Gift Ideas For Kids Who Have Everything

Christmas is almost here! What do you buy for the kid that has everything? Here are a few ideas...

Back to the Roots Oyster Mushroom Kit - This is a gift that keeps on growing, and you will support a company that gives back to the community! In as little as 10 days, you can start growing your very own crop of pearl oyster mushrooms. Plus, when you post a picture with the kit you grow, Back to the Roots will donate a kit & sustainability curriculum to an elementary school classroom of your choice! I love this!

Stomp Rocket - I've seen these in action, and the kids (boys and girls alike) love them! Stomp Rocket Ultra comes with with 4 foam-tipped rocket, ready to fly in seconds, up to 200 feet high! Uses no batteries, propellant or other harmful chemicals... just human-powered compressed air. Multiple Award Winner, Preferred Choice Award, iParenting Media Award for Best Product.

Melissa and Doug Magic Kit - This is a multi-piece set which features tricks and illusions for the young magician to practice and perform. Everything stores neatly in wooden box. And, since it's made by Melissa and Doug, you know you're getting a great quality product. My son just got one of these for his birthday, and he loves it! It gets the whole family involved and lets the child take pride in their new-found skills.

Wallies Peel and Stick Chalkboard Mural - This big Chalkboard Mural is made of durable, self-adhesive backed vinyl that can be removed and repositioned easily. Wallies Big Chalkboard Mural comes with 1 vinyl chalkboard panel that is 25 inches by 38 inches and includes chalk. If you don't want to use chalk, people say it works get with Expo Bright Sticks which wipe right off when wet.

 

Personalized items are always great choice for kids that have everything. A friend of mine works for Inititial Outfitters and they have really nice personalized gifts, including monogrammed jewelry for girls, personalized: umbrellas, bath wraps, lunch bags, and so many other gifts.

It's also important to remember that gifts aren't necessarily material items in a big red box.

Support your local businesses and get:

  • Tickets to an upcoming performance at a children's theatre. This would be a fun gift for a child who appreciates the performing arts, and it gives you quality time with the special kid in your life.
  • An annual membership to the local zoo, children's museum, arboretum, amusement park is a gift that keeps on giving. These membership plans usually pay for themselves in two or three visits, but you can have a year's worth of entertainment.
  • Gift certificates to local indoor fun centers can provide hours of fun for kids on those long, cold winter days. These are especially great for moms of young children who may not be in preschool yet, or only go to school a few hours a week.

Do you have memories of favorite Christmas gifts that you received as a child? Do you remember the material gifts more or the experiences you had with family and friends?

Happy Friday!

Isn't this the time of year when you really wish there were more than 24 hours in a day? I could do with at least another 3 hours in each day!

I'm working on an improved version of Fun for Kids Friday, but until then, the weekly linky will be on hold. Thanks to everyone who has joined in over the past year.  Every week has brought new ideas for learning, cooking, exploring and so many other ways to have fun.

I'll still be on my normal posting schedule for everything else, so I hope you keep stopping by. And, if you find those extra 3 hours that I'm missing, please let me know ; )

Have a great weekend!

Proof That Santa Claus is Real

Your child walks up to you and looks deep into your eyes.  Then, he asks "Is Santa Real?"

What do you say?

My kids are only 3 and 5, so it's pretty easy to give them answers that satisfy their curiosity.  They believe in the magic of Christmas, and my husband and I enjoy watching them open their presents from Santa each year. But, some kids are more skeptical. They're always asking questions like: How does Santa get all those presents under the tree?  And, how do the elves make so many presents? How does Santa get his reindeers to fly?

I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and I'm not good at explaining things like this. But, luckily for me, someone is.

Martha Brockenbrough has put her thoughts into a letter for her daughter and explains it all so perfectly. Here's an exceprt from her letter:

Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch. 

In order to learn the truth about Santa Claus, you have to read her full letter here.

It's one of those things you may even want to read every year so you're prepared to keep the magic alive!

FIRST ANNUAL "FESTIVAL OF GIVING," DECEMBER 3 AND 4

--Local Radio Disney Stations in Over 30 Markets

Bring Multiple Charities Together for a Convenient Way to Give Back--

Radio Disney, the #1 radio network for kids, tweens and families, is making it easy for kids and families to give back this holiday season with the launch of its first annual "FESTIVAL OF GIVING." On DECEMBER 3 AND 4, Radio Disney stations in over 30 markets are bringing multiple charities together in their local communities to create a convenient way for kids and families to help others this holiday season. "Festival of Giving" kicks off Radio Disney’s Project Family initiative, inspiring families to spend time together in an effort to make a lasting, positive change at home, in their community and the world at large.

