Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1 egg
• 2 1/3 flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Colored sugar or frosting

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Beat powdered sugar and butter until light and fluffy.  Stir in vanilla and almond extracts and egg.  Stir in flour and baking soda.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.
4. Divide dough in half.  On a lightly floured surface, roll out each half to 1/4 inch thickness.
5. Cut out shapes with desired cutters.  If cookies will not be frosted sprinkle with colored sugar.
6. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet about two inches apart.
7. Bake for 7-8 minutes or until edges are slightly browned.  Transfer from cookie sheet to cooling rack immediately.
8. Cool completely and decorate with colored frosting if desired.

No-roll variation

1. Replace the powdered sugar with 1 cup granulated sugar.
2. Mix ingredients as described.
3. Use a teaspoon to measure and shape dough into balls.
4. Place dough balls on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
5. Flatten with the bottom of a glass that has been dipped in sugar.
6. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until set.  Transfer from cookie sheet to cooling rack immediately.

According the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Tamiflu capsules can be opened and mixed with a sweet-tasting liquid.  Here is what you will need:

• A capsule of Tamiflu (again, these are much easier to find than the liquid)
• A small bowl
• 1-2 teaspoons of a sweet, flavored liquid (chocolate syrup works well)

Ok, so here is all you do:

1. Pour a small amount of the liquid into the bowl.  It doesn’t really matter the exact amount of the liquid, you will just want to be sure your child can finish all of it to get a full dose of medication.
2. Holding the capsule over your bowl, carefully open it and pour out all the contents.
3. Stir the mixture well, it is okay if all the medication does not fully dissolve.
4. Give the entire dose to your child with a spoon.

Easier than you thought isn’t it?  The Tamiflu capsules are very small, as I know from personal experience.  It should be easy to get all the medication into a few teaspoons of syrup.  It would actually be a lot easier to get your child to take a spoon full of chocolate syrup than most any medicine.  I wonder if this works with other things?  Might be something to look into, some medications are nearly impossible to get my kids to take.  For now though, this is great information to keep on hand, just in case.

Mama’s Recipe Box is a weekly column in which KidGlue authors give hints on recipes that either your kids will love to eat or kids can help cook. This week Sarah Matheny makes “Anytime” Cookies.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Cookie Monster is cutting back on cookies.  I happened to catch a little diddy that C-Mo was singing about cookies being a “sometimes” food.  Good call, Sesame Street.  But it got the little hamster in my head a spinning.  What if I could come up with a cookie that could be an “anytime” food?  What if I could create a cookie that my kids could eat for breakfast?  This cookie is vegan, free of refined sugars and packed full of fiber and nutrients.  I give you the “Anytime” Cookie!

“Anytime” Cookies

• 1/4 c. ground flax seed, divided
• 1/2 c. water
• 1/4 c. canola oil
• 1/4 c. unrefined organic sugar
• 1/4 c. unrefined organic brown sugar
• 1/4 c. chopped dried apricots
• 1/4 c. dried cranberries
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 1 c. unbleached organic flour
• 1/2 c. organic whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 c. wheat germ
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 t. ground nutmeg
• 1/4 c. chopped almonds (or any other nut desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine 2 T. of ground flax with 1/2 c. of water.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flours, wheat germ, baking soda, remaining 2 T. of ground flax and spices.

To flax/water mixture, add sugar, oil, vanilla and chopped dried fruits.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.  Fold in nuts.

Drop 12 spoonfuls of cookie dough onto cookie sheet sprayed lightly with non-stick spray.  Bake for 12 minutes.  Cool for one minute on pans and then transfer to cooling rack.  Let cookies cool completely before moving to an airtight container.

