Airlines charge for every extra piece of luggage and every extra pound of weight. Packing becomes even more of a challenge when you have a toddler. As we were preparing for our trip to Trinidad, I tried to find solutions for a light-weight crib that we could bring with us and I found the perfect thing: The Kidco Peapod Plus.

Kidco sells two sizes (Peapod, or Peapod Plus) with a variety of colors (pink, lime green, red, teal, cammo). We opted for the larger sized Peapod Plus in red. It was worth the extra $20 so that hopefully she'll be able to use it for a few more years, and the darker color helps to block out a bit more light than the lighter fabrics.

A week and a half before our trip, we started putting Amiya to sleep inside the tent, that we'd placed inside her crib. That way she was still in her crib, like she was used to, but she was inside the tent as well. She played with the tent for the first few minutes of her naps, but she quickly went to sleep. A week later in Trinidad, she was still sleeping in her tent, just like at home, it just happened to be in a different room. It worked out beautifully.

The Peapod Plus measures 52.5"L x 34"W x 25"H when open and 19"L x 19"H x 6.5"W when stored. It comes with a blow-up mattress, manual air pump, sleeping pad and carrying case.

A couple tips:

• Some people complain that its difficult to store, but if you read through the directions once or twice you'll get it. Also, Kidco has a photo-tutorial on how to do it if you can't quite figure it out.
• I recommend leaving at least 2 of the window flaps open so a cross-breeze can get into the tent, otherwise, just like an adult-sized tent, it can get stuffy inside.
• Instead of putting the blow-up mattress into the under-side zippered pocket, I covered it with a standard crib sheet and put it inside the tent. A nice flannel sheet is nicer against your skin than a nylon lining.
• If you don't pack the included sleeping bag, you'll save a couple inches on space.

I absolutely LOVE this tent. It's going to be great to use over the next couple years as we go to visit family.

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Posted by Jessica on January 23, 2009 9:09:00 AM EST #

My queue of projects that I want to create keeps growing and growing. One day I'll win the lottery so I can take a crafting sabbatical. One day.

I saw this Make your own dryer balls project highlighted in Lime & Violet's Daily Chum and I think its a great idea. I try to be conscious of things I use once and then throw away. We reuse take-out containers to store leftovers, we reuse gift bags from birthday parties to give to friends. This would be great to take my odds and ends of yarn and make them into something that lets me do away with buying dryer sheets that only get used once.

Hopefully I can manage to put this near the top of my queue... Right after I finish this lace project.

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Posted by Jessica on January 22, 2009 9:44:00 AM EST #

First, let me say, Jen is an awesome Nanny. I couldn't ask for any better. Second, Jen is an excellent knitting student. She picked it up quickly and after I forced her to swatch for a week, she started and has now completed her first project: a wonderfully cozy and gorgeous scarf.

I think this is a great first scarf. It's done with a simple garter stitch (knit on both sides), but the row of elongated drop stitches gives the scarf more interest. In general I not a fan of variegated yarns, but I think this scarf looks excellent with it.

Finished Dimensions
approximately 6 1/2 inches x 50 inches

Materials

• 1 1/2 balls Rowan Tapestry (worsted weight yarn) ~ 200 yards total
• size 8 needle
• tapestry needle

• yo yo: wrap the yarn twice around the needle (not too tightly)
• Drop yo's: instead of making a stitch, simply let the two yo's drop of the needle, this will make an elongated stitch

• Cast on 25 stitches
• Row 1-20: knit
• Row 21: K1,* yo, yo, k1 * repeat to end of row
• Row 22: K1,* Drop yo's, k1 * repeat to end of row
• Row 23 - 28: knit
Repeat these 8 rows (rows 21 - 28) until scarf reaches desired length
• Row N - N+20: knit (knit last 20 rows)
• Bind off

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Posted by Jessica on January 14, 2009 5:39:26 PM EST #