Hello March!

This is it: February 29th. Leap Day.

And tomorrow is March — lovely March — and time to think about Easter. I'm so delighted about it. These images from the current Smith & Hawken catalog have me aching for Spring and aching for this Easter Nest. Oh so pretty.



It's been a great week. Thank you for making my sister's feel right at home. I hope you enjoyed their posts as much as I did. (How could you not? They're all so brilliant.)

Have a great weekend. If you haven't had the chance yet, you can enter the Bun in the Oven Giveaway through Sunday at midnight — over $500 worth of prizes — you don't want to miss it. Another "don't miss": lots of hot new deals in the Marketplace!

Using a Gocco Screen Printer — by Sister Liz

The gocco is a small Japanese screen printer. It uses flash bulbs to burn an image onto a small disposable screen with which you can print on paper, wood, cloth — pretty much any flat surface. I use the gocco all the time to make cards, stationery, invitations and t-shirts. Each one is hand printed which gives it a really unique, organic look — like these labels I made. Goccos were discontinued for a while and hard to find but there are a couple places that now carry them: here and here.

Here's what the process is like:



Design your image on the computer to fit a 4x6 postcard size (in this case, I was making two images to print on one screen). Print it out in black and white and then make a carbon copy of that print. Cut it out.



Place the cut image in the center of the gocco pad, install the two light bulbs.



After putting the screen into place, press down on the top of the gocco. The light bulbs will flash and crack, burning the image onto the screen.



Peel the paper off the screen and apply ink on top of the image. It is possible to use multiple colors if you leave room in between for a sticky foam to separate the different color areas. Another option is to make separate screens for each color and wait for the first printings to dry before printing additional colors.



Place your inked screen back onto the gocco machine and place paper on the pad. Press down again on the gocco to apply the inked screen onto the paper



Voila! Some people are really talented at this gocco thing — check out this and this.

I made these cards for my awesome friend.

Sibling Relationships — by Sister Sara

Five years ago, as summer was approaching, I was concerned with some of the one-on-one relationships my children had with each other. My biggest concern was that my oldest (8 going on 9 at the time) and my five-year-old had NO friendship. They often bickered and fought.

So I came up with a plan based on the well-known thought "you love those you serve" and created a schedule for my children to serve each other. It worked so well we have done it every summer since.

This is how it works: every child is paired with every sibling every morning. The combos over the years have included activities like:
-11-year-old daughter and 10-year-old-daughter write and produce a play (including script, costumes and sets).
-10-year-old daughter and 5-year-old-daughter make up dances together.
-5-year-old-son reads an easy reader to 7-year-old daughter.
-7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old-son play jump rope, hopscotch, basketball or soccer.
-5-year-old son and 4-year-old-daughter color a picture together.

As my kids have grown we have continued the tradition and the activities mature as my children do. This is what we did last summer:

-13-year-old daughter and 12-year-old-daughter prepared dinner each morning (including a weekly menu and shopping list). They did all the prep work they could in the morning, together, then one of them did the actual cooking each evening.
-13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old-son played board games each day.
-13-year-old daughter read Alice and Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia to my 9-year-old-daughter.
-12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old-son practiced timetable flash cards.
-12-year-old daughter taught 9-year-old-daughter piano basics.
-9-year-old-daughter practiced her reading with my 10-year-old son.

The kids love this part of the day — and thankfully, they love each other. I will continue to do this as long as I can. I feel like this is one of the best things I’ve done for my children.

Random Giveaway — Bun in the Oven

There are many, many pregnant women out there. Having babies is clearly all the rage. And why shouldn't it be? Learning to be a good mom is very likely the best thing that will ever happen to you. But. Except for a very, very, very few (and lucky) women, pregnancy is difficult. And fat. And nauseating. And bladder squeezing. And far too emotional.

So. To help us keep focused on how amazingly wonderful pregnancy actually is, how about a Giveaway Prize Package full of stuff that's just for Moms — expectant Moms. No baby booties. No rattles. Just cool pregnant stuff for Moms-to-be. So if you're pregnant. Or you know someone who is pregnant. Get your comments in now for the delicious Bun in the Oven Giveaway! Here's what one lucky winner will receive:


Nine Time Three Kit. retail value: $360.00
Back in December I discovered Nine Times Three (or Neunmaldrei in German) and fell in love with the concept: a maternity wardrobe consisting of only 3 pieces. Three pieces that are so well designed and so well made that you'll wear them all nine months. A skirt. A pant. A top. The photography on the site is gorgeous and the story behind the line is brilliant — the designer has been pregnant 5 times and knows exactly what works. In fact, during her last pregnancy, she wore only the Neunmaldrei Kit just to make sure it was perfect. And it was.


