5 perfect presents make gift-giving easy

 
(BPT) - The holidays are a special time of year to show the important people in our lives how much we appreciate them -- and that means gift-giving. If picking out holiday gifts is painless for you, you're one of the lucky ones. More often than not, people have a tough time finding the perfect present for friends and family, particularly if you have someone on your list who already seems to have everything. So, if you're stumped as to what to get that impossible-to-buy-for person, consider these five gift ideas that are sure to brighten anyone's holiday:

1. Gift your services

Rather than giving a tangible item, give your services; it's the perfectly practical gift for the person on your list who may be short on space, lacking financial resources or would just appreciate a little extra help. Love kids? Offer free child care so the recipient can enjoy an evening out on the town without worrying about the little ones. Have a knack for cooking? Gift a weeknight meal that you deliver to the recipient's doorstep. Known for your organization? Offer your skills to help the recipient organize a closet, office or other cluttered space.

2. Make a miracle happen

Positively impacting others by giving a charitable gift in the recipient's name embraces the true meaning of the season. The new Give Miracles Holiday Catalog from national nonprofit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals features in-demand pediatric items and services that local children's hospitals need — anything from comforting teddy bears ($30) to a case of extra-small preemie diapers smaller than the palm of your hand ($170)! For high-impact gifts like a physical therapy toy kit ($375) or a pediatric wheelchair ($970), funds can be collectively raised by numerous gift-givers. This option is ideal for extended families looking to do something more meaningful than the typical gift exchange.

And to make that "do-good" feeling for the recipient last long after the holidays are over, Give Miracles donors receive ongoing communication from Children's Miracle Network Hospitals throughout the year about how their gift is making an impact at their local hospital. Browse the gift catalog at www.GiveMiracles.org.

3. Purchase a membership to a monthly club

Rather than wasting money on a new gadget that will quickly be forgotten, give a gift that benefits the recipient all year long. Monthly clubs provide fun deliveries to a loved one's address, an ongoing reminder of your generosity. Monthly gift clubs are available for just about anything, from wine and beer, to jams and cheese, to bacon and fruit.

4. Give a gift that grows

Potted plants are a fantastic gift idea because they represent how your love continues to grow for that special someone. Plus, plants are a wonderful addition to interior decor and help clean the air. With so many houseplants readily available, you're sure to find the perfect one for the person who has everything. Does he gravitate toward decor with vivid color? Choose a flowering plant that provides delightful blooms. Does she love Asian culture? How about gifting a bonsai tree or a bamboo plant?

5. Provide an experience

Often, it's not what's in the box, it's the memory that stays with so many people after the holidays have passed. That's why giving a special experience can make a truly meaningful gift. Think about what really interests the recipient or an activity they've had on their bucket list. Perhaps it's a hot air balloon ride or a white water rafting daytrip. If the person really loves to shop, hire a personal shopper for the day and let them see what it's like to live like a star. If the recipient loves gourmet food, purchase a spot in a class taught by your town's hottest chef.

Any one of these ideas is sure to show that hard-to-shop-for person on your list that you've put some real thought into their gift. And ultimately, isn't it the thought that counts?

Building isn't just for boys: Getting girls engaged in constructive playtime

 (BPT) - How many times have you walked into your child's classroom only to see the boys and girls separated into two different groups, playing with completely different toys? The boys are likely huddled around the building blocks, creating skyscrapers and forts, while the girls are busy painting and coloring.

Sure, you can chalk it up to society's gender expectations to explain this play divide but does it mean girls have no interest in construction play at all? Unsurprisingly, the answer is no. In fact, girls have just as much to gain from building as boys and equally enjoy playing with construction toys. Toy companies that specialize in designing building toys, like Mega Bloks, have long researched the patterns of construction play among girls, specifically, and understand its long-term benefits. Parents of girls, furthermore, should ensure their daughters are getting this valuable playtime with building toys.

From developing language skills to boosting a sense of achievement, construction play serves as a stepping-stone for a young child's intellectual future. "Playing with building toys provides children an ideal way to engage in discovery-based learning," says Dr. Maureen O'Brien, developmental psychologist and child play expert. "It is through this type of learning that children are able to build their confidence through trial and error and develop a sense of achievement, enabling them to physically link their world to the play world, building their brains in the process."

The learning benefits of block play are further enhanced when layered with open-ended, imaginative play, such as make-believe with dolls. Children begin to understand their world and give it perspective by playing with toys that enhance exploration through customization and storytelling. This combination of block play and role play is a boost to your child's development. -

Understanding that girls love and benefit from creative construction as much as boys do, O'Brien has some tips on incorporating building play as a regular activity for your daughter:

*Make construction playtime a group activity - Given the opportunity to build, girls equally excel at the building process and generate the same levels of satisfaction as boys. By making construction playtime a group activity, girls are also able to spend more time collaborating with one another over a building project. By assisting, affirming and supporting each other, girls are strengthening their interpersonal relationships. They are also developing their imaginations and resilience through conversations and collaborations during the process of their building project.

*Emphasize storytelling - Girls love the storytelling aspect of playtime. It allows them to create and express themselves in a fun environment where the possibilities are endless. By connecting a story to their creation, children learn and understand problem solving skills, language development and the elements of decision making - all important next steps in the learning process. Construction toys designed specifically for girls can help them tell their story, like the new Mega Bloks Barbie line. For example, the Mega Bloks Barbie Build n' Style Luxury Mansion is the perfect balance of building and playing. It allows girls to build, design and re-design, decorate, accessorize, dress-up and style Barbie doll's home in any way they want.

