mdmeyer's Profile

Hi! I actually lived in those same apartments!!!
For those wondering: kitchen = the 10ish foot long dead end room nestled in the "L" - it's a super cool stainless steel one-piece set up. Galley style.

We had a SW corner up on the 8th floor - and sadly, while all the rooms were fairly large and very generous for a two bed apartment, we couldn't style it in any better configurations than "up against the wall," either. As Jasmine suggested, we had our tv unit up against the wall that shares the bedroom/hall closet. We had our couch (not a sectional) along the shared kitchen wall and a dining table in the short end of the "L" by the kitchen. But that still gave us a big empty zone in the corner of the "L" that we couldn't furnish well - maybe another sitting area? or a reading corner? desk?

On a side note, how awesome is the kitchen?? That and the awesome sunshine were my favorite things about that apartment!

I do this. The rule is they can "visit" the snack bin once between meals. It works very well with my 3 and 5 year olds!

My extended family rented cottages at a camp in WI last summer, during Chocolate Fest. They did a huge slip in slide like this with chocolate syrup instead of water. Parents held up the sides so the plastic was in a V shape instead of staked to the ground. Oh my god, the mess! But it looked so fun!!

rpk123 - We're just about to pick up our craigslisted Kura and I want to paint mine too. Any tips or advice? Kinds of paint/primer? I also want to cover the blue and I'm not sure if I'll try painting it or spray adhesive fabric to the blue side. Since I have yet to actually get my hands on the bed, I'm not sure how realistic this plan might be!

Our sitter taught her 3 sons to use the toilet sitting backwards. We did this with my son, too. It seems easier for the kiddos because they don't have to balance as much. Their legs are spread out on the sides of the toilet as opposed to just in front and can use the tank/cover as a place for their hands. The pee never misses (at least in our experience) and dribbles down the front of the potty, onto clothes, across the room (!). The only hassle is that you need to undress more - they need to get one leg out of their pants/underwear in order to get on the toilet. But, for me, it's worth it not to have to clean up pee that missed the toilet or change clothes. Works for #2 as well - although my son now prefers to pee, then turn around and finish the job. Anyway, getting off topic!

Where is the pillow on the chair from (orange/yellow/grey)? It's the perfect combo for my orange-loving son and yellow-loving daughter who share a yet to be decorated room! I could work the whole room off that pillow!

LOVE LOVE LOVE these. Not only are they the perfect swaddling blanket, they are light enough and large enough to use as a stroller cover and a nursing cover (airy so you don't get all hot and sweaty and large enough that your modesty remains intact!).
We had/have a pack of three of these and I REFUSED to leave the house without of of them! They are also my favorite shower/baby gift to new and old moms!

These seem like a good idea, but how do you walk behind it with a board or this seat attached? With my phil & ted's stroller, I can comfortable walk behind the stroller instead of straddling or duck-walking, and it can be a single or a double depending on how the kids feel that day.

Veering slightly off topic - we have the britax frontier (2 actually!) and love it. Our daughter is 4, very tall (43") with a long torso also and it fits her great. We have one of the first versions - got it when her brother was born two years ago. She just squeaked into the minimums then (height was fine, weight was just at the minimum) and I think it might only go to 65 pounds. But at the rate she's going, she outgrow the height restriction first! We highly recommend it.

Anyway, she's using the 5-point harness and naps well in it.

This is my mother's "trademark" dessert for any gathering with lots of kids. She makes a rainbow version: cherry, strawberry, orange, lemon, lime. However, hers never had the white layers - hers has a clear, then opaque layer of each color instead of the white layers. She divides each large box of mix in half and makes one half straight (clear layer) and mixes the other layer with sour cream (opaque layer).

Word of warning - plan an entire day to make it! Mix, pour, wait will it sets (hour or so), repeat for EACH layer. Over and over!

It's yummy and everyone - kids and grown-ups - love it!