Fave Product

... of the moment.

As do most of us, I have stainless appliances and they are NOT magnetic (I know the newer ones are, but not mine!), so how do I display all of my son's beautiful artwork? Well, no more cleaning tape off my fridge.

Post-It has saved the day! A Post-It note sketch pad for kids, what better idea could there be!?

All things Dino

It's all about dinosaurs at our house these days, McLean has even taken to sleeping with a really hard, pointy red stegosaurus, so when I asked him what kind of craft he'd like to do he said 'Dino', so Dino it was!We started out with the outline of a dino I had drawn for him to paint. (I don't cut out until the painting is done, as this eliminates a lot of mess and clean up for me!) I used a cereal box for the dino form as this made it a little bit more sturdy. We painted some clothespins, for the spikes, and we were good to go. Once the painting was done, we went for a snack and by the time we were done, it was dry, ready to be cut out and assembled.
Mac loves his 'dino', although I had to convince him, really, this one is not for sleeping with!

Mom, I'm hungry!

Is there anything a Mom does more than cook for her family? Besides, maybe, laundry!

There are two things I couldn't live without, that keep my recipes on hand, easy to find, and clean.

First, there is my three-ring binder recipe book. Full of page protectors it allows me to slip in any recipe I'm given, have torn out of a magazine or printed from the computer. And I can pull out a recipe at anytime, use it and not have the whole cookbook in front of me, trying to balance items on it to keep the book open (come one we've all done that) and it's protected from splatter and grimy 'helping' three year old hands.

Next, there is my recipe stand. Here I can pop in any recipe I am using, it's upright, easy to read and follow and I'm not searching around the kitchen as to where I put that recipe. Also, easy to clean/wipedown when it does get splattered or grabbed with yucky hands.

Any kitchen items that make YOUR life easier? Please do share, I am always looking for anything that makes life easier, and I am sure there are a million other parents who would love the tips as well.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

this soup is super easy.

i found the recipe somewhere on-line but can't for the life of me remember where. made it, it was good, no leftovers, so that must say something.

(i'm not a recipe follower per say though ... I used fresh, chopped spinach instead of broccoli... leftover chicken from a roast chicken ... added some chopped orange/red peppers ... used italian seasoning instead of basil AND oregano, you get the picture)

chicken tortellini soup

9 oz. frozen broccoli

8 cups water

4 tsp. of chicken bouillon (i used 8 cubes)

3 cans chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 cups cubed chicken (i added more, but i like a lot of chicken)

1 cup chopped onion

2 cups sliced carrots

2 cloves or tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. oregano

1 package cheese tortellini

mix everything together, except the cream of chicken soup, & bring to a boil. add the cream of chicken soup, heat and then serve.

delicious with some crusty italian bread!

Busy Little Beans

Have you tried this?

Basically it’s an indoor sandbox, except easier to clean up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not EASY to clean up…there are beans all over the kitchen. But, it is so good for hours of entertainment. It amazes me how long they’ll keep busy just pouring and dumping etc.

Before Mumma, there was a teacher...

and that life seems so long ago, but it does help in pulling ideas out to go with whatever my child is interested in. Here are a few alphabet ones off the top of my head.

Alphabet Cookie Cutters - these are great for cookies, playdough, sandwiches, you name it!

Flash Cards (Upper and lower case) - play memory, a letter version of 'Go Fish'

Coffee Break (My Favourite!) - Make yourself comfortable at the table with the newspaper, coffee, cup of tea etc. Give your child yesterdays paper, a mug of hot cocoa and a highlighter.)If you wish, you can use an egg timer.) Start by calling out a letter of the alphabet. Your child searches for that letter and 'jabs' each one with the highlighter. Reinforce skills by counting how many of each letter were found.

Building the Alphabet - build letters (upper and lower) from partly cooked spaghetti, playdough 'worms', Q-tips, lego etc. Squeeze white glue on cardboard in the shape of letter and sprinkle with sand, uncooked rice, sparkles, sawdust, cornmeal etc.

