You are forgiven if you think the title refers to my four-year-old son’s first library card, which he indeed got Tuesday at the Merriam Park Branch Library in Saint Paul, and of which he is extremely proud (see self-satisfied smile, above). He signed his card himself (so cute it hurts a little) and showed it […]
Summer Reading List 2012
June 20, 2012 by
It’s summertime and the living is easy . . . or so they say. Our family is actually very busy with camps, lessons, training, traveling, and oh, that seasonal business we own (more on that later). Nonetheless, I can’t help but make a summer reading list, in the same way I want to buy school […]
Father’s Day Gift Guide (and why good ideas are hard to come by)
June 6, 2012 by
I am typically a very good gift-giver. I love the challenge of the perfect gift and more often than not I hit the mark. Aunt Jenny’s gift is often a favorite, and I have a knack for surprising adults with something they had no idea they really wanted. So yeah, I’m good at it, and […]
A book that makes you feel good about parenting
May 23, 2012 by
How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm: And Other Adventures in Parenting (from Argentina to Tanzania and everywhere in between) by Mei-Ling Hopgood This book is my new favorite book for expectant or new parents, because it makes you feel awesome about yourself as a parent. Reading about a dozen different cultures and how they approach […]
Five great sites for photo gifts
May 16, 2012 by
I’m not a very good gift giver. I’m well intentioned but insecure, and too often imagine my gift accumulating dust in a closet. So I tend to opt for gifts that can be consumed (food or beverages, or experiences, like cooking classes or spa gift certificates). When I do give things I try to give […]
Gear Guide: In the kitchen
May 8, 2012 by
I absolutely geek out on gear. Baby gear. Kid gear. Winter gear. Biking gear. Skiing gear. Running gear. Baseball gear. Garden gear. I really, really want to buy a Silhouette machine because it would nicely complement my crafting gear. For a few years I’ve been contemplating buying Owen a kayak for his birthday, probably because […]
How to do a Minnesota cabin weekend right
April 30, 2012 by
Raucous weekends with your college buddies, family get-togethers, quiet weekends with another couple—there is nothing better than a good cabin weekend. To the unfamiliar it sounds a bit strange: load up your car and drive 2-4 hours on Friday evening. Spend the weekend in the middle of nowhere in a cabin with limited amenities. Haul […]
I can relate: Tiger Mothers and Les Bebes
April 17, 2012 by
When I go on vacation I typically read one or more books per day. I ignore my family and stay up all night and just consume them — some literature, some Oprah picks, some beach fluff — but always all fiction. It’s really out of hand. So this year I decided to actually interact with […]