Happy New Year! Kid-Friendly Ideas

I saw these ideas in the January 2010 issue of Parents magazine:

Ticker-Tape Tubes
Glue a piece of tissue paper to one end of a toilet-paper roll and fill with confetti. Seal opposite end with tissue paper and glue a ribbon the paper's center. Pull the cord for a shower.

Top Hats
Fold clsasic paper hats and let the kids go wild with decorations. To keep the project organized, fill the cups of a muffin tin with fun materials like sequins, rhinestones, felt shapes, and paper scraps.

Freeze Frame
Make it a tradition to tkae a family portrait on New Year's Day. Create signs that spell out the digits of the year so that everyone is holding a number. Give an exclamation point to the fifth family member.

Sweet Treats
Prepare a chocolate fondue feast with cubed pound cake and lots of fruit for dipping. Then serve kids juice mixed with seltzer in plastic champagne flutes. Now that's a kiddy celebration worth toasting!

Recipe: Minty Milk

This was posted in the January 2010 issue of Parents. It looked so yummy that I had to share!

Minty Milk
Stir things up at snacktime by using leftover candy canes to create a calcium-packed drink that has about 25 fewer calories than chocolate milk. It's like a junior latte, minus the caffeine of course.

1 - Splash: Warm a cup of low-fat milk on medium for 5-10 minutes. Mix in a few drops of peppermint extract (find it in the spice aisle of the supermarket).

2 - Crush: Break a candy cane into a couple of small pieces and chop it on your cutting board with a sharp knife.

3 - Froth: Whisk milk in the blender for 2 minutes or use a frother. Pour into cups and top with crushed peppermint. Let kids stir it with a small candy cane. One dairy serving licked for the day!

Raising Grateful Kids

I've seen two articles lately about raising grateful children...these are something I'd definitely like to hold on too. This was featured in the December/January 2010 issue of Parenting magazine:

5 Ways to Raise a Grateful Child
Life won't always gift your child with exactly his heart's desire. But there are ways you can make sure that, underneath it all, he learns to appreciate what he has.
By Patty Onderko, Parenting

I was 7 years old when I received a tiny Christmas present -- about the size of an eraser -- awkwardly wrapped and covered in tape. My sister's boyfriend, Jeff, was visiting and had considerately brought gifts for his girlfriend's three younger siblings. Mine, though, was by far the smallest. I remember opening it up to reveal a miniature ceramic dog -- a cold, hard nothing that fit in the palm of my hand -- and thinking how unlucky I was. I gave Jeff my best cold shoulder the rest of the day.

And I've felt guilty about it ever since. Partly because, in hindsight, Jeff's gift was very thoughtful: I'd been obsessed with my dollhouse, and he had managed to find one accessory my dream home did not yet have -- a pet. Still, I couldn't look past the size of the gift to be grateful for the amount of care that had gone into choosing it.

In this, experts say, I wasn't an unusual kid: For distractible, still-developing children (and that's pretty much all of them), gratitude can be hard-won. While many can be trained to say "please" and "thank you" beginning at about 18 months, true appreciativeness and generosity take time to seed and blossom.

"There's a difference between encouraging thankfulness in your kids and actually expecting it," says Claire Lerner, a child-development specialist at Zero to Three, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the healthy development of kids and families. "Raising a grateful child is an ongoing process."

Vicki Hoefle, director of Parenting on Track, a parent-education program based in East Middlebury, VT (and the mother of five teenagers), concurs: "As nice as it is to think about having a five-year-old who appreciates and shows gratitude for everything, the truth is, parents can feel successful if they raise a thirty-five-year-old who embodies that grateful spirit."

So, to Jeff Galvin I offer a long-overdue "Thank you." To everyone else, here's how to avoid getting derailed by five not-so-thankful-kid moments, both this holiday season and all year long:


Your 9-year-old keeps a running -- and growing -- list of toys he has to have. He's up to number 23 this season.
In-The-Moment Fix "Emphasize that you appreciate there are many things he wants, but let him know it will only be possible to get a few of them," says Robert Brooks, Ph.D., a psychologist at Harvard Medical School and coauthor of Raising a Self-Disciplined Child. That way, you won't make him feel greedy or foolish for compiling a lengthy list, but you will set his expectations. Another idea: Ask him to make a second list, equal in number to the things he wants to get, of things or actions he is willing to give, suggests Maureen Healy, author of 365 Perfect Things to Say to Your Kids. For example: 1) Clean his room, 2) Help you find a charity that the family can donate to, 3) Pitch in when Dad starts wrapping presents, 4) Make a holiday card. Last, if you're in for belt-tightening this year, let him know. Be honest, but keep it simple and undramatic so you don't scare him. Instead of saying "Dad might lose his job, so we have to cut back" -- which might make him sure you'll be losing the house next -- say something like "Nothing major is going to change, but we'll have to wait until next year to go on vacation and we have to hold off on getting the new bike you wanted." It's likely your kid will think "Okay, I can live with that," says Lerner.

Long-Term Strategy Help him understand that gifts are thoughtful gestures, not just a way for him to score materialistic gain, says Lerner. Anytime he receives a present, point out everything the giver put into it. If a classmate makes him a friendship bracelet, for example, say "Oh, wow -- Lucy remembered that you thought these were cool. She picked out colors she knows you like, and it probably took her a whole hour to make. That is so nice." Do this enough times and he'll get the "quality, not quantity" idea before you know it.


Your 5-year-old grimaces at the stuffed Elmo her aunt gives her and says, "But I wanted a Barbie!"
In-The-Moment Fix "The concept of hiding your own negative feelings to protect someone else's is way too complex for kids five and under," says Lerner. (Older kids get better and better but will still have frequent slipups.) So validate your daughter's feelings without responding critically, says Brooks. Say "I know you wanted a Barbie, but let's think about all the different ways we can play with Elmo." You can also step in and model the appropriate response -- and defuse the uncomfortable situation -- by exclaiming something like "Wow, that was so thoughtful, wasn't it, Alli? Aunt Karen remembered you needed mittens!" This trick works for all ages: If your older son receives a gift he already owns, for example, say "Oh, cool! That's your favorite game!"

Long-Term Strategy Before any gift-getting occasion, prepare your child for the possibility that she may not like all her presents, but at the same time, let her know that it's still important to show her appreciation. Remind her that people put effort into trying to find her the best thing. Then devise a special cue between the two of you, suggests Lerner, that reminds her to say thank you. When you see her mouth turning down, you can clap your hands and say "Great present!" to snap her back into good-manners mode.


You can't even take your kid to get socks or lightbulbs without him whining for you to buy him something -- seemingly anything.
In-The-Moment Fix Before you go on any shopping trip, inform your child that you'll be hitting the mall to, say, buy gifts for his cousins. "Engage him in the process," says Lerner. "Ask him what his cousin Jane likes and which toy you should get her. Get him excited about buying for someone else." At the same time, make it clear that you won't be able to buy anything for him. Then, if your son throws a fit at the store, you can refer back to that conversation, and say something like "I know it's hard to be here when you're not getting anything, but that's the rule. Now, I really need your help finding something for Jane." Let's be honest: That might not be enough to stop his whining. But steel yourself and stay strong. Caving in will only teach him that he will eventually get his way if he complains loud or long enough.

