When we were kids, I always had someone to play with even if we fought over what to play and who got which toy.  My brother and I used to make a deal that if I played GI Joes with him that he would play Barbies with me.  I was never lonely.  If I got into a fight with my friends, I always had a brother or sister’s shoulder to lean on and talk to about it.  And since we spent all of that time together while we were growing up, we have lots of inside jokes and stories to reminisce about now.  I try to explain them to other people like my husband, but it is usually one of those things where you just had to be there.

I was a sophomore in high school the first time I remember being really grateful for my big brother.  There was a girl who was a year older than me that kept trying to pick fights and bully me.  My brother was a popular senior.  When I told him what was going on, he spent his lunches with me and my friends for two weeks “escorting” us around campus until the whole thing blew over.  For those two weeks I felt so safe and secure.  Every time that girl saw him, she went scurrying the other way.  It wasn’t the first time he had stood up for me, but it was the first that I had noticed enough to realize how great he was.  Now, when I am scared about something, he is the first person I call.  There are not a lot of bullies anymore but when life starts to stress me out, he is always there to calm my fears and I like to think that I do the same for him too.

Both of my brothers played football in high school and one went on to play in college.  My sister and I were at every game we could go to, cheering them on.  I remember several times that I nearly lost my voice yelling for them.  Those games were a metaphor for our whole lives.  Whether it is a play that my brother is in (now that he is an actor) or an emergency like when my son broke his leg, we are all there to support and encourage each other.   There is no one in this world that I am as genuinely happy for, and constantly rooting for, then those three people (except for maybe the rest of my immediate family).

Now I like to watch my three kids play (and sometimes even fight) with each other.  And although they may not realize it right now, I know that they are forming a bond that they will have for the rest of their lives.  And I can’t think of a better gift that we could have given them.

1. Make Laundry Part Of Your Routine. Throw a load in whenever you happen to walk past the washer.  Switch it to the dryer the next time you are in the area.  And then fold it all when you get a chance to sit down and watch your favorite Tivo-ed TV show.
2. Divide And Conquer. Delegate your loads to different days of the week.  You can follow a schedule similar to linens and towels on Monday, dark clothes on Tuesday, and lights on Friday.  Or you can wash a different person’s clothes each day.  A nice bonus to scheduling what to wash when is that you don’t have to think about laundry on the other days of the week.
3. Make It A Family Chore. I know that your five year-old can’t work the washer, but he can sort colors from whites.  Buy sectioned hampers for each bedroom in the house and have everyone divide their clothes accordingly.  Slightly older kids (of reading age) can take their laundry prep chores a step further.   Post a friendly list of reminders on their hamper such as turn clothes right side out, check your pockets and leave stained items out so that I can pre-treat them.
4. Choose The Right Setting. For the washer, consider using shorter cycles.  The light setting is significantly quicker and is optimal for clothes that have been worn just once or twice and aren’t stained.  For the dryer, wash a load, immediately toss it in the dryer, and repeat.  Once the machine is warmed up, subsequent loads will dry faster.  Start with lightweight clothing and end with heavier items, like towels, which won’t be damaged by the heat that builds up in a hot dryer drum.  Also, don’t over- or underload the dryer.  Try to fill it up about halfway for maximum efficiency.
5. Fold It Right The First Time. When folding clothes, consider the space where you’ll be putting them.  If your drawers are long, fold clothes into rectangles to take advantage of that.  If they’re short, fold clothes in squares so they don’t get scrunched up.  Take this into consideration for your linens and towels and the shelf space you have for them as well.

Ingredients:

• About 3 pounds corned beef brisket
• 1  7-oz. pkg. mixed dried fruit
• 1/2  cup dried cranberries
• 2  Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca
• 1/2  cup orange juice
• 1/2  cup water
• 1  Tbsp. mild-flavored molasses
• 1/4  tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8  tsp. ground nutmeg

Directions:

1. Trim the fat from your meat.  If necessary, cut meat to fit into a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker.  Place meat in the cooker.  You can toss the seasoning packet if it comes with one.
2. Cut any large pieces of mixed dried fruit into quarters.  Sprinkle mixed dried fruit, dried cranberries, and tapioca over meat in cooker.  In a small bowl, combine orange juice, water, molasses, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Pour over the mixture in the cooker.
3. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
4. Remove meat from cooker.  Thinly slice the corned beef across the grain.  Arrange meat slices on a serving platter.  Spoon fruit mixture over meat.  Makes 6 servings.