1. Bed time. It’s not just the bedtime routine that’s important; it’s the actual bed time. We had been starting the bedtime routine at 8:00, which generally meant lights went out around 8:30. And then kids were up with one complaint or another until 10:30. Then one day we decided to shift bedtime snack up to 7:30, so that meant actual bedtime was 8:00. And like magic, the kids fell asleep. Really, are you kidding me? Putting them in bed earlier means they fall asleep faster? Turns out there’s a magic bedtime window when kids are tired, but not too overtired and cranky to fall asleep. Try an earlier bedtime, and for Pete’s sake, don’t keep them up later so that they’re “good and tired” – that backfires!
2. Music. Both of our kids have CD players in their rooms that play lullaby CDs on endless repeat until they are deep, deep in dreamland. Our four-year-old has a selection of favorites he’s built up over the years, ranging from Fisher Price Tender Lullabies to Leonard Cohen. Our two-year-old has listened to the same dime-store lullaby CD every nap time and every bedtime for over a year. It’s part Pavlovian response – the first few bars of the first song are enough to make them drowsy. It’s part comfort and familiarity – something kids crave at bedtime, like a favorite teddy bear. And it’s part soundproofing from the rest of the house – we play the CD just loud enough to cover up the sounds of life in the rest of the house.
3. Nightlight. Our oldest had never complained of the dark or asked for a nightlight, so we hadn’t bothered with one. Just before his fourth birthday, though, he started coming into our room almost every night, complaining of nightmares. Our pediatrician suggested a nightlight, saying that he might be rousing slightly in the middle of the night, after we’re in bed and the lights are off, and getting disoriented and frightened in the dark. This was another magic solution – he immediately went back to sleeping soundly through the night.
4. Massage. My daughter has always loved massages. In fact, she liked it so much that by around a year old, anytime she sat in Daddy’s lap she would put his hands on her back and say, “Rub!” Soon, she was asking for a bedtime rub, and that’s still the final step in her bedtime routine. My son, also, at some point started asking for a bedtime massage, and he’s very particular about how it’s done – legs and feet first, then arms, then back, then face. That last part goes back to when he was a tiny infant and I would stroke his face to get him to sleep. It still relaxes him, and my intense little boy often drifts off to sleep with a relaxed smile on his face.
5. 15 minute check-ins. This is something I stumbled across in a moment of parenting genius. It has worked on both kids, on many occasions, despite their very different temperaments. Every kid goes through phases from time to time of just not falling asleep. For whatever reason, they stay awake for hours, calling Mommy or Daddy every few minutes because they need a drink, they heard a noise, they need to go pee, etc. When these bedtime callbacks get out of hand, I say, “Don’t call me for anything. Just relax in bed. I will be back in 15 minutes, to see if you need anything.” This has a few advantages. It puts you in charge of the situation, rather than being at the child’s beck and call. It lets you continue with whatever you’re doing – at least the interruptions are predictable. It forces the child to lie quietly and begin relaxing in spite of himself, while still addressing his anxieties. It usually only takes a couple of 15-minute periods for kids to fall asleep, and after a couple nights of this they’re back to falling asleep on their own.

However, as this article shows, you may not be aware of all considerations when it comes to choosing a safe costume for your trick-or-treater. A good workaround to the mask situation I described can be had with the application of face paint. Also, remember to give your child a flashlight for nighttime candy scrounging; incidental costume lights just aren’t strong enough.

Have a look over the entire piece, it’s good reading. Even if you’ve picked out your kid’s costume already, there are modifications that can be made to ensure safety. A final non-costume note: make sure you keep a good eye on your child and never lose sight of him or her; with tons of kids roaming about, it’s very easy to lose track, especially at night. The sound level will be fairly high, so consider constant hand contact. Finally, enjoy the evening! Get caught up in your child’s enthusiasm and it’ll be fun for the entire family.

We’ve looked online to no end.  We’ve worn holes in the floor of the costume aisles of Target and Costco.  Finally, I’d had it.  We came upon a witch’s hat and problem solved.

I bought a pair of black sparkly tights and paired them with my daughter’s black tutu and a long sleeved black shirt.  A sparkly belt and her pink sequined Converse tennis shoes complete the look.  Perhaps it’s not the most authentic footwear for a witch, but I highly doubt Mrs. Garvey is going to be scrutinizing historical accuracy before she drops the Snickers in my daughter’s plastic pumpkin.

I was pleased that we made due with things that we have on hand.  The total retail price for our witch costume: $6.   The lesson:  there is no “perfect” costume, just as there is no “perfect” pair of shoes.  Well, except for these Jimmy Choo purple suede booties for fall.  Remember, I’m a size 10.

Mama’s Recipe Box is a weekly column in which KidGlue authors give hints on recipes that either your kids will love to eat or kids can help cook. This week, Sarah Matheny makes kettle corn.

I have a serious addiction problem.  There’s something about the combination of sweet and salty in a bag of kettle corn that is irresistible to me.  I can easily throw down a whole bag by myself.  My drug of choice is only available at Major League Baseball games, county fairs and farmer’s markets.  Lucky for me, there is usually some form of face painting at one of those events, so I have a good excuse for going:  it’s for the kids.  Until now.

Yes, I’ve perfected my own at home kettle corn, just in time for Halloween.  There are several methods out there for making kettle corn, and if you are like me you’d rather save your money for your kids’ college educations, or at the very least a new pair of ankle boots for fall, than blowing a couple grand on your own backyard kettle.  I prescribe to the school of thought that you first make the corn, and then the topping.  The few times I tried to make it on the stove and crystalize the sugar on the popping kernels, well…let’s just say I quickly learned that my smoke detectors are in perfect working order.