Fast Five - You and your child take turns being the 'teacher ' in this game. Use any print you have on hand, such as books, magazines, flyers, mail etc. The 'teacher' uses a pointer to quickly point to five different letters while the player(s) call out the name of each letter. Take turns so everyone has a turn to use the pointer.

And check out this blog for tonnes of alphabet ideas and preschool fun http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/

The 'A' says "aaa", the 'A' says "aaa",

every letter makes a sound, the 'A' says "aaa".


Ever since we discovered "The Letter Factory" movie, put out by Leapfrog, not only is it the only kids program watched in our house, but the song is sung over and over and over again. I think I may even be singing it in my sleep. I have to say it has had such an impact on McLean. In a matter of a week he is attempting, if not correctly saying, all of his letter sounds and he notices letters everywhere we go. It's so neat to see your three-year old excited about learning and being the one to initiate it!

Letters seem to be a common thing amongst a lot of his friends, quite an age appropriate fixation, I guess. So much so, in fact, that it has inspired an "Alphabet Party" amongst our regular playdate friends. Now we've done Halloween playdates, Valentine's, Easter, Birthdays, but never an Alphabet theme. I guess that is what being a stay-at-home Mom is all about, taking interest in your kids interests and going with it, encouraging their learning and development.


Here is a little craft inspired by the alphabet. 'V' is for Volcano. 'C' is for Cloud.

Fruit Pizza

Another 'Canadian Family' magazine favourite (have I mentioned this is my fave mummy mag!)

Ingredients
2 tbsp cornmeal
1¾ lb prepared whole wheat pizza dough
1 tbsp melted butter
3 tbsp coarse raw sugar
1 cup cream cheese, softened
1 lemon zested and juiced
2 cups each strawberries and blackberries
¼ cup vanilla-flavoured yogurt

Chef's Tip: Prepared pizza dough from the grocery store comes in a 26 oz ball. For thinner dough, use ⅔ of the package

Cake Balls

Saw this in Canadian Family and think it's the great idea for a toddler/preschooler birthday party, ever!

You can do this with any flavours you like, but here’s a great combination for cakeballs:

Bake a chocolate fudge cake according to directions on the box.

Let cool, and then break up cake into tiny pieces (use the food processor for this).

In a large bowl, mix in one can of chocolate frosting with the cake crumbs.

Use a one-inch ice cream scoop to form balls of cake.

Freeze on sheet pan until hard.

Melt one bag of coating chocolate over a double boiler.

Dip cakeballs in chocolate and let excess drip off.

Decorate with sprinkles or different coloured chocolate.

Enjoy!

Boredom Buster

On those rainy coast days, here is one idea I found to occupy the kids. Try colouring in a whole new way. Yeah, these things only last 10 minutes at most, but with no set up, so why not give it a try!

5 minute Chocolate Cake

This has come to me again and again via email. I don't know where it comes from, but who doesn't love chocolate cake, and fast. My son loves making this one with me, a perfect quick dessert when one is needed and Mumma has no baking in the house.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

a small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT!

Mini Oreo-Peanut Butter Surprise Cupcakes

After my husband came home from work raving about the cupcakes one of the other wives made for Valentine's I had to track her down and get the recipe. I know it is the days of peanut allergies, but should you not have any in your household these are a must try to have at home!

Yields: 24

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe:
3 cups Flour
½ cup Cocoa or 5 oz unsweetened chocolate squares, melted
2 cups Sugar
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2 cups Warm Water
2 tbsp Vinegar
2/3 cup Oil
2 tsp Vanilla
--Can also use box of Chocolate Cake mix. Prepare as directed.