Long-Term Strategy Your weekends may be errand time, but try to avoid spending all your family moments pushing a shopping cart. That way, your kids won't think acquiring stuff is the leisure-time norm. (Don't get us wrong, though: We know those flattering jeans are sometimes an absolute necessity!) Denver mom Beth Korin says she and her two boys, ages 7 and 9, frequently head to the library, an indoor pool, or a rock-climbing gym instead. "We try to think of things we can do that don't involve hanging out in stores," she says. Prepare kids for these events the same way you would for gifts ("We're going to have a big, delicious meal with all of your favorite foods, and then we're going to play games!"). The idea you want to get across is that having experiences can be just as exciting as accumulating things (if not more).


Your 6-year-old gobbles down the Teddy Grahams that another parent at the playground gives him. But when you prod him to say "Thank you," he won't.
In-The-Moment Fix It's easy to turn this "teachable moment" into a battle of wills -- one where you're repeating "I didn't hear you say thank you!" to your tantrum-ing child while the person he's supposed to thank is backing away in discomfort. But, explains Lerner, the fact that your son doesn't always say the words likely just means they haven't become a habit for him yet. "And getting into power struggles actually impedes the process," she says. So while you should definitely remind your kids to give thanks, it's best not to make a big deal about it if it doesn't happen.

Long-Term Strategy Remind yourself to model grateful behavior. When your cookie-muncher goes silent, go ahead and say the necessary "Thank you so much!" for him. (At least until he gets older and can be counted on to follow your cues.) In your own everyday interactions, always offer warm thank-yous and praise to grocery store clerks, gas-station attendants, waiters, teachers -- anyone who's helpful to you or him. You may think your child isn't paying attention to those small moments, but he actually is.


When you say no to a DS that, according to your daughter, "everyone at school" has, she complains that all her BFFs get cooler stuff than she does.
In-The-Moment Fix Sympathize with her frustration, but remind your daughter that, actually, many people don't have as much as she does. How? Begin a tradition of charity work and donating. Start simple: As young as age 3, children can be encouraged to go through their belongings and pick out items to donate, says Lerner. Every year after that, they can get more involved. Last year, Gabrielle Melchionda of Yarmouth, ME, and her two sons, ages 5 and 9, volunteered to decorate low-income homes for Christmas. "It was so nice to see all of the kids, mine and those who lived there, on their bellies coloring together," she says. "Later, my kids asked things like 'Was that the whole house?' It sparked conversation for months. It was an experience none of us will forget."

Long-Term Strategy Expose your daughter to people from all walks of life. "We often try to shield our children from those who are less fortunate, but it's important that kids know how lucky they are," says Dale McGowan, a father of three in Atlanta and coauthor of Parenting Beyond Belief. So the next time you see a homeless person, pass a shelter, or read a story in the news about a needy family, he suggests, ask questions -- "Where do you think that man sleeps?" or "Can you imagine what it would be like not to have a home?" -- that get your kids to put themselves in someone else's shoes. (At the same time, assure them that your family will always have a place to call home.) You'll be surprised -- and pleased -- at how often kids are moved to want to help.

Holiday Hints: Surviving Santa

These tips for Surviving Santa were printed in the December-January 2010 issue of Parenting magazine:

Do a dry run
Days before, give your child a glimpse of St. Nick from afar, says Amy Stone, onwer of Jady Images in Miami. "When you come back for the actual photo, he'll be more familiar with what to expect."

Carry Supplies
Snacks and toys are key. Hungry kids are likelier to act out.

Distract
"Put a piece of tape on your child's finger if he gets fidgety," says Marlboro, NJ, photog Jill Caren. "Sometimes that's distracting enough that he'll forget Santa's even there."

Present his requests
Tie up his wish list with a bow, and have him hand it over, suggests Heather Dillon, a Scottsdale, AZ, photog. "It places the attention on Santa, not on him."

Think narrative gold
As the Santa at Holiday World, a theme park in Santa Claus, IN, says: "Sometimes those unposed moments make the best photos."

-Michelle Hainer

Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition

I first heard of Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition when visiting our friends The Maxwell's last year. It seems like it is the "it thing" now in 2009 - I see and here of it everywhere. So in case you haven't been introduced, here is a note from the author:

From My Family to Yours,
This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Like most children through the ages, they wanted to know how Santa really knew who was naughty or who was nice. Their answer, as in my own childhood, came in the form of a small pixie-elf.

The first time the elf arrived at our home, my children officially adopted him by giving him a name. Each year he would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.

Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him but talking to him was a different matter all together. My children shared many secrets with the elf, and while he was under strict orders not to talk to them, the elf was under no such orders where grown-ups were concerned.

Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf is watching," for errant behavior to be modified.

I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many treasured Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine.

Enjoy this tradition, and MAKE IT YOUR OWN!

With my best wishes for you and those you love,
Carol



Most bookstores carry the gift set; I've also seen it advertised at the Catholic Supply, Hallmark, and other specialty shops. The gift set includes a stuffed elf and the book - which explains that the elf is watching for the best behavior. I've also seen that you can purchase just the book - so my friend Melissa found me an adorable elf at Catholic Supply (Item #521250; $8.95 each). (We have the one all the way to the right...)

A Letter from the North Pole

I've seen numerous resources for getting Santa letters...in an effort to compile:

"Google 'letter from Santa' and you'll find many sites selling customized letters. But few people know that the U.S. Post office can help too. Write a letter as if you were Santa Claus. Put it in a stamped envelope addressed to your child. Mail that by December 15 in a stamped, larger envelope to North Pole Holiday Cancellation, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr., Anchorage, AK 99530-9998. Your letter will arrive with a "North Pole" postmark!"
- American Baby magazine, November 2009

Gingerbread Houses

I don't know why, but this is one tradition that my family has never partaked in - therefore, it's not a priority to me, and I *think* I can say with 100% confidence that I have never assembled a gingerbread house.

So when I saw this is the November 2009 issue of American Baby magazine, I didn't think it would be beneficial for me, but may be for some of you out there. :)

"Fake It...Pretend You Baked It! Assembling a gingerbread house is an activity better suited for older kids. With a baby, consider mail-ordering this finished, pretty centerpiece ($50, or $60 with the personalized sign; redenvelope.com)"

Nativity Playset

When we were young, we also had the Nativity Scene set up under the Christmas tree - I love remembering those sort of things, those traditions. I, too, have a nativity scene - in fact, I have more than one, but they are by no means kid-friendly. So I loved when I saw these two ideas:

Wooden Nativity Playset:
I saw this one first in Abbey Press, but they must not carry it anymore. However, I found what appears to be the same set by doing a google search. This information came from Amazon (retail around $25):
The Wooden Nativity Play Set is a great way to teach children about the first Holy Night. Made of high quality, durable wood and packed in an attractive retail pack, this 19 piece set will provide hours and hours of inspirational fun! Allow children the opportunity of having their own beautiful nativity set to play with so mom and dad's will not get broken! Recommended for ages three years and up.Magnetic Nativity Playset:
Another idea is a magnetic Nativity Scene. I've seen these two at Catholic Supply.