Here’s my fool proof recipe:

8 cups airpopped popcorn

2 T. canola oil

2 T. water

1-2 t. salt (depending on how salty you like it)

2/3 c. sugar

Pop your corn and put it in a large bowl.  Put the oil, water, sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Once the syrup comes to a boil, allow to simmer for three minutes.  Remove syrup from heat and pour over popped corn, tossing in salt while stirring.  Allow popcorn to cool and enjoy!

Now if only I could find some way to avoid sharing.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***

Radio Flyer isn’t just about little red wagons anymore: The new Radio Flyer® EZ-Rider is the first and only scooter made specifically for intermediate level riders.

The easy-to-ride scooter helps younger children develop balance while allowing them to keep pace with the bigger kids. The scooters have extra wide wheels and a lower deck to aid in balance and prevent tipping, and has a rear wheel brake and limited steering to ensure safety.

Here’s what’s great for you parents: it comes fully assembled! It also folds up for easy storage.

Kidglue.com and Radio Flyer are giving away 1 EZ-Rider Scooter in either pink or red.

Here’s how to enter:

You get one entry for each of the above, so the more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

Note: Please use a valid e-mail address.  

The lucky winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends Wednesday October 28, 2009. Winner will be reached by email, and announced on the blog 10/28/09.

Good luck!!

One afternoon, when I couldn’t stand another episode of Blue’s Clues and my daughters were excitedly discussing their Halloween costumes, we came up with this idea for Masquerade Masks.

Supplies you’ll need:

• Construction paper
• glue
• safety scissors
• thin cardboard for backing (think cereal boxes or other packaging materials)
• markers, crayons or colored pencils
• feathers, sequins, fabric scraps or any other decor
• bamboo skewers or chop sticks
• Scotch tape

On the color of construction paper desired, draw a mask shape.  Hold the paper up to your child’s eyes to determine where eye cutouts should be placed.  Cut paper out, including eye holes.  Trace shape onto thin cardboard and cut that mask shape out as well.  Glue construction paper to cardboard to provide a sturdy back to your child’s mask.

Encourage your child to decorate the mask as desired, coloring on designs and gluing on sequins and feathers for trim.

When the glue is dry, secure a chop stick or bamboo skewer (with sharp end removed) to the side of the mask with Scotch tape.  Obviously use supervision when your child is handling the stick and never allow your child to run with a sharp object.

It’s no trip to the park, but this indoor craft can keep you busy for a good hour and get you in the Halloween spirit.  Then if your kids want to watch another episode of Blue’s Clues, at least you’ll have a sharp stick to poke your eyes out with.

A ball is easy enough to come by, but a hoop may require a little more leg work.  The best place to go would actually be the neighborhood park where there would be plenty of other willing participants to play in the games.  They should also have other basketballs to play the games requiring more than one.  So not only are they outside, they are getting exercise, meeting new friends and getting a little friendly competitive spirit as well.

Here are just a couple games that are relatively easy to explain and play and with a little practice, anyone can be the best.  These are just the basic rules to the games and they can be adjusted to suit any situation.  So don’t be afraid to turn the “three point line” into “behind the mailbox.”  While some of the games can only be played with more than one person, anyone can play these by themselves to help develop their own basketball skills.

If you have any variation that you’d like to share please do and post some comments below

H-O-R-S-E

This is a game that can be played anywhere by anyone really.  Any shot goes, as long as someone makes it first.  The point of this game is to NOT spell “Horse.”  How you acquire letters is simple:  Players take turns shooting the ball.  If one person makes a shot the everyone must make that shot. If a shot must include a movement or shooting position, it must be called out (bank, swish, layup, etc.) before the shot is made. If a player misses that shot then they earn a letter (H, O, R, S or E).

Once everyone has had a chance to attempt the shot, the person who initially made the shot is free to shoot from anywhere.  The first person to spell “Horse” loses.

Variations:

• Shooting can continue until someone gets a letter;  if all other players make the shot, the person who initially made the shot must make it again.
• To speed up the game, play P-I-G (or really any word you want)
• Made shots may not be repeated
• Insurance Shot: A spot is designated before the game begins and if a player who accumulates all letters is able to make the shot, then they earn the chance to be back in the game for one more letter.

