Tips and Tricks to Effective Parenting

Sale On Children's Learning Materials

2012-02-02T09:02:00.000+08:00

I don't know if you've heard of CurrClick. It is a website that sells curriculum and you'll find all sorts of learning materials there such as lap books, printables, unit studies etc....

Well, I got a whisper telling me that they're having a sale right now. It's a WHISPER SALE and so, it's a little hush hush. They only tell it to a few special people and we get to tell it to people we think are special enough to know :) The sale is on a secret page on their website.

Since I consider all who come to my blog very special people, I'm going to tell you where that secret sales page is...

http://www.currclick.com/cclick_wintersale.php

IMPORTANT:
To qualify for the discount, you must add items to your cart FROM THE SPECIAL SALES PAGE.
The sales end on 16th February 2012.

You can whisper this sale to someone else.
Happy shopping.

You Can Reduce the Risk Of SIDS

2012-02-01T17:37:00.000+08:00

My heart goes out to this mother who lost her baby to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). I could feel my heart break as I heard her sobs as she talked. In this video, she is campaigning to raise awareness about the problem. If you're going to be a mother, a new mother or old mother, give your ear for a few minutes and listen to how you can reduce the risk of SIDS.

p.s. If you didn't know, there are baby monitors for SIDS. They alert you when baby stops breathing.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2012-01-26T00:01:00.001+08:00

Have you neglected the memorable photos you've been taking? Well, take some time this weekend to do some digital scrapbook. You don't have to scrapbook all the photos at once. You can start by making 1-2 scrap pages every week. Not much time to spare? Then use quick pages where the scrapbook layout has been done for you already. Just plop in your photos and write a few words (if you want to).

Here's a free kit to get you going. Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 4 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

Digital scrapbook is not only a hobby for adults but for kids too. I'd rather see my kids using the computer to scrapbook than to play mindless games. MyMemories Suite is a very easy scrapbook software to learn. Even children know how to use it (well, my kids do). You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Let me know if you finish a scrapbook. I would love to see it. Just leave a comment below.

Resolve to get the family to snack smarter

2012-01-23T06:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - The new year is a great time for families to make a fresh start. Families can now reflect on eating habits and resolve to start the year with a smarter plate.

Finding snacks that fit into a new food plan is not easy, and eating between meals is often a reason why families fall short of their promise to eat better. In fact, Americans often turn to decadent treats throughout the day. And with today's busy households, kids just aren't getting adequate levels of vitamins and minerals.

So, how can parents face the challenge to improve the family's eating habits while finding treats that everyone will actually want to eat? The good news is snacking can complement any healthy lifestyle plan. Today's families can find success with a more general, practical approach to snacking.

Focus on current eating habits and adopt these simple tips now to get ready for the new year.

Satisfy with healthier options
Kids love their sweet treats. But in order to keep fruits and vegetables viable options for snack time, steer toward foods like oranges, tomatoes or baby carrots. Or top cereal or granola with their favorite fruit for added fiber. These are simple, yet delicious, suggestions that everyone will expect as a regular option during snack time over the long term.

Choose nutrient-rich favorites
Snacks can not only taste good but be nutritious too, according to Mike Bloom, vice president of marketing for Suncore Products. Families can replace indulgent treats that have little to no nutritional value with those packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber. "It's no surprise that kids like sweet snacks, but that doesn't mean they have to satisfy their sweet tooth with empty calories. WhoNu? Nutrition Rich Cookies offer a delicious treat that look and taste just like family favorite cookies while still providing essential nutrition," Bloom says. WhoNu? Cookies are packed with more than 20 essential vitamins and minerals, plus three grams of dietary fiber in every serving.

Create a snack center
It is easier to choose healthier snacks if your refrigerator and pantry are well-stocked with foods that are tasty and nutritious. When wholesome options are easily accessible in the home, you are more likely to skip the decadent treats. Organize a snack center so kids can grab and go. Parents can track snack options, and kids can have the freedom to make sound eating choices.

Be aware of serving size
Pay attention to "better for you" snacks that offer the most nutritional value per serving. Also, encourage the family to avoid eating from the bag. Instead, become aware of portion size. Learn more about the family's favorite snacks by measuring them out and checking the nutrition labels. Eventually, you'll be able to better understand portions and know just how much to serve.

Interest them in shopping
Shop around and stock your kitchen with a variety of foods. Minimize the number of empty calorie snacks you purchase. Get the entire family involved by allowing the kids to help choose which snacks should fill your shopping cart. Have them create a list of snack items, and use the time to talk about nutrition.

Coupled with a balanced diet filled with fruits and vegetables, snacks can complement any healthy lifestyle plan. Changing old habits can be difficult. But it is an attainable goal. With small and simple changes, a smarter snack resolution is easier than you think.

For more smart, easy and family-friendly snack ideas, visit www.whonucookies.com or find WhoNu? Cookies on Facebook to exchange New Year's resolution tips with other fans.

Make Your Own Piping Bag

2012-01-21T06:00:00.003+08:00

Last week was my son's birthday. I decided to make the cake myself. Normally I don't do any cake decorating but decided to be a bit adventurous this time. At the baking shop, I spotted a bag of Angry Birds props. Since my boys are Angry Birds fans, I thought they would like that on the cake. So, in the end, this is what the birthday cake looked like.

I admit I'm not really the crafty person. I'll have to learn how to do better piping :)

Anyway, if you want to try to a little cake decorating but never really done it before, here's a video tutorial on how to make your own piping bag. You can easily make one with grease paper, baking paper or parchment paper.

Give it a try. Doesn't matter if it doesn't look that great in the beginning. Your kid will appreciate your effort.

p.s. For more information and instructions on cake decorating, click my affiliate link here ---> YummyArts

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2012-01-19T00:01:00.002+08:00

Are photos just taking up storage space on your computer? Do you keep on snapping photos and then leave it to be forgotten on your harddisk? Why not make a nice scrapbook? It is real easy to do when you use Quick Pages and here's a free kit you can use. MyMemories is very kind to supply a free kit every week. So, bookmark my blog and come back every week to get a new free kit. Very soon you'll have a collection of beautiful scrap pages.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 5 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

I know many people use Photoshop to do digital scrapbooking but you need time to learn how to use that software. If you want something easier, I highly recommend MyMemories Suite. It didn't take me long to learn how to use it. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Drop me a comment if you've done a scrap. I would love to see it.

What's in store at your supermarket: Top 10 food trends for 2012

2012-01-18T06:00:00.002+08:00

(ARA) - Last year's high grocery prices had many Americans looking for ways to save at the supermarket. The upswing in prices over the past 12 months may have you wondering what will happen this year at your local grocery store.

In partnership with ConAgra Foods, industry expert, and "Supermarket Guru," Phil Lempert, predicts an interesting year ahead.

"We will continue to see higher prices, but we will also see all the different ways Americans love their food - in supermarkets, on television, at restaurants and now even on their mobile phones," Lempert says. "We are on the verge of what may be one of the most exciting and game-changing years in the food world."

Lempert advises consumers to watch for 10 major trends in their supermarkets this year:

1. Higher food prices - Last year's trend will continue, so consumers will place even more emphasis on ways to save money. In addition to already-popular methods like coupons and frequent shopper cards, you may want to consider using your mobile device to menu plan while you shop. Websites like ConAgra's ReadySetEat.com give you recipe ideas and can also help you find out which ingredients are on sale in your store.

2. The group experience will grow - Food blogs set a foundation for group experiences, food trucks tweet their locations, and flash food raves assemble underground at midnight. More Americans are choosing to eat and shop together in new ways. Mobile app marketers will offer "social rewards" for groups that shop together - think of it as the virtual version of warehouse clubs.

3. The baby boomer influence will grow - Last year, the first of the 76 million-strong boomer generation turned 65. Their influence on the supermarket will show up this year in increased healthful food options, wider aisles and lower shelves.

4. Increased emphasis on "farm to fork" - More Americans are interested in knowing where the food comes from. In 2012, you'll see more blogs and social media featuring farmers, as well as advertising and TV programs starring farmers as food experts. Hunt's tomatoes, for example, are grown in Oakdale, California and harvested at the peak of ripeness then flash-steamed to maintain the natural tomato goodness.

5. The end of the checkout lane - Tech-savvy options are gaining popularity, with consumers enjoying self-checkouts, comparing prices at nearby retailers, and taking advantage of the convenience of cellphone scanners, in-store interactive media devices, QR codes, RFID and mobile coupons.

6. Ethnic on the road - Food trucks are replacing gourmet and specialty stores as the channel to experiment and discover new food experiences - especially when it comes to ethnic foods. More often than not, these ethnic food trucks are operated by natives of the countries from which the actual cuisines being offered originated, and they have the ability and knowledge to share the heritage and romance of the food.

7. It's a man's (grocery shopping) world - Dads aren't just winning the bread; these days, they're also bringing it home from the grocery store. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 41 percent of men are now preparing food for their families, as compared to half that percentage in 2003. Look for them to do more grocery shopping, too, Lempert predicts.

8. Extreme home cooking - More people will continue to eat at home to save money. Following the lead of extreme couponers, groups of everyday cooks pride themselves on making the most food for the least amount of money.

9. How sweet it isn't - Reduced sugar products and revised Nutrition Facts panels will be the biggest health claim in 2012. With the negative health effects of sugar and high fructose corn syrup gaining so much attention, look for a continued emphasis on reducing sugar in our diets. Food producers like ConAgra are responding by eliminating high fructose corn syrup from such staples as Peter Pan peanut butter and Hunt's Ketchup products.

10. Listen to your food - You judge the readiness of some foods (like microwave popcorn or grilled burgers), by the sounds they make. Multisensory perception will be one of the new "food sciences" in 2012, as psychologists and food scientists join forces to design, create and influence the sounds of our foods to convey freshness, taste and even health attributes.

For more information about Phil Lempert's 2012 predictions, visit SupermarketGuru.com, and for simple meal ideas made in 30 minutes or less, visit ReadySetEat.com.

Making Egg Tarts

2012-01-17T00:09:00.000+08:00

Looks like my baking mood decided to stick around for a while. I bought the egg tart moulds last month and finally decided to give it a go. It was really yummy.

Here, meet my teacher:

All the way from Hong Kong! Hahahah.
The first time I followed her recipe, I had quite a bit of leftover egg filling. So the second time I made it, I doubled the pastry recipe. That gave me 25 egg tarts which were quickly devoured by my dinosaurs.

Here is the recipe for your convenience. For directions, just watch the video.

Egg tart pastry:
140g butter (I used 1/3 butter, 2/3 Planta margerine)
1/2 an egg
70g icing sugar
200g flour
(This pastry recipe gives you about 12 egg tarts.)

Egg tart filling:
140g sugar
300ml water
4 eggs
80ml evaporated full cream milk

Happy Baking!

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2012-01-12T00:01:00.002+08:00

It is scrapbook time. Have you been scrapping? If you haven't tried it before but want to, here's a free kit to get your started. Quick pages are the easiest way to scrapbook. All the designing work has been done for you, all you have to do is plop in your pictures. Of course, you can add more embellishments and journaling to give it your unique touch. The kit you see below is only available this week. Come back next week and you'll see a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 5 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

MyMemories Suite is a digital scrapbook software that allows you to design a scrapbook page with ease. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

If you did a scrapbook with this kit, let me know. Just leave a comment below. I would love to see it.

Who would you rather die first?

2012-01-09T05:00:00.003+08:00

Today my mom told me that my back neighbor had passed away. It feels weird, and tragic, that the lady I see walking her children to school every morning is suddenly gone. We were told it was due to an accident. I believe she has 6 children.

This got me thinking about my kids. Would they be better off if I died first or their dad? I know, I know... such a morbid topic. Anyway, I posed my question to my kids just to see how their minds work.

So, I went to each of them and asked this hypothetical question:
"If an angel appeared to you and told you that one of your parents need to die and he gave you the opportunity to choose which parent it should be, which would you choose?"

K: I don't know. Don't ask me to answer such question. Both also I don't want dead. Don't force me to answer.
D1: I'll choose mommy (answered hesitantly coz' he thought I'd get angry). Because I'm a boy and you know... boy with boy (meaning he still has a dad to bond with and show him the ropes). Plus, daddy earns the money (smart kid, as I suspected).
D2: I choose daddy. Because he is older (what do you expect from a 4 year old?)

Anyway, in my situation, I think my kids are better off if I died first. I agree with D1; Daddy earns the money and so if he died first, our family would not have to go through a major, major change. If I died first, the family would not suffer financially. And fortunately we still have grandparents that can help take care of them. Of course they would miss me but I don't think their life would be turned upside down.

What are your thoughts on this? Who would you rather die first, you or your spouse?

p.s. Just to make things clear, this is just a hypothetical question. It is not about making death wishes. Please do not be offended.

Scrapbook Freebie

2012-01-06T23:30:00.000+08:00

Usually the scrapbook freebies are posted on Thursdays. So, sorry for the delay this week. But it is available now and I hope you like it. Download it now because next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 6 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

You may not think you can "scrapbook" - but with Quick Pages it is easy to just layer your photos behind the page, add a little journaling, and voila - ready for printing or saving for the web!

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

I use MyMemories Suite when I scrapbook. It is very easy to use. Version 3 was just launched. It is now better and has more features. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

I would like to see your scrapbooks. Do drop me a note here and let me know where I can see your work.

Hope to hear from you soon and happy scrapping!

About Kids and Chicken Pox

2012-01-06T00:30:00.000+08:00

Early December one of my kids started to break out in spots. No doubt it was the chicken pox. 2 weeks later, my other three kids also became spotty. So for more than 3 weeks now, we've been anti-social because we do not want to spread it to other people. We've had to skip a Christmas party and people at church are probably wondering if we've become lost sheep.

Now that I've gone through the ordeal, I thought I'd share what I learned.

1. My first two kids were vaccinated for chicken pox when they were babies. Obviously, it is not 100% protection. So do not assume that once vaccinated, they are immune for life.

2. They say if you get chicken pox and you've been vaccinated before, you won't suffer too badly. That was true for my son D1 but not really for my daughter K. D1 had very little spots but K had a fair amount. My youngest girl, babyK (2 years old) had very few spots and she wasn't vaccinated. Worst hit was D2. He was not vaccinated. This is the picture of his back.

3. Besides fever, the kids will also have a sore throat. It even hurts for them to swallow water. They may complain of some body ache like leg pain. My girl K was very fatigue and felt dizzy most of the time.

4. I put calamine lotion on their body but they didn't like it. They said it didn't help much with the itching either. I boiled barley water and pak-chi-cho (chinese herbal drink) to cool down their body. My girl said after drinking, the itching isn't as bad. Oh, almost forgot to mentioned that the doctor prescribed an antihistamin (Alleryl or Piriton) to help with the itching too.

5. Another idea that helped with the itching was rubbing ice on the itchy spots. I gave my girl an ice cube and wrapped it in a handkerchief. Instead of scratching, she rubbed the ice on the spots.

6. Make sure they drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.

7. The chicken pox has an incubation period of about 2-3 weeks. When D1 was having it, my other 3 kids didn't show any symptoms until 2 weeks later.

Some questions you may have:

When is the chicken pox contagious?
I thought it was when the spots start to dry up and flake off. BUT apparently, a person is contagious even 2 days before the spots appear.

Can you spread the chicken pox virus even though you've already had it before but you are now in contact with your child who has it?
My friend said yes and that was because she contracted chicken pox from a mom whose baby was having the chicken pox. The idea is that you are carrying the virus even though you are not infected with it. However, some people say no because the antibodies in your body would have destroyed the virus already. I don't know the right answer but I would rather be safe than sorry. I don't want others blaming me for passing the chicken pox around. That's why my family's social life came to a stand still when the chicken pox started.

Is a chicken pox party a good idea?
My idea of a chicken pox party is for kids already infected with the pox to get together to have some fun. The original idea of a chicken pox party is for healthy kids to mix around with infected kids so they too can be infected and get the pox over with. Many health experts are not in favor of this. They say you never know when the chicken pox could get complicated. So why purposely expose your child to it. Here's a video on that matter.

video platform video management video solutions video player
So yes, please do not do the chicken pox infected lollipops thing okay?

Are your kids vaccinated against the chicken pox?

What to do with minty candy canes your children don't eat

2012-01-04T16:37:00.000+08:00

When I was at university, I loved to buy minty hot chocolate. It was my favorite, especially during the winter days. Unfortunately, I can't get them here in my country. BUT, there is still another way for me to enjoy it.

I got a packet of candy canes for Christmas. Since my kids don't like the minty canes, in they go into my hot chocolate every morning. By the time I finish my drink, there's still a tiny sliver left of candy cane.

If you've never had this, try it. If you love mint, you'll love mint hot chocolate.

Happy New Year, Let's Move On

2012-01-03T06:00:00.002+08:00

So, the New Year is here. Let us not be like Lot's wife who looked back. Let our hearts not linger in the past but focus on the future. Let us learn from our mistakes and become better this new year. Enjoy the video.

Make New Year's resolutions close to home

2012-01-02T06:00:00.003+08:00

(ARA) - As each year comes to a close, people begin to make resolutions - typically, vowing to start something new in the year ahead, such as lose weight, get a new job, start volunteering and so on. Making resolutions is easy; the hard part is keeping them. However, there are a few things you can do at home that might actually help you achieve some of your New Year's goals. Start 2012 on the right foot with this list of easy home updates and tips to help conquer your New Year's resolutions.

Develop better eating habits

* Research shows that people tend to eat less when surrounded by the color blue. Repaint your kitchen or dining room in a blue hue to help naturally suppress your appetite. And, painting is a great way to tone your arms if you also resolve to get in shape. Once the paint dries, clean out your pantry and replace any high-calorie or fatty foods with healthier options.

Help the environment

* Growing concern for the environment prompts many people to resolve to be more green. Your refrigerator runs all day, every day, which accounts for a large percentage of your home's energy usage. Keeping your refrigerator's thermostat set between 38 and 42 degrees will help save energy and keep your food from spoiling.

Give to others or volunteer

* Clean out your closets and collect any gently used items you and your family no longer use or need. There are a number of national and local organizations that accept clothing donations; some will even pick up the items directly from your home. Beyond clothing, consider giving previously used toys, games, books or materials for crafts to the local hospital or day care center.

Spend more time with family and friends

* After a long day at work or school, not to mention all of life's other activities and events, the last thing you want to do is spend your downtime cleaning your home. Look for household products and tools that keep cleaning time to a minimum. The AccuClean(TM) whole-home air filtration system from American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning attaches to your furnace or air handler to reduce dust accumulation in the home by more than 50 percent, which means you'll spend less time cleaning and have more time for your family and friends.

Learn something new

* One of the most common resolutions centers around conquering a fear or trying something new. Take a look at your home and challenge yourself to tackle home improvement projects on your own. Finish an unfinished basement, build an outdoor play space for the kids or renovate a bathroom. Not only will you conquer any do-it-yourself fears, but any revamp of your home will only add to its value and resale potential.

Keeping New Year's resolutions can certainly be a challenge, so it's important to set yourself up for success. First, set specific and realistic goals; and don't be scared to break bigger goals into a series of smaller steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Most important, have a strategy for setbacks - we all slip up from time to time, but the key is to get back on track. It's been said that four out of five people who make New Year's resolutions eventually break them. Prove the statistics wrong and make this the year you keep your resolutions.

Pineapple Tart All Year Round

2011-12-30T17:13:00.000+08:00

Now that Chinese New Year is only weeks away, you see all the CNY goodies out for sale. That includes the yummy pineapple tarts. I luuuurve pineapple tarts. My mom too and she has asked me several times to learn how to make it (so she can enjoy eating it).

There's something about the Christmas season that gets me baking. So I finally picked up my lazy bones and attempted to make pineapple tarts. Finding the right recipe is very important. I settled to follow the recipe shared by Food 4 Tots (they have beautiful pictures too). So far I've tried baking this tart 3 times. The following are the tarts on my 3rd attempt.

