Jennifer Toeppner, Douglasville mom of three I've created more than one set of fairy/bumblebee wings with a coat hanger and stockings. You can shape the hangar like the wings and gently slide on the stockings. Also, I like to keep funky and wild wigs on hand. Save it from year to year and buy some temporary spray paint to update/stripe/change and suit your costume. I have one black wig that has stood in as Captain Jack Sparrow, Serena Williams, a Vampire, witch and even Ozzy Ozbourne. Painted red, it works great for Princess Ariel too! One other thing I try to do is to incorporate something …

Kim Fundora, Douglasville mom to four children My soon to be 11-year-old has her own email and it is monitored by mom. She emails her nana and papa in Connecticut and a handful of friends. Right now, she is only checking (or using) her Yahoo email account three times a week. Although at times, she doesn’t check it at all. Gina Maddox, Douglasville mom of three childrenI think I will let my six-year-old son, Henry, set up an email account. This is only based on when he asks (which he hasn’t yet) and if it’s a kid-friendly email service with a good filter. Otherwise, I think it wouldn’t do any …

Jennifer Bean Stevens, Douglasville mom to six-year-old daughterI think Spongebob is hilarious, and my daughter, Sam has been watching Spongebob for about a year. Can't say that I find her any less polite or socially inappropriate because of it. I use television strategically in our home. Sam is aware of the news to the extent that she can generally process current events. It's limited, so about one 30-minute show works perfectly in our home. However, our TV doesn't stay on indefinitely. Typically, we tune into Nickelodeon or Disney.Patti Styles, Douglasville mom to one-year-old sonShortly …

This Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2011. A day that will do down in history as the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Pearl Harbor. Here are some bits of advice from three Douglasville moms on how they plan on sharing or explaining this anniversary to their children. Deanna Proeller, Douglasville mom to four-year-old daughter, LoisI don't plan on talking to my daughter at all about 9/11 until she is much older, maybe 10 or 11. It is an extremely hard topic to explain, it is so layered and has the potential to leave a kid with fears of so many different things. I mean…

Let’s face it, the path of least resistance is often found in processed foods such as potato chips and macaroni and cheese. However, with childhood obesity on the rise, it’s no surprise that parents are turning to best selling recipe books such as Jessica Seinfeld’s, Deceptively Delicious to help incorporate healthier eating habits into their kids’ diets. We asked three Douglasville moms to share their secrets on getting their children to eat lower-calorie snacks and fresh foods. Heather Beachy, Douglasville mom to two childrenWe keep healthy snacks like lower-sugar yogurt tubes, low-fat …

Potty training may be one of the most frustrating exercises in parenting, well next to getting your child to sleep through the night. We asked four Douglasville moms to share their tips on what worked for them and how they survived potty training. Anna Breton, Douglasville mom to daughter, EvieRewards work...1 for #1 and 2 for #2!  M&Ms, Skittles, or dried fruit, organic fruit snacks, etc. Patience and positivity are key. Remember when your kid took their first step? Try to use the same level of positive encouragement about their potty progress as you did about learning to walk. Just like you…

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding your baby for at least one year. Other organizations claim that at least two years promotes better bonding, nutrition, and health benefits for mom and baby. While most mothers wouldn’t argue that the breast is best, many U.S. moms are still split on how long you should breastfeed your child. Four Douglasville moms share their opinions on this sticky subject.Nicole Harterrink, Douglasville mom to three-year-old daughter, Katheryn and four-year-old son, Jamieson. I breastfed my son for six months and my youngest just shy of five months…

Today’s school of thought on spanking varies greatly. Most Generation X’ers raising kids today were more than likely reared by baby boomers that subscribed to the phrase, “spare the rod, spoil the child." A new school of thought and a better approach to discipline has replaced spanking as the immediate "go to" for disciplining children. Here is what some moms think of using corporal punishment as a form of discipline. Sacha Cavante, Douglasville mom of three I believe if a parent or guardian chooses spanking as a form of discipline, then it should be used as a last resort. Talking to children…

It’s back-to-school time for Douglas County and while teachers continue to prepare for the return of eager students, parents are bracing themselves for early mornings, packing lunches and getting their children to the bus stop or in the car pool lane on time.  We asked three Douglasville moms to share their tips on how they cope with this hectic period. DO try these at home! Candace Crossfield mom to six-year-old son, BrantleyFirst thing I have to do is ensure he gets a good night's rest and is in bed by 8:30.  I learned my lesson the hard way on this one. Mondays are the worst for us so 8:30…

At a recent neighborhood gathering, I was approached by two moms who had attended my daughter’s fourth birthday party. Being polite and well-mannered gals, they quickly thanked me for the thank you cards that I FINALLY got mailed off just shy of a month from the date of her party. However, after a quick apology for not getting the hand-written thoughts to them sooner, they suggested that thank you cards for a child’s birthday at my daughter’s age shouldn’t be a pressing obligation and certainly not expected. Are thank you cards really necessary following a young child’s birthday party? We …