Happy Baby, Healthy Mom Pregnancy Journal. retail value $18.95
Such a cute book! Spiral bound inside a hard cover with an elastic closure. You are growing a whole human being inside that belly of yours. Of course you want to use the best building materials possible. This journal will help you create a week-to-week plan for staying healthy during pregnancy and the postpartum months. It includes tips about healthy eating for two, keeping fit, and relieving discomfort. Best of all, it also provides prompts and writing space for capturing your thoughts as your belly grows. Journaling has been proved to be a huge stress reliever — just what you need during this life-changing time.



25 Shower Invitations or 50 Personalized
Note cards from the Hicks Paper Collection. retail value $79.00
I recently posted about the lovely work in the Hicks line. Designed by Sarah Hicks Malone (of Martha Stewart fame). Gorgeous illustrations. Casual, yet refined designs. The winner will get to pick either 25 invitations or 50 personalized notecards. That means, when your dear, dear friend wants to throw you a shower you can graciously say: yes. thank you. and here's where to order the complimentary invitations. Not having a baby shower? You'll still likely to be showered with gifts and luckily, you'll have darling personalized notecards on which to write your thank you notes.


Three Blush Undershirts. retail value: $45.00
I say "undershirts" but technically, they're topless undershirts. I don't know if you've ever tried these, but they will stretch your maternity wardrobe like nothing else. In great colors. Cute patterns. The winner gets to picks her favorite three. Here are tips on how to wear the tops from their site: During pregnancy, you can keep the wardrobe you already have and use the topless undershirt to help cover your belly as your shirts start to ride up. If you are at the stage where you are unbuttoning the top of your pants, use the undershirt single layered or doubled over to help hold them up and hide your exposure! This way you can wear the jeans you already have before having to wear maternity ones. If you are planning to nurse, continue to wear the undershirt so you can lift your shirt without exposing your tummy and back.

Don't all the goodies (over $500 worth!) get you more excited to be pregnant? As if pregnancy wasn't exciting enough as it is. And one more thing, if you hate the term "bun in the oven" my apologies. It's lunchtime as I write this and I'm craving a cinnamon roll.

Thank you to the amazing pregnancy supporting sponsors!

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Random Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until midnight PST on Sunday, March 2nd to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-The winner will be randomly picked and announced Monday morning.
-What are Random Giveaways? Read about them here.

Age Appropriate Sports — by Sister Megan

I have been interested in sports for most of my life. I found out in middle school that I was good at running — I enjoyed running and competing and continued to do it through high school and college. I had been involved in running for so long and loved it so much that I didn't want it to be over once college was done. And I was lucky, I got a job as a track and cross country coach for the local high school where I attended college. I loved it. When we finished college and moved to California I got a job at the YMCA teaching the youth sport classes. I am now trying to get back into shape so that I can compete again. My goal is to compete in a Triathlon in May.


Here I am competing in the Steeple Chase when I was in College.

I have taught and coached sports to children of all ages ranging from 18 months to High School. When I'm teaching sport classes the biggest question parents asked was, "When is my child ready for...?" Sometimes the question came from parents wanting to put their kids in a higher age class in an attempt to advance their skills more quickly. In my opinion that didn't always work out best for the child. Here are a few age appropriate suggestions involving sports:

18 months to 3 years
I taught a mommy and me class for kids this age. It was a mini-gym class so it involved "circle time" where we would sing a variety of songs. The songs ranged from the ones we all know like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, to more involved jumping around songs. Then the kids along with their moms would do an activity that worked on different skills, like hand eye coordination or colors, etc. This type of class is perfect for 2 year olds. The 18 month kids mostly still played on their own. By the time they hit 3 they were ready to move on to a different kind of class.

3 to 5 year olds
This was the next age group I taught. There were 3 different classes — soccer, t-ball, and basketball. It was an indoor class which is good for this age. 3 to 5 year olds are distracted much more easily outside, and it is harder to get their attention. 3 year olds are still not into a lot of structure, and are not good at lining up yet. So for 3 years olds, look for classes that focus on the fun side of the sport and not learning rules and technique. Make sure that the teacher is flexible with different ages, ask if you can sit in and watch a class.

