If you’ve been longing for an escape to the beach, you’re not alone! These ocean-inspired goodies are your ticket to paradise — less then $25 each, they’re a fraction the cost of the real deal. Here’s to wading through long summer days stuck home with the kids:

	Good Home Co. Beach Days Sheet & Clothing Spray. This topped our list because we can’t get enough of the intoxicating fragrance — equal parts ocean air and tall pina coladas, with a tiny bit of cabana boy rubbing sunscreen on your back, thrown in for good measure. $18 at beauty.com.
	Ocean Mist Handmade Spa Soap. Speckled with seaweed and kaolin clay, this nutrient-rich handmade soap smells so realistically like the salty sweet air of the coast — close your eyes and you’ll swear you’re there! $6 at bathbybettijo.com.
	Ocean Sea Salt Body Scrub. This rich body scrub uses sea salt, soybean oil and tapioca pearls to give you beach-worthy skin. Flower petals or sea shells are tossed into the jar like hidden treasures burried in the sand. $25 at carolsdaughter.com.
	Ocean Moisturizing Lotion. Not your average lotion, this lightweight but intense moisturizer has a cooling sensation on the skin — a welcome refreshment on hot summer days. Made with organic ingredients such as spirulina, bay laurel and blue-green algae to hydrate, firm and tone the skin. $24 at redflower.com.
	Maui Island Candle. A unique and totally exotic pairing of mango and macadamia nut will help you channel some peaceful, oceanside relaxation. $7-15 at bpurebody.com.
	Desserted Island Moisturizing Body Glaze. This luscious body and bath oil is infused with the tempting aroma of Tahitian coconut and vanilla. Jojoba, macadamia nut, and sunflower oils absorb quickly giving you glowing, soft skin. $22 at cakebeauty.com.

Moms are usually trying to put things out of the reach of little ones, but it’s a whole lot easier to wash your hands if you can actually reach the sink. On the hunt for the right step stool, we’ve been less than impressed with the common options. So here we’ve rounded up six stools that look good enough to keep.

	Kik Step. This tough classic rolls when you push it, but locks into place when you put weight on it so your little helper won’t tumble. Available in several colors and a chrome finish. $65 at surlatable.com.
	Elephant Stool. Although named after a creature that certainly stands out, this sleek stool will keep a low profile in your kitchen, bathroom or wherever you need a boost. $120 at modernseed.com.
	Prince AHA Stool. Designed by Philippe Starck, this looks more like art then a stool. When they’re not standing on it, your little one will love the cool textured ring design and hidden storage compartment. $87 at dwr.com.
	Step Right Up Stool. This sturdy, solid wood platform has a timeless design that will be just right for any decor. $40 at landofnod.com.
	Built-By-Me Offi Snap Step. Assembly required. These two words don’t tend to be a selling point, but that’s part of the fun of this clever step stool — it’s meant to be put together by your little carpenter in the making. $70 at target.com.
	Boon Potty Bench. If your bathroom is space deprived then you’ll love this multi-tasking potty seat and step stool. $30 at amazon.com.

– Bettijo B. Hirschi

I recently gave birth to my second child in two years (also a boy). While pregnancy with a toddler in my life was pretty difficult, I was looking forward to that honeymoon phase that happens after the baby is born. You know, the one in which my sole job is to nurse the baby, take care of him and bond. There would be plenty of people around to take care of me, to do the chores and make sure we eat. At least a few weeks of pure love and lots of napping.

That’s how I remembered it. But you know how they say that women instantly forget how painful labor is so that they will eventually have additional children? It’s the same way with the first few weeks postpartum. It’s not nearly as peaceful as I recall. (I guess I’ve been ignoring all the desperate, sleep-deprived journal entries I made at the time. Plus, I have a toddler around that I didn’t have before.)

At first it really wasn’t so bad. The baby slept almost around the clock for a week. I was beginning to think that my prayers had been answered, and I got a quiet second baby. I had feared that like most of the second kids I’ve seen around me, ours would turn out to be a terror. But a few days into his life, I thought “I can get used to this.” He didn’t really cry that much, he nursed well, and he settled down to sleep quite easily.

And then we hit week 2: The Hungry Phase, in which the newborn nurses every two hours, except at night when he would sometimes go every two and a half hours. Whew, thanks for the break, kid. If he wasn’t nursing or sleeping, he was crying. And when the newborn cried, the toddler had to chime in. He has recently taken up the entertaining hobby of Whining. Since he doesn’t have a day job, he has lots of time for this hobby, and he works on his craft day in and day out. read more