rest of you, keep checking back - a new giveaway goes up tomorrow. And there's one ongoing for a cuddly little buddy . . . so sign up!

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Paper or Plastic? Outlaw 'Em All

I have tried my best not to buy a single bag even as I've started carting them with me to the grocery store every week. If you keep your eyes open, there are enough companies that have caught on that green is everywhere - and they're willing to use you as their sandwich board. In exchange you get a free bag.


But when you find a bag that makes you laugh this hard, AND supports what you're doing, you don't think. You just get one.


It helps that I am a big fan of the moms over at Tiny Revolutionary. One half of the partnership, BreeAnne, granted me an interview for a past piece for PeekabooPicks, and I loved their whole approach to both business and parenting. The moms came from corporate backgrounds - Courtney is still there - but when their daughter was born, they opted to get into business for themselves. They want to change the world for their little girl - or at least do their part.


And part of that is their new Outlaw bag, a canvas bag with a generous cut and a set of bandanna-sporting bandits pointing a finger at anyone who would opt for plastic. Outlaw Plastic Bags it says, and you can cut down your total by up to five every time you remember to tote this one to the store. Think 52 weeks of grocery shopping times five . . . plus an outlaw that reminds you you're nobody's sandwich board.

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Losing My Identity

I know this Inside Out is two weeks late - but my editor at the Democrat was on vacation last week. So I never got back my edited piece to run here in the online version. Just think of it as double the love this week!

Somewhere along the line, I’ve lost my identity. It’s not identity theft – at least not in the “oh no, they’ve spent thousands on electronics and sporting equipment, and we have to fight the credit card company to get it back” kind of sense.
No money has passed hands. And I’m not ripping through old wallets looking for my Social Security card.
But somehow, my name has transferred from Jeanne to “Jilly’s mom.”
Call it too much work – or a case of Mommy brain – but it went unnoticed until last week.
My daughter’s friend wandered into my office Wednesday night.
“Jilly’s Mom, Jilly’s not sharing,” she told me, her little eyes pitiful, her little lips in a pout.
Five minutes later, the same eyes were bright, the mouth spread wide in a grin. “Jilly’s Mom, look! We’re watching ‘Madagascar’!”
OK, she’s only 3. I can’t expect her to remember my name.
But she’s not the one who has me worried.
I was ready to crash when I came in from a day spent photographing yet another wedding when my daughter came rushing to the door. “Mommy, Mommy, I missed you! What did you do today?”
Honestly, I’d talked about her. A lot.
Because every single person had asked me about Jillian. At least every single person I knew. And a few I didn’t.
It’s always nice when people ask, don’t get me wrong. But the conversations I have on the road these days are a far cry from those I was having just three years ago.
We still talk about work at the Democrat, the doings in the news business, the latest stories to hit the street – everyone wants to know what the reporter has cooking.
Sometimes it turns to my parents or my grandfather. But where it might eventually have landed on me – people don’t need to ask anymore.
If you want to know how a parent is, you ask about their kid.
If you want to know about me, you ask about Jilly.
And so it is, I’m not Jeanne anymore. I’m Jilly’s mom.
And I couldn’t be happier.


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A Dapple a Day Makes a Clean House

Did you ever get a little leery wiping your kids stuff down yet again with one of those "kills everything in a millisecond" wipes? I sort of wonder sometimes if my daughter is going to grab her truck one day and her skin will melt right off. Yes, these are the things that keep me up at night - no wonder I'm a wreck!

But lucky for you! Because my search for the cure to my messy house has uncovered Dapple's Dish Liquid, the bottle you can squeeze on the baked-on gunk on the bottom of your saute pan without worrying that you're sacrificing their tummy for your insane need to get every last little streak off of that metal. Phthalate, dye and paraben-free, the Dapple line isn't just about cleaning your life by going green, it's the answer to going green and still getting the place clean.

Now if only they'd make something to zap the stench of milk left in a sippy cup at the bottom of the toy box over a weekend.

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Baby Names Gone Wild

I hit a few of my friends up, and look what we got . . . Baby Names Gone Wild, my new piece up at Babble!

If you aren't already, you should be following me over at Babble. I'm stirring things up these days on their main blog, Strollerderby. Which is why my friends never see me anymore. I'm hiding in my office writing my fingers to the bone. So if you want to know what I'm up to, leave a little love in the Strollerderby comments - maybe I'll actually get a chance to respond!

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Poop Happens, but Lucky for You, It Comes with a Giveaway

I've become inured to regular use of the word "poop." Ain't parenting glamorous? Oh come on, it's part of life. As the book says, Everybody Poops.

Er, sort of. Because poop is one of the hardest (no pun intended) things for a lot of kids to adjust to leaving in the potty, I shared my PediaLax story awhile back here on Inside Out.

New to the shelves at your pharmacy, it's an over-the-counter helper that not only works but is markedly more child-friendly than a big bottle of fiber capsules. And to drive that home, the folks at Fleet (yes, the enema people) have come up with Pedia-Lax Penguin, a cuddly buddy for kids going through a hard time (yes, pun intended there).

And I have one to give away to a mom who thinks her little munchkin could really use a friend. Additional winners will each walk away with a sample of PediaLax - either a box of the quick dissolve strips or the watermelon chewables.

Want to win? Leave a comment sharing a potty training story (it can be funny or not). For extra entries, grab my badge and/or blog about the contest - then leave the link in comments. The contest, as always, will remain open for a week, and is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. It closes on Monday, Oct. 13, so get commenting! And if you haven't already, sign up for the Wednesday giveaway before it closes!

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Glory for Girls is Glory for Mom Too

I don't have a teenage girl yet, but I know it's coming. And I'm not even going to pretend I'll ever be ready. I'm watching the 12-year-old next door (who I'm grooming to be my next babysitter, by the way) closely so I can at least get a jump on the years ahead. More than anything, it's reminded me to look back at my own teenage years . . . and take a look at my life right now.

There are some basics we all want. Whether we're 13, 23 or 43, we want to look and smell nice - without a whole lot of work. And we want to be distinctive.

The Glory for Girls line of teen beauty products stands out for its simplicity. The bottles are basic, the scents fresh and fruity. And the ingredient list is easy enough to decipher. The everyday lotions and body washes are free of sulfates, parabens and other toxic nasties (to borrow a word from Ghostbusters) - which makes Mom as comfortable doling these out for kids' delicate skin as it does dipping under the surface of a relaxing bath with them herself.

The Glory line also sports its own lip balm (it goes on clear Mom, don't worry) with a beeswax base and a smell that makes licking the lips all the more tempting. Coupled with sunscreen and deodorant made in the same vein, these will keep the glory of youth going for years to come.

Coming from Glory's parent company Glory For All - I've got to say, we could all use a little glory. So if you don't have a teenaged girl at home, don't worry - stock up for yourself. I won't tell.

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