Or. Go ahead and wait a year and take your 3 year old to a park and kick the ball there with them. This is just as effective and at this age, your child will respond better to you than a stranger.

4 and 5 year olds do a lot better with following directions, and are just plain older so it is easier for them to do more things. 4 years old is a great time to start your child in a sport class. Make sure you like the teacher, and your child does too.

6 to 8 year olds
When I taught this age group I learned that within those 2 years is a big ability gap. I had to change teaching styles depending on the age that I had most of. Kids in this age range are also a lot more rambunctious than the younger classes. This is a time when you can really teach the kids the game. They understand things better and are able to play the game as opposed to just learning skills. I always had the beginning of class dedicated to working on skills, then the last half we were able to play the game. The game was their favorite part. When I had older kids I could let them play, and just be a referee. If the kids were a little younger I had to teach while they played.

6 to 8 years old is a good time to sign up for leagues. Find a league that will allow each child a chance to play and do your best to be a part of it. Often, leagues will want volunteers for the team coaches. Step up and try it out — your kids will have more fun if you are involved. If you are looking for a class that will help their technique, find one that is full of kids the same age.

If you want your girls to be involved in sports make sure there are other girls in the classes. Girls this age don't want to have a boy as a partner. Also girls tend to respond much more emotionally when the game isn't going their way. Make sure that the teacher handles those situations well. Those emotional scenes are times that could scare your girls away from sports. You don't want someone to smash their self esteem — at this age it's great if they think they are awesome at everything.

9-14 year olds
This age group I have less experience with than the rest. What I do know is that this is when a kid should really start exploring a variety of different sports. This is when they will find what they are good at, and what they like. Middle School is a fragile time for all kids. They want to please people, and are very impressionable, and are very much influenced by their peers. I feel that this is not the appropriate time to do year round sports, of the same sport. They can very easily get burned out. This is the time that I got involved in sports when I was a kid. I remember wanting to do my best because it made my coaches and my parents happy.

Once they get into middle school they can usually join teams at school. Like I said before, this is the time for them to try lots of sports — and learn about good sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship can be a difficult concept for kids and it can't be taught in a day, but it is as important as any athletic skill they'll learn. One thing that worked for me as a coach was goal setting with the kids. You could help your kids make athletic goals that are realistic, and help them understand what it takes to accomplish them. At this age the biggest thing that you can do for your kids is support their choices in sports, and encourage them not to give up.

This is the team I coached. That is my baby in the middle. They were great kids!

High School
This is a great age to coach. It was my favorite. The kids are still very impressionable and thrive on doing well and getting acknowledged for their accomplishments. For their first two years in high school it is still good to try all different sports. When I coached track we encouraged the kids to try as many events as they wanted. Once your child is a junior in high school they should know what they are good at. At this age it is good to specialize in one or two sports.

As a parent of a high school athlete, the best thing you can do is support them and attend their games or meets whenever possible. My parents were not able to make it to a lot of meets. But when they did I performed a lot better, mostly because I could hear my dad cheering over everyone else.

Oh Yeah. — By Sister Erin

Oh Yeah. This is what turns me on right now:

Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste
I have a hard time finding great vanilla beans. You know the withered, crispy things that come in the Schilling can? Not for me. I love this paste. It infuses my cooking with a rich vanilla flavor. I use it in place of vanilla extract and vanilla beans.



In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
I love the way Pollan thinks and writes about food. I don’t think it’s dramatic to say this is a revolutionary take on food and nutritionism today.

CSA – Community Supported Agriculture
I first heard about CSA from Pollan’s book. The concept fascinates me. Apparently you buy a “subscription” into a farm and you receive a weekly box (in season) of fresh picked goodies straight from the farm. Anyone do this? I want details from a subscriber.

The Splendid Table
I love this podcast. Lynne Rossetto Kasper is knowledgeable, passionate and excited about food. The topics are always varied and interesting to the cook and eater alike. I’m inspired every time I listen.


Sho-U Chicken on Dardanelles Dinnerware.

Anthropologie
After picking up a new set of dishes at an after Christmas sale, Anthropologie has become my new favorite place to shop for kitchen things. Pretty, modern and a little funky.

Bon Appetit
Thanks to a dear friend, I’ve been getting Bon Appetit for years, but they recently just changed the format and look of the magazine. I’m in love with it all over again. Check out the March issue for a great article on eating vegetables, a traditional Southern Easter dinner featuring quirky photos, a great family menu.

