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    Tina Case | Parent Grapevine

    Tina Case | Parent Grapevine

  • Parenting Guru: What's the Big Deal about a Messy House?

    by Tina Case

  • The SIMS 3 PETS Review

    by Tina CaseLife is definitely better when you have a pet - and The Sims 3 Pets game is no exception

  • Parenting Guru: DIY Halloween Cupcake and Harry Potter Robes Take Home the Prize

    I love Halloween. Ever since I was a little girl Halloween signified the start of the winter holiday season. As a parent, I don't mourn the end of summer for long. When Halloween is right around the corner, it brings wonderful autumn smells, brisk air, red-golden leaves and the anticipation of family gatherings, and lots and lots of laughter with my family. <p> When I became a mom, I looked forward to making costumes for my children. Back in the day when they actually taught sewing in Home Economics, I learned how to work a sewing machine. It was all I needed to start crafting my own creations. </p> <p> Often all it takes is a simple item lying around to spark an idea. My husband is an avid swimmer. One day he left a red swim cap on a table and my 1 year old put it on. That was the impetus for my favorite DIY costume. Or, when I saw what maniacal fans my children are with Harry Potter, the tailor in me aims to please. And sometimes, DIY costumes take home the prize. </p> <p> <b>Cupcake with a Cherry on Top - 3rd Prize <br></b> </p> <p> Without a pattern I bought about 2 yards of light brown felt. I had my daughter lie on top of the fabric while I measured around her. I sewed some simple stitches up and down the brown felt to give the impression of the cupcake liner. You can see from the photo that I cut two equal sides of the cake (front and back) and two sides for the frosting. Simple shoulder ties keep it in place. The red cherry colored swim cap tops off the cupcake for this costume. It was so easy, plus because any baby in this costume looks so cute, it actually won a prize at our town parade. <span>My nephew was dressed as</span> a baker. He had that costume from a play so it really paired nicely with the cupcake. </p> <p> <b>Harry Potter Hogwarts Robes - 1st Prize (for our dog, anyway) <br></b> </p> <p> Last year my <a rel="nofollow">3 Harry Potter Maniacs</a> put a spell on me to make each of them a Hogwarts robe. I used the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/harry-potter-robes">online instructions</a> from BurdaStyle.com which you can download for free once you register with this site. While I could have purchased the robes at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.parentgrapevine.com/2010/06/wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-worth.html">The Wizarding World of Harry Potter</a>, I thought the $100 price tag a bit steep. I purchased fabric, thread and iron-on patches to make them myself. While I did save by doing it myself, the effort to make them was more than I anticipated. It probably took about 40 hours to make 3 robes. </p> <p> My limited tailoring skills did require help from a friend who has professional sewing skills and has a sewing machine that can finish off the edges so they don't fray. I purchased inexpensive white shirts to wear under the robe and we purchased "authentic" neckties from a visit to the theme park. My girls ironed the school crest patch to complete the outfit. With all of this effort, I don't foresee making another costume for quite some time. That $100 pre-made robe was looking better and better when it came down to the wire. But the look on my daughters' faces when they put them on? You got it. <i>Priceless</i>. Oh, and when my girls donned their robe on our Golden Retriever? First Prize in a Best Pet Costume contest! </p> <p> <b>DIY Thelma and Shaggy - Goodwill Hunting</b> </p> <p> Every other year we attend a fun Halloween party at a friend's home. Our friends out-do themselves which brings out the creative challenge in all of the guests. Last year my husband and I went as Thelma and Shaggy from Scooby Doo. All of our items were Goodwill finds for under $5.00 a costume. The orange soccer socks from one of my children completed my outfit. </p> <p> Making Halloween costumes is easier than you think. Most of all, the love and memories that go into the effort is incalculable. I realize I've been doing this for 20 years. The magic and anticipation is still there. </p> <p> <i>Tina Case is a Yahoo! Shine Parenting Guru. She'll soon be contributing to Yahoo! Shine as a Get-It-Guide Guru. You can also find her work at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://parentgrapevine.com/">Parent Grapevine</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/985266/tina_case.html">Yahoo! Contributor Network</a>. </i> </p>

  • Parenting Guru: Jumping for Joy -- "SUN"-sational Summer Reunion

    For my kids, summer is all about our annual reunion on the east coast. Being California girls, they are not used to the warm ocean water, high humidity and classic boardwalks. It's such a joy for them to link up with their cousins and have a memorable week at the beach complete with go-cart racing,

  • A Road Trip to Remember--The RAGBRAI

    This summer I will be taking a road trip like no other. I will be participating in the RAGBRAI. What is the RAGBRAI? The RAGBRAI (The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is an annual seven-day bike ride across the state of Iowa. It is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring eve