*Incorporate familiar characters girls love - A way to familiarize girls with construction play is with characters they already know and love. For example, the Mega Bloks Barbie construction line features mini figures and iconic Barbie details that appeal to girls. When girls recognize characters, they will likely be more inclined to try something new.-

*Join and guide the fun - Playing with your daughter during building time increases her chances of learning from the activity. Even when parents and children sit and walk through building instructions together, the children are exposed to the problem solving skills needed to assemble the construction set. In addition, by building together, parents are exposing kids to innovative new ways of thinking, sparking creativity and showing a new way to understand the activity.

O'Brien encourages parents to break through the traditional playtime expectations to instill life-long benefits of construction play - especially for girls. The cognitive, spatial and interpersonal skills they will acquire through a simple shift in their play routine can expose them to numerous future opportunities.

Computer Rules for My Kids, Plus Educational Links

So I've been quite stressed with the way my kids are using the computer. I hate it when they play games where they are just senselessly banging on the keyboard to get a character to shoot, kick, punch and do whatever fantastic kung-fu like moves. Or they go on YouTube to watch cartoons. I just get so irritated because to me its like wasting time. Plus, with my younger boy (now 5 years old), it has become an addiction. The first thing he says to me in the morning is... "mommy, can I?" That's his famous line when he wants permission to get on the computer. And when I reply that he has to read a book or do some writing first, his whole face changes like someone just died and then the tantrum starts: crying and kicking.

I also get very ticked off when I see one kid watching his/her sibling playing games on the computer. It's like the eyes are permanently glued to the screen whether or not it is their turn to play. And the worst is when they start whining about how someone else got more computer time or is on the computer too long and they start to fight and bicker over it.

AAAARRRRGH! STRESS!

However, I understand that in this day and age, computers are in their very fibers. So, I decided to revamp my computer rules in the hope that the time they spend on the computer, is a more fruitful one.

So, these are my rules, clearly written on a whiteboard hanging in my living room.

 

If you can't really see it, this is what it says:

• You can ONLY use the computer if/when you are given an assignment to do or if you've earned a special privilege. 
• COMPUTER FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NOT ENTERTAINMENT 
• Work/Study before using the computer (They have assigned house chores, plus some homeschooling).
• Unauthorized websites = banned for 1 week.
• No watching others play computer.
• Sign-up sheet (So there is no more quarreling on who gets to play. They now have to book their time).
• 1 1/2 hours only (Yes, still have time as to how long they can use the computer).
• Whining, complaining, fighting = No access to computer for 1 day.

So, each week now, I will browse around for appropriate games and activities. I email each of them this "authorized" list of webpages. Even though it takes a bit of my time to do this, things have been better. My kids have been very good now to stray from the list too.

Here is the list for this week. I'll try to share my list here every week. Maybe, you'll find this useful.
* This list is for my kids aged 5 -11 years old. 

• http://www.storiestogrowby.com/stories/magic_ball_argentina.html
• http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/nggames/squares-game2.html
• http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/11-11-online-games/Patcha-Online-Kids-Game.html
• http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/11-11-online-games/brain-racer-math-game.html
  
• http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/tangram.htm
• http://www.melnyks.com/site-map/
• http://www.storylineonline.net/
• http://www.mouseteasers.com/online-games/halloween-word-dig.html
• http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/ngames/candy/candygame.html
• http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/hangman/hangman-online-wordgame.html
• http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/nggames/christmas-tree-game2.html

 You'll have to check yourself to see if the games match your child's skill level.

Do you have problems with your kid's computer habits?

Save 50% on Comics

Kobo is having a fantastic deal on comics. It is ending really fast - midnight Saturday (17th November).

If you have a comic fan at home, don't miss this rare discount deal. If you have a reluctant reader at home, you might want to try using comics to spark their interest.

Click the following link or banner to see what comics are available.
Promo Code: comics50
But NOW before it is too late.
 

KOBO COMICS 50% OFF DEAL

Paper Tulips For Your Wall

Recently, my church held a district conference for the Relief Society sisters. My branch was put in charge of decorating the hall and we were asked to put up tulips. Well, we ended up making paper tulips and this (the picture above) is how the walls ended up looking.

Some sisters commented that it felt like they had walked into a garden of tulips. It really turned out very nice indeed.

Anyway, at the end of the event, many of us took the tulips home (including me). So now they nicely decorate the walls of my children's room. They really do brighten the room.

The tulips are very easy to fold. You'll find the instructions here.

I know in the U.S. right now, the days are starting to get cold and winter will be setting in soon. When the days start to get dreary, maybe you could do this lovely craft with your kids to brighten up those winter days. If you live in a country where the sun shines the whole year, these paper tulips will look great in your kid's room anytime.

So, what do you think? Will your kids love this craft?

Party Decoration Tip: Ice Balloons

We are now moving towards the end of the year. This usually means lots of parties and get-togethers. If you have a party to put together, I found this video that shares what you can do with balloons. It is really cool and it will certainly make your party decorations a little more unique.

If you want an easy way to organize fun party games, go with printable games.