Savvy spending and debt reduction is top of mind with many, especially as our government struggles with some tough financial issues and choices. How do you approach the subject of money with your young children? Do you plan to wait until your kids are older or do you address the topic now? Cindy Given, Douglasville mom to twin 3-year olds, Mayson and Madison I don’t even plan to bring the subject up until they’re old enough to earn an allowance, like 7 or 8 years old. Kids have enough on their minds these days and they don’t need to be stressed out about saving or any of that stuff. Sunny …

“The lunches provided at most local schools are loaded with fat, salt and mystery ingredients. Items include funnel cake for breakfast and fried foods for lunch. However, some moms find it hard to make a homemade, brown-bag lunch due to time constraints and lack of inspiration so they choose the ease of this unhealthy option anyway. What advice would you give moms to encourage them to pack a healthy lunch instead?”   Kristen Gottlieb, Douglasville mom to two boys, ages 9 and 13 I don’t want to get preachy about the lunch thing; it’s so overdone on TV. (Hello, Jamie Oliver.) The fact is that …

I think my 5-year-old twins learned to count from one to ten in Spanish in about 8.5 seconds. The aptitude that children have for learning foreign languages is mind blowing. Experts say that the best time to teach a child a second language is between the ages of three and five, so get a jump on those lessons with these sites that feature language-learning tools for kids. Early Advantage – Welcome to the home for the wildly popular Muzzy series. My kids have used the Spanish beginner’s DVDs with great success.  Other languages offered are Italian, French, German and Mandarin. Newly added …

Busy moms have a great deal of pressure and need a way to blow off steam. Some run marathons or do Zumba, while others prefer no-impact stress-relief like knitting or meditation. What do you do to release your everyday stress? Rita Ronin, Douglasville mom to Ashton (10) The best way for me to relieve stress is to go for a run. I don’t need to run 10 miles or any huge distance but I find that just a couple of miles (or sometimes as little as 20 minutes) helps me reset the day and calms me down.  Denise Lee, Douglasville mom to Carolyn (7) and Kiki (5) I think my idea of relieving stress might …

Traditional schools are on summer break but some families choose to keep the lessons going. Does your family take a breather from schooling all summer or do you supplement with home lessons or summer school in order to give your kid a head start when school starts up again? Heather Beachy, Douglasville mom to Susannah (4) and Claire (3) I've always worked with my girls outside of school on lessons that are age- and skill-appropriate (and before they started for that matter). My girls (ages 3 & 4) are at Primrose, and even though they can go year-round, I pull them out for the summer so they …

“Now that summer is here, families are heading out on vacation in droves.  Whether it’s by car or plane, it can be a challenge to keep kids occupied until the final destination is reached.  What are your survival tips for traveling with kids?” Lisa Faircloth, Douglasville mom to Joey (7) and Jackie (3) I love car trips actually because it is provides fresh learning opportunities. Our kids love to watch TV in the car, and we love it too, it's almost like "date night" in the front seat when they are zoned out. If applicable, I look for library books and educational videos that pertain to the …

"The recent devastating storms near our area and in surrounding states have some families creating or re-thinking emergency plans in case disaster hits closer to home.  Is your family primed with supplies and an evacuation plan or do you take a more casual approach to disaster preparedness?"  Heather Beachy, Douglasville mom to Susannah (4) and Claire (3) We keep a two-week supply of food and water in portable bins, a pair of shoes, outerwear and two changes of clothes for each family member and our solar/hand-crank radio/flashlight/cell-phone charger along with extra blankets and pillows and…

“It’s heartbreaking for moms when their kids get a cold or the flu.  How do you handle a routine illness in your home?  Are you a “chicken soup” mom that waits out the symptoms and tries to cure without drugs and medicines or do you call the doctor for a “same day” appointment and hopefully to get a prescription filled?” Heather Bennett, Douglasville mom to Austin (10), Hudson (6) and Jackson (5)  We always take the 'watchful-waiting' approach with our three children. We feel there's no reason to rush our children to the doctor to either be told there's nothing they can do, or be given an …

"Social media outlets such like Facebook have made communication easier for some busy moms but what about those that don’t embrace the technology? Do you find that you are losing touch with friends who don’t choose the computer as their primary source of communication?" Rita Ronin, Douglasville mom to 10-year old Ashton I’m one of those people that is not a big e-mailer and was reluctant to get on Facebook. I feel like I was almost forced to get online, otherwise I would be out of the loop. I don’t really participate in social media, I’m just involved enough to know what’s going on with my …

"Summer vacations are a great time for families to bond and enjoy some stress-free time off from the normal routine.  Does your family have a tradition of visiting the same place every year or do you choose to explore new places to visit?" Kim Golden, Douglasville mom to Parker (6) and Peter (9) I know that some families have traditions of going to the same place year in and year out but that just isn’t us. We like to mix it up a bit and get lost, especially in the many nearby state parks. My boys are good adventurers and we like to foster that spirit.  Sunny Taylor, Douglasville mom to …