Welcome Moms!

Hope you had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend.

If you had a hard day or days, take a moment & think about one thing your child did this week to make you smile or even laugh...Now SAVOR that moment, your child won't be little forever.

ENJOY!

Friday, December 18, 2009

This Week's Highlights - Week of 12-20-2009

Time for Fun

From the website...The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children's media. families nationwide. The Coalition is a voluntary collaboration comprising more than 10,000 media professionals, lobbyists, policymakers, child advocates, educators, parents and families nationwide.

Our goals are..
A. To teach children to become critical media users;
B. To help adults recognize the importance of teaching critical viewing skills to children;
C. To help children identify and be aware of outstanding media programming;
D. To develop programs for children with special needs such as low-income, hospitalized or at-risk children.


Time to Eat


Menus 4 Moms

Subscription Site $7.95 per month

From the About Us section of the website....With today's busy lifestyles, most women find that putting a home-cooked dinner on the table each evening has become an impossible challenge. By providing the tools necessary to make delicious home-cooked meals while still saving time and money, Menus4Moms has been helping busy moms enjoy stress-free family dinners since 2005.

Menus4Moms.com not only provides a variety of dinner menu plans, but also offers home organization help, bulk and frugal cooking articles, local grocery deals and a growing social network for busy moms. Born out of the busy lifestyle of Mary Ann Kelley, a work at home mom, Menus4Moms is the result of years of refining cooking and shopping techniques to save today's busy moms both time and money. Our goal is stress-free, happy moms who have time to enjoy their families.



Time to Read
Tess's Tree
By Jess M. Brallier
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

From Harpers Collins Children's ...Tess loved her tree. She liked to swing on it and sit in its shade and catch its leaves in the fall. When Tess's tree has to come down, Tess is very sad . . . until she finds a way to gather friends...

Tess's Tree Quiz
How well do you know Tess and her tree? Take the quiz and find out!



Time to Save

Top 100 Sandra's Money Saving Meals Recipes

Sandra's Ways To Save

In these tough economic times, Sandra shares money saving ideas to help your wallet.

$ Tip: Buy things in season when you can. If it's out of season, shop for it in the frozen section.

  • Fresh blueberries in season are $0.99 cents a pint; out of season they are $2.99. If you buy them frozen, blueberries are only $1.99.

$ Tip: Sometimes you don't pay for convenience.

  • Whole Mushrooms cost the same as pre-chopped or sliced mushrooms.
  • Boxed pound cake costs less than making from scratch (due to the amount of butter).
  • Eggs: Hard-boiled and peeled go on sale for same price as raw eggs on Tuesdays.
All Tips


Time to Shop
Mothers of Preschoolers
Grocery Shopping with Toddlers

By Christy Wilson Millard





iParenting.com
Holiday Shopping with Babies and Toddlers
How to Survive a Trip With the Kids in Tow
By Neilia Sherman



Friday, December 4, 2009

This Week's Highlights - Week of 12-06-2009

Time for Fun

Long Island Children's Museum

11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Closed Monday.

General Admission: $10

Calendar of Events

Planning Your Trip

Bricks & Sticks

Investigate, build and shape our three-dimensional world using a variety of building blocks and interactive software.

Bubbles
Blur the boundary between play and experimentation as you step inside a giant bubble, blow bubbles within bubbles and make a giant bubble honeycomb.

Changes & Challenges
Enter a house, school or outdoor environment, and experience how people with differing abilities adapt to daily challenges.

More Exhibits


Time to Eat




From the website....In this section, different Star Chefs will express some of their thoughts about feeding their own children and share some of the recipes for the foods that their kids like to eat. We will continue to add to this section on an ongoing basis so check here often to find out about the foods that chefs prepare for their families. As you will notice, some are rather basic, some are rather sophisticated and some may really surprise you.