Around the World

This game is typically played on a court where there are painted key lines and three point line, but like I said before, feel free to design your own course.  The basic concept of the game is to make a series of shots, starting on one side of the hoop and ending on the other.  The shots vary in difficulty and must all be completed in succession in order to win.

Play typically starts at the edge of the key on one side of the basket. If the shot is made, the player advances to the next position mark on the key.  If at any point a player misses a shot, then they must start all over again when it is their turn.  A player may use their ONE “Chance”, meaning he gets to take a second shot. If the second shot is made, the player advances as normal. If the player misses the second shot, then the player must go back to the start. The player has only one chance the whole game.

When a player has made shots on every mark, they then advance to the corner of the free throw line. When a free throw is made, the player then advances down the other side of the key back toward the basket.  After the player has moved around the key, a shot must be made from directly under the basket. Finally, the player must make a shot from the center of the three point line.

Firing Squad

This game is basically the same concept as Around the World but with the element of speed added.  Usually played with only two players, each starting on opposite sides of the basket with a ball.  The object is to be the first one to make the designated series of shots (same as Around the World)

Steal the Bacon

Two balls are placed in the middle of the court. Teams are divided up evenly with unlimited players, usually only 10 though. They each get assigned a number. When their number is called (by a designated non-player) the two run out to the middle and get the balls, the first one to make it gets a point for their team. Two numbers may be called out for a team effort.

Variations:

• Use only one ball and make it a race to get to the ball and make a shot

Knock Out

This game is also sometimes called “Bump,” “Lightning” or ”Gotcha” but all are played the same way.

Two balls are used. A line of players is formed anywhere on the court (usually the top of the Key or the free throw line) and this is where all players must attempt their first shot from this point. The first and second players in the line start with the basketballs. Play begins with Player #1’s first shot; after that shot player #2 may shoot.

If the first shot by a player is missed they must follow their rebound and try to make a basket from anywhere on the court. The game at this point is between player #1 and #2; if player #2 makes a shot first, player #1 is “knocked out” (eliminated from the game). If a Player #1 makes a shot first, he passes the ball to player #3 (or if only 2 players are left, or it is a 2-man-game, they must return to the starting point and attempt to “knock out” player #2). The object of the game is to “knock out” the other players. Players may only touch their own ball.

Variations:

• Ability to knock or bump the other players ball with your ball; the point of this is to put a player far away from the basket in a vulnerable position to be “knocked out”.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***

Hello Kitty is turning 35 this year, and to help celebrate her anniversary, Sanrio, Co. Ltd and Kidglue.com are giving you a chance to win some of her new products.

Hello Kitty, the iconic character found on everything from stationary to toasters was born on a coin purse in Japan in 1974 and has since grown into one of the most well known and adorable faces of all time.  Hello Kitty’s popularity spans all generations, from “children to trend-setting adults who grew up with her stationery, accessories, and toys”.  This week’s giveaway gives you  the choice: keep Hello Kitty for yourself or give the gift of Hello Kitty to your child.

The theme for this 35th Anniversary is “Hello Kitty Colors” which represents the essence of Hello Kitty that has kept her relevant and endearing to her die hard fans for so long: red for friendship, pink for cute, yellow for heartful, green for wish and lavender for sweet.

This week’s giveaway is Hello Kitty glamor at its best: a Hello Kitty Color set including a necklace and ring in any color you choose to help celebrate Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary.  We are giving away 3 sets of rings and necklaces (one necklace and ring per winner).

Here’s how to enter:

You get one entry for each of the above, so the more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

Note: Please use a valid e-mail address.

The 3 lucky winners will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends Wednesday October 7, 2009. Winner will be reached by email, and announced on the blog 10/07/09.

Good luck!!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***

Toys are great, but more often than not they end up broken and lost within a week.  Ask anyone what their favorite toy was when they were little and they will probably have to think about it,  but everyone remembers their favorite childhood book.  (Mine was The Velveteen Rabbit.)

Imagine the great memories you can make with your child when you lead them into the book store and allow them to pick out their very own book- any book they want in the whole store.

We’re giving away (1) $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card that’s good both online and at the store, so you can do just that.

Here’s how to enter:

Problem is, I get cravings for certain things like milkshakes and French fries.  Only now, my milkshakes are made with frozen fruit and soy or almond milk and my fries are made with butternut squash.

Yup, that strange, overgrown peanut-lookalike gourd is perfect for making the most dunkable, nutritious fries you may ever find.  One cup of butternut squash has no fat and only 82 calories, along with lots of vitamin C and A, and nothing can McBeat that.