  • Parenting Guru: Camping for the Unlikely Camper

    It's not in my nature to camp. I'm not a lover of the great outdoors. Yet this summer marks my 6 th year camping with 9 other families near the Santa Cruz Mountains. So why do I camp year after year? The reasons I camp are plentiful. The most significant reason is the perpetual smiles of wholesome j

  • My Favorite Photo...Actually, It's An Ultrasound Scan

    May is National Photo Month and when I tried to decide what photo I would want to showcase, it was hard for me to choose. I have adorable kids (if I do say so myself) and picking just one favorite was too difficult.So, I decided to pick an image that represents a momentous time in my life. The fuzzy

  • Parenting Guru: Best Baby Photo Ever (Okay, of MY Baby)!

    In honor of National Photo Month, I took a trip down Memory Lane and picked out my favorite photo of my eldest daughter. She was barely 5 months old, we were in Maui, Hawaii on vacation, and my husband read somewhere that children will mimic another face. He kept puckering his lips when all of the s

  • The Allowance is BACK!

    I am somewhat ashamed to admit that we are on our fourth attempt at implementing a regular allowance. Yes, we've been down this road many times before. However, we are ready to give it another go and this time we've made some changes.

  • Parenting Guru: DIY Camera Bag for the Mom Who Clicks!

    I am one of those moms who clicks, and I mean clicks with my camera all of the time. I'm actually a professional photographer, but I started out as a mom with a camera and a mission who was always trying to capture great shots of my three daughters. <br> <br> One of the things I have discovered is a love for bags. Not just <b><i>any</i></b> bag, but a bag with a purpose. And lots of style. That's the issue with camera bags, they tend to be big and bulky and look like backpacks that you take along with you on your camping trip. No way do I want to be seen with one of those. <br> <br> So my wonderful business partner found out how to make your own styling camera bag inexpensively and fast! We discovered this after dishing out hundreds of dollars for a styling camera bag (which we do love), but could have saved us a small fortune. Now, for under $35 you can make a nice bag for the paparazzi-mommy in your life. <br> <br> <b>What you need:</b> <br> <ol> <li>A Large over-sized handbag. A nice, styling diaper bag works well also. Rectangular or square shaped bags work best. </li> <li>1/2" to 1" foam (about 1 yard worth) </li> <li>Hot glue gun with lots of glue sticks </li> <li>Scraps of fabric to line the foam inserts (or purchase nice fabric that matches the bag you will use) </li> <li>Velcro tape (optional) </li> <li>Scissors, marker, pins </li> </ol><b>Instructions:</b> <br> <ol> <li>Measure the bottom of the bag, length and width. Then measure and cut the same size foam. Take a marker and write "bottom" on it so you don't forget what piece of foam this is for. </li> <li>Measure the long sides of the bag. Then measure and cut two identical size pieces of foam for these two sides. Mark these pieces "sides". </li> <li>Your should now have 3 pieces of foam. They should be cut in rectangles or squares (no need to round the corners of the foam when cutting). </li> <li>Get your glue gun plugged in and ready to go. </li> <li>Next, lay each foam piece on the fabric one at time. Cut the fabric to cover the entire piece of foam as if you were wrapping it like a gift. Leave enough to extra fabric to overlap the foam the same way you would for wrapping a present. [Note, if you want to have nicely finished fabric, be sure to leave plenty of extra fabric when cutting then turn in the fabric about 1/4' around the sides and hot glue that like a hem so the ends do not fray.] </li> <li>Use pins as necessary to hold the fabric in place as you wrap the foam. </li> <li>Hot glue and start adhering the glue on the underside of the fabric so it doesn't show when you adhere it. In other words, wherever you would put the tape on a gift box use the hot glue gun on the opposite side like an envelope instead. </li> <li>Repeat this for each piece of foam. </li> <li>Once this is done, insert these pieces in the bag. You can use Velcro tape if you prefer to hold the foam pieces in place. I found this wasn't necessary, the foam seems to stay in place without it. </li> <li>OPTIONAL. If you want to have dividers, measure appropriately and repeat steps 5 to 7. Use Velcro tape to hold inserts in place. </li> <li>Now you can insert the foam pieces into the bag. Voila! You now have padded protection for your camera, lenses and other paraphernalia. </li> </ol>So check it out, it's easy, it's fast, and it's fun! <br> <br> <i>When Tina's not busy clicking away, she manages her parenting blog <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://parentgrapevine.blogspot.com">Parent Grapevine</a> and photography blog, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://momswhoclick.blogspot.com">Moms Who Click</a>.</i>

