A little Mommy Humor - The best Present Ever

I was searching through my computer for a specific picture, and this always takes much longer then it should because as I am looking for the specific picture, I end up stopping to look at all the pictures and go back to all those memories. It is so surreal how day to day everything seems the same and the changes around are so subtle. Then when you look back it seems like everything happened so fast, and everything is different.

This is especially true when you have a baby who keeps growing up! So as I was looking through the hundreds of pictures I have taken in the last few months I came across one I took of the card my oldest son gave me for my Birthday.

This card is priceless to me, and quite honest one of the best gifts I have ever received in my entire life, it is so honest and innocent, spelling mistakes and all : ) The best part is no one asked him to make it, he had no one telling him how to do it, or what to make. He did this on his own...he wrote from him heart!

I think as mom's these are always the best gifts, the ones no amount of money could ever replace! We all have these kinds of gift's don't we?

Cheap and Free Birthday Party Ideas

When it comes to birthday parties we are always looking for great ideas that are cheap or free. Really the possibilities are endless and some of the best ideas are ones that have worked for years, such as sleepovers and pin the tail on the donkey. However here are a few idea's that you may not have given any thought, and they can make any birthday party great : )

Minute to win it - this can be a great party idea. It is really inexpensive and it can be the entertainment, games and theme! You can see a list of the games, complete with video's of how they are played and what you will need at NBC. Pick out the ones you will use ahead of time and set up stations. Everyone will have a blast!

Cooking Party - You are planning on feeding your guest's anyways and kids of all ages love creating things, especially with food... so a cooking party makes sense! You can have ingredients to make pizzas available and use Pitas for the crust. Follow that with everyone making their own Ice Cream Sundae's and it will be a great party!

A treasure hunt - Kids love games, so why not make the whole party a treasure hunt. You can make the maps at home on plain paper. You can decide what to hide, or what they must find. It can be things they get to keep, or maybe the winning person or team gets a trophy or something....or even getting cake first as a reward; that's all up to you!


Obstacle Course - This is really cheap and kids have so much fun. Plus it's really fun watching them! Use things from around your home and set up an obstacle course. You can use chairs, to climb under, ropes to jump over, have them jump on 1 foot, crawl...anything you can think of. Make them go in teams or together set your own rules and plan it ahead of time so set up will be easy. Take a break for food and presents and reset and start over!


Winter Outside Party - If it's winter time an outdoor sledding/snowshoe party is always fun. Ask people to bring their own sled and snowshoes and get outside and have some fun. Maybe even have a snowman competition, who can build the fastest or the biggest...you can make teams or individuals. Snowball fights are always lots of fun for older kids, you can have them built snow walls to hide behind and start their own game. Make rules like 3 hits and you're out!


Summer Fun - A beach Party or pool party, its classic and oh so much fun! Kids love being outside. Maybe have a BBQ and let them swim and play in the sand. They won't get bored and if they do it will be time to do presents and cake anyways. You can always spice it up with getting a game going in the water! Don't forget all the water safety rules!

You don't need to spend a lot of money to have a great birthday party. Many of the best parties actually cost nothing or very little money. Kids don't understand about money, all they care about is having fun! So save yourself some money and make some great memories...don't forget to take lots of pictures!

Planning a Birthday Party on a Budget - great tips on how to plan a party on a budget

Ice Cream Cone Cakes - Super cute idea that kids will love!

Planning a Birthday Party on a Budget

All parents want to plan a birthday party to remember, unfortunately in today's economy the cost of that party matters. The good news is you can plan a great birthday party without spending lots of money. This article will outline some tips and suggestions on how to plan a birthday party that you will always remember without spending.

Start Planning Early
This is essential for spending as little money as possible. Many people ask how planning early helps spend less money and the answer it quite simple. The earlier you start the longer you have to shop deal, sales and always find the things you want for super cheap!

Don't limit yourself to local stores
When you shop at all your local stores you usually end up spending more money. If you want to find things cheap, you must shop around! Look into the prices for the things you're looking for from lots of different places. This includes local stores and stores and websites online. Many times you can find things for a fraction of the cost when you purchase them online.

Be Creative
A little creativity can go a long way! Instead of buying all your invitations, why not make them. This can be not only fun, but it will definitely be something you will remember for years to come. You can take some pictures of the process or keep an invitation for in a scrapbook. It will be something really neat to look back on years from now. If your child is old enough they may even want to help and it can be a great bonding experience.