All 31 "Festival of Giving" events will have a variety of organizations on-site to take donations including Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, The Humane Society, local food banks and animal shelters among others. Each event will be hosted by Radio Disney’s local stations and will feature music, interactive entertainment and prizes.

The "Festival of Giving" events taking place on December 3 will be hosted at the following locations:

Dallas, Texas 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. / City of Frisco’s Simpson Plaza in Frisco Square with AM 620 / Charities: CASA of Collin County, Miracle League of Frisco and Frisco Family Services

Boston, Massachusetts 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. / Marblehead Christmas Walk with AM 1260 / harities: Marblehead Food Pantry and Making Ends Meet

Atlanta, Georgia 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. / Atlantic Station with AM 590 / Charities: Humane Society of Atlanta, Toys for Tots, Children’s Healthcare Network of Atlanta and Atlanta Community Food Bank

Houston, Texas 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  / CityCentre with AM 1590 / Charities: Yellow Stone Academy, SPCA Houston, Houston Food Bank, Shriners Hospital

Detroit, Michigan 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. / Westland Shopping Center with AM 910 / Charities: Westland Veteran’s Association, Michigan Humane Society, Toys for Tots and Forgotten Harvest

Phoenix, Arizona 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Outlets at Anthem with AM 1580 / Charities: AZ Heroes to Hometowns, Salvation Army and The Al Maag Toy Foundation

Tampa, Florida 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Tampa’s Curtis Hixson Park with AM 1380 / Charities: Toys for Tots and Metropolitan Ministries

Minneapolis, Minnesota 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. / Rosedale Center in Roseville with AM 1440 / Charities: Salvation Army, Read to Feed the Mind and Pillsbury United Communities

Miami, Florida 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. / Miami Children’s Hospital Palmetto Bay Outpatient Center with AM 990 / Charities: Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation

Denver, Colorado 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / The Streets of South Glenn with AM 1690 / Charities: Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and Boys & Girls Club of Denver, Mi Casa and Ronald McDonald House Denver

Cleveland, Ohio 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Crocker Park with AM 1260 / Charities: Salvation Army, The Up Side of Downs of Greater Cleveland, Achievement Centers for Children, Purrfect Companions Cat Sanctuary, Berea Children’s Home and Family Services, Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland and Family Promise of Greater Cleveland

Orlando, Florida 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Oviedo Mall with AM 990  / Charities: A Gift for Teaching, Christian Help and Oviedo Rotary

Orlando, Florida 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Winter Garden Village with AM 990 / Charities: A Gift for Teaching, SPCA of Central Florida, Matthew’s Hope, Christian Help and Toys for Tots

St. Louis, Missouri 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / Chesterfield Valley with AM 1260 / Charities: St. Louis Area Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army and Five Acres Animal Shelter

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / Century III Mall with AM 1250 / Charities: Arthritis Foundation, Salvation Army and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Charlotte, North Carolina 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Carolina Place Mall with AM 1480 / Charities: Humane Society, Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank

Kansas City, Missouri 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Legends Outlets Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas with AM 1190 /Charities: Hillcrest Transitional Housing, Toys for Tots and Heartland SPCA

Salt Lake City, Utah 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. / The Shops at Riverwoods with AM 910 / Charities: Kids On The Move, No More Homeless Pets in Utah, Utah County Food Bank, Salvation Army, The Christmas Box House, Head Start and The Adoption Exchange

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. / The Shops of Grand Avenue with AM 1640 / Charities: Hunger Task Force

San Antonio, Texas 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / Huebner Oaks with AM 1160 / Charities: San Antonio Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Animal Defense League and SAMM Ministries

Little Rock, Arkansas 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / The Promenade at Chenal with 99.5 FM / Charities: Reach Out & Read Arkansas, The Miracle League of Arkansas, Arkansas Food Bank, The Salvation Army and Pulaski County Humane Society

Richmond, Virginia 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. / West Broad Village with AM 1290 / Charities: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond and Central Virginia Food Bank