Above: Children's Magnetic Nativity Sceneset of 12; wood and felt figures. Let children play on your fridge with this adorable magnetic nativity set. Reposition for hours of fun! (Item #22938) $32.50


Above: 24pc Magnetic Advent Calendar: 24 adorable magnets to cling to your fridge! Children love to add figures each day! Makes a great hands-on set for your children to play & learn about the nativity. Wood/Paper. Canvas storage bag. (Item #18768) $17.95

Remembering a Home...

When I was younger, my mom had aerial photos of our house and our land. I loved looking at it to see how things changed, but also just to 'remember' the home that I grew up in. Sometime in the last 10 years, she's had another aerial photo taken - and both of them hang side-by-side on her living room wall.

I love the idea of giving a gift such as this - but an aerial photo isn't necessary. You could have a picture sketched in pencil, or have a picture painted. Or, you could have it done on an ornament - what a great Christmas gift! I think this would be especially nice if you have moved, but could always remember that first 'home'.

Ornament from Personal Creations

Description from the Personal Creations website: #3793; $29.95
A Personal Creations Exclusive! These Hand Painted House Glass Ornaments, brighten your tree with the image of the place that’s dear to you. Just send us your photo or upload your digital image through our website (see order form for details) and we’ll hand paint it onto our 3 1/2”Dia. glass ornament. We add any message on 2 lines, up to 25 chars. per line. Comes on a red ribbon for hanging. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.

'We're Pregnant' or Ultrasound Ornament

Mike and I found out just a few days before Christmas 2007 that we were expecting; we hadn't had an ultrasound, but I had seen these kind of ornaments before then - what a special way of documenting that Christmas!


The first one I had seen was from Abbey Press (#45349; retailed for $14.99), but they must have discontinued it (?) because I can't find it. However, it was similar to these that I found:

This one is from http://www.grandparentgiftcompany.com/ ($10.99)

or http://www.baby-memory-books.com/ ($11.00), as well as other places.

All of them, including the one from Abbey Press, had this quote on the back side:
Ultrasound Ornament - We await our little miracle, at this glorious time of year. This glimpse of your beginnings, we will always hold dear. Grow healthy and strong, we are waiting for you. A sweet Christmas celebration, for a precious life anew.

Following this were spots for "Ultrasound Date" and "Baby's Due Date"

A Cleaner Keyboard

This was called the "Brilliant Solution of the Month" in the January 2010 issue of Woman's Day. Seriously - It IS Brilliant!

Instead of paying for the compressed air canisters to clean the keyboard, turn the hair dryer on high to blow the crumbs away!

Bag Cap from Copco

Featured in the November 2009 issue of Woman's Day:

"It's all in the bag: and it'll stay that way with Bag Cap from Copco. These plastic caps easily attach to any bag of food and seal it tight, so you can keep your chips fresh or pour batter from a siptop bag spill free. Available at housewares stores in three sizes (small, $3.99; medium, $4.99; wide, $5.99) and three nifty colors: red, orange, and green."

Personally, I like my chip-clips, but I think this would be great for bagged brown sugar, powdered sugar, etc.

Roll-Up Piano

When I was growing up, "all" of my relatives had pianos in their house...and my siblings, as well as many of my cousins, have had lessons and can play. When we first moved into this house, we had a piano, but it had to go due to lack of space. So, I want this!

Featured in Woman's Day - November 17, 2009 issue

"Perfect for road trips, this ingenious roll-up piano will keep kids (and adults!) entertained for hours. $49.99; jcp.com"

But okay, I just read the reviews of the JCP one - it doesn't get a good review. But I googled "roll-up piano" and there's a ton! How have I never seen this before?

Christmas Cookies

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the holidays...in my head, my mom did everything perfect. I noticed this when I was looking for new Christmas stockings this year - we always had ours hanging to the left, but many in stores hang to the right. To me, that's backwards.

So I'm also that way with Christmas cookies - I have difficulty branching out past the ones my mom always made...the molasses, sugar, peanut butter blossoms, etc. But Woman's Day featured some super-cute ones in their November issue. I've gonna have to try some of these new recipes. Here's pics of two:

And here's the link to all of them:

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food/Recipes/Give-the-Gift-of-Cookies.html

Pompom Gift Wrap

I saw this is the November 17, 2009 issue of Woman's Day - adorable!

"Spruce up your presents this Christmas with these adorable (and easy to make!) pompom decorations. Thanks to Laura Howard of the blog Bugs and Fishes (bugsandfishes.blogspot.com) for the fabulous craft idea.

materials: yarn (any type, cardboard, scissors)

- Cut out two "doughnuts" from the cardboard: 4" circles with a 1" hole in the center.

- Stack the doughnuts on top of each other. Wind a length of yarn through the center of the ring and around the cardboard until it's completely covered.

- Snip the loops of wrapped yarn around the outside edge of the doughnuts, then slide another length of yarn between the two doughnuts and knot in place. Remove the doughnuts, fluff up your pompom, trim the edges and secure it to a gift.

For a how-to-video, go to womansday.com/pompom "

The Silly Wagon Onesie Birth Annoucements

Suzanne shared this super-cute idea for birth annoucements:

It's a birth annoucement screen-printed onto a onesie. How cute! You could even take a picture of baby in that onesie and just mail out the photos as annoucements!

(sorry - for some reason, the photo won't upload...)

http://www.thesillywagon.com/catalog.php?item=2052

Hooking on those sippy cups...

In the March 2008 issue of Parents magazine, a reader gave kudos to the Bottlelink. Basically, they are links to attach to a bottle/cup and then a chair, etc. so that they don't fall to the ground.

Connor is infamous for dropping his cups while in the van. And then they roll and I can't reach them while driving. I'd seen the Bottlelink, but haven't purchased them.

Here's my attempt at the same thing:
We already have the Inchbug Labels that wrap around the cups. See here for that post. I'm thinking I'm going to use those as well as the Bright Starts Lots of Links to connect the cups to the boys' car seats. Now, I know that the links come apart, so it's not fool-proof, but, it's materials I already have. Worth a shot.

A coworker mentioned these, which she has only found at Walgreen's. They are the No Throw straps; a 2-pack is $5.99. Might have to go buy those before our Thanksgiving travels...

Simply Adorable Thanksgiving Crafts

The November 2009 issue of Parents magazine featured some super-cute table decorations. The Parents website has the full article here, but here's a sampling of my favorites.


A Stylish Centerpiece


What You'll Need
16" to 18" sticks
Acrylic paint
Paper grocery bags
White paper
Glue
Colored pencils
Tall drinking glasses
Beans
Lentils or split peas

Make It
1. Paint sticks different colors and let dry.
2. Cut 5" circles from grocery bags and cut 3-1/2" circles from white paper. Mount white circles on top of brown ones with glue and let dry. Write letters on each of the white circles to write a Thanksgiving sentiment (we spelled out "Give Thanks").
3. Glue each circle to a painted stick and anchor in a glass full of beans, lentils, or split peas. Display down the center of your dining table or along a buffet.