Fast Way To Organize Halloween and Fall Games

When it comes to holding parties, food and decoration is important. However, the activities and games you have is what makes it memorable. If you are looking for Halloween game ideas, here are just a few:

PRINTABLE GAMES

Every thing is already done for you. All you need to do is print them out.
Here is a package that has Over 60 Halloween, Thanksgiving, Fall and Harvest games. And the best part is, you'll find games for both kids and adults.

If you're having a kids party, the last thing you want is tons of hyped up children. If you don't give them something to do, you can be sure they'll end up running wild and making lots of noise. Yup, chaos! So printable games are good because the children need to sit down to play. That will help tone them down a bit.

Some favorite games in this package is the Bingo and charades. There are also quizzes and many more games that will bring laughter and fun to the party. Have a look through this video to get a better idea what this package contains.



GOOD NEWS!
20% off Deluxe Halloween and Harvest Game Collection 
20% off All Seasons Game Collection
Discount is good through the 28th Oct 2012. Get it today before the price goes up again.

MUMMY WRAP
Divide your guests up into groups. You'll need lots of toilet paper for this one. One person in the group is designated as the mummy and obviously, he or she is the one that is going to be wrapped. The group that wraps the mummy the fastest wins.

PUMPKIN TOSS
The kids can also play pumpkin toss. Here, you hang a large pumpkin on the ceiling with holes in the middle. The kid who is able to shoot the most number of rolls of socks or bean bags is the winner. To make it more challenging, award points for the eyes, nose and mouth. Who scores the highest number of points wins.

WONDER BRAIN
Do this instead of musical chairs. Have everyone form a circle.  You could either have them sit down or stand. As the music plays, the kids have to pass 'the brain' from one person to the next. Of course it is a fake brain. You could easily make one using paper towels, a freezer bag and some red dye. When the music stops, whoever has it is out. The last person standing becomes the winner.

These are just some things you could do to make your Halloween party fun and memorable.

Best Learning Toys For Your Toddlers This Christmas

When it comes to buying a Christmas gift for toddlers, I suggest you consider buying learning toys. At this stage in their life, they are learning things very fast. Look for toys that allow them to improve their memory and motor skills. They say children learn best through play, so why not give them lots of opportunity to play. Here are some of the best learning toys for your toddlers this Christmas.
 
NEST and STACK BUCKETS

Babies love to stack and sort. With this set, there are 9 different sized stackable buckets and 4 blocks that come in different shapes and colors. The largest bucket has a snap-on lid that allows babies to match up the shaped block to the bucket opening. The buckets can be put inside one another or stacked up to make a tower. And if your kid is anything like mine, eventually these buckets will be also used in the home kiddy pool during hot days.

More stack and nest toys:

• Spielstabil Nesting Stacker
  
• Infants can start with this: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Little Super Star Classical Stacker
  
• This one has draining holes at the bottom of the cups. So not only for stacking, I would let my kids play in the tub with it too, especially when they were still babies. They loved to scoop the water and then see it drain out the bottom. Of course don't leave your kids in the tub unsupervised: green sprouts Stacking Cup Set
  

TAKE APART TOYS

Toddlers love to build things almost as much as they love to take them apart. To pique their interest and actually give them the opportunity to take something apart, without getting in trouble, these toys are perfect. Each set comes with the tools needed to do the job, which also promotes motor skills.

Here are some take apart toys your children will enjoy:

• This is the picture you see above: Tomy Constructables
  
• Battat Take Apart Airplane
• Small World Express CAT Take-Apart Dump Truck
  

LEGO AND MEGA BLOCKS

Lego or mega blocks is an excellent investment when it comes to toys because children can play it even as they get older. I love it when children are given opportunities to work with their hands. Plus, it allows for their creativity to bloom. By looking at what my children create throughout the years, I am amazed at their development. They put together stuff that I wouldn't even know how. Of course, my imagination is much limited than theirs. This toy is great if you have more than one child too. They can play make believe together.

Lego and Mega Blocks your children will love:

• LEGO Duplo Building Set-71 pieces
  
• LEGO Duplo Learning
  
• Megabloks 80pc Lrg Mega Bloks Bag
  

VTECH MOBIGO 2 TOUCH LEARNING SYSTEM

The Vtech MobiGo is suited to kids up to age 8, but this is the perfect toy for kids who may still be too little to enjoy “real” video games. It can be controlled by the keypad or touch screen and the console is made to withstand drops. There are simple games like sorting animals and more difficult games like reading and math. This console uses cartridges and you can also download more games from the internet.

DIY Halloween Decorations

You dress up in a fun or scary costume when it is Halloween. But what about your house? Do you 'dress' it up too? Gather your family around and make some simple Halloween decorations to put around the house. Here are a few ideas.

HOMEMADE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS

1. FAKE BLOOD. You might think that ketchup is the only thing around to make fake blood but you are wrong. You can also make some using a cup of corn syrup, a tablespoon of water, 2 tablespoons of red food coloring and tablespoon of yellow food coloring. Once you mix this all together, you will realize that it looks more realistic than ketchup.

2. WILD ANIMAL IN THE BUSHES
If you want to make people think that there wild animals in the bushes, you will need a string of Christmas lights and some 35mm film canisters. With the canisters facing you, drill two holes on each one so you can create the eyes. Now put the string of Christmas lights so that the light will come out of each hole. To make it stay in place, put a piece of tape over it.

Should you be using white lights, cut a small piece of red cellophane wrap and put this over the lights to create the impression that there are wolves behind the bushes.

