v 5 issue 35: Let's Travel

Gear up and get ready for the travel season with these great products and tips sure to make a fun family trip less challenging.

Cover by Ruthi David










1 Couture style and a soft, jersey material are combined to provide a discreet covering for Mom during nursing. The three different styles of Babybondnursing cover Mom during feeding while keeping baby uncovered. Baby benefits from the social interaction during feeding and Mom benefits from maintaining her level of modesty (& the social interaction too!). Enter code: trends for 25% off purchases thru 4/11/10.

2 100% airtight and 100% leak-proof. Keepin' Fresh Baby Storage Solutions provide the shapes & sizes needed for portion appropriate storage of baby's food. Stain resistant. Microwaveable. Dishwasher/Freezer safe. These are great! innobaby.com.

3 Whether you are out for an evening stroll, a picnic in the park or any spring outing wrap your little one in warmth and comfort with a vintage baby quilt that is completely hand made in the USA from vintage feed sacks. Made by Little Feather, a new collection for Barn Dandys and sized at 38” square. Sure to make cuddling all the more cozy and sweet.

4 Any bag can be turned into a carryall with a Quick pull from Pishposh. With 7 pockets total, the pull-string holds all necessary belongings in an organized manner and encloses the inner pockets with a gathered top. Just drop this carryall into your favorite bag and you're off! Enter code: TOT15 for 15% off all purchases.

5 One of the easiest ways to keep things tidy in your temporary room is to keep the dirty stuff in it's place. The On the Road Travel Laundry Bag from sochicgifts.com is just the thing to keep laundry out of site and ready for the washing machine. A great alternative to plastic!

6 Busy streets, busy places, and yes, busy bodies sometimes require a little extra protection. Peace of mind can be maintained with Safe-2-Go. The child has a soft, plushy animal backpack, while the adult's have a retractable nylon coil tether that fits around the hand.Available @ inventiveparent.com.

7 The Hannah Bag in bronze from Timi and Leslie has style, storage solutions, and more than enough space to pack all the goodies needed to get you on the road. Plus, each bag includes 8 pockets total, a diaper pad, bottle tote, and a zip pouch clutch. Oh yes, it comes with stroller and messenger straps too.

8 Coloring & activity books, age appropriate crafts, & fun-sized toys are all packaged up in a handy tote. TheTravel Kiddy includes so many activities to keep kids occupied, there isn't enough room to write them all down. Traveling With Kids has certainly handled the entertainment schedule, so you don't have to. Enter code: TTW10 for 10% off any order thru 4/15/10.

9 If the name doesn't make you laugh, the home page will. Any way you slice it, LobotoME keeps things sane & organized with smart charts... For travel, the PACK ME planner includes all the thoughts needed for getting packed and out the door for an upcoming trip.Enter code: TotTrends for 15% off any order thru 4/11/10.


Baby equipment rental for travelers
When traveling with an infant or toddler you have so much to pack why not eliminated the need to carry your baby furniture with you. Pack and Plays, toys, highchairs and swings are just a few of the things that young children need so your trip can be relaxed and enjoyable. This is where Granny’s Traveling Closet can help.

Granny’s Traveling Closet, located between Colorado Springs and Denver, provides a full service to parents looking to rent infant, toddler or children’s equipment when visiting Colorado.

We carry high quality products such as LA potable baby cribs, Britex car seats, Graco swings. All our equipment can be viewed on our web page http://www.grannystravelingcloset.com

Once an order is placed we arrange with hotels, airport car rental locations, and host families to have your clean and sanitized equipment available when you arrive. At the end of your trip we will pick it up at a time convenient to you or your host family.

A toy box in a hotel room may just be the answer to ‘What’s there to Do?’
Our goal is reduce the stress of traveling with young children.

Not traveling to Colorado this summer check out this web site http://www.baby-equipment-rental.com You will find a number of baby equipment rental companies in North America.


