v 5 issue 44: Accessorize Me

Dress up your every day gear and clothing with these products that add a little extra. We review accessories for your little ones in this week's issue.

Cover by Jamie Swetnam










1 Infants which have not yet reached the appropriate age for sunscreen have a great option for sun protection this summer. A Moby Wrap is available with UV protection. Rayosan technology treats the fabric with an invisible dye which blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays from baby's delicate skin. The dye is certified by Oeko-Tex 100 and does not contain harmful substances. So, grab a Moby and get outside for some sun!

2 Slightly thinner and a little taller than Mrs. Smith's other great bags, The Classic Pack is the bag Dad's have been waiting for! Available in a manly black neoprene or a rugged, antique brown vegan leather. Plenty of organized storage available and additional straps are on the bottom for holding a rolled blanket or sleeping bag. Enter code: coolbag for 20% off all purchases.

3 Have the coolest kid in day camp this summer with a Super Whoops Bunny Backpack. Pack water, extra clothes, towels, and sunscreen in the 13" x 10.6" x 4.7" goodie bag for the shoulders. An available matching lunch bag & velcro wallet can be added to store all the essentials for a hot summer day of fun with friends. Enter code: TTW20 for 20% off- one per registered user.

4 One size fits most anyone...from chubby new legs to long and lanky legs of tweenies. Yes, believe it or not, Give Peace a Chance legwarmers found @ babykakesink.com are truly versatile. Older girls can use them as arm or legwarmers, even in the warmer months, considering they are made of a lightweight cotton-blend material. Enter code: TTSHOP for Free Shipping.

5 Superhero (3-7) & Sidekick (2-4) sizes are available for both girls and boys who love imaginative play. Just make a quick pit-stop @ Nanny Deprived-the sacred site where women embrace the insanity of motherhood. Purchase the super fantastic retro rocket cape as the perfect accessory for high flying fun. Each comes packaged for safe keeping in it's own matching bag lined with velvet chamois. Enter code: TOTTRENDS for Free Shipping.

6 Everyone needs a break during a busy day. We found the best accessory for quiet time. Lucas is a sweet little doll from HABA. Dressed in stripes with a blue waistcoat, Lucas comes with a teeny weenie mouse friend and promises to be a quiet playtime companion. Plus, he loves to take naps!!!!!!

7 Too Cool for Drool is loaded with fun and funky bandana-style bibs for babes who drool...or babes who just want to look cool. From pretty in pink to skulls and camouflage, choices are available for all who visit. Reversible! And, only $9.99 each. Email: judy.luvbugz[at]gmail.com with code: TTW20 for 20% refund off purchases.

8 If your toddler just put another notch in their belt for learning to dress themselves, then it's the perfect time to treat them to a super-cute Myself Belt. Myself Belts are so easy to use that even toddlers can fasten them with just one hand. Enter code: TOTS10 for 10% off all purchases.

Summer Treats - Bar Cookies
Blueberry Bar Cookies
If you love blueberries, these blueberry bar cookies are a tasty treat to make for the entire family or even for company. They are cheap to make and easy. You can even let the kids help out. The great thing is, you can use about any type of berries in these cookies.

Ingredients You'll Need:
3 cups of all purpose flour
1 cup of white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt ( this is optional)
1 cup of shortening
4 cups of blueberries, fresh
3 teaspoons of cornstarch
Pinch of ground cinnamon (this is optional)
1/2 cup of white sugar

Directions:
Start by preheating the oven 375. Take a 9x13 pan and go ahead and grease it ahead of time.

Take a medium bowl, and stir together the baking powder, the sugar, and the flour. Then mix in the cinnamon and the salt if you are going to use it. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to blend the egg and shortening into the mix. This will make the dough crumb like in texture. Pat about half of this dough into the pan you have prepared.

In a different medium bowl, mix the cornstarch and sugar together. Then mix in the blueberries. Spread this mixture over the crust you made. Then take the rest of the dough left over and crumble it on top of the berries. Bake for 45 minutes or until the top of the cookies are golden brown. Cool complete on a wire rack, then you can cut them into squares. This recipe makes about 15 bar cookies.


Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Bar Cookies
These tasty bar cookies are not only tasty, but they look pretty too. They look great at Christmas, but taste great no matter what time of year it is. If you have a lot of kids, you may want to double the recipe because they are sure to be a big hit.