3. TOMBSTONES
In order to create tombstones, you will need some Styrofoam, a can or two of grey sprain paint and a marker. Cut the Styrofoam to the desired size and height, spray it over using the spray paint and then write down the name of the person on the gravestone. When you are finished, plant these on your porch.

4. BATS
To create some home made bats, you will again need some foam. Another option will be to use construction paper. When you have the materials, cut them out in the shape of bat. Paint these black and then stick this to you ceiling or plaster this on your window.

5. DEAD BRANCHES
If you have a chandelier inside your home, go to the forest and see if you can pick up a few dead branches. When you bring them home, try to put these around your chandelier.

6. INSECTS AND BODY PARTS
You can also create some Halloween décor using some old glass jars. Put in some plastic insects and body parts and then mix this up with food coloring and water. To make it look more authentic, put in ragged gauze or a waxed string then put this on the dining table.

7. FLOATING HAND
Spiking the punch bowl is probably something you did back in college but for Halloween, people will surely laugh when they see a hand inside. For this, you will need a plastic glove and some ice. Put the ice inside the glove then close it so the ice will not go out and the glove will be able to float in the bowl.

8. PAINTED PUMPKINS
Halloween is not the same without a pumpkin. You can’t make this so you have to buy one from the store. If you have young kids and don't want them to get accidentally injured from carving pumpkins, you can opt to do pumpkin painting instead. Even very young children can do this. You can paint the pumpkins to look like funny or scary faces. Put a bunch of them in your garden and I'm sure your neighbors will love it too. If you don't know how to do it, here's a book that will show you how:
.....  Easy Pumpkin Painting

There are other Halloween decorating ideas you can do inside and outside your home. All you need to do is browse for a few ideas online and then follow the instructions.

How to Make Halloween Fun

Guest post

Whether you are having a party or you just want to make your children’s Halloween a memorable one here are some really cute recipes you can try this year. These are such easy treats that you and your children will have a blast making them together. Halloween is right around the corner so it’s time to get started!

1. Bed Bugs – These are No Bake Peanut Butter Choco-Oatmeal Cookies. They sound perfectly yummy all on their own and with the addition of eyes and legs they become bed bugs! The author said that she originally intended to use black licorice strings for the legs but couldn’t find them anywhere so she substituted chow meinnoodles. For the eyes she used red Sixlets candy or cinnamon Jelly Belly’s, but you can use your imagination. Again, these cookies are no bake and wouldn’t take long at all to put together. They call for white sugar, milk, butter, cocoa powder, peanut butter, oats, coconut flakes, and vanilla. I wouldn’t mind taking some of these bugs to bed with me!

2. Peanut Butter Spider Cookies  – You can make your own peanut butter cookies or use the recommended Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix. They are extremely easy and cute. After baking the cookies they say to stick on a “chewy caramel in milk chocolate” which looks to me like a Rollo. I think you could also use those Mini Reese’s Cup candies. You put them on when they come out of the oven and they melt on. Then you attach string licorice legs in either black or red out the sides of the candy. Using Mini M&M’s for eyes with a dot of black gel icing (or you could melt chocolate chips and dab on with a toothpick).

3. Spooky Brownies (Franken Brownies, Boo Brownies, Spider Brownies)  – Simply make your brownies and decorate with icing covered large marshmallows. They are so cute, you just have to click on this link and look at the pictures. You need white icing; gel food colors in regular and neon colors, Miniature M&M’s (candy-coated chocolate baking bits), decorating gel, Fruit Roll-Ups, Chewy Fruit Snacks, and Gummy worm candies. Or take a look at the pictures and use your imagination. These are just the cutest little scary monsters that would make anyone smile.

4. Spooky Monster Cookies – Besides making the chocolate cookies (which you could purchase if you have a favorite brand or bakery near you) these take just a short time to make. All I can say is that you have to be a fan of icing, and I can’t say that I’ve met any children and few adults who are not. They are filled with icing and have icing eyes to boot! Each cookie has a monster just dying to get out and come to the party!

5. Monster Cake  –This monster has a similarity to Frankenstein, green and square. Start with a chocolate fudge cake mix and baked as a sheet cake. You will need white frosting, black food coloring, neon green gel food coloring, black decorating icing, and black string licorice. They say to use the picture on the site as a guide for decorating. I was looking at the cake and thinking about those nuts and bolts that were always sticking out of the side of Frankenstein’s neck. Why not put a Rollo or Mini Reese’s Cup on the sides? Or better yet use Tootsie Rolls and shape them to look like nuts on bolts? Just an idea.

6. Spider Web Cake  – It looks like a spider has made his web on top of your bright orange cake and is dangling from the side making his way towards the bottom! What a cute cake idea. Start by baking a layer cake either by using a mix or from scratch. Use vanilla frosting that you dye orange with food coloring. Betty Crocker apparently has something called Black Cookie Icing that you need to ice the chocolate wafer cookie (like an Oreo) with and let dry for an hour before putting it on the cake. I would think you could do the same thing with a semi sweet chocolate chip and shortening mixture. You also need black licorice candy; it looks like the regular twist kind to decorate the bottom edge of the cake. This is really an adorable cake and not at all hard to make.

7. Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cakes  – I love these little cakes. When I saw them I think I squealed just a little. What is more precious than a mini Bundt cake? Two mini Bundt cakes bottom to bottom to make the shape of a small pumpkin! With orange icing, green sour straws for stems, and green gum drops rolled out with a rolling pin to look like leaves, this cake would be the hit of any party. This would work for Halloween or even Thanksgiving. Someone had a great idea when they came up with this one. You can either use a box cake mix or make it from scratch with some homemade icing. I can imagine these as a center piece for the table. The best thing is that it’s extremely easy.

8. Halloween Mummies  – These would be really cute for a school Halloween party as treats if they were individually wrapped with a bow. These treats wouldn’t take long at all to make. You need the sticks, the Oreos, white chocolate melts or almond bark, and a little dark chocolate or maybe mini chocolate chips? I imagine the hardest part in making these is to open the Oreos without being tempted to eat out the icing! The directions say to open the Oreos and put a dab of white chocolate inside to make the stick stay in place. Put the cookies back together and refrigerate for a few minutes to make sure the sticks stay stuck (say that ten times). Then dip the Oreos in the white chocolate and let cool. Put a couple of dabs of white icing for the eyes while you are at it. After they have cooled you drizzle the white icing back and forth to make it look like mummy wraps. Add a dot of chocolate for the pupils of the eyes and viola there you have it!

9. Cheese-Finger Food or Cheesy Monster Digits  – I have seen these monster fingers done in many ways, mostly with string cheese like these or with bread stick dough shaped into fingers. They suggest you use plastic gloves or sandwich bags to keep the mozzarella cheese sticks from getting finger prints all over them while you are cutting out the finger nail area or carving in the “joints” of the fingers. This recipe uses pieces of green pepper for the nails with cream cheese as the “glue”. I’ve seen people use sliced or whole almonds as the nails also. These will be very popular with the kiddos. What kid doesn’t want to eat monster fingers made out of cheese?

10. Hairy Daddy Longlegs Cupcakes  – Start with chocolate cupcakes (or I suppose any flavor would work) and frost with chocolate frosting (this is a must because who has ever seen a scary spider that isn’t black?). Cover it with chocolate sprinkles for the “hairiness”. The recipe says to add two pieces of eye-type candy and they used a candy that I am not familiar with. I was thinking about what I would use and I thought of using Gummy rings with a large gumball stuck in the center. That would turn him (or her) into a big old scary eyed monster spider! The legs are made out of black licorice strings. I’ve heard that many people have trouble finding the black licorice strings these days however so I would suggest buying the twisted kind and just pulling it apart. Or you could always use sour straws instead.

I hope these some of these recipes will work for you and make you the hit of the party with friends and family. There are all kinds of hauntingly good ideas out there this Halloween season. My motto is to keep things simple, cute, and always yummy.

Author Bio:
Jason Miner plays a vital role for www.blogcarnival.com. He is an expert in writing topics of different categories. He is helping the carnival team to grow & working on making this an even better place for bloggers.

Baby wearing vs Stroller

I'm come right out and say I'm on the side of baby wearing. I'm not saying that strollers are no good but I just prefer using baby slings and carriers. They just work better for me.

• They are cheaper
• Easier to carry around
• My babies feel more comfortable and usually sleep when I carry them
• Very helpful when baby gets cranky or colicky

Take a look at this video on wearing your baby vs. using a stroller

ABC-7.com WZVN News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral

Are you a baby wearing mom or a stroller mom?

You can read my reviews on the following top baby carriers:

• Ergo Baby Carrier
• Beco Carriers
• Baby Hawk Carrier

Getting Ready For The Holidays In October

It can get quite crazy preparing for the holidays, especially if you are the one doing all the planning and running around. With so many things to do, it is easy to forget something. It doesn't have to be so overwhelming you know. Here are a few pointers to make the holiday season go smoother and a bit more relaxing for you.


Set Your Budget
First and foremost, if you haven’t already, you need to figure out what your budget for holiday expenses is. If you don’t think your budget is big enough, don’t fret, there are still a few months for you to save a few more bucks.

Make An Action Plan
Give some thought to the things you need to do (some of which are included below). Once you’ve figured out the essentials, make a rough timetable that gives deadlines for each task. You can mark this onto a household calendar to serve as a reminder and help you to keep on top of preparation tasks.

Start Getting Presents Now
For most, holidays are a time of giving, and this usually comes in the form of presents. Don’t waste any time – if you’re going to get presents for family and friends, start buying them right now! If you’re short on ideas, then ask your kids, friends, and family to give you some suggestions. The key is not to leave present-buying right up until the last minute. This saves all the stressful and unnecessary rush, and also helps to ensure you can get the gifts you really want for your children.

Write Your Holiday Cards
If you like sending cards out to your friends and family during the holiday season, then don’t wait until the last few weeks before getting them ready. As soon as you see cards in the shops, buy some that you like and start writing them out. You can have them all signed and ready to go well before send-out time, leaving you with less on your mind as the season approaches.

Stock Up On Ingredients
If you like making special treats for holidays such as cakes and other baked goodies, then buy up the ingredients you need now. As holidays approach, the things you want are going to be more in demand and may not be as easy to find. Once you’ve got the ingredients you need, start baking early. Some cakes need a couple of months to mature before they’re ready to eat, so make sure you get these ready well ahead of time.

I'm sure some of you have your own way of making your holidays less stressful. Drop a comment and let me know how you do it.

Loh Shu Fun Noodles

At least one day of the week I will cook noodles. My kids like it dry but my DH likes it with soup. No problem, both can be done.

 Loh Shu Fun with "kicap" sauce

Loh Shu fun with soup

To make the soup I bought 2 chicken carcass to boil. Throw in some garlic and big onion for extra taste. Marinated some minced pork with salt, sugar, soy sauce and oyster sauce. Add a little corn starch to make it stick when I drop them in the soup like meatballs. 

To make the "kicap" sauce, I used light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, pork lard oil (can be substituted with garlic oil), fish sauce and oyster sauce. 

For noodles, I will usually buy "kuey teow" or "loh shu fun" (rat's tail noodle). The 'loh shu fun" I will buy both short and long ones. More choice for my family. 

Extra ingredients include 'taugeh' (beansprouts), pork ball or fish ball, quails eggs, fried garlic and shallots (very important), spring onions and cilantro (Chinese call 'yin sai', but usually I'm the only one who eats that).

It doesn't take much effort to cook this. That's why I have this once a week. Need some light cooking days so I don't burn out :)

What do you cook when you want a light and easy cooking day?

My family’s tips on limiting Halloween candy

This is a guest post

I love Halloween. I love everything about it--trick or treating, costumes, parties, decorating the house, and the loads of candy. Yep, I’ll admit it. I love candy. But, I’m also a reasonable person who knows it’s not good for me, and that it’s certainly not good for my kids. So how do we balance the fun and excitement with the goal of having healthy kids whose teeth aren’t falling out? Here are the things that I have found work best for my family.

Halloween Day. Let’s start at the beginning of the day. Where my kids go to school, they each typically have a Halloween party, so they’re most likely already sugared up before they even get home. To try and counter that as best as I can, I make sure that they have a protein-packed lunch, and then I have a nutritious snack waiting for them. I might put out a plate of chopped veggies with some almonds and a few slices of cheese. Then I feed them dinner before we head out trick or treating so they’re not hungry before they get started.

Trick or Treating: The Big Event. Far be it from me to put a damper on trick or treating. We go all out around here, and we live in a neighborhood that’s packed with kids. My two daughters usually get a pretty good haul, but we try to be reasonable and limit how far we’re willing to walk. This in turn helps limit how much candy they bring home.

While trick-or-treating, we have a non-negotiable rule: No eating anything until you get home. Not only do I want to make sure the candy hasn’t been tampered with, but if they eat it while they’re trick or treating, they’ll mindlessly munch the whole time.

Let’s Eat Candy! Once we get home, they know ahead of time how much they’ll be allowed to eat. Three pieces to me seems reasonable. Then we do an extra good scrubbing on the teeth, and it’s off to bed.

Over the next few days, my girls spend a fair amount of time trading candy. During that week, they know how many pieces they are allowed to eat each day, and I let them choose when to eat it. It might seem odd that I would allow them to eat an Almond Joy before they’ve even had breakfast, but giving them control over “what” and “when” means they’ll argue or complain less about the “how much”.

Now What? So what do you do with the pile that’s still sitting around after a week? When my oldest was in 1st grade, she came home from school and told me about the Sugar Gnomes. Apparently these little guys come in to your house late at night and swap candy for a prize. At first, this seemed like a lot of work and a bit ridiculous, but then I realized, “What a great way to get rid of the candy!”. So now, after 4 of 5 days, the girls bag up some of their candy, place it by their beds, and in the morning, it’s been replaced by a toy or prize. I hate throwing things out, so the candy usually makes its way to mine or my husband’s office and is put in the breakroom. Otherwise I’ll end up eating it all!

Any candy that’s left is slowly doled out. The first week, they might be able to have 3 or 4 pieces a day because it’s still all very new and exciting. After that, it might dwindle down to one a day for a week or so, and then it goes back to becoming a rare treat. Before long, they forget it’s even there.


Author Bio: Hi, I’m Wendy Fanello, and I’m the mother of two daughters, ages 9 and 11. I love to get outside with my family, read, and garden. I’m also the Editor of an ultrasound career and education website. Read more of my work at: http://www.ultrasoundschoolsinfo.com/pregnancy-police/

Halloween decor - more treat than trick

(ARA) - While displaying ghosts and goblins is great for the kids and the standard for Halloween decor, how about getting into the spirit but with a bit more sophistication this year? If you are throwing a Halloween party for those adults who are kids at heart, a spooky holiday theme can still be part of the festivities, but with a touch of panache.

There are many directions you can go with a decoration theme. Certainly there are the colors of black and orange that can be integrated into the decor and the use of pumpkins or candles, which still scream Halloween but can be displayed elegantly.

Gary LaVasser, academic director in Set & Exhibit Design at The Art Institute of California - Hollywood, a campus of Argosy University, says that while everyone thinks of orange and black consider the combination of dark red and black. At Halloween, any time black is used it represents scariness and the dark red can be symbolic of blood. “For a more sophisticated look, combine dark red arrangements of roses, cover them in black hat veiling so that you see the roses through the veil and tie them together with black satin ribbon,” he suggests. “If you want to go a little further, place the arrangement on an inexpensive black placemat and drip dark red nail polish from a few rose petals onto the placemat. It will look like the roses are bleeding.”

LaVasser also has these tips for alternative but sophisticated Halloween decor:

* Use vintage Halloween toys from the 1930s, 40s or 50s as part of the design. If they are worn they have more character. Combine them with garlands of silk fall leaves available at most craft stores, tree branches or wheat and place on mantels or dining tables.

