Solids

You don't have to be a treehugger or a gourmet chef to whip up fresh food for your wee one. Last year, more than 40 percent of lilsugar readers told us that they made their own baby food. The process of steaming and then pureeing fruits, vegetables, and eventually meats is quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying. In one half-hour cooking session, you can easily make two weeks worth of meals.

Chow recently turned its attention to the food we put in our lil one's stomachs and created a great beginner's guide to baby food making. Divided into recipes for 6-, 7- and 10-month-olds, the spread is a fabulous starting point for mamas looking to get cooking. To see their recipe for making chicken and sweet peas, read more

When it's time for your babe to start eating solid foods, it's time for mama's minor heart palpitations. While chewing and swallowing are second nature to you and me, it's something that every child has to learn. And part of the learning process can include gagging and choking scares.

When my wee one started eating solids, I was terrified. But one thing I found that helped her and gave me a lil piece of mind, was using the Baby Safe Feeder ($6). It was created by a father who almost lost his nine–month–old son to choking.

The nifty gadget allows you to put chewable foods like bananas and avocados into a mesh net, which has a tight screw on lid. Pass it on to baby and let her squeeze out the nutrients in safe portions. It can be messy, but your tot will find a sense of pride in feeding herself.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the latest carry-on regulations from the Transportation Security Administration: All of the liquids in your carry-on luggage must be in bottles 3-ounces or smaller, and those must be sealed in a single quart-sized Ziploc bag. But even if you have a high-maintenance beauty regimen, it's possible to accommodate your liquids on board. The key is having a mix of liquids that go in the baggie and solids that don't. Earlier today, I gave you Ziploc Bag Beauty, Part I: Maximize Your Baggie, detailing all of the liquids you should stow in your bag.

Fortunately, many liquid cosmetics (i.e., foundation, perfume, lotion) now have solid counterparts, so you can save the Ziploc bag for the most crucial liquids. Hence, Part II: Save It For the Solids, my guide to the space-saving and non-liquid cosmetics you'll need. Here's how to divvy it up.

• Body Lotion: Country Bunny Bath and Body Lotion Bar, $7, available in six scents or an unscented variety here.

  

• Perfume: Stella McCartney Stella in Two Amber Parfum Solid, $42, available here.

  

• Hair Pomade: Charles Worthington London Smart Fixx Quick Flick Wax Stick, $7.99, available here.

  

To see the rest, read more