Olivia's Pick--17 August 2009

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

It's been a zooey summer for the little one. We've explored, we've safaried, we've petted. From camel rides to train rides, Olivia's seen just about everything a zoo has to offer--and she even has the mountain of gift shop paraphernalia to prove it.

This summer's best zoos:

1. The Bronx Zoo
2. The Toledo Zoo
3. The Central Park Zoo
4. The Beardsley Zoo

And I'll also mention the Butterfly House in Whitehouse, OH. It couldn't be a more out-of-the-way location, but their indoor butterfly garden is simply spectacular. I'd even go so far as to say that it's better than the butterfly garden at the Bronx Zoo. Now that's wild.

Olivia's Pick--9 August 2009

"Mama, I love Misha," she said this morning, speaking of our very old dog. Mama's best friend was around before Olivia and before Papa. "I don't want her to be anyone else's dog. Can we keep her?"

So, Misha, despite your stinky breath and daily med schedule, you'll be thrilled to learn that you've got a loyal and committed fan in the family.

Do you think that age 3 is too young to hand over doggie duty?

Need an old (or new) dog around your house? Check out Petfinder. They'll match you up with local animal shelters in your area.

Olivia's Pick 27 July 2009

Leave it to Grandma to come up with the best birthday gift. Olivia doesn't want to take off her brand new backpack--even at bedtime!

Maybe it's because she's got the coolest new pack on the market, from the geniuses over at Skip Hop. Branching out from their baby background, these veterans of infant gear have created some adorable products for the preschool set.

They make Mama happy too, because this brand new backpack is BPA-free, Pthalate-free and PVC-free. And at 20 bucks, what's not to love?

Olivia tested, Mama approved!