Branching Out Muslin Placemats: These hand-stamped muslin placemats can be used year after year.



Ring Around the Napkin
Pop off the nut portion of an acorn and glue a pom-pom in its place. Trim to create a conical shape, then tie string to the stem.

Cool Turkey Place Card Craft

This was featured in the November 2007 issue of Parents magazine. It's so darn cute!

"It's a Bird! It's a Turkey! It's a napkin? Yup. Here's a super-simple way to dress up your holiday dinner table, from event designer David Stark. Just pick up a colorful gourd at the store, trim the stem into a "beak", and use cloves to make the eyes. Go to parentsmag.com for easy to follow directions on how to make the fan fold. From the book Napkins with a Twist, $20."

Traveling With Kids Tips

As the holiday season is approaching, many of us will be traveling with our kids - and maybe it's your first time traveling with them.

Mike and I took the boys to see some of his family last March and we took them to the lake (once!) this summer. Traveling with infants is rough!

Here's an article I found in one of my magazine piles:
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling with Kids: Road Trips: Surviving the Ride

Best Kid-Tested Toys

This article was featured in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine. I liked it because there was a "tester" in each age group, and then it gave the parent's review as well. You might get some gift ideas... :)

Best Kid-Tested Toys of 2008

This article was in the November 2008 issue of Parenting magazine.

Mom-Tested! Toys of the Year 2008

Making Toy-Purchasing Decisions...

This was written in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine:
"Spotlight: FatBrainToys.com: Mark and Karen Carson, Nebraskan parents of three, started this website (out of their garage!) to help parents make more informed toy-purchasing decisions. They pick toys carefully, write long descriptions, and post where toys are made. Tons of reviews round out the site."

I'm big on reading reviews before making a big purchase - off the top of my head, this year I've searched for a garmet rack, a sewing machine, a play kitchen (for the boys, of course!), etc. I don't want to buy something and then hate it...so I plan ahead.

I frequently read Amazon, but this website seems like it would also be helpful for kids' stuff. I checked it out - they don't appear to have reviews for everything on their site, and you can also purchase off the site. Wasn't exactly what I expected, but seems good!

Floret Dolls - look at the fabric!

Since today is November 1st, I decided to search for magazine pages from past years' November for this month's posts. I found this in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine...

the doll is cute and all, but that isn't what drew me to the picture in the magazine. I couldn't find "the picture" from the magazine online, but I found what was in the picture:

This probably doesn't mean anything to you.

But, take a look at these pictures of the boys' 1st birthday shirts:

Connor (above)

Logan (above)

So, do you see it? It's the same fabric! Now, some may know that I searched high and low for "the fabric" (because I made their shirts - with assistance). I had a vision in my head, and went to several stores before finding the right fabric. How exciting to see it on a doll that was featured in a magazine. I know, I'm a bit corny, but I think it's cool.

Here's the information on the doll, written in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine:

"Foreign Friends: Simone Kaplan was born in Brazil, designed costumes in California, studied tapestry in Portugal, and is now raising two songs in Brooklyn. Their drawings inspire her creations, such as these dolls. floretnyc.com" -Janeen Koban

Halloween Photo Album Idea

My friend Jessica shared this idea with us on our "baby board". She gave me permission to share it here.

A friend with grown-up children told me about this great idea! It's so simple, but I had not thought of doing this...just wanted to share with other moms...Happy Halloween! This is our first year to really "do" Halloween with Soren, so I'm just starting it now.

Today I started a Halloween photo album where we'll put our favorite pics of Soren (and any future kiddos) during the Halloween season every year. I am not good about scrapbooking, but this seems really manageable! I picked up a regular photo album at Michael's and some cute Halloween scrapbook stickers to decorate it. I also bought a few orange scrapbook pages to cut out some backgrounds for typing a little note each year. I'm going to go back and print out some of last year's pics from 3-month-old Soren, as well. I found an album (40% off) that has places for horizontal and vertical pictures.I just know that Soren is going to love looking back at these pictures each year. (And me, too!)

On a side-note, this could really be done for any holiday or birthday. Great job, Jessica! It looks fantastic!

Activities: Silly and Spooky Fall Fun

I tore this page out of the October 2009 issue of Parenting magazine. It has some cute ideas - especially if you have kids! Here's the article:

Play catch
On a windy day, have everyone try to catch leaves as they fall, calling out the color of the leaf before grabbing it. The person who can score five leaves first wins the game. (If it's not windy, have a grown-up throw leaves in the air; little ones will love helping with this job, too.)

Leaf through it
Before heading inside, collect a pile of colorful, newly fallen leaves (dry ones will crumble) for these classic crafts: Make a place mat by arranging leaves between two sheets of clear contact paper; use scissors to trim the edges. Create stamp art by applying water-based paint to the veined (back) side of a leaf and pressing it onto construction paper. Or place double-sided tape on the back of your finds and let toddlers stick them onto a window.

Try a scary snack
Sustain hungry goblins with creepy centipedes, made by sticking crunchy chow mein noodles on both sides of a string-cheese stick. For a sweet spider, insert four two-inch "legs" of thin licorice pieces into the sides of a cupcake. Add Red Hots or M&M's to the frosting for eyes.

Liven up meals
Food that stares back at you shouldn't be a once-a-year occasion. Sliced black olives can turn a mini-pizza into a jack-o'-lantern; smiley-face peas can perk up mashed potatoes.

Have a ball
Create festive bowling pins by painting ten empty one-liter soda or water bottles with orange poster paint. When they're dry, use black paint to add jack-o'-lantern faces. Then line them up, grab a ball, and let the game begin.

Feed the birds
Tie a long string or ribbon around a pinecone and then slather it with peanut butter. Roll it in seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin) and hang it up from a tree branch or clothesline. Watch the birds dig in!

Jokari Cool Cones

This was featured in the August 4, 2009 issue of Womans' Day magazine:

"Mom-Tested: WD food director Jackie Plant raved to me about Jokari Cool Cones, plastic ice cream cones with push-up handles ($3.99 for two; in supermarkets): When I cam across these, I thought, 'Why didn't I think of this?' It's such a great idea! You can use them to scoop out and serve ice cream or make your own healthy pops with leftover fruit smoothies."

- Terry Grieco Kenny

Design Your Own Lamp

Parents magazine featured this lamp in the May 2008 issue. I think it's so unique, and what a great way to display kids' artwork!

"Light Show: If you've run out of room on the fridge to exhibit your petite Picasso's latest creation, then check out Streamline's Design Your Own Lamp ($30; thespottedgoose.com). Just slide your child's artwork between the double shades and presto - you've got a personalized lamp. When he gets bored of one drawing, it's easy to slip in another, then another...and so on."

MizPee.com

Ok, I think this website is just cool - especially for all those germaphobic moms out there.

"Goody Tech: When You Gotta Go; This is the best thing since...well, we think this is the greatest thing to ever hit a mom's cell phone: mispee.com, a new website that helps you find the nearest, cleanest restroom instantly when you're out and about. Just download the site onto your mobile browser. Then whenever you're in need, enter your current location and a list of area loos appears."