The creativity does not need to stop with invitations, why not attempt making a birthday banner, or making a cake and decorating it too. It may not look perfect but it saves a lot of money, creates a lot of memories and will be one of a kind!

Feeding the Party
If you don't want to spend a lot of money on food, you can always choose not to serve any. If you have the party at hours in between meals then people will not expect to have a meal, and you can just serve cake. If however you want to serve food there are lots of options that cost effective and still yummy. Pizza, kids and adults all love Pizza you can buy it premade or make it for pretty cheap. Hot Dogs or hamburgers, these work especially well in the summer on a grill! Don't forget that you can always leave things like chips, pretzels, watermelon among many other things out for people to snack on.

Check out the Dollar Store
You will find a lot of great party supplies there at a fraction of the cost of department stores. You can find so many things there from napkins, forks and plates of all colors. Loot bag supplies for really cheap and even premade loot bags although they are not the greatest.

Loot Bags
Look for things in bulk that you can split up; for instance a bag of candy and divide it amongst the guests, you can make up little bags using snack or craft bags with candy. Also you may want to consider buying one thing for each child such as a notebook and pencil, or a toy that you find cheap someone maybe even the dollar store. This can help cut down on costs a lot!

You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a great and memorable birthday party. The most important advice I could give is take lots of pictures and enjoy the day, because no matter how much money is spend the memories and pictures will be what's important years from now!

Do you have any tips or suggestions on how to plan a birthday party on a budget?

Ice Cream Cone Cake – A great Birthday Cake Idea and super cute!

Participating is Message Boards and Forums Safely

All of us Mommies need support! We all find it in many different places and ways one being the Internet, and message boards and forums. It gives us a great way to talk to other mommies like ourselves who are going through similar experience's. Many times we are able to receive invaluable advice and give some too.  Some of us are even lucky enough to make great friends.

Message boards and forums are a great place to go for support the problem is not everyone on the message boards you frequent are real people or rather the people you believe them to be. Some are there to steal your information, and your life. Some are there to form friendships with people to later exploit them and take advantage of their services, kindness and in some cases even money.

There is nothing more creepy then finding out someone has been using your pictures or information or pretending to be someone they are not using someone Else's pictures or/and information. Here are some tips to help you spot these fakes, and also how to keep yourself from being the victim of having your pictures and information taken and used elsewhere.

• Talk with caution - don't assume everyone is real when you are sharing information that you wouldn't want to share with everyone. If it's personal then don't post it on an open message board.

• Pay attention to all the little things - When someone is a fake and developing a fake life they will eventually slip up. They cant possibly remember all the lies they are telling and eventually they will mess something up unintentionally. If you have been paying attention these little things could send off red flags to you.

• Watermark Pictures - Sometime's when talking on message boards we want to share pictures from our lives, with are online friends. This is harmless and we shouldn't have to worry about it, but reality is we do. People can take these pictures and claim them as their own, and take your life online. A great way to prevent this is by watermarking your pictures before posting them online. This can be done using free software found online, or many photo editing programs. A quick google search will bring you to lots of resources regarding how to watermark your photos. You could watermark your pictures with the name of the message board you will be posting them on, maybe your screen name; really anyway you want that would stop someone from using the picture. Try to link back to you or where it was taken from in some way. Ex- a user name that when searched will bring people back to you.

• Protect your Address - Many message boards will have regular member and do gift/card exchanges and things like that. This is a great way to get to know people from all over the place and make a lot of really great friends. You must be careful though because these exchanges require addresses to be used and this can become dangerous. First off, if you don't feel comfortable with it then you shouldn't do it! If you choose to participate then only give your address to someone you feel you know well and trust. Perhaps someone you have been able to validate is real in someway. This could be by phone conversations, video chat, pictures you trust ect.

• Meet in Public - Sometimes you talk to a person or people so much and you truly feel like you know them, or would like to. So people will decide to meet up and become friends "in real life", this is a personal choice and should only be done if you are comfortable. If this is something you decide you want to do always do it in a public place, never at a house. You should also make sure at least 1 person knows where you are going and who you are going to see. If possible it would be great if you could go with someone else and not by yourself.

If you follow these tips and use your intuition and common sense you will be able to enjoy chatting and meeting new people and finding support on message boards/forums. Keep yourself and your information safe and have fun!