We’re moving where?!? — by Sister Rachel

As a former military wife I have had lots of addresses, made lots of friends and tried my best to learn from women who had been there before me. Here are a few things I learned about moving that made my life easier, inside and outside of a military life; I hope they will be of use to you too.

Have all your important papers in one place.
I keep mine in a binder and always know where it is. This has saved me more than once when trying to get a new driver’s license or sign kids up in a new school. Click here for a copy of the list I work from and get yours together today. You'll be surprised at how much peace of mind it brings to you to have this in order.

Don’t own anything that you will cry over when it’s broken by the movers.
It's not that I don't appreciate really lovely (and sometimes expensive) items, but during a move, I didn’t want to worry about something getting stolen or at ending up at the bottom of the ocean — and I didn’t want the grief of having to work with the claims office when something did break. Instead I purchased things knowing that I would replace them in a few years. Other than our journals and family photographs (which are slowly being digitized and saved) I have tried not to put much emotional value on “things”.

Finish moving in quickly. 3 days was our goal to be moved in; everything put away, boxes at the curb and pictures on the wall. (You can always change things later.) We did this for two reasons, 1- We wanted to get things back to normal quickly so we could relax and explore our new town. 2- There are few things more depressing than those last 6 boxes in the corner of the garage. Yuck!! (Quick moving tip: if you open a box and you aren’t happy to see the contents, take the whole box to the curb immediately.)

Embrace your new home. No one said this has to be your favorite place in the world but you can appreciate where you are. No matter where we’ve lived, there were great people, interesting histories and cool things to do nearby. Whether it is a state park, castle ruins or Friday Night Lights; we try to take advantage of the experiences available locally (we especially love free experiences).

Stay positive. If you are happy your kids will be too. Early on in our military life someone told me that she loved growing up in an army family because her mom made it so much fun. She described with excitement in her voice, how her mom would get out maps and travel brochures and they would read and learn together about their soon-to-be new home. This was a life changing conversation for me and I saw this “make it great” idea confirmed again and again in every family I met. If the kids were happy and excited and adventurous, I would find the mom to be the same. If the mom loved living in Europe, it didn’t surprise me that the kids did as well. If the mom seemed to handle deployments, the kids usually did too.


Me and my husband Paul after he returned from a year in Iraq. My kids and I filled our tree with yellow ribbons to welcome him home.

Most importantly, enjoy the time your family is together. Those times can be taken away so easily and so quickly; love every second!

Cotton Idea Studio

I just received an email from Cotton Idea Studio and can barely tear myself away from their website to tell you about them. Gorgeous, gorgeous paper goods. I keep caressing my screen in an attempt to touch them because they are so delicious. Journals, personalized stationery, note cards, coasters, happiness.

Apparently, in addition to their online shop, they have an actual store front in Laguna Beach. And that's one more reason I should move to Southern California.

Raising Good Americans — by Sister Sara

Politics is the Steve and Sara Urquhart family sport. We talk politics, we debate politics, we question politics, we campaign, and we serve. My husband is a Republican and is currently the Rules Chair of the Utah House of Representatives.

Regardless of our party affiliation, my husband and I work hard to give our children all sides of an issue. Issues are complicated. The ones that are easy have already been dealt with easily. I want my children to be able to decide for themselves where they are politically and why.

I would love to see every family dive hard into at least one political campaign — preferably for someone they know well. As a Mayor’s wife once told me in the local grocery store, “Every family should have somebody run for office at some time. It gives each person respect for the process and the positions and keeps them from taking so much for granted."

At the end of the day, it's teaching your children about the process — not about the party — that's important. Once we were at a Republican breakfast rally and a kind, blue-haired lady in a stars-and-stripes sweater looked at my brood of children and cooed, “You are raising good Republicans.” I quickly answered back, “No, I’m raising good Americans.”

Note from Design Mom:
I think I've mentioned before, that in my family growing up, Dad was a Democrat and Mom was a Republican. Political discussions were lively and as children, we weren't pressured into being conservative or liberal, we could decide for ourselves. Among the now adult 8 siblings, we fall across the political spectrum and into both political parties — and we tend to cross the aisle as needed.

If you've wished you were more involved or knowledgeable politically, you may want to visit the newly launched (and party neutral) blog Politics for Moms, which aims to educate Mothers about the political process.

