Blog Posts by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff

Yes, potty training can be a very, very (very) difficult time (perhaps I should just say "very times infinity"). Parents suddenly become serious method actors as they clean up accidents as they say, full of perky pep, "It's okay! We'll try again next time!" When deep down inside they are cursing about crap. You know it.

But how, I ask you, can you not resist at least a little smirk if your potty-training tot is wearing Pee and Poo underwear? A little "pee" character is on the front of the undies with a little poop character on the bootay (so kids can remember...like they'd ever forget).

The undies come in sizes for babies (cute shower gift!) and kids up to two years old and in designs for girls and boys. But since you're paying US$12 a pair, you may just want to get one to "kick off", as they say, the potty training experience. Available via Uncommon Goods.

Photo Credit: crabtreestudio.comI was scrolling through one of my favorite craft blogs when I spied this too-cute-to-be-true handmade doll of Sigmund the Sea Monster (via Crabtree Studio).

Some of you may not know "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," but it was a show back in the '70s about a shy, silly runaway sea monster (clearly) who becomes buddies with two young boys. He eventually lives with them.

I used to watch reruns of this show every morning before school and on Saturday mornings. And when I saw that cute stuffed animal, I thought about how much my kids would absolutely flip over it, along with nearly every other show by Sid & Marty Kroft (like H.R. Pufnstuff and The Bugaloos).

Other shows I think my kids would dig: Leave It to Beaver, The Munsters and The Littles.

What old televisions shows do you know your kids would love to watch?

Photo Credit: Getty ImagesWe're talking alot about summer vacation and younger kids lately. Mostly because it's the elementary, middle- and junior high-aged set that parents are focused on during the break. (Yes, already, we want them to chill and enjoy their time off. But we also want them to have fun and be active because it's good for them.)

When it comes to teenagers, though, I get the impression that summer vacation is not as much cause for concern. Am I right? They either have summer jobs or are old enough to eat least hang out at home by themselves.

Dory over in Work+Money has a post up right now about the summer job market being tight for teens (check out her tips of your teen is having a tough time getting a job). If jobs are not easy to get and teens are hanging out, what are they doing? Chilling with their friends? Going to the movies (which is pricey)? Playing Guitar Hero everyday? Hitting the pool?

My high school summer breaks were the pinnacle of boring. And being a mom to two young kids under

Photo Credit: Alberto Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFIChris O'Donnell is one of those actors that you don't really think about all too often because he keeps to himself and is (thankfully) selective with television and movie roles. But when you do see him, he's usually snapped in photos with his wife and kids. And you go, "Awww, he's so sweet! Remember him in [insert show]."

And it doesn't hurt that he's just adorable.

O'Donnell married to his college sweetie, Caroline, and they have kids -- Lily, 8, Chip, 7, Charlie, 4, Finley, 2 and Maeve, 6 months. He's now appearing as as a dad in the movie, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.

Heather Madden over at Lil' Sugar just posted her interview O'Donnell and this quote is swoon-worthy:

"I've got kids of my own; We all love our parents and we love our spouses, but until you have your own kid you don't really know what that kind of love is. It's where you would put yourself in front of a moving train for your kid and I think that you understand what that must have felt like."

We've missed you,

Photo Credit: Getty ImagesIf there's one place I'm 100 percent okay with being viewed as a helicopter parent, it's at the pool. I am a mama hawk when my boys are swimming. And like every other parent, when I read this story a few weeks ago about a 10-year-old boy dying from something called "dry drowning," I was a little wigged out.

The boy, Johnny Jackson from South Carolina, died more than an hour after playing in a pool and medical reports are saying it was because he had a small amount of water in his lungs.

Even more frightening? Most medical reports have said the signs of distress for dry drowning are super similar to a kid who's spent an entire day under the sun playing in water: being very, very tired. Jackson walked home from the pool. According to his mom's account, he appeared to be acting normal.

I had tons of questions, as I'm sure many parents did. Namely: How would this happen? How much water would it take for a kid to cause it to fill his lungs? Would it just happen from simple splashing

Photo Credit: sycamorestirrings.blogspot.comBrilliance in a muffin tin. That's what I call this idea being talked about by the smart mama over at Sycamore Stirrings.

Kids, especially little ones, love small food. It's easier to eat, they can nosh without utensils and it's cute. I have found that my kids are more likely to try new foods when they come in smaller, bite-sized pieces, too.

Here's what's in the tin, made by Sycamore Stirrings, to your left: goldfish, blueberry bagel chunks, cucumber sticks, strawberry yogurt, Gorilla Munch cereal, blueberries, pretzels, string cheese, dried apricots, red pepper, cheddar cheese cubes, peaches. Love it!

Sycamore Stirrings is declaring every Monday, Muffin Tin Monday (not to be confused with Muffin Top Monday, which would just be a very, very bad -- albeit entertaining -- idea). If you want to play along, snap a photo of your Muffin Tin and post it along with a list of the tin's contents.

Photo Credit: parenthacks.comI've been searching for photos use on the topic of "outdoor movie night" for days and lo and behold, Asha Dornfest over at Parent Hacks posted one today (thanks Asha!). Her topic is slightly different (family camping) but that's okay. I can work with it.

For a spin on a summer movie nights, take the big screen outdoors for a night. Whether it's just for your kids or group of their friends, they'll dig catching a flick under the star.

First things first. And this is probably the toughest part. You'll need a projector. And no, they are not cheap. The easiest thing to do is check out audio rental companies in your area where you can rent a projector for a night or weekend at a reasonable cost. I've called a few places in my hood that rent them for US$99 for the weekend. I'm certain you can get one for less. Make sure you tell them you need a basic projector for a backyard movie night. No bells and whistle. You can get one that just hooks up to your laptop and speakers or you can get one

Shine Editor-in-Chief, Brandon Holley, gave birth to her very first baby last week, a little boy! In the spirit of the virtual baby shower, we thought we'd share what we picked as gifts for the boss's baby. There's a good mix of practical and whimsical and hopefully you'll have some new ideas for the next baby shower you attend.

What are some favorite gifts you give for baby showers? And while your at it, join our virtual shower for Brandon by dropping a comment with your best advice, product tips and general happiness for the new mama!

Let the virtual baby shower begin!



Charlene, Parenting

"I can't even remember how I found Baby Leo Designs but after about two seconds on the site I discovered this adorable muscle car baby blanket. Brandon digs classic muscle cars--this blanket was too good to be true. There's two versions of the blanket -- white and chocolate -- and I opted for the chocolate because it'll hide stains a bit more. The vintage fabric has a minkee chenille backing,