Stephanie Sheaffer writes about books, babies, travel, food, and philanthropy.
In 2011, we had two little girls and under 20 toys. We now have three little girls and four small fabric bins for toys: stuffed animals dolls pretend play play food Here's a close-up of one of the bins. I took photos of the contents and made simple labels so that the girls (and guests) can know where things go. To keep everything well-organized and easy to pick up after playtime, we bought a ClosetMaid 9-Cube Organizer in Alder (watch Target for sales!) and put it in the … [Read more...]
Expecting a baby or know someone who is? Take a look at the Mommy/Delivery BFFLBag®. Designed by Dr. Elizabeth Chabner Thompson (an oncologist and mom of four), it is described as "the ultimate hospital bag, providing comfort, convenience, and caring for women preparing for childbirth." The bag, which retails for $120, is designed to be used for either C-section or traditional birth. Contents include: axillapilla® pillow for recovery and nursing support a collapsible water … [Read more...]
"I don't know if I can do this," I whisper it into the blurry room. The contraction begins to rise and I scream, sing, breath, and pray simultaneously. With a final push, the crescendo, her body slips through mine. I catch her and bring her to my chest, elated. Three natural childbirths later and I have no regrets. Each time, I was afraid. Each time, the baby slid out into my arms and the pain evaporated, replaced by pure relief and indescribable joy. Please note as you read this article … [Read more...]
I ran my first 10K yesterday - my longest run ever! After kissing three little blonde heads, I walked out the front door into 44 degrees and glorious rays of sunlight. One foot in front of the other, I prayed and breathed with each step. If you've circled a 10K date on the calendar and you're gearing up for 6.2 miles, here are 10 tips to get you there: 1. Run a 5K first. Set your sights on smaller races and gradually work your way up. 5Ks are a fantastic distance because you can start … [Read more...]
Finding the best grocery stores in the USA took a bit of travel. In 2011, we traveled 20,000 miles across the USA, spanning 30 states and 9 months. We toured businesses, volunteered at non-profits, went on roller coasters and ferris wheels, visited more children's museums and science centers than the average person will see in a lifetime, and saw a whole lot of...grocery stores. Since our mode of transportation was RV, we had a kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and oven. We also had a mini … [Read more...]
Our youngest baby is just shy of 9 months old. She's a crawling, climbing, standing, smiling sensation.We all adore her. She alternates between my arms, her daddy's arms, her sisters' arms, and doing acrobatics around our house all on her own. When our arms get tired or the late afternoon grumpies visit, I like to put her on my back to keep my hands free for cooking, cleaning, and kid-corraling. Designed by a mom of four in Las Vegas, the kokpax classic carrier has been one of my go-to … [Read more...]
While at Target this afternoon, Tim and I started reading labels on baby washes. Which one, we wondered, was the best, the healthiest, the safest, and the sweet-smellingest? We tried to decipher the long words and lingo, weighing the costs with the bottle's promises. After the blur of options, we reached for the nearest bottle and came home to research the most common brands, their core ingredients, and their safety ratings. The products are listed from least expensive to most expensive … [Read more...]
Twas’ the week before Christmas...not the best time to brave the crowded malls. Stay cozy and warm, while getting great prices at Amazon. December 19th is the last day to get FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders of $25 or more. The cut-off is 3:00pm EST or 12:00pm PST to get your packages by Christmas Eve. If you have Prime, make your order before Friday, December 21st, to get your gifts by Christmas Eve. Here are a few of our last-minute picks. Who is still on your … [Read more...]
It took us 6 hours flat to get from our house to Albuquerque, New Mexico. We only stopped once, a quick bathroom break alongside the road. Everyone was happy the entire time. In fact, it was the easiest road trip we’ve ever taken. Here are 4 things that kept us smiling on the way… 1. [...]