1. Let kids help. Decide what you are going to put in their lunch.  For example one fruit, one veggie, one treat and a drink.  Fill a bowl with different fruits, one with different veggies, etc.  Then when you have to pack lunches let your kids pick which fruit, which veggie, etc that they want.  This ensures that they will eat their choice and it will make lunch packing go faster with all of the extra hands.
2. Make a chart. Make columns on a dry erase board for each food group.  Have kids fill in their favorites for each group.  Then make a deal that you can pack their lunch with anything that is on that board and they will eat it.  You may even discover some ideas from your kids that you might not have thought of yourself.
3. Make a theme. Bust a rut by packing lunches with a theme.  You can pack all things that are all round, square, green, orange, etc.  Or you can pack a cowboy lunch with BBQ fare or a circus lunch complete with kettle corn.
4. Get Crafty. Stick Con-Tact paper on the inside lid of a lunch box and, voila!, you have an instant dry erase board.  You can write messages, jokes or interesting facts for them to read to fellow classmates.  You can even include a dry erase marker and draw up a game of tic-tac-toe or hang-man for them to play.
5. Give Sandwiches A Face Lift. If your child has a habit of ignoring your sandwiches, try this quick fix.  Pull out your cookie cutters and cut their sandwich into fun shapes, making them instantly more appetizing to little peepers.

1. Wear green. No, that small stripe in your shirt doesn’t count!  You need enough green for you to see a few feet away, maybe even something with some clovers on it.
2. Take a journey in you kitchen. Eat like the Irish all day long.  Start with a “full Irish breakfast”.  Items on this menu include bacon, sausage, fried eggs, black pudding, white pudding, fried tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms and potatoes, brown soda bread and a strong Irish breakfast tea.  Or keep it simple with steel cut oatmeal.  For lunch try a traditional Irish stew.  For dinner you can prepare the very popular corned beef and cabbage.  And perhaps some potato pie for dessert.
3. Play some music. Ireland has a long history with music, and many incredible styles have emerged.  Celtic, folk and traditional Irish songs might just get you in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit.  And they are super fun to dance to.
4. Get crafty. Common themes for St. Patty’s projects include rainbows, shamrocks and leprechauns.
5. Host a treasure hunt. Fill a pot or chest with kiddie treasure like candy, toys and games.  Hide it in a secure place.  Then leave trails and clues for kids to find it.  Once they hunt it down, they can all split the booty.

Materials:

• Large piece of cardboard
• Razor cutter or scissors
• A shoebox with a lid
• Craft glue
• Green paint
• Stickers, pre-made rainbows and other decoration
• Gold paint and/or glitter
• sticks, craft sticks or wooden skewers cut to these lengths, (2) 6-inch pieces and (8) 1-inch pieces
• small pot or container
• Shiny coins, jewelry, treasure or even Lucky Charms cereal
• Small pillow(s) or soft fabric to line the inside of your box

Instructions:

1. Cut a large shamrock shape out of the cardboard.  Make sure that it is big enough to house your shoebox with at least a 3-inch buffer all the way around.
2. Put shoebox lid in place on top of the shoebox.  Draw a 2×2 inch square on the lid next to the front edge.  Cut 3 sides of the square, leaving one edge in tact.
3. Center your hat or shoebox in the middle of the shamrock cutout.  Glue it down to the cardboard.
4. Paint shamrock, shoebox and lid green.  Decorate with gold paint, glitter, stickers and other decorations.
5. Fill your pot or container with coins, treasure, Lucky Charms or other goodies.  Reserve a few goodies to use as bait.  Place your pot on top of the shoebox lid.  Glue it in place if you are going to be moving your trap around.
6. Glue sticks or skewers together to assemble a ladder.  Lean the ladder against the shoebox, making sure that the top of the ladder lines up with the trap door.  Glue the top the ladder to the shoebox and the bottom of the ladder to your shamrock cut out.
7. Glue down a trail of goodies or coins that lead to your pot.
8. When a leprechaun follows your trail to the goody pot, he will climb up the ladder and fall through the trap door when he reaches the top!  Be sure to put something soft inside to cushion his fall.

