Parent Hacks

I think I may have solved (or at least begun to solve) several seemingly unrelated problems with a single hack.Problems:IndependenceMy kids are old enough to get their own snacks, but they rely on me not only to tell them what's available, but to prepare it for them.Portion controlOne reason ...

Raise your hand if you've still got to take down the Christmas tree! For you, a relevant hack from Tracy (contributor of what must be at least 50 great hacks over the years):Okay… hopefully you won’t go out and buy a case of beer just for this hack :-) but it just so happens that Miller puts thei...

I just scored the biggest "hidden vegetable" coup yet. I replaced the milk in traditional cheese sauce with a puree of cauliflower and onion, and the results were magnificent. Mild, cheesy, creamy. Kid-approved despite initial skepticism. Amounts are ballpark, and variations abound:CAULIFLOWER MA...

As some of you may have noticed, I've been rather absent for the last couple of weeks. My abrupt silence usually signals that something big's going on offline, which is the case right now. Our turbulent 2009 is coming in for a bumpy landing, and we're just hanging on till the skidding stops.The g...

I used to (secretly) think goal-setting was for overachievers, but I've changed my tune. In my next post for the Intel-sponsored site Life Scoop, I talk about my new, exciting foray: goal-setting for beginners.Is goal setting as tricky for you as it is for me? Or do you have any surefire tips to ...

What an amazing array of staycation ideas! Thank you to all who entered. I'm going to read through them and share them with you in a future post, but, in the meantime, I'm sure you're wondering who won the Xbox...... the graces of the Random.org Integer Generator have smiled upon...Andi! (Who's i...

Okay, so it's totally silly. But silly is good during the holidays. Any time really.Life Scoop is hosting a caption contest, and my oh-so-classy contribution is a goofy dog picture. What can I say? I'm a total sucker for pictures of dogs doing funny things. It's not even my dog, which says even m...

Scrambled eggs is one of my full-proof, quick snacks/meals. Everyone in my family loves them, they're filling, they take five minutes to prepare, and they are full of protein. But when I cook eggs for more than one person, I have to stand around cooking to order, and the eggs still get cold q...

I don't think anyone wonders about the usefulness of a palm-sized video camera. This Flip films in HD and makes taking videos as easy as grabbing your cell phone. The Flip MinoHD is Amazon's Deal of the Day, so it's extra-discounted: $119.99 (40% off the list price of $199.99). ...

I've been trying for a long time to come up with a good use for those mesh bags in which satsuma oranges come packaged. Finally! Pay dirt! They make great drip-dry holders for bath toys -- just hang the bag from a plastic suction cup hook in the shower! They'd be good as summertime sand t...