avatar by on July 31, 2011   •   5 Comments Links

Weekend Links

And in case you missed it, last week we released Episode 4 of The Simple Mom Podcast, New Mom. I chat with Nicole Bennett, editor of Simple Organic and Gidget Goes Home — we talk about what you really need for a newborn (hint: not wipe warmers), surfing, iced coffee, and lots more.

It sounds like lots of you have really enjoyed these podcasts so far — I’m so glad! They’re meant to be more entertainment than how-to… something to space out listening to while you fold laundry. Let me know what you’d like to hear in the future. They’re going to be a regular feature here soon!

“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.” - C. Everett Koop

avatar by on July 29, 2011   •   309 Comments Family Bonding Your Family

What’s your opinion on “kid-free” zones?

The hot topic on the Internet this week has been “kid-free” zones in certain places — essentially banning children from certain events and arenas.

The buzz really got going when a Whole Foods Market in Missouri announced a new event: two hours of free babysitting while you go shopping, every Friday in August. Parents can drop off their kids — the young ones can enjoy crafts and books; Mom and Dad can shop without the grabby hands or whining.

People misunderstood this as banning kids from Whole Foods. Understandable, because local venues are hopping on this trend: a quiet, casual restaurant in Pennsylvania announced this summer that children under 6 are no longer allowed.

A restaurant in North Carolina has made it quite clear with a sign on its doors: “Screaming Children Will NOT Be Tolerated!” Malaysia Airlines recently announced that children are banned from first class.

In Austin, my hometown, Alamo Drafthouse has a strict no kids allowed in all their movies, offering instead kid-friendly hours and movies during certain times and days.

There are times and places where children shouldn’t be, for their sake as much as the other people involved. But as a culture, are we becoming less and less tolerant of kids?

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avatar by on July 27, 2011   •   41 Comments Hospitality Your Home

Six Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party (with Kids in the Mix)

By hospitality contributor Sandy Coughlin of The Reluctant Entertainer.

Summer entertaining is a beautiful time to get together with friends who have kids because you can be together in the outdoors and the kids can run and play.

I think back to the last house we lived in and the fun we had with our neighbors and all of their kids. Even though our house wasn’t big (1300 square feet), our kids had a blast playing outside on the trampoline, in the hot tub, making forts, and riding their bikes. The adults could sit around and visit while the kids ran and played.

After hours of play outside, sometimes my kids eventually resorted indoors to play video games or veg out watching a movie (which was fine with me), but overall, they found ways to be entertained.

My goal was to make our guests feel warm and welcome, include the little kids, and to be a catalyst for relaxation and connection.

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avatar by on July 25, 2011   •   318 Comments Beauty You

The Oh-So-Important HAIR Update

One of the all-time most popular posts here on Simple Mom is about my hair. In that I don’t wash it. Almost two years old, and this post still gets at least one comment per day, it still makes its way around Twitter, and people in real life still ask me all sorts of questions.

I wonder sometimes if those people are closely inspecting my hair, wondering if I hide spider webs underneath, or if it would smell like — I dunno, something gross if they came too close.

Reader Sandra recently wrote and asked:

“I have been reading your blog and found the no shampoo post interesting. I see it was posted a while back — are still doing it, and if so, how your hair is today? I started to do this last week and I am finding my hair very dry and tangled. I am wondering if this is part of the process, or if I am doing something wrong.”

I suppose it’s time for a hair update. Because I know you’re all on the edge of your seats, wondering if I haven’t washed it in 24 months.

Drumroll, please.

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avatar by on July 22, 2011   •   49 Comments Inspiration

A Midsummer’s Check-In

In some ways, this summer is flying by. In other ways, it’s just inching along, one day after another after another. It’s mid July already… We’re in the thick of summer.

Nicole, editor of Simple Organic, had her baby in June. Kara, Simple Kids editor, is due any second. Jamie of Simple Homeschool and I have enjoyed a month-long writing break. And Aimée, passionate about summer food that she is, couldn’t relish the thought of taking a break from editing Simple Bites.

My summer more or less started with a trip to the Philippines, blogging for Compassion International.


Photo by Keely Scott

A week later, we moved out of our house in Austin, Texas. We then stayed at my parents for two weeks, then Kyle’s parents for two weeks.
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