Other ingredients:125 g (1/2 of 250-g pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Brick Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup KRAFT Smooth or Crunchy Peanut Butter
1 egg
2 Tbsp. sugar
24 Mini OREO Cookies
Directions:

HEAT oven to 350°F.
PREPARE cake batter.
Mix dry ingredients together.
Make 3 holes in dry ingredients. Add Vanilla to first. Vinegar to second. Oil to third. Pour water over all and mix for one minute. If using chocolate squares instead of Cocoa, mix water and chocolate together then pour into bowl.

For Peanut Butter Surprise. Beat cream cheese, peanut butter, egg and sugar until blended.

SPOON 2 Tbsp. cake batter into each of 24 paper-lined muffin cups; top each with 1-1/2 tsp. cream cheese mixture and 1 cookie. Cover with remaining cake batter.

BAKE 20 min. or until toothpick inserted in centres comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pans 5 min.; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

TOPPING- Top as you wish. I would do icing, but you could use whipping cream or leave them blank.

Blue Goo

That is what it is referred to in our house.

It's a horrible mixture that makes my skin crawl when I touch it and pick it up, but my son couldn't go without it! We have played with it at StrongStart, friends houses, etc. but only have lately dared to bring it into our own house.

Let me tell you, when your son wakes up in the morning, smiles at you and the first words out of his mouth are 'blue goo' you know you've hit on something good!

(Not to mention on a two ferry boat ride to the island, a ziploc bag of this created tonnes of entertainment, where I didn't have to perform!)

Now to get busy making the stuff!

Solution A

1 cup water

1 cup white glue

2TBSP. liquid tempera paint or 7-10 drops food colouring

Solution B

1 1/3 cups warm water

4tsp. Borax laundry booster

1. Mix ingredients in Solution A together in a medium bowl.

2. In a second medium bowl, mix the ingredients in Solution B together until the Borax is completely dissolved.

3. Slowly pour Solution A into Solution B. DO NOT MIX!

4. Roll Solution A around in Solution B 4-5 times.

5. Lift Solution A out of Solution B and knead for 2-3 minutes.

6. Store in an airtight container or plastic zip bag.

Forewarned, this stuff spreads out if left to it's own devices, so put away as soon as you are done. Also comes off fabric easily if removed fairly quickly, otherwise you are cleaning hardened glue off of everything!

Creating Independence

My son always wants to help me and I never in hesitate to let him. For those of you who have met my son, McLean, you can just see this little person trying to help Mumma out, but you can also see the mess that would follow.

Sometimes I am not in the mood to clean up a mess if it were to happen, BUT how is my son ever going to learn and get better at something if I don’t let him try? So, I try my best to ignore any hesitation. or thoughts of how much quicker the job would get done if I did it on my own. and let him help, encourage independence and building self-esteem at the same time.

While things at my house may be a bit different, as McLean has CP and the challenges are a bit different and the helping a bit more modified than the typical preschooler, here are a few things

that are age appropriate and could be done all on their own.

1. Making their own Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich.

2. Folding Socks.

3. Pouring Milk and Cereal. (This one is trickier. That milk jug can be heavy and no one wants to clean up spilt milk, but if the milk is less than half way gone go for it, or pour it into a little jug for them to do on their own.)

4. Unloading the cutlery from the dishwasher and putting it away. (While I take out the knives ahead of time, McLean loves doing this one. The cutlery may just be dumped in the drawer at this point, as my husband and I dig through the piles to find what we need, but the pride on Mac's face makes it all worth it!)

They will get better at these jobs each and every time, the mess will become less and they will become more confident. (And maybe you can stay in bed a few extra minutes if they can grab more than a piece of fruit for themselves in the morning.)

Here’s a few more posts found regarding helping Encourage Independence in Kids:
MomAdvice - Chores for the Clark Kids
Simple Mom - Chore Chart for Preschoolers
Momaroo - What Age to Start Chores

Grit your teeth, ignore the mess and let your child soar with independence!

What are you willing to let your kids help out with?

( adapted/added and blog lifted from Makes and Takes, as such a worthy topic to read about)