v 3 issue 23: Editor's Picks II

Editor's Picks Part II


More of our favorite picks from 2007. We love these products and know you will love them too!


Cover by Shannon Stewart





Our Picks from 2007

1We love See Kai Run for their amazing quality, comfort and style. See Kai Run shoes are handcrafted from butter-soft sheepskin leather and have a flexible rubber sole along with padded collars for comfort. Shop SeeKaiRun.com for styles and to find a retailer.
2 Custom Made For Kids, The First Adventures of Incredible You is our favorite gift to give this season. An award winning personalized children’s book, it makes the perfect gift for every occasion. The book is personalized with your child’s favorite people and places and follows your child from the day they arrived on Earth through their exciting adventures in life. Take a virtual book tour to see pages from the book. For $32.95 you will create a gift that will be cherished for a lifetime.
3 It’s portable comfort and style with PortaMEe, a hands-free child carrier! Lumbar support and a honeycomb gel padded shoulder strap make carrying even your three-year-old (yes, 3!) comfortable. An attached wallet pouch, cell phone holder, bottle holder and optional hooded cape make the PortaMEe fantastically functional, while gorgeous colors, materials and details mean great style.
4 We're in love with CleanWell products; where killing 99.99% of germs is 100% safe! CleanWell products use ingenium, a patented formulation of essential plant oils, to safely and effectively kill germs. We love their easy-to-use SPRAY! I have one in my diaper bag, car, and purse...just one squirt and germs are gone!
5 Cover up those cute little baby legs with….BabyLegs! Babylegs are one size fits most leg coverings that are useful to cover legs when wearing bodysuits, or for keeping legs warm when pants rid up. They are perfect to throw in your diaper bag and pull on when the evening chill begins, great for under a dress or when wearing a onesie. Not only are they cute and draw lots of adult attention, but your baby will love looking at the patterns.
6 Skipping Hippos’ ponchos are as much of a traffic stopper as, well, skipping hippos. Gorgeous fleece in rich chocolate browns, bold fuschias and pretty periwinkle are adorned with skipping hippo’s signature accoutrements- matching tassle, puffball fringe, ric rac and flower adorned ribbon- to create a piece worthy of any winter wonderland. With sizing from 6 months through 4T, and 14 colors to choose from, there’s a Skipping Hippos Poncho for every little girl to fall in love with.
7 For your glamorous little girl you must head over to Out to Tea. We simply adore their collection of clips and headbands and think they are the most glamorous we have seen. We love that in addition to their beauty, they truly are non-slip clips thanks to their fully lined design; they secure even the finest of hair. Be sure to check out their adjustable headbands (a first of their kind!), they are simply charming and always a perfect fit!
8 If your little one suffers from frizzy dry hair, don’t let it ruffle your feathers, because FuzzyDuck is here to smooth things out. The FuzzyDuck collection was formulated by a mom determined to tame her own frizzies and spare her curly-haired daughters the same battle; the collection includes shampoo, conditioner, detangling spray and anti-frizz gel. Totally effective without the use of sulfates, alcohol or silicone, FuzzyDuck is clearly a smooth operator.
9 Blirt shirts feature design interpretations of figures of speech that capture kids’ character traits (Bull in a China Shop, Fish out of water). Made with 100% organic cotton, non-toxic dyes and designed with a water based screen silk, these shirts also have being green figured out. Available in sizes 6 months to 6 years, several colors and short or long sleeves at blirtshirt.com.
10 Rockin’ Baby Slings offers both the ring sling choice and the pouch carrier. It used to be that pouches were one-sized…not anymore. Rockin’ Baby Slings offers an adjustable pouch which adjusts to three different sizes through the ease of zippers. Each pouch is reversible and their fabric choices are fantastic. Slings can be confusing to some, but Rockin’ Baby Slings are easy to use and include clear directions. Once you try a sling you will wonder how you ever survived before.
11 Perfect for you and your kids, Earworms make learning languages easy and fun. Their CD’s put the words and phrases you need not just on the tip of your tongue, but deep in your long-term memory with catchy melodies composed of rhythmic repetitions. You can learn a language while you are driving in your car, working out at the gym or having a relaxing bath.
12 Protect-A-Bub offers protection from the elements with their variety of stroller covers. Their 3-in-1 sunshade protects your little one from 98%+ UV rays as well as mosquitoes and other insects. Protect-A-Bub Sushades are the must-have stroller accessory for celebrities like Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, and Sarah Jessica Parker to keep their little ones safe.

Delicious Desserts
Our readers have sent in their favorite recipes and we would love to share their easy and yummy desserts!

Monkey Bread Recipe:
You will need: 1 can of Pillsbury grand biscuits (or similar brand), cinnamon/sugar mixture, brown sugar, butter, bundt cake pan

This is the "non-baking mom's" recipe!

Spray Pam in the cake pan and set aside
set the oven according to the directions on the biscuits
cut the biscuits into quarters
roll each quarter into a ball and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture
stack evenly into pan
take about a stick of butter and a cup or so of brown sugar (see I told you I was a non baking mommy) nad melt together on stovetop until it gets all bubbly
pour on top of biscuit balls
bake according to the directions on the biscuits...or just a smidge longer

After it is finished, et it cool for about 10 minutes, then turn upside down on a plate
The kids pick off the pieces and eat (like little monkeys).

Submitted by TTW reader Laura


Dirt Pie:
1 large bag oreo cookies (or packaged Oreo pieces)
1 cup 10x sugar
1/2 stick softened butter
1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
2 boxes instant vanilla pudding
3 1/2 cup milk
1 (12 oz.) container cool whip

Chop Oreo cookies in food processor until cookies are mushed up.
Mix butter, cream cheese and sugar together until smooth.
Blend pudding, milk and Cool Whip together.
Combine pudding and cream cheese mixture together until there are no lumps.
In a truffle bowl, layer cookie mixture then pudding mixture, repeating with cookie mixture on the top.

Submitted by KTW reader Evy


Chocolate Truffle Cake
1 chocolate cake box mix, prepared according to directions
1 container Cool Whip cream (or make your own real whipped cream)
1 box chocolate pudding, prepared by directions
Heath bars, crushed up
Cherries and nuts if desired

Prepare cake and chocolate pudding according to box. Crumble cake up.
In truffle bowl layer chocolate cake, layer chocolate pudding, then layer Cool Whip cream and repeat layers with whipped cream on top. Sprinkle heath bar (and nuts/cherries) on top as desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Submitted by TTW Reader Susan


Winter Smores
Graham crackers
Chocolate bits
Marshmallows

Place about 10 chocolate bits and 8 mini marshmallows on top of graham cracker. Place another graham cracker on top. Cook in microwave for 15 seconds.

Submitted by TTW reader Serena


Mini Banana & Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 egg
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c. oil
1/3 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

Beat egg in bowl. Add bananas, oil, milk and vanilla. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in chips. Stir liquid into dry ingredients. Pour batter into cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan. We freeze these and send them to school with our daughter...she loves them cold!

Submitted by TTW reader Janet


Whoopie Pies

1/3 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
5 tsp. cocoa
1 c. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

FILLING:
3/4 c. shortening
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow creme
2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet by tablespoon approximately 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes. Mix filling ingredients well. Fill once cooled.

Submitted by TTW reader Shannon