 The "Festival of Giving" events taking place on December 4 will be hosted at the following locations:

New York, New York 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Queens Center in Elmhurst with AM 1560 / Charities: TBD

Los Angeles, California 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. / Beeman Park in Studio City with AM 1110 / Charities: Pet Orphans, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bookends, LAPD North Hollywood Division, North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, St. Charles Borromeo Church Food Pantry and Operation Uplift

Chicago, Illinois 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / Gurnee Mills Mall with AM 1300 / Charities: PAWS Chicago with additional charities TBD

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / The Shops at Liberty Place in The Rotunda with AM 640 / Charities: Salvation Army, Operation Homefront, Operation Warm, Police Athletic League and Cradles to Crayons.

San Francisco, California 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. / The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno with AM 1310 / Charities: Parca and The Second Harvest Food Bank

Seattle, Washington 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Marketplace at Factoria with AM 1250  / Charities: Food Lifeline, Seattle Humane Society, Treehouse for Kids and Salvation Army

Miami, Florida 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / West Kendall Toyota with AM 990 / Charities: Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation

Sacramento, California 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. /  Fountains at Roseville with AM 1470 / Charities: Placer SPCA, News10 Coats for Kids, Placer Food Bank, Peace for Families and Toys for the Troops Kids

Portland, Oregon 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Cedar Hills Crossing Mall with AM 1640 / Charities: Goodwill, Oregon Food Bank, Washington County Animal Shelter and KGW Great Toy Drive

Indianapolis, Indiana 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Feld Entertainment’s Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Conseco Fieldhouse with 98.3 FM / Charities: Toys for Tots and Shepherd Community Center

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / The Shops at East Towne Square in Mequon with AM 1640 / Charities: Toms and Toys for Tots

Albany, New York 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Clifton Park Center with AM 1460 / Charities: Toys for Tots, Saratoga County Animal Shelter Annex, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Holiday Toilet Paper Roll Craft Ideas

When you need a quick winter boredom buster, nothing is better than using recycled materials from around the house to whip up a cute holiday craft. 

There are a few craft staples that I always have on hand, such as pipe cleaners, construction paper, googly eyes and ribbon. And, recently, I've added another item to my craft stash: empty toilet paper tubes and other paper tubes from paper towels, tin foil, etc.

Continue here to my new post: 10 Holiday Crafts made with Toilet Paper Rolls (updated November 2012)

Also, did you know you could give toilet paper in leiu of a Christmas Card this year? Don't ask me where, but it has been done.  Just smack a ribbon or bow on your favorite roll of TP and include the following note:

“Money is scarce and times are hard. So we’re giving you this instead of a card. Something to use and something to share. . . so ‘bottoms up’ just ’cause we care.”

I can just imagine the look on my brother in laws face if I were to show up on Christmas Eve and hand this over to him.  I might do it just for a good laugh! What do you think?

Happy Fun for Kids Friday!

Does anyone else have a shopping buzz today? Did you get any good deals?  I was out shopping late last night, and I'm really excited for a fun weekend full of holiday festivities (which I'll be blogging about later this week.)

It's such a busy time of year, so thank you for stopping by and checking out 'Fun for Kids Friday.'

Here are some highlights from last week:

This beautiful handmade ornament from De Gull Aarde

This simple Montessori inspired bead activity for toddlers by Little Red Farm

This crayon resist water color art looks like something you'd see in a museum, but it's actually an easy kid's art project by Art for Little Hands.

New to Fun for Kids Friday?  Here's how it goes:

If you are not a blogger, skip the guidelines and get to the good stuff!  Check out all the thumbnails of kid-friendly activities, crafts and recipes and get inspired!

For anyone who wants to link up:

1. Find up your new kid related projects, crafts, activities or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, it's the nice thing to do and I know you are nice.

Photobucket

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3. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, shops, or other rif raf.
4. Become a follower of Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.


Easy Raspberry Bar Recipe You Can Make With Your Kids

Keep the flour and sugar in your cupboard for this recipe. You only need 4  ingredients to make these easy raspberry bars, and you may already have them sitting in your pantry!  I'm typically a chocolate lover, so for me to rave about Raspberry Bars says a lot about how amazing this recipe is!  Not only is it a delicious recipe, but it's also one of the easiest things I've ever made in my life. 

