Cool Signs - Kiddie Tips

Ever been to a potluck and want to know exactly what you're grubbin' on? Ask no more. Pick up one of these Make and Take Baking Dishes with a write and wash dish lid. Very cool. And if you happen to have a teen kiddie in the pad, scoop up a reusable magnetic Student Driver sign. Ummm...good luck with that one.

like new

I could have bought a new one but I didn't. In my quest to consume less, I chose to contact paper the girls white table. The table was stained from two years of breakfasts, sticky snacks, messy arts and crafts projects, permanent markers, and water colors. The contact paper put a $7 whole in my wallet and the table looks fabulous. Just like new. Milk paint was an eco-friendly option, but I didn't want to fuss with sanding and, well, painting.

Corn Dog Muffins

She became hooked at the fair. So last night when I announced we were having chili dogs. Janae replied "Oh, we are having corn dogs?! Yes!!" Instead of saying "No", I put on my Iron Chef hat and accepted the challenge of creating a healthier alternative to the fried favorite: a baked corn dog. Here's how I retained my title as Iron Chef Mommy: I boiled an all beef Kosher Hebrew National hot dog, shoved a stick into it, and dipped it into a way to runny whole grain cornbread mixture (it needs to be really thick). Upon baking, it just ran all over the greased cookie sheet. But she loved it. I stepped up my Food Network skills and created a few corn dog muffins too. My second attempt to please the kid judges looked like this: I boiled another Kosher hot dog, cut it up a few times, added the remaining runny cornbread mix to lined muffin tins, placed the cut up hot dog into the muffin mixture, and baked for 15 minutes. More love from Janae and Belle. Here's a version where you can add cheese.

ornaments with a purpose

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, "Consume less. Share more." Ahhh...music to my ear wax. Can you say re-purpose and reuse? Clearly, we can't save every recyclable thing for a future project because that's hording (see A&E's Horders) but how about, for instance, creating a CD Christmas Ornament with the kids. Or instead of buying new holiday ornaments and decorations, how about asking family members to gift you decorative items they aren't using anymore. My mom-in-law passed on some hand made 70's retro ornaments from my hubby's great grandmother and a few he had created in grade school. The girls think their fun, I didn't spend a dime, and we didn't contribute to the landfill.

merry christmas baby

I am too creative and cheap to buy gift tags. So I went online and found some downloadable print and color Christmas Gift Tags, gave them to the girls, and let them add their special crayon touch. Very homemade, cute and inexpensive.

We also attended a kid's Christmas party. The hosts asked us to bring a canned food item for the local food bank and a dozen cookies per kid. At the party, we made tube sock snowmen, candy ornaments (I would not stop inhaling the gummy bears), and did some near the fireplace caroling with instruments. All of the cookies were spread out on a table and the kids walked around the table, choosing, eating and moving on to the next treat. The girls and I made and brought pink frosted shortbread cookies like Uncle Seth's and chocolate chip peanut butter cookies (we used organic chocolate chips and Trader Joe's organic peanut butter). The pink ones went the fastest but I am not sure they tasted the best. I loved the haystacks that Jayden and her mom brought. Here's the recipe. Merry Christmas!

DAYCARE

I am anticipating going back to work soon so I have been making my list and checking it... well more than twice. If you are joining the game of finding a childcare center, take some notes first on what you really want in a daycare and talk to some of your working mommy friends. Here are some qualities to look for: safety, clean record, staff attentiveness, location to home, cost, outside play, cleanliness, and pre-school curriculum. Keep in mind, there are licensed in-home day cares (cheaper & less structure), day care centers (more expensive & more structure), family or friends (familiar, even less structure, cheaper or free). Try to take your little one at least twice to play before they begin attending. Glam it up by calling it a school not daycare. Here's a site providing more info.

Gym School

Belle is quite envious of Janae attending school. To give us something to do while her big sis is away, I enrolled her in a local parks and recreation 4 week "Kinder Gym" for a back breaking 21 bucks. Three times a week for 50 minutes. She loves it. They do circle time, sing songs, and play with and on inside toys you couldn't fit into your bathroom. Each Friday is bring your helmet/bike day and the kids trike and bike around the gym and fill up at the toy gas stations. Very cute. We also attend "Library School". Our local library has free toddler time in the mornings. You bring your kiddo, and the Librarian does all the work. She reads stories, sings songs, leads arts and crafts, the kids play with puzzles, and get their hands stamped at the end of the 30 minutes. Check your local mall, library and parks and recreation for inexpensive and free kid activities.