1. Grocery Stores. Thoroughly clean shopping cart handles and seat belt buckles when you enter the store.  Most stores have cleaning wipes at their entrance, but if yours doesn’t, don’t touch the rails or bring your own because carts are crawling with germs.  Customers may sneeze, wipe their noses, then touch the cart handles.  They’re also contaminated by children’s dirty hands and by leaky meat packages you toss into your cart.  Poultry and beef can contain bacterial bombs such as salmonella and E. coli.  About 70%-80% of shopping carts tested nationwide had E. coli on them.
2. Playgrounds. Playgrounds are a germ’s paradise because kids touch everything they see and their mouth and nose interchangeably.  The largest threat is from fecal bacteria from bird poop and diaper-wearing tots on playground equipment.  The most offending gear is swings, slides and monkey bars.  Be sure to wash hands thoroughly or use hand sanitizer after returning from playground, using the bathroom and changing diapers.
3. The Mall. Can’t keep your hands off of those escalator handles?  Your not alone.  That is why it is one of the germiest places in the building along with the kids’ play area.  The easiest fix is to just not touch the rails or let your kids play in the fun center.  But that’s no fun!  If you happen to brush the rails or if you cave and let your kids romp around in the land o’ germs just be sure to wash up or use sanitizer when your done.
4. Restaurants. Be weary of tabletops and highchairs.  The contaminating agent is not food, usually or even other people.  It is usually the rags that are used to “clean” the surfaces.  When busboys wipe down a table or chairs, their dirty rags may be spreading a small film of E. coli.  They should put disinfectant on the rag after each use, but studies show that the same cloth are sometimes used on more than a dozen tables before it is disinfected.  The easiest way to deal with these germs is to use you own sanitary wipes to clean the tabletop and high chair when you’re seated.
5. Libraries. Libraries appear to be tidy, sterile places, but they can be crawling with germs.  Why so filthy?  Lots of people shuffle through and peruse books, log on to computers and touch counter-tops with little sterilization afterwards.  The worst places to touch are counter-tops and books.  Again, go ahead and indulge.  Just be sure to wash or sanitize hands when you leave.

• Mix equal parts of bleach and water to make a cleaning solution for mildew, hard water residue and rust stains on the tub, shower curtain, shower door and around the toilet and sink.
• Use undiluted bleach to kill weeds, moss and algae in your yard.
• Mix 1 part bleach and 3 parts water to use for kitchen cleaning solution.  It is great for killing germs in the sink and on the countertop and stove.
• Add a few drops of bleach to each gallon of water you put in your humidifier to prevent bacteria from growing.
• Add a capful of bleach plus one sugar cube in the water of your flower vase to help cut flowers last longer.
• Rub bleach on your white porcelain items,  let sit for ½ hour, then rinse them off and towel dry to give them a pristine shine.
• Brighten your glassware by adding 1 teaspoon of bleach in your warm soapy water.  Let them sit for 15 minutes and then wash as usual.
• Clean plastic lawn furniture by mixing equal parts of bleach and water in a spraying bottle.  Spray them thoroughly and rinse.  You can also use this mixture to rejuvenate a wooden fence.  Wash away that gray look by simply spraying this directly onto wood.
• Remove lingering smells from coolers and other closed containers by wiping or spraying them with a mixture of one part bleach and 3 parts water.
• Cure poison ivy by wiping a small amount of bleach over the affected area to dry it up.  Be sure to rinse well before wearing colored clothes so that you don’t stain them.
• Clean smelly feet by mixing 1 part of bleach with 3 part of hot water, soak for 10 minutes, and dry with a hair dryer.
• Get sore throat relief by mixing 2-3 drops of bleach with a 16 oz of warm water.  Gargle and spit until the glass is empty.

Ingredients:

For each teacup, you’ll need:

• Cup-style wafer ice cream cone
• Round sugar or shortbread cookie
• Decorator’s icing
• 2 gummy rings candies
• Assorted candies or snacks to fill the teacup

Directions:

1. Use a serrated knife to carefully cut the cup portion of the ice cream cone from the handle (this is an adult’s job).  Discard the handle and set the cup aside for now.
2. Place a gummy ring candy on the center of the cookie, using decorator’s icing to “glue” it in place.
3. Set the ice cream cone cup on top of the gummy ring.  Again, using a thin line of decorator’s icing to hold the cone in place.
4. For a teacup handle, slice the second gummy ring in half.   Gently press the cut ends of one of the candy halves against the cone to stick the handle in place.  You can use some more decorator’s icing ti hold it in place if needed.
5. Fill the cup with a few candies or other snacks, and it’s teatime!

