Books for Parents

The New Year is here and it's not too late to get organized in your busy life. One of the tools that I have to do that, which I absolutely love, is 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. My BusyBodyBook is for the 2007–2008 academic year, but they also offer a traditional 2008 calendar year version which could definitely come in handy right now at the start of the year.

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While dueling cookbooks Deceptively Delicious and The Sneaky Chef have been grabbing the headlines lately, we recently got our hands on a fantastic little book that relies not on sneaking vegetable purees into your unsuspecting kids' food, but rather making delicious and nutritious meals that children love. The Baby Bistro Cookbook by Joohee Muromcew, a Marin mom and a frequent contributor to Town & Country and San Francisco magazines. The book, which gets kudos from food world heavy hitters like Mario Batali and Alice Waters, has great recipes that are often simplified but no less delicious versions of grown-up favorites. We like the chicken and white bean chili and peanut sesame noodles, but there are many more good things from simple dishes like toasted cheese sandwiches to shepherd's pie. Highly recommended!

Being pregnant and looking hip and gorgeous never went hand-in-hand when I was expecting. I use to go in and out of dressing rooms with handfuls of jeans, trying to find a pair that were somewhat flattering and, most importantly, comfortable. I recently came across a copy of a cool and insightful book called Rock Star Momma: The Hip Guide to Looking Gorgeous Through All Nine Months and Beyond by Skye Hoppus. Boy, I wish I had this book when I was pregnant! Author Skye Hoppus is a designer and former head of the MTV West Coast music office, and founder and owner of Childish Clothing, a ultra-hip line of maternity and children’s clothing. She’s also a real-life rock-star momma, and the wife of Mark Hoppus of blink-182 and +44 fame.

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Finally, a pregnancy book that doesn’t scare you to death! Body, Soul and Baby: A Doctors Guide to the Complete Pregnancy Experience, from Preconception to Postpartum is one of those books that is a necessity for the bookshelf of all expecting moms and dads. My friend, who is expecting, was telling me how wonderful and refreshing this book was. The book teaches you to be aware of your own body and the changes that are happening. Author Tracy W. Gaudet, M.D., Director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine, discusses the natural processes of pregnancy and how to tune into the cues that signal from within about what you need, what your body needs, and what is right for both you and your baby. This informative book also includes advice on eating healthy and staying active, and natural approaches to pain relief. To purchase this book, go to Amazon.com