* Paint objects black that normally are not this color. For example, jack-o-lanterns are orange so spray them black for a twist on a familiar item. Also consider painting real flowers black. To make objects more interesting, select different black textures such as using matte, glitter, satin, gloss or metallic paints.

* The colors of fall are rich earth tones and these colors also associate with Halloween. Add a little “punch” by using a deep purple color. It can be an interesting contrast to oranges and gold tones. Also consider using metallic gold, copper and pewter colors. You can paint leaves or pumpkins with these shades as well.

LaVasser adds that one can look for inspiration among different cultures and how they celebrate certain holidays or Halloween. A Latino tradition is Day of the Dead, observed on November 1st and 2nd, which celebrates family and friends who have passed. “Day of the Dead decor includes folk art, candles, colorful flowers and bright ribbons together with skeletons,” says LaVasser. “This theme offers great options for Halloween.”

Five common mistakes most parents make when using car seats

(ARA) - Four million babies are born in the United States each year and that means more than 4 million new car seats are being installed. While great strides have been made to ensure that every infant rides in a car seat, unfortunately, parents are making five critical, but fixable, mistakes when using car seats, according to new data announced by Safe Kids Worldwide and the General Motors Foundation.

“Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent,” says Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Engineers are working hard to ensure cars and car seats are designed to keep kids as safe as possible. But it's up to every parent to take full advantage of these innovations by making sure car seats are used and installed correctly.”

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death to children ages 1 to 13. In a nationwide effort to educate parents about the importance of car seat safety, Safe Kids and the General Motors Foundation are asking every parent to take 15 minutes for an at-home car seat checkup using the Safe Kids downloadable checklist.

The checkup provides the following important tips that will help parents begin to ensure their car seat is used and installed properly:

* Right seat. Check the label on your car seat to make sure it's appropriate for your child's age, weight and height. Like milk, your car seat has an expiration date. Just double check the label on your car seat to make sure it is still safe.

* Right place. Kids are VIPs, just ask them. We know all VIPs ride in the back seat, so keep all children in the back seat until they are 13.

* Right direction. You want to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, usually until around age 2. When he or she outgrows the seat, move your child to a forward-facing car seat. Make sure to attach the top tether after you tighten and lock the seat belt or lower anchors.

* Inch test. Once your car seat is installed, give it a good shake at the base. Can you move it more than an inch side to side or front to back? A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch.

* Pinch test. Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check car seat manual). Now, with the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at your child's shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you're good to go.

The at-home checklist is meant to be a first step. Parents are encouraged to read the vehicle and car seat instruction manuals to help with the checklist. Parents are also encouraged to bring their car, car seat and child to certified child passenger safety technicians, who are waiting to help. Safe Kids hosts car seat inspection events across the country throughout the year.

To download a Safe Kids Car Seat Checklist or to find a car seat checkup event in your area, visit www.safekids.org.

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Mee Jawa

I had kept some prawn shells in the freezer to make prawn stock and so, I thought it was time to make some Mee Jawa. Turned out very nice, a bit too spicy for my taste coz' I added in too much red chilli. Next time, I will reduce the chilli so my kids can enjoy it too.

So this time, only the adults enjoyed it. For the kids, I made "kicap" sauce for them. My kids had to stay back in school for co-curriculum activities so I packed the noodles for them. Added in some fried garlic, fried shallots, spring onion, 'taugeh' (beansprout) and fishball. "Kicap" sauce was really simple: light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, pork lard oil (can substitute with garlic oil instead), fish sauce, oyster sauce and a dash of pepper.

Okay, back to Mee Jawa. You pretty much just have to prepare the sauce and the 'extras' that you want to put on your yellow noodles. My 'extras' include fried tauhu (sliced), hard boiled eggs, prawns, potatoes (boiled), taugeh (beansprouts), spring onions, fried garlic and shallots. Oh, and lime. You must squeeze lime onto your noodles for that extra 'oomph' taste.
My mom had shredded some cucumber. That was quite a nice addition too. My DH wanted to put in the 'tikus' and crunchy keropok thing that you find in mamak rojak. Unfortunately, I don't know where to get those.

Okay, now for the recipe which I got from kuali.com

INGREDIENTS
1 kg yellow noodles
1 kg medium prawns
500g sweet potatoes, mashed

2-3 heaped tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup oil
Salt and pepper
2.5liter water

PASTE (Blend)
3 stalks lemon grass
6 shallots
4 pip garlic
4 cm ginger
4 cm galangal
5 red chillies

PRAWN STOCK
Boil prawns in 2.5 liter water.
When prawns are cooked (which is fairly quick, don't boil too long or they'll shrink and be hard), remove them.
Shell the prawns and throw the shells back into the pot to make the prawn stock. Throw in whatever prawns shells you've been keeping in the fridge.
Continue boiling for about 30 minutes.
Discard the shells.

DIRECTIONS
Heat up oil in the wok and fry the paste until fragrant.
Add it to your prawn stock, let it simmer.
Stir in the mashed sweet potatoes.
Add in cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Make sure you add a little water to the cornstarch first before putting it into the sauce. Don't throw in the cornflour powder into the pot or you'll get lumps.
Season with sugar and salt.

ENJOY!