1. Bambi

   

   Who could forget this heart-wrenching tale of family love and new beginnings?  For many of us it was our first introduction to the cold hard facts of life.  But what better way to learn about it than from a doe-eyed deer and a bubbly, cuddly bunny?

2. Beauty And The Beast

   

   I think that my little sister (and possibly my big brother) would disown me if I neglected to mention this one.  We spent countless hours watching it over and over.  This rags-to-riches fairytale taught us that beauty is only skin deep and is hardly the best way to choose companionship.  It also has some wildly entertaining little ditties performed by dishes and other household furnishings.

3. Cinderella

   

   I think that this movie still has some of the most catchy songs from Disney to date.  I still can’t think about it without humming bippity-boppity-boo. This story about the lovably unloved step-daughter gives hope to every girl whose ever been picked on by the cliquey girls at school.

4. Pinnochio

   

   This story teaches us that even little white lies can add up to a big mess.  And who can resist that cute little Jiminy Cricket?

5. Aladdin

   

   It’s the classic tale about being careful what you wish for, complete with flying carpets and and a singing genie.

1. Avocados: Rich in folic acid (vital to forming your baby’s brain and nervous system), potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 (which helps baby’s tissue and brain growth), avocados are a delicious way to get your vitamins.  They are also very filling and can help with morning sickness.  Spread some ripe avocado on your whole grain roll as a healthy substitute for mayo.  Keep in mind that avocados are high in fat (though the very good kind) and calories, so practice portion control.
2. Broccoli: This vegetable has plenty of vitamins A and C, with a calcium bonus (great for mama and baby’s bones), as well as folic acid.  Toss into pasta or casseroles, stir-fry with seafood or chicken, serve steamed or dunk in dip.
3. Carrots: Carrots are number one when it comes to vitamin A, so they are perfect for developing your baby’s bones, teeth, and eyes. Munch carrots on the go or shred them into almost anything (from salads to meatloaf to cakes to muffins).  Carrots are also a good source of vitamins B6 and C, and fiber.
4. Edamame: These green pods are actually cooked soybeans — and they as fun to eat as they are to say.  Packed with protein, calcium, folic acid, and vitamins A and B, edamame can be scooped up by the handful as a snack (salt them lightly, and you’ll never miss the chips), or tossed into just about anything you’re cooking, like soups, pasta, casseroles or stir-fry.
5. Lentils: Experiment with beans for folic acid and protein, vitamin B6, and iron.  Lentils are the most intestine friendly legume and readily absorb a variety of flavors from other foods and seasonings.
6. Yogurt: Cup for cup, yogurt contains as much calcium as milk — but it’s packed with protein and folic acid too.  And the active cultures in yogurt can prevent stomach upset, as well as yeast infections.  Blend it with fruit into satisfying smoothies, layer with granola in a breakfast parfait or use it as a low-calorie substitute for sour cream or mayo in sandwich fillings, dips, and salad dressings.
7. Nuts: Nuts are chock-full of important minerals (copper, manganese, magnesium, selenium, zinc, potassium, and even calcium) and vitamin E. And even though they’re high in fat, it’s mainly the good-for-you kind — especially baby- brain-boosting DHA, which is found in walnuts.  Toss them into salads, pasta, meat, or fish dishes, and baked goods.

Ingredients:

• 1 5-ounce can of light or albacore chunk tuna
• 2 teaspoons of fat free mayo
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3 bread and butter pickle slices, chopped well
• 2 teaspoons diced onion
• 1 slice whole grain bread
• 1 tablespoon raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
• 1 ounce shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees or broiler to low-med.
2. Drain tuna and spoon fish into a bowl.  Mix tuna and mayo together well.  Stir in Worcestershire sauce, pickles and onion.
3. Spoon mixture evenly onto slice of bread.
4. Sprinkle sunflower seeds over the tuna mixture.  Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of that.
5. Cook under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly browned.
6. Cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

1-Lion Book/Magazine Holder

Have a roaring good time making this cute and handy box with your kids.  This is a great way to contain smaller books on a large bookshelf or wall shelf.

