Spankin’ New Headlines

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Whooping cough makes a comeback as parents skip vaccines. USA Today

As Sesame Street turns 40, a look back at the show that changed the face of children’s programming. Newsweek

If you’re pregnant and obese, you should only be gaining between 11 and 20 pounds, according to updated guidelines from the Institute of Medicine. ABC News

Mike Tyson's tragic loss highlights the need for parents to watch out for these hidden dangers in their homes. CNN

You probably know your baby’s Apgar store, but do you know anything about the doctor behind it?  Wall Street Journal

Original photo via

Pick a Name, Any Name

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Each spring, just in time for Mother's Day, the Social Security Administration releases figures on the most popular baby names of the previous year. Not surprisingly, last year the chart-toppers were Emily for
girls and Jacob for boys. So which names will emerge as favorites for 2008?  Take a stab at guessing the year's top monikers and you could win an advance copy of naming experts Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz's newest tome, Beyond Ava & Aiden: The Enlightened Guide To Naming Your Baby—plus signed copies of their other classics, The Baby Name Bible, Cool Names For Babies, and Cool Irish Names For Babies.

The contest ends May 7. For more details on entering (or to see a full 2007 Top Ten list) visit nameberry.com/blog/2009/04/20/enter-the-new-nameberry-contest/.

[Photo via]

Spankin’ New Headlines

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Baby-food lessons from chefs? Some parents skip the jarred stuff and get to work in the kitchen. Washington Post

How stressed you are might depend on what state you live in. CNN

10-years post-Columbine: What are schools doing about security? Wall Street Journal

Cash-strapped parents see value in investing in straight teeth for their kids. New York Times

Dealing with kids’ health decisions, no matter how small, can get tricky when parents are divorced. Washington Post

Bedbugs are on the rise and the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to figure out how to stop the pesky biting insects. AP

Original photo via

Spankin’ New Headlines

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Brand-new baby boom. More babies were born in 2007 than any other year in our nation’s history. Yahoo! News

It’s back to work for many mothers whose husbands are out of jobs. USA Today

Toy manufacturers are cutting back on big-ticket items as parents choose less expensive, simpler playthings. Wall Street Journal

Your cooking and eating habits have an effect on your entire family. New York Times

Finally: A new study gives hope for a peanut allergy cure. The Washington Post

Original photo via

Racing Stripes

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

 
It's not especially practical (who wants to let their kids tape up the house?) but I just love the idea of this Autobahn tape from Up To You in Toronto. Super-fun.

(Found via notcot.)

In the Market for a New Car?

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Deciding which car to buy is perhaps one of the biggest decisions a family can make — Is it safe? Is it green? Does it get good mileage? How long will it last? Is it dependable? New site CarZen seems like a great starting point: Topics include family safety on the road, ownership tips, insurance info, and traveling with children and pets. There's even a section on Top 10 Features for Moms, which includes of list of 10 handy-dandy, mom-friendly car gadgets, like DVD players with wireless headsets and soft-close doors to save tiny fingers from pain.

And of course for more info on the best family cars, keep your eyes peeled for the Parents annual car guide, which is coming soon!

Do you believe in horoscopes?

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

I know they’re purposely written in a way that readers of every sign will find something that applies to their own personal life. And I know there’s no scientific basis behind them. And yet  . . . every time I indulge the guilty pleasure of reading what the stars say about what’s in store for this Capricorn or how being born a Libra affects my daughter’s personality, it all seems to make uncanny sense. But what do you think: Do zodiac signs really have something to offer for you—and about your loved ones?

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For the Love of Pushing Daisies

Monday, October 27th, 2008

When it comes to TV, I choose carefully. I know it’ a time-suck. So last year when one of my oldest friends called from LA (he’s in the biz) to say he was sending me a pilot of a show called Pushing Daisies just a couple of weeks before it was scheduled to air, I simply asked, “Why?”
He was trying, he said, to create a buzz. He wanted me to help. I was skeptical. I had to watch a new show AND create a buzz? Who has the time? Then I got the DVD and watched it. Then I watched it three more times while waiting to watch it live with the rest of America. I was enthralled. I still am.
It turns out my industry friend knew grassroots support was in order, because the show is so gloriously different from everything else on television. There is no way to get across just how beautifully and cleverly written, acted and shot each episode is in a 30 second promo. (Also, the outfits are a show in themselves, and the narrator is Jim Dale, the gifted voice of the Harry Potter audio books). The plot is intricately playful and therefore, tough to cram into a quick commercial. Short of sending everyone in America pilot DVDs, how else can ABC get people to give it a chance?

Well, it seems they haven’t figured that out yet. According to Yahoo TV, Pushing Daisies is in danger of being canceled even though it was nominated for three Golden Globes and won three Primetime Emmys.
So this is me, one year later, trying again to create a buzz. I’m telling you about a show that is smart, funny, romantic and mysterious, without being crass, dumbed down, sexed up, or violent.
Even if you don’t watch, maybe just turn that small kitchen or basement TV you never use to ABC on Wednesdays right around 8PM Eastern, 7PM Central. If you do watch, you’ll be smiling. If you don’t but your TV is tuned in (maybe with the volume down) ratings will still go up, and I’ll be smiling. With the economy, and all the other trials happening in our real lives, I leave you with the words of my friend Jon, who discovered the show on his own, without my buzz-creating pressure. “This show is such a great break from real life. I love it.”
Photo via.