Tiny Talk and the Adventures of Plastic Mommy

Sometimes with all the hustle and bustle of being a mommy , activities for our little ones can be reduced dramatically...Try incorporating adventurous learning trips into your daily activities. Below is a great idea to turn and average day into an adventure.

Nature Walk

Nature is all around you, taking a hike or walking down a nature path is not the only way to appreciate it's beauty. On your way to the grocery store take the scenic route. Point out and discuss birds, trees and flowers. Maybe even bring a baggie and make a quick stop to collect seeds, berries or even unique looking rocks. Try purchasing fresh fruit from the local fruit market and allowing your toddler to touch and smell the fruit which allows them to explore their senses.( A thought would be to bring a nature guide and compare possible things you spot while you re out). Then continue to the grocery and complete your adventure by allowing your child to pick a color and name as many things as possible that they see with that color.

Helping our children develop at this time is our responsibility, remember: they're only young once...make the most of it.

Try this cool websites for toddler development:

7:35 PM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

As we strive to become the best we can be as mothers,wives, friends, sisters and all the roles that are rolled into who we are...We begin to realize that it starts with becoming centered and grounded. We begin to understand that we must be happy with ourselves and pour into who we really are, before we can give to anyone else. Ask yourself what does(your name) really want to accomplish in this life, after all, you only get one. Finding this answer will require you to dig deep, visit the quiet side of you that houses all your hopes and dreams. It will not lie to you...you can count on this answer. How do you get to this place?

Meditation- a discipline in which the mind is focused on an object of thought or awareness. It usually involves turning attention to a single point of reference. The practice may engender a higher state of consciousness. ...

What works for one may not work for all, but many people have found Meditation to be the key to finding yourself. Check out the great article on mommy meditation. Did you know children can meditate as well? read more

As promised TheFitDivas have provided the answer to another question one of our readers wondered about read below....and check back regularly...next time your question may be answered.

Asked by kdkdkd

Is there a best time to work out? How do I measure my fitness level and progress?

There are many different theories of when is the best time to work out. For years the answer has always been in the morning because it gets your metabolism up and running at a higher rate, so you burn more calories throughout the day. This still has scientific merit, but experts are now saying it’s such a small difference that it probably doesn’t really matter. Now research is saying the best time is in the late afternoon because your muscle strength is at its peak. This was determined by a study that was done measuring circadian rhythms (delicate rhythms of the brain) which determines your best performance time. But, truly the best time is the time that works for you. Some people love the mornings and feel ready to go for the day and are glad to get it done and over with. Others like later in the day, afternoon, or evening because it helps to relieve stress from the day and gets them recharged. The most important thing is to get it in and be consistent.

You can measure your fitness level and progress several ways. If you are able to run your favorite route in a faster time, able to go longer and harder, the aerobics class you’re currently taken becomes easier, or your increasing your weights from your strength training regime are all easy ways to determine your progress. If you want to get more technical you can get a heart rate monitor. If you’re able to work out at a faster or harder level than before, but your heart rate stays around the same beats per minute, your cardiovascular system has become more efficient.

For more from TheFitDivas click here

3:25 AM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

Congrats to Gabsmack2001, you are the winner of the Gold banded mugs. Please contact us asap to claim your prize!

We want to continue to make your life easier this holiday season so today's giveaway is meant to do just that! With this great new jar opener you will never have to call the hubby for help again(at least not to open a jar..lol). It's a cool do -it -yourselfer that will be a great addition to any mom's kitchen gadgets.

To enter into this give away just visit our site, click shop, scroll down and join our email list. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know you joined! That's it, you're re entered! Good Luck!

3:42 PM
Categories: Contest and Give Aways. Author: Tiny Talk

We need quick, we need easy, and yes we still need it to taste good!? Coming right up...fix this 2o minute dinner and watch the smiles begin to form!

I found this quickie on DisneyFamily.com. Try it out and let us know how quick and wonderful it is!

Fabulous Fajitas

Wedges of onion and colorful bell pepper sauteed with chicken and mushrooms make this Mexican dish a true standout. A simple seasoning of Italian dressing mix simplifies preparation. Wrap in tortillas or pita and garnish with tomatoes and lettuce.
Yield:

Ingredients

2 green bell peppers, sliced1 red bell pepper, sliced1 onion, thinly sliced1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms2 cups diced, cooked chicken meat1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix10 (12 inch) flour tortillas Directions:
Cut peppers and onion into thin slices. Do not dice, leave slices long and thin.
Saute peppers and onion in a small amount of oil until tender. Add mushrooms and chicken. Continue to cook on low heat until heated through. Stir in dry salad dressing mix and blend thoroughly.
Warm tortillas and roll mixture inside. If desired top with shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomato and shredded lettuce.