Ingredients You'll Need:
1 pack of cream cheese softened (8 ounces)
1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 tube of sugar cookie dough that is refrigerated (18 ounces)
1 cup of sour cream
1 jar of strawberry preserves (8 ounces)
1 egg, beaten lightly

Directions:
Cut the refrigerated cookie dough into 25 slices. Arrange the slices side by side in a 13x9 inch baking pan that is ungreased. Pat them together so you don't have any gaps. Bake this crust at 375 for about 20 minutes or until you notice that it's light brown and the edges are firm when you touch them.


Apple Danish Bar Cookies
If you love apple pie, you'll love these apple Danish bar cookies. They taste just like eating an apple pie. With apple filling and a crust that is flaky and tender, they'll make your mouth water. These cookies are great in the fall, or any other time of year.

Ingredients You'll Need:
1 cup of shortening
2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon of salt
Milk
18-10 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced (about 8 cups)
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 cup of cornflakes

Egg Wash:
1 tablespoon of water
1 egg white

The Topping
Whipped cream or some powdered sugar

Directions:
Start out by preheating your oven to 375. In a large mixing bowl, mix the salt and flour together. Then use a knife or a pastry blender to cut the shortening into the mix until you get a crumb like mixture. Beat the egg yolk in a 1 cup measuring cup. Add in enough milk to make it read 2/3 cup and mix together well. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix very well.

Divide the dough in half. On a surface that is lightly floured, roll out one half of the dough into a rectangle that is about 18x12 inches. Place this dough in the bottom of a baking pan that is 18x12x1. Sprinkle the dough with cornflakes. Then top with the apples.

Combine together the cinnamon and granulated sugar in a little bowl. Sprinkle this over the apples. Roll out the rest of the dough into a rectangle that is 16x12 inches. Arrange it over the apples. Seal the bottom and the top pastry together. Cut some slits in the top.

In a small bowl, beat water and egg white together. Brush this mixture on the top of the pastry.

Bake for 50 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Cool it on a wire rack. Tastes great cool or warm. You can top it with powdered sugar or whipped cream. This recipe makes 32 cookie bars.

While the crust is baking, in a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar, sour cream, and cream cheese until it's totally smooth. Then beat in the vanilla and egg. Over the warm crust, spread the strawberry preserves. Then spread the cream cheese mixture over the layer of strawberry preserves.

Bake for another 25-30 minutes or until a fork or toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center. Cool the bars on a wire rack. Cut into bars after they are cool. Leftovers should be refrigerated. Makes about two dozen cookie bars.


Tips for Keeping the Playroom from Turning into a Toy Jungle
When kids play, it is almost a certainty that there will be a mess to clean up after they are done. By having a playroom in the house, it can help keep the toys from taking over the rest of the house, including their bedrooms. But, how do you keep the playroom from getting to the point there is no room to play? Here are a few tips, including how to get the kids to help.

Start with sorting through all the toys and finding the things that they never play with anymore. Have they outgrown them? Are the broken? Make piles of things to pass on, or sell in a garage sale, things to throw away and things to keep. Sort the toys by type and then you can decide if you need to change the way they are stored. You may not have to get anything new; you may have enough containers that aren't being used in other rooms around the house.

To help the kids put things away, borrow an idea from classrooms: label everything. Make signs, either with words, pictures cut from magazines or both, and attach them to the various containers and shelves. The kids then have a clear guide for putting things away. It also helps when they want a specific toy - they can just look for the signs and know where to look, that is if they've put things away.

Another way to help reduce the chaos is to reduce the number of toys in the room. Divide the toys into groups, some to pack away for a time, and some to have out. Store them in a closet, the basement, or anywhere else they will be out of the way. When the time comes to swap the sets of toys, it's almost like getting new toys without buying anything else.

Changing the way toys are stored can also help. By having easy access containers, the kids can put things away more easily. Younger children can have a hard time with lids, but there are nice fabric containers that are flexible and are safe for them. Some of these come designed to look like animals or people and are a lot of fun. Clear plastic containers are also great because the kids can actually see what is in the box before digging through the whole thing.

Stuffed animals seem to multiply like real rabbits at times. There are a few options for corralling those critters. There are Velcro poles that the animals stick to. They can be tucked in a corner and do not take up much space. There are also stuffed animal hammocks that can be hung up to save floor space, but these should only be used with older children. Have them at a height where they do not pose a choking hazard.

The biggest key to keeping it all under control is maintaining it every day. Get the kids into a new habit of only getting one thing out at a time and putting it back when they are done. If this is too hard, then reduce the number of toys available, increasing them as the kids get used to the new system.