Taking the Stress out of Traveling with Children
Traveling with children can be a stressful time. Consider traffic jams, delayed flights, and crowded airports.

Here are a few stress reducing tips which can help make your travel plans that much easier to contend with.

1) Make it a family affair. Get your kids excited about your journey. By involving everyone in the planning process, your children will more likely be more invested in the trip. You can easily give them their own tasks to accomplish: Have your child pick out the toys or books she wants to bring for the car ride to Grandma’s house.

2) When it comes to packing your bags, keep things organized by separating clothing in clear zipper bags you can label with names and contents. It’s much easier to locate things when they are labeled “Dad’s underwear” or “Sally’s pajamas”. You can reuse the bags to hold dirty laundry on the way home. Remember to pack an extra duffel bag in your luggage if you intend to be bringing additional items back with you.

3) Let the family know exactly what you’ve planned. Kids, especially younger ones, will feel more secure about your travels if they know what to expect. Some potentially scary situations for little ones could include security check points at the airport. If your children are made aware of how these situations are performed, they will feel a little less anxious about them. You may want to explain that yes, Teddy the Bear will have his picture taken on the moving belt, but he can be picked up again on the other side.

4) Try and book non-stop flights to your destination when at all possible. This can eliminate lay-over hassles when you have children in tow. It’s much easier for a non-stop flight to avoid bad weather thousands of feet in the air than it is for them to land or take off in the same type of weather.

5) Make a “grab-bag” of various inexpensive toys or surprises for your kids. These can be anything from little cars to mini coloring books with crayons, or any other age-appropriate items you can get at your local dollar store. At different times during your journey, you can bring out something new for them to play with for the next stretch of travel.

6) To avoid devastation if luggage is lost in air travel pack 2 sets of clothing for each family member in each others bags. This way if one or more pieces of luggage is lost everyone has at least 2 days of clothing.

While these tips might not seem to be earth-shattering things to do, you would be amazed at how much they can actually reduce the stress levels related to your travel experience. Just a little bit of extra planning and preparation can take care of many potential headaches, allowing you to enjoy your holiday as well.

v 5 issue 34: Spring Fashion

Spring is awakening and with the weather warming up it's time to think about updating your childs wardrobe with fresh spring colors.

Cover by Alexi Killmer












1 The Forest Friends Halter & Capri Set comes with brown capris dotted in white then cuffed with a turquoise print fabric. The set's halter consists of the same two fabrics. Working in unison, the fabrics perform a balancing act which playfully draws the eyes from top to bottom, so the whole outfit gets equal attention. Available @Francoise Studio. Enter code: TTW15 for 15% off purchases.

2 Rumored to be one of the prettiest dresses to step onto the pages of Tottrends, the Pinkalicious Purse Dress is another fabulous find from the shop of Elise Hooper Designs. The A-line silhouette of this dress is pampered with a purse applique...which ingeniously doubles as a pocket.

3 Cool tones are joined by brilliant accent colors to create the paisley print of this fashionable piece by babysusu. Loosen up a few buttons and slip it on a rugged little tyke for a harmonic blend of Eastern tradition and Western style. Enter code: TTWM20 for 20% off entire site

4 Checks and plaids with common colors of red and blue are methodically placed on cuffs, circles, and trim for Chipoupine's Blue & White Check Car Shirt. An extra zoom-zoom comes from six cars racing around a circle on the torso of the tunic made exclusively in France. Send email to chipoupine[at]orange.fr with code: TOT for a free Chipoupine t-shirt with purchase.

5 Ties and tucks of robust flowers quickly burst into a full skirt rooted in a coordinating polka-dot trim. The warm cherry shaded flowers coordinate nicely with tones of antique white. Thrown over a tee, warmed up with a cardigan, or all alone, the Pillowcase Dress from EmmyDoodles Too is absolutely adorable. Enter code: TOTT15 for 15% off your purchase.

