The secrets to successfully clipping babies' nails

by Eric

Nail clipping can be an arduous event. Babies wiggle, whine, squirm away. and twenty minutes later you still have the other hand to do. The toes come next, can't forget the- come on, just let me clip your - okay, forget this, we'll do toes later. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe when you realize how hard it is to crawl when your talons are catching in the carpet. You just enjoy your mismatched pedicure, okay?

My secret to getting through this twenty-digit Lernæan task is distraction: Hello, internet flash videos!

Space is Fun Level 1 distraction (3 to 5 nails*)

If I had a nickel for every person who didn't love space worms harmonizing on a spinning meteor, I would owe money. This one gets kids from other rooms rushing in to get their nails clipped too.

A Lost Dog Finds his Way Home Level 2 distraction (4-10 nails)

This cute tale can usually get you through both hands on a sedate baby, but let's be realistic. Contains fun for the whole family! Also includes a demonic duck and an anthropomorphic cigarette, which my 3 year old calls the "funny stick with a face".

Ninja Level 3 distraction (9-18 nails)

This video is so awesome an Argentinian ad agency plagiarized the music and design to advertise for Coca Cola.

Mango! Level ∞ (20+ nails)

That's right, that plus is not a typo - since Mango is on a loop, you can get a lot out of it - especially if you're looking to get the song "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies out of your head (sorry about that).

* Please note that these are rough estimates of babies who don't decide the music means it's DANCING TIME!

Eric is dad to 3.5 year old Kiernan and 11 month old twins Quinn and Juliette. 

My Kids Funky Closet

by Brie While I am not as frugal as I would always like to be, I do love a good deal. I will always buy from the sale rack if possible. I love garage sale shopping (I think that has to do with being an ex-Winnipeger). When possible I will always buy clothes second-hand, especially for my kids.

My kids wear their clothes hard. The pieces they wear regularly get dirty, stained and ripped. I like to think of the clothes as lived in. In fact, I like to think that my kids move into their clothes and squat there until they are evicted.

All this to say I am reluctant to pay full price for clothes. Luckily, I discovered My Kids Funky Closet three years ago and I have been supplying their closet from there ever since.

My Kids Funky Closet is a twice a year consignment sale at the Glebe Community Centre. The next sale is Sunday, April 25th. The doors open at 10 am and it is worth getting there on time because the place quickly fills up. They have clothes for all ages, but the largest selection is usually for kids two and under. They also sell toys, books, shoes, outerwear, high chairs and strollers. Basically anything you could possibility think a baby or kid would need.

One thing I like about this sale is that the items are priced by the sellers. What this means is that you can often get great deals as people look to sell off clothes for a few dollars apiece. It also means that somethings can be over priced, but I have always walked away with at least a bag full of goodies.

Last fall I decided to consign some clothes for the first time, mostly the clothes that the kids never wore or somehow ended up only fitting off-season. It took some work to price and tag everything but in the end I was happy. I managed to sell more than I bought. I would consider that a success!

I will be there again on the 25th looking for t-shirts and dresses for my almost 4-year-old. When I am done I will go for coffee with friends on Bank Street and we will compare our purchases. It sounds like the perfect Sunday to me.

Brie is the mom of a 3.5 year daughter "the girl" and eighteen month old son "the boy". You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

Playing at playgroup: one mom's favorite Orleans playgroup

by Tiana My favorite playgroup is held at Divine Infant School in Orleans.  There are four locations that offer the same program but I have only visited this one.

What I love about it is that it is very family like.  There is a good mix of regulars and a 'rotating cast' of visitors.  When I was home on maternity leave I went there nearly every day.  There are other groups closer to my home, but they have policies that limit the number of visitors per week and they were also not quite as awesome as this one.  When we started going to playgroups my son was very shy and he would cling to me the entire time, but he felt totally at ease the very first time we went to this one.