Hot Chocolate Delight (Alcohol Drink)

I personally do not like the taste of alcohol at all, so I never really drink.  However this is absolutely delicious and dangerously good because you cant taste the alcohol at all! It is very quick and easy to make and great to snuggle up with on a cold night, or share with loved ones during the  holidays.



Ingredients

• Nestle Carnation Rich and Creamy Hot chocolate - Or hot chocolate of choice
• Baileys Irish Cream - or generic brand
• Cool Whip whip cream
• Caramel sauce - or sauce of choice

Directions

• Add the hot chocolate to your mug, then fill the cup about 3/4 full with boiling water
• Add 3 shot of Baileys Irish Cream (Yes you can really add that much without tasting it!)
• Spoon about 2-3 tablespoons of Cool Whip onto your drink
• Top with Caramel Sauce and Enjoy : )

This can be changed to your preferences and using the amount of alcohol you would want, but try it like this with these ingredients and you wont be disappointed it is delicious!

bounce bounce baby review

We bought this for out 4 month old son. We picked it because it was cheaper then other excersaucer toys, and it took up less space. On top of those great things it was designed with a bouncy bottom so our son could jump! I liked this because it eliminated the need for a jolly jumper.

The Bounce Factor

After we brought it home and set it up, I immediately noticed it was very hard for the baby to actually jump. This was one of the main reasons I bought it so I was very disappointed. The cords that attach the bottom jumpy piece to the legs are very stiff and they need a lot of pressure and weight to move them. My son actually was never able to make it jump.

The Toys

After owning it for only a couple days I had a friend over and her son was playing in the bounce bounce baby and he choked on one of the toys. It was a flower the spins with a long rubber like stem. He managed to get the stem piece all the way in his mouth and choke. He was OK and luckily there were a bunch of adults in the room watching him and we caught it right away. It was very scary though.

Another toy we had a problem with was the piano, within 2 weeks of owning it the lights in the piano stopped working all of sudden. Also there was a toy teeter totter with a lion on one side and an elephant on the other side. My son always chewed on this toy and within 3 weeks of owning the bounce bounce baby exersaucer the lions mane was chipping paint.

Customer Service

I had talked to customer service many time. Each time something went wrong with the bounce bounce baby exersaucer I would call them and they would promptly send me out a replacement part, delivered to my door with a few business days. They would also include a coupon for 10% off an online order. The problem is living in Canada I couldn't even order online so the coupon was no good.


On top of that the replacement parts they sent out were the same parts I had a problem with to begin with. After calling for the 4th time and complaining about how many problems I was having we decided to stop using the bounce bounce baby exersaucer and buy a different one.

I would not recommend this product to a friend. Do you have any questions, or anything to add? Did you have a different experience with this product?

Crocodile Dentist Travel - Game Review

I bought this game about 4 years ago for my son, who was about 4 years old at the time. When the box is opened you will immediately fall in love, for so many reason. This toy does not have any does not need to be put together, it comes fully assembled in the box. Even better there are absolutely no parts to lose. The game is one piece and stays that way the whole time. As if that isn't enough to sell the game it also uses NO batteries. That's right parents, no assembly, no parts or missing pieces, and no batteries!

This game is so easy to play. Each person one by one will press on the crocodile`s teeth, one of those teeth will be the sore one and when you press it down the crocodile`s mouth will snap shut.

It keeps children of all ages entertained because they never know which tooth will cause the crocodile`s mouth to snap shut, and the suspense it exciting. When the crocodile`s mouth snaps there is still a big gap between the top of his mouth and his teeth, so there is no worry about fingers getting pinched.

Crocodile dentist is a great game, with a great price. It is well made and at 4 years old, still looks and works like it is brand new. I would recommend this toy to everyone young and old!

Duracell 15 minute Battery Charger Review

I bought this battery charger over 2 years ago now. It was around Christmas time, I had a new digital camera and couldn't resist the convenience on having batteries that would be charged in only 15 minutes. I also loved how it came with and charged both AA and AAA batteries

We brought the charger home, first thing I noticed was the batteries were pre-charged. I love being able to buy more batteries for my charger and using them as soon as I open the package. I took the  batteries from the package and put them right into my camera. They lasted a good 4-5 hours of my camera being on, or about 500 pictures.

Once it came time to charge my batteries I plugged in the charger, and put the batteries in place. The charger light came on and so did this very loud sound of the powerful fan in the charger. The batteries charge so quickly that they become very hot, so Duracell places this powerful fan inside to charger to cool down the batteries as they are charging.

