It’s hot here in Florida — already. We’re talking temps in the 90s, lots of sunscreen, and kids who seek water and air conditioning after a good chunk of time outdoors. Inside time is important in the heat of summer (I know, it’s not summer yet, but, still, scorching days have arrived), but how do [...]

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We attended the school carnival this past weekend, and, I must say, I had a lot of fun. Not that I did anything, really, except watch my kids, but that’s the thrill for me — watching my boys have a great time. It was also pretty cool to check out the clever stops that kept [...]

Sun shining. Breezy winds. Shorts and t-shirts on a mid-February day. Beautiful. And the kids just want to hang inside watching TV and plugging into games galore. You know the drill, right? Yea, me, too! Today, instead of letting boys hibernate inside, the dad and I forced them into the great outdoors. To the backyard [...]

There was once a Barbie doll with tattoo stickers kids could put on and take off. Now, there’s a new Barbie sporting permanent tattoos climbing up her neck. She also wears an off-the-shoulder number, pleather mini-skirt, leopard skin leggings, and pink hair. Pretty cool? Or not so much? I mean, young girls are the likely [...]

My kid left home. Well, just for a few days, in order to pursue an overnight camp adventure with all the other fifth-graders in his school. Two nights and three days, he’ll be gone, and it’s proving to be quite a profound experience for us at home. For one, it’s lonely — we really miss [...]

Now this is so very cute — a slipcover that transforms a table into a playhouse. OK, maybe the old-school fort made of blankets from the linen closet is cool, too, but you can’t argue, this is adorable! (Click on image for more information and photo credit.)    

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy