• Last updated 3/10/13 by AdinaL

Rosie Hippo is giving one lucky A la Mama reader a beautiful handmade piece from their Amish wooden kitchen collection: the sink/stove combination. (Accessories not included) Give your busy little chef all he or she needs to whip up some pretend play kitchen fun! The sink/stove is beautifully handcrafted of solid pine by Amish craftsman. Faucet and stove knobs turn on sink/stove combo. Solidly built for years of fun. Non-toxic, child-safe finish. Made in the USA. 2+ Rosie Hippo also has beautiful Amish doll furniture, great for... read more

• Last updated 3/10/13 by AdinaL

On the surface, the fact that I went to school for theater doesn’t seem related to my current role as art director at Mothering. Except that both involve something I really enjoy: creating illusion. Building sets, creating postures and identities and costumes and mood are not all that different from trying to evoke a sense of coziness and comfort when shooting a bowl of soup in the office. Photo of my annual attempt to create the illusion of a fireplace at my house. (I come by this inclination naturally: When I was little, in the days before my folks had a... read more

• Last updated 3/10/13 by AdinaL

We may be thinking about gifts, but the babies in our lives still need their cute booties wrapped in the best cloth diapers available, day and night. Right? Here’s where this fantastic BabyBunz giveaway comes in. BabyBunz has supported Mothering for years; the mama-owned company was and continues to be a pioneer in the cloth diapering world. And now BabyBunz wants to bless you with a beautiful selection of cloth diaper items. Given that it’s gift-giving time, BabyBunz is also offering a Flash Sale (for 3 days only) on a trio of Mini Discovery puzzles,... read more

• Last updated 1/18/11 by KrisUnderwood

Last year we ended up getting a Charlie and Lola Advent calendar. It was cute and the girl loved it, but didn’t have chocolate in it.  Not that big of a deal, but it’s such a classic tradition! My only concern with the chocolate Advents was whether they were made  in China, the possibility  of it containing a concoction of chemicals and whether or not they’d been recalled. Seems as if all of the ones I came across were. So,this year, as December approached, I searched everywhere for a chocolate Advent calendar that wasn’t made in China. Finally, I found some at the... read more

• Last updated 3/10/13 by AdinaL

BEKA: ECO-FRIENDLY and MADE IN THE USA… You might remember BEKA from Mothering’s Holiday Gift Guide this year; I featured their Little Builder Whimsie Block Set, Deluxe Block Wagon, and their Construction Zone. I completely fell in love with their beautiful handiwork, and clean, solid design. And now BEKA is offering a Flash Sale (30% off for 3 days only!) on their sturdy, beautifully designed easels–a worthy gift to nurture the young artist in your life. BEKA Deluxe Easel BEKA Adjustable Easel BEKA is perhaps best... read more

• Last updated 3/10/13 by AdinaL

Ta-da! We are done, finished, through. Jan-Feb issue 164 is outta here! After the frenzy of layouts and proofing and file-sending, late nights and long hours, Managing Editor Melissa Chianta just signed off on the last page—which is a huge relief, and, as always, pretty much a source of wonder. But it’s also anticlimactic. Since after a day or two to catch our breath (And after, that is, we also finish up the digital version of the magazine, adding links and digital bonus material), the whole process starts all over again. . . Still, it feels... read more

• Last updated 3/10/13 by AdinaL

The BabyGardner is one of my absolute favorite toy shops; they have a collection of the most precious, enchanting, handmade goods. They’re partnering with A la Mama to make this holiday season a little sweeter with the following great opportunities… GIVEAWAY: Ice Cream Beanbag Memory Match Game I fell in such deep love with this game that I featured it in the Mothering annual natural toy feature. Can you believe each ice cream cone in this adorable game is stitched by hand? Exceptional quality craftsmanship and materials make this set durable enough... read more

• Last updated 12/5/10 by Jenny Rough

In the mailbox today, I found them: the first round of holiday cards from our (super) organized friends. Exchanging holiday cards is one of my favorite annual traditions. It’s great hearing from high school pals, college roommates, new acquaintances, and everyone in between. I love seeing pictures of my girlfriends’ babies…and all their kids as they grow up. As a couple still trying to navigate the waters of fertility and adoption, Ron and I don’t have a picture to send out of a little munchkin holding a stuffed Santa under a decorated tree. I guess we could send out a... read more

• Last updated 3/10/13 by AdinaL

I love EO: the name stands for “essential oils,” which I rely on daily. This holiday season, EO is giving one lucky Mothering reader a sweet stash of limited edition personal care products. The EO Luxury Bath Gift Set ‘Serenity’ with French Lavender provides the perfect spa experience and is the ideal gift for anyone and everyone on your gift list. This gift set includes a 12oz French Lavender Serenity Bubble Bath and a 22oz French Lavender Serenity Bath Salt, all encased in a beautiful gift box, ready to give. The richly foaming EO French Lavender Serenity... read more

• Last updated 3/7/13 by mamazee

- - If there is ever a time when commercialism seems inescapable, it’s during the holidays. Now, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has created a guide to help you find your way through the hectic holiday season. You can download your free copy here. - Frazzled? Cranky?  Anxious?     Overspent?   Looking for respite from commercialized holidays? About Melanie Mayo-Laakso is the Content Manager for Mothering.com. Mothering is the birthplace of... read more