v 6 issue 9: Holiday Gift Guide

We've put together the most fun and fabulous gifts worth every penny and they're all available online, so skip the frenzy and shop by mouse this holiday season.

Cover by Lindsey Mills












Complete with name tag, magic snowflakes, and "The Elf Magic Story", Elf Magic Elves encompass the spirit of Christmas through their annual visit. Start the magical tradition with the delivery of your very own Elf Boy...or girl.





In All Aboard: Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine, Monica Kulling tells the story of how the son of a slave became educated in mechanical engineering and eventually went on to invent a system which would change travel around the world. Inspirational.





Visit the Twirly Girl Shop for reversible twirly dresses with some serious swirling action. These dresses had to be made reversible to account for the fact that little girls will want to wear them every day! Enter code: TGTots15 for 15% thru 11/29





Tutu Pour Mon Deux adds a band of tulle to short or long sleeved shirts creating a one-of-a-kind tutu shirt. With 1/3 of the proceeds going to Children's Hospital Boston, this gift gives in more way than one.






An ultra soft onesie is studded with long angel wings of pink. Tiny Hiney offers many great onesies, tees, and accessories made with high quality fabrics. Enter code: TTW20 for 20% off thru 11/28






Cuddle up by the fire this holiday season with new, cozy cotton pajamas from Amolia Mae Nightwear. Rose Floral Pajamas are available in matching sets for Moms and girls. Enter code: TTW25 for 25% off thru 11/28






Plueys designs are unique, practical, and always attract lots of admiring attention. Made from durable natural rubber, softly lined for comfort, and features a sturdy treaded sole. Enter code: TTWLOVESPLUEYS for 15% off thru 11/28






Wow Baby! Bibs & Burps combine naturally absorbent bamboo fabric with detachable plastic liners for soak-proof products Moms love. Perfect patterns and pretty packages -plus a tottrends coupon- make these a GREAT holiday gift. Enter code: tottrends for 15% off





"My Minky" Snuggle Blankets from Candy Jam Boutique are sized at 15" x 14", so little ones can carry them wherever they go. The Owen Snuggle's plush minky fabric is adorned with an adorable owl appliqué created with multiple funky fabric pieces. Enter code: TTW10 for 10% off






Dinos and ducks gather together on the premium quality blankets of OiOi. Weegoamigo blankets come primped and packaged in neat boxes, but don't let them fool you-these blankies are sturdy, long-lasting beauties.





The Nutcracker Sweet tells the story of Angelina Ballerina while she prepares for the big performance of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Will Angelina's appetite for sweets interfere with her big holiday showcase, or will she learn a lesson about the benefit of sharing?





Madeline and friends retell five holiday adventures involving winter fun, snow, and the North Pole. Ludwig Bemelman's classic characters come to life in the DVD Madeline's Christmas and Other Wintery Tales.






Sweet, mellow, and full of fun, the new CD from

Frances England is available November 9th. Get a preview of the new tunes on Mind of My Own by visiting the artistic site at francesengland.com.






The new generation of children"s music stars celebrate the songs of days gone by.
Putamayo Kids has a fun new CD available called Rock & Roll Playground. Full of fun new twists on old favorites & new songs too.






Thanksgiving and Holiday recipes. Enjoy!
If you are looking for great recipes for Thanksgiving, the recipes below are tried and tested Thanksgiving and Holiday recipes that are among the most popular and enjoyed by everyone.

Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs and vanilla. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture until just combined. Do not over mix. Fold in chopped pecans. Spoon batter into lightly greased or lined muffin tin and fill to 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven at 350F for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and baked through. Cool in muffin tins for 5 minutes until removing to wire racks to cool completely.


Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (beaten)
1 cups brown sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup fresh or dried cranberries

Directions:
In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs and oil. Mix well. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture and stir well. Fold in the cranberries. Transfer mixture to two lightly greased loaf pans. Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for approximately 45 to 55 minutes or until golden and baked through. Cool for 5 minutes in pan before removing to wire rack to cool completely.



Yummy Ham

Ingredients:
1 (5 pound) fully-cooked, bone-in ham
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup of water
1 cup of orange juice
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Blend together apricot preserves and Dijon mustard in a mixing bowl. Score the ham with shallow criss cross cuts. Spread preserves mixture over the whole ham. Gently pat brown sugar over the top of the preserve mixture. Mix water and orange juice together in a bowl. In a large roasting pan pour orange juice and water in bottom. Place the ham on a roasting rack in roasting pan. Bake approximately 1 1/2 hours or until ham is heated thoroughly. You may need to add a 1/2 to 1 cup of the orange juice/water to the pan as your ham cooks and the liquid evaporates.



Tips for Easy Family Holiday Travel
No matter which holiday your trip is focused around, any parent can tell you what a stressful ordeal traveling with children can be. From the never ending rest stop visits to the famous “Are we there yet?” chorus from bored little ones, any trip can seem longer than necessary. Add to that the sibling rivalry and potential for bickering the entire trip; parents can easily find they are slightly frazzled by the time they arrive at their destination point.

Here are some ideas you can use to make traveling with the kids during any holiday period a little easier to handle. We’ll concentrate on those family trips where you are driving to your destination.

1) 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 the drive.

Kids can bring their handheld gaming systems, favorite books, mp3 players and portable DVD players with movies if you own these items. However, you might want to set some ground rules as to who can choose the movie and when.

2) If at all possible, do your driving at night. This way the children will be asleep most of the travel time. This isn’t always an option, but it does help to avoid some of the potential hassles you would otherwise have to deal with.

3) When traveling by car, ensure each child has their own travel pillow and blanket. While they must remain in either car seats or safety belts, it will help them to be comfortable while they are stuck in the backseat of the car. Allow them to remove their shoes as well, for a more comfortable ride.

4) Turn your trip into an educational experience by charting various historical or important geographical sites along the way. If time permits, use these locations as an opportunity not only to learn something new, but to stretch legs and get all the “wiggles” out before continuing on your journey.

5) Bring your own snacks and drinks to help alleviate some of the expense of fast food restaurant stops while you're on the road. Not only will you have more control over what your children are eating, it’s a more economical way to make sure they eat when they’re hungry while you’re on the road.

6) If you want to keep the chances of hyperactivity to a minimum while you’re trying to concentrate on driving, avoid giving your children a lot of sugar during your trip. Instead opt for fruit or nuts with a bottle of water. When you stop for an actual meal on the road, you can order milk instead of soda. Milk also has a calming effect, which when combined with a full tummy can nicely lull your kids into a nice afternoon nap while you keep driving.

These tips are just a few of the many things you can try to keep the kids calm and the stress level down. If this is your first long family outing, perhaps these tips can provide a little more comfort and less stress for everyone involved.