Next week will be Seattle week on DeliciousBaby, and frankly I can't think of a better time to tell you about why I love this city so much. I thought I'd kick it off with a shot of the Space Needle. Right not the needle is painted orange (the original color used during the 1962 world's fair) in celebration of its 50th anniversary. I think it fits right in with the more modern buildings in this shot.
Weekly deals always represent a savings over standard rates or represent a special package that is attractive to families. Advertisers may purchase a listing in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals, and I verify that the deal is available at press time and that it would be attractive to DeliciousBaby readers. Some links may be affiliates links, which means that I receive a small commission if you make a purchase at the site (don't worry, it doesn't cost you more) If you are interested in information about being listed in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals post, please send me email: debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com.
No doubt about it. My kids are city kids. We're steeped in a daily life that includes freeway commutes, Starbucks drivethroughs, and access to every imaginable museum and afterschool activity. I love my city life, but sometimes I forget that living next to one of Seattle's "Emerald Necklace" urban greenspaces (we can walk out our front door and go for a hike) is not the same as living in the country.
Here's what home looks like to Everest
Whenever we leave the city, the chatter in the backseat tells me what we're missing. And why it's so important that we make time for parks and nature. Instead of dialing into their activity books and wikki stix, the kids are atwitter with news about the landscape. This weekend my own reading was punctuated with shouts of "Mom, a cow," "A Waterfall," "Look how high the snow line is!" as we headed out of the city and into the real world.
Cascade Mountains
For Memorial Day weekend, we drove about 3 1/2 hours north-east of Seattle to Mazama. It's on the Eastern side of the Cascades. They keep the sunshine there when we're not using here it in Seattle, making it a great early-summer escape.
Mazama Rolling Huts (electricity and a kitchenette, but no running water)
My friend Petra reserves a group of cabins called the Rolling Huts each year and then invites friends to join in.
Each hut's balcon looks out over a grassy meadow
The architecture is just urban enough to comfort us city-folk while letting us totally immerse ourselves in the beauty of the natural world.
The main cabin has a full kitchen and bathroom
There are six (theoretically rollable) huts lined up in front of a more traditional cabin. Taking over the entire space with friends from school meant that the kids could roam free in the meadow while we parents sat back and watched, or joined in the fun. It was a chance for me to read some, connect with friends, and just unwind a little. For the first time in years I left my laptop closed for an entire weekend!
Here are a few pictures of the weekend we created for ourselves in the midst of the Cascade Mountains.
Bike Riding
We live on a steep hill with fast moving cars, so the kids don't get as much bike time as they should. It was fun to have the bikes out and available all day, though they never did get used to riding on grass and gravel.
Friends brought along art supplies, and the kids just loved drawing and painting the world around them
Painting the Methow Valley
Painting the Methow Valley
A kid-sized inflatable pool seemed like a great idea to everyone, until they stuck their toes in the ice-cold water.
An inflatable pool is a "must have" I think
But that didn't stop them from running around in swimsuits for the rest of the day
And one of the best things about traveling with other families is the toys and fun they bring along
Everest braves the slack line
I have no idea how this works, but I know it's fun!
Honestly, I really can't explain why the magical miniature horses showed up midafternoon on our first day. Rumor has it that their owners stopped in for a snack at the nearby tapas restaurant and were letting the horses graze in the restaraunt's dog run. The kids loved meeting them.
Miniature Horses
Probably the best thing about this weekend was that the kids got so much unstructured time to run around. It felt like the lazy summer days we used to have when I was a kid. Though I can't promise that the rest of their summer will be so relaxed, I'm glad I was able to give that experience to them at least for this long weekend.
Hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend. Tell me what you did in comments
This vacation was at my own expense, and though I met the owner while I was at the Rolling Huts I did not talk with him about by blog or writing a review
This is a spot in Seattle's Northend that I just love. And it's a not-so-secret front for something other than space travel. Who can tell me what this really is?
The Quinny Zapp, a high quality stroller that folds down small enough to stow in an airplane's overhead bin, is deeply discounted at Amazon - it's $70 off buy here: Quinny Zapp
Weekly deals always represent a savings over standard rates or represent a special package that is attractive to families. Advertisers may purchase a listing in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals, and I verify that the deal is available at press time and that it would be attractive to DeliciousBaby readers. Some links may be affiliates links, which means that I receive a small commission if you make a purchase at the site (don't worry, it doesn't cost you more) If you are interested in information about being listed in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals post, please send me email: debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com.
Every year the Environmental Working Group releases it's annual report on safe sunscreens. It's worth checking out, both for advice on using sunscreen properly and to find products that don't contain harmful chemicals but do provide adequate sun protection. You might be surprised to learn that some big brands aren't as great as you assumed.
Eilan enjoys the sun at Aulani Resort in Hawaii
Here are a few tips I've learned over the years
Sunscreens expire, and many have an expiration date stamped on the bottom. If there's no date, plan to use it within three years. A good way to remember is to write the year on each tube when you get it. (Sharpie works well, and you'll want to add your name too)
You need more than you think! For an adult, 1 ounce (think shot-glass-size) would cover all exposed parts of the body. For kids, half that much would be about right.
