Spotlight: Mothering Magazine

So today’s spotlight is on a recent discovery of mine: Mothering Magazine!  I was blessed to be given a subscription as a birthday present, and I am so thankful!  Mothering is definitely an attachment parenting-oriented parenting magazine, which sets it apart from many others out there.  And even though not all of the information is brand new to me, I always manage to learn something new.  I definitely recommend it!  They offer print and digital subscriptions through their website, and their site also has a wealth of other resources.

Spotlight: Be the Match bone marrow registry

Every year thousands of people with life-threatening illnesses such as leukemia are unable to find a suitable bone marrow match.  And as our population becomes more ethnically diverse, it is becoming even harder for people to find a good match.

Consider registering for the national bone marrow registry.  If you are selected as a match, many times you will not even need to undergo any type of surgery to donate, and on those occasions that surgery is required, it is a one-day outpatient procedure.  Expectant moms, you can also consider donating your baby’s cord blood to the cause.

I joined the registry in college, partly motivated by the fact that one of my uncles died from leukemia.  And now as a mom, it especially breaks my heart to think of all the children who die each year without a match.

I’ve been called twice as a potential match for someone.  Though neither time was I selected to be the final match, it was exciting to think that I could’ve played such a major role in someone’s recovery from life-threatening illness.

To find out more about the Be the Match national bone marrow registry, go here.

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Spotlight: my favorite treat

Today’s spotlight is on my favorite treat, Red Mango yogurt.  Available in many Western Washington malls and also quickly spreading across the U.S., Red Mango has delicious yogurt and fresh fruit (and other) toppings that all combine for a delicious, healthy treat.  And unlike some of the other yogurt-competitors out there, Red Mango is certified as being a “real” yogurt by the National Yogurt Association, which means it is cultivated with live and active cultures.  This makes it a great choice for women and kids, especially, and it was a favorite treat of mine during my pregnancy.  Red Mango’s yogurts hover around 100 calories (before toppings) and are very share-able with your kiddos, too.  Grace loves it!

Right now, you can try Red Mango’s newest flavor, cocoa, with a friend and utilize their buy one, get one free coupon (offer good through 2/17).  Just visit their Facebook page, and click on the Cocoa Coupon! tab up near the top of the page.

To find out if there’s a Red Mango near you, click here.

Spotlight: My favorite baby gate

After fussing with other tension-mounted adjustable baby gates one time too many, and feeling that any additional hassles with them might result in Grace learning some bad words, I took the plunge and ordered the same baby gate that works so well at our church nursery: the First Years Hands-Free baby gate.

I have not been sorry one bit!

Now, at around $50 it isn’t the cheapest baby gate, but I do think it’s one of the best.  I was a bit leery that, because it doesn’t have permanent hardware mounted into the wall, it might be a bit rickety or hard to install.  Not so!  My husband installed it in minutes, and it has stayed secure in spite of Grace’s repeated attempts to yank it down.

Also, even though Grace has managed to figure out that the foot pedal is the key to opening the gate, even when standing on it with both feet and jumping up and down, she is unable to get enough force with her 25+ lb. frame to open the gate.

And, as I said above, I’ve seen it in action for a couple of years now at our church nursery, and none of the children have managed to either bring down the gate or open it.

This gate will help you feel that your baby is safe and secure… which is worth every penny in my book!

Seattle Spotlight: Creme Brulee Kids Sale

Today I’m spotlighting the Creme Brulee Kids sale, which is coming up right around the corner in just a couple weeks.  Creme Brulee is an awesome sale that combines thousands of items sold on consignment, along with lots of boutique sellers (like Mothering Grace!) that have all kinds of one-of-a-kind items for your little ones.   February’s Creme Brulee sale will take place at Issaquah’s Pickering Barn, and Creme Brulee is partnering with Sassy Mei, another boutique sale that caters more toward home goods and items for adults… so it should be a fun event with lots of appeal for everyone! And, as a bonus for you harried moms, you can shop in peace since free childcare will be provided by the Issaquah Gymboree.

If you’re like our family, you may also have items lying around the house that your kids have outgrown, and this is an excellent chance to turn some of the clutter into cash, too!  There is still time to sign up as a consignor, which grants you early access to the sale before everyone else and a generous portion of your sales!  And at the end of the sale, you can either pick up your unsold items, or the Creme Brulee staff will take it off to charity for you.  Doesn’t get much easier than that!

Event Details:

Date: Friday, February 12, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, February 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. NW, Issaquah, WA 98027