Articles by Laura Willard

It's not too late for holiday cards

Christmas is just around the corner, but it's not too late to send out holiday cards. And you don't even have to resort to electronic ones!

Mom must-have: Cute, comfortable shoes

A lot of women have a love-hate relationship with shoes. We love to wear fabulous footwear that completes our outfits, but we hate the pain that's often involved with looking good. It turns out you don't have to limp home with bleeding feet to rock stylish shoes.

Thanksgiving martini cocktail recipes

If you're in search of the perfect cocktail to serve with your Thanksgiving dinner, look no further. Try one of these cocktail recipes to complement your Turkey Day dinner.

Disney magic and fairy sisters

A few months ago, I had the good fortune of attending a Disney blogger event, where we previewed three fantastic Disney features, including Secret of the Wings, the newest Tinker Bell movie. As part of that experience, I met Tink's sister, Periwinkle.

Mom must-have: FatCat PowerBar 4200

Have you ever found yourself out and about -- without access to a power outlet -- with a dying cell phone? I recently did at a very inopportune time. Now I have a FatCat PowerBar 4200.

Safety first: Car seats, the Red CARpet event and Ali Landry

As moms, we'll do just about anything to keep our kids safe. But when we're not aware of the latest or most accurate information, the consequences can be devastating. Actress and mom Ali Landry wants everyone to know all about car seat safety, so she's sharing her knowledge at the 2nd Annual Red CARpet Event sponsored by Britax on Sept. 8.

Mom must-have: Crane & Canopy duvet

I'm a huge bedding junkie. I love big, soft fluffy beding -- great pillows, a very light down comforter, a pretty duvet and a throw blanket on top.

Labor Day cocktails

Labor Day weekend is almost here -- the unofficial end of summer. Throw one last party for family and friends, and make some refreshing summer cocktails to keep the spirit of summer alive.

Happy hour! Grand Marnier Cherry cocktails

This fall and throughout the holiday season, create cocktails in bold, wonderful flavors -- like cherry! These cherry-flavored cocktails are perfect for a party or anytime you want to drink something a little different.

Disney preview: Fun new upcoming movies

My entire family loves all things Disney. We have annual passes to Disneyland and California Adventure and we watch every Disney movie there is (I won't admit the number of times each, ahem). So needless to say, I'm quite excited to attend a Disney preview event featuring three great upcoming releases: Finding Nemo 3D, Cinderella Diamond Edition and Secret of the Wings.

Cheers! Olympic-themed cocktail recipes

As we near the end of the first week of the Summer Olympics, here's an idea: Enjoy an Olympic-themed cocktail while you watch the games! Put the kids to bed and mix up one (or more) of these five adult beverages and say "cheers!" while you root for your favorite Olympian.

Monthly subscription services for moms and kids

Modern life is busy and free time is often scarce. As we rush around, trying to keep up with our kids, work, family time and chores, we have less time for shopping -- both for the essentials and the fun stuff. Enter monthly subscription "boxes" for kids and moms-to-be. Brilliant! I've gathered five popular options.

4th of July cocktail recipes

Fireworks, friends and family are all part of how we celebrate the Fourth of July, but how about some refreshing low-calorie cocktails to share? These recipes are so amazing you may decide to celebrate the Fifth of July as well.

Vodka pop, cocktail and smoothie recipes

Flavored popsicles may be for kids, but we have a frozen treat idea that's for adults only. Have you ever tried your vodka cocktail in frozen form? If not, it's time to give a new summer party dessert a try. If you're more traditional and prefer your vodka in a glass, don't worry -- we've got you covered, too. From lemon vodka to PB&J vodka and everything in between, we have vodka cocktail recipes for all tastes.

Rum cocktail recipes

Rum has always been a warm weather favorite, and the stereotype has evolved from visions of umbrella drinks and coconut-shaped glasses (that previously came to mind when dreaming of rum cocktails) to more sophisticated rum drinks.

Outdoor photography tips

Mixbook, the online photo book service that offers the most customizable photo books and photo cards on the planet, is here to help you with your pictures. If you're hoping to capture summer memories, try these tips and tricks for taking fabulous outdoor photos.

Cool cocktails for hot summer nights

Ahhh, summer. With the rising temperatures comes the need to find creative ways to stay cool. Try one of these fabulous cocktail recipes that are full of flavor and offer an instant cool retreat.

Moms react: The first time I saw my baby

You've waited -- through months of pregnancy or months (or even years) of an adoption process... and then it happens. You see your baby for the first time. What thoughts go through your head?

Sometimes, Dad really can do it better

We're super women. We do it all -- and we do it well. Right? (Just go with me on this.) We juggle kids, housework, school activities and careers. We're moms! But for many of us, there's another 50 percent of the equation and it's a very important part! In honor of Father's Day, let's remember to give props to the amazing dads in our kids' lives.

My mom and me

For moms, caring for their children is the biggest, most important job in the world. And many of us learned what we know from our own moms. In honor of Mother's Day, I asked allParenting writers to share photos of themselves with their moms, along with their favorite memories. We are moms ourselves now, but we still love our mommies!