The batteries take 15 minutes to charge, cool off and be ready for use. However the battery charger keeps the fan going for an additional 10 minutes cooling down the charger itself. The noise is loud and can become annoying. However this can be solved by plugging in the charger in a different room.

I have bought so many batteries and currently use them for everything in my home. They are great for remotes, and video game controllers, they charge faster then the nintendo wii charging station. Great for kids toys that use lots of batteries,digital cameras and so much more.

I would give the Duracell 15 minute charger and batteries a rating of 9 out of 10. The only downfall is the noise that is made while your batteries are charging and well the charger is cooling off. In my opinion the noise is well worth the long life, and quick charge of the Duracell charger.

Teething 411

It has to happen, we can’t stop it. Eventually every parent has to say goodbye to those toothless smiles and giggles and move into the journey of adorable little baby teeth. On average this will happen between 6-8 months of age.

If you ask a paediatrician what the signs and symptoms of teething are, they will likely tell you that your baby’s gums will be sore. However if you ask a dentist they will give you a much different answer. Describing many more symptoms like red cheeks, stuffy nose, diaper rash, slight fever, red inflamed gums, waking up through the night, and irritability.

So who’s right? Well I say let’s ask the parents. Of course every baby is different, so it makes sense that how teething effects one child may be very different for how it will affect another child. However most parents would agree with the dentist, saying when there little ones started teething they suffered most or all of the symptoms of teething.

Signs and Symptoms of Teething – your baby may get all of none of these

·         Increased mucus production, causing stuffy nose

·         Red cheeks

·         Diaper rash, it can range from mild to severe. Also may seem like you can’t get rid of it

·         Red gums

·         Swollen guns

·         Gums may bleed a little when tooth is breaking through gun

·         Waking up at night

·         Increased drool

·         Wants to chew on EVERYTHING

·         Irritability

·         Slight fever (a high fever signals a different problem and is not caused by teething, consult a doctor)

What you can do to help

·         Teething gel is safe, but often over used.

·         Motrin is great it works for fever, inflammation of the gums, and is a pain reliever. Also it lasts for 8 hours.

·         Try giving cold or frozen teething rings, frozen carrot works great, or wet a wash cloth and freeze that for baby to chew. The cold will feel great on their little gums.

·         Try an Amber teething Necklace.

Common Questions and Concerns

Grinding Teeth – this is fairly common and you should not worry. This is likely to relieve pain, or is new to baby and they like the sound.

Brushing Teeth – You can start brushing gums before teeth come in, this will help baby be used to it. If you want to wait until the first tooth comes in that’s fine. You should use a baby toothbrush, and brush them in the morning and at night.

Nursing – You should be able to continue nursing if baby starts biting, take them from the breast. Usually biting means they are irritated and trying to relieve pain so give some Motrin.

Teething is just one more hurdle we must get over with our little ones. Pay close attention and try to make them as comfortable as possible, if you yourself have had a toothache you can sympathize with how your baby must be feeling.

Tips for Baby's First Months

Having a baby is such an exciting time, but it can also be very overwhelming. Here are some tips for surviving your baby’s first few months of life.

• You need all the sleep you can get so sleep when your baby is. It can seem hard to do when so much needs to be done, but it can all wait and you need your sleep. 
• Always accept help when it’s offered. Even if it’s doing the dishes, some laundry or bringing by a meal, take all the help you can get. 
•  Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Having a new baby at home combined with sleep deprivation can become overwhelming. Call on friends, family and your partner to help you with baby and around the house.
•  Feed on demand.  Let your baby take the lead, his/her stomach is not developed enough yet to hold enough food to last for long time, they will let you know when they need more food, so listen to them. 
• Don’t stress over sleep training. Little baby’s have no concept of time, and they need the constant nourishment  day and night to keep their rapidly growing body and developing brain in top shape.  
• Take time to bond it’s so important.  Eye contact and skin contact are great for bonding. Feeding is a great time for eye and skin contact, also try massaging and of course lots of hugs and kisses. Try taking a bath with baby, not only is it a great bonding opportunity but also a great memory.
•  Don’t worry about breaking them. They are not as fragile as they look, actually they are quite resilient. Use your instincts and ask for advice when you need it, and baby will be just fine. 
• Swaddle. Yes swaddling can be your best friend to help calm a fussy baby.  
• Prepare meals to freeze. When you are cooking something that can be frozen, put on extra and freeze it. Having meals frozen in the freezer can make a long day a little brighter.
• Baby wearing. This can make life so much easier. Wear your baby while, doing things around the house, going for a walk, or shopping. It keeps strangers away, and best of all both hands free. Baby's love the closeness to you and usually have a great nap.

