Nutritional cookies that are good for your kids!

All my kids seem to want to eat is junk food! It kills me because I was so proud of how well I fed them. I nursed both of them for close to a year and fed them only organic foods for the first year of their lives. Chloe's first taste of sweets was her birthday cake at her first birthday party. It was her fall from grace! Taking after her mom (guilty as charged!) she is a chocolate lover! Max followed our path- a lot earlier than Chloe. How can you refuse one child sweets when the other one eats hers? Anyway, WhoNu? is a brand of nutrition rich cookies that taste just like a regular cookie! The difference? WhoNu's cookies have as much fiber as a bowl of oatmeal, as much calcium and vitamin D as an 8oz glass of milk, as much vitamin c as a cup of blueberries, as much iron equal to a cup of spinach, vitamin E equal to 2 cups of carrot juice, as much vitamin A as an 8 oz glass of tomato juice and finally, as much vitamin B equal to a cup of cottage cheese with fruit! I kid you not! I bought the chocolate chip and vanilla cookies. The kids love them. These cookies take the guilt out of giving my kids the sweets they love! Check out the other cookies they have to offer at WhoNu?

In need of a LeapPad gel skin?

Both of my kids got LeapPads for Christmas but did not get the gel skins to protect them. At 4 and 2 years old, its only a matter of time that one ends up broke. I searched high and low for the gel skin- even Leapfrog is sold out! I finally found a silicone skin compatible with the LeapPad for $6.99 on Everydaysource. Shipping is only $2.99! Insten makes them and they come in clear, blue or pink. Since I cannot get the actual LeapPad skin, this will have to do. I'm happy just to have found one that will fit!

Baby Alive review

Chloe kept seeing the commercial for Baby Alive and asked Santa for the real baby that eats, poops and pees! I knew this was going to be one of the gifts that would make her so happy- so of course I got it. I had no idea what I was getting myself into! I feel like there is a third child in my house! She wants to feed it all the time. The doll comes with 2 packages of food that lasts 2 feedings and only 2 diapers- which HAVE to be changed right after she eats! So I already had to go out to buy this doll more diapers- which are not so cheap. And now, she has no food left. I mean, c'mon! I really don't want to be running around even more to get the things this baby needs when I'm doing it enough for my actual kids! It is very cute. Chloe is very happy (as you can see in the above photo) but it definitely requires more than what it comes with- constantly,like a real baby. I hope she gets over the feeding/changing part soon and can enjoy the doll without all the upkeep. Its looking doubtful right now because its so new...hopefully the novelty wears off a bit! If your ready for all the upkeep of this doll, its very cute. If not, try another doll that requires less maintenance.

Lego storage

Not sure what to do with all the Lego's the kids got from Santa? I wasn't either until I found these Lego storage bricks. Max received four different duplo sets so I definitely had to find something to put them in. They come in small, medium, large and X- large. I love that its not a regular container. Super cute! They are sold at The Container Store from $9.99- $39.99.

              

Celebrate the sane way- with Sangria!

Getting through the holidays can be tough. Cleaning, cooking, cleaning again- all while managing the kids and company. I plan on enlisting a little help from Bethenny Frankel this year! Skinnygirl Sangria is the best Sangria I have had...and I've been known to have my share! With all the eating going on, why worry about the added calories of alcohol when your not even skimping on taste. The bottle isn't that big- so grab 2- or 3 if you plan to share! I wasn't much of a fan of the Skinnygirl Margarita- it gave me a really bad headache every time I tried it so I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing the sangria is. Drink up and be merry!! Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

http://familyspice.com/family_spice_recipe.php?recipe_id=110

Kabobs cut in shapes that your kids will love!

http://www.parents.com/recipe/appetizers-snacks/fruit-and-cheese-kabobs/

How great do these fruit and cheese kabobs look? I was looking for some kid friendly picky food to make for Chloe and Max Christmas day and  found these on the Parents website. Besides crackers and cheese, they hardly eat anything. These look so appetizing and are so aesthetically pleasing- I can't see not wanting to eat them! I am going to use my Pampered Chef shape cutters to cut the fruit and cheese.

