Blog Posts by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff

http://iheartguts.comSo a company called I Hate Guts makes plush "guts, innards and organs." But one of their products has, er, issues.

The stuffed uterus is being recalled because it poses a -- get ready for it -- choking hazard to young children. Specifically, "the ovaries may be pulled off and become a choking hazard."

I'm serious, y'all.

The company said that while they designed the plush uterus for adults, they are marked them for ages 3 and up and "want to be absolutely sure no harm comes from playing with our guts."

One, who would buy a stuffed uterus and two, who would let their toddler/preschooler play with it?

Discuss.

Photo Credit: Irene SuchockiThanks, Ali Edwards, for my Etsy purchase of the day.

I saw this beautiful image while scrolling through my list of blog reads this morning and yes, I immediately clicked over and purchased it. The photo is called "Looking for Love" (US$30, etsy.com) by freelance photographer Irene Suchocki, who calls her photos "little poems for the eyes."

I adore the blurred building images with the glowing hearts. Along with snuggling up with my sweetie, this photo makes me want to get on the next plane to Florence, Italy (even though I think it was shot in France).

Photo Credit: tangarangblog.blogspot.comIt all comes back to the simplicity of a cardboard box.

Forget the LEGO blocks, the Polly Pocket dolls, Fisher-Price Little People and whatever else your little kid is into at the moment. Break out a box and some little animals, and help them make a zoo.

I fell in love with this idea from Tangarangvia The Crafty Crow. I know my preschooler would play with this cardboard zoo for hours. Would yours?

photo credit: tangarangblog.blogspot.com



More crafty mama ideas on Shine:

Crafty mamas help their kids make...cardboard masterpieces
Crafty mamas can try making...a DIY color book for little ones
Crafty mamas help their kids make....homemade playdough
Crafty mamas help their kids make...wooden robots
Crafty mamas let their kids...make postcards out of cereal boxes

Photo Credit: Getty ImagesI can hardly believe I'm even writing about this topic, but guess what? It's the second week of January and I've already received three application packets for my kids' summer day camp. I was glad for winter break to be over
(sort of...if only we could still be on the beach), but I'm not yet prepared to deal with summer vacation. Mostly because for the first times since we started utilizing summer camp, I really would love for my kids to be home so we could enjoy their time off...together. What a concept, right?

Since many parents are in money-saving mode, I'm wondering how this will impact summer camp enrollment. (Side question: Are you readjusting your summer childcare plans?) But if you are planning on sending your child to a summer day camp, even for a half-day program, chances are very high that you'll need to start looking into those camps now.

So take this post as a gentle reminder to begin the summer camp search process. Heed this advice because trust me, if you wait until

Photo Credit: Getty ImagesShine user TC recently asked us all to write about our weird pregnancy cravings. But a comment by she with the little feet over on my post about treats to pamper an expectant mom reminded me of another question: When you were pregnant, what smells made you nauseous?

During my pregnancies, two things would send me into a queasy tailspin -- cooked broccoli and public restrooms. The latter posed the biggest challenge, since I had to pee every two minutes.

Your turn: What did you have to avoid when you were pregnant because the smells made you sick to your stomach?

Related links on Shine:
Gifts to comfort (and spoil) an expectant mom
Trying to get pregnant? You should sign up for a Booty Call(er)
DIY maternity jeans for the craftalicious expectant mom

Baby shower gifts don't have to be for the baby. One of my favorite things to do is give a gift to the expectant mom -- something to pamper her because I knew how rough that last trimester is on the pregnant body. Check out the slide show for the products you can put in a baby shower gift basket. Your expectant mama friend will love you for it.

A sketch by my kid...better than what K-Fed can do?We're scared in that train wreck sort of way.

Apparently Kevin Federline will be launching a children's clothing line called Otzi. No other deets are available.

My kid sketched a little design, which he calls a hut on a mountain. At first glance, I thought it was a strapless dress (I imagined a purple bodice, green organza skirt).

But I wondered, would my kid design a better children's clothing line than K-Fed? Could your kid?

It's hard to say since the man hasn't shown us the clothing line. But I'll assume the answer is a big "Yes" since we still have bad memories from this video (file under: "so bad it's good".

A Shine Parenting Challenge:

Have your kid sketch some clothing ideas. Upload them to Shine parenting and title your post "Better than K-Fed's Otzi." Drop a comment below with a link to your post and I'll do a little slide show roundup, say, in a week.

Photo Credit: Getty ImagesI've read several columns in the past few days from parents resolving to be better parents in the New Year. Being a mom or dad is one of the toughest gigs. Ever. And even that is an understatement. But I think every parent has many moments where they think, "I know I can do better."

I, too, am like those other columnists who are resolving to be a better parent in 2009. I'm forever a rookie parent, learning the ropes as I go with my two young boys. (I still can't believe I have a seven-year-old kid.)

Here are four ways that I think we can all be better parents...let's call this list the "4 L's." Chances are you've probably heard or read about all of these things before, but they are easy to forget in the heat of parenting moments. If you can remember to do one of these a day, you'll realize how simple yet powerful these tips are for you and your kids.

• Lighten up. It's pretty easy to get into that cranky rut when your kids are running around and you know they know they shouldn't