6 Cinched fabrics create the look of a wiggly caterpillar, but truly sweet fabrics transform the Bugalug Belt into a necessary accessory. A brown bubble design is the reverse to the hip butterfly print. Either side has the ability to metamorphose an outfit from simple to outstanding!

7 A bountiful assortment of petunia pinks in light and dark shades are intermingled on shirts, skirts, and dresses for fun & flirty style everyone will love. Juliette Sunshine mixes the eco-friendly fabrics of organic cotton & bamboo, then throws in a few retro fabrics and trims to create unique styles with a bohemian flair.

8 The tweet, tweet of a little birdie adds even more pizazz to the Bird Day Dress designed by Candy Stick Lane Boutique. A love for color inspired the remarkable blend of patterns and textures present in this peasant style dress, but the seamstress surely worked some magic by placing them together so perfectly. Mention code: ttw30 for 30% off your purchase. You will receive a revised invoice.


This weeks mom tips
Organizing Tip:
Take a quick inventory of your kitchen supplies. Are there items that you have unnecessary duplicates of that you don't really need? If so, get rid of them. You can either save them for a garage sale, or give them away. Then sort your kitchen items by use and size.

Walk through the house and make notes of what needs to be done in each room. Once you have a list, make a goal to complete at least one thing off the list each day. Keep the list where you can see it.

Green Tips:
Situating your water heater as reasonably close as possible to the point of highest use (bathroom or kitchen) will save both water and energy by reducing the time it takes for hot water to reach the tap or shower.

If it's time to replumb, consider using PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipe rather than copper. PEX pipe has a smaller interior diameter, meaning hot water gets to the point of use faster.

If your project calls for fiberglass insulation, look for products that are free of formaldehyde.

Time Saving Tips:
Start your day 15 to 30 minutes earlier. It may be difficult initially, but you'll be gaining that much extra time in your day.

When you're done washing your clothes take them directly from the dryer and hang them up immediately to minimize the amount of time you'll have to spend ironing.

5 Running Tips For Beginners
Spring has sprung, the weather is getting nicer and you want to improve your health.

Running is a fantastic way to get in shape, lose weight, and to find better peace of mind and overall health. It's a cheap and easy way to get in shape; all you have to do is run, with little gear required. Additionally, in as little as thirty minutes you can get a very complete workout. With all the benefits it might be tempting to go out right now and run ten miles. Before you do that, keep these five running tips for beginners in mind - you'll have a better running experience if you do.

Tip #1 Start small. If you've never donned a pair of running shoes and hit the pavement, then starting with a ten or even a five mile workout can quickly result in injury and frustration. Small running goals are the best way to create a successful running program.

For example, if your goal is to run three miles in thirty minutes your first goal may be to complete three miles by both walking and running. You may even walk for five minutes and run for one minute gradually increasing your running time and decreasing your walking time. Eventually you'll be running the entire three miles and then you can work on increasing your speed.

Tip #2 Make sure you have good running shoes. Running form is one of the most important aspects of running. Improper running form leads to injuries which puts a big damper on your fitness program. The good news is that running shoes are designed to promote good running form.

If, for example, you tend to overpronate or run on the insides of your feet, which is the most common situation and is caused by feet with a low or even a normal arch, then you'd want to look for a motion control or stability shoe.

Tip #3 Run safely. If you're running alone it's important to take a few precautions. Always tell someone where you're running and how long you'll be gone. Take your cell phone and identification with you. Run in a populated area if possible. Consider investing in a keychain pepper spray or mace. If you're running on the street, learn the traffic laws for pedestrians.

Tip #4 Pay attention to your body. Injuries, blisters, and overuse happen. They're part of exercising. However if you take a few precautions and learn to listen to your body's signals then you're likely to avoid many of the issues runners face.

For example, blisters are caused by friction however well fitting shoes, moisture wicking socks and a handy supply of first aid supplies will help mitigate them.

Tip #5 Find motivation. Beginning any new fitness program can be exciting however after a few weeks or months go by the excitement can wane. If you're able to find motivation for running then it'll keep things interesting and fun and that's what it's all about, right?