After receiving valuable advice from pro pineapple tart bakers, I chose to combine margarine and butter to make the pastry. So now I have the kind of pastry that doesn't crumble in your hand but melts in your mouth.

Here's the recipe that I use for the pastry.

150g margarine (Planta was recommended), 100g butter (At room temperature. Use unsalted butter if you want less salt).
50g icing sugar
2 egg yolks
360g all purpose flour
2 tbsp corn flour
1/4tsp salt

Directions:
Use a mixer to cream butter and icing sugar (sift it first) until light.
Add in the egg yolks and the salt. Keep beating until fluffy.
In a separate bowl, sift the flour. Mix in the corn flour.
Fold in the dry ingredients (flour) gradually into the wet mixture (butter, sugar, eggs). You don't need to use a cake mixer here. Just use a spoon, wooden spatula or maybe even your fingers to mix everything into a firm dough.
Leave the dough aside for 30 minutes.

Okay, so that is the pastry. What about the pineapple filling? Well, I'm not so hardworking to grate the pineapple and cook it myself. I bought a packet of ready made from the DoReMi bakery here in Sikamat, S'ban. The sales girl said many people have tried it and said its good. She wasn't lying. Their filling was better than the one I bought at another bakery in town. That one was too sweet. The DoReMi one is not as sweet.

How to put the pineapple tart together? Just watch this video. Even a 5 year old can do it.

Basically, you take the pineapple jam and make little oblong balls. Do this while you are letting your dough rest.

To make the strips of dough, a pastry press helps. I got my plastic one at the bakery shop. Make sure you get the right pattern - one that makes stripes on the dough. I think it is called a Nastar mould.

After assembling the pineapple tarts, brush the tops with eggwash (1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp milk) and bake it for 15 minutes at 180 degrees celcius.

Mamas Baking Tips

Get your kids to help you roll the pineapple jam into balls. Older kids can help roll the pastry around the jam.
When your hands get sticky rolling the jam, just wash your hands. Clean hands makes the work easier and faster. This may mean you will be washing your hands a few times.
Use a baking sheet or grease paper to avoid the dough from sticking to the table surface.
To get them all about the same size, you have to have about the same measurement for each ball of jam. I used a 1/4 tsp to scoop up the jam. If you want bigger tarts, maybe 1/2 tsp of jam.
It is very tiring for one person to do it all. Get help if you can... grandma, kids or DH (I doubt he will say yes though).

Now I can have pineapple tarts all year round. Woohoo!

Oh, almost forgot... Happy New Year everyone.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-12-29T00:01:00.001+08:00

Are you ready to do some scrapbooking? Thanks to MyMemories, you can get these kits for free. Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This pack includes 5 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

If you are looking for a digital scrapbook software, I highly recommend MyMemories Suite. It is very easy to use and it doesn't take long to learn how to use it. Version 3 was just launched. It is now better and has more features. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

I hope you enjoy this week's layout. If you don't want to run out of scrapbooking layout ideas, bookmark my website and come back every week for a fresh layout.

Keeping a Birthday Party Simple and Fun

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000+08:00

By guest blogger: Melissa C.

My daughter just turned six last month, and I decided to go all out for her birthday. My husband and I rented a moon bounce for our backyard and hired a clown. We got some Mario Brothers party supplies and bought some extra controllers for our Wii, so all the kids could play their favorite video games when they got tired from jumping on the moon bounce.

The party was a lot of fun, but it wasn’t any more fun than far simpler birthday parties we’ve thrown. In fact, it was a little more stressful. Two kids bumped heads on the moon bounce and ended up crying. The clown scared one of the children, and that child hid in my daughter’s bedroom until the clown was done performing. Some of the children fought over taking turns to play video games.

I think my husband and I both realized this year that we’d prefer to keep things simple and spend less money for future birthday parties. In our experience, there are only a few essential things you need to make a birthday party a success. Here’s what they are:

1. A place for the kids to run around outside – Video games are good, but sunshine is better. Kids can play tag or Simon Says for hours, and they’ll love every moment of it.

2. An arts and crafts project – Schools have cut funding for the arts dramatically. My daughter only gets to go to art class once a week at her school. Kids really love to express themselves creativity and use their hands to make things. A group of kids is usually delighted by something as simple as making things out of Play-Doh.

3. A camera – Kids absolutely love to have their pictures taken with their friends and family members.

4. Parents – The birthday boy or girl obviously benefits from having his or her parents involved in the party. The parents of other children at the party are also a helpful addition. The more adults, the better. Adults can help keep the kids busy, safe, and entertained.

5. A homemade cake – Store-bought cakes don’t taste as good and often contain way more sugar than homemade cakes. Every child’s birthday party benefits from a cake baked from scratch, with love.

Tips for smooth and successful holiday travel

2011-12-26T06:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - Planning a surprise visit to Grandma and Grandpa for the holidays or a family trip to celebrate the new year? Holiday travel can be stressful, but with some careful planning, it can be full of joy, instead of headaches. Check out these holiday travel tips to help you get through this busy time with ease.

* Avoid peak travel dates. You will often find the best prices and lowest numbers of travelers if you fly on the holiday itself instead of the day(s) before. If possible, travel on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and avoid a return flight on the Sunday evening after a holiday weekend. Choose wisely the time of day you travel as well. As a rule, airports are least congested in the mornings and later at night.

* Be flexible and have a positive attitude. The No. 1 rule while traveling over the holidays is to be prepared for the unknown and have back-up plans. It's always smart to anticipate and plan for delays. Pack extra snacks, a good book, your cellphone charger, games for the kids and try to relax if you are faced with an unplanned event. Do not dread the flight. Children, even babies, pick up on tension, stress and anxiety and react to it. Be prepared and flexible, and take the opportunity to enjoy the journey and teach your kids new things. Point out new sounds, smells, people, scenes and even sizes of airplanes on the runway.

* Pack wisely. Decide well in advance of your flight if you will check or carry on your luggage and plan accordingly. If you decide to carry on, be sure to follow TSA rules about liquids and don't stuff your bag over its capacity. Kids can unknowingly delay you through security, so remember to always check kids' carry-on bags for any liquids, gels, etc. before you head out to the airport. If you opt to check luggage, be prepared to pay extra fees and again, pack as light as possible so you can manage your luggage.

* Carry on the essentials. Carry a backpack as your personal item in order to keep your hands free. Make sure it's filled with essentials for you and your family. The contents of your carry-on should cover hunger, thirst, boredom, spills, sickness, fear, tiredness and medical emergencies. Remember multiple diapers, an extra change of clothes and your little one's favorite stuffed animal. If you're traveling with an infant who is nursing, bring the new Boppy Travel Pillow. It's a full-sized, compact version of the award-winning original Boppy Pillow and is designed so Mom can feed baby comfortably anytime, anywhere. The Travel Boppy Pillow folds into a small and sleek travel bag and even snaps right on to a stroller and therefore is not considered an extra carry-on bag.

* Become a tech savvy traveler. Take advantage of technology. Whenever possible, print your boarding passes at home or use check-in kiosks. The earlier you check in, the better seats you will get. Think about doing your holiday shopping online and having your gifts shipped to your destination. This will cut down on luggage and the risk of gifts getting lost. Have the airlines send you an email or call you if your flight is delayed. Or, sign up for a service like Flight Tracker on your phone where you can get flight status updates within minutes. Make sure phones, music players, portable DVD players, etc. are fully charged and pack chargers for use at your destination.

* Make health a priority. Make sure that you and all family members wash hands, eat well and rest before you travel. Pack healthy snacks, hand sanitizer or wipes, tissues, etc.

* Leave early. Plan your journey to the airport accounting for enough time for long security lines, traffic, full parking lots, etc. and then give yourself an extra 30 minutes to help alleviate stress from any peripheral delays you may encounter.

* Practice makes perfect. If you're traveling with children, help to prepare them in advance for the journey by role playing and explaining things like removing shoes, putting all belongings (including blankets or stuffed animals) on the moving security belt, waiting patiently in line, etc.

If you do some planning in advance, you can arrive at your destination with a smile on your face instead of a headache.

You May Be Hurting Your Child With The Cry-It-Out Method

2011-12-23T06:00:00.006+08:00

One of the challenges of parenting is teaching our kids to sleep on their own. One method introduced by Dr. Richard Ferber is called the Ferber method but is also commonly known as the cry-it-out method. The idea is for children to learn how to soothe their self to sleep.

Here's a little bit more about this Ferber method:

You can start when your baby is around 4-6 months. They need to be ready physically and emotionally.
Establish a bedtime routine to prepare baby to sleep.
Put baby in bed when he/she is still awake, then leave the room.
If the baby cries, do not go back to comfort immediately but after a predetermined time. The time in which you go in to comfort the baby gradually is extended. So for example, on the first night you go in after 3 minutes of crying. The second time after 5 minutes, and thereafter every 10 minutes until baby is asleep. The second night, the time intervals are extended longer. For example, 5 minutes-10 minutes - 12 minutes.
When you go in to comfort the baby, you do not pick the baby up or feed. Patting and reassuring is okay.

This idea of "progressive waiting" is sometimes misunderstood. Some parents interpret it as leaving the baby to cry it out until he/she falls asleep, even if the crying goes on for hours. Ferber actually doesn't advocate such practice. On the contrary, "progressive waiting" actually requires the parents to comfort their baby frequently and not just abandon the baby.

Ferber's method is liked by some and scowled by others. Some say that it is not healthy to let a child cry for very long hours. Well, they may be right about that.

You might be interested to read an article at Psychology Today entitled "Dangers of “Crying It Out”. Here's another article at Ask Dr.Sears called "Science Says: Excessive Crying Could Be Harmful".

I'll just highlight some points about how crying-it-out could harm the baby:

Neurons in the baby's brain die.
We increase our baby's probability of having ADHD, experiencing poor school performance and antisocial behavior.
The early stress could lead to health problems later like irritable bowel syndrome.
It undermines the baby's ability to self regulate. Let me give you a quote here:
"When a baby gets scared and a parent holds and comforts him, the baby builds expectations for soothing, which get integrated into the ability to self comfort. Babies don't self-comfort in isolation. If they are left to cry alone, they learn to shut down in face of extensive distress--stop growing, stop feeling, stop trusting" (Henry & Wang, 1998).
Baby learns the world is not trustworthy and develops low confidence.

So, if you're wondering whether prolonged crying is good for your baby, here is something from the article you might want to ponder about:

"We know now that leaving babies to cry is a good way to make a less intelligent, less healthy but more anxious, uncooperative and alienated person who can pass the same or worse traits on to the next generation."

My parenting style leans more towards natural parenting. I had some people tell me that I shouldn't carry my babies too much or I might spoil them. I didn't do too well in listening to their advice. I used a sling and carried them often. I truly believe in the idea that our babies will be better off if we meet their needs instead of trying to teach them independence that early in life. Here is another quote from the Psychology Today article:

"We can confirm now that forcing "independence" on a baby leads to greater dependence. Instead, giving babies what they need leads to greater independence later."

So, what is your take on this? Have you tried the cry-it-out method in putting your baby to sleep? Do you agree that letting your baby cry it out is harmful or do you think that we can "spoil" the baby if always give in to their crying?

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-12-22T00:08:00.001+08:00

Here's your free scrapbook kit today from MyMemories. Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This pack includes 2 digital papers, 5 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

You can quickly scrapbook a page with quick pages. After all, that's why it called "quick" pages. You just need to plop in your photos and you're done. Of course you can add in more embellishments if you want. The 2 quick pages offered here makes a matching 2 page layout.

I find MyMemories Suite very easy to use. Version 3 was just launched. It is now better and has more features. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Cute Dad Shows You How To Use A Baby Sling

2011-12-21T10:12:00.000+08:00

This video has caused many mommy's hearts to flutter a bit. When it comes to babywearing, it is usually the mom who does it. You don't see many videos of dads demonstrating how to use a baby sling. Plus, almost everyone is agreeing that he is a hottie. Are you thinking the same?

Anyway, I posted this video here coz' I think this is a great inspiration to all dads. I've tried using the long baby sling wrap similar to what this dad is using. It has its good and bad points.

Good:

Feels nice and snug. It holds baby very well.
The weight distributes evenly on both shoulders. You won't feel any stress on the shoulders or back.
You can hold baby several ways: cradle, on the hip, on the back.

Bad:

The cloth is very long. It is a problem if you need to put it on in the parking lot or at the store as it hits the floor and might get dirty.
Not so suitable anymore when baby is bigger and heavier. The baby's weight will stretch the cloth a bit. You have to tie the cloth extra snug then.
If you are carrying your newborn in a cradle position, make sure his head doesn't get buried and the baby's airway is always clear. There is the danger of suffocation.

Some dads may think this kind of sling is a little troublesome to put on and take off. If you want to encourage your hubby to use a baby sling, it might help to get a sling that is simple to use and doesn't look to "girly". The Ergo Baby Carrier has many designs that are suitable for dads. Click on the link for my detailed review.

So, is your hubby open to using a baby sling? What kind of baby sling works best for you and hubby?

Rambutan Picnics

2011-12-20T06:00:00.001+08:00

My kids are very excited that the rambutans on our tree are starting to turn red. Actually, I'm the most excited. I've fond memories of feasting under this tree as a child. Of course, eating too much I would always end up coughing.

Well, my son caught me under the tree munching my heart out and whined "why didn't you invite me?" I then made a date with my kids to meet me under the rambutan tree at 5pm the next day. When the time came for our date, I walked out onto the garden and saw this (the picture above) greeting me. The kids brought out the picnic carpets and umbrellas (even though it wasn't hot) and was ready for their rambutan picnic.

Of course I had to do all the work and open the rambutans for them to eat. BUT it was an enjoyable time. There are still more rambutans turning red and I still sneak out to have a little snack. Although the recommended way to eat is to pluck a whole bunch, open them, wash them and chill them in the fridge, I feel they taste best and sweetest when eaten under the rambutan tree. I'm sure the mosquitoes agree I taste best that way too :)

MAMAS PARENTING TIP

It doesn't take much to make your children happy.
You don't need to spend a lot of money to make memories.

p.s: If you've never had rambutans before, you need to make a trip to Malaysia. We've got lots of yummy fruits. They are seasonal though so make sure you come at the right time.

Blast away the 'Mom, I'm bored' winter break blues

2011-12-19T06:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - Winter break from school used to mean a few lazy weeks spent indoors until boredom hit. This holiday season, parents can transform their family's winter break blues into excitement by offering children what they crave - fun and engaging activities that will keep their minds active (and they won't even know it).

As crazy as the holiday season can be, there are simple solutions for families who want to continue to exercise their children's minds and bodies during the winter break and beyond with age-appropriate, fun activities.

Be a camper
Seasonal camps, such as summer or winter camps, are specifically designed to offer a balance of fun and continued learning during transitional periods from school. While engaging children in activities they love, seasonal camps provide a simple solution for families who may need to work or simply catch up on holiday shopping and errands.

KinderCare, for example, offers a winter camp for both preschool and school-age children during the last two weeks in December. Children can explore the science of chemical reactions and learn about the magic of flight through educational and hands-on themed activities, including "Bubble Trouble," "Volcano Blast," "Helicopter Propellers," and "Balloon Rockets." KinderCare's winter camp activities also reinforce core learning areas such as language arts, math, science and creative expression.

Capture holiday memories through reading and writing
The holidays are a time to capture special memories when families spend more time together. Nothing is better than snuggling up to a great book with your child. Creating a holiday journal is another excellent way to preserve memories while participating in a creative, family-friendly activity. Studies have shown that even younger children enjoy exploring writing and that their scribbles and scrawls have meaning to them. This type of writing is called prewriting and it helps children develop language and literacy skills.

There are simple ways to foster children's creativity and inspire them to write during the holidays.

* Encourage "writing for a reason." Make writing a part of daily life whether writing holiday shopping lists together, writing brief descriptions of holiday pictures or photos, or planning holiday food menus together.

* Invite your child to dictate his or her story into a tape recorder, then write the story down and read it back to your child.

* Inspire an art book by encouraging your child to draw holiday memories. Then ask your child to describe his or her pictures and help him or her write the story that goes with the pictures.

"Focus on the intended meaning of what your child is trying to write instead of the appearance of the writing," explains Megan Riede, senior director of education programs for KinderCare. "Not only does this create bonding opportunities, but it also allows for new ways to support your child's learning during the holiday season."

Turn holiday chores into holiday cheer
Believe it or not, it's easy to turn seemingly daunting holiday tasks like cooking, decorating and wrapping gifts into family fun time. Think about creating kid-friendly games and activities out of your seasonal chores so that you can spend quality time together while checking off your to-do list. Each of these activities introduces children to more than just the task at hand.

1. Cooking and baking exposes children to measurements, mixing, and the properties of solids and liquids which help them learn about math and science. For example, you could ask your child to measure a cup of flour or show him or her how water and oil separate when in a bowl.

2. Wrapping packages can be an opportunity to discover and identify different shapes, sizes and patterns, as well as practice eye-hand coordination. For example, ask, "Which package is the biggest?" or "Which box is round in shape and which one is square in shape?" Have your child practice wrapping a gift for someone in the family with a pre-cut piece of wrapping paper.

The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to bond and make memories with loved ones while learning together. Whatever families choose to do this winter break, look for ways to expose your children to a myriad of age-appropriate activities that allow them to imagine, explore, have fun and keep learning while sharing in the holidays.

Sweet and Sour Sesame Chicken

2011-12-16T14:55:00.001+08:00

Cracking your head on what to cook for lunch or dinner? Add this dish to your menu: Sweet and Sour Sesame Chicken.

I found the recipe here and it tastes soooooo goooooood. Even my mom who hates to eat chicken breast meat said it was yummy. She even suggested that I add this dish to our Christmas and Chinese New Year dinner menu. It is not that difficult to do. Maybe just require some time to fry the chicken.

Okay, so if you're lazy to head over to BlogChef's website, here's a quick look at the recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

Chicken breast
Raw sesame seed
Spring onions (optional. some kids don't like it)

For marinade:

1 tsp chicken base - you can use crushed chicken bullion cubes. I used Maggi's concentrated chicken stock that comes in a bottle.
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sesame oil
Ground white pepper
1/4 tsp sugar
1 tbs fruit flavored wine (I omitted this coz' I don't have it. It was still super yummy).

For batter:

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
Beat 1 egg
1/2 cup water
3 tbs cornstarch
Pinch of salt
1 tbs vegetable oil

(The batter is not very thick. It is quite runny but it is thick enough to coat the chicken)

For sauce:

3 tbs honey
2 tbs sugar
Salt
2 tbs ketchup
1 tbs distilled vinegar
Ground black pepper

(When I was cooking, I asked my 10 year old daughter to put the sauce together. She did a great job. So, if you have older kids, you can encourage them to help you in the kitchen. Oh, I forgot to tell her about standard measurements. So she was using our dining tablespoon and heaping in the sugar. Thank goodness I stopped her just in time. Don't forget to tell your kids about using standard measuring tools when following a recipe.)

STEP 1: Marinade the chicken.
Cut up chicken breast into bite size or strips. Mix in the marinade ingredients. I marinated mine overnight but 1/2 hour is also okay.

STEP 2: Fry the chicken.
Dip the chicken into the batter and then fry in oil. Ideally you dip the chicken one by one before frying it. If you want to be quick, you can do what I did: I just poured the batter over the chicken meat and mixed it all up. Worked out okay for me. Fry till golden brown, maybe about 10 minutes depending on how hot your oil is. I prefer a medium fire. Too hot and the outside gets burned before the inside is cooked. Set the fried chicken pieces aside and drain the oil on paper towels.

STEP 3: Mix in the sauce.
Heat up the sauce for a few minutes. Stir until the sugar melts and sauce thickens slightly. Then dump in the fried chicken and mix it up with the sauce. Make sure everything is coated. Turn off the fire and sprinkle in the sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.

ENJOY!
Hope your family likes it as much as we do.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-12-15T00:01:00.003+08:00

It is freebie day. Download this week's free scrapbook kit and start scrapping away. Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 3 page elements and 2 quick pages.

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

I have been using MyMemories Suite to do my scrapbooks and I love it. It really makes scrapbooking simple. The version 3 was just launched. It is now better and has more features. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING
(Remember to use the discount code).

Happy Scrappin!

Five no-tech, imagination-boosting toys every child should have

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - Every year, lists fly around the Internet and airwaves, parents line up in stores and everyone talks about what the season's hottest toys will be. All the chatter can make it seem like everyone's forgotten the single most enduring "toy" at the disposal of every child - imagination.

Plenty of high-tech toys encourage creativity, but to really fire up a child's imagination it's hard to beat the power of timeless, classic toys that rely on a child's interaction rather than on electronics. This type of nostalgic toy can become a child's best friend, and parents will be happy their children have something that doesn't require batteries and doesn't stop working just because it's dropped a few times.

Here are five timeless, nostalgic, low-tech toys that every child should have:

1. A classic doll - Countless generations of little girls have fallen in love with a special doll. This is one toy that can serve many functions, from best friend and confidante to teacher and even role model. If some of today's brash, in-your-face styles of dolls leave you shaking your head, never fear: you can still find dolls that offer contemporary appeal combined with more homespun values. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, the popular family restaurant/retail store found across the country, recently introduced a line of rag dolls called Butterflies. Soft and cuddly, these 15-inch dolls of relatable characters, such as a ballerina, princess, cheerleader and schoolgirl, make a wholesome, imagination-inspiring addition to a little girl's toy box. Visit www.crackerbarrel.com/store/butterflies/ to learn more.

2. A wagon - Whether it's an old-fashioned metal one in fire-engine red or one of the modern, SUV-sized plastic numbers available today, nothing beats a wagon for getting kids moving. It's also a toy that can keep pace with a child's development and changing styles of play. Very young children will enjoy riding as parents tow them along on trips to the park or walks around the neighborhood. As children grow, they begin to use the wagon themselves, employing it to transport toys or other children. Turn it over and it's a makeshift fort or castle.

3. A building set - Whether it's plastic, wood, or metal, a building set can fire the imagination of budding engineers. Building materials that link together have a leg up on old-fashioned blocks, allowing kids to create increasingly complex structures. With so many different construction toys available, it's possible to find a building set for virtually any age or skill level.

4. Dress-up items - Pretend play is an important way children explore their own potential. Dressing up as a doctor, nurse, firefighter or police officer helps children learn about career choices and adult roles, and facilitates creativity through role playing. Creating a dress-up chest is simple and low-cost. Parents can fill a plastic bin with hand-me-downs, old Halloween costumes and even a few store-bought items.

5. An easel and drawing pad - Sure, coloring books are great, but there's something about an easel that makes a child feel like a real artist. A simple wooden frame holding a large drawing pad can become the launch pad for flights of fancy rendered in crayon, watercolor and even washable magic marker. Whatever your child's media or favorite subject, putting him or her in front of an easel will enhance enjoyment of the artistic experience - and give you a bird's-eye view of your budding artist at work.

Imagination is truly the greatest toy - and tool - of childhood. Fortunately, you can find plenty of "no-tech" toys to nourish your child's creativity and imagination, even in today's high-tech world.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-12-08T00:01:00.005+08:00

Scrapbook enthusiasts, are you ready for another freebie? Here is this week's free digital scrapbook kit.
Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 7 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Although this freebie is courtesy of MyMemories, it is not a MyMemories Suite template. The elements and QuickPages are.png and the papers are .jpg format. You can use it with any software.

I find MyMemories Suite very easy to use. Version 3 was just launched. It is now better and has more features. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

My Favorite Child Is...

2011-12-07T06:00:00.002+08:00

Came across this news bit asking if we, as parents, have a favorite child? It got me thinking... do I have a favorite child?

Well, I do. My favorite child is......... whoever is obedient and not giving me a headache at the moment. Hahahahah. So I guess my favorite child could change minute to minute, hour to hour and day to day.

In all seriousness, I don't think I have a favorite child. Each of my 4 children have their own strengths and weaknesses. Each of them give me joy and stress in different ways. They each have their own way of making me smile. Each have also contributed to my head of grey hairs. I would be devastated if anything bad were to happen to any child of mine. They are all important to me and I could not choose to love one more than another. But I admit, that it is easier to feel love for a child who is not throwing a tantrum and screaming the house down. However, I do not have favorites.

I DON'T try to treat my children equally. I don't think that is possible. I learned by observing a good friend of mine that we care for our children according to their needs. If one child of mine is going through a rough time and needs more attention, then I will give more attention to that child. At the same time, I try not to ignore the other children. I explain to them that their sibling needs some extra help and ask that they support me in giving that help. Being fair is not about children receiving the same treatment and attention but receiving the treatment and attention that is befitting their needs.

Here are some things I do to not play favorites:

Don't always protect the younger ones and blame the older ones.
Reward according to works. Good works must not go unnoticed.
Hug time at the end of the day. Everyone gets a turn.
Consensus. Rope in the opinion and consent of all siblings in certain decisions. For example, every time one of my children want to use the computer, he/she needs to ask the siblings' permission too besides mom's permission.
Don't just call the oldest to help out with the chores (or only the girls). Everyone must help according to their capabilities.

So, what do you think of the news bit? And do you have a favorite child?

Let Me Win Mommy

2011-12-06T23:37:00.000+08:00

The last few days, our family has been playing Monopoly Deal. I bought the game so the kids won't spend too much time on the computer. My youngest son D2 really loves the game. Unfortunately, being only 4 years old, he isn't as "cunning" as his older siblings or dad. So he hasn't won a game yet. He knows the rules and stuff, he just hasn't learned how to strategize and plan winning moves.

It is quite heartbreaking for him when we "steal" his property or take away all the money in his bank. When someone else wins, he would put on his sad puppy face. Trying to comfort him, I would remind him it is just a game.

The other day as I was comforting him, he said "you must let me win the game."

My answer? "Sorry son, I cannot let you win. You have to learn how to win".

Although I know letting him win will make him happy, I don't think I'm helping him that way. I believe I should teach him that that losing can be a stepping stone towards success one day. Success is also sweeter when you earn it on your own. Plus, it is important to learn how to be a gracious loser. Being a good sport is important too. Hopefully he understands the lesson I'm trying to teach him by not letting him win.

What about you? Would you purposely let your children win? What's your take on this?

Make your home glisten with sparkling new holiday craft ideas

2011-12-05T06:00:00.002+08:00

(ARA) - Time to deck the halls, don that holiday spirit and prepare your home for festivities.

But do your tightened purse strings have you saying "bah humbug?" Luckily, creating exquisite holiday decor can be fun and cost-effective when you do it yourself. Here are a few amazing holiday craft ideas that are simple and sensational.

Glittered holiday pinecones
Create a beautiful centerpiece with items that you might find in your backyard - all in less than an hour. Here's what you'll need: pinecones, Krylon Primer and Krylon Glitter Blast glitter spray, fishing line and a drop cloth.

Make sure that the pinecones are clean from dirt and dust, then tie fishing line around the stem of the pinecone. Hang them from above so that all surfaces are accessible with the drop cloth underneath. Next, simply spray a coat of primer and let dry and then spray with your favorite glitter color of Glitter Blast. Soon, you'll have pretty pinecones ready to spruce up any table.

Colorful cones
Decorate your home with a festive holiday cone. Let your imagination run wild with these cheerful creations. Here's what you may need: various sized foam cones, Glitter Blast glitter spray, scrapbook papers, self-adhesive foam sheet, sequins and pins, ribbon, paste and acrylic jewels.

To start, thoroughly spray the cones with your favorite colors of Glitter Blast and allow to completely dry. Then, follow these guidelines to create three unique versions.

Polka dot cone. Punch out a variety of sizes and colors of circles from scrapbook papers and foam sheets and attach in random patterns to the cone using the paste. Start with larger-sized circles and gradually adhere smaller sizes on top. Finally, pin on 1-inch glitter sequins.

Ribbon cone. Spiral ribbon around cone, anchoring in place with craft glue and craft pins. Cut small snips in the edges so ribbon will lay flat. Glue and pin sequin trim in between the ribbon spirals.

Beaded cone. Using straight pins, pin sequins at random all over the cone. Then use paste to attach flat-backed acrylic jewels in and around the sequins.

To complete the look of each uniquely designed holiday cone, make a hole in the very top of the cone with a pencil point. Press the neck of a small tree ornament into the hole and secure with a drop of glue. Now you have three beautiful and original cones for a creative and colorful arrangement.

Original ornaments
You may have had sticker shock the last time you shopped for holiday ornaments - but luckily with some inspiration from renowned crafter and author, Mark Montano, you can update your tree for almost free when you design your own. Here's what you'll need: eight wooden clothespins, cardboard, scissors, glue, spray paint, large rhinestones, hot glue gun and glue sticks, fishing wire and loose glitter or Glitter Blast glitter spray.

To start, take the clothespins apart and arrange the wood pieces in a starburst pattern with the fat ends of the pieces touching in the center and the skinny ends forming the points. Cut out two 2 1/2 inch cardboard circles. Glue a cardboard circle in the center of the clothespins and let it dry. Flip your starburst over, glue the other cardboard circle in the center and let it dry. Next, spray paint the entire ornament in a color of your choice. Cover the cardboard and about half an inch of the surrounding clothespins with glue and sprinkle glitter on top - or use Glitter Blast glitter spray. Flip the starburst over and repeat. When dry, use hot glue to adhere a rhinestone in the center of both sides. For the hanger, fold a 10-inch piece of fishing wire in half and hot glue the ends to one of the clothespins. Once dry, hang on your tree and enjoy.

For more holiday craft ideas from Krylon, visit www.yourholidaystyle.com; for craft ideas from Mark Montano, visit http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-12-02T00:01:00.002+08:00

It is Thursday again. That mean it is time to give you another digital scrapbook kit freebie. Don't just download and keep it hidden on your hard disk. Scrap away and share with me and everyone your beautiful work. Leave a comment at the bottom and a link so we can see what you did.
Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This digital kit includes 2 digital papers, 3 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Exciting news... MyMemories Suite has a new version out. They recently launched MyMemories Suite V3! If you have V2, it is time to upgrade. V3 has new features and designs. This is really one of the best scrapbook software out there.
You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Cheap Ways To Decorate Your Home This Christmas

2011-11-29T06:00:00.001+08:00

As the end of the year draws nearer, most families will find their expenditure sky rocketing. The holiday season is quite demanding on the pocket. Some people ring up huge bills buying gifts for families and friends. Hopefully you will be careful not to go into debt and end up struggling the rest of next year to pay off your purchases. It is wise to save money where you can, and decorating your home for the Christmas season is one area that you don't have to spend a lot of money.

Here are some ideas for you:
- Use items you already have around your home. Repurpose your old Christmas decorations. You may be able to create an entirely different look in your home by using many of the decorations you already have. For example, instead of hanging the wreath on your front door, use it as a center piece. Place a glass hurricane globe in the center of the wreath, fill the remainder of the wreath with glass ornaments and then place a scented pillar candle in the middle of the glass globe.

- Fill your home with scents that are associated with Christmas. It could be cinnamon from an apple pie, nutmeg from pumpkin pie or evergreen. You could also fill a Christmas basket with glass ornaments in red, green and white. Add some pine cones, cranberries or other aromatic items. You can use these aromas to help your family have pleasant memories of the holiday each year.

- Don't waste the Christmas cards that you receive. You can display them in a fun and exciting way. Hang a garland of popcorn and cranberries across the doorway or over a mantle. Using clothespins, hang the cards you receive on the garland.

- Dress a teddy bear in a Santa suit and place it on a sled. If you have white fabric, spread it around the tree and then put the sled on top. Arrange the fabric to make it look like snow. You can use other toys to decorate around your tree.

- Make your own Christmas tree ornaments. You can do it using salt dough. It can be a fun project for the kids. Not only will you end up with free, personalized ornaments but you'll be encouraging your kids creativity as well. I'm sure you're finding ways to occupy their time too right?

- Hang paper snowflakes. This is very easy to do and so much fun for kids. Stick them on the windows or hang them from the ceiling.

This is what my kids and I did to decorate our home for Christmas. They loved making and hanging the paper snowflakes. The kids are asking for a bigger tree. They are growing taller and so the tree looks small now :)

If you have a easy and cheap idea on decorating your home for Christmas, do share it here. I would love to hear your ideas.

Tips for passing down family photos in the digital age

2011-11-28T06:00:00.002+08:00

(ARA) - For many years, photography meant developing a roll of film at the local store, sliding your glossy prints into a photo album and then placing them on your bookshelf. Digital photography changed all that, and now your photos live on computers, hard drives, CDs, USB drives and even your phone. But just because photos rarely go into leather-bound albums doesn't mean that they're any less precious. The evolution of photography has changed the ways in which we use photos - and it makes sense to think differently about how to preserve and pass on your treasured memories.

Consider these tips for preserving photos in the digital age and beyond.

* Select. Digital photography lets you take almost countless photos - far more than you could capture with a roll of film. But this volume of pictures can often overwhelm the family photo curator who needs to sort, evaluate and store hundreds or even thousands of images after a single vacation or special event. To avoid image overload, whenever you add new photos to your collection, edit out as many as you can. You'll end up with the best photos of the bunch and won't have to wade through an endless array of shots just to reach your favorites.

* Share. As much as taking photos is about capturing memories for yourself, it's also a great way to share experiences with friends and family. And for sharing, digital photography and social media is a match made in heaven - instead of sending off prints with holiday cards, you can quickly upload them to the Web. If you want to share a single snapshot at a moment's notice, you can post directly to Twitter or even use photo-centric social media apps. For larger groups of photos, from your latest vacation or baby's first year, add albums to Facebook or other photo hosting and sharing sites - just be sure to provide captions so everyone knows what they're looking at.

* Preserve. SanDisk issued results from an online survey conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive from July 28-August 1, 2011 among 2,294 U.S. adults aged 18 and older which found that 79 percent of U.S. adults with digital photos plan on passing them down to future generations. But holding onto digital photos for long periods of time can prove nerve wracking if you are unsure whether the storage technology will preserve your photos far into the future. CDs can scratch and external hard drives contain moving parts.

To meet this need, SanDisk developed a photo album for the digital age called the SanDisk Memory Vault, a new device that can preserve digital photos in their original quality for up to 100 years. About the size of a pack of cards, the Memory Vault plugs into a computer's USB port, letting you drag and drop your favorite photos onto the device and keep your history of precious memories close at hand. Whether you need a convenient way to preserve your own photos or want to surprise your family historian, the Memory Vault can pass down your important photos for years - and even generations - to come. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.

Photos are among the best ways to relive and share our most cherished memories. They often remind us of moments we forgot and can bring a joyful time back to life in an instant. Make the most of your photo collection by selecting your favorite images, sharing them with family and friends and preserving them for generations to come.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-11-24T00:01:00.002+08:00

Free digital scrapbook kit! Free digital scrapbook kit!
Who wants? Who wants?
Well, its here for your taking. Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This digital kid includes 2 digital papers, 5 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

MyMemories Suite V3 has just launched. There are more features and content compared to Version 2. They've listened to feedback and made their scrapbook software to better suit your needs. Easy and fun; that is what this digital software is about.
Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Tips for keeping your home healthy

2011-11-21T06:00:00.004+08:00

(ARA) - Maintaining a healthy home is critical for your family's welfare - especially now as the weather cools and you begin to spend more time indoors. Applying a few simple solutions now will ensure your indoor living environment is safe and healthy for seasons to come.

Reduce toxins

Less desirable weather may make fall and winter seem like an ideal time to tackle your indoor painting projects. However, you need to be mindful of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in many interior paints and finishes. VOCs are one of the biggest threats to indoor air quality; they include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have both short- and long-term health effects. For indoor jobs, select paint with low or no VOCs to keep your air fresher. Additionally, some houseplants such as ivy and gerbera daisies can help to naturally remove VOCs from your indoor air.

Clean your indoor air

Ragweed and pollen will trigger allergy symptoms for millions of people this fall; however, the worst allergy triggers are often found inside the home. Installing a whole-home air filtration system can help to remove indoor allergens including dust, mildew, pet dander and pollen from the air you breathe. For example, the AccuClean (TM) System by American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning removes up to 99.98 percent of the allergens from your filtered air, so even if it's allergy season outdoors, your indoor air is crisp and clean.

Prevent mold

During the cooler fall and winter months, people tend to seal up their homes and spend more time inside, which traps moisture and humidity - both significant contributors to indoor mold growth. Maintain healthy indoor humidity levels by venting bathrooms and clothes dryers and using an exhaust fan while cooking. Install an air humidifier to provide year-round control of your indoor moisture level, and keep your home at 50 percent humidity or lower to reduce the chance for mold growth.

Watch out for CO

Protect your indoor living environment from carbon monoxide or CO by installing CO detectors or alarms throughout your home. This fall, make sure your home's heating system, including items such as a furnace or heat pump, vents and chimney, are inspected and serviced by a professional contractor. And, if there is a fireplace in your home, open the damper before lighting a fire to help prevent the buildup of potentially poisonous gases inside of your home.

Keep a seasonal routine

Most homeowners already know it's important to test their smoke alarms on a monthly basis, but how often do you change the alarm's batteries? One way to keep track of alarm maintenance is to make battery changing a seasonal activity. For example, beginning this fall, replace the batteries in your smoke alarms (and CO detectors), every time you reset your clocks.

By taking these simple steps now, you'll create a safer and healthier home, allowing your family to relax and enjoy all the delights the fall season has to offer - both outdoors and indoors.

Tropical Oasis 2 48" x 96" Clear Etched Glass Window Film - $57.42
Retail Price: $67.42
You Save: $10.00
from: Wallpaper For Windows , EtchArt LLC

A Proud Moment

2011-11-19T12:52:00.000+08:00

I gave up my days of competing for medals and trophies. However, that doesn't mean my proud moments are over. Here is my latest proud moment:

My children have medals and trophies for me to enjoy too. The 2 kids did well in their final examinations.
K1 took 1st place in class and in the overall standard. Also took top marks in English, "Kajian Tempatan" and moral studies.
D1 took second place in class and in the overall standard. Actually, he tied for 1st place but his friend did better in the mid-term. So, they awarded the first place to his friend. D1 took top marks in Maths and Science.

Of course academic achievements are not the only thing to be proud of. Character is important too.

Well, I'm not one to brag but this is a proud moment. Keep up the good work kids.

Easy kids' room updates can make winter less dreary

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000+08:00

(ARA) - As temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, kids begin spending more and more time indoors. To help make spending time inside more enjoyable, give your child's room a fun makeover. With bright colors and fun details, you can transform a bland bed or playroom into a kid-friendly space they won't want to leave.

Color the walls

An easy way to inject color and personality into any room is with paint, and Dutch Boy's Crayola palette is perfect for creating a fun atmosphere. Kids can choose colors that match those in their crayon boxes, with names like Granny Smith Apple, Razzmatazz, Crayola Canary and Inch Worm. If you're in need of some extra creative inspiration, Dutch Boy's website offers a number of images and idea cards using color combinations from the Crayola palette. You can even download how-to painting instructions and coloring pages for the kids. And don't stop at the walls - paint dressers, chairs and other furniture bright colors to make the whole room pop. All 96 shades of the Crayola palette are available in Dutch Boy's popular Refresh line, so you're sure to find the perfect color to match your child's personality.

Canopy

To give your child's room unique flair, divide the space and add privacy, a canopy will do the trick. Whether store-bought or hand-made, a canopy can create a whimsical feel that your child will love. Drape your child's choice of lightweight fabrics from four ceiling hooks to create a customized cover for his or her bed. And while canopies are usually seen as bed accessories, don't think that's where they have to stay. Hang a version with a circular base and arrange plush cushions on the floor to create a comfy reading nook for your little one.

Chalkboard

Inspiring creativity and adding some fun to your child's room is as easy as A-B-C. With chalkboard paint, you can give your child a new way to practice the alphabet, arithmetic, drawing and much more. Simply cover a flat surface with a product like easy-spray Krylon Chalkboard Paint, let dry, and voila! For a standard message board, paint the backside of a bulletin board or other sturdy panel with a few coats of paint. Hang the board on the wall with a piece of colorful ribbon or set on an easel, and you've got an easy-to-clean way for kids to learn and play. You might even transform tabletops or toy box covers into chalkboards to give them more space to get creative.

Wall decals

Build on your child's new bright walls and give the room a more personalized feel with wall decals or stickers. These temporary art pieces are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, designs and colors, and the options of kid-friendly styles are endless. From animals, to movie characters, to sports logos, to stars and flowers, there is sure to be a design or theme that matches any child's personality and age. Because the stickers are easily removed, kids can simply transition to more traditional letters, mirrors, landscapes and silhouettes as they grow older. Some companies can even make decals from photos, so the design possibilities are truly limitless.

You can help your kids enjoy the great indoors this season and give their rooms new appeal with these few easy updates. Helping to plan and decorate their "new" rooms will also give your kids a sense of pride in the finished product, so they'll enjoy their spaces through the fall months and beyond.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-11-17T00:01:00.002+08:00

It is scrapbook time again. I hope you like this week's free scrapbook kit. MyMemories is very generous in giving it to us. Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes: 2 digital papers, 2 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

MyMemories Suite makes your scrapbooking easy. It doesn't take that long to learn how to use the software. Actually, it can be quite addictive.
You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

BONUS FREEBIE:
If you show me how you've used the scrapbook kit above, I'll share with you another free scrapbook kit. Call it a bonus scrapbook kit. Just leave a comment below and tell me where I can view your scrapbook creation. I will then give you the link to the bonus kit.

Hope to hear from you soon and happy scrapping!

What to do to keep your produce fresh

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000+08:00

Chinese Chicken Curry

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000+08:00

My DH requested that I make some chinese chicken curry.

Chinese curry? Indian curry? Malay curry?

What's the difference? I'm not really sure. I guess the spices are different?

Anyway, I went to the market and asked the man who sells curry spices if he sold the spices for chinese curry. He said "Yes". I was ecstatic. I asked him to put together one pack for me. I continued to ask what were the spices used? His answer..... "That's a secret".

The "secret" spices for chinese curry. Let's see who can figure this out.

I was actually quite surprised by his answer. But I guess it has to be a secret or else people won't go back to him to buy it. Anyway, this is how my chinese curry turned out.

I didn't put any cinnamon, star anise or cardamom. No curry powder either. Blended shallots, garlic and ginger. Added my FIL's chilli and also coconut milk (santan). I think I threw in some lemon grass too.

Does it look any different from Indian or Malay curry? One thing though, it tasted good.

One family's story that could save your baby's life

2011-11-14T06:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - Like most parents, Kari and Lyle Judson had never heard of respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV. But in December 2008, when RSV took the life of one of their twin sons, those three letters forever changed their lives.

Kari gave birth to preemie twin boys, Alexander and Dominic, both weighing well under 5 pounds. When the boys' lung function proved "normal" for preterm infants, they were declared healthy and were discharged without any warning about the dangers of RSV during the winter months.

RSV is a common, seasonal virus which can lead to symptoms similar to the cold or flu. While the virus affects nearly 100 percent of babies before the age of 2, those most at risk for developing severe RSV disease are premature babies - those born before 36 weeks gestation. Premature babies have underdeveloped lungs and fewer of the vital antibodies needed to stave off infections, so they are not as well-equipped to fight RSV as full-term babies. Other risk factors for RSV include: low-birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds), certain lung and heart diseases, and situational risk factors such as attending daycare, having pre-school or school-aged siblings, or exposure to tobacco smoke.

With their parents unaware of the dangers that even a play date could present, Alexander and Dominic enjoyed their first months of life. On Dec. 28, 2008, however, both boys began displaying signs of listlessness and developed fevers - hallmarks of RSV disease. They were taken to the local hospital, where Alexander's condition quickly worsened and he was not responsive to breathing treatments. Due to the severity of his condition, Alexander was airlifted to a specialty hospital, but while in transport, he lost brain function due to lack of oxygen and was put on life support.

Even as they were dealing with the tragic loss of Alexander, the Judson family still had to face Dominic's severe RSV infection, which required breathing treatments and an 11-day hospital stay.

While deaths are not common, RSV disease causes up to 10 times as many infant deaths each year as the flu, resulting in up to 400 infant deaths annually in the U.S. Additionally, RSV disease is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the U.S., and is responsible for one of every 13 pediatrician visits and one of every 38 trips to the emergency room. In fact, Kari found herself back at the pediatric pulmonologist's office when her third son, Ryan, developed a mild RSV infection, requiring breathing treatments.

Because there is no treatment for RSV disease, Kari and many in the medical community say the importance of prevention can't be emphasized enough.

"I want all parents to know about the dangers of RSV and what they can do to protect their little ones from this virus," says Kari. "We're so thankful Dominic and Ryan both recently received clean bills of health, but we will continue to be alert for symptoms of RSV disease and take steps to prevent the spread of germs, especially during the RSV season."

Parents should do the following to help protect their babies from RSV:

* Understand the risk factors and ask a pediatrician if your child may be at increased risk

* Help prevent the spread of the virus with frequent washing of hands, toys and bedding, and avoiding large crowds and those who are sick
* Carefully monitor your baby's behavior for warning signs like a severe cough or wheezing; difficulty breathing or rapid, gasping breaths; blue color of the lips, mouth, and/or fingernails; difficulty feeding; fatigue and fever

"I've seen how seriously RSV can affect babies and their families," says pediatric critical care physician Dr. Paul Checchia, director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at the Texas Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "While frequent hand washing is the best defense for most families, babies at the highest risk may need extra precaution and should talk to their baby's doctor."

Visit www.RSVprotection.com for more information.

She Did Her First Cross Stitch

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000+08:00

This is my daughter's first cross stitch project. I bought the kit from an online store. I gave her basic directions on what to do and then left it to her to complete it.

She enjoyed doing it and felt proud she got it done. Yes, she made mistakes that needed to be undone. It was a lesson in perseverance.

I tried cross stitch when I was 15 year old. Sadly, I didn't finish the project. I completed about 85%. I made a mistake doing the outline and then didn't bother after that. Maybe I should have started with something smaller.

MAMAS PARENTING TIP
If you are getting your child's first cross stitch project, start with something simple and small.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-11-10T00:01:00.001+08:00

Hey there scrapbooking enthusiasts! It's Thursday and that means another scrapbook kit for free. The kits are the courtesy of MyMemories!" Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes: 2 digital papers, 3 page elements and 2 quick pages.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

I use MyMemories Suite scrapbook software to do my scrapbooking. I love it. You want an easy way to scrapbook, this scrapbooking software is for you. You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

BONUS FREEBIE:
If you show me how you've used the scrapbook kit above, I'll share with you another free scrapbook kit. Call it a bonus scrapbook kit. Just leave a comment below and tell me where I can view your scrapbook creation. I will then give you the link to the bonus kit.

Hope to hear from you soon and happy scrapping!

Don't Risk Your Child's Safety With A Counterfeit Baby Carrier

2011-11-09T06:00:00.002+08:00

Despite a campaign to raise awareness of fake baby carriers over the past two years, an illegal and dangerous trade in counterfeit products continues in Australia via online auction sites.

Counterfeit copies of the popular ERGObaby carrier have been offered for sale on online auction sites and authorised Australian and New Zealand distributor Babes in Arms is trying to stop these products reaching unsuspecting consumers and endangering babies.

Babes in Arms director and mother of four, Anita Lincolne-Lomax, sources the best baby slings and carriers from around the globe to build an expansive babywearing range that promotes a baby’s natural desire for closeness, but solves a parent’s need to be hands-free.

“Safety is a paramount consideration for parents when they’re buying baby products. These baby carrier copies are very convincing, and even the most discerning buyer could be fooled,” Anita explained.

Parents are being deceived by the counterfeits, buying the products at a price only marginally lower than the genuine product.

The counterfeit carriers possess a few qualities that customers should look out for:
The carriers are not covered by product warranty or insurance
They will not have been tested for safety standards and are not likely to comply with US lead-free criteria

Most importantly, they are made with inferior materials and parts – particularly the buckles, which can lead to breakages and drops.

“The people responsible for making the counterfeit ERGObaby carriers are preying on parents who want to nurture and care for their children and who are trying to save money by buying discounted or second hand goods through auction sites’, Anita said.

“Babes in Arms has given many parents across Australia the opportunity to hold their babies close within their loving embrace and be able to balance their needs and that of their babies with our wonderful range of babywearing products,” she added.

This is the season where baby carrier sales go up as people buy the products as Christmas gifts. Parents often research baby carriers and are very selective about which products they buy, but caring family members who aren’t as educated about such issues sometimes buy them as a gift. Raising awareness about legitimate and genuine products is important for the safety of babies.

“It’s distressing that people are, in good faith, buying what they think is a wonderful and safe product, but find they have been duped into buying these terrible copies,” Anita said.

Anita offers a message to all parents and families looking to purchase baby carriers: “We strongly suggest that people only purchase ERGObaby products through authorised ERGObaby stores and distributors, and not through any auction sites.”

In a pram-dominated culture, Babes in Arms has successfully raised awareness about the ancient wisdom and benefits of babywearing that promotes a peaceful start to life for new parents and their babies.

As an industry expert, Babes in Arms is both a national product gateway and an educational resource for parents, retailers and health professionals alike.

For local authorised ERGObaby stockists in Australia and NZ, go to www.babesinarms.com.au or call 1300 725 276.

5 Ways to Respect Your Child

2011-11-08T06:00:00.037+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

It sounds like it is backwards. Shouldn’t it be the children respecting the parents and not the other way around? Well, yes, but it does work both ways. Respect is something that’s learned, it’s not an instinctive gift automatically acquired when a child is born. How can a child learn to give respect if they are never shown what respect looks like? How can they know how important it is to respect and be respected if they never feel it themselves? Here are five ways to show, and teach, your children respect.

Listen
Listening is greatly underrated. How often do your really listen to your children when they’re speaking? How often do you get mad at them for not listening to you? Show them what respectful listeners look like. When they talk, stop what you are doing and make eye contact. Give affirmations like ‘Um-hmm’ or ‘really’. Ask questions. In short, be respectful. Not only will they get to see what respect looks like, they’ll become better listeners and more confident in their speech. For shy children, a parent really listening can bring them out of their shell. For loud children, a parent listening can calm their need for attention and actually make them quieter. Whatever the case, you are also building your relationship with them when you listen. The better relationship you have when they are little, the easier it is to keep when they get older.
Be polite
This seems like a silly thing to say, but how often do your interrupt your kids while they are talking? How many times do you stop their games and make them clean up? How often do you tell them what to do without saying please, or get something from them without saying thank you? You wouldn’t like it if someone did that to you, so why are you doing it to them. Show your kids some manners and you’ll be surprised at how fast they’ll mature.
Give them responsibilitySpeaking of maturity, nothing says mature like responsibility. Show them your respect by trusting them with something important. It’s up to you and your child what that is. It could be taking out the trash, cleaning their room, or making their lunch. Whatever the responsibility is that you give them, make sure it is theirs alone. Don’t pester them about it. If it doesn’t get done, then let it be.
Let them suffer
Eventually the repercussions from misusing responsibility will happen. They’ll complain that they can’t find a toy, or they forgot to make their lunch and had to eat the dry peanut butter sandwich the cafeteria provided. Then you can respectfully point out that, had they done their job, they wouldn’t have had that problem. That way, you are respecting their decision to do- or not do- their job, but they will still get the point. Suffering is one of the great teachers. Isn’t it better for them to suffer a little bit when they are young than to have to suffer a lot as adults?
Give them choices
Another simple idea, but an important one. The ability to choose is something that adults take for granted, but to a child it is a sign of deep respect. You respect their ability to decide what’s best for them. Now, I don’t suggest starting out with anything big. Two choices are fine. Red or blue. Carrots or peas. Simple choices are best, especially for very young children. The goal is not to frustrate or confuse them. Once they make a choice, they will be happier with it then they would have been with whatever you chose. Plus, this gives them the ability to discern the ‘best’ thing, something that’s very important in decision making later in life.

Respect starts at home. Teaching your children respect is one of the most important things you can do, both for them and for yourself. There is a reason that we listen to authorities, that we follow the rules. That reason is respect. Yes, fear of punishment can also play a part, but respect is much healthier and longer lasting than fear. So, show your children what respect looks and feels like early, and they’ll grow up to be responsible, respectful, and polite adults.

Author Bio
Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com

Shoe shopping for kids: A parent's guide to a year-round task

2011-11-07T06:00:00.000+08:00

(ARA) - What is it about children's feet that make them seem like the fastest-growing part of their body? With back-to-school shopping behind you for another year, you might hope you can stop spending on shoes - at least until flip-flop season arrives with spring.

But kids' feet do grow year round, right along with the rest of them. In fact, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association, a child's shoe and sock sizes may change every few months.

Comfortable, sturdy shoes are among the most important articles of clothing you'll buy for your child at any time of year. Ill-fitting shoes can cause problems that range from minor blisters and discomfort to serious injuries and impaired development.

"A pair of well-made shoes can keep children safe from foot problems such as sprains and strains - both in class and on the playground," says Dr. Michael J. King, president of APMA. "Unless your child complains of discomfort, you may not realize he or she needs new shoes. Parents need to be vigilant to ensure kids are wearing shoes that fit properly and provide the stability and support kids need."

Conduct the time-honored toe test - using your thumb or forefinger to determine where the child's big toe is inside the shoe - once a month. Inspect shoes regularly for signs of wear that could compromise their stability. When it's time to buy children's shoes, APMA has some guidelines for parents.

"Checking for three different aspects of a shoe's design makes it easy for parents to distinguish which models are foot friendly," King says.

APMA recommends parents perform a simple, three-step inspection on new shoes before buying:

1. Look for a stiff heel. The heel counter should not collapse when pressed from both sides.

2. Ensure the shoe bends at the toes, but nowhere else.

3. Finally, make sure the shoe does not twist in the middle.

In addition, keep these tips in mind to help ensure kids are wearing comfortable shoes and practicing good foot health:

* Take children with you when you buy their shoes and shop at the end of the day when feet are at their biggest. Every shoe fits differently, and allowing a child to have a say in the shoe-shopping process can help promote healthy foot care habits down the road.

* Always buy for the larger foot. Feet are rarely the exact same size, so buy a shoe that fits the slightly larger foot.

* Avoid shoes that require a "break-in" period to feel comfortable. Shoes should be comfortable immediately. Be sure your child tries on the shoe wearing whatever type of socks or tights they will use with it.

* Never hand down footwear. Just because a shoe fits one child comfortably doesn't mean it will fit another in the same way. Also, sharing shoes can spread athlete's foot and nail fungus.

* Whenever possible, purchase shoes at a shoe store staffed by well-trained shoe fitters. An experienced sales person can help relieve worries over getting the proper fit.

If your child's shoes show uneven wear or wear out on the heels quickly, it could indicate a problem that should be examined by a podiatrist. You can find a podiatrist in your area, as well as a list of APMA-recommended footwear, at www.apma.org/seal.

A Scream On Halloween

2011-11-05T06:00:00.002+08:00

BabyK can really scream. We had a few minutes of scary fun on Halloween. DH brought out some of his Halloween props he bought a few years back for a party. The thing that scared BabyK the most... SPIDER!
Watch the video and let me know if anyone wants to hire her to scream for scary movies.

Art Ideas For Kids

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000+08:00

Last week the kids had a 1 week holiday. I didn't want them to be on the computer or TV the whole time and so, had to think of something to keep them busy. Thank goodness I found this website called Art Projects for Kids. The owner of the blog is Kathy Barbro and she's an art teacher. She shares her art projects that she does with her students.

Many of them are simple enough for my kids to do. I like how the projects teach the kids art concepts too (and she tells you what it is). You can follow what she does or use it to spark an idea. It is a wonderful website if you need art project ideas for your kids.

Got the idea from Contour Fall Leaves.I had the kids pick leaves from the garden, trace it and then draw the contours. Gave them options of coloring the contours of each leaf in different tones of the same color or choose 2 contrasting colors.

This idea borrowed from Kathy's Warm Hands project. Learned a bit about warm and cool colors.

Introducing Van Gogh with Sunflowers, Up Close & Personal. Learning how to draw sunflowers and pictures that go off the paper. You can learn how to draw sunflowers from this guy: draw sunflower video.

My kids seem to like doing it. Of course I had to sit with them and supervise. With my 4 year old son, I sometimes had to help him do the coloring. He also needed lots of encouragement to keep him going. I believe doing art helps to develop patience and focus. Not forgetting it helps little kids to develop their fine motor skills too.

We are looking forward to many more art projects. Here's another website that we are looking at: Mrs. Picasso's Art Room. I really appreciate her tutorial on how to paint a tree in her Sparkly Tree's project.

MAMAS PARENTING TIP

To encourage kids to do art, create a mini art center for them in the house. Stock it up with crayons, color pencils, paint, paint brushes of different sizes, glue, etc....
Teach kids how to clean up after they are done, or else you'll be a grouch every time they ask to do art.
Display their completed art projects proudly.
Do it together with them. This is one of the biggest motivator.
Mistakes will happen.
Their art doesn't have to look perfect. It's a time for learning.
Many things can be done to get our kids away from the computer and TV. First, mom must learn to get off the computer herself :)

Choosing The Best Credit Card For Travel Rewards

2011-11-03T10:30:00.002+08:00

During my golfing days, I traveled a lot for competitions. I haven't traveled anyway since I had kids. If you do a lot of traveling or love to travel, it only makes sense to own a credit card for travel rewards.

There are so many options out there that it can be confusing. How do you choose the best card? That depends on your lifestyle and the kind of rewards you prefer.

Here are a few questions to ask as you are trying to make a selection.

Is it easy to redeem the points?
What can you redeem the points for? Is it just travel or can you also redeem cash or merchandise?
What is the point earning potential? Obviously, you want a card that will give you many points for every dollar you spend. Some offer 2-3 points per dollar. Some even give you 3-5 points on certain purchases. You may even get 10 points per dollar for dining at their specified restaurants.
What is the annual fee? There are cards that do not charge an annual fee.
Are there restrictions and limitations? Check if there are blackout dates or seat restrictions. You want a card that gives you the flexibility to fly anytime and with any airline.
What are the perks? Maybe there is complementary domestic and overseas travel insurance, special travel deals, concierge service or airport lounge access.

The more well known travel credit cards are The Capital One Venture Card, Blue Sky, American Express Platinum Card, Discover Escape, Discover Miles and Delta SkyMiles Card by American Express.

With so many to choose from, you'll definitely find one that suits your need. It also helps to ask your friends who like to travel what card they are using.

If you are planning to take a trip, The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs have information on international travel, passports and visas. You'll also find currency exchange rates, travel warning, health information, entry requirements and more over at usa.gov international travel.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-11-03T00:01:00.004+08:00

Hi to all my scrapbooking enthusiasts! Here's another scrapbook kit for free. Everybody say "Thank You MyMemories!" Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This pack includes:

2 Digital Papers

4 Page Elements

2 Quick Pages

I love the bright, cheery colors of this digital kit. I'm sure you'll find some fun photos to plop into this one.

You can get by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

BONUS FREEBIE:
If you show me how you've used the scrapbook kit above, I'll share with you another free scrapbook kit. Call it a bonus scrapbook kit. Just leave a comment below and tell me where I can view your scrapbook creation. I will then give you the link to the bonus kit.

Hope to hear from you soon and happy scrapping!

How Do I Get My Child To Sleep?

2011-11-02T22:05:00.000+08:00

"How do I get my child to sleep at night?"

I believe this is a very popular question among many parents. I've had my share of struggling with this problem.

WHAT MOST MOMS WILL SAY
Well, if you pose this question to a group of mothers in a forum or group discussion or wherever, you will very likely here this answer: SET A ROUTINE!

Many mothers are doing this and I guess it works coz' they don't have much problems getting their kids to bed. An example of a routine would be a nice bath, changing into cozy pyjamas, brushing teeth, reading books with mom or dad, lights out. It is also important not to stimulate them before bedtime. That means turning off the tv, radio and computer. No rough play or any kind of active play. All activities have to help your children wind down.

MAMAS EXTRA PARENTING TIPS

A few years ago, I was having such a tough time getting my kids to fall asleep, I decided to try something new instead of shouting and threatening. I used RELAXATION TECHNIQUES. You can read about what I did in this blog post: How To Get Your Kids To Sleep
I found with my kids that if I could get them to lay still, their mind would shut down and they would fall asleep. The trick is to get them to lay still. I remember playing this game with them where I would have us all pretend we were hiding from the T-Rex. You have to be very quiet and not move or the T-Rex will find you and eat you. That game worked until the kids figured out what I was doing. Sometimes, it takes a bit of creativity to come up with something that works.
Music helps. Make sure you play music that has a hypnotic effect. Then maybe you can insert in suggestions too like "you won't jump on the couch anymore" or "you will eat your vegetables". Just kidding. But yeah, there is music that can bring down the brain waves. Look for Baroque music. That is actually good for studying too.
Just accept that some kids are naturally born night owls. My daughter is one of them. She's 10 years old this year. She tries and tries to sleep but if she can't, she just can't, no matter what. For so many years we've struggled to get her to sleep early, she just can't. Nowadays, she'll just read her books until she feels sleepy. It is not unusual for me to see her sharpening her color pencils at 10pm. I know she takes after me. I remember when I was younger, my dad would chase me off to bed early so I would be properly rested for my golf tournament the next morning. But I would lay on my bed tossing and turning for more than an hour. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't sleep. So sometimes, you just can't force your kids to sleep.
Give them what they need. My 4 y.o. son needs me to rub his stomach. My 8 y.o. son wants me to spend some time with him on the bed before he sleeps. Sometimes he wants me to scratch his back. My 2 y.o. girl will ask for the boobs but I'm trying to stop that (weaning is hard). As substitute, she has picked up her brothers preference for stomach rubbing. It is better to sacrifice 10 minutes doing stuff to put them to bed than fighting for 2 hours getting them to sleep independently. One day they will grow up and your "services" will not be required anymore.

So, what do you do to get your kids to bed?

This affiliate link above will take you to:
- 60min. Instant Baby Sleeo (TM) sound track .MP3
- Implementation guide e-book (Implementation guide.PDF)
- 11 Steps to sleep success (CHECKLIST.PDF)

Five ideas for practical yet fun gifts for kids

2011-10-31T06:00:00.000+08:00

(ARA) - The building anticipation, the frantic ripping of wrapping paper and the discovery of what those colorful packages hold - holidays and birthdays are great times to be a kid. But as any parent can attest, gifts received during holidays sometimes end up gathering cobwebs in the following months.

While it's fun to go for novelty items that catch a child's attention when they are opened, giving the children in your life something that will truly stand the test of time will be much appreciated by both child and parent alike. And a practical gift doesn't have to be boring, either. Here are five things to consider as you search for a gift that will get a lot of use.

* Consult with the parents. It may be against your instinct to ask the child's parents what their child needs, since everyone loves a good surprise. However, it won't ruin the surprise for the child if you take the time to find something that he or she could truly use, and parents know their children best.

* Books or magazine subscriptions. If there's one thing a child can't get enough of, it's stories. Books are a great gift because they are sure to be read and don't take up a lot of room. A subscription to a magazine carries the added bonus of being a new gift every time it comes in the mail. If you get something that caters to the child's interest, you can't go wrong.

* Add some fun to clothing gifts. When you were a kid, you might not remember clothing as the most fun gifts you received, but the fact remains that clothing is one of the most practical gifts you can give a child. To make your gift of clothing a little more interesting, throw in a fun clothing item with something more practical. You can never go wrong with a pair of jeans for the utility aspect and then a fun T-shirt from your recipient's favorite TV show or movie. The Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. brand offers comfortable and affordable jeans for kids for under $25, so you can pick up a pair and have room in your budget for something else to complement them.

* The gift of tickets. If you're having trouble identifying a toy or gift that the child would really like, tickets to a kid-friendly concert or another event are a great option. You could also opt for a pass to a science museum or zoo - another gift that keeps giving throughout the year. Or personalize it by offering to take the child somewhere fun, which is a nice touch if you're a favorite aunt, uncle or grandparent.

* Give something that's alive. No, not a cat or dog - unless you have a parent's permission. But a fun and unique plant can be a fascinating gift for children as they can take care of it and watch it grow. Consider pairing this with a child-friendly book about the type of plant you are giving or gardening in general. Plants are also a nice gift, because if gives children and parents a project they can work on together.

By finding a practical gift that the child in your life is sure to love, you'll make sure that the happiness you're hoping to give continues long after the holidays are over.

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-10-27T00:01:00.003+08:00

I hope you've been downloading the scrapbook kits. MyMemories only put them up for 2 weeks before they change the freebie to a different scrapbook kit.

Here is the preview to this week's scrapbook kit.

This Digital Kit Includes:

2 Digital Papers

5 Page Elements

2 Quick Pages

Click here to get it:

I WANT THIS FREE SCRAPBOOK KIT

You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

BONUS:
If you want an extra free scrapbook kit, share what you have done with the scrapbook kit above. Leave a comment to tell me where I can view your scrapbook creation. I will then email you the link to the bonus freebie.

Teach Values With Stories

2011-10-25T06:00:00.007+08:00

We all want our children to learn and display values such as kindness, honesty, responsible, diligence, patience, optimism etc.... Well, here's one way to teach them that: through stories.

Check out http://freestoriesforkids.com/

You'll find plenty of stories and each has a value attached. Read one every night before you put them to bed. There's a Workbook of Values for you to download too.

Happy Reading!

Create Halloween magic on a shoestring budget

2011-10-24T06:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - Ghoulish ghosts. Wicked witches. Things that go bump in the night. What better way to have a little Halloween fun than to decorate your home for that spooky night?

Halloween decorations can be expensive if you buy them in a store, but don't let that stop you from capturing the spirit. It's easy to transform the things you already have around the house into spooktacular decorations your trick-or-treaters will love.

"Many people don't realize how easy it is to create Halloween magic from next to nothing," says Rust-Oleum designer Angie Stinner. "All it takes is a few beverage cans, terracotta pots, pumpkins, some paint and a little imagination."

Here are a few projects from the archives of paintideas.com to help you deck out your home for All Hallow's Eve:

Create a gaggle of ghoulish ghosts. Reclaim a few aluminum beverage cans from your recycling bin and rinse them thoroughly. Flip up the tab on each can so it's upright. After the cans are dry, take them outside and give them a couple of coats of Stops Rust Gloss White spray paint. Make sure you cover the entire surface and let them dry for about 24 hours. Then take a permanent marker or foam paint pen to draw on ghostly faces. Attach a 4-by-4 piece of thin gauze to each can by draping it over the top and affix a pipe cleaner or piece of yarn through each tab to hang. They're perfect for decorating a porch, entry hall - even your child's room.

Paint a pumpkin. Give a traditional Halloween activity a new twist. Paint a few pumpkins you've picked at the pumpkin patch with a spray paint like Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint. Give them 24 hours to fully cure, and then use chalk to draw pictures or write messages like "Boo," "Go Batty" or "Happy Halloween." Line them up on the steps leading to your front door and you're ready to welcome trick-or-treaters. Or, purchase mini-pumpkins at your local supermarket and spray paint them with on-trend finishes like Universal Copper Hammered or Oil Rubbed Bronze. Place them in a basket on your dining room table or scatter them around your house for a sophisticated alternative to the traditional painted pumpkin. The paint will preserve your pumpkins so they last through Thanksgiving.

Pilgrim's landing. Here's a project that can make your Halloween party extra festive and make great placeholders for your Thanksgiving table too. Purchase several inexpensive four inch terracotta pots from your local home or garden center - or recycle some you may have in your garage. Take them outside and give them a couple of coats of paint like Ultra Cover 2X Gloss Black spray paint or Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint. After the pots are completely dry, cut felt circles slightly larger than the opening of the pot and attach them with a hot glue gun. Then decorate the pots with orange ribbon, candy corn, dried flowers or other seasonal decorations to make festive pilgrims' hats. If you spray painted your pots, you can use a silver permanent marker to write names on the pots - or leave them as they are and use them again to decorate your Thanksgiving table. If you used the chalkboard paint, use any color chalk. The chalk will erase easily so your pilgrims' hats can be used over and over again.

Looking for more holiday decorating ideas? Visit Facebook.com/Paintideas.

Logic Game: Factory Balls

2011-10-21T06:00:00.002+08:00

Here's another Bonte Game called Factory Balls. They actually have Factory Balls 4 now. This is the first one. Dip the ball into the paint. Use the tools they give you to create a pattern that matches the one they want. Have fun thinking!

Once again, another game to help your children learn problem solving and creative thinking. Have a try and leave me a comment.

Click this link to play the game: FACTORY BALLS

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

2011-10-20T00:01:00.002+08:00

Here's another free scrapbook kit from MyMemories. Remember, you get a freebie every Thursday so don't forget to check back. You can subscribe to my feed or just fill in your email below to get updated through email. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Here is this week's preview of the free digital scrapbook kit available.

You want it? All you have to do is click this link:

I WANT A FREE DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT!

Each freebie is only available for about 1 week. MyMemories will constantly change the freebie. So don't be surprise if the link shows a different freebie instead.

Scrapbooking digitally is easy when you use MyMemories Suite scrapbooking software. I've been using it and I love it. It doesn't take long to learn how to create beautiful looking scrap pages.

You don't have to pay full price when you buy MyMemories Suite. Here's a discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Petronas Gas Station's Roof Blown Off In Storm

2011-10-18T10:36:00.000+08:00

What a freak storm we had yesterday. Just as the heavy rain began to fall, a sudden strong gust of wind picked up. The next thing we know, the zinc roof of the Petronas gas station next to my house peeled off piece by piece and flew in our direction. Quickly I yelled for my kids to get in the house. The kids huddled together as the heavy rain fell and the thunder clasped. My daughter said it looked like a twister as the wind was swirling round and round. Of course we don't have twisters in Malaysia. Later my eldest brother said it is possibly as downburst or microburst.

After the storm passed, I went outside to see what damages had been incurred. Thank goodness, nobody's houses or cars were damaged. Nobody was injured too. Most of the neighbors came out and we related our experiences to one another. One neighbor had a frame picture fall and shatter some glass. Another neighbor had one of the zinc roof pieces blow into her house compound. Thankfully a pillar blocked the piece from hitting her car. A few houses were without electricity.

Later a few guys came to collect the zinc roof pieces laying on the road. My guess is they were from the gas station.

I'm very thankful that I decided to go outside to be with my kids. I was only outside a few minutes before the storm started. I was there to see what was happening and warn them of the danger. My eldest girl would have stood there to watch if I didn't ask her to get inside. They saw what was happening but it didn't incur in their minds that there was danger.

Here are some of the pictures I took.

I'm standing on my porch. That is the gas station.

One piece of the roof lying across the road right in front of my house. Thank goodness it didn't fall on my house.

Didn't realize until later that there was havoc at the back of my house too. My clothes stand had fallen. The other clothes stand was initially on the cement area was pushed out into the garden. Needless to say, all my clothes got wet. And I just hung it up to dry a few minutes earlier. All have to be washed again.

I looked over at the gas station and they had stuff hanging down from the roof.

A neighbor's house with their awning collapsed.

I heard they just put that up not too long ago.

Walking up the hill, I got to peek at the damages to the gas station's roof.

My immediate neighbor's awning was torn off and nearly blew into my porch. Thank goodness the fence stopped it. Or it would have damaged my car and my porch awning.

Making Halloween festive without breaking the bank

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000+08:00

(ARA) - No longer is Halloween just a night for kids to trick-or-treat. In recent years the holiday has skyrocketed to become one of the most celebrated times of the year.

In fact, nearly two-thirds of adults have dressed up every year for the past two to three years, and more than half of adults plan on decorating their homes this year, according to a recent survey released by Savers, Inc., a global thrift retailer with Savers and Value Village stores across the country.

"Halloween is a welcome escape for so many people," says Mary Ginnaty, senior buyer at Savers, Inc. "It's a holiday where you can take a break from everyday worries, alter your ego and just have fun celebrating with friends and family. Folks love that."

But with the turbulent economy remaining top of mind, some Halloween shoppers may be worried about how to create new costumes and decorations without spending a fortune in the process. There's no need to fear, though - just consider these tips for a festive All Hallows' Eve that won't leave your credit card haunting you:

* Set a budget - The first step of any shopping venture should be to set a budget that the whole family agrees on, and stick to it. Halloween is no different, so make sure you decide in advance how much you want to spend on costumes, decorations, candy and any other miscellaneous merriment.

* Mix new and used - One of the best ways to save money and create a completely original costume is to combine new and previously owned pieces. For instance, pairing a fancy little girl's dress and vintage jewelry with new accessories like a wig, tiara and wand makes for a completely customizable and unique princess look. You could also purchase a prepackaged costume, such as a vampire, and then punch it up with secondhand items like tuxedo pants, shiny dress shoes and white gloves to make the look even more authentic.

* Take the road less traveled - When shopping for a Halloween costume, visit a thrift store and be sure to browse every department - especially areas you don't typically shop. For instance, if you're looking to create a men's pirate costume, check the women's section for billowy and ruffled tops and loose-fitting pants. Many men may not realize the women's section offers completely different styles and textured materials, which could be perfect for a variety of costume ideas. Women, too, should check out the men's and boy's sections for things like vests and authentic uniforms.

* Consult the experts - If you're having trouble pulling together the exact look you're going for, search online and in magazines for inspiration. Some stores, like Savers and Value Village even offer trained costume consultants who are completely dedicated to helping people put together the perfect costume on any budget. They can help shoppers find a new ready-made costume, offer advice in mixing themed accessories with clothing items found in their closets, or find unique secondhand finds for those looking to create a completely handmade look.

* Do-it-yourself decor - When shopping for decorations, don't feel like you need to pay top dollar for standard store-bought goods. Crafting spooky Halloween decor for just a few bucks can be as simple as applying a layer of black spray paint to secondhand silk flowers or quirky ceramic knick-knacks, like owls, crows and cats, and sprinkling them around your "haunted house" for a creepy surprise.

* Pass a good value on - After Halloween has come and gone, don't forget to donate your costume at a Community Donation Center. You'll help benefit a nonprofit in your community, and give someone else a great Halloween look next year.

For more Halloween costume ideas and downloadable DIY project instructions, visit www.savers.com.

Logic Game: Duck, Think Outside The Flock

2011-10-14T15:07:00.001+08:00

I came across Bonte Games. If you want to train your children to think, you should get them to play these games. Maybe not so suitable for really young children (unless they are a genius, and maybe they are). You should try it out too. See if you have the brains to figure it out.

This one is called Duck. No instructions given. You have to figure out what the task is. It could be as easy as putting the ducks in a row. Once you complete the task, the ducks will swim away. Good luck.

Drop a comment to tell me how you did.

Click here to play the game: Duck, think outside the flock

Terrific Thursday Freebie: Scrapbook Kit From MyMemories

2011-10-13T00:01:00.003+08:00

EVERY THURSDAY YOU GET A FREE SCRAPBOOK KIT!

MyMemories has been very gracious indeed to allow me to offer you a scrapbook kit every THURSDAY. And how much do you have to pay for it? NOTHING.

Isn't that awesome?

The freebies will change constantly. Each kit will definitely be there for at least 1 week. So grab it quick because it will not be there forever. This is also a reason why you should visit my blog every Thursday. I'll give you a preview and the link to the freebie.

This is the preview to this week's digital kit. It includes 9 page elements and 2 quick pages. It is perfect for 2 page layouts.

Click here:
GIVE ME MY FREE DIGITAL KIT

If you've been wanting to do digital scrapbooks, this is a perfect excuse for you to start. It is so easy to do, especially when you use MyMemories scrapbook software. And now you have this free digital kit to use. All you have to do is plop in your photos, journal in some words to highlight the memory and paste a few elements here and there to make it look nicer. You can use these digital kits to create a photobook or post them online for friends and family to see. I'm sure they'll be going "ooh" and "aaaah".

Here's more good stuff...

DISCOUNT CODE

STMMMS86598

Use my affiliate discount code above to slash $10 off your purchase of MyMemories Suite Scrapbook Software. PLUS, you'll also get another $10 gift certificate to buy from their online store. WHAT A DEAL! Just copy and paste the discount code as you check out.
* Code is good for those in US and Canada only

Need Digital Scrapbook Ideas?

2011-10-12T06:00:00.001+08:00

Scrapbook Page Maps: Sketches For Creative Layouts

Scrapbooking enthusiasts will appreciate this book. The many sketch layouts will inspire you to create beautiful scrap pages yourself. If you want to invest in a scrapping idea book, this is the one you should choose. Definitely worth your money.

You'll find beautiful, well balanced layouts that are very doable. It caters for traditional scrappers but digital scrappers will not lose out. Just a heads up that you might be disappointed if you're looking for double page layout ideas as this book features single page layouts.

It has many positive reviews. If you are low on scrapbooking inspiration, this book will fire you up. It'll make a wonderful gift too. Christmas is not too far away.

*Contains my affiliate links.

Make Halloween frightfully easy and affordable

2011-10-10T06:00:00.002+08:00

(ARA) - Halloween decorations and costumes are meant to be frightfully fun, but the price tag for pulling together the big night doesn't have to be scary.

Here are three fun and unexpected ways to keep costs low and let the creativity shine with enchanting accessories, do-it-yourself decorations and devilishly simple party planning.

Keep costumes personal and affordable

Masks are an easy and affordable way to jazz up a kid's costume. They are also a great alternative for moms who don't want to dress up in full costume, but still want to get in the spirit. Host a pre-Halloween Masquerade Mask party and invite each guest to bring one embellishment - sequins, glitter, feathers and buttons - to create one-of-a-kind masquerade masks. The host can provide paper masks, glue and scissors, and set up a designated area where kids can decorate their own masks with friends. Plan to make it an annual gathering and remind everyone to save materials throughout the year.

Decorate on a dime

Take advantage of free resources and do-it-yourself crafts to use as decorations and fun activities for the whole family. Visit Target.com/Halloween to download free printable pumpkin and eerie decorative lighting stencils. Print out the stencils and have the kids cut them out with safety scissors for pumpkin carving or painting. Kids can glue stencils onto white paper bags to line the driveway or walkway and place flameless candles inside the paper bags for an extra spooky Halloween glow. Moms can apply trick-or-treat bag iron-ons to a white canvas tote to complete the Halloween look from head to toe.

Simplify party planning

Many people find the idea of hosting a Halloween gathering stressful. "It doesn't have to be," says Sabrina Soto, Target Style Expert for Home. "Small touches can make a big Halloween statement - try placing a decorative notecard that says 'witches brew' next to the punch bowl and one that says 'eye balls' by a bowl of peeled grapes."

Make a glam centerpiece with mouth-watering Halloween treats displayed on a spider web two-tier tray, flanked by spooky candelabras with black and silver candles. It instantly creates an eye-catching focal point on the table with a spooky Halloween feel. A big trend this year is haunted gingerbread houses; have kids decorate them at the party for a fun and delicious activity.

For take home gifts, pack treat sacks with apples and tooth brushes with cards saying "fang scrubbers." (The other moms will appreciate the healthy gesture.)

"Halloween is a time to be creative and let your imagination guide you," says Soto. For more creative and affordable Halloween tips, costumes and decorating ideas, visit Target.com/Halloween.

Have A Problem With Public Breastfeeding?

2011-10-03T09:56:00.000+08:00

How do you feel about public breastfeeding?

As a mother who breastfeeds, I understand the apprehension to breastfeed in public. Especially if you are a first time mom. You are scared about attracting attention to yourself, you are afraid people might stare in disgust and you know that there is a risk someone might just tell you off.

Well, let me tell you something. I'm on baby no.4 now and I don't really worry about that anymore. I've realized how discreet we can be when breastfeeding in public. Most of the time, nobody notices.

If you are still apprehensive about breastfeeding in public, watch this video and take courage. This mom echoes the voice of many breastfeeding mothers. For those of you who think you have a valid reason for shaming a mother who breastfeeds her baby in public, listen up. Hope you can be more open minded.

*Note: This video does contain some cusswords. She is ranting afterall.

So, what do you think? Are you for or against breastfeeding in public?

Sale On Baby Stuff

2011-10-01T10:56:00.000+08:00

If you need to buy some baby stuff, this is a good time to buy. LittleWhiz just announced they are having a sale this month (1/10/11 - 30/10/11). I've bought stuff from them before and am very happy with their service. Plus, you can really save money during their sales.

So, if you've been looking to buy stuff like a baby car seat, stroller, breastpump, baby monitor, diaper bag, disposable breast pads, nursing bra, or baby toys, you must head over to their website to see their great deals. They carry lots of good brands like Combi, Britax, Dr. Brown's, Evenflo, Fisher-Price, Graco, Lamaze, Leap Frog, Medela, Bumble Bee, Tommee Tippee and many more.

Click on this affiliate banner of mine to see the many offers they have.

Simple Pumpkin Painting

2011-09-29T12:08:00.000+08:00

Image by Steve Snodgrass via Flickr

With each annual visit to the pumpkin patch, teachers, room mothers, scout troop leaders and parents alike often wonder how to make the most of the prize pumpkin that was chosen by a child. Forget the messy and dangerous ideas of carving. Pumpkin Painting is the perfect solution to a creative dilemma!

Painting silly, goofy or scary faces or other designs can be a fun, yet relatively simple activity for children and adults. Preschool age children can even participate in creating their own designs for their pumpkins. You certainly can't say that about carving pumpkins!

The easiest design to paint on a pumpkin is a traditional jack-o-lantern face. But here are some other ideas for festive designs:

silly or goofy faces
favorite cartoon characters
fall leaves
scarecrow
witch
princess
turkey
spider
ghosts
cats
goblin

Painting pumpkins is a very economical craft as most supplies are readily available (you probably already have some of these in your home):

washable markers
acrylic craft paints
newspaper
spray sealer
accessories such as raffia, jewelry, hats, etc.

Before beginning, decide what design you are going to paint and trace that design onto a clean pumpkin. You can freehand the design or select one of the many designs in the ultimate e-guide for pumpkin painting, Easy Pumpkin Painting. Once you or your child has painted their first pumpkin, chances are you’ll want to paint an entire pumpkin family to proudly display at your home.

Pumpkin Painting is an annual family tradition at our house. We hope it will be at yours as well. Easy Pumpkin Painting is a guide that contains step-by-step instructions and color photographs of exactly how to paint the cutest Halloween pumpkins. It also contains templates that you can use to paint your first pumpkin in about an hour! Easy Pumpkin Painting makes painting pumpkins, well, Easy!

By: Easy Crafts Network

* Post contains affiliate links.

Homemade baby food serves up healthy eating habits and savings

2011-09-26T06:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - When it comes to caring for your bundle of joy, you only want what's best. And these days, with early nutrition top-of-mind for many, it's no wonder that a growing number of parents are turning to homemade baby food to help instill healthy eating habits from the start.

Prepping and pureeing easy, everyday ingredients in the home also gives you the satisfaction of knowing exactly what is going into your baby's belly, from avocado and green beans to diced apples, sweet potatoes and peaches. Using fresh-from-the-market finds also lets you avoid preservatives and additives. And by introducing a variety of healthy foods at an early age, parents can help children develop a taste for similar flavors for the rest of their lives.

Another benefit to pureeing baby's meals at home is the savings. Ranging from 50 cents to $1.50 per jar, the cost of buying premade baby food can quickly add up. By preparing homemade meals for your little one, you're not only ensuring better control of his overall diet, you're also helping keep an eye on your household budget.

Follow these easy tips and tasty recipes to discover ways in which you can hop on this back-to-basics movement and be well on your way to puree perfection.

Preparing the baby food

Avoid costly specialty baby food mixers or gadgets and opt for an equally effective, easy-to-use food processor, like those from Black & Decker, that puree for baby but also stand up to other culinary tasks.
Steam, bake or broil the ingredients. Healthy tip: steaming maintains the most nutrients.
The liquid the vegetables and fruits were cooked in can be added to the puree to adjust consistency. Breast milk or formula can also be used to thin the puree.

Storing the baby food

Transfer the baby food puree into ice trays or a baby food container. If freezing in glass, use "safe to freeze" jars or containers.
Fill each cube with the puree.
Cover the tray with a lid or plastic wrap and place in the freezer.
Each cube is equal to about 1 ounce of food.
Once the cubes of puree have set and are frozen, you can transfer them to freezer bags.
Label the bag with the date of preparation as well as the type of food. The baby food cubes should be used within one month of freezing.
When it's time to feed the baby, remove the number of food cubes needed, thaw and reheat.

By following these simple, at-home recipes from Black & Decker, you'll help develop healthy eating habits for your tot, all while keeping your overall baby budget in check.

For infants 4 to 6 months

Green Dream

1/2 ripe avocado, peeled

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup fresh or frozen thawed peas

1/3 cup sliced fresh green beans

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Place in food processor and process for 10 seconds or until smooth for 4- to 6-month-olds or leave slightly chunkier for 6- to 12-month-olds.

Makes about 1 cup.

Cinnamon Apples and Yams

3/4 cup peeled, cored and diced apples

3/4 cup peeled, diced yams or sweet potatoes

3/4 cup water

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until apples and yams are soft. Let cool slightly, then place in food processor and process for five seconds for 4- to 6-month-olds or leave slightly chunkier for 9- to 12-month-olds.

Makes about 1 cup.

For babies 6 to 9 months and 9 to 12 months

Peachy Rice Pudding

3/4 cup soy milk

1/2 cup diced fresh or frozen peaches

2 tablespoons diced ripe banana

1/4 cup cooked brown rice

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then place in food processor. Pulse on and off 10 times for 6- to 9-month-olds or leave slightly chunkier for 9- to 12-month-olds.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Lemon Chicken

1 teaspoon unsalted butter

1/2 cup diced uncooked chicken

1/4 cup whole wheat couscous

3/4 cup water

1 tablespoon snipped green onion tops

1 tablespoon minced red bell pepper

1/8 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add chicken; cook and stir for five minutes. Add couscous and cook for five minutes more then stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and remove from heat; let stand for five minutes. Let cool slightly then place in food processor. Process for 10 seconds. Scrape down sides and process five seconds more for 6- to 9-month-olds or leave slightly chunkier for 9- to 12-month-olds.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

For more information on food processors, visit www.blackanddeckerappliances.com.

Poster Your Images

2011-09-24T23:57:00.000+08:00

What do you have on your wall? Most people like to put up family pictures. My DH, he likes to put up posters with motivational quotations. For example, these are some sayings from his posters:

Think Out Of The Box.
Failing Doesnt' Make You A Failure. Giving Up Does!
Challenges Can Be Stepping Stones Or Stumbling Blocks. It's Just A Matter Of How You View Them.
Worry Is Like A Rocking Chair. It Gives You Something To Do But Doesn't Get You Anywhere.
Success Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity.

I've noticed that many people have started to think about Christmas gifts. You know what? A poster is a nice gift to give a friend. Maybe even a family member. Almost all of us have tons of images lying in our computer's hard disk. It is so easy to convert some of those images into custom posters. I know some of you are lucky to have a DSLR camera. I've seen plenty of awesome looking photos on blogs. Imagine adding some motivational words to an beautiful picture and then send it for custom poster printing. I think that makes a unique gift with a personal touch, don't you?

I know my son would love it if I converted some of his bird pictures into a poster. He is a budding birder. Here are some of his pictures:

Amazingly, poster printing is quite affordable. You could get a 24" x 36" poster printed for $19. It's a small price to pay for turning a lovely memory into a work of art.

Well, that's just a thought about what you can do with your tons of images and ideas for gifts.

*This post is brought to you by PosterBrain

How To Make Your Days Fun and Yummy This Fall

2011-09-22T23:46:00.000+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Christine from Menu Central Planning has just announce a deal that will impress you: SPECIAL FALL EBOOK BUNDLE.

She's got TWELVE products all bundled up for only $10. That's a 90% discount. But you gotta hurry, coz' the offer ends after 3rd October.

What's in the bundle? Let's see if this gets you excited and charged up for the fall season.

All About Apples (Valued at $5.97)
Who doesn't love a fresh crisp apple this time of year! This e-book walks you through the various apples and their uses, the best way to buy apples, what to do if you end up with a ton of apples, delicious yummy apple recipes and much more.
All About Pumpkins (Valued at $5.97)
Pumpkins are great for both decorating and eating! Learn how to choose and store pumpkins, fun uses for pumpkins and of course delicious pumpkin recipes!
Delicious Fall Recipes (Valued at $8.97)
This resource includes 29 super fun and creative fall & Halloween recipes the whole family is sure to love - everything from Halloween Party Fondue, to Vampire Bat Stew, to Ghosts on a stick.
Eat Whole Foods - For the Health of It (Valued at 12.97)
Thinking of cutting out processed foods from your family's diet? In this ebook you learn what whole foods are, why they are important, info on organics, how to eat whole foods on a budget and much more. If you are interested in learning more about whole foods - this is a great guide!
Halloween Week Menu (Valued at $6.97)
Halloween is often one of kids favorite holidays! How about making the entire week super fun! You'll get a Halloween week dinner menu (with a grocery shopping list of course) to make it a fun food week your kids will never forget! (Don't worry - these are super easy recipes that the entire family will enjoy!)
Halloween Fun Recipes & Party Games (Valued at $5.97)
Even more Halloween recipes and some great games to play at your Halloween Party. With this bundle you certainly won't be at a loss for creative Halloween ideas!
School Lunches Made Easy (Valued at $8.97)
If you have school lunches to pack each day, this guide will be your new best friend! Discover easy lunch ideas, organization tips, and even printable charts to help you out!
It's Sleepover Party Time (Valued at $6.97)
Sleepovers - so much fun for the kids, but sometimes a lot of work for the parents! This illustrated recipe resource takes you through a few of our very favorite sleepover recipes - step by step! Now feeding all those kids is taken care of!
Slow Cooker Recipe Book (Valued at $14.97)
How about using your slow cooker in the fall and getting the aroma of dinner drifting through the house all day? Plus, feeding the family is a cinch come supper time! You'll receive 54 pages of Christine's favorite slow cooker recipes.
Spooky & Fun Halloween Recipes (Valued at $5.97)
More Halloween Recipes - what can I say! There are so many yummy ideas!
Seven Simple Steps to a Super Halloween Party (Valued at $7.97)
Would you like to host a simple Halloween Party but you're just not sure where to start? Then this is what you need! Just follow their 7 easy steps - Invitations, Decorations, Music, Food, Games & Activities, Crafts & Goodie Bags. With this resource the Halloween Party Stress will be gone!
Thanksgiving Planned for You (Valued at $12.97)
Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? If so, here's the plan to reduce your stress! Christine has prepared the menu, the shopping list, and the to-do list. Take a deep breath, follow the guide and know that this year you can actually enjoy the holiday!

You'll find this fun bundle here:
Special Fall Ebook Bundle

*This post contains my affiliate links.

Be Careful When Using Baby Slings

2011-09-21T10:22:00.000+08:00

If you haven't heard yet, warnings have been issued on the use of baby slings. The warnings were sparked by the death of a 2 day old baby in South Australia. The mother was carrying the baby in a sling underneath her shirt and jumper. Although the autopsy report doesn't conclusively say the sling was the cause of the baby's death, but it was considered a risk factor.

So now, professors and specialists are sounding the warning for mothers to be careful when using baby slings.The US Consumer Product Safety Commission would like parents to be aware that soft fabric slings have the potential to suffocate a baby, especially those that are 4 months old and below.

Pouch slings, especially, can pose a health hazard if baby is held in a position that blocks the airways. So, the call is for parents to constantly check on the baby when using the sling. Make sure their nose and mouth are not covered.

If you are looking for the best baby carrier, check these out. They come highly recommended:

New resource helps moms overcome dinnertime challenges

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000+08:00

(ARA) - As every parent knows, the dinner hour can be fraught with friction and frustration - how can you get your picky eater to abandon his "no green foods" rule or make your chatterbox stop talking long enough to take a bite?

Relax, says mother of three, parenting expert and author of "The Big Book of Parenting Solutions," Dr. Michele Borba, who notes that all parents want to feed their kids well and enjoy the time together at the table. "Sometimes, the littlest members of the family establish patterns at mealtime that are difficult to break," Borba says. "Thankfully, there are scores of parents out there who have gone or are going through the same challenges; one resource to try is Mom's the Word on Dinner, an interactive forum that's hosted by Ragu(R) on Facebook.com/ragusauce. It's a great community where moms can discuss and, hopefully, provide solutions to the everyday dinner time challenges from picky eaters to table manners."

Other tips for dealing with picky eaters, provided by Borba and registered dietician, Dr. Felicia Stoler include:

Don't make it a big deal. "Research shows that picky eaters can become even pickier depending on how we respond," Borba says. "It's best to be neutral and calm and hold off on lectures. In fact, the less said about the food, the better."
Branch out. "The best way to get the pickiest eaters to discover new foods is to send them to a friend or family member's house," Stoler says. "I am amazed at what picky kids will eat at my house and what my kids have tried at other people's homes."
Turn your kid onto cooking shows. "One mom swore her kid was the world's pickiest eater," Borba says. "One day she caught her daughter watching a cooking show and it was the 'moment' she'd been waiting for. She bought her a small recipe box and showed her daughter how to find recipes on the internet. Each week her daughter found a recipe and encouraged her mom to make it. The best part: she ate it."
Mix favorites with new tastes. "Children will refuse to try new foods without anything familiar on their plate," Stoler says. "Try filling their plate with their favorite foods and add a small amount of the new food to inch them toward exploring new flavors. My son loves pasta so I just make sure to mix in different vegetables each week to have him try something different. On top of that, Ragu(R) Old World Style(R) Traditional pasta sauce has two servings of veggies in every half cup so I always feel confident that he's receiving a wholesome meal."

Finally, trying a family-friendly recipe like Ragu(R) Veggie Pizza Cupcakes that's fun to make and eat with the kids will get everyone around the table and asking for seconds. For more tips and recipes, and to join the conversation, visit Facebook.com/ragusauce.

Veggie Pizza Cupcakes

For meat-lover's cupcakes, substitute cooked ground beef for the veggies. Simply mix it in with the sauce and continue as in recipe.

Ingredients

1 package (12 oz.) refrigerated biscuits (10 biscuits)

1 teaspoon olive oil

1-1/2 cups assorted diced fresh vegetables (red bell pepper, zucchini, summer squash, onion)

1-1/2 cups Ragu(R) Old World Style(R) Traditional Pasta Sauce

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 oz.)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll biscuits and press each into a 3-inch round. Evenly press each biscuit in bottom and up sides of each cup in 12-cup muffin pan; chill until ready to fill.

2. Heat olive oil over medium heat in 10-inch skillet and cook vegetables, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in pasta sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer 2 minutes or until slightly reduced.

3. Evenly spoon vegetable mixture into prepared muffin cups. Bake 15 minutes. Evenly sprinkle tops with cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and biscuits are golden. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Gently remove pizza cups from muffin pan and serve.

Preparation time: 15 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Yield: 10 pizza cups

Nutrition Information per serving

Calories 140, Calories From Fat 45, Total Fat 5g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 5mg, Sodium 460mg, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 5g, Protein 4g, Vitamin A 6 percent, Vitamin C 25 percent, Calcium 4 percent, Iron 6 percent.

Chicken Rendang

2011-09-16T10:42:00.000+08:00

There's a guy selling lemang* near my house. I bought one to try it out. The medium sized cost me RM10. What is lemang without some rendang right? So I also bought some rendang from him. One small container was RM5. I bought one but my mom looked and said "that's not enough", so she bought another container. The rendang was nice but they used old chicken. We don't like old chicken. Plus, it seemed like there were more bones than chicken. The quantity was also too little.

So, what to do? Cook my own rendang lah.

How did it turn out? Boleh tahan lah (Not too bad). I wanted to get some more lemang to go with it but DH said "You want me to die faster ah? So much coconut milk."

So, what's in my chicken rendang?

Blended shallots, garlic, turmeric, ginger and lemon grass
Fry all that blended stuff in some oil.
Added some of my FIL's chilli. He makes a whole batch and keeps them in the freezer. Here is his chilli paste recipe.
Added in the chicken. I like to put salt on the chicken first before cooking.
Stir around for a few minutes.
Pour in the santan (coconut milk). How much santan to use depends on how much gravy you want. My family loves gravy, so I put in a bit more. If you like dry rendang, then don't put too much. Or else you'll overcook the chicken while waiting for the santan to dry out.
Let it simmer till chicken is cooked. Add in kaffir lime leaves and turmeric leaves while simmering. I shred the leaves into tiny strips first.
Add in the kerisik*. I took the easy way out and bought ready made kerisik from the shop. I used 2 small packets.
Before you finish, taste to see if you need to add in more salt or sugar.

*Lemang = Glutinous rice and coconut milk cooked in a hollowed bamboo stick. It's traditional Malay food found in abundance during the month of their Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
*Kerisik = grated, toasted and grounded coconut paste.

I cooked one whole chicken. So I used about 6-7 shallots, one whole garlic bulb, 1/2 finger length of tumeric, 1 finger length of ginger, 3 lemon grass.
Sorry, I can't really give you exact measurements. When I cook, I just estimate and adjust according to the quantity I need to cook for my family. Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Hope you enjoy the recipe.

Happy 2nd Birthday BabyK

2011-09-14T10:37:00.001+08:00

Today my little girl turns 2 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CUTIE PIE!

I love my kids when they are at this age. They talk cute and do lots of cute stuff. They want to be independent and so are very willing helpers. Just the other day, I called from the back of my house (where I put the washing machine) for someone to bring me the dirty laundry. Who should answer my call? Yes, my little 2 year old runs to the laundry basket and delivers it to me. Never mind it is too heavy for her. She pushed it all the way to the back for me. And the other 3 older kids???? Playing deaf I guess.

She can say quite a few words like "atah" (water), stuck, rice, mess, "chit" (sounds the same of sit and sleep), walk-walk, shtoo (school), "tar" (car), no, yes, "muk" (milk), tatoo (thank you), "pis" (please) etc.... She will say "hug me" when she wants to be carried. Actually, I'm not sure if it is "hug me" or "help me".

She can finally now call me by the correct term "Mommy". Before this I was called "papa". Actually, everyone was called "papa". Now strangers outside the house like the mailman, neighbors and the guy who collects rubbish is called "nana".

We've gone swimming a few times. Initially she was scared and clung to me for dear life. Then she started to enjoy the water and she could float around without me holding her. These days when we go swimming, her favorite thing to do is to jump into the pool. She will do it over and over again. Just take a look at my little miss dare devil. I caught her on video.

My babies are all growing up. Sob! Sob!
So, what are we doing for her birthday? Nothing grand. She's only 2 years old and don't have any friends yet. She probably won't remember it either. Hahahah. After 3 kids, we (DH and I) have kinda wised up a bit. Celebration will be just us, the family. Chicken wings are marinating in the fridge, getting ready for a delicious dinner. I think ice-cream will be on the menu too. We'll also take her to the cake shop to pick out her cake. DH was thinking of a treat at Secret Recipe.

She was practicing her blowing for the birthday candles last night. We sang the birthday song and she would blow before the song finished. We had to tell her to wait. So cute. Let's see if she gets it right tonight.

Well, have a fantastic birthday little girl. Mommy, daddy, koko1, koko2, jie-jie, amah and kong-kong love you very, very much. MUAH!

Cheese Baked Rice

2011-09-13T16:35:00.000+08:00

This is another one of my DH's request: Cheese Baked Rice.
I've done something similar before but the recipe was different. Previously, my friend taught me to use chicken nuggets. Then pour mushroom soup onto the rice before adding the cheese on top to bake.

This recipe is from Tastes of Home. Their recipe is here.

But for you convenience, I'll write what I did here:

Put about 1 tbsp butter into the wok.
Fry minced garlic with the butter.
Add in chopped bacon. Fry until you get some bacon juice and you get that lovely bacon smell.
Pour in your rice (You could use your day-old rice).
Add in soy sauce, worcester sauce and a dash of pepper.
Stir everything around until the rice is nicely coated with all the sauce. Take a taste to see if you need more soy sauce.
Transfer to a baking dish big enough to hold all your rice (I cooked around 3-4 cups of rice).
Sprinkle your grated cheese on top of the rice. I used both mozzarella and cheddar.
Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes at around 200 degrees Celcius (or until cheese is nicely melted).

This is a dish that I will only cook occasionally. It is yummy but cheese and bacon are so expensive.

Enjoy!

Feeling sluggish? Follow these three rules for maintaining energy throughout the day

2011-09-12T06:00:00.002+08:00

(ARA) - Whether you're a busy parent, a career go-getter or both, modern life has never been more hectic. Busy days can leave even the most energetic people tired and drained. If you want to live a more healthful, energized life, some simple choices can help you make each day dramatically different.

Kathy Kaehler, author, celebrity trainer and mother of three, has devoted her life to helping people live happy, productive and healthy lives. Working with celebrities like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Kim Kardashian, Kaehler knows how simple tricks can help keep you staying fit and energized. She suggests incorporating these three rules into your daily routine to begin feeling better every day:

Rule 1: Exercise anytime

Exercise isn't just for the gym. The day is filled with moments where you can work your muscles and help energize your body. For example, almost everyone's day includes time at the office and time in the car.

At the office: A great way to grab some energy and get through the afternoon lull is to do a simple, yet effective exercise. Using a sturdy, non-rolling desk chair, practice standing up and then sitting back down. Focusing on your legs and keeping your arms to your side, this easy exercise is fast, effective and great for the lower body. Not only will it elevate your heart rate and increase your breathing, but you are sure to feel its overall energizing effects throughout the day. Complete two sets of 15 repetitions to provide the burn you need to feel good.

In the car: All the minutes wasted stuck in traffic or waiting in the carpool line at school are perfect opportunities to flex some muscle power. While seated, squeeze your glutes (buttock muscles) as hard as you can. This will cause your body to rise and fall a few inches. After a set of eight to 10 reps, repeat the exercise, but this time focus on one side at a time.

No matter where your day takes you, always remember to keep some fresh water or 100 percent fruit juice and healthy snacks like Snack Factory's Pretzel Crisps(R) with you in the car. It will keep you fueled and hydrated and prevent you from loading up on carbs and fat at the nearest fast food restaurant.

Rule 2: Snack healthy

It's important to keep your body fueled, but with the right kinds of foods, so skip the soda and chips. Instead, look for healthy foods that will keep you energized throughout the day. Pretzel Crisps are a great low-fat, low-calorie snack packed full of flavor and crunch, leaving you satisfied and ready to move on with your day. The flat-baked pretzel crackers have no trans fats, saturated fat or cholesterol, making it the perfect snack for at work or at home.

You can even add some pizzazz to your Pretzel Crisps and increase the nutritional value by pairing it with some healthy toppings and low-fat dips. Combine your favorite flavor with fresh-sliced cucumbers, rich hummus, zesty salsa, crisp apples or sliced cheese. Don't be afraid to challenge your taste buds and get creative with your pairings. The sky's the limit when it comes to this satisfying, better-for-you snack. For additional pairing ideas and dip recipes, visit the company's website at www.pretzelcrisps.com and look for this tasty snack in the deli section of your local grocery store.

Rule 3: Prioritize sleep

Sixty-three percent of Americans say their sleep needs are not being met during the week, according to a 2011 poll by the National Sleep Foundation. For many people, sleep is the first thing to get cut when their day gets too busy.

Getting enough sleep is crucial to losing weight, reducing stress levels and being more alert. Make time for at least seven hours of sleep each night. Don't delay sleep by watching TV or playing on the computer. Turn everything off an hour before your bedtime. Practice deep breathing, meditation or do some light reading. Skip food and any drinks that contain caffeine. Water is your best bet, but the majority of your liquid intake should be kept to during the day.

These healthy, better-for-you snack ideas and other tips will help you maintain your energy throughout the day, allowing you to feel your best and live each day to the fullest.

Piano Duet With My Son

2011-09-09T23:28:00.000+08:00

This video is to make my son feel good about his piano playing. It feels good to be able to play a duet with him. I'm so happy that he not only learned the notes, but was also able to keep the beat and timing. I felt he deserved to have a video audience.

What Happened To Min From the Barney Show?

2011-09-07T06:00:00.001+08:00

My son put on Barney this morning and I wondered what ever happened to the little girl who plays Min. Her real name is Pia Hamilton. Well, if you're wondering too, this video gives you a glimpse of her life now.

What Not To Do When Planning A Kids Birthday Party

2011-09-06T06:00:00.002+08:00

I just had a birthday party for my 2 older kids. They are born in the same month and so, we had one party for both of them.

Initially, I didn't plan to have a party for them. However, my girl said her friends asked if they could come over to celebrate. This is the first year they are in this new school and so, I didn't want to disappoint their new friendships.

Okay, now that the party is over, I can tell you the one thing NOT to do when planning a kids birthday party:
DON'T COOK TOO MUCH FOOD!
When it comes to kids, they're not interested in eating, they just want to play.

I had 10 kids at the party. Their parents were invited too but they didn't want to come. All of them just dropped their kids off. I cooked spaghetti, fried mee hoon, chicken nuggets, fried crab balls, coleslaw, mash potatoes, a big tray of jelly and 2 birthday cakes. I think they ate only 1/3 of what I cooked. We ended up eating the leftovers the next 3 days.

So, what was the party about?

First, they played badminton in the garden. My mom even bought a badminton net.
Then they had some food.
I organized a game of "pass the parcel". I had them do things like hula hoop, jumping jacks, and charades. Of course I gave prizes too: junk food. Although I don't like to give children junk food to eat, it was the cheaper option. Sorry.
The game they all couldn't wait to play: WATER BALLOON FIGHT!
They were having so much fun getting wet, I almost forgot to bring out the birthday cakes and dessert.

I actually planned more games but already more than 2 hours had past. On the invitation card, I had the party down from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. So, we asked the kids to dry up and change their clothes before their parents came to pick them up.

Mama's Birthday Party Tips

Fill up the water balloons early. I was busy preparing the food the whole day, I didn't do the water balloons until later. My kids couldn't help either coz' they didn't know how to tie the balloons. Plus, the mouth of the water balloons was so small, there was only one tap in the house that could be used to fill the balloons. In the end, I didn't quite have enough water balloons for the kids. It would have been nice to have more.
I had to put some water in the pail of water balloons. If not, the balloons stuck to one another and would burst when you picked them up.
Make clear rules where they can and cannot throw the water balloons. Designate a "war zone".
Remember to tell your guests to bring a towel and spare change of clothes.
Remind the birthday kids to be extra nice to the younger non-birthday siblings. Tell them how tough it can be for the younger ones to see their siblings enjoying the spotlight.
Don't kill yourself cooking tons of food.
If the kids are older, you don't have to organize so many games. My kids were 8 and 10 years old. They seem to know how to occupy themselves. BUT computers are off limits. Yup, they did ask me if they could use our computers.
Expect parents to come late in picking up their children. I had 2 parents come at 9pm. My DH wondered if the parents wanted their children back. Hahahaha.
If you need idea for games, try Printable Kids Birthday Games*

*This is my affiliate link

Fun ways to keep your kids active and energized

2011-09-05T06:00:00.000+08:00

(ARA) - When you're a kid, a day packed with activity usually means lots of fun. For parents, finding different ways to keep your kids enriched and energized is the key to ensuring that their days are wholesome and enjoyable.

As your children head back to school and into the fall season, there's no shortage of activities to keep them occupied. Here are a few tips to help keep the fun going when your schedules are full:

Keep play simple. Take breaks to let your children play outside. Remember the fun you had at the neighborhood park, simply going down the slide over and over or even just running around and playing tag? Even in today's technology-filled world, there's still nothing that beats good old-fashioned outdoor play time. You might find it especially fun to teach your kids some simple games, like "Kick The Can," that you might have played when you were young. Encourage your kids to use their imagination when playing, as imaginative play can help foster their creativity.
Keep an on-the-go bag stocked with fun, convenient and wholesome snacks. For example, all-natural GoGo squeeZ is a no-spoon, no-mess way to enjoy fruit on-the-go. It's 100 percent fruit, squeezable applesauce for kids that is packaged in convenient resealable pouches that require no refrigeration. It is possible to find convenient snacks with no refined sugars or preservatives. To learn where you can find GoGo squeeZ, visit www.gogosqueez.com.
Find some time to volunteer. Introduce your kids to the power of doing good for others by signing your family up to volunteer somewhere that will provide a fun and fulfilling experience for everyone. You could offer to walk dogs at the local animal shelter or see if your local senior living facilities have an activity day where children are invited to play. Sites such as www.volunteermatch.org can help match you up with child-friendly opportunities in your town.
Sing. Especially when you have younger children, nothing can brighten up an ordinary car ride like some of your favorite songs. Let each child - and even mom and dad - take a turn picking favorite tunes and you'll be at your destination before you know it.

Keeping things simple and fun is a surefire way to keep busy days with your children delightful for everyone. The little things like packing easy yet delicious snacks, helping someone else or hopping out of the car for a no-fuss outdoor activity can keep you and your children energized and feeling good.

ClickN Kids Promotion

2011-09-03T08:57:00.000+08:00

If you're looking for a reading or spelling software for your children, you'll want to check out ClickN READ Phonics and ClickN SPELL.

ClickN READ Phonics and ClickN SPELL online learning programs have everything you need to teach reading and spelling guaranteed or your money back. Try 4 lessons with your child now, absolutely free! ClickN READ Phonics and ClickN SPELL are designed to teach beginning reading and spelling for children as early as the age of 3 years old. ClickN KIDS products are also a great solution for older children that may be struggling with their reading and spelling skills and have also proven to be very successful working with learning disabilities as well as individuals learning English as a second language.

By the way, they have just launched their newest product, Looney Tunes Phonics with the zany antics of the lovable Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Taz and friends. My son prefers the animations on this new one compared to the old one. Unfortunately, there is no option for us to make a switch. So, he'll just have to stick to the old one.

Here's the promotion for the month of September 2011. Click on my affiliate links below to access the site.
Buy 1 ClickN READ Student Get the 2nd FREE! Use coupon code: 2STUDENTFREE exp. 9/30/11

She Loves To Wash Her Hands

2011-09-02T06:00:00.002+08:00

I really have to watch this girl of mine. She is now obsessed with washing her hands. Now that she's a little bit taller and can reach the tap, she is enjoying her new independence.

The good:
I can be a little lazy. I don't have to get off my chair to help her wash hands. I sit on my chair and watch her go to the bathroom to wash hands. Hahahah.
She has learned to be hygienic. She's not walking around with sticky, dirty hands.

The bad:
Sometimes she does more than wash her hands. She'll fill up a cup and pour water into the toilet bowl. Then she gets her shirt and pants all wet.
If she forgets to turn off the tap, we can expect a higher water bill. And the world will also frown on us for wasting water.

But you know what? I'm all for independent learning. Can be more trouble in the beginning, but we got to give our kids some space to learn and explore. That's how they grow.

What To Do With a Mosquito?

2011-09-01T06:00:00.000+08:00

This picture was taken by my son.

So, what do you do when a mosquito bites you?

First, you take it's picture.
Then you whack it.

Hopefully, it stays there long enough for the entire process.

Pork in Evaporated Milk

2011-08-31T20:06:00.000+08:00

Running out of ideas on what to cook, I turned to DH and ask him for his input. He surfed around a bit and picked a few dishes that got his saliva going. This is one of them: Pork in evaporated milk. This recipe comes from House of Annie. Here is her original recipe.

It was very easy to cook. I had all the ingredients on hand already. My curry plant came in very handy. It was super yummy and my family enjoyed it.

For your convenience, here is the recipe. Almost the same as Annie except I used pork belly and omitted the cili padi (bird's eye chilli). The photo of her dish looks better than mine too :)

Ingredients

Pork belly
Corn starch
Salt
Pepper
Garlic
Shallots
Curry leaves
1/2 can evaporated milk
Chicken bullion
Sugar

Directions

Flavor the pork with some salt and pepper.
Then mix the pork with some corn starch. Let it sit for about 30min - 1 hour.
Fry the pork in some oil until cooked.
Put the pork aside.

Now to make the sauce.

In some oil, fry the shallots, garlic, and curry leaves (if you like, this is where you add the chilli too). Fry till fragrant.
Put the pork back into the wok and mix everything around.
After a few minutes, pour in the evaporated milk.
Add the sugar and chicken bullion.
I added a little bit of water because I know my kids love gravy.
Turn down the fire and let it simmer. Maybe for another 15- 20 minutes so the pork gets a bit tender.

Okay, enjoy!

What Online Course Would You Take?

2011-08-30T16:46:00.000+08:00

There is no end to learning. Education is a lifelong pursuit. I'm sure you've heard these sayings before.

I was very happy when I finally graduated from university. I was happy I didn't have to take any more exams. If I had to do university all over again, I would definitely chose a different field of study. I have a bachelor's degree in psychology but I have not done anything related to it. I don't think I gained any skills either. All I learned were the theories and didn't do much practical work. I don't remember much what I learned in the classes. However, I know I improved in my writing because I had to write lots and lots of research papers.
I think online degree programs in music would be very beneficial to me now. So many parents want their children to learn music. Music teachers can really earn a good living. I was looking around for a music teacher and the fees really made my jaw drop.

It is not that difficult to get a degree or certification these days. In today's tech world, you can easily sign up for online courses. Not needing to attend classes physically makes this the ideal solution for people who:

don't have the funds to travel far or overseas to attend university
are working but want to upgrade their skills by taking work-related courses so they can advance their carrier
can only do studies part-time
who are busy taking care of a young family but also want to pursue an education
want to take courses for personal interests during their free time

You might wonder if these online degrees are legitimate or a scam? Yes, that is one thing you have to be careful about.

Make sure the college or university is accredited
Check to see if the credits you earned are transferable
Make sure they have a legitimate phone number
If it is too good to be true, it probably is. If you don't have to work much for it, you better think twice.
Do they withhold information until after you pay? Legitimate programs will provide you as much information as possible so you can make a wise decision.
Check the legitimacy of the program with The Database of Accredited Post-secondary Institutions and Programs or the Better Business Bureau

As convenient as online education is, I believe that physically attending a university is an unforgettable experience. The social aspect of university life should not be missed (if you can help it). However, if you've already been there and done that, online courses is a good option for furthering education.

If you have a soon-to-be college bound child, you can use the Federal Student Aid College Finder to help you choose a university that fits your needs.
http://studentaid2.ed.gov/gotocollege/collegefinder/advanced_find.asp

So, if you could take a course online, what would you learn?

Tips for your toddler's birthday bash

2011-08-29T07:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - From gifts to games to yummy treats, toddlers love their birthday celebrations. Planning the perfect party doesn't have to be stressful. You too can throw a memorable bash that will have both you and your toddler jumping for joy.

"This September, Memorex and 'Yo Gabba Gabba!' are throwing a nationwide birthday party for families in celebration of Memorex's 50th year in business," says Erica Danielski, Memorex global brand manager. "To prepare, we've been talking to parents around the country about their toddler-tested tips for a successful birthday party. These are some of the greatest, most unexpected suggestions from parents who know how to throw a great toddler birthday bash. As you plan your toddler's next birthday party, keep these pointers in mind."

* Have a plan, but be willing to let go of it almost immediately. Toddler birthday parties are fun, chaotic and filled with the unexpected. If something unplanned happens, go with the flow. Being flexible means being fun and by doing so, you'll ensure all guests, including yourself, are having a great time.

* Don't underestimate the impact of an inexpensive theme. You don't need to invest hundreds of dollars in a character-driven birthday theme for toddlers to have a great time. Something as simple as a yellow-themed birthday - with everyone showing up in yellow outfits and presents wrapped in yellow wrapping paper - will be a hit among toddlers, who are just learning about the colors of the rainbow.

* Be prepared for picture overload. Make sure to bring extra camera batteries, a battery charger and extra memory cards. Unplanned photos can create the best memories and you won't want to miss a single photo opportunity. Also designate a photographer for the event other than yourself - a family member or close friend will be able to wander throughout the party to get the best photos while you continue to entertain your guests.

* Consider a location outside of the home. Rather than stressing about the mess, take the party outside of your home. Consider having your party at a location such as your local children's museum or indoor playground. Hosting the party in a venue where you don't have to worry about the pre- or post-party mess, will save you time, money and stress.

* Don't just entertain the toddlers. Your party guests aren't just your toddlers' playmates. Remember to plan for parents and older siblings who will be tagging along. Offer activities and food for guests of all ages. Kids usually turn their noses up at any pizza that isn't plain cheese, so order a few pies with unique toppings for the adults. Also, consider pulling out the lawn games for some outdoor party fun.

* Turn the party favor into an activity. Today's toddlers expect a birthday party favor - so why not turn this into an activity for your guests? A birthday-themed arts and crafts project, such as decorating a tiara or superhero cape, will keep toddlers entertained … for at least 15 minutes. After the items have dried, you can send your guests home with a playful keepsake.

* Plan activities that get kids moving. Toddlers are like little bottles of energy just waiting to burst… but if you plan activities that will get the kids moving, you can help them expend some of that energy. The Memorex PartyCube Sound System is perfect for birthday party games, such as musical chairs. It is great-sounding, durable enough to withstand toddler bumps, and features a rechargeable battery for six hours of continuous tunes.

For more information on Memorex's 50th birthday celebration - including the Yo Gabba Gabba! It's Time to Dance! Birthday Party being hosted on Ustream Sept. 9 - visit the Memorex Facebook Fan Page or Memorex.com.

Animated Books For Young Kids

2011-08-23T06:00:00.001+08:00

Looking for something fun and educational on the net for your young ones? Check out Howard B. Wigglebottom. You'll find free animated books, lessons and songs.

They have messages like learning to listen, listening to your heart, telling the truth, how to deal with anger, violence and bullies. These are important living skills. Really cute stuff and I'm sure your kids will enjoy it.

Help your children eat fresh and healthy foods throughout the school year

2011-08-22T07:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - When the school year starts, it's harder to make sure your children are eating well. Between the morning rush, quick school lunches and after-school snacks, it's easy to lose track of whether or not your kids are eating healthy meals.

Make sure everything your kids need is right in the kitchen. Having a large capacity refrigerator that's fully stocked with fresh and easy-to-prepare foods can help you counter unhealthy lunches and snacking from the get go. One LG French door three-door refrigerator, for example, has a 31 cubic foot capacity, enough room for 51 gallons of milk if you were so inclined. With that much storage space, you won't have to worry about skimping on healthy lunch food or snacks ... or your children leaving your refrigerator empty after they come home from school everyday.

Kimberly Nies, home economist for LG Electronics USA, suggests some tips to encourage your children to eat healthy during the busy school year.

Keep fresh ingredients

Make sure the foods you store in your kitchen are fresh. The average household throws away about $500 worth of spoiled foods that were forgotten or lost in the back of the refrigerator each year. Some refrigerators like one from LG help keep food fresh longer using a system to maintain the temperature and humidity at the best levels.

Bring lunch

Ask your kids to help you make their lunch either the night before, or in the morning before they take off for school. Present them with several options for sandwich materials including whole-grain breads, cold cut meats, cheese or even egg or chicken salad. Soon they'll be able to craft their own healthy and delicious lunch all by themselves. Fresh carrots and apples add crunch and healthy fun to their lunch.