  • Parenting Guru: A Letter to My Daughter - What You've Taught Me

    My Dearest Danielle,

  • Parenting Guru: Unleashing the Truth About Santa Claus (and All His Cohorts)

    I'm too practical for my own good. As a parent I should have realized that part of being a good parent was perpetuating the belief with my three daughters that Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Leprechauns were real.My husband and I played the role of deceptive parents for years. Ou

  • User Post: When Your Kids Stumble Upon Adult Content on the Internet

    by: Kristina Rust

  • Parenting Guru: My Tiny Valentine

    To my little Valentine:I wanted to write the story about how you are my special Valentine. After the birth of your second sister I wasn't sure if I'd ever have any more children. I had a traumatic labor with your sister "S". I was in labor for over 18 hours and by the time she was delivered I was to

  • Wishing for a Social Butterfly

    by Kristina Rust

  • Parenting Guru: Are Western Mothers Inferior?

    By Tina Case of Parent GrapevineTina first published this article as Are Western Mothers Inferior? on Technorati.

  • Parenting Guru: Tips for raising happy and responsible children

    As a full-fledged "<a rel="nofollow" title="Wiki Definition of Baby Boomer" target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer">Baby Boomer</a>", I grew up during a time where women were just liberating themselves, <i><b>bra-less and all</b></i>, and were overcoming relationship, educational, political and workplace boundaries. I believe my parents expected me to marry in my twenties, work in a low-key job, become a housewife and have children. My own aspirations were non-existent. <br> <br> My husband would say I was "rudderless", there was no direction in my life. At the encouragement of my <i><b>ex</b></i>-husband I obtained a B.S. in computer science. That path lead to a 24-year stint at a high tech company and is where I met the <i><b>true</b></i> love of my life (that's another story) and resulted in three beautiful daughters. <br> <br> With that quick background in mind and the frame of reference that stems from the "<a rel="nofollow" title="Women's Liberation Movement" target="_blank" href="http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/his135/Events/womenslliberation/womensliberation.htm">Women's Liberation Movement</a>", I knew raising three daughters who would have a strong sense of self would be critical (if not for me, <b>definitely for them</b>). <br> <br> My daughters are now ages 19, 16, and 13. I am starting to see the fruits of my labor come into focus. I am happy to report that in hindsight my following parenting picks are what helped form my daughters into responsible human beings and were essential in guiding me as their parent. Yet these can be forgotten or trampled over as our children compete on the soccer field as well as in the classroom: <br> <br> <ol> <li> <b>Help them discover and grow their natural interests and talents.</b> My husband and I noticed specific talents in each daughter (which we fortuitously captured in these photos) as early as one and a half years of age. As soon as they came out the chute (<i>aka cervical canal</i>) they had distinct personalities and talents. My eldest, for example, always loved to draw. When she was two we were on a flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam and she drew and colored the entire plane ride (luckily she had diapers on). She is a lefty, by the way. Today she is pursing a degree in illustration. It was a natural progression and one she has chosen and is truly passionate about. </li> <li> <b>Encourage independent thinking:</b> At the dinner table my husband and I have always enjoyed discussing all sorts of things with the girls and hearing their opinions. We discuss the pros and cons on a topic so they can see two sides of the coin. We want them to choose their political and religious beliefs by giving them a strong foundation from which to make the best choices. We often have them read a few articles from the newspaper and have a long discussion about it and each shares their viewpoint. </li> <li> <b>Provide strong fiscal fundamentals:</b> Ever since my two youngest could talk they kept bugging me about wanting a dog. I gave them an option. Either earn the money for one or we would never own one. They thought about chores that could help raise the money, but the decisive moment was when my girls created a pet sitting business for our neighborhood which they have now managed for six years (established when then were 10 and 6 years of age). That may seem young but we always had adult (me) supervision until they were in their teens. It has resulted in a consistent source of income for them which has taught them money, time and business management, plus a ton of responsibility. It also resulted in not one but <i><b>TWO</b></i> dogs. They paid for their pets, the medical bills and food. I stopped giving them allowance after the first year in business. They each have their own bank account and regularly watch it grow. They have goals for items they want to purchase and since it is truly their money they research the heck out of things before purchasing. </li> <li> <b>Establish good study habits:</b> Ever since they were in public school, I established regular study and homework habits for them. They were allowed to play and relax for 30 minutes before doing their homework. No television or video games until all of their homework was complete. I used to help and check it when they were little, but in time they stopped asking me for help and would ask each other instead. They still help each other study for tests and rehearse oral presentations. </li> <li> <b>Create a love for traveling:</b> Having young children did not stop us from getting on an airplane or car and traveling. My husband and I love to travel and we have instilled that love in our children. It creates incredible memories which we often recall during family reunions and holidays. We look at photos and videos of these memories and laugh until our bellies ache. </li> <li> <b>Create a sense of charity:</b> We always want our children to have gratitude. That is perhaps one of our most important fundamentals we have for them. At the dinner table we would ask each child to describe three things they were grateful for that day. Oftentimes we heard the same thing over and over - "<i>I'm thankful for a roof over my head, the food on my plate and my dogs</i>", but in time their thinking became deeper and they realize how fortunate they are and understand the need to give to others who are less fortunate. We regularly donate to various causes we believe in. And it does not always have to be monetary in form. Each of them has given a couple of times to <a rel="nofollow" title="Locks of Love" target="_blank" href="http://www.locksoflove.org/">Locks of Love</a> which is a truly personal charitable donation. </li> <li> <b>Let them make mistakes:</b> As a parent you never want to see your child get hurt, whether it be a scraped knee or an embarrassing moment. But failure and mistakes are human and often teach more valuable lessons that result in making them more compassionate and worldly people. </li> <li> <b>Show by example</b>: I have gone through many changes over the years. Most recently my children saw me make a huge decision to quit my long-time, high tech job and choose to discover what I was passionate about - photography and writing. They have seen me build a photography business and pursue writing my own blog and now I am branching out and writing for other publications like Yahoo Shine! When my children see this, they see they can be whatever they dream. They know they are to follow their passion in life and that their parents are here to help them find that passion and path. At least up to a certain point before they can fly and pursue it on their own. </li> </ol>I see the journey of my parenting reaching a juncture in the road. My girls are so self-sufficient that my parenting has lessened and our relationship is becoming something akin to peers. Not peers in age but in capability. Soon they will be teaching me more than vice-versa. <br> <br> If you're a parent, what are your best tips? If you're not yet a parent, what was the best thing your parent taught you? <br> <br> <br> <br> <i>Tina is extremely proud to be a Yahoo! Shine Parenting Guru. She is co-editor of <a rel="nofollow" title="Parenting Blog" target="_blank" href="http://parentgrapevine.blogspot.com">Parent Grapevine</a> and <a rel="nofollow" title="Building a Photography Business" target="_blank" href="http://momswhoclick.blogspot.com">Moms Who Click</a>. When Tina isn't writing about parenting and photography she is busy building a photography and social media business with her friend and business partner.</i>