But seriously! St. Louis is not a city in their list? Camdenton and Ozark, Missouri are? That just seems weird to me. Come on you germaphobic moms, let's get on this! My kids aren't potty training yet, but next year I might need this! :)

Featured in Parents magazine, May 2008

Bobo Glove

Parents magazine has a "Goody Bag" section in each edition. I just love all the unique stuff they find! The Bobo Glove was featured in the August 2008 magazine.

"Infant Toy: Play With Your Baby; Let's face it - entertaining a newborn 24/7 can get kinda tough. With the Bobo Glove, you've got hours of fun in the palm of your hand. Your little one will teethe, rattle, tug, look at herself, and more, all while boppin' on your lap. Workman, $18."

BabiePlates

When the boys got their trikes for their first birthday, I kept thinking of the little license plates we all use to have for our bikes when we were little. These totally remind me of those!

"License to Stroll: never lose your kid's ride in a sea of sameness again! A personalized plate gives your wheels standout panache. Just don't blame us if the stroller police give you a ticket for being too fabulous. ($40; babieplates.com)

Featured in Parents magazine, August 2008

The "Nose Hose"

This was written in the September 2007 issue of BabyTalk magazine:

"Nose Hose: We admit it sounds icky. But if you've ever struggled to relieve your baby's stuffy nose with a nasal aspirator, you may welcome the Nose Frida, a newfangled gizmo from Sweden. Put one end of the 14-inch-long plastic tube against (not in) your baby's nostril, and then suck - yes, with your mouth - on the other end to extract the mucus. Wait, don't stop reading! There's a filter on the baby's side of the hose that prevents the yuck from getting anywhere near your lips. Swedish moms swear by the thing, so it's worth a shot, right? ($15; nosefrida.com)"

Okay, so this sounds gross, but the boys fight me on sucking out their snot! I checked out the website, and it looks like this is available at Whole Foods as well as Target (online)...

StrollAway Stroller Hook

This was written in the January 2009 issue of Parents magazine:

"Out of Sight! Tired of tripping over all the baby gear in your home? The StrollAway is a mom-invented over-the-door stroller storage system that's perfect for families who are tight on space (and who isn't?). Slide the metal frame over a closet door, then hang your stroller from the hooks to get it off the floor and out of the way. Now why didn't we think of that? $50; metrotots.com"

What a great idea! I can see this being extremely helpful if you don't have a garage or a shed...
Seems like there must be other hooks available - some that might not cost so much. Organized Living? The Container Store?

For Little Cooks: Fiesta's Head Chefs

This was written in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine:

"Little Cooks: A fun way to help your kids get active in the kitchen: Fiesta's new Head Chefs, a line of five silicone baking figure with bendable arms and legs; $10 each, surlatable.com"

Look how cute these are!! What kid wouldn't want to help mom in the kitchen with these?!

There are 3 other options on the website, so be sure to check them out. With the holiday season approaching, this seems like it would be a great gift idea!

"Tech TLC" - saving your wet cell phone

This was written in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine:

"Tech TLC: Did baby drop your cell phone or digital camera in the toilet? (Oh, it happens!) Try this, from Best Buy's geek Squad: first, don't try to turn it on. Remove the battery and seal both it and the device in Tupperware, along with a silica gel pack (found in a purse or shoebox - or in a bag of beef jerky, if you don't have a new purse around). Wait a day for the gel to absorb liquid before reassembling your device and turning it on."

I hadn't heard this before, and Mike's cell phone seems to always be getting wet - he sets it on the counter, the night-stand, etc. I think we'll try this technique next time!

Batteries - Part II

It never fails...we are almost always out of one or more kinds of batteries. And then I get to the store, and forget which one kind it is - but I almost always remember which toy it belongs to.

So, I made a list, and I carry that list in my wallet. On the list - the brand of the toy, the name of the toy, the type of battery, and how many of that battery.

(Note - also on that list are kinds of light bulbs, and which light in the house they belong to. Because that's something else I always forget.) :)

What kind of batteries does it need?

I read this tip in the January 2009 issue of Parents magazines - I always had the intention of following through on it, and even went so far as to make a list...


The tip: "Genius Reader Tip - Battery Trick: Using a Label Maker, create stickers to attach to any toys and gear that tells you what kind of batteries it requires."


I think it would also be beneficial to indicate on the sticker how many of that battery.


I have a Label Maker like this one, from Target for under $20:

Target Reusable Tote Bag Credit

StLMommy.com is a blog that I subscribe to. Ironically enough, I found out that I went to college with Kim, the "owner" of the blog. She recently posted this:

Target is becoming more eco-friendly by offering a $0.05 credit for every reusable tote bag that you use when you check out!

It does not have to be a Target bag it can be any bag that you want to use. They will scan a bright red sticker that has a UPC code on it beside or behind the register which will give you a $0.05 credit for each bag that you use. It's not a lot but every penny counts and it's a great way to give us an incentive to be more eco-friendly!

I'm a big Target shopper, and I try really hard to use the tote bags, so I'll take a few cents off my total!

Update: On Thursday, 10/29, I visited the Kirkwood Target. I asked about the tote bag credit, and she had a bar code on the register to scan. I had two bags with me, and though I only needed to use one - she still gave me credit for the two. Bonus!

Pampers Rewards Program

Did you know that their is a code on the inside of Pampers Diapers and Pampers Wipes? We are fond of the Pampers diapers, so I've accumulated lots of those codes. You can register on the Pampers website for their Gifts to Grow program, and then accumulate points to "purchase" stuff.

Also, there are occasionally Gifts to Grow codes on the web that anyone can put into their bank. Check out some of the blogs on my "Helpful Info Sites" for more information.

I've gotten books for the boys and a $25 Applebee's Gift Card - for free. Well worth it!
The often have Starbucks gift cards (though I'm not a coffee fan) as well as Shutterfly freebies in their Rewards Catalog.

Tikatok Books

Here's their motto: Where Kids Write, Illustrate, and Publish Their Own Books

How cute is that? Take those drawings that kids do in school, and turn it into their own masterpiece...

http://tikatok.com/

(Featured in Parents magazine, April 2009)

Mudpuppy Money Banks

I love getting magazines - I see so many great ideas in them! But boy are they a waste of paper - it's frustrating...especially when 3/4 of the magazine is ads! But I like all the fun things that the magazaine-workers find.


American Baby had this in their April 2009 issue: Mudpuppy Money Banks
They are available from galison.com - but I just love the divided parts, so kids can learn to divy money up between Spend, Share, and Save. These cost $14, and there are several different designs for the buckets.


For all the crafty people out there...this could so easily be done! And I'm sure for cheaper. :)

Saving My Floors...

When they were little, Connor and Logan spit up. A LOT. And the idiots who previously owned my house laid practically-white carpet in the living room before putting it on the market. It's always been on the to-do list to rip up the carpet, but it's yet to happen. Anyone who's been in my house knows how disgusting and stained it is...between kids, the dog, and not having a foyer.

But, I bought this item to help protect the carpet, and now that the boys have a playroom that has hardwood floors, it's in there to protect the hardwoods.

