It’s just two little words, but it’s a phrase that every mom dreads: “I’m bored.” With summer officially behind us and the chill of autumn moving playtime indoors, you might find yourself scrambling to keep the kids busy. Forego the TV and take a cue from Mother Nature instead; these fall-inspired craft ideas are simple, cheap, and – best of all – tried and true boredom busters.

Apple Stamping

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

Whether you picked one peck too many or chose some not-so-crisp honeycrisps in the produce aisle, those extra apples are still valuable. Turn them into stamps to create instant art on cardstock, canvas bags, or t-shirts. Simply cut apples lengthwise and either brush fabric paint on the cut surface or dip in an ink pad. Press firmly and evenly on the surface of your choice. (Tip: place newspapers or old t-shirts underneath to blot any paint that bleeds through.) Hand-paint a stem and leaf for a fresh-from-the-orchard finish.

Extra credit: Cut apples cross-sectionally to reveal a star shape in the center and teach young kids about shapes. Stamp canvas bags to make easy teacher gifts for the holidays.

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I’m not the most masculine man in the world. I don’t like snakes or spiders, the only working out I do are 12-oz. curls, and the prospect of shooting and skinning an animal is about as appealing to me as a full frontal lobotomy.

That said, I was born and raised in Texas and as such have many opinions about many things — how to cook a steak (medium rare is pushing it), designated hitters in baseball, childbirth methods, etc. — that might be thought of as anachronistic. So when my wife suggested that we have our baby here at home, possibly in our very own birthing tub(!), I was…skeptical. { read more }

Photo: D. Sharon Pruitt

Ah, sleep. It’s a simple word, but for a new parent it can feel so complex. For some (lucky) parents, sleep doesn’t really seem like an issue. Sure the first couple of weeks/months are hard, but eventually everything sort of works itself out. Their children easily take their naps and slumber peacefully at night. (I know, it’s not fair.)

But for many parents, the word “sleep” can hit your nerves with irony (“sleep like a baby! ha!”), frustration (“why won’t my child just go to sleep!”) and worry (“how is my child still thriving on so little sleep?”). There is a reason why there are so many books on the market with promises of well rested families and healthy children. And yet, not one solution works for every child whose unique needs, habits, and personality can make the whole sleep issue tricky. { read more }

Photo: www.planetgreen.com

Yes, you can take small steps to a more environmentally friendly household!  Here are simple ideas to get your family on the path to making your home and lifestyle more “green.”

1. Use canvas shopping bags

Those plastic bags at the store are petroleum-based, never decompose, and, really, you don’t 100/month… Most stores sell sturdy reusable bags for 99 cents, and even give them away periodically. They hold much more than plastic bags, can be slung over your shoulder to unload your car faster than carrying 12 plastic bags, and can be laundered. When you’re at the store, go ahead and buy one at the register for your immediate purchases. You will soon have 8 in your car trunk. It becomes instinct to grab them when going into a store. { read more }

Photo: WikimediaCommons

The blessed moment has arrived! You’ve peed on the stick and the lines came up positive, or the screen said pregnant, or the plus sign showed up. Whatever sign you were looking for, you got it! But now what? Well, my friend now you wait. And wait. And, um…wait.

Welcome to the waiting room!

Remember when Tom Petty said, “the waiting is the hardest part?” He was kind of right. Just a few days ago (or whenever you tested) you were waiting for the positive, now you’re waiting for the baby. And this wait is pretty passive as far as you’re concerned.

You have to wait for your first doctor’s visit where they’ll tell you that you have to wait to hear a heartbeat or see a scan image of anything other than a sac of fluid. Then you have to wait to feel anything, though some of those little gas bubbles around weeks 17 and on might be your baby bean. You have to wait to see a profile picture and gender, and you have to wait to show or to feel kicks on the outside. { read more }

Giving advice to other parents is tricky. Parenting is a personal experience, and no parent wants to feel they’re being judged. Plus, the truth is that every child is different, and there’s no single piece of advice that is universally true always.

That said, as the stepparent of an amazing seven-year-old and a parent of an adorable six-month-old, I have a unique perspective on parenthood from both sides of the proverbial fence. And most of the time, I’m just trying not to fall off. { read more }

Never in the history of man has there been so many options at the dinner table. Unfortunately, most of what we see on our grocery store shelves are nothing more than food impostors: highly processed “stuff” that has more in common with our high school chemistry experiments than with actual food.

So how do you get more real food into your diet? The answers are pretty simple, but not always easy. With our hectic lifestyles, limited funds, and the constant roller coaster of what is considered “good” vs. “bad,” it’s easy to give up the battle before ever putting on the armor.

Well, folks it’s time to armor up! Here are five super simple ways to get more whole foods into your diet.

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Photo: Flickr.com

Pregnancy is a holistic experience involving your changing body, the living being inside you, and both yours and your baby’s nutrition. Transitioning to a healthy diet for your pregnancy doesn’t mean “eating for two” as many often say. As an expectant mother, it is vital to be mindful of the quality of the foods you eat.  What you eat during this time will either have positive or negative effects on your overall well-being, and ultimately, on your baby’s development.

Let’s talk about what you should be eating and why. { read more }

Photo: Thirteen of Clubs, Flickr

When I read this story a few weeks ago, I was baffled by the headline. Aren’t strokes mostly suffered by the elderly and those with deadly levels of cholesterol? I couldn’t imagine a pregnant woman, glowing with all her maternal glory, suffering from a stroke. It seemed wrong and disturbing.

Unfortunately, it’s a sad fact, backed up by even more sound facts and stats by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Between 1994-95 and 2006-07, the percentage of pregnant women who were hospitalized for stroke rose 47%
• The number of new mothers (who had just given birth) who suffered stroke within three months post-partum increased 83%
• During the 1994-95 to 2006-07 period, hospitalizations due to strokes suffered by pregnant and new mothers increased 54%
• For 2006-07, more than 53% of the women who were hospitalized for strokes during pregnancy were either suffering from high blood pressure or heart disease { read more }

Babywearing is increasingly trendy these days, and it’s easy to see why. Studies show that carrying babies close reduces crying, eases colic, and promotes healthy attachment. With so many types and brands of carriers flooding the market, though, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We’ve broken down the differences and researched the best products to help you decide what’s best for you and your little one.

1. Put a Ring Sling on It

Maya Wrap. Photo: Amazon.com

Ring slings and pouches are the simplest carriers with the fastest learning curve. Pouches are a simple loop of cloth usually crafted from cotton or fleece. Ring slings are long strips of fabric fed through rings for an adjustable fit and can be made of cotton, linen, or silk. Both create a deep pocket for your baby to be cradled, worn on the hip, or sitting upright tummy to tummy. Keep in mind that these are worn on one shoulder, so they’re probably best for quick trips.

Ideal for: newborns who like the cradle position, toddlers who like hip carries

Best brands: Maya Wrap, Zolowear, and Sakura Bloom for ring slings; Hotslings and Peanut Shell for pouches

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