Although the mass commercialization of Harvard Square is depressing for those of us who grew up with the “old Square” as our backyard, Sage Stossel’s "We’re Off to Harvard Square” (regularly $14.95, currently on sale for $9.72 at Amazon) is a lovely children’s book with a catchy rhyme scheme and soft pen-and-ink drawings that will make you long for a stroll through John Harvard’s winding side streets.

An organically-oriented Boston area mama – who made the astute point that “a housekeeper’s cheaper than a divorce!” – passed on links for two cleaning companies, Healthy Homes Cleaning and AA Environmentally Safe Cleaning. Both companies use environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Please feel welcome to comment if you have used either of these services.

More on the great high chair debate. Another mama friend who favors modern designs is thrilled with her Ikea Antilop High Chair. For a mere $18.99, this chair will sit inoffensively amidst your décor and is so inexpensive that you can pick up an extra one to leave out on the deck.

The Antilop measures 22 7/8 inches wide, 24 3/8 inches deep, and 35 3/8 high with a seat height of 21 5/8 inches. You also can purchase a matching high chair tray for $5.

Rolling out cookie dough can be a bit of a high maintenance baking project, but isn't it worth it to bring dinosaurs back to life? With these super cute Dinosaur Cookie Cutters from Williams Sonoma at hand, you likely won’t have any trouble engaging your kids to help you roll, cut, and decorate these prehistoric pals.

The set of ten tin-plated steel cookie cutters ($19.50) are about 6 inches wide and include: brontosaurus, raptor, pterodactyl, triceratops, wooly mammoth, saber-toothed tiger, parasaurolophus, torosaur, tyrannosaurus, and stegosaurus.

The cookies will be extinct in no time, but the cutters are built to last.

Just because you’re pregnant or nursing doesn’t mean you have to forego drinks with cute little umbrellas in them. Check out Epicurious’ mama-friendly feature on liquorless libations. Epicurious offers several recipes under each of the following categories: lemon- & limeades, iced teas, tropical coolers, sparkling sips, and summer shakes.

So kick up those swollen dogs, and have your partner get on the blender.

I am grateful that I have a husband who both brings home a steady income and makes it a priority to get home in time to play with the babe and put her to bed several nights of the week. It’s hard to be “on” every day, and that’s why single mamas are especially amazing to me.

Linda Tucci’s financial feature in The Boston Globe, "Child-care costs strain single mom’s resources” (March 19, 2006), offers a quantitative window into the struggles of single mama hood. The article presents the financial case study of Joan Lieb, single mother of two, and describes various options reviewed to try to make child-care for Joan’s two children possible.

Here’s to super sizing you’ll feel good about. James Diaz and Melanie Gerth’s series of jumbo books (shown: "My First Jumbo Book of Numbers") offers big, sturdy pages packed with colorful illustrations and lots of objects and colors to name. Babes will delight in the flaps, pull tabs, sliding pieces, pop ups, and wheels.

A steal at $9.95, you'll be eager to expand your jumbo books collection to include the letters, colors, shapes, things that go, and dinosaur books. I picked up my jumbo books at Maxima Gift Center (locations in Arlington and Waltham, replete with cool gifts for both babies and adults); the series also is available at Amazon.

Ah, how I took the Nursing Weight Loss Plan for granted. I was one of the lucky ones whose pregnancy weight fell off quickly, thanks to the voracious infant who nursed her way through the entire 2004 World Series, and otherwise was happiest being walked around and around the block in a sling.

Then a few months post-nursing, many baked goods, and three major clothing crises later I discovered that I had gained 15 pounds. My fabulous husband, who insisted he didn’t even notice the weight gain (perhaps it’s the myopia) suggested that there was one thing I should do and two things I could do. The “should” was to buy myself a pile of clothes that actually fit and made me feel good. The “could’s” were to join him in trying to cut down on the daily desserts, and/or find a fitness outlet.
I ended up doing all of these things. Old Navy was a fabulous resource to get some work and casual pieces for cheap, I resisted eating dessert every single day, and then I looked into fitness options.

I decided to suck up the money and join the beautiful Healthworks Fitness Center for Women and I can’t say enough good things about them. The staff is friendly, the spa element (whirlpool, eucalyptus steam rooms, and massage services onsite) is fabulous, and the classes and equipment are great. They also offer a babysitting service to help mamas get to the gym (additional pay per use charge applies) and offer pre/post natal yoga and muscle conditioning classes.

Healthworks has locations at Back Bay, Brookline, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, and Salem. If you are a working mama, check whether your employer is in their list of affiliates to get a few bucks knocked off your membership.

Move over Martha. What’s cuter than these do-it-yourself animal card kits from Paper Source? Fun to use as invites or greeting cards, you can choose from chick, goldfish (shown), cow, and frog designs.

Kits come in sets of 10 for $14.50 and include instructions, cards, envelopes, and adornments (seals and stickers). You will need a circle punch, 1/8-inch hole punch and glue stick (available at Paper Source or craft stores such as Michael’s). Designed to be made by adults or by adults with “help” from kids.

Paper Source has four locations in the Boston area (Cambridge, Boston, Brookline, Wellesley) as well as national locations and web-order shopping.