Tag Sales

A couple of sales you won't want to miss:


1) Oeuf, the fine purveyors of mitten sweaters, leggies and a million adorable items, is having their first ever sale. Up to 70% off. And everything is on sale. Seriously. Stop reading and get over there.



2) Sophie & Lili is clearing out their entire inventory. Not familiar with Sophie & Lili? Then maybe you're not spending enough time at Saks Fifth Avenue (wink). Their line has been exclusive to the most stylish boutiques since they launched. But. The husband and wife team behind the gorgeous clothes have recently closed their doors to get ready for the arrival of their second daughter. The inventory is going fast and the prices are rock bottom.

Yay for Tag Sales!

Tumi Ishi Wooden Blocks — by Sister Jordan

These wooden blocks are GORGEOUS. Unfortunately for me (and most of you), they are made by a Japanese company and they won't be sold in the US anytime soon. I'm enlisting my father in law to help me recreate them. We think we need good quality woods, an industrial sander, and wood stain. via Happy Mundane

A high school counselor's 'notes to self' — by Sister Liz

I just had my first child almost 3 months ago and love being a mother and staying home — at least for now. Who wouldn't love staying home with this cute kid?


Before the baby, I worked as a high school counselor and coached the girls lacrosse team in a really good NJ school for three years. I miss it a lot. One thing I loved about my job as a guidance counselor is the ability in my position to see and understand the school district as a whole. I've been able to appreciate this more and more as I've realized how this information can serve me when my own kids are in high school. I know most of you don't have teens yet (obviously, neither do I) but here are my "notes to self" — just in you want to file them away.

1. Get involved in the school in some capacity. Duh, right? But really, make it a priority, and it doesn't have to be a huge commitment. It can be as simple and joining an advisory board or attending PTA meetings on a regular basis. Your voice is important. It's your child's education for goodness sake.

2. Having a good relationship with the counselor is a big advantage. I recognize that if I was a gym teacher I would probably say "Having a good trusting relationship with the gym teacher is key" and I don't mean to be obnoxious, but growing up, my high school counselor happened to be a close family friend. So of course, all of my siblings and both my parents had no hesitation asking him for advice and direction. And it was really helpful. As I entered the same career, I was surprised to find that many high schoolers barely know their counselor and that many parents are hesitant to 'bother' their kids' counselor.

I say do it. Bother away. But bother nicely of course — your aim is to make the counselor a friend and ally. They are truly trained to help and support your student. If you are tight with the counselor you'll likely get an invaluable perspective into the school and studentbody and your child's place in all of it — a perspective that teachers (and the students themselves) aren't able to offer.

3. Empower your teen. As tempting as it may be to call the teacher or school administrator for every question, it's much more important for a high school student to be an advocate for themselves and learn from their mistakes. It's important for them to communicate effectively face to face (not just through i/m or facebook), how to work with authority figures, and how to pick themselves up when they fall. If you find yourself hovering, try chanting this sentence daily (wink): Helicopter parenting for a high school student is detrimental to that needed growth. So relax. Back off a bit.

4. Don't be scared to get your kid psychological help. There are many outstanding therapists that work well with teenagers and understand their needs and issues — possibly better than you do. It's okay to admit you want help offering your teen the emotional support they need and can't always ask for. Don't let pride get in the way. This is another time your school counselor can be invaluable — ask her to help you find a fantastic therapist. Counselors hear all the feedback and will have the low-down on which therapists will work well with your teen's specific needs.

5. When it's time for the college admission trek, get as much help and guidance from the counselor as you can. In many schools, 75% of the job description for a counselor is all about helping kids get into college. And I'm sure you've heard: the process is getting so complicated it can be more than overwhelming — just the admission terminology alone will make your head spin. Your counselor can help your child choose the right schools to apply to — schools that are appropriate and realistic. Plus, they can walk you through the application process itself (think: testing, essays, interviews, paperwork, etc). Use their expert knowledge. In my opinion, there's no need to hire anyone private. (I'm not even joking. A big east coast thing is to hire someone to help you through the college application process. I say, use the free counselor and save your money for tuition.)