Piggy Bank

Teach your child creativity and the value of a dollar with one fun craft.  You can wrap the box and lid together to ensure that the savings stay in there or you can wrap them separately for easy access and counting.

Puppet Theater

Let your kids role play for hours with this homemade theater box.  They can make puppets of their favorite characters or even themselves using photographs.

Play Mailbox

Kids love to get mail.  Make this little box and slip all of you junk mail in there like a real mailman.  Maybe once in a while you can even slip a sweet note int there.

Practice Shoe

This is a great craft to help your child practice their shoe tying skills.  It is easier for little hands to practice bigger, more handy laces.

(Image via Steve Polyak)

Named after pediatrician and author of Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems, Richard Ferber, the Ferber Method has been shrouded by controversy from its beginning in 1985.  This sleep training technique claims that you can teach your baby to sleep on their own after a week or so of you proving to them that their cries are ineffective to changing their situation.  Ferber says you can teach your baby to soothe himself to sleep when he’s physically and emotionally ready, usually sometime between 4 and 6 months of age. He recommends following a  bedtime routine and then putting your baby in bed awake and leaving him to cry for gradually longer periods of time.  Ferber says putting a child to bed awake is crucial to successfully teaching him to go to sleep on his own.  Parents are instructed to pat and comfort their baby after each predetermined period of time, but not to pick up or feed their baby.  This routine is called “progressive waiting.”  The suggested waiting time, which Ferber charts in his book, is based on how comfortable you are with the technique, how many days you’ve been using it, and how many times you’ve already checked on your child that night.  A recent episode of Modern Family showed a couple trying to ferberize their baby (Check out the clip above).  And although it was a comedic depiction, it is a pretty accurate portrayal of what you will experience.

The most common criticism of the Ferber Method is that it breaks down communication between a baby and their parents.  The newborn who cries is saying: “I need something; something is not right here. Please make it right.”  Crying is a language that babies use to communicate.  They do not enjoy crying nor is it beneficial for them other than to get the attention of someone who can help them.   A baby has two choices if no one listens.  Either he can cry louder, harder, and produce a more disturbing signal or he can clam up and become a “good baby” (ie: quiet).  When no one listens, your baby will become very discouraged and he’ll learn the one thing you don’t want him to: that he can’t communicate.  Then the baby loses trust in the signal value of his cry and  the responsiveness of his caregivers. This can create a subconscious trust issue between the child and their parents for the duration of their relationship.

Having parented 3 infants, I have tried both ferberizing and co-sleeping.  I started off with the Ferber Method with my first baby.  It went entirely against my mothering intuition and made me feel sick to my stomach.  I stuck with it for a few months, but I got tired of doing it over and over.  Because although it does work, you basically have to start over every time your child’s sleep routine is disrupted by illness, traveling, sitters, etc.  And every time you start over you have to go through 6-7 nights of crying; not just when they are initially going to sleep, but also every time they wake up during the night. I eventually just brought my son to sleep in my bed and he slept, well, like a baby.  By the time he was 2 he willingly went into his own bed and slept on his own without all of the drama and trauma.  With my last 2 babies I used a co-sleeper next to the bed from the start.  That way they could sleep on their own, but comfort was only an arm’s reach away.  This made for a much more restful night of sleep and more peace of mind about my parenting.  So I guess it comes down to how soon you want your bed back.

(Photo Via: Aysha Manori)

Simple, she enrolls her son(s) in Boy Scouts.

The introduction into the “club” for little ones is Cub Scouts.  But what is it all about?  What do they do?  What do they teach?  These are all common questions among parents who are not familiar with the organization.  Here is some info to point you in the right direction.

The Cub Scouts caters to boys entering the first through the fifth grade.  The Scouts are devoted to teaching young boys to help others, to embrace new skills and adventures and to hold themselves to a high moral standard.  Boys in Cub Scouting belong to a small group where they take part in interesting and meaningful activities with their friends.  The adult leaders who conduct and supervise Cub Scouting activities are carefully selected.  These leaders must meet strict qualifications set by the national organization, and must be approved by the organization that sponsors the pack to ensure that they are good role models.