Following these tips can make the first few months with your new baby a little easier, and more enjoyable. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures and keep records of milestones! Time goes by in the blink of an eye, and memories will last forever.

Keep them warm, check out baby legs.

Are you wondering about Amber Teething necklace's, and all natural teething pain reliever.

Tips for Surving a Santa Clause Parade

Here Comes Santa Clause!

My family loves the Santa Clause parade and each year we go to 2 of them. The first one is actually a Santa Day, filled with sitting on Santa's knee, decorating gingerbread cookies, going on hay rides, pony rides, drinking hot chocolate, and lets not forget of course the parade!

The second one we attend is a much smaller parade, and after we all go to a legion sing Christmas songs, and the kids each get to sit on Santa's knee for pictures and get a present.

Both of these days are so much fun, and very exciting for our families. But if your not careful and ready the fun can turn into chaos very quickly. I have learned a lot over the years and have decided to share it with you all!


Dealing with  long Days - Santa Activity and Parade

• There will be lots of walking, so bring strollers if your child still uses one. Plan a place to go and sit for awhile, preferably inside. The little recharge can do wonders for the kids, and you to!
• Don't leave too early, this will cause lots of waiting around and boredom and that's when the kids start complaining.
• Take a snack, and drinks nobody is happy when they are hungry or thirsty.
• Bring your fold able lawn chairs to sit on, after walking all day everyone will appreciate a seat. If you decide not to sit, you can always offer someone else a seat!
• Park at the beginning of the parade route, this way you can be first to see Santa and get to your car. This way you leave the way Santa came and not get too stuck in the crazy parade traffic.
•  Park your car closest to where you want to be then the parade finishes. Then stand close to your car to watch the parade. This way when you go to watch the parade you can go get things out of your car like, lawn chairs, hot chocolate, snacks and blankets.
• Bring a backpack to carry drinks, snacks, wallet and anything else you might need
• Bring lots of Kleenex, everyone's nose runs in the cold doesn't it?

Dealing with Cold weather

• Bring extra clothes, especially socks and mittens. Those always seem to be the first thing to get wet from the snow, and cold hands and feet will make anyone miserable.
• Blankets, you will be very thankful when you are sitting outside in the cold for a rest. They can also be used to sit on, if you are sitting on a cold bench.
• Bring a thermos of hot chocolate to will help keep you warm, plus it's delicious!
• Layer your clothes, it will help keep you warm and happy!
• If you happy a baby in a stroller, take a blanket and invest in a weather shield. It's amazing how much warmer it is without the wind.

Christmas time is so much fun and the Santa Clause Parade's are so exciting, by being prepared you will be able to make the most of the time you have with your family, and everyone will have a blast!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies - Recipe

Almost everyone bakes over the holiday season, and those who don't bake still look forward to enjoying some yummy holiday treats. This recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies will not disapoint. These cookies are so moist and soft they just melt in your mouth.


What you Need

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Making the Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenhieght
2. Grease cookie sheet as preferred
3. In an bowl cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.
4. Stir in vanillia and egg
5. Add flour and baking soda
6. Stir together until everything is combined  *do not stir too much*
7. Drop dough by tablespoons onto the greased cookie sheet
8. Place chocolate chips on top of the cookies
9. Bake 10-12 minutes depending on oven
10. Remove and cool

*you can add the chocolate chips to the dough when mixing, but it makes it harder to mix ingredients and the cookies dont turn out as chewy*

*If they do not cool long enough, they will break when you remove them from the cookie sheet.*

These are delicious, Enjoy!

Homemade Christmas Ornaments - Great craft for kids

These Christmas ornaments can be made right in your kitchen, and best of all you probably already have what you need at home. They make a great crafts for kids. You can also let the kids make them to give to family and friends as gifts over the holiday's. Everyone will love them, and the kids feel so happy giving out gifts. Best of all they are really inexpensive!

Recommended age 3+

What You Need

• 4 cups of flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of hot water
• Rolling Pin
• Holiday Cookie cutters or cookie cutters of choice
• Decorations of choice - paint (makes a great base), beads, stickers, glitter, felt ect.
• *ornament hooks if you plan on hanging on the tree*

            

                                                                                                                       

Things you need if wrapping to give as a gift

• Tissue paper
• Ribbon
• Gift Tags

How it's done

Making the Christmas Ornaments

This was made completely by my 5
year old...he likes Blue bells!

