My Suite Valentine: Hotel Icon

Who: Hotel ICON

What: For those who appreciate the charm of historic architecture, this one's a flip gone wild. Hotel ICON is the $35 million historic reinvention of the former Union National Bank building, a landmark structure built in 1911 on Downtown Houston's bustling Main Street. The massive bank vault doors behind the front desk serve as a stately reminder of the hotel's rich history.

When: anytime is the right time

Where: www.hotelicon.com | 220 Main | Houston 77002

Why: Hubby took me on an early Valentine's getaway. Our Deluxe accommodations featured 378 square feet of pure elegance and romance as well as a breathtaking skyline view, cushy king-sized bed, and spacious walk-in rain shower. From the gracious concierge to the rich gothic swags, I felt as though I had been whisked miles away from my so-called life into a world of elegance and luxury like I have never experienced.

What about the kids: I left mine with grandma so I can't say how kid-friendly it is, though probably about average. I did read that they have bonded babysitters available. But the place is soooo romantic, you and your honey will probably want to be kid-free.

What about the environment: While the shower heads seemed to be low-flow enough, I'm not sure they were intended to be that way. To add a touch of green, I suggest that they first hook up with the Green Hotel Initiative then consider switching over to energy-efficient light bulbs, installing motion-sensors for the lighting (I'll admit, we left our lights and TV on the entire time we were out that night), offering green laundry and dry-cleaning service, and using organic bed linens and bath supplies.

What else: You can quickly get to the nearby Museum District using Houston's easy METRORail service just steps away. Or, for a trip to the Theatre District or anywhere else Downtown, use the hotel's complimentary car service.

What now: Go book your own romantic interlude at Hotel ICON right away!

Slinging Around Town - babywearing benefit #6

In my post Have a Baby, Keep Your Life, I touched on the freedom a working parent enjoys when they learn to carry their baby in a sling baby carrier, but I thought the freedom topic warrented a bit more attention. In that post I focused mainly on the ability to get work done, whether in the office or around the house. Now it's time for play!

This time I want to sing the sling praises for all the cool, wonderful places my daughter and I have gone to together while leaving the baby buggy at home. Don't get me wrong, the buggy has its merits, but don't expect me to write a whole series on the benefits of those.

Babywearing benefit #6: Makes fun & travel oh so easy.

Say you're headed out of town for the weekend, or for the week, and you need to get through the airport to the plane with as little trouble as possible. Do you really want to maneuver that ever so sleek and lightweight stroller through a sea of couldn't-care-less travelers who are probably also as late as you? Maybe. But I would definitely keep a sling handy. I wish I had a penny for every time I saw a parent holding a baby while pushing their stroller. How much harder is that?!

I think that for tiny babes, slinging while traveling and doing family activities is especially nice and quite convenient. In the sling, baby can go from quiet observation of all the new surroundings to peaceful slumber without parent or baby missing a beat. Even parents of older children benefit from babywearing while traveling when faced with less than stroller-friendly streets, sidewalks, and shops. During our trip to NOLA last summer, I wore my 20-lb 15 month old on my back. Not only could she enjoy seeing everything I could see, she saw it from a level that was far safer than streetlevel in a stroller. Other times I have worn my daughter while visiting festivals, shopping at Ikea, shopping anywhere really. We often visit home tours and open houses which require you to leave your strollers at the door so you don't ruin the new flooring. How glad am I when I remember to keep an extra sling in the car?! T-h-i-s glad!

What are your favorite activities to do while wearing your baby? Let me hear from you!

Read more about how babywearing really can change your life!