Monday, December 12, 2011
Adding a simple twist to every day meals for your little one can be healthy and fun.
It’s easy to fall into a rut when it comes to meals, especially when time is limited. Most evenings you want what is fast and uncomplicated. When you add picky eaters to the mix, the rut-factor is doubled. My sweet, naive pre-parent self asserted that this would not happen. I would encourage my child to develop diverse and healthful tastes! He/she will eat vegetables! And sushi! And tofu! Cut to the reality that is toddlerhood, where chicken nuggets and mac ‘n cheese are king. Toddlers are notoriously choosy about what goes on their plate and into their mouths. I have found that simply adding a few ingredients to basic every-day meals can make all the difference. Chicken nuggets are an obvious kid favorite. In a stroke of genius (and fit …
Monday, December 5, 2011
Gifts for kids that parents will love and hate you for.
There are certain toys that will send parents running for the ibuprofen. During the holiday season, the phrase “Some Assembly Required” is like a dirty word in most households with young children. And I’ve been known to plot the mysterious disappearance of anything with loud repetitive sounds or flashing lights. Maybe I asked for it. In my pre-parent days I purchased a drum and tambourine set for my niece, thinking I was helping to expand her creative side, not realizing that I had given her parents the gift of incessant noise. They turned to me with pleading faces and rolling eyes, even making the vague threat, “I can’t wait until you have kids. Pay back.” I’ve learned my lesson. At this point our son is not quite at the age where he is …
Monday, November 7, 2011
Using technology and proper planning to get shopping out of the way
Perhaps I’m jumping the gun covering the topic of holiday shopping in early November. But since the winter weather has already hit us with its first punch, I figure it’s time to get a head start on the holiday season too. There are huge advantages to shopping early. One is avoiding the December chaos and constant crowds at every mall. After you’ve already finished shopping, driving by a packed parking lot instead of fighting for a spot comes with a certain smug sense of pride. Starting early also takes the edge off the inevitable budget strain of the season. Spending money over a number of months is much less painful than dropping it all at once. And when everyone is still cramming in their shopping the week before Christmas, those …
LV
12:13 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011
I love the mini chicken parm idea! The only problem is that it violates TWO clauses of the picky eater rule book: 1. No sauce and 2. Don't EVER let two types of food touch each other. I'll eat chicken, and I'll eat cheese, but I will NOT eat cheese ON my chicken. more ›