Lappie top

VTech Brilliant Creations Advanced learning laptop

Another big hit for Christmas this year was a VTech Brilliant Creations Advanced learning laptop.  We bought a Barbie one at Costco for only $32, but the mediocre games,  two color screen, lame graphics, and Barbie theme made me return it.  The My Own Leaptop laptop @ 21 bucks is great for 1-3-year olds because it only has 6 learning stations that are very basic.  I do like that you can choose from 8 email messages and personalize them for your kiddie to enjoy.  Here's why we love the VTech laptop:  LCD color display, animated graphics, 120 learning activities including foreign language and Math.  It also has a back-light so it works well when you travel at night and your kid can create and save letters and art.  Read more reviews here.

I read the whole book!

My little 4-year old is getting ready for the big K next year.  For Christmas we bought her BOB Books Sight Words Kindergarten...and she is in love reading now.  Sight words are common words appearing over and over in your kiddie's reading. You get 10 little books for 12 bucks on Amazon.  Each book has simple stories and short vowels. There's also lots of repetition and your little one will feel very successful after reading a 12 page book. Read on...

BOB Books

Ice cream cone cupcakes

Betty Crocker Ice Cream Cone Cakes

They love ice cream.  They love cake batter.  Slap them together and they will fall over with joy.  I'm making these tasty treats for Belle's upcoming 5th birthday.  Here's what you do:  Mix your cake batter according to your recipe, place cupcake liners into  muffin tins, pour in the batter, place ice-cream cones on top and bake 15-22 minutes.  Cool, remove liner, frost and sprinkle with love. Here are some organic cake recipes. Send me your pics and comments when you make this one!  

Almond milk

I am lovin' some almond milk.  Nutritional bene's:  less calories than milk, low sugar, no cholesterol and a lil protein. I hide mix it in the girls' waffle and pancake batter, oatmeal, and cold cereal.  I also throw some in my decaf chai tea. Here's the recipe for making almond milk at your casa.  My other love is almond meal.  Read more here. Yum.