Recipes



Time to Read
by Michael Bond and beautifully illustrated by artist R.W. Alley

Harper Collins Children
From the website...The circus has come to town! Paddington Bear and the Browns have front-row seats, and they can't wait to see the show. Inside the circus tent there's a ringmaster with a top hat, a very, very tall clown, a band ... and a funny-looking man hanging from a rope above Paddington's head. Always willing to lend a paw, Paddington rushes off to save the trapeze artist. The circus is turned upside-down, but the show must go on - and it does, thanks to a surprise performance by Paddington Bear.The official Padding Bear website...This is the home of Paddington Bear on the web where you will find everything you ever wanted to know about the famous bear from Darkest Peru and his creator, Michael Bond. From games and things to make through to information on older products, there is something here to please Paddington fans of all ages.



Time to Save
Brought to you by Tip Hero




Here are 7 new freebies and samples for this week....

1. Free Christmas stocking

2. Free Holiday Renewal Pack From Veria

3. Free 12 oz Seattle's Best Coffeee Rebate (PDF)

4. Free 2010 Calendar from eat better america

5. Free song a day from Amazon in December

6. Free 12oz Hot Beverage from 7-11 (PDF)

7. Free 10-day supply of Bare Essentials foundation from Sephora and JCP (PDF)



Time to Shop
Best Toys Guide.com
From the website...Hello and welcome to the Best Toys Guide. We are here for one reason and one reason only, to help you find the top toys 2009 for kids at the lowest prices. We make it easy for you to shop by listing the best Christmas toys in various categories. Check out the top toys for boys, girls, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Or check out one of our more specific sections, like the best dolls and pretend play lists. It is easy to find the hot toys here.We only list the best kids toys and we actually test many of the toys hands-on. So if you think one of your toys should be on our best toys 2009 list, then please send it in. We are always looking for more great products to add to our guide. So if you think your toy has what it takes, then send it to us to review hands-on.

Parenting

From the website...We're giving away over $900 worth of toys!
Enter BOTH giveaways once a day until December 14, 2009 for a chance to win all of the toys!

Good Housekeeping
From the website...This year, more than 50 testers came to the Good Housekeeping Research Institute labs and helped picked the best kids toys of 2009.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

This Week's Highlights - Week of 11-29-2009

Time for Fun
Strong National Museum of Play®
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: 585-263-2700
6 hours from NY City - Good Weekend Trip



Exhibits:

Reading Adventureland

Super Kids Market

Sesame Street

National Toy Hall of Fame

Field of Play

The Berenstain Bears

Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden

Elaine Wilson Carousel

Strong Express Train

comments


Time to Eat

Cheap Eats brought to you buy EatingWell

From the website...Forget take-out. Here are 100+ easy recipes for budget-friendly meals at home.

It’s hard to escape the biggest news in the country: the economy’s struggling. At a personal level, the nation’s financial woes may have you figuring out where you can cut costs. Cooking at home instead of eating out is an easy way to save money, particularly if you focus your meals around cheap ingredients.

We’ve pulled together more than 100 recipes that utilize some inexpensive, but nutritious, items from the grocery store. Browse these suggestions for recipes to help you save money and make an easy, budget-friendly dinner tonight.

Healthy Kids Lunch Recipes & Tips

comments


Time to Read
Brought to you by Scholastic

Choosing Books for Your Preschooler


The preschool years are a period of rapid language development. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, your 3 year old should have an active vocabulary of 300 or more words. At about age 4, that vocabulary will have grown to around 1,500 words, and it will expand by another 1,000 words or so by age 5. Full Article


Getting Ready to Read: Preschool Reading Skills

As the 4 year olds arrive at the Mountain View Parent Nursery School, they pick out their nametags and hand them to teacher Betsy Nikolchev to fasten. "Great job finding your name, Elaine," Nikolchev says. "How did you know that says Elaine?" "Because it starts with the letter 'E,'" she answers. "What other letters are in your name?" the teacher asks. "E-l-a-i-n-e." "Wow. I'm so proud of you," Nikolchev says. Full Article


Time to Save
Sale.com

From the website...Based out of the bustling SOMA district in San Francisco, SALE.com's mission is to provide users with a "one stop shop" for all their favorite online stores. Bringing together the latest websites, email promotions, and savings, SALE.com is a necessary tool for the online shopping community. If you love saving as much as we do, we know you'll feel right at home here at SALE.com

Go on... shop like you mean it.