• Mix the flour, salt and water together in a bowl.
• Knead the dough
• Roll it out like you would if you were making a sugar cookie about 1/4 inch thick.
• Use your holiday cookie cutters, and cut out the shapes.
• If these will be hanging on a tree use a toothpick to poke the hole for the hook.
• To harden you can  1.bake in the oven at 350 degrees, until hard. or 2. Microwave on High for about 2 minutes.
• Then decorate how ever you want, be creative and have fun.



*If you find the dough sticking to your hands, or cookie cutters use flour to dip the cutter in before cutting out each shape.*

*I personally find baking to work better*

Getting the Ornament's Ready to give as a gift

• Take 1 full piece of tissue paper and fold in half 3 times.
• Place your ornament in the middle of the tissue paper and roll it up, then twist the top like a candy wrapper.
• Take your ribbon and tie it around the top to keep it wrapped tightly
• Use scissors or a pencil and curl the ribbon.

Indigo Children

Indigo children are often described as coming into the world with a sense of entitlement, and are surprised when other don't treat them like royalty. Indigo children have problems when authority tries to give orders without good reason and will often question and refuse to listen. They are rule breakers, and there goal is to challenge the system that is breaking down and change it.

Indigo children have strong self esteem, and a strong sense of self. They are often times labeled as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder) by teachers and school, because of their lack of conformity to routines and rules. They simply want to change the way things are being done, routine and non creative thinking frustrates them and causes them to challenge the system. Indigo children are often described as having very wise looking, deep eyes, with an old soul.

Indigo's have been described as being gifted in some way, for some that is having abilities such as;

•  High intelligence
•  Very creative
•  Advanced in reading/talking/walking ect
•  Psychic abilities and or highly sensitive intuition
• The ability to sense peoples energies
• Able to read aura's
• Unexplained Knowledge of events beyond their grasp
• Extremely empathetic towards all living things including plant and animals, and no empathy towards people who do not deserve it
• Often have the ability to communicate with the other side, spirits ect
• Able to see hidden agendas people have in store for them

The Indigo children are here to change the world we live in, challenge authority, break rules and leave things re-thought out with creativity and changed. They often have a difficult time and don't feel like they fit in with the world around them, and get along best with other indigo's. They should be nurtured and understood to reach their full potential.

If you think you have an Indigo child, take the Indigo Child quiz?

Christmas Books - Snow What Fun

This is on my list of one of the best Christmas books out there for kids. It is so fun and with all of the rhyming and silly words kids love it.

It takes you and your little one on an exciting secret snowman journey. This journey takes place on Christmas eve as all the snow men all over the world head out on an adventure! They all meet up to help guide Santa's sleigh and have fun at a big snow man party with games and loads of snowy fun!

With great illustrations and catchy rhyming sentences this will be a book the kids want to read again and again. This book has been added to my family's list of favorite Christmas books and now the kids cant wait foe December to start reading it again.
Reading is a great way to take time out from our busy lives, and all the hustle of the holidays. So when you are looking for something to read this Holiday Snow What Fun is a great choice.

Ice Cream Cone Cakes

Ice Cream Cone Cakes are so great to serve as Kids birthday parties cakes. They are also great to serve at Holiday parties, in classrooms, or just because your kids and friends will love them. They are perfect and best of all there is no need for plates and forks. They are easy to hold for little hands and easy to be able to serve people their favourite flavors. Let's not forget how Super Cute they are!

Kids love them, because they are so neat and fun. I have done these for my sons 5th birthday and they were a huge hit with both kids and the parents. Best of all the possibilities for making these with your own style is endless.

What You Need

• Cake Mix - favorite flavor or flavors (check to make sure you have listed ingredients in your choice of cake mix)
• Flat Bottom Ice Cream Cones (they must be flat Bottom)
• Cookie sheet
• Icing - favorite flavors
• Cake decorations of your choice
• Roll of Tin Foil - the stronger the better
• Old cereal box - or box like a cereal box; 12 cans of pop boxes work great too.
• Serving tray

*One Box of cake mix, will make approx 12 Ice Cream Cone Cakes*

How It's Done

Making and Baking Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

1. Mix your cake batter following the directions on the box.
2. Stand Ice cream Cones on a cookie or flat baking sheet and pour cake batter into cones. Fill them about 3/4 of the way to the top of the cone.
3. Bake in oven following temperature on Cake Mix box. Remember cooking time will vary depending on oven.