I'm probably a sucker, but I bought the matte from One Step Ahead because it was "the thickest". Whatever - I'm pleased with it. I only bought the A-Z alphabet set...none of the trim or any other accessories. It's done it's job. Also, Connor likes to pull the pieces apart and carry them around. And, the pieces are texturized - good for sensory development. :)

My Best Baby-Proofing Suggestion...Play Yard

I cannot even explain how much this item has worked to our advantage - it is the Today's Kids Play Yard. The one I have is discontinued, but I got mine second-hand anyway.


We have used ours in many different set-ups - as a rectangle to keep the boys contained when they were rolling everywhere...as a long-line gate across the living room/dining room opening all the way over to block the hallway opening...and now, we just have it blocking the living room/dining room since we have the spare bedroom set up as a playroom (we keep our bedroom and the bathroom doors shut).



But, this doesn't HAVE to be snapped together in a circle/square shape all the time - which we love and have certainly gotten more use out of for it.



These are similar items:

Li'l Playzone with Lights & Sounds - which is available from One Step Ahead and Target

Superyard XT - Babies R Us, etc.

As I stated I got mine second-hand from another twin mom. She also had 10 panels, whereas the typical one comes with six. I have seen lots of these on Craigslist (etc.), so absolutely look for them used! But they go fast - so be prepared for that! To search, you might look for play zone, playzone, play yard, playyard, etc. And don't forget, the would also be great to use outside, especially if you don't have a fenced-in yard!

Do you want updates emailed to you?

Apparently, I can set up the blog for you to receive email updates whenever I've added new posts. If you'd like to be added, please email me - I will add your email address. Thanks!

Preparing for Winter - Mittens & Gloves

One of my coworkers and I were discussing gloves and mittens for the kids the other day...this came to mind, as she mentioned trying to figure out how "not to loose them".

When we were younger, we had gloves and/or mittens that were each attached to a string. My mom would feed the string through the sleeves of our coat, so that when we took the glove or mitten off, it was "attached" to our coat. Seems like an ingenious idea for kids!

I searched for mittens on a string, and came up with this link...look how cute he is! I also found that these types of mittens are commonly referred to as "Idiot Mittens"...well!

And, if you already have the mittens/gloves for your little one, don't buy new! Jusst attach a string to the tops of the mittens/gloves. Give it a few, strong stitches, and you should be good to go - I don't sew, but that seems easy enough!

Gift-Giving Traditions - for children and adults

So far, I've started two "traditions" for the boys...
- I get them books for that holiday. For example, I just picked them up Halloween books at the store the other day.
- The other tradition was one that my mom did for us when we were little...we got an ornament every year for Christmas...it usually came in our stocking, and the ornament usually gave in indication of what we enjoyed that year. The boys each received a "1st Christmas" ornament last year, and I've been on the hunt for their ornament for this year. I'm pretty sure that their ornament for 2009 will have penguins on it, since they have been obsessed with this dvd all year! The current song they are obsessed with on the dvd is the butterfly song, but not very boy-ish, so I think I'll go with the penguins instead. :)

St. Nick's/Christmas
Socks
Christmas pajamas
Ornament
CD



For children:


My sister-in-law Jamie started giving my niece the Precious Moments Birthday Train Set when Rachel was born. Each year for her birthday, Rachel gets another piece of the ceramic train set...it looks like there is a piece up to age 16. My sister Katie said that was one of Rachel's favorite gifts, and that each year she looks forward to seeing 'which animal will add to the train'. Too cute!

When my boys were getting ready for their first birthday, Jamie asked me about this train set for Connor and Logan. After much debate, we determined the Precious Moments set wasn't very boy-ish, so we decided on a real, battery-powered train set. The boys each received a train car for their 1st birthday, as well as some pieces of track, etc., and will continue to get a piece of the train each year. This way, wheen they are older, they will have a train set to put around their Christmas tree, play with, etc. Putting the train on the floor around the Christmas tree was always a tradition when I was a kid...and it was "Scott's train". So it seems even more fitting that the boys are receiving their train sets from Uncle Scott and Aunt Jamie.

I'm a super-slacker on this one, but I started a tradition for my nieces Sammie, Rachel, and Taylor. This tradition was getting them a charm (for a charm bracelet) each year...for example, for their baptism, they got a small cross. Sammie was obsessed with purses one year, so I that year I got her a purse, etc. Like I said - I'm pretty far behind on this one, but I do have the intentions of catching up one day...my plan is to give them a "complete" bracelet on their 13th (or 16th, or whatever) birthday to exemplify their lives.

For adults:

One of the gifts my mom gave her children and step-children was a collection of cookie cutters. She would pick out 2-3 for each month, and then we received cookie cutters for that season/holiday as well as a recipe for that kind of cookie...and a few of the cookies. This was nice for us because now we each have a small collection that we can continue the tradition of baking shaped cookies with our kids.

Best of Chums Crochet Booties

So this is my first copy-from-a-magazine posting...one of the reasons this blog began. :)


These were featured in the October 2009 edition of American Baby magazine:
Best of Chums crochet booties - $22 from Amazon.com
There are other designs as well - animals, taxicabs, snowmen
So freakin' cute, but size 0-12 months - bummer for my boys!

No aspirin for babies...

This bit of information came from my school's nurse:

Please review the label of all medications that you administer to your children when they have a fever. Consult your doctor before giving them anything. Do not give them aspirin or other products that contain salicylates. Another name for aspirin is “salicylate”. There is the possibility of Reye’s Syndrome in children with influenza or viral illness, that receive salicylates.

Remember to tell grandparents about not giving aspirin for a fever! Some of us grew up on baby aspirin, and our parents may think it’s OK to give it for a fever.

I checked my bottles of Tylenol and Motrin - those are safe and do not contain salicylates. The linked website confirms that.

Also, this page gives lists of medications (over-the-counter and prescription) as well as topical products that contact salicylates.

A follow-up to Babies R Us Rewards - Pampers Diapers

I have only seen this opportunity ONE time, so I didn't post it in my original post - found here. However, I received an email from Babies R Us today, so I thought I would share.

Disclaimer: I am not guaranteeing this will work - it might depend on your salesperson. There is the fine print on the coupon that it's not valid with any other offers for that same item...but I have done this once - and kicked myself for not buying more at that time - because I think February was the last time I saw it.

Okay, first - this is the email I received:
http://www.pampers.com/en_US/emails/Tru_Bru_Oct/web_tru_bru.html
Basically, it's one of those deals where you buy 2 boxes, you get a $15 gift card for your next purchase. The valid dates are Saturday, 10/10 through Monday, 10/12.

BUT, the current Babies R Us/Toys R Us ad, valid through this Saturday 10/10, has a coupon for $5/off each box.
Go here for the weekly ad: http://toysrus.shoplocal.com/toysrus/default.aspx?action=entryflash&
(For me, it's pages 8-9 that has the coupon)

So, if you went Saturday, you could attempt to use the $5/coupon per box. You could also use manufacturer coupons for Pampers that you have. And finally, the register should automatically do the gift card when your 2nd box is scanned.

