Ryan as "The Wizard of Oz"
Tonia as "Glenda -The "Good" Witch"
Isabella as "Dorothy"
& Gabriella as "The Tin Man"
Recently we celebrated Isabella's birthday with a Wizard of Oz theme, and I had a great idea for party favors that she could make herself.
We did these favors on the date of her actually birthday, because we always do something special with her when her party falls the weekend before or after her actual birth date.
She had a lot of fun making these apples and if you have small children that like to create delicious yummies, I'm sure they will love to make these caramel apples too!
You will need:
5 Apples (medium to large)
1 pkg Caramel Apple Wrap by Concord Foods
5 Wilton Clear Party Bags
5 Gift Labels
Look for more awesome (easy) kid made snacks
coming soon on
Lately, I've been so busy. Party planning, baby wrangling, reviewing products, entering a new season, toddler chasing, play-dating with my girls, couponing, shopping, and X-Y-and Z-ing. I honestly haven't had a moment to myself.
It's time!
The thing is, I'm involved in so many things in one day that the moment I get a minute for me, I have no idea what to do sometimes.
No plans!
That really is okay. Maybe I'll get just a moment to sit, a moment to think, a moment to be silent.
Just me, ALONE!
No one calling on the phone, no phone calls to make, no underwear to wash, no noses to wipe, no backs to rub.
A little peace and quiet!
I write this like I have some "me" time on my schedule. I don't. As a matter of fact, no one even knows about it. It may not ever happen if so. Something is bound to come up when you let others know they're NOT invited to your party.
So just between YOU and me...
I write this like I have some "me" time on my schedule. I don't. As a matter of fact, no one even knows about it. It may not ever happen if so. Something is bound to come up when you let others know they're NOT invited to your party.
So just between YOU and me...
Tonight, I'm going to take a looooong shower!
I probably wouldn't have made it (like all the past meetings), but this week they called and shined the spotlight on me!
Well, being as though I was throwing a big costume party for my girls on Saturday, and my in-laws were in town for the festivities, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...I was really not in a position to take time out of my busy schedule to hang with the girls.
However, I did commit!
So, as I rushed frantically around the house trying to dress the girls and get them there (not on time, just there), sippy cups, diapers, wipes, snacks, etc. are being thrown everywhere and into my big purse.
It's 9:39a.m. and we are walking out of the door. Kids check in was at 9:30a.m., mind you!
FRAZZLED
So, I arrived at 10:00a.m, scanned the parking lot, and immediately screamed over to the first woman I saw scurrying in.
"Hey are you going to MOPS too? I have no idea where to put my kids. It's my first time. Can you tell them I'll be a minute!"
Instead, she escorted me to the correct rooms to drop off my kids and I'm frazzled. Stuff everywhere. I realize that I have to give the teachers cups, coats, and diapers, and remembered that I didn't bring a separate bag for each of my kids.
No problem, really. Because, in my frantic hurry of the moring, I managed to pack my review samples of Oliver's Labels.
Quick save! I look prepared. Well, kind of.
I started whipping out my package of labels from my purse and slapping them all over my girls' stuff.
Was I catching stares? Absolutely!
I responded with, "These labels are perfect for occasions such as THIS!" And they are.
Oliver's Labels are excellent for labeling all personal items!
They are waterproof (dishwasher and laundry safe) and stick to everything. They don't fade, scuff, or peel.
One of my favorite features available is the "Found It" option.
Found It is an exclusive FREE Lost-and Found system. Each label is printed with a unique tracking code that will help finders and owners connect to reunite owners with their lost items.
Genius!
Oliver's Labels are sold by individual product, or in packages, and they have a variety of designs to choose from (solid colors, characters, prints, food allergies, and more)
Place Oliver's Labels on anything you want to identify as yours! Or buy them as a gift!
Can't decide which labels to give? Oliver's Labels also has gift cards available on their website!
Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Having trouble getting your kids to understand the importance of hand washing long enough to get clean?
It's often one of my biggest challenges with my 3 year old.