  • 7 Steps to Being Good Mother: My Daughter's Assessment

    By <a rel="nofollow" title="the sweet and sour side of parenting" href="http://www.parentgrapevine.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Tina Case of Parent Grapevine <br> <br></a> A few weeks ago my daughter asked if she could interview me for a school report. The requirement was for each student to inteview any mother they knew to gain insight about them as a person. They were to develop their information in a slideshow presentation. Other than that they had free reign with what they presented to the class. <br> <br> Based on the questions she asked I thought she was going to present the information as a biography. I was delighted when she came back from school the day she presented and showed me the attached presentation. Imagine my surprise when I read what she wrote. It was a simple and honest assessment of me, her mother, and what I hope she takes with her when she becomes a mother herself. <br> <br> Herewith are the top seven tips and tricks she gleaned from our interivew, her full slideshow is below: <p> <b>How to be a good Mother:</b> </p> <ul> <li>Step 1: Know that you want to have kids </li> <li>Step 2: Know what you are in for </li> <li>Step 3: Be prepared for anything </li> <li>Step 4: There will be struggles </li> <li>Step 5: Make room for a new lifestyle </li> <li>Step 6: Keep your priorities straight </li> <li>Step 7: Enjoy your kids </li> </ul> <p> And yes, she received an "A" on this project, that's just icing on my holiday cake! <br> <br> <i>You can find more articles from</i> <a rel="nofollow" title="The Sweet and Sour side of parenting" href="http://www.parentgrapevine.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><i>Tina Case on Parent Grapevine</i></a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.momswhoclick.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Moms Who Click</a>. </p>

  • Parenting Guru: How to Stay Sane During the Holiday Frenzy

    By Tina Case of Parent Grapevine [Editor's note: This month, Shine Parenting Gurus are sharing their tips on how they get through the holiday season without losing their wits and patience. Have a tip to add? Join in!]

  • User post: Holiday Homebrew

    In our home, the holidays are full of family traditions. From cutting down a fresh Christmas tree in the nearby Santa Cruz mountains to seeing what is behind the door each day of the Advent calendar, we love this time of year.While most of our traditions are focused around the kids, one particular f