SuperSize Butternut Squash Fries

• 1 medium sized butternut squash
• cooking spray
• salt (or other desired seasoning)

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray generously with cooking spray.  Set aside.

Cut your butternut squash in half lengthwise with a very sharp knife.  Remove ends.  Using a vegetable peeler, remove skin.  Scoop out seeds with a large spoon, and then cut squash into fry-like shapes.  Place fries on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.  Sprinkle fries with salt or any other desired seasoning (cinnamon and sugar, curry, cajun seasoning, etc.).  Bake for 40 minutes and flip once during cooking to ensure even crisping.  Enjoy with ketchup and go ahead and SuperSize your serving, just because you can!

(Image Courtesy of Michael Martin at pbase.com)

This is a very kid-friendly recipe.  Let your kids unfold the pie crust, pile on the meatballs and pour the sauce on.  They can even help you shape the meatballs if you make your own!

Ingredients:

• 1 refrigerated pie crust
• About 1 lb pre-cooked meatballs, thawed if frozen(see note below)
• 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Unfold pie crust onto cookie sheet.
3. Mound meatballs into the center of the pie crust, leaving a 3-inch border all the way around.
4. Spoon spaghetti sauce over meatballs.
5. Fold about 2 inches of the crust over the meatballs, all the way around. Your meatball pie will look like a rustic apple tart.
6. Bake 30 minutes.
7. Remove from oven, and top evenly with cheese. Bake another 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is golden brown.

To make the meatballs: Preheat broiler.  In a large bowl, whisk together 1 egg, 1/3 cup milk, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with a fork. Stir in 1/3 cup finely diced onion, 2/3 cup breadcrumbs, and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.  Add 1lb ground turkey and mix until combined.  Form mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls.  Place balls on a cookie sheet and broil for 10-12 minutes.

(Images courtesy of Sony Pictures)

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Parents would love to give their kids a nice little gift as a token of their appreciation, but those darn toys are always so expensive.

Let KidGlue help.

We’re giving away a $25 Toys ‘R’ Us Gift Card that’s good both online and at the store. Perfect to cut into the cost of that video game, pick up that perfect doll or put something special aside for the Holidays

Here’s how to enter:

The concept of terrorism is probably a little too complex and far-reaching for young minds. My son is five years old, and while I have no doubt he’d be able to understand some of it, I don’t want to plant a seed of fear in his mind that at any moment, someone’s going to fly in and crash into our house. That’s the trouble with a complicated political issue — there’s very little you can do to simplify it to the extent that it will still make sense to a child.

Instead, you might want to focus on the fact that people sometimes disagree with each other. Sometimes these disagreements don’t get worked out, and people get upset with each other. When they get upset, sometimes they try to hurt each other out of frustration. In a way, crashing planes into buildings is a larger version of one person throwing a punch at another.

So, another country was angry at the United States and wanted to hurt us. Why were they angry? Because we do things differently than they do, and they don’t understand why. This is, obviously, oversimplifying the issue, but it gets an important point across: not everyone in the world thinks the same way we do, and sometimes that causes problems. You can turn this into a conversation about the importance of communication and tolerance, and how lashing out in anger is never a good thing to do.

If you wanted to avoid this sort of higher-level talk, you could just say that our country is mourning a huge accident that occurred in 2001. A plane crashed, and a lot of people died. What you should stress in this case is that the accident served to bring the country together, and that it’s important that we learn how to comfort one another in times of crisis.

Depending on how old your child is, you may even find yourself trying to explain 9/11 in detail, and your child losing interest the longer you go on. It’s okay to drop it; there’s time later to go in-depth about what happened. The key to talking with your child about September 11th is to answer questions simply, without trying to explain a lot of history. Even we adults have a hard time getting our heads around it all, and your child might be just curious enough that a simple answer will do the job.

Call me what you will, but I am not a “sell out.”

That label, though, is being thrown around the blog world like spam e-mail and it has finally hit us mothers.

“Mommy blogging” has taken off in the last five years, and many moms turn to popular mom blogs to get advice on parenting issues such as potty training and discipline, and to read product reviews for kid-friendly items, from cereal to strollers.  The ethical problem comes when bloggers start doing daily posts that turn into internet PR for the manufacturers rather than the advice, stories and personality that are the blog’s true substance.  Along those same lines, readers may not be clear about what products the blogger genuinely likes and uses of their own volition, and those products that bloggers are merely being paid, or at least given free merchandise, to review.

