http://www.mephala.com What are we, but strange machines, living this extraordinary life Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:47:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I'm a real laid back Mom. As a teen, danger was my middle name. I have the proud scars and trophies to show for it. And a fond memory of a black Kawasaki trail bike I spray painted myself, whom I named Tommy Ray after a character in Clive Barker's ... http://www.mephala.com/let-kids-take-risk-and-theyll-survive/ Many people ask me why I practice attachment parenting (well, usually aspects of it like carrying Jack, nursing him still at 2, and co-sleeping). Simply because it is the only scientifically proven method to produce a happy, smart, well-adjusted adult. This is not to say that other methods of parenting ... http://www.mephala.com/profession-attachment-parent/ Since Jack gathered a posse of stuffed animal friends, we've been gossiping with them on many levels. Gossip, a technique suggested by Dr Harvey Karp of Happiest Toddler on the Block fame (I highly recommend it for its practical and useful techniques!), involves you whispering within hearing limits to another ... http://www.mephala.com/baby-takes-medicine-and-overhears-interesting-gossip/ Jack's fave hangout is the zoo now. We've gone 3 times already this month and looks like this weekend we might head there again. I attempted to bond with the frustrated white tiger that keeps pacing but he refuses to blink back at me. The lioness that naps on the ... http://www.mephala.com/jack-at-the-zoo/ Jack and Gavin last weekend. Gavin's Mom is the ultracool supermom figur8 of Babylicious. The boys painted Suntec City, Orchard Road, and Great World City red while we Moms had a splendid time catching up. Here they are looking like we caught them on camera managing mischief. :D http://www.mephala.com/jack-and-gavin/ Since I've gone green, rather horrified by the damage one could do to the environment, oneself, and one's family with the current crap they put in personal care, I've thrown (don't wash down the sink - it will pollute our water even more - remember: closed loop) away my shampoos, ... http://www.mephala.com/green-personal-care/ The moment I read that plants can remove household chemicals from the air, I went and Googled which ones. Turns out the Areca Palm, Lady Palm, Bamboo Palm, Dracaena ("Janet Craig"), and English Ivy are the top rated house plants among 50 that can purify your air. This comes from ... http://www.mephala.com/green-your-home-with-plants/ The one thing I wanted real bad as a kid was to celebrate Halloween. How could I not? All the books I read had children in funny Halloween costumes going from house to house trick or treating. It was THE thing to do as a kid. But of course, here ... http://www.mephala.com/the-one-thing-i-wanted-as-a-kid/ I am convinced my creativity is absolutely random. It comes and goes like an absent-minded house guest who has a skeleton key to my home. Just one week ago I was raring to make miniature houses. A month ago I was making plush rabbits as fast as they reproduce in real ... http://www.mephala.com/random-creativity/ Jack's been up every night from 3am to almost 6am since a couple of weeks back. Okay actually I don't remember exactly. But recently. Cos I have been getting 4-5 hours sleep every night by the time I finally put him back to bed. He wakes at 3. I nurse and ... http://www.mephala.com/strange-awakenings/