DIY Halloween costumes that won't spook your budget

(ARA) - As the leaves turn, children of all ages begin their quest for this year's “it” Halloween costume. If you're like most parents, this typically requires thinking ahead and spending an average of $26.52 for each costume, according to the National Retail Federation's 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

The same study says seven out of 10 Americans planned to celebrate Halloween, and $1 billion was spent on children's costumes alone. With many families continuing to feel the economic pinch, an average of 18.9 percent of consumers will make costumes instead of purchasing them this year. What to do if you're not an expert sewer or crafter? Here are some DIY ideas from the experts.

Milva Di Lorenzo, Fashion Design faculty for Miami International University of Art & Design, suggests, “Start by doing research online - if you're even a little crafty, there are many unique, fun costumes you can create with little money and no sewing.”  She recommends the following websites:

spoonful.com/halloween

www.marthastewart.com (click on Holidays link on left)

www.parenting.com/halloween-central

Kate Campbell, fashion coordinator  at The Art Institute of Tampa, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design, agrees. She also advises, “Get your child involved in creating the costume. Look at ideas and decide on a budget together. This ensures your child is excited about their costume, especially when their friends tout the ones from the store.”

For more inspiration, look at the quick costume ideas below from our experts.

Robot Costume

Needed: Gray sweat suit, one long aluminum dryer hose, two rectangular disposable foil pans, baseball cap, foil, colored markers, ribbon.

1. The foundation is a long-sleeve sweatshirt or undershirt and grey sweatpants.

2. Cut aluminum dryer hose in four parts. Place one on each leg over sweatpants for the legs. For arms, use ribbon attached to the hose with a stapler to connect the other two pieces across the child's back. Put on like a coat, one arm at a time.

3. Attach the two disposable foil pans with ribbons close to the corners, making sure there's enough space so it can go over the child's head like a sandwich sign.

4. Have your child use markers to create “robot” buttons and knobs on the foil pans.

5. Wrap a baseball cap with foil and use as the robot's hat.

Butterfly Costume

Needed: long-sleeved T-shirt and leggings in pink or any favorite color, poster or foam board in matching color, ribbon, tissue paper in coordinating colors, assorted embellishments, such as beads, glitter pens, rhinestones, hair band, pipe cleaners, hot glue gun or other adhesive.

1. The foundation is the T-shirt and leggings.

2. Draw (find an easy stencil online or free-hand it) large wing shapes on poster or foam board and cut them out.

3. Involve your child in decorating the wings. Make sure you plan the design before you start gluing.

4. Use ribbon to tie the wings together and to create backpack-style straps to hold them on the child's shoulders.

5. Use additional poster board to create a belt to go around your child's waist. Cut tissue paper in triangles and staple to the belt, overlapping at the top and with pointed ends down, to create a skirt. Decorate the head band and attach the pipe cleaners.

With a little imagination and patience, you can create unique Halloween costumes with your child and have fun, too! Finally, remember to take plenty of pictures!

To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu.

Five tips for busy women trying to find balance and enjoy life's simple pleasures

(ARA) - Every woman knows that hectic schedules can make it easy to forget to stop and enjoy the little things in life. But by finding creative ways to embrace some of life's simple pleasures, you can make sure to stay happy and content.

Actress, model and celebrity mom Ali Landry says she's found that taking the time to enjoy some of her favorite indulgences in moderation - whether it's snacks, travel, exercise or even a night out - has been the key to being a happy mother of two. “There's no tried-and-true formula for finding balance and enjoying life fully” says Landry. “According to a recent survey, three in five women say that eating certain foods is their No. 1 source of guilt. I disagree with this whole heartedly. I refuse to feel guilty about enjoying the things I love - like chocolate.”

Landry offers five tips for striking that balance:

* Ever feel like you need a vacation but don't have the time or the budget to pull it off? Opt for a vacation activity at home instead. Head out to a nearby beach or park and pack a picnic to enjoy with the friends and family. Then schedule a night of fun at home playing a new game or enjoying a new activity.

* Allow yourself to indulge with moments of moderation. Always abstaining from your favorite treats might lead you to binge after an especially stressful day. Landry allows herself a daily indulgence of her favorite snack: chocolate. “I love Hershey's Simple Pleasures chocolates because they are individually wrapped, and they're 30 percent less fat than the average of the leading milk chocolates,” says Landry. “I'm a woman who wants to be able to savor her chocolate without the guilt. I'm rejoicing since I found Hershey's Simple Pleasures chocolate - it's a delicious chocolate you can feel great about loving.”

* Busy women across the country struggle to find time to work out. By finding activities like kid-friendly yoga or going for a hike with friends, you can get your workout in while spending quality time together.

* If you're craving a night at a fancy restaurant, but can't get away or don't want to leave the kids, create a restaurant atmosphere at home for one special meal. Dine together with the kids and then once the kids are in bed, set aside time to read or have a drink on the porch with your spouse.

* Schedule small bits of “me time” each day, even if it's just 15 minutes to read in a quiet part of your home. Talk with friends, roommates or family about the importance of having this time to yourself and they'll be more than understanding when they see the restorative effects that a little downtime can have on your demeanor.

“I have learned that if you take some time to enjoy the things you love, and find ways to incorporate them into your everyday life, you can help reduce stress, allowing you to be happier. For busy women trying to find balance, there's no getting around the fact that some days will be more challenging than others,” Landry says. “But women should remember to take care of themselves too, and I've found that working in a few simple pleasures in moderation helps me be a better friend, mom and wife.”

For more on Hershey's Simple Pleasures(R) chocolates and a full list of flavors, visit www.facebook.com/hersheyssimplepleasures.