When I was younger, my mother and I would bake holiday cookies for her friends and colleagues; and once I was on my own, I set out to recreate that tradition for the people in my life.

However, last year, I could not bring myself to endure we week of baking and cleaning.  So, instead, I gave everyone jars full of hot chocolate or cookie dough mix. I thought this worked out really well. It was easy and had minimal clean up!

That’s why a recent post on Bakerella caught my attention. These colorful oatmeal chocolate chip and M&M cookies are the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen! Perfect for just-because and holiday gifts or as edible party favors, they are something I will definitely be trying!

We recently read about a baby shower that left us a little befuddled. The shower was planned, and all the guests had R.S.V.P.ed when the mother-to-be found out she couldn’t make it. On doctor’s orders, she was supposed to stay off her feet and rest.

But instead of canceling the shower, she insisted that her mother host the event with her friends and family members despite her absence so that she could still benefit from the gifts her guests were bringing.

Does this seem odd to you? Have you ever been to a baby shower without a mom-to-be as the guest of honor? What would you do if you were in her shoes? You tell us!

Nearly every parent I know gets excited about capturing special moments with their little ones. Family photography is such a fun part of being a parent that Tiny Prints was built around the idea that you can preserve your family memories in a fun and stylish way! And the great news is, as technology advances, it becomes ever-easier to do just that.

One of our staff members recently invested in this Flip Video MinoHD camera. He loves that he can take HD video of his little girl, instantly upload it to his computer and still have a high enough resolution to watch it on his own TV. Plus, it’s teenie tiny, so it easily fits in his pocket!

If you need something sturdier, waterproof cameras have come a long way since the days of the disposable Kodak camera encased in plastic. Check out the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000, which is crushproof, waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof!

If you are looking for great image quality, most parents I know adore Canon. When it comes to image quality, Canon cameras generally capture exceptional photos. I like that they Canon PowerShot SD1200 comes in bright, fun colors too!

Lastly, if you are looking for a fun way to display your photos, digital picture frames are an excellent option. They also make great gifts for long distance relatives. My parents love it when I send photos to the digital frame I gave them last Christmas—it’s a way for them to see everything I’m up to, even though they live far away!