Blog Posts by Babble.com

Heart Hand PiesFor Valentine's Day, our family has a heart-shaped food tradition, and it started with these adorable strawberry heart hand pies! These hand pies are a tasty treat that even your littlest one can help make for their sweethearts this year!

Ingredients:
1 package pre made pie crust (look for one with no hydrogenated oils, like trader joes or store brand)
Strawberry pie filling (look for one with no high fructose corn syrup)
Fresh strawberries - 1 or 2, washed and dried
Heart cookie cutter
Water

Related: 10 delicious heart-shaped foods for Valentine's Day

Directions:
1. Wash the strawberries, hull and slice them (the perfect task for the little ones!)
2. Cut out 8 hearts and peel away from the pie crust
3. Place a few spoonfuls of the strawberry filling in the centre of each heart
4. Dip your fingers in water and wet the edges of the pie crust
5. Press gently with your finger, then use a fork to press the edges of the crust to form a seal
6. Place one slice of fresh strawberry

We've really enjoyed following former Olympian Summer Sanders's progress as she writes about training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon over on espnW. One of the most striking things is how intense her regimen is. Reaching your peak physical form isn't easy! Of course, most of us aren't training for a marathon, so we don't need to do anything quite as trying as what Summer is undertaking. However, if you're looking for an easy way to meet more modest fitness goals, consider swapping out the most unhealthy elements of your diet with some more nutritious ones -- and don't forget to exercise! With a little work and planning, you won't have to sacrifice anything in the flavor department. Here are seven healthier alternatives to some everyday fast foods to get you started! - By Elizabeth Stark and Brian Campbell

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I can't stop crying about the 30 Rock series finale. But we all know how Liz Lemon feels about crying, (there, there, awkward pat) so I'm going to shut down my sadness by focusing on the instructive, life-affirming moments of the last 7 years of the show, like Jack Donaghy holding Walt Disney's frozen head in his hands. 30 Rock had lots to say to and about women in the work place and at home and there will never be anything so brilliantly self-aware again. But 30 Rock has even more to say about life, family, and raising kids. Here are a few things I've learned from the show. - By Kacy Faulconer

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We've been cloth diapering for 15 months. I'd never go back! I know cloth diapering is not for everyone, but it has worked great for us. I think one of the reasons a lot of people end up quitting it is they don't jump in with both feet. Of course disposables are easier, and if you're only using a few cloth diapers here and there, the laundry probably feels like a nuisance.

I also think it feels really, really overwhelming before you start. It took me almost 3 months to work up the courage to get going! But I've never looked back, and I know we'll keep using them until Cullen, our little one, is ready to try potty training (gulp).

We'll also continue to use this same set of diapers as long as they last, to use for any future babies.

So if you're considering diving into cloth diapering, or already have and are struggling, here's a mini -- yet totally complete -- guide to everything you need to know.



Here are 5 tips on cloth diapering:

1.) Storage
Instead of storing cloth diapers in a hanging wet bag, put them in a regular trash can. We

Growing up, my siblings and I would always flock to the playroom in our childhood homes. Located above the garage and stocked with bins of LEGOs and GI Joes, and my dollhouse, the playroom provided an escape for us kids. We'd disappear after homework and chores to play together, and on Saturday mornings we'd use the space to build forts.I think my mother loved it because we were mostly out of her hair yet still nearby so she could keep an eye on us. Now an adult, I'm determined to give my kids the same type of play area so they can have a space to be themselves, and create and play. Today, with all the great ideas floating around in the blogosphere -- from activities to design tips -- creating an awesome playroom is that much easier. Click through for 7 amazing ideas for your kid's playroom! - By Beth Anne Ballance

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Although some professional athletes have made headlines for exhibiting not-so-good behavior, the NFL has plenty of do-gooders who are worth looking up to. Inspired by this year's Super Bowl and a few comments made by one San Francisco 49ers player, I figured we could take a look at how some of the top NFL personalities perform off the field. As for the 49ers player, Chris Culliver, his controversial statement about the gay community illustrates one example of how professional athletes should not behave. Of course, plenty of other pro football stars are trying to use their celebrity for good. After all, while kids may look up to their friends and family as role models, inevitably they'll always look to celebrities for inspiration too. I've rounded up some of the most charitable athletes and coaches that you and your tots can feel great about watching on and off the field. Click through for the 7 best role models in the NFL! - By Joslyn Gray

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So, single yoga is sort of a thing!Lord. I already feel guilty enough that I dropped the yoga ball I so gladly picked up in wake of my divorce and that I haven't yet brought my daughter to Mommy and Me yoga -- something I've been meaning to do but that has always felt cost-prohibitive. Now you tell me "singles yoga" is a thing? So says Smiley Poswolsky, of The Hairpin, who published a charming piece today about trying to meet a cute girl to make out with at a singles yoga class.

I can't imagine trying to meet someone in yoga class -- just because of the farts alone. I mean, come on! Who doesn't fart at least once during a 45-minute yoga session? I don't care if your farts smell like flourless vegan chocolate cake. I just don't want to meet you when your butthole is in the air, you know?

But a friend thinks attending a yoga class is a great way for men to meet women. She told me she thinks singles yoga is an unnecessary gimmick. "Honestly, all men have to do is go to a regular yoga class" to meet ladies, my friend

Reclaiming Love Day

I am going to admit something to you right now: I am not a fan of Valentine's Day. And I'm not saying this because I'm not in a relationship -- in fact, I'm in a great marriage of coming on 11 years. I've just always been very skeptical of the day. There's just something about a day set aside forcing people to be romantic that leaves me somewhat cold. It seems like a recipe for disappointment, is what I'm saying. So on Valentine's Day, my husband and I tend to go out for a meal -- usually lunch, because there's less of an issue in getting a reservation or a babysitter -- and that's it. It's lovely, it's intimate, and it's low-pressure. My kind of day.

However, all that said: I'm a big fan of love. Big. Fan.

I'm also a big believer that kindness always wins, that there are ways to show love to people with whom you're not romantically involved, or who are unrelated to you, or even who are total strangers to you. So for the past few years, I've made a point of celebrating