Your Savvy Year in Review: Our 14 Best Stories from 2014

From co-sleeping to cauliflower, listening skills to lunches, here's what got your attention in 2014.

One of our top Savvy Storytellers (and co-author of our new favourite cookbook) blogged about baking up Julia Child's classic white sandwich bread—and you haven't been able to get enough.

Savvy lady and party planner extraordinare Jan Scott admits she's not the biggest fan of loot bags—at least not the sugar- and cheap-trinket-filled ones. But Jan says that if the contents of the goody bag are simple, practical and useful—you might even have a little fun putting them together. Here are 18 ideas for loot bag fillers you won't mind handing out at your next party.

Parenting Power, aka Julie Freedman Smith and Gail Bell, explained it in no uncertain terms: your cellphone use is hurting your kids and could cause them to act out as they get older. Apparently, it all comes down to eye contact with your babe. Fascinating stuff.

When researchers at the University of British Columbia conducted a study that suggested a father figure's willingness to do chores around the house impacts his young girl's perception of gender roles in the work environment—and her earnings potential—our expert contributors Golden Girl Finance were on the story. (A story which would become the most popular article from our experts this year.)

Mayahood posted a photo of her newborn son, the youngest of three, sleeping in her bed and asked, 'Is It Co-Sleeping or Just Lazy Parenting?'—and boy, did you answer! We loved reading all the responses this one received on social media.

Despite being available in grocery stores all year long, cauliflower season truly begins in the fall—at the onset of cold and flu season. (It's also at this time of year that you can find bright orange and purple florets in addition to the traditional white variety.) This nutritionally dense and on-trend vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin C.

We know moms are always on the hunt for fun, fabulous and frugal birthday party ideas. This simple, DIY LEGO-themed printable from EastCoastMommy.com became an instant fave, especially on our Pinterest feeds.

Your life is full, and you need a perfectly organized calendar to keep it all straight. Scratch that—you need a perfectly organized calendar that the kids (and Dad) can see, so they can stop asking you what night they have that art class already! We love the Day Ja View Calendar as a kitchen ‘command central'—and so did you.

10 days of school lunches and snacks—planned and organized, with recipes? We're not surprised this one was a favourite.

Packaged snacks are inevitable at times—whether it's your school or your schedule that requires them—but how to avoid empty calories, white flour, sugar and salt? We know there are smart snacks to be found in the aisles of the grocery store—if you know where to look.

These summery, perfect-for-the-backyard-barbeque antipasto skewers from aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com were already a hit—then they were featured on the popular site Buzzfeed in a round up of Summer Potluck Recipes.

We asked a simple question—how do we get them to listen?—and Gail and Julie answered with a 3-step program for parents: just deploy AID. And no, we don't mean backup; we mean attention, instruction and direction.

Last Feb, we were feeling the cold—and some hunger pangs—and wanted a roster of comfort-food recipes made for weeknights—no stress, no mess. Bonus points if we could bulk up each dish with a variety of seasonal vegetables, adding colour and nutrition—essential ingredients for cold-weather eating.

These super nutritious bits, bars and blends will make sure that your babe gets all the proper nutrition they need—so that both brain and body blossom.