This group is a little more low-key than some of the more rambunctious playgroups I've been to. There is a set schedule which generally goes; free play - snack time (healthy snack provided!!! total bonus) - independent book time - circle time - free play/music - lunch (bring your own) - free play/music.  About twice a week independent book time is replaced by Gym Day and everyone goes into the gym for running games, ball play, parachute time and other games.

While I was taking my son there, I had the opportunity to observe a couple of home daycare providers care for the children in their charge and to build a rapport with them.  I was planning on going back to work and had a lot of anxiety about the large daycare centre we had gotten into using the City's child car waiting list.  Thankfully, the woman whom I felt was the best fit with my son, and whose kids already were friends with my son, was able to become his daycare provider. 

Even though I'm back at work, my son still goes to this playgroup a couple of times a week and he tells me about his friends that he made back when I used to go with him and also about the new friends he's making along the way.  Sometimes when I'm sitting at my desk I wish I could be back there hanging out with him and that group of parents.  It's such a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Tiana is the mother of a very vocal 22 month old Bobby Hurricane. She also blogs at Sassy Red Head.

Have a Mommy's Night In!

by Jenn One great way of having fun with Freezer Cooking is to get together with a few friends and make a bunch of meals together.  You can each choose a recipe, agree on how many each person will make, then get together at someone house and each make your own recipe. 

 If you have 4 people who each make just 8 meals of their recipe, then each person will go home with 8 meals, 2 of each recipe!  This is a great way to try 4 new recipes without have to make all 4 recipes.  You can also just do a swap if nobody has the time to get together.  Kind of like a cookie exchange - a frozen meal exchange! 

Get the dads to get the kids out of the house on a Saturday afternoon and have fun!  Maybe even some wine for those who can!  :)

Jenn is mom to five-year old Jacob and two and a half year old Zachary. You can find her at Invitations by Jenn.

ABC Challenge : Week one

Week one is done and I hope the challenge has inspired you to take lots of photos this week - or maybe just different ones. I got a few I'm really happy with and had a hard time choosing which letters I wanted to share with you this week! Here are my two:

U is for Umbrella

Both totally different but interesting I think!  Check out the other submissions in our flickr group and add your own. Next week I'll start adding some of the submissions to my posts so everyone can enjoy!

Week 1 photography tip

I had Photoshop Elements once upon a time, but I don't on this computer and for the longest time I was emailing people photos to crop or resize for me, or appropriating Eric's computer so I could use Photoshop. A friend of mine kept telling me about Picasa so I finally got around to downloading it - LOVE!

Here is a 5 minute video that gives you an overview of the software. But my short explanation of what I like is simple:

- Free

- I can crop photos

- I can resize photos

- I can tweak photos

Here are some examples of some simple things you can do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rskC6c_5L1M

Easy! Free! Give it a try!

I'm looking forward to week two and getting lots more great photos and I hope you are too! I am working through the list randomly, but if you prefer more structure then for next week your letters are C and D (Climbing and Discovery). Here is a link to the original list just in case you've forgotten the categories. Can't wait to see your photos!

I have a few housekeeping questions and comments while I work out the bugs in my challenge and would love your feedback on any of these:

- I can grab photos from the flickr group as examples of good photography in the challenge without copyright issues, right?

- I am looking for photography tips and have a few up my sleeve, but I'm no expert so if any of you more talented photographers playing along want to help out with a tip, email me at kidsinthecapital(at)gmail.com and I'll credit the tip to you and link to your blog/business/whatever.  We're here to learn and I'm sure many of you have fabulous insight to offer.

- I've had some varying comments on the lack of structure to my challenge (I'm letting you do the letters out of order and we aren't all doing them together).  If you feel strongly either way, let me know. I want to get a sense of where preferences lie :)

Thanks for playing along!

Lara is the mom to 3.5 year old Kiernan and 11 month old twins Quinn and Juliette. You can find her at her blog Gliding Through Motherhood.