Activities with the Cub Scouts include:

• Sports such as baseball, soccer, and swimming which develops physical fitness, teamwork, fair play, cooperation, and good sportsmanship.
• Hands-on learning experiences about art, science, music, and computers which inspires the imagination of youth and sharpens their interest in learning.
• Projects in woodworking, leatherworking, and sculpture that teaches the value of planning and patience and gives them confidence in their abilities.
• Outdoor adventures such as camping, hiking, and fishing that conveys an appreciation for nature and teaches the importance of preserving our environment.

P.S.  All of these awesome toys are $30 or less.

1- Yo Baby Kick Flipper

This pseudo skateboard is great for young kids to learn on without getting hurt and for older kids to practice on inside during the winter months.

2- Dado Cubes

These creative blocks allow kids to build their designs out in a number of different directions.  And as an extra bonus, they nest inside each other making them a major space saver.

3- Bilibo

People cannot stop raving about this thing.  Despite it’s average appearance, the Bilibo brings out kids creativity.  Most parents have a story about how their toddler preferred playing with a big box rather than the toy that came in it.  Well, the Bilibo is like an indestructible box that kids can explore and imagine with again and again.

4- Bucky Balls

These are magnet balls with unlimited possibilities.  You can tear them apart, mold them, create patterns, make sculptures and so much more.  This is a toy that you will have to pry out of their hands.

5- Snap Circuits Jr

This toy is great for fostering a budding engineer or creating one!  It’s like a science fair in a kit.  Your child can create a flying saucer, voice controlled lamp, strobe light, musical doorbell and much more with the gadgets in this kit. ]]> http://www.kidglue.com/2010/02/18/5-cool-toys-you-dont-know-about/feed/ 0 http://cache.static.tsavo.com/wordpress/uploads/2010/02/new-toys-sm.jpg http://www.kidglue.com/2010/02/17/mamas-recipe-box-peanut-butter-energy-bars/ http://www.kidglue.com/2010/02/17/mamas-recipe-box-peanut-butter-energy-bars/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:15:58 +0000 Bonnie Owens http://www.kidglue.com/?p=19923 Energy bars are a great healthy snack to have around the house or on the go.  But they can get expensive, especially when you are buying for a family of four or five.  Here is a yummy recipe that you can play with according to your tastes and preferences.  It is a natural, homemade and delicious alternative to pricey packaged health bars.  These keep at room temperature for one week or in the freezer for one month.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dry roasted salted peanuts
• 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds or other chopped nuts
• 2 cups raisins, or other chopped dried fruit
• 2 cups rolled or instant oats
• 2 cups toasted rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ, (optional)
• 1/2 cup creamy or crunchy natural peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Coat an 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Combine peanuts, sunflower seeds (or other nuts), raisins (or other dried fruit), oats, rice cereal and wheat germ (if using) in a large bowl.
3. Combine peanut butter, brown sugar and honey in a large microwaveable bowl.  Microwave on High until bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.  Add vanilla and stir until blended.  Pour the peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until coated.
4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan.  Press down firmly. (It helps to coat your fingers with cooking spray first.)  Let stand for about 1 hour to harden.  Cut into bars.

Image Courtesy of Sunset.com

I am not expecting an Oscar-worthy production, but I do look forward to seeing this film.  Perhaps it is just me, but I enjoy watching pregnancy and baby related movies.  I loved “Nine Months,” “Juno,” “She’s Having a Baby” and such because you get to go through all of the fun and excitement of pregnancy without going through the inevitable labor, recovery and cost of college tuition.  I am curious to see who is cast as the vicarious parents and if it will be as cutesy as Hach’s previous ”Freaky Friday” work.

The third Monday in February (that’s today!) represents President’s Day: a day set aside to remember two of the greatest presidents to ever serve our nation, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  Here are some fun ways to teach your kids that President’s Day is more than just a free day off of school, but also an opportunity to honor these two valiant men and all of our other presidents for their contribution to our way of life.

1. Find Washington and Lincoln quotes and read them to your kids.  Discuss what they mean and why they said them.  This will give your kids insight into the kind of people they were.
2. Show them pictures of Mt. Rushmore and the Lincoln Monument.  Ask children to choose their favorite president and propose a new monument that is dedicated to that president.  Then have them explain why they’ve chosen the individual they’re honoring and how the monument will represent that president.
3. Show kids different coins and dollars.  Discuss who is on each one and why.
4. Help kids make fun president related crafts, like a log cabin made out of pretzels.  Then discuss how these crafts relate to the president they are about.
5. Have kids brainstorm about what they would do if they were president.  Have them write it out and keep it as a patriotic keepsake.