The debate over the ethical side of blogging came to a climax at the BlogHer conference, held last month in Chicago, with bloggers joining to form a new blog about how to keep blogging to its’ truest form, called Blog With Integrity.  Yes, a blog about blogging.  Bloggerific.  However, as a result of the site’s efforts, hundreds of bloggers have signed a pact vowing to disclose to readers which posts are true content, and which are paid advertisements.

As a blogger myself, I never accept offers from companies if it means using a product that I would never truly buy, and if I dislike a product, I do not hesitate to tell my readers.  As a reader,  it has been fairly obvious to me which product reviews are done because the blogger truly would normally use the product and if it falls into their blog genre, or if it is a product that is appearing on multiple blogs and is not something that would even have been on the blogger’s radar.  For example, if a vegan mom blogger is suddenly promoting a new line of beef jerky, I’m going to get suspicious.  As a result, there have been times when I have chosen not to return to a blog that I feel is no longer giving sincere, unsolicited content.

Maybe these bloggers are getting free blenders and jerky, but if the cost is readers, perhaps it’s just not worth it.

Proper nutrition for expectant mothers can be challenging. You have to remember that you’re eating for two, and not one. You shouldn’t consume alcohol or other drugs while you’re pregnant, and you should eat a diet that is high in folate and folic acid in order to ensure a healthy baby. Drinking can create complications, and is extremely high risk. Proper nutrition also includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and no raw meat. If you’re craving something like pickles, you should eat it. It’s your body’s way of saying that it’s the nutrition that it needs.

 
It’s important to get tested for conditions such as diabetes or heart disease before you become pregnant because these can all lead to a high-risk pregnancy. If you do have a medical condition that you have tested positive for, you should talk to your doctor about appropriate ways to manage your condition while you’re pregnant. If you have a hereditary condition, it might be worth testing the fetus to see if their life will be impacted negatively by an inherited condition. As always, you should talk to your doctor about testing and other high-risk concerns.

 
Most insurance plans cover pregnancy, although not all do. A pregnancy can be very expensive, so it is wise to test your insurance company out before getting pregnant. Find out what they cover and don’t cover so that you can have a stress-free pregnancy. Stress is a high-risk factor for both the Mom and the baby. It’s best to avoid unavoidable stress with insurance by making sure you’re covered before you conceive.

 
Lastly, you should look at getting regular exercise. Yoga is great for expecting mothers and might even be covered by insurance. Most yoga requires no equipment, but you may have to provide a mat and a pillow. A pillow especially helpful once you’re into your second trimester, as it helps support you in difficult yoga poses.   
Following these steps will ensure a healthy, happy, low-risk pregnancy for Mom and child.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to helping people afford food (although it is not income-based, anyone can order from them). Each month they offer a box of food, normally enough to feed a family of four, up to a  week or more. Each box costs $30 and there are additional items you can add.

Let me explain……

Each month a different box is available.  This box (called the Signature Box) is available for $30 and contains meats, vegetables, eggs, milk, etc.  It changes every month, but is always enough to at least feed a family of four for a week.  There is normally a variety of foods, including beef, chicken, pork, fish.  It is quite a bit of food for just $30.  There are then additional boxes available.  These also change monthly, during the summer there are normally grilling boxes, complete with meats that can all be cooked outside on the grill.  Each of these additional boxes can be purchased with or without the purchase of a signature box. This has recently changed, because in the past you HAD to purchase the $30 signature box. I have been told that the Grilling Meat box is an awesome deal.

If you are by chance on food stamps (now called SNAP), they do accept them. What a steal and way to make that money really stretch!

You can visit their site for information on host sites in your area.  These are all churches that have volunteered their time and resources to help others in need.  Each site will either take order in person, or some online.  Each site has different deadlines for orders and pick up times for food.

As a kid, I had hand-me-downs from my elder sister. Sure, I wanted the new things, but I was taught to be content and suffered relatively little for my non-with-it-ness. Now that I have three children of my own, I buy most of their things second hand. In this economy, it’s the wisest use of money. As it turns out, it appears that buying second hand is also the healthiest for my kids.

The German Bundesinstituts für Risikobewertung (BfR, or National Institute for Risk Assessment) has warned that children aren’t small adults. While this may sound like common sense, many people don’t let the real truth of that statement sink in completely. Children are indeed small, but the way their bodies react to things is vastly different than the way adult bodies react to the same things. The BfR explains it like this:

Risks for children must be assessed differently from risks for adults. When evaluating potential risks from chemical substances, risk assessors must bear in mind that in relation to their body weight children have a larger skin surface, eat more and breathe more rapidly than adults. In line with their age they have an elevated metabolic rate and their bodies ingest larger amounts of certain substances more quickly from the gastro-intestinal tract. Contaminants, which are only broken down slowly, can act over a longer period. Source

So what does this mean when it comes to buying for baby? That the chemicals used in manufacturing toys and clothing for infants and children may be at levels that don’t affect adults, but may affect your baby. Formaldehyde and flame retardant chemicals have been dissipated via evaporation and repeated washings by the time the furniture, toys, and clothing that contain them come up for second hand sale. When you think about it, it’s a real savings – of money and your child’s health.