High SPF and waterproof formulas don't necessarily last longer. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and every time you get out of the water.
Spray and Powder sunscreens are touted for kids because they're so easy to apply, but there are serious concerns about their safety for young lungs. The old-fashioned goopy white stuff is still the best way to go.
Cold sunscreen on a warm body sends my kids running. I squeeze out some lotion, rub it in my hands to warm it, and then slater it on.
It's hard to get kids to sit still for lotion while everyone else is running in the sun. One trick is to hand over a stick of chewing gum. By the time the flavor is gone, you'll be done rubbing in sunscreen.
Product Recommendations
Vanicream Sunscreen. This has been my go-to sun protection for years. It works well on Everest's sensitive skin and is easy to rub in. It doesn't leave a white residue, so I use it on my own skin too.
Faces are tricky, and I like to use a stick since it's less likely to end up in my kids' eyes. Aveeno Sun Natural Protection Baby SPF 50 Stick provides good quality sun protection, though it does leave some whiteness. The small size makes it easy to keep in my purse or pocket every day.
Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection for more recommendations, from clothing to sunshades, check out my post on sun protection for your child
Disclosure: I have not been paid to recommend any of the products in this post. If you purchase a product through one of my Amazon links, I do receive a small commission, and that income helps me keep this site going.
In 2001 I spent about two months in Africa. That time kicked off an obsession with Africa that had me reading both fiction and memoirs set in the African Continent long after my trip was over. Here are a few of my favorites.
Novels about Africa
Cry, the Beloved Country
As Paton's main character makes his way to the city to find lost community members, he uncovers some the harsh realities about life in 1940's South Africa (just prior to the implementation of the apartheid system. This
beautifully written classic novel gives great insight into the rise of Africa's urban slums, the impact of segregation in South Africa, and the destruction of Africa's traditional culture through modernization. It's one of the few books that had me in tears by the end of the novel, and even if you've read it before, it's worth rereading before a trip to Africa.
The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel
In this beautifully written novel by Barbara Kingsolver, Nathan Price, his wife, and his four daughters move to a remote part of the Belgian Congo to spread their fierce evangelical Baptist beliefs. Somehow, in the soil of the Congo, everything they bring along is ruined beyond repair. This book provides a wonderful insight into local customs and beliefs, and a reminder that in order to provide aid, you need to understand what help is wanted and needed first.
West with the Night West with the Night is one of my very favorite books of all time. The writing is almost poetic, and as a women, I can't help but be struck by the author's independence and adventurousness in an age when women were confined to rigid roles. Beryl Markham was an aviator, a racehorse trainer, and and adventurer in in the Kenya of the 1920s and '30s
Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass
Out of Africa has a place on any list of classic books, and this poetic memoir is a wonderful way to wrap your head around what it would have been like to be white in British East Africa. Blixen's love for the landscape and the life she built in Africa shines through in every sentence in this beautifully written book.
Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna
Technically Facing the Lion is a children's book (suitable for grades 5-12) but it's a strong enough read that it's appropriate for adults too. A wonderful and rare insight into the traditional Maasai culture, and into what it would be like to journey from that childhood into the modern western world.
Michelle Duffy of the blog Wandermom is a huge history buff, and I greatly appreciated having the benefit of that knowledge on our trip to Zambia. She recommended this book, and I'll be adding it to my own wishlist so that I can get a better understanding of Africa's history.
The Scramble for Africa: White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876-1912
After seeing the poverty and lack of options for the average African, most people find themselves asking "how did it get this screwed up for this long." Unwinding the series of events that led us to where we are today takes some time (over 700 pages, in this book) - a great reminder that there are no simple answers when it comes to helping Africa build a stronger and more equitable economy.
I just got a question from a reader about how to cover an in-flight bassinet to shield it from flickering lights and video screens. I'll admit, I'm stumped. Does anybody have a clever idea about the best way to do this?
I'm not able to properly describe the beauty and calmness of Zambian's landscape, so I wanted to share this picture and a quote that I think describes it perfectly.
Zambian landscape
"The Zambian landscape is one note endlessly repeated. At the Tunduma frontier, the character of the land suddenly changes. The rolling hills of south-central Tanzania fade away and the table-flat upland of the Zambian plateau begins. Open grassy country gives way to unending woodland, a featureless wilderness of spindly trees twenty to thirty feet in height. Mile after mile, hour after hour it remains the same. Occasionally, a low range of hills is glimpsed in the far distance, but their promise of release from the hypnotic monotony is deceptive."
About Me I'm Debbie, mother of three delicious kids and I write about traveling with little kids. That's my daughter in the backpack and my son in Paris on Halloween.
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is on sale at Amazon
, a high quality stroller that folds down small enough to stow in an airplane's overhead bin, is deeply discounted at Amazon - it's $70 off buy here: 
. This has been my go-to sun protection for years. It works well on Everest's sensitive skin and is easy to rub in. It doesn't leave a white residue, so I use it on my own skin too.
provides good quality sun protection, though it does leave some whiteness. The small size makes it easy to keep in my purse or pocket every day.
Technically 