6. Special Education. I have so much to say on this that it should probably be a separate post — but the bottom line is do your research and communicate with your child. There are so many legal issues involved that the school special ed department can't always be as straight forward as you might expect. Understanding different levels of accommodations and what it will mean for your child's future is so important. The difference between a regular education class with an additional special education teacher in the room vs. a small class of just special education students is huge. Do your best to show your child to how to be a self advocate, to be well versed in their disability/disorder and the services they need. From what I've seen, over-accommodation throughout their k-12 doesn't prepare them for the real world where you don't get 'extra time' or 'teacher notes' to complete a business report at their future job.

There are a million other things in my head, but these are the big ones I hope to remember. In fact, mom, if you're reading this, will you please email me these notes when Hank starts 9th grade. . .

Ask Design Mom: Preserving your Blog

Ask-Design-Mom Question:
Hi Design Mom, I love your site. I see that sometimes people ask questions and you post GREAT ideas back to them. Here's one for you: I don't have kids yet, but someday would love to. I’d like to keep some sort of paper trail of my blog to share with my children when they are old. Do you have any good ideas other than just printing the posts out? Thanks! Ashley

Design Mom Answer:
Hi Ashley! Your question is a great one and I think I have the perfect answer: Blurb. Blurb is a fantastic company that enables you to publish bookstore quality books in personal quantities — as in, you can publish just one copy if you please.

There are a few excellent book making sites, but Blurb is the go to one for bloggers because of their "Slurp Your Blog" service. "Have a blog hosted by Blogger, Live Journal, TypePad or WordPress.com? Slurp it into a book in seconds." Question answered. Problem solved. Books start from $12.95.




But Blurb isn't just about blogs. You can make a Blurb book about anything: That great ceramic collection you have. The elegant life of your Grandma Rudi. Your sister's favorite recipes. In fact, you could even write a book of poetry — and then print just one copy and hide it under your bed and wait for it to be discovered and published and make the New York Times Bestseller list. At which point you'll finally be recognized as the true genius that you are.

Blurb sidenote: I was contacted by Blurb last September to try out their service and see if I liked it and if you can believe, almost 6 months later, I still haven't made the time to publish my Blurb Blog Book yet. (I know. I know. It's only supposed to take seconds, so what's my hold-up?) And then, in the last 2 weeks, no less than 5 people have emailed — letting me know how much they like Blurb. So apparently it's destiny that you sent in this great question, Ashley. And apparently we're all supposed to make Blurb Books. At least. I am determined to do so. I'll let you know how it goes.

Finding Time and Energy — by Sister Megan

I recently had baby number two — just last November, and I am having to relearn how to manage life. The thing I am having the hardest time figuring out is how to fit in exercise. I have been a runner for most of my life and enjoy being out and about so I'm determined to find a good solution.

With my first baby I figured out that I could workout at home while he napped. That was wonderful! I got some good workout videos and dropped the weight pretty quickly. Now that I am ready to workout again I am trying to figure out what works best with two little ones. Here are some things that I have come up with.

1) Join a gym.
I have a pass to the YMCA. They have a wonderful day care and it is now included in our membership. It is a great way to get back into shape. I love the classes.

But for me, there are a few drawbacks: -I have to get 3 people ready and out the door at a certain time if I want to make one of the group classes. Which is hard to do if you had a restless night. -If the kids are sick, no go. Our membership ate a hole in our pocket for the month of February because we were all sick. I felt like it was money wasted. -I have to stay on site because I have kids in the day care. Which means running on a treadmill. Which is the worst for me — I'll run for 5 minutes and want to be done.

2. Get a double jogging stroller.
I have used a single jogger with my first and enjoyed being outside in the fresh air. Plus in Southern California you can pretty much go out year round (except February, when it rains all the time). This option is a lot easier to fit into your schedule, no place to drive, you just get out and go. I always try to end at a park so that the kids can have some time to play while I stretch out. Plus the kids enjoy being outside. If you like company when you run, you can find mom clubs that workout together.

Drawbacks:
-It is more work jogging with a jogger — but also more of a workout because it's like pushing weights the whole time. -They can also be quite expensive.

3. Go with a friend
It is always easier to get out and do exercise if you have someone to go with. Plus it's not as lonely. You could work out something where you go out while your friend watches the kids then she can go out when you come back. Or just go together early in the morning while your husband is home and the kids are sleeping.

Drawbacks:
You have to work with two peoples schedules and figure out what works best.

4. Workout videos at home
Like I said this is what I did with my first. I'm not sure how to make it work with two — but it's easy to do, easy to follow, you can do it in your own home, and cost is minimal.

