kate

Teaching Character: Gratitude

February 21, 2012

Gratitude is the new attitude! This one’s easy: say thank you. OK, it’s not that easy; just saying please and thank you isn’t going to magically teach your child to be grateful. But it will go a long way in showing what gratitude looks and sounds like. Children have an innate awareness of the ‘good [...]

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2012 Best Cars for Families Awards by U.S. News & World Report

February 20, 2012

About a year ago when the last baby in our extended (but growing) family was born, I talked my sister into writing up her recent car buying experience. Something about her telling of the ever so serious finance guy forgetting to take her money after her boobs made an appearance got me to thinking of [...]

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How the Itsy Bitsy Spider Became A Butterfly

February 15, 2012

You know that song, the Itsy Bitsy Spider? Some people call it the Eentsy Weentsy Spider. Regardless, the Itsy Bitsy Spider crawled up the waterspout, encountered some bad weather and bad luck. But the sun cures all and she finds herself doing it all over again. Kinda like having child #2. I actually love this [...]

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Teaching Your Child Character: Self Control

February 14, 2012

I have honestly no idea how to do this. I lack a certain amount self control Oh, I’m getting better, I suppose. But this is one I struggle with. Maybe you can relate? So I embark on this character trait as a exploratory journey. Can I teach my children something that I, myself, need to [...]

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Party Like A Rock Star With Eventup

February 13, 2012

Imagine – you and your pals in the Entourage house – you know, the HBO series about Vinnie Chase and his boyz E, Turtle and Johnny Drama. Imagine yourself in their house, living it up. Hanging out. Doing what people do who actually live in a place like that. Every time I watch Entourage, I [...]

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Do You Have A Personal Bubble?

February 13, 2012

When I lived in New York, I rode the subway every day to graduate school. Some part of me loved this time in such a public place because I could watch people freely, knowing I was probably being watched by another voyeur. Also, I felt alone, as if I was in my own world. Not [...]

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Domino Is Coming Out of the Closet

February 10, 2012

For all you design buffs who cried when the magazine Domino was shuttered, listen up. Conde Nast is resurrecting it for a one time, special edition called Quick Fixes. Some considered Domino to be obsession worthy – so much so that there is a Flickr group dedicated to old content. So I know some of [...]

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Do You Question Your Kid Too Much?

February 9, 2012

What if I could tell you how to make your home more peaceful? Would you like to read something like that? How would you like to reduce conflict in your house, to have your child actually listen to you the first time you speak? Will you keep reading? But wait, OK? I don’t sound like [...]

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Wells Fargo: Your Heart Is In the Right Place But….

February 8, 2012

Have you seen one of the latest Wells Fargo ads about their saving program? It stars a lovely kindergarten teacher, possibly 1st grade. Doesn’t matter really. She’s a teacher of small kiddos. She’s talking about needing to save money in order to buy her classroom art supplies. Like a good bank, Wells Fargo is there [...]

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All Clad Slow Cooker: My New BFF

February 8, 2012

Call me old fashioned, but when the cold weather hits I yearn for stews, soups and steaming cups of coffee. You too? Good. Well, get your hands on a slow cooker and get cooking. I bought the All Clad Slow Cooker from Williams-Sonoma and, literally, my husband just told me that ‘we do have other [...]

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I Know What You Need: A Little Herb

February 8, 2012

He he he. No, I’m not talking about 420 friendly, mary-jane or weed, chronic, ya ya or whatever else the kids are calling it these days. Just herbs. As in cooking. How many times have you thought – or heard a girlfriend say – I’d love to have an herb garden but hey, I don’t [...]

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Tears and Tantrums: Taming the Beast

February 8, 2012

Crying. Let’s first define it. Crying is tears. It can lead to screaming and kicking and shaking. Crying isn’t whining. Crying isn’t meowing. Crying isn’t going boneless and falling to the floor to get what you want. Also not crying: sweating, coughing, shaking and even throwing up. But all that can lead to true crying. [...]

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