This makes a box of diapers go from $40.99 to $28.49 (if you consider the amount you are getting for a future purchase)...and then add on your manu. coupons. And don't forget to have your Rewards card scanned.

Unique Baby Gift Ideas...

1. Lovems - I've mentioned these blankets that the boys have in this post

2. Baby's 1st Alphabet Block - Suzanne likes to give this gift for new babies, so when Luke was born, I got it for him. :) Ironically, I found this one today when looking for my link for #6.

3. When I was little, my godmother gave me a personalized Sesame Street book - myself, my cousin, and my dog were all characters in the book. I still have it! I found this site, which offers the same sort of thing, but not just with Sesame Street.

4. I see me books - the same sort of idea as #3, but other options

5. Birthday Keepsakes - Suzanne has ordered from this site, and I saw these when ordering supplies for the boys' 1st birthday party.

6. Personalized Frame - I've given frames with this to my nieces Rachel and Taylor. I found a silver one at an outlet mall that I had engraved for Rachel and ordered this one for Taylor.

Unique Bridal Shower & Wedding Gift Ideas...

As I stated at the beginning, I started this blog to organize myself - my computer, my house, and my head. So in an effort to do that, this is another post. :)


1. Alphatography - of course my own side-business has to be #1

2. A personalized drink tub
- Several years ago, this one from Lillian Vernon was my wedding/shower gift of choice
- Suzanne's sister Trisha started making some as well; these are on her Etsy site; Trisha also makes a personalized tray that can coordinate with the bucket

3. A Wine Theme - corkscrew, a wine bottle coaster, wine glass charms, coasters for glasses (some even have initals on them - get their last name initial!), a bottle of wine, wine glasses. You could also add cheese and crackers and combine this with a picnic basket idea...

4. A Beer Theme - Sometimes the couple registers for beer glasses...you could have them etched with their monogram, last initial, etc. Include a six-pack (or more) of their favorite beer!

5. A picnic basket with various items - can be made by you or pre-purchased. Some things to include - include a service at least for two!: melamine plates, napkins, melamine wine glasses, a tablecloth, silverware, a corkscrew, a cutting board

6. BBQ tools - might also include bbq seasonings and a cookbook for bbqing

7. A recipe book - or a photo album with some of your favorite recipes included, printed on
index cards. You could also put this in a gift bag with some of the utensils the couple registered for - slotted spoon, serving, spoon, tongs, spatula, etc.

8. The last wedding I went to, the bride had registered for this container of cookie cutters from Crate and Barrel. Long story short, I put together my own set of cookie cutters, for way cheaper from a little store in IL that specializes in baking. Then I added some of mine, my grandma's, and her grandma's favorite cookie recipes. (Our grandmas knew each other years and years ago and are both deceased, so this was really special to her...plus it was my best friend's sister...so it was special to me.)

9. Gardening tools - even if the couple doesn't garden, weeds still need to be pulled. You could include gloves, a pot, a garden hose, and some tools.

10. A friend of mine got this for a shower gift - holiday decorations for every holiday. The gift-giver had been collecting them throughout the whole year on clearance! St. Pat's wreath, Halloween fingertip towels, Christmas cloth napkins, etc. It was QUITE cute, but took a lot of planning ahead of time.

11. Suzanne and I got married 2 weeks apart...after the weddings, we both mentioned how we didn't get many personalized gifts. Strange, we thought - but we ordered these photo frames for ourselves. We have the black one, and on the frame you can put the couples names (first and last) as well as the wedding date. Too cute!

Babies R Us Rewards Program - Pampers Diapers

When the boys were first born, I did a lot of checking into who had the best price for Pampers Diapers. I literally would stand in the store with my phone-calculator and divide it out to the price of the diaper...I mean, I had twins - who also required formula - I needed to find the best deal!!! For a long time, Target had the best price...until I found out about the Rewards Program at Babies R Us.

I already had the Rewards Card - basically, you get a reward card and you can accumulate money towards gift-certificates...I was already participating in that. What I didn't know was that they also had a program targeted at diapers. What it is: Buy 9 Pampers Diapers Value Boxes, Get the 10th FREE. The Value Boxes are the 64 count - 252 count, depending on the size of the diaper. A box of those diapers retails at Babies R Us for $40.99; Sam's has them for the same price (or maybe $1 cheaper/box), but then doesn't have the 10th box free.

PLUS - Babies R Us frequently offers coupons off those boxes of diapers: $5 off/box or $15 gift card for the next purchase with the purchase of 2 (or sometimes 3) boxes

I try and minimumly do the $5 off/box - this makes the box $35.99.

DOUBLE PLUS - Did you know that Babies R Us also accepts manufacturer coupons? So I can get an additional $1, $1.50, and sometimes $2 off each box with a man. coupon.

By using both sets of coupons, I could get a box of diapers for as low as $33.99.

WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE - I guess I never read the fine-print...or they changed it on me and I didn't know it. You can only accumulate a free box every 9 months...I purchased a 9th box in April 2009, so I couldn't get another free box until January 2010! What!?! I'm writing this in October, and I've already purchased 13 boxes since April...so I'm already due for a free box, plus I'm headed towards a 3rd free box. I found this out on Friday...needless to say, I was pretty pissed. (For most of you, this probably wouldn't happen, but remember, I go through double the diapers...)

But, I found a loop-hole. I picked up another rewards card - I'm going to put this one in my mother-in-law's name...and start accumulating diapers on that card as well. Connor and Logan are her only grand-kids, so it's not like I'm competing with anyone else in the family...

ExpediteSTL - IKEA Delivery

My previously-mentioned addiction to HGTV has also addicted me to IKEA. Unfortunately, there is not an IKEA in St. Louis, and almost every single item I've selected so far is "not available for sale" on the IKEA website. So, unless I could lure a friend to visit IKEA for me on a trip to Chicago, or unless I was making a trip myself, I was kind of screwed.

UNTIL...I found Expedite STL. So see, this is how my Craigslist addiction comes to my advantage. I saw a post about IKEA delivery on CL. I checked it out - it linked to a website. Basically, the owners of Expedite travel to IKEA once a month...they will pick up your items and either deliver them to your house or you may pick them up in Chesterfield. You pay a fee for their service, in addition to the cost of the items.

I used Expedite STL this summer to purchase some items - Excellent Service! They travelled on the weekend, contacted me on Monday to schedule a drop-off, and delivered to my house on Monday night. I couldn't have been more pleased.

The fee I paid - probably more than shipping would have been (had my items been available to purchase on the internet), but I also had smaller items. BUT, cheaper than I would have paid in gas travelling to/from Chicago. Verdict? Well.worth.it!!!

HGTV - IKEA - Toy Boxes

I'm an HGTV junkie - love it. I could maybe get away with just having that one channel, but a few of the designers annoy me, so maybe not. One of the shows I watch is Rate My Space...and on an episode this summer, Angelo commented about "these being toy boxes kids would actually use". Well, I wanted to know what they were, so I hunted them down - I went to the Rate My Space website and watched the reveal over and over again until I could match what I saw with the IKEA website...sad, isn't it?

So here are the items - and don't worry, I bought them and love them!