Ingredients

• 4 cantaloupe or honeydew melon slices
• 2 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese slices
• 4 fresh blackberries
• 4 whole fresh strawberries

Make It Use 1- to 1-1/2-inch cookie cutters to cut shapes out of cantaloupe and honeydew slices and cheese. Thread fruit and cheese onto 4 small skewers. Place in a flat storage container and chill until serving time (or up to 24 hours). Serves 2.

Organic snack your family will love

Peanutty pretzel...need I say more? Maybe not. But I will anyway! Revolution foods makes organic Crunch 'ems- granola clusters in peanutty pretzel. They are as good as they sound! They are also made with 100% whole grains and come in convenient snack bags that are perfect to grab on the go. I love giving the kids snack that are actually good for them. If your looking for healthier snack options, check out Revolution Foods to see what other healthy snacks they have to offer and were voted best healthy snacks by moms like me.

Meet the new Disney Princess!

         

Meet Sofia the First, the new Disney Princess! Sofia is the youngest Princess yet, the only one not an adult. She is going to teach lessons like sharing and being kind to preschoolers ranging ages 2-7. What I like most about Princess Sofia already is that she teaches little girls that what makes a princess a real princess is whats on the inside, not on the outside. A very important lesson for all little girls. I'm looking forward to watching my little girl enjoy the lessons Sofia has to teach.

A dollhouse for boys!

You might not want to call this a dollhouse to your hubby, but this Imaginarium playhouse is perfect for your little guy! Its a police station and firehouse play set with so much to do. There is a working fire alarm bell and a firehouse pole for a fireman to slide down. The set includes 33 play pieces including 5 rescue figures, a helicopter, fire engine ,police car and 25 play accessories. I know my son would love this because he plays with my daughters Barbie townhouse all the time with her. This playhouse will definitely inspire hours of hands on activity. 

Imaginarium Police Station and Firehouse Play set
sold at Toys R us for $149

Gift sales & deals with free shipping!

The Children's Place is offering 25% off today using code P7F2011 and FREE SHIPPING (no code required)!

Gap is also offering 30% off online only and free shipping on orders of $50 or more (and always if you are a silvercard holder). Use code GAPCHEER at checkout.

Still shopping for gifts? Here are some great deals going on today.

The new Disney Animators' collection dolls are adorable and are on sale for $20.00 at Disney Store. You cant go wrong with anything Disney Princess for any little girl. They have every princess.

Melissa and Doug are offering free shipping no minimum purchase required with promo code freeshipzero. There is also a code for 25% off puzzles- Npuzzles25.

We love this animal farm puzzle that makes the noise of the animal when put back in its correct place. Wooden toys are a safer alternative to plastic due to the harsh chemicals in plastic toys.

Chloe loves playing with this bake and decorate cupcake set. The top of the cupcake can be decorated again and again with the dry erase markers that come with the set. The markers are shaped liked icing tubes- so cute! Your kids will adore this set. It sells for $19.99 and you can get 15% off today using the code Nsave15.

Happy shopping!!!

Crib Life Chronicles 2!

   Its been about a week since Max moved out of his crib and into his toddler bed. He's doing great at bedtime. Business as usual. Bath, brush, book, bed. Then the middle of the night comes. Every night but one so far, Max- pitter-pattering into our room...unwelcome of course but that doesn't stop him. I don't mind the nights he goes right back to sleep in our bed but it doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes Chloe has beaten him to the punch and has already taken up vacancy between Mom & Dad. Other nights he wants to tickle me or lick my face. This new found freedom of running from his room to ours has got to come to an end. We have been walking him back to his bed...sometimes he falls back to sleep- sometimes he plays (not quietly). I'm tired. I'm cranky. I'm not happy about this one bit. Especially not at 3am!

And so he sleeps....for now!

Perfect tee that covers your butt with leggings!

If your like me, your behind needs to be completely covered when wearing leggings! I can never find a tee that completely covers everything and when i do it ends up shrinking! This pure body tee from Gap Body definitely fits the bill. It is super soft and long enough that even if it shrinks it will still cover everything you want it to. They are on sale for $17.99.

They come in white, grey and black.

Baked fries your kiddies will love!

Chloe and Max love Snikiddy all natural baked fries in cheddar cheese. They are 50% less fat than regular fries, have no preservatives, no trans fat and are gluten and wheat free. They come in many flavors such as barbecue, original seasoning, sea salt and many more. They really taste great and its a "chip" that I don't mind giving them. They are a perfect snack to send to school because they are processed at a nut free facility. The company was started by a mom and daughter team looking for healthy snack alternatives to feed their family. I bought them at BJ's but they can also be found at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby to name a few.

                                           

Trader Joe's Really Big Gingerbread Man Kit

I'm not a baker, so Trader Joe's been helping a sista out with its gingerbread man kit! It comes with one really large gingerbread, ready made icing, chocolate buttons and nonpareilles for decorating. Decorating is the fun part which Chloe and I have made a tradition since shes 2. I don't particularly love the taste of the cookie itself, but it is a lot of fun! It sells for $3.99 only at Trader Joe's.

Chloe's creation! She wanted to make a gingerbread girl.

A Christmas book we love!

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner is a Christmas story that we love to read in our home. On Christmas Eve, all of the snowmen come to life and gather to celebrate with food and games in the center of the empty town. They decorate a Christmas tree and eat snow cones while they wait for snowman Santa to come and give out presents. They dance and sing until they tiredly walk back to their homes. The amazing illustrations are done by the authors husband, Mark Buehner. The husband and wife team do a great job at capturing that Christmas feeling that's perfect for children. This is definitely a great buy. It can be found on Amazon for $11.00.

Elf on the Shelf Claus Couture skirt!

They had me at Claus Couture!! I am in love with this skirt for the Elf on the Shelf sold at Target for $6.95. I was on the fence about the whole elf thing until I saw this skirt! So getting one now....and of course, the skirt!

V8 infused Pastina

This is one of my Grandma's healthy secrets that she made for me as a little girl. She would boil Pastina in water until the water was almost gone. Next, she would pour V8 (I use the low sodium) into the pot while still boiling and continue to boil it on a very low flame. Put enough V8 in to cover the Pastina, not to make it soupy. Add a little butter (the amount depends on how much pastina your making, I put very little), a pinch of salt and some grated cheese. Chloe eats this at least 3 days a week at school. She loves it and I feel good about her eating it because she is getting 1 full serving of vegetables out of it.

Sequin dress suitable for New Years Eve!

I'm gravitating toward sequin these days! Not only is this sequin dress hot, the price tag is equally impressive at $49.99 at H&M. This is a must have for that New Years Eve party or even a night out on the town!

Educational DVD's that I swear by

Give the gift of learning with Leapfrog learning DVDs. I promise you will not feel guilty putting your child in front of the TV watching these! I bought the first one for Chloe last year when she was 3 and she learned the letters and each sound so quickly. Now Max is recognizing letters and sounding them out at 2! They seriously are amazing. Since the Letter Factory taught them so much, I bought Numbers Ahoy to help teach them numbers. Once again, they both picked it up so quickly. I was on line at the supermarket a few days ago and Max pointed to the aisle number we were in and said "13". I was amazed.

To Elf on the Shelf or not to Elf on the Shelf? That is the question!

I have been hearing Elf on the Shelf tales for a few years now and have yet to buy one for my home. My husband finds the little elf creepy! What do you guys think? Leave a comment on your Elf on the Shelf thoughts and/or stories to help me decide whether or not to get one.