Here's the Raspberry Bar Recipe:

1 Box of Yellow Cake Mix

2 Cups of Quick-Cooking Oats

3/4 Cup of Melted Butter

1 (12 oz.) Jar of Raspberry Jam

Here's how to make them:

Heat your oven to 375 degrees. Combine cake mix and 1 1/2 cups of oats and mix it up thoroughly. Add all of the melted butter. Put about 3 cups of this mixture in a 9x13 pan, then press firmly until the bottom of the pan is completely covered.

Next, just spread all of the jam evenly over the mixture. Crumble the remaining crumb mixture on top and then pat it down.  Finally, take your remaining 1/2 cups of oats, and evenly sprinkle them over the top.  Lightly press it down.

Bake for 25 minutes. Be sure to let it cool completely before cutting it into bars, otherwise they won't maintain their shape.

These Raspberry bars are so simple to make, that it's the perfect type if recipe for the kids to help out with.  They can mix up the cake mix, oats and butter. Spread the jam. Sprinkle the oats. There's really not much that they can't help with while making these.

Sometimes, it's those semi-homemade recipes that turn out to be the best. 

Let me know if you make these.  I'd love to know if you're family enjoyed them as much as mine did.

Taking the Fear Out of Your Child's First Dentist Visit

When Dr. George Thomas Lynch, DMD of Cobblestone Kids offered to write a guest post about taking the anxiety out of your child's first dental visit, I jumped at the opportunity. I know this can be a tough task for some parents. But, Dr. George's insight and expert advice are sure to help children walk into the dentist office with a smile, and walk out with an even brighter smile!


As a pediatric dentist, it is my goal to make each child’s — and parent’s — first visit to my office stress-free and rewarding. Often, moms and dads will tell my staff that their child is nervous about their visit and wondering what the dentist is going to do at that appointment. Those are common concerns for children, so I always remind the parents that our own fears as adults can translate to our kids through the non-verbal cues we transmit. I encourage them to allow their children to form their own perception of visiting the dentist.

Here are a few tips for making your child's first appointment a pleasant experience:

  1. BE POSITIVE … when it comes to teeth! Oral healthcare is strongly linked to overall health, and that is why we should be excited to promote healthy teeth, tongues and gums. Stress the importance of good dental-hygiene practices (brushing teeth, using a mouth rinse, eating healthy foods) and their correlation to keeping kids healthy so they can grow and play.

  2. Never share unfortunate experiences that you or another family member had in the past (i.e., “When I was your age, I didn’t brush my teeth, and the dentist had to ‘pull’ and ‘drill’ them!”) Scare tactics only do what they are intended to do, which is create hysteria. They create a negative association to oral healthcare and can result in opposite outcomes.

  3. Read books and take advantage of the many tools the Internet has to offer that explain what the dentist does and why we should take care of our teeth. This will help to create optimistic expectations of the first visit. Keep in mind that these resources are not all created equally, so you'll want to review them first to make sure they explain scenarios clearly and positively.

  4. Visit your dentist’s website. Almost every dental office has a site that will allow you to show your child pictures of the office and the dentist so you can both become familiar with what he or she looks like before meeting in person.

  5. Be EXCITED about the first visit and talk it up! Explain that the dentist is someone who helps kids to grow strong and healthy, and that he or she is going to help “count teeth.” It also helps to tell your child that he or she will receive stickers and prizes after the exam is complete. This presents an easy, goal-oriented task that your child can understand, which is then followed with positive reinforcement!

About Dr. George

Dr. George Lynch is a Board-certified pediatric dentist and member of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association. He has been featured on Parenting Perspective blogs by ABC News anchors Cecily Tynan and Tamala Edwards, as well as BabyBites.com. Learn more by visiting the website for his practice, Cobblestone Kids.

 

Photo credit: Mark Gisi/Tabula Creative

Happy Blogiversary to Local Fun for Kids

It's been a whole year.

Yep... I'm actually celebrating my 1 year blogiversary!

Over the past year, I've learned so much, and I wanted to celebrate with a new design to spruce up the blog a bit.  I designed the new banner myself, so it's definitely a work in progress. Whether here or at home, it's always nice to freshen things up.

Every mom knows that it's not easy juggling life, work, kids, a blog, etc., but this site is a labor of love that I enjoy watching grow. Over the next year, I hope to keep Local Fun for Kids going strong, while keeping my family stronger.  I hope to inspire and be inspired.