Drawbacks:
-You have to do it while the kids are sleeping, otherwise they might get in the way. (My 3 year old likes to lift my weights and play with them.)
-Also, if you do it everyday for 3 months you could get burnt out of the same video and need to get more to stay motivated.

Wish me luck as I figure out my routine — and I'd love to hear what works for you!

I Heart Real Simple

Have you picked up a copy of the March issue of Real Simple? I swear I have devoured it. I think my very favorite part was the "product of the month" article featuring 4 problem-solvers for $15 or less. (It's on page 70, if you happen to have your issue in hand). I could definitely use all four products in my exact life and was so glad to discover them.




The story isn't listed online yet, but the products are: a recycled plastic cutting board, a paint brush that attaches to your faucet to rinse itself out, a clothing hanger that doesn't leave bumps in the shoulders of your tops and some cute little paper clips with a space for a note attached. All smart, easy to use, good-looking items.

Even more fun than discovering these products? Hearing from a Design Mom Reader that Real Simple had named Design Mom one of their favorite blogs! I'm blushing — and delighted to be listed among the company of some of my own favorites, like Decor8, Design*Sponge, Shelterrific and BabyGadget. Thank you Real Simple!

Starting Piano Lessons — by Sister Erin

As a piano teacher, the question I am most asked is: “When should my child start piano lessons?” Keep in mind that my goal for my students is that music will be an enriching part of their lives, a creative outlet, a useful skill and playing the piano may serve as a bridge to other kinds of musical education and instruction. I do not approach this from a competitive viewpoint.



1) Has your child recently learned to read? After a child starts to read is an excellent time for them to start playing the piano, around age 6-8. The mechanics of reading come in handy when learning to read music and it’s helpful if they can read practice instructions. By this point they are also learning how to be responsible for their own homework and gaining greater independence in completing tasks. But there isn’t necessarily a “magic” age. I have students that started to play the piano at age 10 and 12 and they progress more quickly than the younger student and have the strength and dexterity to play more complex music from the beginning. I also have students that started much younger who do beautifully partly because of the time their parents spent helping them practice:

2) Do you have time to help your child practice? The younger the child, the more time you will need to spend helping them practice. If they can’t read you will need to sit down with them everyday. If they can read you may just need to help them for a few minutes at the beginning of practice the first few days after lessons. Of course, this is also dependent on personality. My daughter started at age 5. I had more time to spend with her and once I got her started, she was able to do some practicing on her own. My son is turning 7 soon and I tried to start lessons with him. He wants me with him every time he practices, but I don’t have the time right now, so we’ll wait until he’s a little older and begin again. He also wasn’t very excited about playing the piano, which brings us to question three:

3) Does your child talk about playing the piano or try to play the piano? If they are excited about it, they are more likely to be self-motivated to practice and the better they practice, the more successful they will be and the more they will enjoy playing the piano.

If you can answer “yes” to two of the above questions, consider starting piano lessons with your child.

Hicks Paper

I'm so admiring the graphic, simplified illustrations on this stationery line. It's called Hicks Paper and it's designed by Sarah Hicks Malone — a former Martha Stewart art director. Baby announcements, event invitations. Lovely.

Urquhart Bank — by Sister Sara

Twice a month Urquhart Bank opens for business. Each child is given a generous amount of money and a sucker from the Bank (me) and then learns to budget his money. Each child takes any money he has earned on his own since the last Urquhart Bank day and the new money received and splits it into five categories:

10% Tithing
10% Long Term Savings (LTS)
10 % Charitable Contributions
50 % Short Term Savings (STS)
20% Spending

-Tithing goes directly to our Church.
-LTS is set aside for some future purchase, like college or a house.
-Charitable Contributions goes to something like a fund for rebuilding someone’s house or a tsunami or the teacher at school with cancer.
-STS is something more immediate: a video game, a new bike or a baseball glove. Something they want, they have to save for but can be earned in weeks or months not years.
-Spending is stuff that disappears: a movie, a candy bar or a balloon.

We started this plan years ago, and we have stopped paying the older kids who have started babysitting and earning money outside of the home. However, the budgeting seems to have stayed in place.

This has been a good platform for other money discussions like “Good Debt vs. Bad Debt” or “How and where to use credit cards” or even “Getting a higher yield on your long term savings.” Our ten-year-old boy just asked his dad to explain Certificates of Deposit to him and asked if that is where he should keep his LTS.

