Why Reinvent the Wheel?

No need to make your own car seat cover when Nomie Baby has done all the work for you!

Sometimes it's fun to have projects, and make things yourself.  It's a way to add your special touch, make it personal, or just have a fun activity.  However, when it comes to creating things that will make your live easier, there seems to be no need to reinvent the wheel when someone has done all the hard work for you.  

Often people are searching for car seat covers, and many responses involve ways to make your own.  This seems like a strange solution, since the purpose of a car seat cover is to solve a messy problem and make things easier.  Nomie Baby has done all the work for you, and with a variety of colors to meet everyone's style.  They are also reasonably priced, so having a few on hand is not a problem, just the way you have a number of changing table covers, so when one is in the laundry, you are still covered.

If you still want to your car seat cover to have a personal touch, order one with your child's name in a fun font and color.  Now you have more time for other fun projects. 

Tips for Taking Great Pictures of Your Kids

Summer is a wonderful, relaxed time of year.  Days are longer, there's more time with the family, which often means terrific photo ops! I know there have been many times that I have been with my family and thought, "Oh, this would be a perfect time to take pictures of the kids."  Either I didn't have my camera ready, no one else was in the mood, or everyone came out in shadow.  To help capture these moments in the best possible way, I asked one of my favorite photographers, Kim Washam, who specializes in  New York City newborn photography, but is also amazing with older children.   Kim shared some of her tips for taking great pictures of kids.  I am thrilled to pass them along... enjoy!

• Some kids are born smiley, some are not.  There's a sweet spot in my heart for those "pensive" little faces.  They are so inquisitive!
• Avoid shooting in direct sun.  Open shade is great lighting. Under playscapes, building overhands, or inside facing windows.
• Children get sick, it rains, blood sugars get low, or your 'littles' just might refuse a picture.  If any of these things happen during a session or when you think you see a "perfect shot" just be patient, the goods will come when you least expect it. ( Remember to keep your camera handy!)
• My favorite line with the 4-6 year old crowd is, "Are you married yet?"  This is as natural as a smile gets.  Try it!

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Activities to Beat the Heat with your Child

When summer hits, I find my self saying to my kids, "get up and out.  Enjoy the beautiful day.  Don't sit inside."  BUT, on days like today, when the thermometer is going to read 100, I am searching for indoor activities.  Here are a few thoughts for heat-beating things to do with your child :

1. Make juice pops - they are easy, fun, and a cooling treat

2. Create fun art projects with photos - Crayola.com makes it easy to turn your favorite photo into a coloring page for your child to color

3. Look at your calendar, and make birthday cards for upcoming birthdays.  File them and now you have saved time in the future!

4. Wash the car - get a bucket, some sponges, and a hose.  This is one time when you will all love getting wet!

Enjoy, stay cool and have fun!

Getting out the door quickly with Children

Before the kids were born my schedule was my own - mostly.  Then I remember that getting out the door was always a challenge; the nap lasted longer than usual, there was a diaper that needed to be changed at the last minute, the diaper bag needed to be packed so I could be ready for anything...  I knew I couldn't control the nap time or diaper changing, but one thing I could control, which found a huge timesaver, as well giving me peace-of-mind was pre-packing the diaper bag. I created a checklist, which also made it foolproof for others to get it ready as well.   


Anything that could be done in advance, I tried to do.  Here is my checklist as an example:

• wipes
• extra diapers - depending on the outing pack 1 for every 2 hours, plus 1 extra
• change of clothes 
• plastic bag for dirty clothes
• bibs
• burp clothes
• bottles and/or sippy cups 
• snacks
• favorite toys
• then add the extras depending on the outing (blanket for warmth, sweater...)
• and if in the car, an extra nomie baby car seat cover for if my little one got sick or poured juice on her clean car seat cover.

I knew I had to admit that I couldn't control many things, but being prepared helped give me a little sense control when possible!