Thanks to everyone who has been stopping by.  Stay tuned for more giveaways and holiday fun!

May this be the start of more good things to come.  Cheers!

How to Make Ice Cream Cone Cup Cakes for Kids

nos·tal·gia [no-stal-juh   ]:

 A wistful desire to return in thought to a former time in one's life; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.

When I was a little girl, I remember having ice cream cone cupcakes for special occasions and thinking it was such a treat! Recently, I've been reminiscing about those sweet treats and the happy times of childhood - growing up without a care in the world.

So, we were going to a friends house for dinner, a few weeks ago, and I decided to whip up some of these for dessert for the kids. They turned out absolutely stunning and as equally delicious.

In order to make cup cakes in a cone, you need:

  • Yellow box Cake mix or Cake Mix with Rainbow Sprinkles.
  • Frosting of your choice - I used homemade cream cheese icing.
  • Flat Bottom Ice Cream Cones
  • I decorated mine with micro-mini marshmallows, but you could really use any sprinkles or candy of your choice.

When I made these, I used the method on the box of Joy Cones which tells you to fill up the ice cream cones 2/3 full and bake them, so that the cake fills the entire cone and pokes above the rim of the cone.  I like this way because it makes for a nice solid cake cone.

The baking experts over at Betty Crocker actually recommend a different method which includes dividing the  batter among muffin cups (two-thirds full) and then placing the ice cream cone upside down on batter in each cup. I don't recall ever hearing it being done this way, but I guess it would eliminate the possibility of your cones toppling over in the oven, which is good.  My only concern would be that the cones would become top heavy with cake once you flip them over, which might be difficut for presentation.

The kids thought they were the coolest dessert ever. I learned that in the future, I need to come up with a better plan for transporting these to a friend's house. Each cone looked so pretty at my house. By the time we shuffled over to the neighbors, the icing and marshmallows weren't as perfect looking. Maybe next time I need to invest in a Ice Cream Cupcake Baking Set from Joy. 

Have you made these before?  Which baking method do you use?  Do you have any tips for transporting them?

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Recipes for Halloween Candy from Jersey Family Fun

It seems like Halloween was over in the blink of an eye, but some kids have enough candy to last the next few months.

I've heard of a few creative ideas to get rid of excess candy.  Some offices collect it and ship it overseas to the troops in care packages. Some moms freeze it or sneak it away when their kids aren't looking.

Jen, from Jersey Family Fun has a fun idea that I've never heard of before. Why not bake with it?  Jen has compiled some of the best recipes that include the most popular Halloween chocolate and sweets. Everything from Milky Way Pudding to Candy Corn Fudge.  Yum!

Continue here for Jersey Family Fun's huge collection of recipes that include Milky ways, candy corns, Twix, Reese's and more!

Celebrity Sighting: Bradley Cooper in Ridley Park, PA

To be honest... tonight's post was almost going to be about Cauliflower. I know it sounds lame, and it probably would have been.  But, I was having writer's block and you really came *this* close to reading about my family's love of that chunky white vegetable.

Luckily for everyone (myself included), I'm writing about Bradley Cooper instead. 

I think most people have seen the movie, The Hangover. And, He's Just Not That Into you was pretty popular too. But, if you don't know who Bradley Cooper is, you can check him out here.

Apparently, Pennsylvania is doing a pretty good job of attracting movie production companies to film here.  And, most recently, a town only very close to where I live is currently hosting the cast and crew for an upcoming movie called “The Silver Lining Playbook.” This movie stars Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro

I've haven't had a chance to stop by and catch a glimpse of the filming yet, but one of my friends has been keeping everyone in the loop and posting photos on Facebook.  Here are a few:

A lot of people in this area are excited to have a movie being made in our own backyard.  What would you do if you saw a celebrity in your neighborhood?  Would you be a mini-stalker or could you care less? 

 

What is Pinterest? What is Pinning?

What is Pinterest?

Imagine you're 15 again. You're looking through your favorite magazines and you find the prettiest new earrings or a new must-have purse. You quickly rip out the photo from the magazine and stick in on the bulletin board in your bedroom.

Now fast forward about 20 years later (Ugh!) and you're finding so many new ideas online. You've found amazing party ideas for your daughters 4th Princess party, you saw the kitchen of your dreams, or a tempting recipe on your favorite blog. Or, maybe, once again, you found the prettiest pair of earrings that you want to add to your wish list. 