Grayson Wynne was among a party of about 15 family members that left Saturday, June 21, 2009 from the Spirit Lake trailhead in Daggett County of Northern Utah.  The group stopped to tighten a saddle on a horse at some point, said Grayson’s dad, Kynan Wynne.  But Grayson didn’t realize it and went ahead of the pack before diverting onto a smaller trail in the thick forest.

When he realized he’d been separated from his family, Grayson’s thoughts turned to television.  He watches “Man vs. Wild” on the Discovery Channel every week with his brothers and his dad.  On the show, host and adventurer Bear Grylls strands himself in the wilderness and then shows viewers how to survive the sticky situations. That’s where Grayson says he learned to leave clues behind to help searchers find him.

On Saturday, when he was scared and alone in the Ashley National Forest, Grayson started tearing up his yellow rain slicker, despite the intermittent downpours, and tying pieces to trees.  “I just used my hands,” said Grayson, “I don’t know how many times I tore the thing but quite a lot.”Grayson also created a small shelter overnight under a fallen tree.  The next day, he decided to follow a creek in hopes of finding help.”I (thought I) might find the lake, that there might be somebody at the lake,” he said.Grayson also left a couple of clues for searchers that he didn’t mean to.He dropped a granola bar wrapper about 300 yards off the main trail. Searchers also found a small footprint and a backpack about 400 yards from the wrapper. 

“I was just being pretty stupid that I dropped the backpack,” Grayson said. “I was just panicking too much.”

When Grayson heard a helicopter overhead, he ran into a meadow and waved the last piece of his jacket.  But two searchers on horseback saw him first. 

“It was such a good feeling that I was going to be all right,” said Grayson, who will start fourth grade in the fall, spent a total of 18 hours lost in the wilderness.  When he was reunited with his father, his first words were “Happy Father’s Day.” Grayson got back to normal Monday by playing in a Little League double-header.

First, I kinda wish I’d gotten a show like this when I was a kid. I’ve learned that even passive learning — where kids might only be paying half attention to what’s on-screen while they do other things — can have a significant impact on one’s knowledge. Sesame Street helped me learn words bilingually, for example, and a cartoon like this could go a long way toward getting kids to think about money in ways other than the direct purchasing of goods.

I was also surprised to find that Warren Buffett sounds pretty good as a cartoon. He has a pleasant, non-threatening way about his acting that works fairly well with his avuncular animated avatar.

However, I think that even as pared down as these episodes might be, the pace of the lesson is a little rushed. But being an online series — it wll “air” on an AOL portal — means that it can be re-watched at one’s own leisure. The trouble then becomes getting kids interested in finance. I certainly wish them well with this series; what our money does shouldn’t be a big mystery. Check out the clip here:

1. Make It Your Child’s Idea – Point out all the ways that your child as grown and tell her how proud you are of her. She’s given up bottles and diapers and the crib – what else could she get rid of to be an even bigger kid? If she doesn’t mention sucking her thumb, suggest it and see if she grasps on to the idea.
2. Weaken the Habit – Make it harder for him to suck his thumb by involving him in activities that require both hands. Bedtime and naptime are the most difficult – let him hold the story book you’re reading or love on a stuffed animal.
3. Help Your Child Notice When Thumb Sucking Occurs – Decide (with your child) on a secret signal that you’ll use to bring her attention to the fact that her thumb has gone a secret mission to her mouth. A secret signal preserves your child’s dignity and builds a fun bond between you.
4. Use Authority – Call in the big guns. Dr. Goodteeth and Dr. Bigkid have been around for as long as your child can remember and has always known what was going on. Let them talk to your child about ways he can keep getting bigger – including saying goodbye to thumb sucking.
5. Consider Peer Pressure – Allowing your child to be in social situations with children that don’t suck their thumbs at times when your child does can be a strong motivator. Bethany just might decide to stop sucking her thumb when Sofia asks her why she does it at naptime.

Armed with these tips and almost a year before her permanent teeth come in, I’m confident (well, really hopeful) that Bethany will not graduate sucking her thumb. What has worked for you? I have a feeling I’m going to need all the ideas I can get!