From what I can tell, it doesn’t seem to matter much what your plan is for teaching your kids about money, as long as there is a plan. What about you — what are your favorite methods for teaching your kids to be money-wise?

Does anyone know when the crystal balls will be issued? — By Sister Rachel

Our oldest child is a junior in high school. She is super smart and driven and has very high goals and expectations for herself. Because of her hard work she seems to have lots of choices and right now we are being inundated with brochures from colleges and universities from around the country. Although this is very exciting it is also overwhelming. So far no one as given me a crystal ball and I worry about helping her make the best choices possible. There are so many things to consider . . .



A big school where she’s on her own?
A small school where she will get lots of attention?
A prestigious school so I can brag?
A school near home or extended family where I know she won’t be alone?
Private or public?
Big city or a small town?
Will she need a car?
Will she need a part time job?
Dorms or apartment?

(Rising panic, heavy sigh!)

Liz, sister in law extraordinaire and high school counselor, posted this really great article (for me I think) on her blog a year or so ago. I have reread it several times because it helps me remember what I really want for our girl and for all our children for that matter. I want her to be happy, to continue her love of learning and be confident in her decisions. In college I want her to work hard and date a lot and laugh and stay up too late and make lifelong friendships and do things I won’t hear about until the statute of limitations has run out. I want her to take lots of classes that won’t have much of an impact on her life and I want her to take that one class that will lead her to that one thing that she will love doing or learning about and never is able to get enough of. Wow! Is that asking too much?

Wish us luck!

This Little Piggy

I still have some odds and ends to tell you about from the Gift Show. Like this gorgeous leather piggy bank. Made by Looksur from scraps of leather that would otherwise be discarded as waste. So well designed. Such a nice size. Plus, if it falls off your child's bookshelf, it won't leave a hurricane-like mess of ceramic shards, shiny coins and weeping child — not that I've ever experienced anything like that before.

Available for purchase from the Moma store.

Sisters Week!!

Hello Dear Friends. [ Okay. Three words and I'm already writing a tangent — but I do want to say that I adore the dear readers that visit this blog. Creating each post is a bright spot in my day and your kind emails and comments make me smile. I'm so glad to be back after a weekend break and truly feel like I'm surrounded by Dear Friends as I blog. So, thank you. Really, truly thank you. ] Tangent finished.

Something new this week! I've got my sisters here with me. Only virtually of course — but still, I'm pretty happy about it.

On the Blair side I'm lucky to be spoiled with sisters. Ben has 4 smart and talented sisters plus 3 smart and talented sister-in-laws. And because we're married they belong to me as well. On the Stanley side (my maiden name is Stanley), I am also spoiled with sisters — 3 sisters I grew up with and 3 sister-in-laws that have joined the clan since I've been married. That's 13 sisters in all. Could I be luckier? Some are a little younger, some are a little older, but all are friendly, easy to talk to and full of good advice and sound wisdom.

Thirteen Guest Bloggers is a lot for one week, so I'm splitting it up. I've just got the Stanley-side sisters here. All of them are active in the blog world and I knew they wouldn't mind experimenting with a Sisters Week. So here we go. I'll start with an introduction and then you'll see a couple of posts from each sister throughout the week. Too much fun!


Clockwise from top left, Erin, Rachel, Jordan, Liz, Sara & Megan. Click the image to see it larger.

Erin Kelly Stanley
Erin only lives a few blocks away from me, so I'll start with her and then work my way across the country. Erin is possibly too good to be true. She's smart and beautiful. She comes from one of my favorite families. And she cooks. Like really cooks, really well. And that's one of the reasons she's the sister that I live close to — she keeps me well stocked in gourmet treats. Also. Her educational and professional background is in music education which means playdates at her house are like watching Jack's Big Music Show live. Erin is married to my brother Josh and is the mother of 4 wonderful kids. Erin blogs at Lee Lou Ann.

Rachel Rodgers
Rachel is surprised to find herself living in East Texas. It's a fairly new move for her — up until a short while ago she was a military wife and lived with her family all over the world. (Just to be clear, she's still a wife to her champ of a husband Paul, just not a military wife.) After all those relocations, she is currently adjusting to settled life as a homeowner — and sometime chicken farmer. Hey. If Martha can do it, then so can Rachel. Rachel is a really good mom, raising a clan of hardworking, super-smart kids — both young children and teenagers — so she's especially good to go to for advice. And EVERYBODY loves talking to Rachel. Seriously. If