Instead of adding a billion bookmarks to your computer (that you may likely never see again), all you have to do in "Pin It."  That's it.  With the click of a button you've 'pinned' your favorite things.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that allows you to organize and share your favorite online finds. Everything is very visual, so it's perfect for crafts, recipes, home decorating, etc.  You can have multiple pin 'boards,' so that all of your pins can be organized. If you're a major organization nut, you can add as many pins to a board as you want.

Need some inspiration? Just browse other people's public pinboards and 'repin' anything you like.  Pinterest is growing everyday, so there is always something new to discover.

How do you get started?

At the moment, Pinterest is an invite-only website, but you can request an invite.  Just go straight to Pinterest.com and ask them to join, or send me an email an I can send you an invite. When you receive an invite, you can register via Facebook or Twitter.

Be sure to connect with me on Pinterest, where I've been finding some really phenomenal crafts and recipes.

Do you already pin?  Are you going to join now?  Are you a Pinterest addict? Leave me a comment and let me know.

 

Photo source: Party Sandwiches for Kids from IPS Event Planners.

Glow Crazy Promo ~ This Weekend Only!

Happy Saturday! If you haven't already entered to win a Glow Crazy Distance Doodler, please take a minute to read my review and enter to win here.  If your kids are anything like mine, they will LOVE it!

Also, I wanted to tell you about a new promo Glow Crazy is running this weekend.  Here's the scoop:

Buy a GlowCrazy™ Distance Doodler from Walmart, Toys R Us or any local retailer on Saturday Oct 22nd or Sunday Oct 23rd ONLY, and send in your receipt, UPC from the box and the Shipping Form (below) to:

  Glow Crazy, 150 Elm Street, East Aurora, NY 14052.  Entries must be received by 11/22/2011.

Once they have received these items they'll send you the incredible Glow Glove absolutely free!

Print your Shipping Form here.

Easy Creamy Dill Salmon Recipe & Packed with DHA

Is there a certain type of fish that your kids love to eat? When I was asked to choose a kid-friendly DHA-rich recipe to tell you about, I immediately thought of the easy baked Salmon recipe that my family has been making for years. Making this salmon for dinner is about as easy as baking some breaded fish sticks. Seriously. And, my kids love this recipe too!

For a family of 4, you'll need:

  • Enough Salmon for your family
  • Mayonnaise
  • Dill (Fresh or Dry)

Take about 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and stir in about 3 tablespoons of dill. Then, smother it all over the salmon and bake it until it's thoroughly cooked.

That's it! This is one of those fool-proof recipes where you don't need to measure anything. Plus, mayonnaise and dried dill are usually staples in my pantry, so this is a quick go-to recipe whenever we have salmon for dinner.

I try to make this as often as possible, because I know there are so many benefits to incorporating fish into my family's diet. However, like most Americans, we're not getting enough fish into our diet, which means we are probably not getting enough Omega 3's such as DHA either.

I recently read that the general population is supposed to be getting 160 mg of DHA daily, and yet the average American consumes only 60-80 mg per day. Most children get far less DHA in their diet than is recommended. Why is this important?  Omega-3’s are the “good fats” that our bodies need, regardless of age. Scientists agree that DHA in the diet contribute to our body's brain, eye and heart health. If you need more proof, chek it out for yourself, and you'll find that Omega 3's are amazing!

Now that I'm more informed about DHA and Omega 3's, I'm making it a priority that my entire family increases our Omega 3 intake. How about you?

Share how you sneak Omega-3’s into your family’s diet for a chance to win a $500 Grocery Shopping Spree!

DHA belongs to a category of healthy fatty acids known as Omega-3's. DHA is a major structural fat in the body, and has been shown to support brain, heart and eye health. Not only is DHA found in foods like salmon and eggs, but it can also be found in Horizon® Organic Milk enhanced with DHA Omega-3. Learn more about Horizon’s commitment to healthy families at http://www.horizondairy.com/everyday-nutrition/dha-omega-3/

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the Horizon Organic brand.

 

 

Glow Crazy ~ Giveaway and Review

Have your kids ever had something that you wanted to play with as much as they did? 