Who is FlyLady?  Well, she is your new best friend if you have a hard time keeping your house clean.  FlyLady is a homemaker who learned how to de-clutter and clean her home with advice from the Slob Sisters.  She now runs a very successful website, where she teaches others her cleaning routine.  It wasn’t long after I became a stay-at-home-mom that I started hearing about www.Flylady.org.  Everyone raved about it as the best cleaning method out there.  I have to admit at first I sort of rolled my eyes.  I thought cleaning is cleaning.  You know you load the dishwasher, do the laundry and scrub the bathrooms.  It’s not anything to get excited about.  But these were bright, well-educated ladies talking about this website like it was the new facebook.  Finally curiosity got the best of me and I decided to check it out.  At first I wasn’t that impressed, but as I started to delved deeper, I began to see the appeal.

FlyLady starts to bring out the inner Martha Stewart in all of us.  And she gives you the tools and the organization to bring that lofty dream of a pristine home to fruition(without becoming a slave to cleaning).  If you have small children at home, how many times have you gotten the house completely clean only to have dirty little footprints leaving a trail of destruction right behind you?  And if your children are at school now, chances are you are working or running errands all day.  By the time you get home it is time to start dinner and the last thing you want to think about is cleaning the house.  FlyLady gives you a highly organized plan to fit cleaning into your schedule through creative tips and ideas.

After only a couple of weeks of following her advice, I found my house was cleaner with less effort.  I won’t go as far as to say it is now enjoyable, but it is definitely more rewarding.  It is like the old saying goes, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”  And that is really what FlyLady does.  She gives you a plan to follow so that you are not randomly running from one chore to the next without making any tangible progress.  The FlyLady has thousands of fans who credit her methods with helping them overcome their own messiness.  To get the most out of the FlyLady method in you life, here are a few tips to follow on her website:

1. Read “Sink Reflections” by  FlyLady to get some inspiration and an overview of the FlyLady Baby Steps cleaning routine.
2. Subscribe to the FlyLady email list to get daily–almost hourly–reminders about what you should be doing during your day.
3. Create a FlyLady cleaning journal (your “control journal”) to plan your routines.  You will have a basic morning routine, nightly routine and weekly plan.  Putting it all down on paper helps you stay focused.
4. De-clutter for 15 minutes a day.  When you first begin the flylady plan, you home may be very cluttered.  Spend 15 minutes each day tossing unused items and organizing your home.
5. Clean in the Zone of the week.  Your house is divided into zones(or rooms) under the FlyLady’s plan.  Each week you focus on a different zone.
6. Read the FlyLady’s encouraging emails and online support to encourage your progress and learn more.

Every penny counts these days.  A lot of moms have started coupon clipping for the first time.  But there is more you that you can do to stock  up your cabinets and still keep a few bucks in your pocket.  Here are some tips to shave some easy cash off of your next grocery bill.

Get Organized Before Going To The Store

Make sure your coupons are organized by category so that they are easy to find while you are shopping.  Also sort coupons by the expiration date so that they don’t expire before you get the chance to use them.  Study your weekly store flyers to find the best deals. Build your list around what you already have in your freezer and pantry.  When you rotate your inventory you eliminate the need to throw out expired items.

Don’t Shop Too Often

Shop with a well prepared list.  And try to go to each store only once a week, or once a month for warehouse stores like Costco.  The more often you shop, the more you will buy(and spend).

Plan At Least One Meatless Meal A Week

Meat is a big ticket item at the grocery market.  Try stir frys, quiches, pastas, rice and beans and soups and salads.  When you experiment with vegetable or egg based dishes you will undoubtedly save on your next trip to the store and likely be eating healthier.

Pay Attention To The Sales

Sometimes you have to buy several specific items for a sale price to kick in.  Other times you don’t have to buy as much as you think (ie: more than you need).  Often buy one get one free deals only require you to purchase one and you will still receive the 50% off discount.  Also watch the register screen when you check out to make sure everything rings up correctly.

Check Out The Manager’s Specials

If you stray from your list, only do so to purchase deals that you didn’t know about.
Many stores will take 50% or more off of meat that expires in a few days.  If you are planning to make it for dinner that night or have extra freezer space it can be a great steal.  Also check the organic/health food aisle for closeouts.  Many time these items don’t get enough purchases and are discontinued.  The stores sell the excess at a high discount to make shelf space for something else.

Avoid Distractions

Eat before you go.  A full stomach will keep your mind sharp and unhealthy cravings at bay.  Also try to leave the kids at home.  It will be less hectic and you will avoid their impulse buys.