Make healthy foods accessible

Keep your cupboards and refrigerator organized so your children can find and easily reach healthy options, Nies suggests. Many refrigerators have crisper systems with separate drawers for storing fruits, veggies and even ready-to-eat snacks. "After a long day of school, even teens have a hard time turning down veggies with tasty dips when they're right at their fingertips," she says.

Make fun snacks

When grocery shopping each week, make sure you load your list up with fun, snack-friendly ingredients. For example, "Ants on a Log" are a popular treat for kids. And they're versatile, so your children can develop the recipe to perfectly suit their tastes. Check out Nies's easy recipe below:

Ants on a Log

Suggested ingredients:

Celery or carrots, cleaned and cut into 4- or 5-inch sticks. For the carrots, cut the sticks in half the long way as well.

Peanut butter or cream cheese

Raisins or nuts of any variety

Directions:

To make it safer and easier for your children, precut all the carrots and celery ahead of time so they aren't handling any sharp knives. Spread the peanut butter or cream cheese along the length of the celery or carrot sticks. Line up the raisins or nuts, as if they were marching across the log.

Other good snack ideas include peanut butter and crackers, fresh fruit, cheese curds or string cheese and even a bowl of shelled nuts.

Keep hydrated

When your children are involved in physical activities, you're going to need to make sure your fridge is stocked with plenty of rehydrating options. Sports drinks and flavored waters are good options, but so is plain chilled water. The LG refrigerators have a tall water dispenser on the door that can accommodate just about any size container so your daughter can quickly and easily fill up her water jug as she's running out the door for practice.

"Help your children continue to eat healthy once the school year starts by encouraging their healthy eating right at home," Nies says.

Teaching Your Kids To Play The Piano

2011-08-17T12:01:00.000+08:00

We recently bought a 2nd hand piano because my girl seems very interested in learning to play. Before getting the piano, she was tinkling on my mom's keyboard. I've thought her to read the notes, so she is quite okay in playing. Initially, she just played with her right hand. Eventually, I took out my old piano books and encouraged her to play with both hands. She is better than me in one aspect: After playing the piece using the notes, she will commit the song to memory and play without the notes. That is one thing I cannot do.

Now that we've got the piano, the other 2 boys also will go over and tinkle about. So far all they play is Old McDonald Had A Farm, the chiming of the clock and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I'm trying to get D1 to learn to read notes. We're going bonkers with Old McDonald Had A Farm :)

I've opted not to send the kids to a piano teacher or music school. They just want to play for fun and I don't want to kill their passion with music exams. We will see how it goes a few years down the road. Plus, piano lessons these days are quadruple the price what my mom used to pay for my piano lessons. Just checking around, the average price now is about RM80-RM100 for beginners. I have 3 kids, that's too much money for me. I learned until Grade 5. I think I can teach my kids a little bit.

Anyway, I found some great stuff online. If you want to teach your kids to play the piano, you might find these helpful.

Ten week note reading method by Jon Schmidt. I love these guy's music. I've downloaded his instructions and it is an interesting way of learning how to read notes.
Free music sheets for piano. Fun songs for your kids to play. They cater to different levels.
More free music sheets. I downloaded Pachelbel's Canon in D here. Love that song.

I know there are more cool stuff out there to help our kids learn music. I'll keep this list updated as I go along. I'm also enjoying my piano playing once again. Haven't been playing for so many years.
Before I go, enjoy the magic of Jon Schmidt. He truly is a one of a kind pianist. Very inspiring.

This piece is called All Of Me and it was this piece that I was introduced to his music. I fell in love with it straightaway. Hope you like it too. Watch for the part where he uses his whole arm to play.

Chee Cheong Fun

2011-08-16T06:00:00.001+08:00

Some days I don't feel like doing much cooking. Ever had one of those days? Heheheh.

Well, I've found a good way to get around those days. My mom introduced me to a lady who makes "Chee Cheong Fun" at home. So we buy from her like wholesale. We call her the day before to put in our order and then I'll collect from her the next morning.

For my family, I normally order 70 pieces of Chee Cheong Fun and that is for 2 meals. Then I'll go to the market to get the other stuff like fish ball, quails eggs. ladies finger (okra), tau foo etc.... The last 2 times I had this dish, I couldn't find the stall that makes the Yong Tau Foo stuff. I was going to the wrong part of the market. Now I know where it is. In the S'ban market, it is upstairs near the florist. Oh, don't go there on Tuesday coz' they're not opened.

Too increase the flavor of the Chee Cheong Fun, it is best to fry some garlic and shallots in oil and add that to the dish.

The lady that sells the Chee Cheong Fun lives in Taman Dusun Nyior. Email me if you need her number. She also gives the sauce and sesame seeds.

What are some dishes you do on days you want to have easy cooking?

Prep kids for school success with healthy lunches

2011-08-15T07:00:00.003+08:00

(ARA) - As the new school year begins, parents have a lot on their minds - supplies to buy, extracurricular activities to plan, and, of course, preparing kids to be successful in the classroom.

According to recent research, healthy lunches are an essential tool in a student's ability to learn effectively. In fact, studies show kids who eat healthy breakfasts and lunches have better cognitive function, improved performance in the classroom and miss fewer classes.

Parents concerned about the quality of the food their kids are consuming have a simple solution: prepare healthy options at home. While a good, balanced breakfast is easier to execute on your home turf, pulling together and sending a bag lunch proves a bit more challenging.

To boost your kids' learning potential at school, keep these tips in mind as you pack their lunches:

Consult the new food guidelines. The pyramid is out and the plate is in - the USDA reintroduced its nutrition guidelines as MyPlate, which is designed to be easier for both kids and parents to read. Consult it to determine how much of each food group your kids should be eating - for example, it's recommended that half of your "plate" should consist of fruits and vegetables.
Keep it kid-friendly. Health benefits can be a hard sell with children - they're more interested in whether something looks and tastes appealing. Small portions perfect for little hands have instant appeal, and even more so when filled with a healthy treat. Tree Top's apple sauce and 100 percent juice apple juice boxes, made from 100 percent American apples, are easy to slip into a lunch bag and are a smart way to help your kids get their necessary fruit servings.
Make it whole. Grains are a necessity in your kids' diets, but it's essential that they're getting the healthiest kind: whole grains. An increasing number of products offer whole grains that appeal to kids. They might be added to kids' favorite cereals or used in pasta, but to most people's palates, the difference is nearly indistinguishable.
Know what to cut. Too much sodium, sugar and saturated fat can add up to an unhealthy diet for your kids. If you're using pre-packaged food for their lunches, check the label to make sure that you're choosing options that are low in sodium. Also try to avoid foods and snacks that are rich in sugar and fat but without much nutritional value, such as cakes, cookies and candy. Instead, look for naturally sweet and tasty foods and juices that appeal to kids.

Starting your children's day with a healthy breakfast will help them perform well during the first hours of the school day. But to maintain kids' healthy learning habits, a nutritionally rich lunch - packed by you - is the key to finishing the day on a good note.

What's Going On???

2011-08-11T11:26:00.000+08:00

Funny things have been happening lately. In chinese, we would say "Suey" meaning bad luck.

About 2 weeks ago, D1 experience very bad pain in his abdomen. Took him to the government clinic and they said it was gastric.
Last week, D1 had fever for one night. Then he had rashes the next day which lasted for about 4 days. I thought he was having an allergy, so I took him to the g'ment clinic. They took his blood sample to test for denggi. Thank goodness it was negative. However, the doctor felt that there was a possibility it was too early for the denggi to be detected in his blood, since his fever was only 2 days. So she asked that we come back 3 days later for another blood test. When we went back, they took his temperature and it was 38'C. I didn't think it was right because I know he wasn't having any fever. A mother knows! So the doctor send me back to the nurses who took the temperature and asked that they use the thermometer instead of the forehead strip. Well, the thermometer measured his temperature at 37.2'C. No fever. The nurses put the strip to his forehead again. It showed 38'C. They tried the thermometer again: 37'C. So how? Fever or no fever? Doctor also not sure how to diagnose. In the end, we decided that antibiotics was not necessary and since his rashes had pretty much subsided, we were just going to let it be. Oh, and the denggi blood test was again negative.
After D1, K1 got fever.
After K1 got fever, grandma got fever and flu. Then it was my turn.
Day before yesterday, we took the car to the workshop. They were suppose to change the brake fluid reservoir because it was leaking. We have waited for the spare part for 1 month. They were suppose to sms us when the spare part arrived. We called them twice. Each time they would say "we'll check and call you back". They never called back. So we decided to just make another appointment because the car seems to have another problem. After 4 hours in the workshop, the car is done BUT they still can't change the brake fluid reservoir because they ordered the wrong spare part. So we have to wait again. My DH really, really, really, doesn't like EON now and vows never to buy a Proton again. Terrible service.
Yesterday, one tyre was punctured. Probably got the nail at the workshop.
Yesterday, I had a call from K1's teacher. This is what he said "Your daughter fell down and may have fractured her leg. Can you please come and get her?" Thankfully, it was just a slight sprain. Phew! Apparently her bag was too heavy and she lost her balance going down the stairs. Took her to the Chinese sinseh and got scolding for not knowing how to speak chinese and not teaching my children to speak chinese either.
Last night, D1 got those terrible abdominal pains again. He was already sleeping but woke up crying. Took him to the hospital and we ended up staying a night. Why does the hospital wards have to be sooooooo freeeeezing cold? Plus, it is almost impossible to sleep on a plastic chair.

These are just a few "crazy" things happening the last few days. Something is not right! We've never had these kind of problems before moving back here. Are we jinxed in Seremban? Or maybe it's the new piano we just got? Feng shui no good? I don't know.

All I can say is..... WHAT'S GOING ON??????

Rambutan, Oh Rambutan

2011-08-10T22:17:00.000+08:00

Rambutans, rambutans, oh how I love rambutans!
I remember growing up, our house had a rambutan tree. When it was fruiting season, definitely I would brave the mosquitoes and spend many happy moments "harvesting" the fruits. I always got scolding from my mom coz' the rambutans would not have a chance to turn truly red. I also always ended up with a cough.

Now that I've moved back to my mom's house, I have a rambutan tree again. However, I don't think it is the same tree. I believe my mom got rid of that one and planted another one. I'm not sure about that. Hmmm... will have to check with her tomorrow. Anyway, all those rambutans you see in the picture above is NOT from my tree. My tree is just beginning to flower. These rambutans are from a neighbor's house. They gave us permission to do a bit of harvesting. These ones are the yellow rambutans.

We've been having quite a few rambutan feasts the last few weeks. AND the best part is, IT's FREE. Nowadays, a small bunch will cost you something like RM5.

A few days ago, we went to another neighbor's house to harvest rambutans. No need permission coz' it's an abandon house. Well... actually I was kinda scared that we might bump into or disturb our invisible neighbors there. You know what I mean? Well, we tried not to stay too long.

Anyway, I look forward to my tree bearing fruits. I'll have to fight the squirrels and birds though. Oh, and we are all coughing now. Sigh!

Yummy, juicy, sweet rambutans

My son loves taking pictures of birds. He caught a bunch of long tailed parakeets having a rambutan feast.

What is your favorite fruit?

Tips to prep your kids for the school year

2011-08-08T07:00:00.001+08:00

(ARA) - Summer vacation will end soon, which means the school bell will soon ring. Your kids probably have mixed feelings about going back to school - excitement to see friends and participate in fun school activities again, and dread that the lazy hours of summer are almost over.

Whether they're ready for it or not, getting kids prepared for the school year doesn't have to be a lot of work. Here are some tips to help find the best deals on supplies and prepare them for the first day back:

Tackle the school supply list early. Review everything you already have on hand, and then create a list of the materials your children need for the entire year. Take advantage of back-to-school sales and coupons, and don't be afraid to shop online. A site like CouponHeaven.com consolidates thousands of online coupons and discounts in one easy-to-use place. You can find coupon codes for everything from kids clothing to the pencils and folders they'll need for classes.
Exercise their brains. Studies have shown brain drain frequently happens during the summer months, causing kids to have to relearn material when they return to school in the fall. If you haven't encouraged your children to keep their brains active with reading, mind puzzles and other fun mental exercises this summer, start now to help them get a jumpstart before classes begin.
Plan social activities. It's been a long summer, and your children have plenty of stories to share with their friends. Help ease kids into the school year in by organizing social activities with your children's fellow classmates. Make sure you take them to meet the teacher before the first day of class.
Set a school day schedule. Start waking the family up earlier in the mornings - especially if you have older children who like to sleep in. Establishing a school day schedule before the year starts will help everyone manage the first day rush and chaos with less stress and anxiety.

Before you know it, you'll be packing lunch boxes and backpacks and kissing your children goodbye as they board the bus or enter the school building. But you'll know that you've done everything you can to prepare them well for the first day back at school.

My Easy Peasy Spaghetti

2011-08-05T07:00:00.002+08:00

My daughter absolutely loves spaghetti. Well, this is how I do my easy peasy but very tasty spaghetti.

Ingredients include garlic, carrot and big onions (diced), tomato (cut into big chunks),1 can of button mushroom (sliced) and 400gm of minced beef.

After stir frying all the above ingredients, it is time to add in the sauce. This is the easy part. Just need a can opener to open the cans: Prego Cheese and Herbs (cheese here is very expensive, so this is a good option), Tomato Puree and Prego Traditional Spaghetti sauce. Add a little water so it is not too thick.

Oh, forgot to mention that I made some "white sauce" in the beginning. Here's how to make a basic white sauce:
In a pan, melt 2 thsp butter. Add in 2 tbsp flour. Sprinkle in the salt and some pepper. Pour in the milk, cook and stir until semi- thick and bubbly. I usually cook this first and put aside. I will then add it into the "red sauce". The spaghetti sauce will then be more like an orangey color rather than a bright red.

Whalla! Yummy spaghetti ready to be devoured.

Homeschool Curriculum on Sale: Up To 75% Off

2011-08-04T06:00:00.013+08:00

CurrClick is having their "Back To Homeschool Sale" now.You'll find discounts up to 75% off. The sale is on until 25 August 2011.

This is the time to save money buying homeschool curriculum for your children. I've already bought some for my kids. Some stuff were free.

Here is a list of things I currently got and the price I got it at:

The Seven Continents - Speedy Geography - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
It includes vocabulary words, fill-in-the-blanks, fact cards, diagrams (labeled & blank), mazes, and website links.
The Five Oceans - Speedy Geography - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
Learn more about the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans.
Hummingbird Copywork & Fun! - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
Got this because my boy has become a bird enthusiast.
Human Body Copywork & Fun! Volume 1 - $0.50 (This is now on sale for $0.25)
My girl also wanted copywork like the Hummingbird exercise I got for my son. She chose this topic.
What Did You Say? Bookmarks Freebie! #1 - Free
Making bookmarks is one thing my kids like to do.
Clouds Mini Helper - Free
Very simple lesson on types of clouds.
Sayings & Phrases #1-10 [BUNDLE] - $3.00
This is a bundle of 10 lessons. Each lesson covers 5 sayings. Children learn sayings and phrases such as "Turn over a new leaf", "Get a taste of your own medicine", "The early bird gets the worm" etc...

I figured I could spare some money from my paypal. Afterall, it is for my kids' education. I'm actually very happy. For a few dollars, I got quite a lot of stuff. AND what I buy for the older kids, I can keep and reuse it for the younger kids. My kids are happy too. They quite enjoy the materials I bought.

There's lots of choices and I'm sure you'll find something fun for your kids to do, not forgetting educational of course. So take a look and don't miss out on this great sale. Just click on my affiliate link below to access all that wonderful discounts.

Homeschool Planning Tips

2011-08-03T07:00:00.007+08:00

If you want to raise your chances of successfully homeschooling your children, planning is essential. Here are some homeschooling tips to help you:

Prepare a study area
If you can, dedicate a whole room in your house to be their "classroom". If not, create a space in your dining room or living room. Make sure that there's minimal distraction.
Create a goal and devise some motivations
Create goals first. Determine what it is you want your children (and also yourself) to achieve. Doing so will keep you focused and inspired. With the goals, you will also have a better idea of how and what you want to teach.
Schedule
Life is easier when everyone has a schedule to follow. When planning out your time, consider when in the day you and your children are most productive. Don't teach in the afternoon if you find that you are normally low in energy then. You must find the best time where you can give your best and your children can give you their attention and eagerness.
Prepare a budget
Decide how much you are going to spend on home schooling materials. Many times we get carried away and end up overindulging ourselves with books and materials.

If you're going to homeschool, it is best to have a plan. You can use The 2011-12 Schoolhouse Planner to help you. You'll find forms and organizational tools to help you juggle your homeschooling, chores and maybe even a home business.

There's also the 2011-12 Student Schoolhouse Planners for your kids (kindergarten to high school ages). These planners are available on CD or in E-Book format!

Click the affiliate banner below to access the planners.

$10 Off When You Buy This Easy Scrapbooking Software

2011-08-02T07:00:00.001+08:00

My Memories Suite is an easy to use digital scrapbook software that I use often. Well, they've given me a special coupon code to share with my readers in US and Canada (yea, sorry folks living in other parts of the world).

With this code you get $10 off when you buy their software which is the My Memories Suite v2. So instead of $39.97, you just pay $29.97.

PLUS, you also get another $10 store credit that you can use to buy downloads. That's a total value of $20 when you use my coupon code.

So, what's the coupon code? Copy and paste.
STMMMS86598

How to get to their website? Just click my affiliate link below:
#1 Rated Digital Scrapbooking Software!

Here's an example of what I did with this digital scrapbook software.

Five time-saving tips to get ready to go back to school

2011-08-01T07:00:00.000+08:00

(ARA) - Summer trips are wrapping up and kids are counting down the days until they have to go back to school. With many parents weighed down by worries about escalating back-to-school costs, brushing up on tips and tricks for making the summer-to-school transition smoother will be helpful for the entire family.

In fact, a recent survey by Bing and Impulse found that 52 percent of parents are the most concerned with the price of school supplies. To save time, money, and lighten up the mood, try implementing these tips from Lisa Gurry, a past recipient of Working Mother Magazine's Mom of the Year award.

"These simple tricks can make the back-to-school transition go from stressful to stress-free," Gurry says.

Shop early: Schools often provide a long and daunting list of required school supplies. Don't try to buy everything in one day. Rather, be open to grabbing items you see on sale while out and about throughout the summer. Use local coupon-finding tools, like Bing for Mobile Deals on m.bing.com to find daily deals on all the supplies you're looking for.
Get (cleverly) organized: Reduce the amount of time you spend running around the house looking for the keys, backpack, and lunch boxes by picking a location for each item. Try leaving your keys in the fridge with your lunchbox so you'll never forget the lunch again.
Pack a healthy lunch and freeze a few dinners: Make sure to pack healthy lunches for your children that will help protect their immune systems and energy levels during the new transition. Great lunch options include chicken wraps and strawberry and cream cheese sandwiches. Another great idea is to prepare a few healthy dinners in advance and freeze them so you'll have one less thing to worry about. Check out Bing.com for healthy dinner recipes like chicken noodle soup.
Get advice: Don't forget to use your network of friends to find the best deals. Share your shopping list with your friends using Bing Shopping and get advice from your trusted friends about what they think are the best purchases.
Routines rule: Nothing causes more stress or confusion than an inconsistent schedule. Create a schedule early on and make sure you stick to it. Try to re-establish the bedtime and mealtime routines at least one week before school starts to prepare your children in advance.

Going back to school doesn't have to be a stressful experience. With a few simple tips, you can make back-to-school transition more efficient, less of a hassle and even easier on your wallet.

What To Do With Leftover Curry?

2011-07-28T07:00:00.001+08:00

One thing that will never go to waste in my house is curry. Made some chicken curry the other day and the next day, added some yellow noodles and taugeh (beansprouts) to have a scrumptious lunch. Unfortunately I didn't have that much left over so the noodles were kinda coated in curry rather than swimming in it.

Well, that's another idea on how to recycle your food.