I'm sure this has happened to you before.  Your kids get something new and as soon as you open up the box, you're all completely fascinated. You want to grab it from them and start playing, but you have to control yourself and let them have it first. This is exactly what happened when we opened up the Glow Crazy Distance Doodler and Glow to Go.

I've never seen anything like the Glow Crazy Distance Doodler.  It is so cool! You use a battery powered light wand with a special glow-in-the-dark reusable clings to create mess-free art over and over again.  Just peel off the protective backing of the glow clings and stick it to any smooth surface like a wall, ceiling or window. Then grab your light wand and doodle close up or from a distance. 

It can even be a fun way to help kids learn their letters or shapes before bedtime.  Plus, this makes the most amazing cat toy too. I think we had just as much fun doodling on the ceiling as we did when we played with the cat. 

The Glow to Go is the other product my kids tested out.  The Glow to Go has four bright colored glow pads in a sturdy case. The color of the drawings is different depending on which color canvas you're drawing on. 

I think this one was my favorite, because from a mom's perspective, it's very versatile.  I love the fact that this light wand is actually attached to the case so that you don't have to worry about misplacing it.  It's big enough to let your kids to get creative, but it's compact enough that they could take it in the car and use it on their lap.   You can use it at home or on the road. Although it works best in the dark, we used ours during the day too, and it still worked really well.

I'm always looking for kids' products that will enable my kids to use their imagination or be creative in new and unique ways and Glow Crazy fits the bill. 

Continue Here to Enter the Giveaway

My Memories Suite Software Review and Giveaway

Maybe you're a scrapbook addict, or maybe you're a mom like me, who has never scrap-booked a day in your life. No matter who you are, there are so many reasons to love My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software.  This software is so much fun to use and I could see so many of my friends seriously becoming addicted to My Memories Suite.

Even if you're not super tech-savvy, this software enables you to effortlessly build entire digital scrapbook albums and so much more. For years to come, I can see myself using My Memories Suite to make greeting cards, flyers, party invitations, and personal website designs. This will especially come in handy for:

  • Women who want to scrapbook but don't have the time. You can make scrapbooks and print them at home or turn them into professionally printed books!
  • Crafters who want access to thousands of new design elements
  • Anyone who wants to make their own party invitations or greeting cards
  • Bloggers who would love to freshen up their personal web sites but can't afford a designer
  • Photographers or anyone with a Home-based business

 The best part is, you can make it as simple or as complex as you choose. You could just open up the software, use the pre-designed templates, drag-and-drop your pictures and be done in 10 minutes.  Or, you could play with the fonts, papers, embellishments, borders and everything else that is available.  It's up to you!

Continue Here for a Special Promo Code and Enter to WIN a Copy of My Memories Suite Software.

Yummy Recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

My Grandmom always told me that an oatmeal raisin cookie at bedtime would help my kids sleep better. I don't know if an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie works the same way, but they sure are delicious!

I was curious if this 'oatmeal cookie sleep remedy' was just an old wives-tale.  But, I looked it up and, it is believed that certain combinations of"foods high in carbohydrates, containing a small amount of protein, and including calcium results in the most beneficial sleep inducing foods." So, next time I make this recipe, I will substitute the chocolate chips for raisins and see if this helps my little guy sleep better.

The recipe below was adapted from the one on my gigantic box of Quaker® Oats.  These cookies are full of oatmeal and chocolately goodness.

Here are the ingredients for about 4 dozen cookies:

1 softened stick of butter and 6 tablespoons of Smart Balance spread

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 cup of white flour and 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour(or use 1 1/2 cups of white flour)

1 Cup

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups Quaker® Oats

1 cup of Mini Morsels Milk chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix the butter and sugars with an electric mixer until smooth.  Then, add the eggs and vanilla.  Mix these in and then, add the flour, baking soda and salt. Blend that all together and then mix in the oats and mini chocolate chips.

Drop heaping tablespoonfuls onto baking stone or ungreased cookie sheets.  I prefer baking my cookies on my Pampered Chef baking stone, because they always seem to bake perfectly.  If you don't have a baking stone, it's a great thing to buy before cookie season starts.

Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool & store in a tightly covered.

These cookies have such an amazing texture.  They would be perfect for a cookie swap because they keep so well in a sealed container.  My batch stayed soft and delicious for days after I baked them.  But, if you have cookie lovers in your house, they probably won't last for that long!

I'll be linking up here.