jules248's Profile

Hi, I was actually one of the proud recipe testers for this book! I'm thrilled some of my comments and feedback made it into the book. I love that she divided up the book by how much time you have or want to spend cooking (for instance: one naptime, a few chunks of time throughout the day, use your slowcooker). So you can choose a recipe based on how your day looks. Overall I was really pleased with the recipes, there were a few I didn't love but I found enough keepers to be able to recommend the book. And Debbie also throws out tons of cooking tips that are useful if you're a mom or not, and lots of feedback and notes on what to serve with the meals, how to use leftovers, etc.

I think this is one of those toys that parents like more than kids. It's a beautiful puzzle, and if you present it to kids as a puzzle, fine. But no kid is going to be satisfied with a wooden "iphone" when the real thing is so enticing.

We potty trained my son when he was 2.5 and never used a potty - we started him right on the toilet from day 1. The thought of using and then having to clean out a potty sort of grosses me out. At Home Depot they sell these toilet seats that have a smaller seat attached magnetically, which makes it easier for him to sit on (the small seat fits into the bigger one, like a puzzle so you don't have to lift two things up). It's genius.

We've never traveled with any sort of potty either, just put him on the regular toilet and made sure he washes his hands after. It never occured to me to have a potty in the car - why not just ask them to go to the bathroom before getting in the car? I do always make sure I know where the bathroom is in each store though, and try to encourage him to go when we are out.

I have a 2 year old son who is obsessed with the alphabet and his ABCs he would go bananas for these products. Cute!

For something that gets really messy and is played with outdoors (I am way too anal to have an indoor sand or water table at our place) I say, just go with the plastic. It's easily hosed down and if it's left out in the rain you won't worry about it.

I like those dining room curtains - anyone know where they are from?