We are parents, and it’s our job to feed our kids. Sounds straight-forward, doesn’t it? And for most of us, our parenting careers start off just that simply:

Baby cries = offer milk or formula = baby grows exponentially.

This usually works very well for the first several months. But then the adventure of solid food begins, and the equation gets messier:

Then, somewhere around the 18th month, a mysterious switch goes off inside your child, compelling her to loudly declare her independence every day in every way, and all bets at the dinner table are solidly OFF. It’s enough to make a mother long for the simple predictability of 2 am feedings. read more

We’ve been long awaiting the arrival of Spring, if for nothing else then to kick off our tired Winter boots and slip into some of these fabulous Spring sandals. Check out these hot footwear finds for you and your little one.

	shoes for you…
	Jeffrey Campbell “Item” Flip Flops. What we love most about sparkly flip flops is how they instantly make our mommy uniform (jeans and a T-shirt) look somehow sophisticated and hip. This pair is right on trend with turquoise jewels and metallic leather. $50 at nordstrom.com.
	Born “Croix” Slingback. This wedge has comfort, class, and cool. The incredibly-light cork sole is topped with luxuriously-soft leather straps. It is a little bit tough and a little bit trendy, making it the perfect sandle to go with almost anything in your wardrobe. $90 at nordstrom.com.
	“Vix” by Miss Sixty. We’ve never seen any flip flops quite like these. The rowdy denim soles are cleverly paired with gold leather braided straps that are tied in a sweet bow. Funky and fabulous, they prove that a neutral pair of sandals don’t have to be boring. $50 at simplysoles.com.
	Marc by Marc Jacobs Espadrilles. Espadrilles, in all shapes and sizes, are totally hot this season. We tend to be a bit leary of this style for fear that they’ll look frumpy. But this pair has a refined silhouette that is totally tailored, and we just adore all the bright, springy colors. $225 at nordstrom.com.
	Robyn by Bruno Magli. These wedges are so European cool that we couldn’t help but swoon. (I know isn’t the blue to die for?) In our dreams of being pulled-together, fashion-forward mamas… we would wear shoes as cool as these every single day. $225 at simplysoles.com.
	for your little one…
	Pediped. These hand-stiched shoes have soft, padded soles that are made of the most rich leather. They are also very easy to put on little wiggly feet. We love the sweetly-simple styling of the Sara mary jane, and the Liam shoe for boys is so retro cool. We’re sure these shoes are the next classics. $29 at pediped.com.
	Robeez. We are big fans of these soft-soled, leather shoes for our little ones, and you wouldn’t believe how well they stay on. There are a multitude of adorable designs including this Springtime-inspired Tulip style for little girls (and the burgundy goes with just about everything). Won’t your little prince look charming in the Robeez Frog shoes? $26 at robeez.com.
	Monkey Toes. These playful canvas shoes are seriously cute. It’s hard to remember the last time we came across shoes that were so fabulously childish. Each and every sneaker is hand painted by designer/mommy Jenny Chism. The Little Ladies and Buzzy Bees were our favorites of the bunch, and we were in heaven when we saw the matching socks. $27-30 at monkey-toes.com.

– Bettijo B. Hirschi

In a mother’s world of chaotic toddlers and endless to-do lists, we all need a place to hideaway. Of course visiting a day spa is the perfect way to unwind, but for most of us that is an indulgence we simply can’t afford (financially or time wise) very often. On the other hand, you’re sure to visit your own bathroom at least once a day. So we’ve put together a 6-step plan (with no plumbers or architects required) for transforming your bath into a personal spa sanctuary. The best part? Every single item on the list costs less then one treatment at most high-end spas. read more

When my daughter first learned to walk, someone said to me, “Oh boy! Now your life is really over.” It’s amazing how living with toddlers (those kids big enough to make real trouble, but still too small to know any better will quickly make you long for the sleepless nights of infanthood.

Doorbell Dinger. Two years ago my boys were ages 2 and 5. At that time we had some pretty interesting habits developing in both boys. My oldest thought it was fun to doorbell ditch. I instructed him that you have to leave a treat or something special if you want to ding the bell and run away. My 2 year old liked to run outside buck naked and started doing this around the same time he learned to unlock the door. Luckily he was little enough to be too afraid to venture very far on his own. One day I was getting ready for the day and all of a sudden I realized I didn’t hear kid noises. So I looked around the house (in my underwear and a towel, none the less and couldn’t find them). I happened to look out my front window and saw my two boys — the 2 year old naked as a jay bird, and my 5 year old standing in front of our very uptight neighbor’s door (you know the one, every neighborhood has one. Well I was stuck, and I painfully watched the events that unfolded. My 5 year old rang the door bell and ran and left my 2 year old standing their in his birthday suit for our neighbor lady to see. I guess the 5 year old did what I said: he left something at the door before he ran. All I could do was holler out the front window to get inside our house immediately. Needless to say I was mortified and to this day that neighbor lady has never said a word to me. – Kaysville, UT   read more

All mom’s want the best for their baby. Your best china, however, is probably not what you want baby to be using (or throwing off her highchair). Luckily, you don’t have to resign yourself to eating off dinnerware decorated with cartoon characters.

Your dishware problems can all be solved with one word: Melamine. This long-lasting plastic is commonly used to make outdoor dishes that are solid in color and can be found in a variety of styles and designs (especially during springtime when many stores are stocked with outdoor-entertaining goods). Melamine is scratch resistant and dishwasher safe but cannot be used in the microwave since the plastic absorbs heat and can blister, crack and warp.

Our editors have tracked down this collection of favorite, super-stylish melamine dishes. Of course they’re meant for those fancy patio parties (that we all wish we were having), but with our Mom’s eyes on we saw them instead as the perfect way to childproof the dinner table without having to sacrifice an ounce of style.

	Manhattan. Who knew you could find unbreakable dishes that were this elegant? This dish set has a simple and modern design that is perfect for everyday. We’re sure we’d want to use this set even if we weren’t baby-proofing. $4-5 sold individually at cb2.com.
	Slope. If you’re looking for a unique dish set, you’ll love the angles of this sky-blue dinnerware — the bowl and plate both tilt a bit sideways like they need to drink a V-8. $4-5 sold individually cb2.com.
	Black Tie. We fell quickly in love with this crisp graphic stripe pattern which is both simple and chic. Classic black and white is always in style. $25 sold as a 12-piece set at target.com.
	French Bull. This tableware collection features colorful and funky designs that are sure to add a playful spirit to your kitchen. We had a hard time choosing between all the fun patterns. $29-39 sold in sets of four at plumparty.com.
	Lotus. The two-tone design on these dishes is sleek and stylish. Although it also comes in blue, we think the fresh green hue will be a perfect backdrop for all your edibles. $4-6 sold individually at crateandbarrel.com.
	Nova Black. If you love the look of rustic ceramic dinnerware then this set is for you. The deep chocolate brown exterior gradually blends to a cream interior. $25-35 sold in sets of four at target.com.

Don’t wait too long… Spring is the perfect time to shop for baby-proof, unbreakable dinnerware. We tried to find some stylish melamine dishes like these last fall and were simply out of luck.
– Bettijo B. Hirschi