Elf on the Shelf can be found at Target for $29.99

Sparkle this season in a sequin top!

This shirt is so pretty and perfect for upcoming holiday parties. It can also double as a great going out shirt paired with skinny jeans and a pair of booties! It's made really well so worth the price tag of $89. Find it on Piperlime.

Looking for that perfect outfit?

I came across this great versatile dress. It can be worn to dinner, drinks or that in between party where you need something dressy, yet casual. Piperlime is selling it for $69 with 20% off the next 2 days! Click on the link below & it will take you right to the dress. I already ordered mine!

Crib Life Chronicles- 1

I'm actually surprised it took as long as it has...Max climbed out of his crib. The first offense took place Saturday. I went down to the garage while Max was napping (or so I thought) to grab paper towels. When I turned around to close the door, there Max stood, happy as a pig in mud! The second (and hopefully last) offense took place last night at 3am. I believe it was the click of the light going on in Max's room that initially woke me up....then came the pitter-patter of Max running happily(as if he were screaming from our rooftop "I escaped!") into my room. As of tonight, crib life has officially come to an end for my little man. Tonight, the toddler rail goes on.

Kids in need of some veggies but wont eat them?

I have no idea why so many of us have this problem! I love veggies! Chloe likes them one day- not the next...just like many other kinds of food. Max used to eat all vegetables- now he eats none (that he knows of!) I have to chop veggies up really tiny and hide them whenever I can. Whenever I make rice, I chop up whatever vegetables I have in the house, usually broccoli or cauliflower. Last night I made long grain wild rice and hid some veggies in the rice. Its soooo easy.

Chop veggies as small as possible

Add vegetables to the pan once the water boils & cook rice as directed

Once the rice it cooked, you can hardly see the veggies...& neither will the kiddies!!!

Holiday dress that works overtime!

  My family is small so we keep the holidays low key. I basically have it in my home every year so that the kids have their toys and I can nap Max. Because of this, I don't overdo it on the kids outfits. I like to keep them comfy. When I found this dress in Nordstrom, I knew it was perfect for Chloe who is 4. It can also be worn again since it isn't too holiday-ish...an added bonus to this beautiful dress!

Dress by Little Mass $88.00

Beautiful smile- by Chloe!

All pictures taken by Jolie Creative Photography

Hats off to the holidays!

Looking for the perfect holiday hat for your toddler boy? When I posted pictures of my kids from their holiday pictures, so many moms asked where Max's hats were from. The black fedora is from H&M and came at the great price of $9.99! The grey newsboy cap is from Baby Gap. The original price was $16.95 but I bought it on sale (cant remember exact cost). 

Max rocking out his photo shoot!

The fedora Max is wearing in the above photos is from H&M

Grey newsboy cap from Baby Gap

If you have any questions about the rest of Max's outfit, please leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Music baby will love as much as you!

Rockabye Baby Cd's have been a must in our home for the past 4 years. When baby is crying and you cant get no satisfaction, throw in lullaby renditions of the Rolling Stones! Rockabye Baby transforms music we love as parents into beautiful instrumental lullabies for baby. My personal favorites are Coldplay, U2 and Bob Marley. My kids both fall asleep (even my 4 year old) to these every night. We set them on repeat so they soothe them all night long. There are many to choose from including The Beatles, Bjork, No Doubt, Green Day, The Ramones, The Cure, and just in time for the holidays, lullabye renditions of Christmas rock classics! There are many more to choose from. These are great baby gifts! 

Disney stocking stuffers for a dollar !!!

Michael's has authentic Disney merchandise that is excellent for stuffing stockings! They have Disney Princess, Toy Story and Cars items. I picked up a few of them for ONE DOLLAR EACH!!! I have definitely paid at least $5 - $6 for bracelets and necklaces in the Disney Store that look identical to the ones I picked up in Michael's! My daughter will love them. The coloring posters are equally awesome! They come with three markers each and 2 posters.