So what motivates you? Are you motivated by competition? Then sign up for a race. Are you motivated by your peers? Then join a running club or run with friends. Are you energized when you listen to music? Find a small MP3 player to run with. Are you motivated by nature? Find a few good trails to run on. There are myriad ways to make running a continuously fun and interesting. Find what works for you.

Running is a fantastic way to get in shape. It's good for your heart and mind and keeping these running tips for beginners in mind will help you reach your running goals.

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v 5 issue 33: Happy Easter

We have packed this issue with great ideas to make Easter fun for the whole family.


Cover by Carrie Steffe










1 Alligator clips, pinch clips, and all sorts of bows have been sweetened up with the Easter Bunny for fabulous accents to any special outfit. Love the prices and the spectacular assortment available at weeones.com Enter code: easter 10 for 15% off all purchases.

2 It all starts with a plain white album, but add a few scrapbooking stickers and the end result will be egg-cellent indeed. The pages of the "Take Your Pix" White Boardbook are composed of thick, rigid pages with special spots on top for slipping in photos. The addition of family photos and some holiday doo-dads will surely capture any baby's attention. Enter code: TTW10 for 10% for off all purchases.

3 With an airy texture and the tickle of pastels, the Lily Dress from Luna Luna Copenhagen encompasses the beauty of spring in a gorgeous dress for girls of sizes 2T- 6. A petal fabric print, gathered at the shoulders and neckline, is balanced with the ruffles of a slightly sheer solid underlay and sash. Available @ lilswanky.com. Enter code: ttw20 for 20% off all purchases.

4 Personalize the holiday with labels, notepads, and cards from Doodle Bugs. Messages of your choice can be added to predesigned labels for postage and gifts...or grab a notepad to jot down the tasks of the season. Many to choose from at reasonable prices! Enter code: FSTTW for free shipping.

5 By stashing 3 essential pieces into a cordura nylon zip pouch, the Babysparewear fashion fix has everything needed for a quick change...even the space for extra wipes and a diaper. Visit Tiny Tots with Style to purchase this kit that includes pants, a short sleeve tee, and the long sleeve tee printed with solid graphics of mother bunny and her baby. Enter code: TTW15 for 15% off all purchases.

6 Handpainted pink canvas Easter bunny shoes from MarieLynn Boutique are sure to add bounce to a little step. On each pair of shoes, a heart-nosed bunny with a green polka-dotted bow is peeking from the sole and surrounded by tiny, plump carrots. The finishing touch comes from generously oversized ribbon laces! Enter code: EASTER for 10% off all purchases.

7 When peeking out the window at a winter wonderland, toes stay toasty in the Little Yipper Slippers. A pup of pale blue is characterized with floppy ears, rosy cheeks, and a spotted eye to fit feet of 0-6 months. Absolutely adorable.

8 A true classic from Margaret Wise Brown-The Runaway Bunny. No matter how much the little bunny tries to escape, his mother always seems to think of a way to stand by his side. An endearing tale of unconditional love. Perfect for basket stuffing!


Easter egg-decorating made easy
Coloring Easter eggs is something kids look forward to every year. However, it can be messy, right? Well here are some ideas for Easter egg coloring made easy and inexpensive as well.

After the eggs are hard boiled, let them cool down a bit so you can handle them. Apply a bit of water to the egg; take some colored tissue paper; cut it in different shapes and apply it to the egg. You can turn an egg into a work of art with geometric shapes and strips. Or, you can buy Easter stickers, and have the kids cover the eggs with those. No mess, no fuss!

Other fun & easy techniques kids will love:

Make Natural Dyes for for Easter Eggs
red: soak red onion peels with vinegar or use juice from red beets or blueberries
yellow: soak yellow onion peels, or use saffron
green: spinach water
brown: tea

Hints for Coloring Easter Egg
For multi-color eggs, start in the lightest color first.
Always let hard boiled eggs cool before starting any of the craft techniques.
Be sure the children let the eggs dry before putting the egg in a 2nd color.