IKEA Snack Boxes - easy to assemble, stack one on top of the other, low enough for the boys to reach over and get their toys

IKEA Rill Caster - I will say that I haven't added the wheels onto the bottom of the boxes yet. I don't want the boys to be pushing the Snack Boxes around and then them fall. But Angelo recommended them, so I got them. :)

The Downfalls - the boxes have metal corners...worried me a bit, but so far, all is okay. The other thing I wish is that the Snack Boxes had a removable lid...to hide the contents sometimes. :)

Picky Sticky - The Original Picture Stickers

My friend Melissa has the best ideas...and since Genevieve is about 4 months older than the boys, I've had the opportunity to copy many of those great ideas. One thing Melissa did was take monthly pictures of Genevieve - with an iron-on attached to a onesie that depicts how old Genevieve is. Melissa made these at her old job, and I was able to get two sets of the onesies done for the boys. Because I had monthly pictures, I was able to do this for their 1st Birthday Invite (another idea I borrowed from Melissa):

Melissa no longer works at that job, so she can't apply the iron-on transfers anymore. However, I found Picky Sticky on Etsy, and she has some adorable stickers! From what I've read, her stickers are more of a picture-prop - they are not ironed-on, and then are removed after taking the picture. I like this idea because then I could have stuck the monthly stickers in the boys' baby books after taking each monthly picture. Plus, there are some onesies that I could have reused since the boys stayed in some sizes for a while. I currently have 22 monthly onesies (1-11 months) that I'm hanging onto...and not sure what I'm going to do with. Picky Sticky seems a bit more cost-effective while still achieving the same idea.

InchBug Bumpy Name Orbit Labels

If you have more than one child, or a child that goes to day-care, the InchBug Bumpy Name Orbit Labels are a must-have! These stretchy bands fit around all of the sippy cups that we have, as well as the bottles we used with the boys. My sister recommended these because many kids at day-care have the same kind of bottles that her son does...I bought them when we started using sippy cups. Much more high-class than the masking tape I was using to mark the bottles!

The Baby Registry

As I've mentioned, I'm a mom of twin boys. In the past 14-months, I've found that I hated some items that I registered for and found others that I can't live without. Since I have so many women in my life who are adding to their families, I've decided to make a list - well, two lists - the must-have's and the don't-bother with. :) Just to add a disclaimer - this is my opinion, but I will say that many of the must-have's were discovered by me because other mom's told me about them.

The Must-Have's

Nursery
Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe and/or Miracle Blanket (also known as 'the straight jacket') - When I was first registering, I thought the idea of these sort of blankets was ridiculous - why not just swaddle them with a receiving blanket? The boys were no more than 3 weeks old when I broke down and bought them...the boys weren't sleeping well because they would break out of the receiving blanket. We started with the SwaddleMe because it was cheaper and I could get it local - worked like a champ for Logan, but not for Connor. Connor still broke out of it, so we splurged for the Miracle Blanket. They work wonders!

Baby Buddies Size-It Closet Organizer - I must say that I don't personally have these, but I've recommended them to friends. I have the Sugar Booger ones from Babies R Us, and I hate them...total waste of money because the six hangers are pre-labeled Newborn, 3-6 month, 6-12 month, 12-18 month, 18-24 month, and toddler. Um, where the heck are the rest? I could have used a 0-3 month (after newborn), a 6-9 month, and a 9-12 month. So, to me they are missing three necessary ones. On the other hand, the Baby Buddies Organizers still include six hangers, but there are 15 labels, so you can remove when they've outgrown those and then add the ones you need. Plus, they are cheaper than the Sugar Booger ones!

Feeding
Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair - seriously, my husband and I love this item. We love that it attaches to real chairs - in our small kitchen, it really is a space-saver (haha!). When the boys were really small and first started eating, we loved that these chairs reclined - it made it so much easier to get the food in their mouths because their head was already tilted back!

Bumkins Junior Bib - I probably did 5 months of regular food-feeding before purchasing these bibs because they are so darn expensive! But seriously, just buy them...don't bother with the smaller fabric bibs. Mike and I love how easy these are to clean - we can wash them in the sink with soap and water and then lay them out to dry, and they'll be dry by the next feeding time. The bib is large enough to basically cover their whole chest, and the sleeves prevent the boys from pulling the bib off - which they had been doing with the smaller bibs.

Bathing
Bath Rings - The brand that we have is Safety 1st, but apparently they don't make it anymore, so this looks the closest. With having two kids in the tub, I love the rings. It makes it so much easier on us because I know they are supported when sitting on the slippery surface. At 14-months old, the boys are figuring out how to get out of the rings, so it won't be long before they aren't useful for us, but these are well-worth the $5/each I paid - we've used them about six months...and probably could have started a bit earlier.

Munchkin Bath Friends Toy Organizer (Target) - I love this item because it's shape can be manipulated. It fits a ton of stuff inside, and since it has the netting at the bottom, all the water drains easily.

Summer Infant Tub Time Rinse N Pour Pitcher - This folds flat when not in use...a great space-saver!

I'm a Craiglist Addict...

I have an addiction to Craigslist. The addiction began many years ago, but has only intensified since having children. My rationale - the kids go through things so fast; if it's a kid-item that I can wash in the washing machine or wipe down with a Clorox wipe, then I'm all for buying it second-hand.

My current favorite kid item that was purchased off Craigslist is the Kangaroo Climber. Shortly after their 1st birthday, Logan decided he was going to be a climber. He climbs on the couch, the chair, boxes, etc., so I thought this would be a good purchase. It was a total steal! This retails new for $139.99, and I got it for $55. Plus, it had only ever been used inside (which I was pumped about since I wanted it for inside), and it looks brand new!

Here is a picture of Logan up top, Connor looking up,
and the boys' girlfriend Genevieve peeking out the window.

I'm picking up my new favorite mommy item today. It is a tv/entertainment center armoire...this is going to become my craft closet. (I guess that means I'm going to get crafty?) I've started accumulating fabric, sewing supplies, etc., and I've been on the Craigslist hunt for a sewing machine. Melissa (Genevieve's mom) and I are going to attempt to build a fold-out desk from the inside of this armoire so that I have a work space. Do you think it can be done? Any suggestions? (Leave them in my comment section if you do...)

This last picture is my inspiration for the fold-out desk...

Lovems - the boys' blankets

Suzanne and I had a booth at a craft fair last fall for Alphatography...that's where we first found Nancy and her Lovems. Lovems are these adorable hand-sewn blankets, with the head of a Beanie Baby attached to one corner, and the tail of that animal attached at the opposite corner.

Connor and Logan got their blankets for Christmas 2008; while it took some time, they are quite attached now! In fact, with Logan sick this week and the blankets getting repeatedly washed, it was time to order back-ups!

These are my current gift-of-choice for recent babies that have been born. I think I mentioned to Nancy today that I have given 5 as gifts! It's so nice for me because Nancy lives about 5 minutes from my house, so I can customize blankets especially for the person receiving it.

Connor and his Lovem - December 2008

Logan and his Lovem - December 2008

The boys fighting over a Lovem - July 2009