       *Use a toothpick to check if they are done. Stick into the middle of cone if toothpick comes out clean they are cooked*

*Placing the Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes into the oven takes very steady hands*

Making Ice Cream Cone Serving Stands

*These serving stands will make it much easier to keep all the cones standing up and looking great for serving*

*You will need to repeat this to make enough stands for all the Ice Cream Cone Cakes you want to carry at a time.*

1. Cut your cereal box, or cardboard box of choice in strips about 2-3 inches high. The height will depend on the size of your ice cream cone.
2. Once the cardboard is cut you will cover it with tinfoil.
3. Place X slots in the tinfoil with a knife or scissors. Space each X about 1.5 inches apart. (This will depend on the width of your cones so measure)
4. Place these new stands on serving trays to make it easy for carrying
5. Then Slide the Ice Cream Cone Cakes into the X slots in the tinfoil and all your cones will stay standing up.

Decorating Ice Cream Cone Cakes

For Kids Birthday

You can decorate them ahead of time. Try writing the birthday message with 1 letter on each Cone Cake. You can also supply the icing and decorations and allow the kids to decorate them themselves. Letting the kids decorate their own also turns the cake into entertainment, and they will talk about it to all their friends. Or choose to do both have some decorated with the Birthday Message and some plain for decorating.

For Holidays and Other functions

Try decorating with icing themes such as yellow and black for Halloween, or red and green for Christmas. Use decorations and colors to the theme of the function. You can also icing with your basic chocolate or vanilla, then leave out decorations of your theme for people to add to their liking.

Also leave some plain  ones out with no icing for guests who don't have a sweet tooth.

There are lots of great things about making these to serve as Kids Birthday Cakes, as Holiday Desserts, or as a Dessert at any function. Such as no mess, easy servings, and the ability to please everybody. A must Try!

The more the Merrier - Daily Deals

The more the merrier! That's the motto of some sites that are popping up all over the Internet. They are using the power of a group and getting companies to offer products or services at a discounted rate.

This is great for us the consumers, especially in today's economy. However we are not the only ones who benefit. The company who is offering these deals are selling such large quantities of product all at once. They are stimulating there business and gaining lots of publicity.

Mamabargains.com is a great site with products geared for children newborn to 10. This site does not offer one deal a day, but one deal at a time! It's almost like a game, you don't know what deal is next, or even when the next deal will be. They will post a deal when it is sold out, a new one will be posted immediately. Daily deals can range from 2 to 10 different ones in a single day. Check back often to get yourself a great deal!

BabySteals.com offers 1 deal at a time, and 2 deals a day. The first deal is listed at 9am MDT,  the second deal is listed at 9pm MDT. They are sold at up to 80% off retail price and each steal is only listed until it is sold out. Things sell out quickly over there, so don't miss your steal! On weekends they offer steals that did not sell out during the week, so if your very lucky you may get a second chance.

 KidSteals.com is a sister site of BabySteals.com. It is run the same way,  with the exception of only having 1 deal a day. That deal starts at 9am MDT and is at 50%-80% of retail price, and once its gone you miss out.

ScrapbookSteals.com is another sister site or BabySteals.com, and KidSteals.com. It offers 1 deal a day at a 50%-80% off of retail price. Once the steal is gone, there is no going back so be quick.

WagJag.com is a newcomer to the scene. This sites offers each deal for a certain amount of time sometimes days, other times just hours. This site is different because it operates locally. Your deals will depend on your location. I am still skeptical about the reliability of the owners and I have read costumer service complains. Check it out, but beware.

DODTracker.com is not a daily deal site, but a website compiled of deals all over the web. This site is a great resource and allows you to look for deals all over the web in one convenient place. With this site you can even browse deals by category.
These sites work so well because lots of people are buying the same product quickly so pass these sites on the all your friends and family!

Happy Shopping :)

Baby Legs

When I first seen baby legs, which are little leg warmers, I originally thought there was no point. I didn't understand why they were useful and didn't think about them again for a few months.

I live in Canada and it was October and winter was approaching and it was getting cold, but not cold enough for a snowsuit. I was carrying my 6 month old son to the car and noticed his pant legs were half way up his legs! I kept pulling them down and trying to cover his little legs from the cold.