Groovy Tie-Dyes: Tightly wrap your egg in a slightly dampened cotton cloth. With an eye dropper, put dots of different food colors on the cloth. After 5 minutes, unwrap the egg. Far out.

Stripes: Wrap rubber bands of varying widths around your egg before you drop it into the dye.

Aluminum Foil Technique: crumple and uncrumple a large square of aluminum foil, then coat the foil with acrylic paint. Set the egg in the center of the foil and loosely wrap it. Gently press the foil against the egg, then remove the egg and let it dry. Repeat with other colors, if you like.

Let’s face it; as adults, coloring Easter eggs is just as enjoyable for us as it is for the kids. Whatever you choose, Easter egg coloring can be enjoyed by the entire family. Have fun!


Easter Basket Gift Ideas
More and more parents are opting to skip all the sweet treats or at least limiting them and fill the kids baskets with gifts. Many Easter-themed gifts are available. We have chosen a few great gift ideas for an Easter without candy.

DVDs:

A Woolly Good Time. From the creators of Wallace & Grommit, Shaun the Sheep is a legendary clay animation series full of witty humor both parents and children will love. Get ready for non-stop laughs and giggles with Shaun and his barnyard pals and watch them get themselves in and out of trouble.




Barney: Egg-cellent Adventures Barney's first Easter-themed DVD. Watch as Mother Goose, a nest full of eggs, and a mysterious, carrot-eating visor bring super-Dino adventures to the whole family in 3 full packed episodes.






FUN GIFTS:


Piggy paint is as natural as Mud! Made with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to protect little one’s nails and cuticles. No toxic chemicals so that means no bad odor just colorful fun. Over a dozen bright colors to choose from! Enter code: Tot Trends for 15% off purchases




Looking for something organic to fill the Easter basket with? Sckoon makes a wonderful collection of organic cotton dolls. Cotton inside as well as outside so they are Eco-friendly and ready for love.






Bloom Putty is the twistable, poppable, sniffable play stuff for kids of all ages. Free of most allergens, this putty is scented with organic & natural oils. So many scents and colors to choose from! Enter code: basket to save 15% thru 3/26/10.






What basket is complete without musical bunny ears? Great for Easter photo ops too. Add a deck of bunny playing cards from Denimndaisies.com and you have a basket full of fun and giggles! Enter code: spring for 10% off your purchases.




Easter Eggs Hunts Without Candy: Fill some plastic eggs with stickers, temporary tattoos, fun erasers, and hair clips. Eggs can also be filled with healthy edible treats. Nuts, cheerios, raisins, and dried fruit are all preferable to jelly beans.

Hallmark makes a great game called, "The Golden Egg Treasure Hunt." Using carrot-shaped cards with clues to help little hunters find a large golden egg filled with something special. We loved this one last year! and it can be used year after year.

Whatever you choose, healthy replacements for Easter candy can come in any form which will not only entertain your kids, but can become the start of a new Easter tradition in your home.

v 5 issue 32: Luck of the Irish

St. Patrick's Day is coming and it is time to celebrate with all things green! Plus: Songs and a craft for your kids to enjoy.

Cover by Suymey Benson










1 Take a green onesie, add a reflexive pronoun & a little shamrock, and you've got a great little shirt to celebrate the culture of Ireland. Unlike those other St. Patty's tees, the "himself" onesie is appropriate for showing your love of the native land during any month of the year. Available at snugfits.com

2 Fuzzibunz provide exceptional service to baby's bottom while maintaining an ethical approach to diapering the planet. Through adjustable leg and waist settings fastened with durable snaps, stretchy elastic bands which prevent leaks without leaving marks, and a patented pocket design for easy stuffing and un-stuffing, this reusable cloth diaper is beneficial to both baby and Mother Earth.

