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MSNBC
October 5, 2009

"After much ballyhoo, vaccinations against the swine flu become available this week. But don't try to make that appointment just yet.

This week's initial shipments to states are so small that, with a few exceptions for children, most states are reserving them for health workers so they'll stay healthy enough to care for the flu-stricken and vaccinate others."

Long gone are the days of pick-up-and-go travel, when my belongings fit perfectly into a overnight tote, when the books or magazines in that tote would actually get read. Now, of course, it's entertainment for my toddler that swallows up the space in my carryon—after all, baby's airborne happiness translates into a headache-free journey for me, right? Meet the 10 things that have successfully kept my daughter busy on cross-country flights. They're small and lightweight, so you can pack a lot of them without feeling (and looking) like a mule.

1. Travel-Size Doodle Pro: My daughter loves this thing. Kind of like an Etch-A-Sketch, only it has a stylus to draw with.

2. Animal Toobs: Tubes filled with sets of safari-animal and sea-life figurines.

3. Colorwonder: Mess-free markers by Crayola (color shows up only on Colorwonder paper, clear on everything else.)

4. Colorforms: Remember these from when you were little? Kids still love them. Reusable vinyl geometric shapes that you can stick and restick to any shiny surface—like windows and tray tables.

5. Felt or magnetic boards: There are a ton out there to choose from. We like the Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar magnetic board.

6. Travel-size soft-cover books: Again, there are lots to choose from. We're fans of Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola series.

7. iPhone: I love my iPhone, but, truthfully, my daughter loves it more. I loaded it with a few applications for her, along with kid-friendly movies and podcasts rather than lugging a DVD player with me. Check out apps like Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald, and podcasts like Sesame Street.

(OK, here's where the list strays a little. We all know that if you give a toddler a gift, they're likely to spend twice as much time playing with the wrapping paper it came in. That said, some of the things that have engaged my daughter the most on the road are nontoy items from around the house.)

8. Post-it notes: My daughter has spent hours filling them up with drawings, handing them out, and sticking them all over the place.

9. Pipe cleaners: These can be twisted into endless shapes--try making little animals or something wearable. (I promise that turning them into sunglasses will leave you all looking ridiculous but laughing.)

10. Blue painter's tape: We actually haven't tried this one yet, but came across the idea on Delicious Baby.  It can be stuck on anything and removed quickly, and can even be used to outline games like hop scotch on the floor. (If your kid is really acting up and all else fails, you can fashion a straightjacket out of it.)

Visit See Jane Fly for more tips on traveling with kids and additional posts by Kena Frank.

Jezebel
October 5, 2009

"Two studies show more American kids have autism spectrum disorders than previously thought, about one in a hundred. But critics caution that the study methodology may be flawed.

A previous estimate had put the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (including Asperger's, which affects the young artist pictured above) at one in 150, but a new telephone survey and a more in-depth CDC estimate indicate the disorders are more common. Some of the rise may be due to improved detection, but Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, says, "The concern here is that buried in these numbers is a true increase. We're going to have to think very hard about what we're going to do for the 1 in 100."

We always, always said we'd be the kind of mom who makes her own baby food from scratch. But then reality set in. So thank goodness for British import Ella's Kitchen, debuting stateside this fall. Their baby food is pure organic goodness containing nothin' but what's in the name: sweet potato, apple, pumpkin, blueberry. There are six combos to choose from, and the handy pouch packaging is a snap for moms on the go. $1 to $2, Babies R Us.

The Boston Globe
October 2, 2009

"When Kim Zielinski was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 at the age of 33, well-meaning friends inundated her with products bearing a little pink ribbon. Each product’s maker promised a cut of the sales price to a breast cancer charity, and these friends felt they were supporting the cause and, by association, Zielinski. A petite brunette who’s now 35, she was enormously grateful for the millions of dollars that these pink-ribbon products direct each year to charities that fund breast cancer research and education.

But it wasn’t long before she got a little sick of the pink. “I felt kind of hateful,” says the insurance company sales manager who lives in Charlestown. “I was like, ‘What makes you think I like pink now?’

Giada De Laurentiis is famous for her simple Italian food, her annoyingly cute accent when pronouncing Parmigiano Reggiano, and her ability to look darn good while slaving over a hot stove. (Why can't we have a personal hair and makeup staff on call in our kitchen? Huh?) The enviable chef adds do-gooder to her list of attributes, now auctioning off, for Oxfam America, the chance for one winner and three friends to come to the Los Angeles set of her Food Network show Giada at Home to watch filming, tour the set, and lunch with Giada herself. Bidding runs now through October 8.

Time
October 2, 2009

"If you want to know if Elvira Henares-Esguerra has the guts to lead a synchronized, global moment of breastfeeding taking place on Friday across 18 countries, bear in mind that this is a woman who didn't hesitate to nurse her child in front of an audience of 700 as she shared the stage with Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. "You should have seen the [officers]," says Henares-Esguerra, recalling the moment her four-year-old son ran to the stage during the President's speech to inaugurate World Breastfeeding Week in the Philippines. "They all wanted to rush and catch him. But they were too slow."

Bringing more awareness to the broad benefits of breastfeeding has been a global movement for decades. Not only is breast milk considered by Unicef and many others to be the most nutritious food for babies, containing important antibodies and changing its composition as a baby grows, but studies have shown breastfeeding also has clear economic benefits for families over using milk formula products."

New Yorkers head to Tarrytown, NY this weekend for the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture's sixth annual Harvest Fest. With live music, cooking and gardening workshops, an extended farmer's market, hayrides and a seasonal pie bake-off, there is something for every member of your foodie-brood.

In New York's Adirondacks, Mirror Lake Inn (shown) is offering a Lake Placid Winter Games package throughout the winter that includes a three-night stay, three-day lift tickets to Whiteface Mountain, and breakfast daily. The price for a family of four is $460. 

Through November and December, The Hotel Bel-Ami in Paris is offering 25 percent off adjoining rooms stocked with arts and crafts kits and plush teddy bears. Book two nights and get the third night free at the Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen in Mexico; valid through December 23rd.