Parent Hacks

Life Scoop: New Year's Resolutions...for Parent Hacks and for me

As some of you may have noticed, I've been rather absent for the last couple of weeks. My abrupt silence usually signals that something big's going on offline, which is the case right now. Our turbulent 2009 is coming in for a bumpy landing, and we're just hanging on till...

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Life Scoop: Getting Ready for 2010: Goal-Setting for Beginners

I used to (secretly) think goal-setting was for overachievers, but I've changed my tune. In my next post for the Intel-sponsored site Life Scoop, I talk about my new, exciting foray: goal-setting for beginners. Is goal setting as tricky for you as it is for me? Or do you have...

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Xbox winner!

What an amazing array of staycation ideas! Thank you to all who entered. I'm going to read through them and share them with you in a future post, but, in the meantime, I'm sure you're wondering who won the Xbox... ... the graces of the Random.org Integer Generator have smiled...

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Life Scoop caption contest! Make me laugh...and win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Okay, so it's totally silly. But silly is good during the holidays. Any time really. Life Scoop is hosting a caption contest, and my oh-so-classy contribution is a goofy dog picture. What can I say? I'm a total sucker for pictures of dogs doing funny things. It's not even my...

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Scrambled eggs for a group? Cook them in a saucepan (not a skillet) to keep them hot

Scrambled eggs is one of my full-proof, quick snacks/meals. Everyone in my family loves them, they're filling, they take five minutes to prepare, and they are full of protein. But when I cook eggs for more than one person, I have to stand around cooking to order, and the eggs...

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Amazon today only: Flip MinoHD video camera $119.99 (40% off)

I don't think anyone wonders about the usefulness of a palm-sized video camera. This Flip films in HD and makes taking videos as easy as grabbing your cell phone. The Flip MinoHD is Amazon's Deal of the Day, so it's extra-discounted: $119.99 (40% off the list price of $199.99). Amazon's...

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Reuse mesh fruit bags to store bath toys (drip dry!)

I've been trying for a long time to come up with a good use for those mesh bags in which satsuma oranges come packaged. Finally! Pay dirt! They make great drip-dry holders for bath toys -- just hang the bag from a plastic suction cup hook in the shower! They'd...

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What's your ultimate staycation? Enter the Xbox Staycation Sweepstakes!

Like for so many, this is our year of the staycation. We're great lovers of travel, but for a number of reasons, big trips just aren't in the cards right now. For Winter break, I'm busy compiling lists of local (preferably cheap) activities about town, dusting off our museum and...

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Label your leftovers to increase the chance they will get eaten

With holiday house guests and lots of big meals around the corner, your fridge is about to get a workout. Good timing for this simple leftover tip from Amy: Since having kids we store more leftovers than ever in the refrigerator. I was getting a little overwhelmed by trying to...

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Life Scoop: Five ways texting can make your life easier

I used to say my cell phone was for emergency use only, but that certainly isn't the case any more. I'm now a texting fiend. My next post for the Intel-sponsored site Life Scoop, shares five ways texting makes my life easier. Do you text? Why? Click over to my...

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Savvy Source introduces new Groups feature

I've always been a huge fan of The Savvy Source, the comprehensive resource website originally geared toward preschool, but now, so much more. Savvy has added new social networking features that go beyond what we see everywhere else...this site is a place to share not only updates with friends and...

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In the Parent Toolbox: Sweetney's Holiday Gift List

Still holiday shopping? Haven't started? Either way, do yourself a favor and download Sweetney's simple gift list template. A little advance planning will save you hours at the mall. Read all about it in Sweetney's post at Slideshare. Holiday Gift List by Sweetney View more documents from Tracey Gaughran -...

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Turn fast food prizes and cereal box toys into kid-friendly Christmas ornaments

Tracy's hack saves money AND helps create a Christmas tree even little kids can enjoy: Every year we give my daughters a Christmas ornament that celebrates something that was important in their lives that year. This year my oldest celebrated her birthday with an American Girl doll theme. So, to...

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links for 2009-12-08

Filth Wizardry: Lego and hole punching card Um, wow. Check out the pics. Thank you, @momadvice on Twitter, for pointing this out!

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Best experiential gift for kids? Talk amongst yourselves.

Alex send me this musing on non-clutter gifts a long time ago. I'd love to hear your thoughts: Experiences are a great alternative to "stuff" as presents. Give tickets to the aquarium, or to a concert (an inexpensive one, anyway). If you are someone the child is close to (particularly...

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