3 Wrap your cherub in the heavenly softness of Eaz-z wraps. These hand-sewn blankets are made of 100% certified organic cotton, hemp and bamboo. The all in one blanket was specially designed to accommodate every baby, from preemie to triplets and decked out with ribbon loops on the ends. Generously-sized at 45”x45”. Free Shipping thru March 21,2010

4 The lily pad hue of the Striped Play Dress from Tea Collection has the fairies frolicking with joy. Cap sleeves allow the arms to flow freely during a jig and the quick pull-over capacity gets girls ready in a jiffy. The 100% cotton, machine washable dress definitely exudes fun in a very pretty way.

5 Green in more ways than one, Lullaboards allow caretakers to "write. read. wipe. repeat." the activities of the day for ample tracking & reporting duties. Layouts are available to record pumpings, feedings, naps, diaper changes, and activities.

6 Multiple styles & colors are included in the holiday collections from Personalized Creations. For St. Patrick's Day, the Shamrock Bow displays a thin green bow with white shamrocks dispersed throughout the ribbon. The clippie can be purchased in a knotted bow or flat style for only $3.00. Enter code: March721 for 10% off entire site.

7 So you can't kiss the blarney stone this St. Patrick's Day...Build-A-Bear Workshop has a solution any kid would love. Kids can kiss and hug the Beary O'Lucky Teddy for the wee price of $16.00. His apple green fur bares the luck of the Irish through oodles of textured shamrocks and a sound of your choice (which can be added for a small fee).

8 With the skill of an Irish leprechaun Curly Birdie loops, tugs, & wiggles needles to form the most adorable crocheted baby shoes for infants of 3 to 6 months. Comfortable, soft, and capable of a gentle stretch, the "Hannah" Mary Janes in celery green are soled in pink with a vanilla flower placed on felted leaves.


St. Patrick’s Day songs
I'm A Little Leprechaun
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"

I'm a little leprechaun
Dressed in green,
The tiniest man
That you ever seen.
If you ever catch me, it is told,
I'll give to you my pot of gold!

On St. Patrick's Day
Sung to: "The Mulberry Bush"
Let's wear green and dance a jig,
Dance a jig, dance a jig.
Let's wear green and dance a jig,
On St. Patrick's Day.

Eensy Weensy Leprechaun
Sung to: "Eensy Weensy Spider"

An eensy, weensy leprechaun
came out St. Patrick's Day
to look for the gold
That was hidden far away.
Over the rainbow
was where he was told
so, with the wink of his green eye,
He ran for the gold.

St. Patrick's Day Song
Sung to: "If You're Happy and You Know It"

If you're wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you're wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you're wearing green today,
Dance a jig, then smile and say,
"Have a very Happy St. Patrick's Day"

Additional verses:
"If you're wearing green today, clap your hands"
"If you're wearing green today, spin around"
"If you're wearing green today, shout "Hurray!"
"If you're wearing green today, stamp your feet"


Shamrock Tree Craft
With St. Patrick’s Day almost upon us, it will soon be time to get out the decorations. Here is an some easy St. Patrick’s Day craft for your kids to enjoy.

Decorate a "homemade" trunk on brown construction paper(to make the trunk, trace your child's arm from the elbow up, including the fingers). If you use white paper just have child color the tree with brown crayon.

Print Shamrocks template... color cut and paste them on the truck.

Materials:
printer, construction paper, scissors, glue stick, crayons

Instructions:
Print out the shamrock template HERE

Color the leaves green. Color before cutting.

Cut out the pieces. This step may require adult assistance.

You can glue the entire tree to a decorated background (construction paper, add green for grass, a colored rainbow, sun and white cotton balls for clouds.

Glue the shamrocks all over the tree to decorate.

There is no end to the many creative and imaginative ideas you can incorporate when engaging in a fun activity such as decorations for St. Patrick’s Day. Put on some Irish CD’s, and have a great time!

original source: DLTK Crafts for kids