GoodyBlog

Plug of the Week: Home Improvment Made Easy

When Marni Jameson isn’t writing for Parents, she’s dishing out very practical and funny home-decorating advice in her syndicated column “At Home with Marni Jameson." Her new book, The House Always Wins, is about how you can create your dream home—but a real-world, budget-friendly dream home that actually works for a family, not a spartan, spotless showroom. And the book isn't all how-tos: Marni has two daughters, one of whom wants gorillas and elephants painted on her bedroom walls and a “furry phone,” so she’s also got great tips on finding a sane compromise when your kids make crazy decor requests. You can order a copy here or enter to win one by sending her your most horrific remodeling tale.

Mother's Day Gift Idea: America at Home

We are just two weeks away from Mother's Day (13 days to be exact—where did April go?), so it's not a bad idea to start planning the gifts, the breakfast in bed, the truck loads of roses, etc. And here is one more totally unique gift idea for ya...

America at Home is a beautiful book of photographs of American families from all over the country. Published in partnership with Ikea, this book contains over 250 photographs by100 leading photojournalists. The book's intro is written by Matt Groening of Simpsons' fame, and is followed by a series of thought- provoking essays about home by noted writers, including Amy Tan, Dominique Browning, Terry Teachout, Richard Rodriguez, and David Pogue.

But here's the absolute, coolest part...the part that will bring tears to a mother's eyes: for $39.95, you can upload your OWN family photo to customize the cover of the book, putting yourselves among the pictures of this extraordinary photo essay. It really speaks to the point that we all have special yet relatable moments that can resonate with anyone who cherishes their family and their home.

Thanks to PhotoJoJo for the link!

Cupcakes to DIY for!

Parents food stylist Karen Tack just released a "faaabulous" how-to book called Hello, Cupcake! Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make. GoodyBloggers GoodyVloggers Taryn, Amanda K., and I crashed the recent launch party with a camera to check out the book, chat with her about the art of dessert, and learn how to make some of the cutest cupcakes ever–well, everyone's except mine...thanks again, guys.

   

Shades of Green

Adopting a green lifestyle seems simple in concept, but actually putting it into practice isn't always as easy. That's why I love Green, Greener, Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-Smart Choices a Part of Your Life by Lori Bongiorno. This book offers advice for being earth-friendly, no matter what level green you're at. Here's a sneak-peak.

For your kids:
Green: Choose safer plastics. Lego and Sassy don't use PVC.
Greener: Buy locally made toys at craft fairs and farmers' markets.
Greenest: Buy less. Find safe "toys" around the house, such as wooden spoons and pots and pans.

For your laundry:
Green: Use cold water for all rinse cycles to save energy.
Greener: Buy green laundry detergents, and spot clean items when possible rather than tossing them into the machine.
Greenest: Always line-dry clothing.

For you:
Green: Support local breweries and local wine.
Greener: Buy beer from a brewery that enforces sustainable practices, like Brooklyn Brewery.
Greenest: Brew your own organic beer. Seven Bridges Cooperative offers tips and supplies.

What stage green are you at?

Good Deed Friday: Kids' Books for Earth Day

Earth Day is on Tuesday, April 22, and a great way to get your kids involved is to pick up an eco-friendly book to read together. Here's a look at my new favorite picture book:
Michael Recycle - Set in a grimy town that has been taken over by trash, Michael Recycle comes to the rescue yelling: "You've got to recycle! You've got to act soon! Before all your trash, reaches up to the moon!" Inspired by the "super-green hero," the town members react by creating a Be Greener Campaign that includes: recycling, growing their own veggies, and collecting rain for reuse. It's a beautifully drawn book with lots of bright, vibrant colors to get you and your kids excited. Plus, there's 2 pages of Michael Recycle's Go Green Tips at the back of the book with practical ways your family can help the environment.

For the younger set, check out the adorable board book Eco Babies Wear Green (found via Dr Vino).

Spankin' New Headlines

A new picture book helps kids understand why mommy is getting plastic surgery. Newsweek

A chemical in certain plastics may pose a risk to babies, children, and fetuses, a government report states. LA Times

Canceled flight? How to deal. Yahoo! News

Is it a good idea to be BFF with your daughter? Reuters

The rising cost of ingredients is causing some school systems to scale back on lunch options and consider price increases. Washington Post

Original photo via

A Lecture Worth Reading

After Jeffrey Zaslow wrote a column in The Wall Street Journal about Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Randy Pausch’s “last lecture” in September, more than 6 million people around the world watched it on YouTube. Although professors are often asked to give a lecture summing up their careers as if it were their last, Pausch’s was particularly poignant because the 46-year-old had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He talked about how lucky he'd been to achieve most of his childhood dreams—including authoring an article in The World Book Encyclopedia and being a Disney Imagineer—but what he really wanted to do was articulate his joy for life for his three young children. In response to the overwhelming interest, Pausch collaborated with Zaslow to write The Last Lecture, being published today.

Really Fun Books for Toddlers

My 2 3/4 year-old son Will got these awesome Minibug books—Giorgio and His Star Crane Train, Bob and His No. 1 Van, Clemence and His Noisy Little Fire Engine, and Keith and His Super-Stunt Rally Racer. He loves them! What’s more, I love them, which is great since we have to read each about a zillion times a day. Basically, the books star four wild and crazy bugs who drive their friends around playing crash and splash and racing games. They make loud beeping noises, drive downhill really really fast and just generally create mayhem. In other words, they are having F U N!!! Now this is reading. The author, Jessica Spanyol, lives in London with a 7 year-old and 2 year-old twins who probably give her tons of ideas. I’m going to buy her other books now!

Spankin' New Headlines

The name game: If you choose a weird one, how will it affect your child’s life?  New York Times

Harry Potter fans, listen up! The 7th and last book will be split into two films because there was so much good stuff to work with. Yahoo! News

A scary fact: One in four teenage girls have at least one STD, according to new CDC data. USA Today

Pets can spread deadly MSRA infection. MSNBC

How children handle their parents’ scandals. ABC News

Is your child studying engineering? There’s a new push in schools to start teaching the subject as early as kindergarten. Wall Street Journal

Original photo via

An Elephant In The Room

How fun is this Riding Elephant from Moroccan company Zid Zid Kids? It's made of faux leather and the stuffing is recycled cotton and sponge scraps. I love that it has a back pocket where your kid can store stuff. But it's pricey: $249 at Designpublic.com.

For less cash ($64) you can get these sand-filled Book Ends. Perfect for a kid's room, but I'm wanting them for myself!