Time to Shop
Brought to you by:
One Small Step

Lunchsense Small Lunchbox Set

Contents:

The box measures about 6" wide, 7.5" tall, and 4.75" deep - about the size of a small paper bag

Two 11 ounce food containers. Each container has two separate, removable trays that hold about 5 ounces each

One 1 ounce container. Good for salad dressing or dipping sauce

One 8 ounce drink bottle. Choose from screw-top or sippy style

One ice pack. Rigid, puncture-proof carrier. Choose from handle or shoulder strap

Safety:
BPA/lead/PVC free

Care: Box machine washable or can be wiped clean with soap and water. Bottle and containers top rack dishwasher safe.


Friday, November 20, 2009

This Week's Highlights - Week of 11-21-2009

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Families!


Time for Fun
The New York Botantical Gardens - Holiday Train

From the website...

November 21, 2009–January 10, 2010
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

Get Your Tickets

Members Reserve Your Tickets

The holiday season is full of family traditions, and the Holiday Train Show is one of the most eagerly awaited.

Wrapped in the glow of twinkling lights, model trains and trolleys zip along over bridges and on winding tracks past scaled replicas of New York landmarks made by award-winning designer Paul Busse. Orange slices, cinnamon sticks, poppy pods, pine cones, and other plant parts are used to create the more than 140 architectural reproductions in the Garden's collection.

Highlights
  • Stars of the show: Steam engines and streetcars, whimsical ladybugs and modern freight trains traverse under waterfalls, around mountains, and through tunnels.
  • Annual favorites: Empire State Building, Little Red Lighthouse, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and more return to thrill visitors of all ages.
New This Year
  • The original Pennsylvania Station (1910–1964), this year’s blockbuster addition
  • Brooks Brothers flagship store, located at 346 Madison Avenue
Family Fun
  • Gingerbread Adventures: Hands-on activities for kids, including decorating gingersnap cookies; discovering the Earthly treasures of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; and creating a field notebook in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
  • The Little Engine That Could™: Puppet theater presentations in the Arthur and Janet Ross Lecture Hall
  • Thomas the Tank Engine™: An opportunity to meet and take pictures with the popular Thomas on the Garden grounds, January 2–10
Check at the Garden’s Gates for show times of specific activities.

Holiday Hours

Holiday Pricing
Adults $20
Seniors/Students $18
Children $10

Holiday Week (December 26 - January 3)
Adults $25
Seniors/Students $22
Children $15

Advance timed tickets are strongly advised.



Time to Eat

10 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Kids

Brought to you by: BlissTree.com

From the Website...

1. Check out these cute Turkey Cookies from Pillsbury!

2. Let them make some Pumpkin Ice Cream

3. How cute are these Marshmallow Pops?

4. And I thought this Peanut butter “Cheese Ball”would be cool to take to the school party with some Lorna Doones.

5. Pumpkin Dessert Squares are a little more involved but yummy and easy enough for most kids 8 and up to do with a little supervision.

0907_ff1107_teenyturkeys.jpg

6. How could a kid resist these Teeny Turkey Snacks?

7. Here is an easy Oreo Cookie Turkey Snack

8. Pumpkin Mousse is easy and delicious. Have the kids whip it up while you watch the parades!

9. Kids can toss together this beautiful Bacon Cranberry Spinach Salad for a colorful side

10. Make an edible centerpiece with this cornucopia



Time to Read
Personalized Children's Books from Random House


Add a photo and a personalized message.
Brought to you by Random House Books

See How


Time to Save
The Household Helper

Brought to you by: The Householder Helper

From the website...Mom, I know how important your family is to you. You want to provide them with a comfortable, clean sanctuary for a home. You want to nurture them with healthy, home-cooked meals. You want to be at every school or sports event they have. You want to spend time helping them with their homework or just playing with them.

