Sarah Noreen / Madison, WI

To prepare for a three-day road trip to Florida with our five-month-old, we filled a small laundry basket with diapers, wipes, a blanket, bibs, extra clothes and toys and kept it on the back seat next to the car seat. This allowed for easy access to diapers for changes, and I was able to reach back and hand our daughter toys throughout the day. It was MUCH easier than rooting around a packed trunk for things!

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By the time I'm done cooking dinner, getting the kids ready for bed, reading bedtime stories, washing dishes, sorting through mail, and picking up toys, the last thing I want to do is go through the whole face-cleansing and moisturizing ritual. Our beauty editor suggested that I get my skin routine out of the way the minute I get home. So now, that's what I do (right after I walk in the door and change into my comfy outfit). It took a bit of getting used to, but once I got in the habit, I found it to be an end-of-the-night sanity saver. If only I didn't have to brush and floss and brush before bed...

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Confession: I'm not cool. Just when I think I'm (somewhat) up on the so-called "hip" bands, along comes another musical outfit that I've never heard of with a vaguely ridiculous or irony-steeped name (i.e. Vampire Weekend, Hot Chip, We Are Scientists...). Keeping abreast of who's new, who's great and who's overrated requires a dedicated, incessant trolling of music blogs, which is impossible for me since, well, I have a job. Now I leave the work to The Hype Machine, an amazing Web site that scans hundreds of music blogs every day and posts the latest tracks online so that I can sample new tunes (and rock out to old faves) before buying a CD.

The best part? It's completely free and legal. The files aren't available for download, but there are links to purchase the songs on Amazon or iTunes, so your conscience is in the clear - as is your bank account and rap sheet (no RIAA fines for illegally - and embarrassingly - acquiring Bon Jovi's greatest hits).

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I switched over to REN Skincare after editing the story "Toxic Shock" for the February issue, when I learned that most of the skin products I was I using had parabens, PEG-13, and phthalates in them (all of which can be toxic). I found REN, a Scandinavian line that uses no harsh chemicals in any of its formulas, at Sephora in their natural/organic section (I use the frankincense night cream and rose body cream). I don't mind that it's a little more expensive than other skin products I've tried in the past because I just feel healthier knowing it's pure.

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A few years ago, I was at my aunt and uncle's home for dinner and I couldn't get enough of my aunt's salad. There was something magical in the dressing that kept me licking my lips after each bite, but I couldn't quite place what it was. "Tamari soy sauce," she revealed.

Tamari gives dishes some oomph in the same way that salt does, except that tamari's richer and nuttier on the palate. It's a great ingredient to mix with olive oil and garlic, for instance, as a base for sautéing just about anything. San-J is my brand of choice, and here is one of my favorite recipes:

Salad: Place all your chopped non-lettuce ingredients (tomato, avocado, onion, pepper...) in a bowl and toss with a mild vinaigrette (I love Brianna's French Vinaigrette). Then dribble tamari over the goodies, mix, and let marinate until you're ready to add the lettuce. Before serving, just add the lettuce, toss, sprinkle chopped nuts on top (pistachio nuts work really well), and feast.

Stacie Stumphauzer | Dallas, TX

When my twins were ready to transition from their cribs to real beds, I happened upon a company called Custom Playhouses that literally makes the beds of your children's dreams. Their service was outstanding, too. I gave them my ideas about themes for the kids' room as well as what make-believe games they liked playing and stories they loved hearing. Then, the designers set about creating these masterpieces of imagination, working with me by phone and email through every stage of the process. And, when the beds were completed, the couple that built them not only flew down here to meet the delivery truck and set everything up, but they also returned the next morning to fix a fussy light on one of the beds. The real value in all of this, though, is that the kids have never been more excited to go to bed!

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The song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III is all the rage in my house. Pretty true to its title, the song's about a skunk that gets run over by a station wagon, which might not seem kid-friendly at first, but the truth is I've never met a four-year-old who didn't love it (though younger than that could be inappropriate, I suppose). Every time one of the girls' friends comes over, I put it on repeat and they go bananas. Do you have hits like that in your house?

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Esther Bonding / Las Vegas, NV

Every mom who's got a teething tot should know about Sophie the Giraffe. Not only is she adorable (and handmade in the French Alps-ooh la la!), but there's something about her design and texture that soothes troubled gums and, therefore, crying babies. Sophie also squeaks when squeezed, so she engrosses my seven-month-old, Oliver, for long stretches of time in his car seat, the stroller, wherever. And I don't mind how long he chews on Sophie because she's made from natural rubber and non-toxic food-based paint.

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I make a lot of soup. (I know, I'm a player. Don't hate.) Pretty much every week, I make a chicken soup and that becomes the basis for a lot of other meals. When my twins were six months old and ready to eat real food, I thought chicken soup would be good for them. The only problem was I'd never made it before, so I called upon my grandmother, Santa Alfieri, and she told me how: Get a couple pounds of chicken legs and thighs, put them into a pot with two diced carrots and celery. Add enough water to cover the chicken by an inch. Bring it all to a boil before adding salt, pepper, and a bay leaf. Then, simmer for about 45 minutes. Throw in some pasta and, "Voila!" It's so easy I can make it before I go to work in the morning without being late.