1. Doodle Sweet Nothings. Get a big glass jar and some pretty note paper.  On each piece of paper write something that you love about your partner.  You can also write love poems, song lyrics and special memories that you have shared together.  You can spend the night reading them and reminiscing.  And your loved one can enjoy this gift year round.  They can reach into your “love jar” anytime they have a rough day or just need something to lift their spirits.
2. Show Your Love For All To See. Nothing makes a person feel more special than a public announcement.  All bashfulness aside, it is a real ego and romance booster.  You don’t have to hire an airplane banner.  There are lots of simple ways to proclaim your love.  You cut out big letters and tape them to your garage door.  Hang a banner at the park.  Spray paint it in the snow.  Decorate their car.  You might even get your local store or mall to go along with you and announce it over the P. A. while the two of you are shopping.
3. Celebrate All Day. Most couples celebrate V-day in the evening.  but it is always nice to find a little surprise during a mundane day.  How romantic would it be to find special treats everywhere you turn?  A note next their toothbrush.  Their favorite breakfast on the kitchen table.  Balloons or flowers on the coffee table.  A gift card in their pants pocket.  A mix CD in their car stereo.  A surprise package at work.  All of these things are simple to do, but they will make your partner feel like you went to a lot of trouble.

Food:

• Make heart shaped pizza
• Host a tea party
• Cookie or rice crispy treat conversation hearts
• Strawberry or raspberry parfaits
• Chocolate covered strawberries
• Stained glass candy
• Cherry 7-Up floats

Decorations:

• Hang construction paper conversation hearts and from the ceiling with yarn.
• Cover tables with white tablecloths and spread rose petals on top.
• Use a Valentine card tree as a centerpiece.
• Scatter battery powered votives for a kid friendly ”candlelight” backdrop
• Fill clear dishes or jars with Valentine candies like conversation hearts and cinnamon bears
• Dress up stuffed animals with red and pink clothes or ribbon and set them throughout room.

Activities:

• Have kids make homemade valentines for Dad, siblings or grandparents.
• Play Cupid’s Surprise by having kids play musical chair of sort where instead of trying to find a seat they unwrap festive gifts.
• See who can build the highest tower of conversation hearts in a given time.  To even the playing field, give younger kids the large hearts.
• Have kids make a favor spinner.  Similar to the hug coupons often given out at V-day, this spinner let’s kids spin to get a special privilege.
• Play matchmaker.  Have kids call out the second half to famous couples (ie: Mickey and Minnie).  Or you can do a “memory” style game where you write the individuals’ names from each couple on index cards and have kids try to match them up.
• Play Catch My Heart beanbag toss.

Valentine’s Day

1. Cupid’s Heart- This adorable heart-shaped card has a straw arrow going through it.  Classmates can open it up to read your child’s heartfelt message.
2. Hanging Heart Mobile- This valentine doubles as a design accent.  If you are a room mom, you could hang these on the wall or chalkboard as a decoration and the kids can grab them when the party starts.  After the party, students can hang this in their bedroom and think of your cool kid every time they see it.
3. Love Bug- Most Valentine stuff caters to girls.  These are great because they are valentines that little boy can get into.  Who knows more about bugs than little boys?
4. Love Scroll-Kids will feel like they are passing around mystic secrets with these fun scroll valentines.
5. Lollipop Flower- These valentines are sweeter than roses.  And they include a hidden treat.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chilled heavy cream
• 4 large egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 7 oz bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
• lightly sweetened whipped cream
• fresh raspberries

Directions:

1. Heat 3/4 cup cream in a 1-quart heavy saucepan until hot.  Whisk together yolks, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a metal bowl until combined well, then add hot cream in a slow stream, whisking until combined.  Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until it registers 160 degrees F on thermometer.  Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in vanilla.
2. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring frequently.  Whisk custard into chocolate until smooth, then cool.
3. Beat remaining 1 1/4 cups cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds stiff peaks.  Whisk one fourth of cream into chocolate custard to lighten, then fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly.
4. Spoon mousse into 8 (6-ounce) stemmed glasses or ramekins and chill, covered, at least 6 hours.  Let stand at room temperature about 20 minutes and garnish with whipped cream and raspberries before serving.

1. Exfoliating Body Scrub

   

   To treat and prevent dry skin, combine 1/2 cup oatmeal, 2 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons of milk powder, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts, several drops of lavender oil and 3 tablespoons of honey.  Mix it into a paste.  If it is too thick, add whole milk until it has the consistency of sour cream.  Scrub your face and body with the mixture in the shower 2 times a week to keep skin soft and smooth.

2. Herbal Steam Facial

   

   To clean your pores, place 1/3 cup dried lavender blossoms and 1/3 cup dried calendula blossoms in a teapot.  Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the herbs.  Steep for about 10 minutes.  Set up a large porcelain or ceramic bowl where you can sit with your head hanging over it.  Alternatively you can use a sink basin with a chair pulled up to it.  When water is finished steeping, pour it into the bowl or basin.  Add 4 to 5 drops geranium essential oil to the water.  Hang your head over the water and cover your head and shoulders with a towel to create a steam tent.  Steam face and neck for 3-5 minutes.  Splash your face with lukewarm water and pat dry with a towel.  Follow up with a short facial massage.  Moisten finger tips with a light moisturizer or essential oil and massage using inward circles.  Feel free to experiment withe herbs and oils that compliment your skin type.

3. Deep Cleansing Fruit Mask

   

   Chop 1 carrot, 1/2 peach, and 1/2 cucumber into small pieces.  Place in food processor along with 6 ounces of plain yogurt and mix into a paste.  Don’t worry if it’s a little runny.  Apply and let sit on the skin for 10 minutes and then rinse with lukewarm water.

4. Natural Manicure

   

   To strengthen nails and soften hands try this treatment.  1.) Use small nail scissors to trim any ragged nail edges.  Do not cut cuticles though.  2.) Soak hands in warm whole milk for several minutes to remove dead skin cells and soften cuticles.  3.) Using an angle-tipped nail stick, gently push the cuticles back toward the base of the nail.  4.) Using a nail file, shape nails into squares with rounded corners, which makes them more resistant to cracks and tears. To avoid misshapen or split nails, file in one direction only — no sawing back and forth.  5.) Using a smooth-surfaced buffing block buff the entire surface of nails to a shine using a side-to-side motion.  6.) Rub hands with warm almond oil, avocado oil, or light olive oil or apply an oil-rich hand and nail cream.  Pay particular attention to the nail and cuticle areas.

5. Foot Mask

   

   To soften and warm up cold feet try this invigorating orange spice foot mask.  1.) Combine 1/2 cup whole oats (ground to a powder in the food processor), 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 4 tablespoons warm water, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger and 4 drops sweet orange essential oil and stir until blended into a thick paste.  2.) Prepare two warm, wet washcloths or hand towels, either by wetting them and placing them in the microwave for one to two minutes or by soaking them in hot (not boiling) water.  Wring out excess water and set aside.  3.) Sitting with your feet in the tub or a large basin, use your hands to spread a thick layer of the mask over each foot, covering them completely up to the ankles. After wiping hands clean, wrap each foot in one of the washcloths to seal in the moisture from the mask. Sit back and relax for 10 to 15 minutes.  4.) To remove the mask, carefully lift off the washcloths and rinse your feet thoroughly using warm water.  Pat dry with a towel.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds total), scrubbed and patted dry
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika, plus more for garnish
• 4 slices turkey bacon
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 scallion, sliced, for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  On a rimmed baking sheet, rub sweet potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper.  Bake until tender, about 40-45 minutes.  Let potatoes cool on baking sheet (keep oven on).
2. Halve sweet potatoes lengthwise and scoop out 1/3 cup flesh from each half into a medium bowl.  Add buttermilk and paprika to bowl.  Mash until smooth and season with salt and pepper.  Stuff sweet-potato skins with filling.  (To store, refrigerate, up to 2 days.)
3. Arrange sweet-potato skins on sheet and bake until lightly browned around edges, about 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, cook turkey bacon in a skillet over medium until crisp, 5 to 8 minutes.  Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate and crumble or chop. Stir together sour cream and 2 tablespoons water and drizzle over sweet-potato skins.  Garnish with bacon, paprika, and scallion; cut in half to serve.

(Image Courtesy of Google Images and Zestycook.com)