But you're frazzled, overwhelmed and struggling to do it all! I know how you feel - I was once in your shoes.

Whether your a stay-home-mom or work at an office, this site is for you! From cleaning and organizing to meal planning and frugal living, TheHouseholdHelper has the tips, tricks and tools you need to manage it all - and enjoy your home and family more!

Frugal Living

Frugal Cooking

More Articles



Time to Shop
Gotta Go Mitts - Mom Invented!

Gotta Go Mitts
From the website...Have you ever wished you had some way of protecting your child from wetness and germs in public restrooms? There is now a solution for you. That solution is the revolutionary Gotta Go Mitts, disposable waterproof mittens for toddlers and kids up to age 7. They are practical, easy to use, affordable, and a must have kid travel accessory especially when potty training. To learn more about the uses and benefits of this really great product, obtain information on this mom-based company or how to order today click the applicable tabs above.

Friday, November 13, 2009

This Week's Highlights - Week of 11-15-2009

Time for Fun
Let's Pretend - Ship Ahoy & Other Activities

Brought to you by: Disney Family Fun

From the website...Ship Ahoy
Christen your vessel Lady Laundry Basket and set her on a carpet or blanket, and she'll be seaworthy for even the saltiest little one. Remember the laws of the deep: a white paper triangle taped to a cardboard tube means sailboat, a pair of wooden spoons or paper-and-tube paddles means rowboat, a stick with a string means fishing dory, and an eye patch always means pirate ship. Should any rescue missions bob up, you can inflate a pool ring and have your child toss it into the shark-infested waters.
Full Article>

More articles:
Pretend Slumber Party


Time to Eat

Healthy Cooking with Fruits & Vegetables

From the website...Healthy Servings—From Morning to Midnight

Whether eating out, snacking on the run, or sitting down to a home-cooked meal, make fruits and veggies a staple in your day. Filled with the good stuff you need, fruits and veggies add flavor, fiber and fun!

Fruit & Vegetable Recipe Search
From baked apples to tangy gazpacho, fruits and veggies make every bite memorable. Find hundreds of recipes in our database!

Quick Recipes: 30 Minutes or Less
Check out our quick, easy and delicious recipes designed for your lifestyle.

Top 10 Healthy Ways to Cook Fruits & Vegetables
Bake, steam, saute, roast … just to mention a few of the many healthy ways to cook … almost anything.

Tips on How to Cook with Fruits & Vegetables
Pressed for time? Here are tips to help you quickly add more nutrition to every meal.



Time to Read
Froggy Goes to Bed
by Jonathan London

More Froggy Books



Time to Save
Don’t Let Good Produce Go Bad
By: Allison Ford
Every Saturday morning, I go shopping at the San Francisco Ferry Building farmer’s market, and I always go home with a dizzying array of colorful peppers, perfect peaches, gorgeous greens, and a host of other things I can’t wait to cook over the course of the week. Sure enough though, by Wednesday afternoon, my kitchen is always covered with greenish, mushy lumps formerly known as my dinner. I toss the wilted, moldy masses in the compost bin and sigh, “Well, there’s another ten bucks down the drain.”



Time to Shop












Made by Michelle Hainer

Michelle says...These handknit holiday hats are perfect for babies and toddlers! The pumpkin hats are made from malabrigo yarn, a kettle dyed merino wool. The Christmas tree hats are made from Frog Tree Alpaca. (Frog Tree is a Fair Trade company.) Both hats are very soft! The hats are available in small, medium, and large, though if you are able to measure the circumference of your child's head, I am happy to make custom fit hats. The pumpkin hats are $25, the Christmas trees are $30. Please add $4 for shipping and handling and allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at michelle@michellehainer.com