She likes to wash her hands, but she rinses the soap off immediately and continues to play in the water.
Cute, but not clean!
Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to try Soap Soundz Musical Soap, which has changed the way Bella washes her hands completely.
As soon as we opened the box, she dashed off into the bathroom and jumped on her stool at the sink. She loves to try new soaps. I explained to her that we were going to scrub our hands as the music played, and then we would rinse. She did a great job and hasn't had to be told how long to scrub and wash again, because the song playing is her timer.
We reviewed the Hygiene Heroes brand and she immediately fell in love with Princess Sanipure. It is pink, bubbly, and has "princess" in the title.
What more could a little girl ask for?
Soap Soundz is an excellent teaching tool for hand washing, because it is targeted toward children and toddlers. The music plays for approximately 20 seconds, which is the recommended hand washing time suggested by the CDC. Teaching children the correct way to wash their hands early in life will cut down on many infections spread each year.
The great thing about washing with Soap Soundz is that it is healthy and fun!
Having kids over for a Halloween party? Add this spooky pump to the bathroom and scare your little guests into killing those germs.
A perfect addition to any sink this Christmas are these festive pumps. They all bottle play Christmas music.
Click here to get more information on Soap Soundz, and view a list of retailers where Soap Soundz is sold.
The Chatty Momma is a proud advocate of Global Handwashing Day!
Teach your kids about good hand washing today!
Enter my Soap Soundz Musical Soap Giveaway!
Contest Starts: October 18
Contest Ends: November 18
Winner will be notified by email
To enter, please do the following:
- Follow Soap Soundz on Twitter
- Like Soap Soundz on Facebook
- Leave a comment below letting me know you did steps 1 and 2.
The products mentioned were provided to me for review purposes.
I was not compensated in any way.
All opinions and statements in this review are my own.
I won, I won!
Ok, it is official. I am HAUTE!
Today, I have been awarded by Haute Mom, as she picked up her awards from Ramblings Of A Stay At Home Mom and Heard It From the Hills.
So cool. I am not only flattered by the recognition, but I am appreciative as well!
So, as I accept the mention/award from Haute Mom, I will also pay it forward to the following bloggers below for their amazing blogs, honesty, followership, and friendship!
But first...
7 things about me!
- I once called 911 at 14 while changing a diaper.
- I am the youngest of 3 kids.
- I watch soap operas in Spanish religiously.
- I refused to give my 2nd born a name without "-ella" in it
- I love to dance salsa, meringue, and bachata.
- I had plans to join the circus in 1994.
- I have a choleric-sanguine temperament.
(Daring to be Domestic)
(Crunchy VT Mommy)
Me: Can you change the baby's diaper.
Hubs: No way
Me: Yes! I've been changing diapers all day!
Hubs: So, just cause you watched some feminist videos doesn't mean I have to change a diaper right now.
Me: What videos have I been watching of moms asking dads to change diapers?
*silence*
Me: Change the baby's diaper.
Hubs: Ok, let me ask you this one question. Is it a pee diaper or a poo diaper?
Me: It doesn't matter!
Hubs: Well, is it a #1 or #2?
Me: It doesn't matter if it's a #3 or a #4, change the baby's diaper!
Hubs: WAIT, what is a #3 or #4? Is that something new? I've never even heard of those before. I didn't know they could do THAT!
Monday, October 11, 2010, was my 7 year anniversary with The Chatty Daddy. We spent a lovely evening together in Washington, DC, and stayed at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center.
Enjoyable? Yes!
Romantic? Um, the kids went too! (Does that answer your question?)
It just so happens that on the one weekend we had to spend some time away from the house together and enjoy each other's conversation and company, all of our sitters were out of town!
How often does that happen? *silly face*
Well, it may sound disappointing, but the truth is we had a wonderful time with the girls. It was like a honeymoon with kids! (Not convincing, I know....I tried)
Thankfully, a romantically planned evening does not have to end up including the kids again, because the folks over at NannyPro.com are stepping in.
Imagine me doing the "Happy Dance" here!
With NannyPro.com, there will be:
- No more unavailable sitters!
- No more wondering who will babysit at the last minute!
- No more feeling guilty, asking for childcare from busy friends!
NannyPro.com functions as a Nanny Agency. It is the perfect online directory of nanny services for families, nannies, and babysitters. As members of the site, families can create posts for full-time nanny jobs as well as babysitting jobs that nannies and babysitters can apply for. Nannies and babysitters can create a searchable profile that is viewed by hiring families to help them get noticed and be interviewed for positions available.
It is NannyPro.com's first priority to provide a safe service to families and to nannies and babysitters, and they "personally review each profile before it is posted, and personally test caregivers with the International Nanny Association Basic Nanny Skills Exam." They also offer their users the Best-in-Class background check process for peace of mind.
In addition to these services, NannyPro.com offers plenty of information on childcare for those interested on their site.
Interested in NannyPro.com? Want a nanny or babysitter of your own?
Enter my NannyPro.com Giveaway,
and receive a FREE 4 month subscription, by doing the following:
- Leave a comment on this post,
- Follow The Chatty Momma on Twitter.
- Follow NannyPro.com on Twitter.
- Friend NannyPro.com on Facebook.
Being as though I am a mom of two busy little girls, ages 1 and 3, I don't have time to spend shopping for 200 different ingredients and whipping up all kinds of extravagant meals from scratch.
I'm "domestically challenged" anyway, so that wouldn't happen if I wasn't so busy. (but thats neither here nor there. Just sayin'...)
That is what attracts me to this awesome resource for Crock-Pot lovers like me.
Crockpot- The Original Slow Cooker: 3 Books in 1
Wow, what a timesaver, a lifesaver, a "mommy" brain saver!
Anyone can use this book, from beginner slow-cookers to to the "well seasoned" (that's kinda funny, right? Nod your head.)
The best part about this product, is that you're getting 3 books for the price of 1.
- Chicken
- 5 Ingredients or Less
- Soups and Stews
What a bargain!
Since starting a quest to master the art of Crock-Pot cooking, I think this resource is exactly what I need, as I look for more and more recipes to prepare in The Chatty Crock-Pot.
Are you a slow-cooker?
Recently, I downloaded an app on my iPhone called "ShakeSmoothie"
It's the perfect app for smoothie lovers like me. (I could survive on Smoothie King alone!)
The motto, "Chewing is overrated!" is best lived out by those with blenders, because truth be told, buying these drinks out at $5-7 each gets expensive!
Save big, and enjoy trying this delicious smoothie (one of my favorite flavors) at home:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups milk
2 large bananas
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup honey
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
Makes: 3 servings
Have an iPhone? You can download the app at: shakesmoothie on the iPhone
Want more recipes? Visit me at "The Chatty Crock-Pot",
and smell what I'm cooking!
According to a recent study reported by Mashable, 92% of toddlers have an online presence. What does that say about us as parents?
I cannot tell a lie. I set up an email account as soon as my daughter Isabella was born for the sole purpose of securing her cyber real estate. Ten years ago, you could reserve your name and web page in your name with hardly any problems, other than the occasional squatter.
These days you have to add numbers like 007, 2486, and 5000 behind your name, because chances are someone already is using it on nearly every email provider and now social network, blog, etc...
ie. sarah4567545@gmail.com
Reserving my kids space on the World Wide Web was just securing her own piece of real estate online for the future. (That's what I tell myself)
At first, I had plans to use her accounts and update family with her blog and so on, but I soon found that blogging can be a full time job, and EVERY detail of her life wasn't meant for writing about. At least not by me. I'll let her pick up that workload when she's ready. She's 3 now, so maybe in 4 years. (that sounds about right, huh?)
LOL
Kids these days are getting online earlier and earlier, so it's no surprise that parents are creating their own personal spaces for them.
What about you? Does your child have his/her own space on the net? If not, check and see if their own space is available. Is it?
View the Most Popular Baby Names according to the US Government.
