I think all mothers, especially those with daughters, will agree that there's something extremely special about the mother-daughter bond. That is the premise for a new book of essays on the subject titled Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond.Because I Love Her was edited by Marin mom and writer Nicki Richesin, and includes short pieces by authors including Joyce Maynard, Sheila Kohler, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Ericka Lutz, and others.
The essays are in turns poignant, profound, funny, uplifting, and comforting. They're all short, and it's the perfect volume for a busy mom to pick up during one of her all-too-rare breaks and take in a story or two. Many of the works included in Because I Love Her remind me of my relationship growing up (and to this day) with my mother, and of course make me consider my relationship with my own 3-year-old daughter and how it will evolve over time.
This week (April 13–19) is National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians, and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide. I know that some libraries in Marin are having some special programs to celebrate National Library Week. It’s also a great time to spend more time reading and enjoying books with your children. I love to go to the library for storytime and pick out some unique and fun books to read with my children. Listed below are a few book recommendations from the American Library Association (ALA). Go to their website for more 2009 notable children’s books.
One of the best and certainly one of the most innovative classical music labels out there is Naxos, the producer of budget price (but definitely not low budget) recordings. I'm a big fan of Naxos—we often play their CDs here at home—as well as a classical music enthusiast who tries to instill an appreciation of it in my children, so when I got ahold of a copy of Naxos' new My First Classical Music Book , I was pretty excited.
In case you're not familiar with Naxos, they issue low priced CDs (and downloads, available via iTunes) of everything from the standard classical music repertoire like Beethoven's symphonies to cutting edge modern music to really arcane but wonderful period instrument performances of baroque and renaissance music. They eschew slick graphic design and fancy marketing campaigns in favor of great recording quality and top notch performances. I like them because you can build a quality basic music library for not much money, and can take a chance and explore new areas of music without investing too much capital.
Meet Olivia, everyone's favorite piglet and the precocious porcine star of Ian Falconer's Olivia series of children's books. Olivia will appear in person this Saturday, January 10, at the babyGap store at the Village in Corte Madera. She'll be on hand from noon to 3 pm.
The store is offering a special gift with purchases of $50 or more (in case you thought you'd get away without buying anything). For more information, call the store at (415) 924-4079.
2008 is out and 2009 is here, and now's the time to get organized in your busy life. If you're a regular reader of Marin Mommies, you know that I love my BusyBodyBook! The BusyBodyBook is a stylish and easy-to-use family organizer that allows you to keep track of the entire family's schedules with its handy and easy-to-read Weekly Grid.
BusyBodyBook features include a spacious 5-column layout with enough room to write everyone’s appointments and activities in detail, a planning calendar to record birthdays and anniversaries, a month-at-a-glance for a quick overview, and plenty of space for notes. They're available in both calendar year and academic year versions.
Marin childcare expert Alyce Desrosiers, LCSW, is for many Bay Area families the specialist to go to when searching for the perfect nanny or other childcare solution. Her new book, Nannies for Modern Moms: The Essential Guide for Hiring the Right Nanny for Your Child and You, is required reading for any family seeking to navigate the waters of searching for, choosing, and hiring the right nanny, babysitter, or family assistant.
Nannies for Modern Moms is filled with important information on all practical and emotional aspects of the nanny search process, as well as a breakdown on different types of nannies, childcare providers, and childcare options. The book also includes legal information necessary to hiring a nanny, and an extensive list of resources for the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Also included are numerous worksheets and checklists to help parents organize their thoughts, needs, and information throughout the nanny hiring process.
If you're currently looking for a nanny, or if you're planning on hiring one in the future, Nannies for Modern Moms is an invaluable resource. Highly recommended!
Looking for a good read this summer? Jane Porter, the award-winning author of Flirting With Forty and Odd Mom Out, shared 10 of her favorite titles for moms on View From the Bay. Listed below are a few of the books. To get the complete list, go to their website.
One-of-a-kind personalized gifts are always treasured keepsakes. We recently received a sample of a new personalized children's book, The First Adventures of Incredible You, by Sarah Riley Headrick and Sarah Foreman Rivers, with whimsical illustrations by Jill Dryer Bartolucci. The full color, hardbound book is a playful look at the fun and exciting adventures of small child, all personalized with details for your child. When ordering you fill in a variety of different fields with names of your child's family, friends, pets, and favorite activities, which results in a truly unique personalized book.
I think all mothers, especially those with daughters, will agree that there's something extremely special about the mother-daughter bond. That is the premise for a new book of essays on the subject titled Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond. Because I Love Her was edited by Marin mom and writer 
This week (April 13–19) is National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians, and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide. I know that some libraries in Marin are having some special programs to celebrate National Library Week. It’s also a great time to spend more time reading and enjoying books with your children. I love to go to the library for 
One of the best and certainly one of the most innovative classical music labels out there is Naxos, the producer of budget price (but definitely not low budget) recordings. I'm a big fan of Naxos—we often play their CDs here at home—as well as a classical music enthusiast who tries to instill an appreciation of it in my children, so when I got ahold of a copy of Naxos' new 
, I was pretty excited.
Meet Olivia, everyone's favorite piglet and the precocious porcine star of Ian Falconer's Olivia series of children's books. Olivia will appear in person this Saturday, January 10, at the babyGap store at the Village in Corte Madera. She'll be on hand from noon to 3 pm.
2008 is out and 2009 is here, and now's the time to get organized in your busy life. If you're a regular reader of Marin Mommies, you know that I love my BusyBodyBook! The BusyBodyBook is a stylish and easy-to-use family organizer that allows you to keep track of the entire family's schedules with its handy and easy-to-read Weekly Grid. 
Marin childcare expert Alyce Desrosiers, LCSW, is for many Bay Area families the specialist to go to when searching for the perfect nanny or other childcare solution. Her new book, Nannies for Modern Moms: The Essential Guide for Hiring the Right Nanny for Your Child and You, is required reading for any family seeking to navigate the waters of searching for, choosing, and hiring the right nanny, babysitter, or family assistant.
Looking for a good read this summer? Jane Porter, the award-winning author of Flirting With Forty and Odd Mom Out, shared 10 of her favorite titles for moms on View From the Bay. Listed below are a few of the books. To get the complete list, go to their 
One-of-a-kind personalized gifts are always treasured keepsakes. We recently received a sample of a new personalized children's book, The First Adventures of Incredible You, by Sarah Riley Headrick and Sarah Foreman Rivers, with whimsical illustrations by Jill Dryer Bartolucci. The full color, hardbound book is a playful look at the fun and exciting adventures of small child, all personalized with details for your child. When ordering you fill in a variety of different fields with names of your child's family, friends, pets, and favorite activities, which results in a truly unique personalized book.
