Traditional clambakes are a bit too much work for me. You begin by lugging your shovels, coals, food and fire extinguisher out to your desired beach area where you then proceed to dig a three foot hole that you fill with rocks and seaweed.  No thanks. While I am turned off by the grand effort of the bake I am not by the food.  Here is my idea of a less sandy clambake.  All you need is a big pot. No fire extinguisher necessary.

Click here for the full clammy menu

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

A cardboard box can literally entertain kids for hours.  They find the simple act of just sitting in the box fascinating.  My daughter’s favorite use for a box is to put it over her head and repeatedly run into the wall.  I don’t think I have a doctor on my hands with that one.  Here are a few more ambitious uses for the world’s cheapest toy:

Impromptu sled: Sledding is not just for snow. Cut out the large section of a corrugated cardboard box.  Cut a small hole in either side of the front of your sled. You can just poke a hole into the cardboard with your scissors. Thread rope through each hole and tie it off at each hole to create a pull. Make sure the rope is strong enough to pull whoever is riding in it. Or you can just use the rope to pull an empty sled to and from your launch point. Older kids prefer sledding down grassy hills while the little ones are content with you just pulling them around the yard.

Puppet theatre:  Stand a large cardboard box on end. Cut a big hole in the back for puppeteers to crouch in and a smaller one high up in the front for the stage. Decorate with markers or glue on pieces of fabric for curtains.

Race cars:  Wine boxes are the best size for this activity.  Cut off all flaps except two from the top opening.  Those can be used for a windshield and spoiler.  Let the kids go crazy decorating their ‘cars’ and end this activity with a game of red light/green light.

Make a play castle, tent or fort:  Turn a large appliance cardboard box into a medieval castle. Cut off the top flaps and make battlements by cutting notches along the top. To make a notch, use a utility knife to make a cut on either side of the section you want to remove, then fold the cut section for-ward and cut along the fold. To make a drawbridge, cut a large fold-down opening on one side that is attached at the bottom. Connect the top of the drawbridge to the sidewalls with ropes on either side, punching holes for the rope and knot-ting the rope on the other side. Use duct tape to reinforce the holes. Also cut out narrow window slits in the walls. Let the kids draw stones and bricks on the walls.

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

I recently acquired these lucite bangles and have been wearing them with everything.  They are an excellent compliment to a daytime white linen ensemble or an all-black happy hour outfit.  I do have two rules on lucite:   1.  never on a shoe    2.  Don’t pay too much.  It’s just plastic.

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I consider myself a connoisseur of sorts when it comes to fake hair.  In the last six years, the only time I have taken a hiatus from my extensions was a brief period during a rather brutal summer when I was eight months pregnant.  I am very committed to my weave.  But the hair bling phenomenon somehow slipped by me.  I am embarrassed to admit that my husband was the first to bring it to my attention after his stylist told him that it was all the rave.  I quickly ordered up some tinsel for myself in a subtle ‘aged copper‘  and a bolder ‘purple pizazz‘ for my daughter.  She’s 3 so she can get away with it. We can bond over our bling.  How sweet.  It costs about $10 for 20 strands and the average stylist will charge $3 for each tie-in.  If you have the patience and ability, you can install these shimmers yourself. Give it a try.

Click here for more hair bling details

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment