Home sweet home.
It's the call of the wild! Nature lovers who hope to give their tots a taste of the great outdoors have plenty of options when they design their lil one's nurseries. From log-like bolster pillows to animal mobiles, mama can bring the outside in with these decor ideas. Read more
Lots of women have ideas about the kids they will raise, only to give birth and realize some things aren't up to them. A recent news report focused on Peter Leonforte, a bricklayer, and his son Andrew Leonforte, a singer. It's not uncommon for parents and their children to have opposite interests and personalities. While some moms and dads keep an open mind and encourage their kids despite the Read more
To celebrate the Summer, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at more than 100 parks this weekend, June 5-6. National parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon will be free, along with national monuments and historical sites like Natural Bridges in Utah or the Aztec ruins monument in New Mexico. Admission to these areas usually cost between $3 to $25, and chances are Read more
If you've been snippy lately, hurry up and get outside before Winter arrives! According to researchers at the University of Rochester, spending time in nature makes us nicer. A scientist behind the study explained: "Now we’ve found nature brings out more social feelings, more value for community and close relationships. People are more caring when they’re around nature." Seems like they're Read more
After an invasion of German nudists, voters in the Swiss Alps have banned hiking in the buff. The tiny canton (state) of Appenzell Inner Rhodes held a show-of-hands vote on the "disgraceful" practice at their open-air assembly. The majority decided to impose a fine of about $176 on people found hiking around their mountains sans pantaloons. Considering this conservative canon only gave women Read more
Volcano Blows Up the Sky and Wildlife — A volcanic eruption off the coast of Tonga destroyed birdlife and vegetation this week. Woman Says $43 Million Divorce Settlement Not Enough — A 36-year-old Swedish countess who's divorcing an ex-CEO says her $43 million divorce settlement won't cover her $54,000 in weekly expenses. She would like $99 million, which is 30 percent of her husband's Read more
Kids love dirt! They'll crawl, play pattycake, run in it, and even eat it! Others, not so much. If you are working on fostering a love of the forest in your children consider cheating with a guide like I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities To Help You And Your Kids Discover The Wonders Of Nature ($12). This irresistible book offers up outdoor activities galore — from leaf looking to cloud Read more
Maybe it was a natural follow-up to the garden gnome trend, but it seems as if the interior design world has gone a little wild for the mushroom motif as of late. From high-end fungi such as the Artifort Mushroom Chair ($2,529) to more affordable items like the Paper Cloud Mushroom Pillow ($75), there's no reason not to ensure that each of our homes has some fungus among us. Whether you like Read more
This sculpture, "Urchins," by Kelly Ann Lees, is part of the 2008 Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney, Australia. This public art festival, which is in its twelfth year, features over 100 sculptures placed along the Bondi to Bronte coastal path. I wish I had an Australia trip planned for the near future, so I could check out this artwork in person. I love public artwork: it beautifies spaces, fosters Read more
After waking up to a bird singing the car-alarm song note for note the other day, this I can believe: a recent survey shows kids have almost completely lost touch with the natural world. Half of the 700 quizzed were unable to identify a selection trees, flowers, and animals, and playing outside ranked as their least favorite way to spend time. Computer time trumped backyard expeditions for most. Read more