It's fall again and it's time to hang up our harvest decor and send out invitations to the many family celebrations and neighborhood parties that we are known to throw during this season.
As you prepare for these parties you may be asking yourself, “What can I do to entertain my guests?”
The food is easy, the decorations are somewhat easy, but the activities can be a lot harder to plan with guests of different ages attending.
What activities or fun can you provide to engage everyone, no matter what age they are?
Allow me to introduce Python Printable Games!
Recently, I had the opportunity to review their huge Halloween party games pack and printable Thanksgiving Party Games pack!
Each pack included over 30 printable items, including scavenger hunts, trivia, party games and craft activities suitable for Fall Harvest and Thanksgiving: even NFL games for the guys to play in the evening!
What I like about having games to download is they are stored on my computer for me to print out at my leisure. No more storing game boxes and puzzle pieces on my shelves! The games are also easy to dispose of after parties or gatherings. Who needs more clutter?
Here is a preview of just a few games I received:
- Newlywed Game Questions For Halloween
- Halloween Name That Candy Bar Game
- Halloween Synonyms Game For Kids
- Chew On This Candy Names Game
- Trick Or Treat Halloween Trivia Questions
- Food Fight! Thanksgiving Mad Libs
- Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt For Kids
The price per pack is $19.95, for over 50 enjoyable games for kids, teens, and adults. The best part about buying from Python is their games are environmentally friendly. No shipping or packaging is required!
All of Python’s Thanksgiving printables and Halloween printables are delivered to customers via download. Once you pay for your selected party pack, you will receive an email link to a page to download and print your games.
Click here to download (for FREE) Fall Harvest and Thanksgiving coloring pages, plus get a $5 coupon on $19.95 or higher cart total.
The products mentioned were provided to me for review purposes.
I was not compensated in any way.
All opinions and statements in this review are my own.
This Product Was a Free Giveaway
I was not compensated in any way.
All opinions and statements in this review are my own.
Did you know that October 6-12, 2010, is "International Babywearing Week"?
Well it is in fact, and in honor of this special time, I'd like to dedicate this post to my kids for being my babywearing inspiration and to Moby Wrap for their awesomely designed wrap, which keeps my baby comfortable and secure, while I wear her!
October 1, 2010
Headed to a mall lunch & playdate in our Moby Wrap
I purchased my Moby Wrap last Wednesday at Babies R Us, and I am so glad I did!
Baby has been as comfortable as ever and I feel a lot more freedom to get things done when she doesn't want to be separated from me.
Since last week, while wearing baby in my Moby Wrap I have:
- Taken the girls shopping, and instead of putting toddler in basket, I put her in the seat!
- Done the laundry!
- Made chocolate lollipops for The Chatty Daddy with toddler!
- Taken the girls to lunch and a playdate at the mall!
- Attended a jazz festival!
- Enjoyed a family dinner at a restaurant!
- Taken a long family walk in the cold around the lake!
Life is better, babywearing!
It's International Babywearing Week,
"WEAR" is your baby?
For more info on babywearing and International Babywearing Week, click here!
(photo coming soon)
Beef stew has always been one of my favorite meals. Meat, veggies, and
chunky potatoes in a pot, yummy!
Funny, I had never made it before.
Now, with my new quest to learn the art of Crock-Pot cooking and chronicling my adventures over at The Chatty Crock-Pot and participating in Latina on a Mission's "Sabroso Saturday", I will enjoy making it today.
Thanks to the folks over at Razzle Dazzle Recipes for the recipe!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1 to 2 pounds stew meat
1 10 1/2 ounce can tomato soup
1 soup can water
1 onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
4 medium potatoes, pared and cubed
3 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/4 cup dry red wine or water
Directions:
Mix soup, water, basil, salt, pepper and onion.
Add meat, potatoes and carrots.
Put in crockpot on low for about 6 to 8 hours.
Servings 4 to 5
Want more recipes? Visit me at "The Chatty Crock-Pot",
and smell what I'm cooking!
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