When my kids were still on mushy food, I would throw the soup (with pasta) into the food processor to make a puree. They went nuts for it. Then, I'd do the same thing with vegetables for a chicken/veggie puree. Since they don't eat a ton of the broth, I use the extra as the base for other soups like pasta fagioli or minestrone. I also make a tasty chicken salad from it by shredding the meat and mixing with diced celery, mayo, salt, and pepper-often the perfect weekend lunches for my husband and me. Making chicken soup (and being resourceful with it) makes me feel like such a mom!

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Jennifer Tierney / New York, NY

If my writing these days weren't limited to refrigerator Post-It scribbles for my husband and the babysitter, I'd surely send thank you notes to the makers of these two baby products:

1.Priddy cloth books: They're made of fun, colorful fabric, so my eight-month-old, Finn, has a great time looking at them, holding them, bending them, and (when the mood strikes) chewing them. He also loves grabbing the moving parts on each page, like Sally Spider's actual string legs. Whenever he sees me pull out his Priddy book, he knows it's different from my reading to him from a regular book; he knows to expect an all-sorts-of-fun page-turner.

2. Barefoot Dreams blanket: This was the one baby shower gift I got that I wish came in my size because it's possibly the softest thing I've ever felt. Finn loves to feel the satin trim with his fingers and becomes entranced when I run part of it along the side of his face. It's my secret trick when he's being difficult at bedtime. A couple of caresses, and he's out like a light.

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Lately I've been infatuated with Frank Lloyd Wright (for no reason in particular-it's not like he's breaking news), and reading Nancy Horan's novel Loving Frank has only heightened my intrigue. The story is based on his love affair with Mamah Borthwick Cheney, one of his (married) clients. The two ran away together, and the media circus that resulted was of Brangelina proportions. I kept going back and forth between loving and hating this woman who essentially traded her husband and kids for this quirky cape-wearing architectural genius. And the ending...wow...still gives me goose bumps.

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Kids grow up so fast. Cliche, yes, but true. So, every month, my husband and I print up a sign that reads however old our son, Lex, is at that particular moment in time (one month, six months, nine months...). Then we photograph the little guy with the sign, doing whatever it is he's just learned to do like roll over or wave hello. While celebrating Lex's first birthday a few weeks ago, his dad and I had so much fun thumbing through the prints and noting all of his little changes from picture to picture, month to month. It also makes for a nice album-worthy set to give to his doting grandparents...or maybe even him some day.

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I was equal parts excited and terrified when I started training for my first marathon a few years ago. So, obsessive online researcher that I am, I scoured the Internet for exercise routines, advice - anything to make the prospect of running 26.2 miles (in a row!) less daunting. I happily discovered Active.com and, three marathons later, it has become my favorite resource for running, tennis, and the nine other sports it covers.  The site features training schedules, performance tips, and information about local sporting events (which has been super helpful to me since I moved to New York from D.C. a few months ago). I'm also a fan of the discussion boards, where fellow athletes share ideas like iPod workout playlists (Cake's "The Distance" is a fave). After all, when it comes to exercise, we could all use a little rallying.

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Just before Ratatouille opened in theaters, I bookmarked on my laptop Pixar's nine-minute preview of the film so it was at the ready when I needed a quick (but not too quick!) distraction for my four-year-old, Henry.  Nine minutes -- or even five -- feels like an eternity when I'm trying to chop an onion or navigate the maze of automated instructions on the bank's customer "service" hotline. The rodent-tastic trailer is long enough to offer reprieve but not so long that it counts as a whole program. In short, guilt-free TV!

I'm scrambling for the next animated diversion but unfortunately can't find anything that runs longer than four minutes. I'll definitely be keeping tabs on the Wall E site, though. At the moment, only the two-minute trailer is up, but hopefully Pixar will provide a lengthier preview (like the Ratatouille one) as we get closer to the film's release on June 27.

In the meantime, try these almost-as-effective averters: Disney shorts, "That's How You Know" from Enchanted, Bee Movie Trailers (releases on DVD today!), and National Geographic videos.

With any luck, you'll be the only one crying as you chop that onion!

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Ashley Knott | Louisville, KY

If ballet, piano, and soccer practices are still a few years off and you need a wholesome and captivating Saturday activity for your rugrats, head to your nearest Lowe's. Every other Saturday, Lowe's has a "Build and Grow" kids clinic that is totally free and lots of fun for everyone involved -- especially me, who gets to take a breather on the sidelines and catch up on my magazine reading between clicks of the camera.

Here's how it works: Each child receives an apron and goggles (to keep) and a building kit. After the little apprentices complete a project, they receive a patch to pin to their aprons (which they do with gusto). Then, we lug the treasure home to paint, which means a whole other day of keeping busy. So far, we've made a basketball goal, Valentine mailboxes, birdhouses, fire trucks, and stools.

It's a win-win situation: The kids feel super about themselves when they've made something that they can actually take home and use, and I feel super because the mess stays at Lowe's!

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