Babble

  My boy already bounces around like he's part bionic. So to ease the wear and tear on his hinges and hydraulics, I opt for tried and true brands like Vans. These slip-on robot shoes ($34) feature ankle biter 'bots in lively colors. And let's face it: Summer is not the time to fight with laces.

  Once upon a time, I liked to follow up some Saturday morning cartoons with American Gladiators and little WWF wrestling. Maybe that's why I think it's so odd  that Hulk Hogan ended up hosting a primetime version of the Gladiators. In Gladiators, I've always liked "Joust" best, aka when players hit each other ...

  I’m a pocket person. Give me something small to hold, like a piece of paper, and I put it in a pocket. Sometimes I remember to remove said treasure before laundry day. Other times, I’m digging through piles to find which pants still hold my dry-cleaning ticket. And on worse days, I find clumped wads in the dryer and wonder what they used ...

  When I was a kid, force fed flavorless health food by well-meaning but misguided parents. Seeing the other kids with their sugar-laced peanut butter and preservative-rich jelly made me green with envy. Now that I’m the responsible one, I try to balance nutrition and flavor in my boy’s lunch, and to protect his brown bag bounty I prefer to ...

  Ah, babies bloom a little everyday, don’t they? And then there are those moments when they’re down right ripe. Let Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day take care of the stinkier moments. That’s right, Mrs. Meyer’s, the company that helped make kitchen sinks smell like lavender now bestows the power of its essential oils on children. The company’s Baby ...

  Have a product you'd like to market to girls? Make it pink. Even if it’s something inherently masculine ... like a mustache. Stylish Mustaches for Girls ($5.95 at Archie McPhee) offer the dapper lass seven options to decorate her upper lip for the week. Silly? Yes. Fun? Absolutely. 

  Between trying to be earth-smart and penny-wise, I'm avoiding pre-washed, pre-cut and pre-packaged fruit and veggies and doing the work myself. Anyone else? It's not a big to deal to put carrots and grapes in reusable containers so they're ready for lunches for the week. The apples, however, turn brown quickly after you cut ...

  If your household includes a momma who works out or wants to start, she needs your help. She needs someone to watch the kids and help keep her motivated whether she’s working to lose weight, stay fit or run a marathon. For the fit-focused mom, choose gifts that help her track her goals and show you support her hard work. The Fitbook ...

  Ruthless & Toothless kids’ clothes usually feature tattoo-inspired art, but I’m loving the Brown Stone Dress' print of colorful leaves overlaying a brownstone-lined street. Whether in the city, ‘burbs or the beach, this 100 percent cotton dress is a comfy, cool summer piece. Available for $38 in sizes 2, 4, and 6 years. 

  I am not posting this sale notice on vacuums for Mother’s Day: I’m posting because I know a bunch of parents covet the much-talked about cleaning power of a Dyson. Target’s offering 20 percent off most Dyson products through Saturday. That means the DC25 All Floors vac with onboard tools, which normally sells for $499, is a full $100 off. ...