5 kid’s books that are probably out of print that you should try to find anyway
OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS: why do they tease book lovers so? They’re always out there, calling out to you from awesome lists (ahem), just making you wish you could scoop them up and bring them home forever. To me the only thing worse than your everyday out-of-print book is a CHILDREN’s out-of-print book. I’ve experienced what can only be likened to anguish after discovering an incredible children’s book is no longer available.
Blended families and how the shapes of family trees are changing
Families are magnificently complicated. They bend and shift to include new members based on shared lineage, marriage, and choice. These days family trees take on odd shapes. Limbs poke out of nowhere and tangle around one another. Red Oaks mix with Longleaf Pines to create something entirely new and utterly perfect.
Mommy, why do the girl superhero costumes have skirts?
Avital, author of the blog The Mamafesto (among many other things!), had a conversation with her five-year-old son yesterday without even meaning to. They had just arrived back home after a family trip and had a stack of Halloween costume catalogs waiting for them. Her son started flipping through the pages and then made a surprising discovery that he had a lot of questions about.
School-friendly closed toe slip-on shoes for toddlers and kids
You already know it’s back-to-school time in many parts of the world, but what you may NOT realize is that many schools (at least those in the Northern Hemisphere) have a closed-toe shoe policy firmly in place. Rather than argue if this makes sense or not (I admit I don’t completely understand the reasons behind the policies — safety? Nail polish?), it’s way more fun to cruise the internet for sparkly and/or brightly-colored closed-toe slip-on shoes like these red wool shoes by the folks at TOMS ($29).
I used garbage, spray paint, and felt to make my kid a jet pack
I originally got this idea from a pin on Pinterest — and immediately knew my son would need his own jet pack. Gathering the supplies was super easy (we already had almost everything in our house), and the end result is a costume prop he’s THRILLED with.
Are there socially inclusive alternatives to Boy Scouts?
The recent decision by the National Boy Scout Association to continue to exclude gay members and leaders has pretty much finalized my decision not to let my son join. This is going to cause some rift in my family, as my husband was an Eagle Scout and my father-in-law is the local troop leader. Does anybody know of alternative organizations that teach similar skills?
It’s Back to School shopping time! Check out elephant backpacks, rainbow lunch boxes, and more
Y’all ready to GET EXCITED about colored pencils and snap rulers?! This list is chock full of all kinds of goodies — elephant backpacks, reusable snack bags made from organic cotton, and OF COURSE many a colorful, bright, or otherwise delightful back to school accessory.
ZOOM! Make your own paper rockets in four super easy steps
Paper rockets are the best — they will zooom in front of your nose, chase you around the house and ultimately get lost behind furniture. They’re also really easy to make, since you only need four items and the patience for four steps to complete.