That's when I thought "BABY LEGS!" I immediately wanted to go into my house and look for some of these. I had looked for them at a few different places, but couldn't bring myself to spend $8.99 or even $6.99 a pair. Maybe I am cheap but that amount of money seemed a bit much when I can get him a pair of pants for that price.

So I started looking everywhere I could to find baby legs that I could purchase for cheap. I love eBay so I started looking there. They have so many kinds I was a little overwhelmed. I kept searching looking for the best deal I could find.

I bought them and has them shipped it took about 1 week for them to get to me, and getting things in the mail is always so exciting, it gives you something to look forward to! Once they arrived I immediately opened them and tried a pair on my son.

We went out for the day with the baby legs under his pants, and we LOVE them! They are so great they have never raised up when I am carrying him exposing his legs. I feel so much better knowing that he has the extra layer to keep him warm this winter.

So when looking for baby Legs always head over to eBay. I got 3 pairs for $3.28, it was an bid and I got lucky with a low bid. Waiting and bidding is always a great way to get things cheaper on eBay if you have the time.

Then I later purchased 10 pairs for $22! They arrived within 10 days and I couldn't be happier with them. This is an everyday price, so be sure to check out Ourbabyworld for great baby legs at a great price! Oh and with the holiday season coming they make great stocking stuffers or gifts!

Christmas On the Internet

There is so much content on the Internet, there really is something for everyone! There are lots of great places you can visit with the kids on the Internet, this is especially true during the Christmas holiday season.

The most important thing to remember is the Internet can be a dangerous place for children so all websites should be checked in advance for appropriate content, kids should always be supervised while using the Internet.

There are many great sites that are dedicated to kids during the Christmas Holidays. What kid doesn't like getting a letter from Santa? Well how about a personalized video message from Santa himself! This is a great website called MagicSanta.ca, you go to the site and it will walk you through step by step creating a personalized video message for your little one.  It will include your child's name some favorite things about them and even a picture. Kids love this so be sure to give it a try!

This is a definite crowd pleaser, guarantee's to please everyone from your toddler to grandma, and even your teenagers. ElfYourself.com, lets you put up to 5 of your family members faces on elves bodies who then do a dance. It is so entertaining and fun to watch!

One of my favorite things to do over the holidays when I was a kid, and now with my own children is track Santa. I use to do it on the TV, but now my kids love tracking him online. With Norad Santa Tracker using Google earth, your whole family can gather around the computer and watch as Santa travels all around the world delivering his presents. It is fun for children of all ages.

These are just a few of the great sites on the Internet for children during the holidays. Feel free to comment with any of your favorite sites!

Pine Cone Christmas Tree

Christmas is quickly approaching, only 30 days left until it is upon us! There are many great things about Christmas and one of those things is crafts. Kids love making things and Pine cone Christmas trees are a very fun craft to make.

Recommended age: 4 +

What you will need

• Large size Pine cone
• Glue (preferably one that dries clear)
• Paint (fast drying, non toxic would be best) - Green, Brown and other colors if desired
• Decorations for your tree - choice is yours, paints, glitter, beads, felt, pipe cleaners, construction paper *use your imagination*
• Tree base - cardboard and construction paper, or paint your choice .

Firstly this is to be used as a base idea for making a Pine cone Christmas tree. Use your imagination and let the kids explore!

I would recommend putting down newspaper, or something to keep the mess to a minimum. Also have a place cleared where you can put your Pine cone to dry

1. Paint your Pine cone Green to look like a Christmas tree. If you wish to paint the bottom brown to look like the truck of your Christmas tree. This will need time to dry.
2. While the paint is drying you can cut out a base for your tree from cardboard. This can be whatever size you choose. A used a square base about 6" by 6".
3. Cover your base with what you choose, construction paper, fake snow, paint it. The choice is yours, use your imagination and have fun.
4. Once your paint is dry on your Pine cone you can now decorate your Christmas tree. This can be done however you want.
5. Then you will need to place LOTS of glue on your base and press and hold the pine cone into the glue.

That is all there is to it! For those who want some creative ideas

• You can cut little candy canes out of construction paper or foam sheets (these can be bought cheap at a dollar store!) Also using the same material try making presents, snowmen for the base, presents and even your star or angel.
• If you want to use beads or glitter put a bunch in a sandwich baggy, then put dabs of glue on your pine cone. Put the pine cone into the sandwich bag with the beads and shake. This takes much less time then trying to get them to stick 1 by 1!

Most importantly have fun!