Ants in the sand:

Ingredients:2 Graham crackers Chocolate sprinkles

Preparation:Place graham crackers in a plastic sandwich bag and crush with a rolling pin. Add a few chocolate sprinkles to make ants, then seal the bag. Give them to the kids to take outside and eat or let them pour it into a small bowl and eat at the table--using their fingers, of course. Variations: Add raisins (call them beetles), red hots (ladybugs) or mini chocolate chips (spider eggs.)

6:35 PM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

Are you a bit frazzled with all the different activities you're in this school year? We may not play on the soccer team or hockey team, but we are definitely a part of the squad. Is keeping these activities straight combined with household duties and play groups for the little ones giving you the flux? Read this quick article with a few good tips to keep it all together.

6:45 PM
Categories: school aged children. Author: Tiny Talk

Well as promised today we have brought in two great experts to answer two questions related to health and fitness. For those of your who are not aware the winner of our Hump day giveaway also won the opportunity to have two health and fitness questions that she has been wondering about answered by our experts:

About our experts:

Our experts today are Jill and Lara from TheFitDivas.com. I stumbled upon their website for my own purposes and was highly impressed with the website. The credentials of both Jill and Lara are extensive and well rounded. These two fit mommies have a passion for helping others better their quality of life and provide a great website as a resource to help you get started on your way to becoming a new fit mommy. TheFitDivas have agreed to visit us regularly and help our moms with many of our health and fitness challenges. I wanted to do a short write up on each of them but realized I would not being doing them justice. So please visit and read more

The winner of the Tea Kettle Combo was Sandy(mrsmommyy). Thanks for participating and here is what our experts had to say in response to your questions...

Do kids and adults really need supplements?

Yes. I am a huge believer in getting your nutrients from eating whole food, however I realize that that doesn’t always happen. I do feel that there are days when the body and/or the food itself can be compromised. Pregnancy, stress, lack of sleep, change in routine, traveling, etc. all can cause issues with either nutrient consumption and/or nutrient absorption. As for children, they are picky and not always willing to eat the foods they should. Also, many times they are not given the option of choosing the right foods due to busy schedules or because their parents do not eat the way they should. But, even when all of the right foods are eaten, it may not be enough. When fruits and veggies are old, filled with pesticides, grown in polluted or low-quality soils, over-cooked or over-stressed, they can lose a significant amount of their nutrients.

In all of these cases, a supplement could be beneficial and since we can't predict when these things will happen, it can be a great idea to take a daily supplement. However, please remember that they are SUPPLEMENTS. You should use them to supplement your diet and your child’s diet, not replace it. There is not one supplement manufacturer that has been able to copy how vitamins and minerals are stored and delivered to your body straight from plants.

Does green tea really do what it says?

There are no miracle foods. Drinking 7 Cups of green tea are not going to make you lose a bunch of weight if all of your other habits stay the same. But drinking green tea along with a healthy diet provide tremendous health benefits.

Green tea is the least processed tea and so provides the most antioxidant polyphenols, especially the catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits linked to green tea. Green tea is thought to provide more health benefits than any other tea including Oolong and Black Tea.

There have been hundreds of studies done on the benefits of green tea and there are more constantly occurring. Some of the benefits already found to be true of drinking green tea include but are not limited to:

Protects against death from all causes, especially cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Protects against coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
Reduces blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Thins the blood and helps prevent blood clots.
Protects the heart of people with acute cardiovascular disease and those with high triglycerides especially if eaten with their meal.
Minimizes damage and speeds recovery after a heart attack and stroke.
Helps prevent a number of types of cancers including prostate, breast, ovarian, colorectal, lung and bladder. It also has been shown to help slow the death rate of people with cancer.
Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetes.
Protects against kidney disease.
Helps build bones and prevent osteoporosis.
Promotes fat loss.
Prevents damage to brain cells from free radicals that lead to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
May help fight the flu.

Please note that most of these studies are done with their subjects consuming up to 5 cups of green tea a day. That is a lot of tea! Feel comfortable knowing you are doing your body good by drinking even one cup of green tea, but that you should also follow a healthy diet. Drinking green tea won’t do it alone!

What is something natural to help with PMS?(Bonus question)

There are a number of herbs and supplements out there that are supposed to help with PMS. Please remember that supplements are not regulated by the FDA and can claim anything they want because of Freedom of Speech. They can not say they heal or cure but can say MAY prevent, help, protect, etc. against anything. Also, “all natural” is not always “all good”. Poisonous berries found in the woods are “all natural” but will kill you! Just remember that every time you see those two words. It is to your benefit to really find out what the ingredients are all about.

As for natural relievers to PMS – here are a few thoughts and ideas.
Drink a lot of fluids, preferably water, avoiding carbonated drinks and drinks high in sodium like soft drinks.
Drinks with caffeine have a diuretic affect which may help reduce bloating. Coffee and herbal teas (black has highest amount of caffeine), can be beneficial.
Eat foods that are considered “natural diuretics”. These are foods that are high in potassium but low in sodium and have a few other nutrients in them that combined have a diuretic affect. Some of these foods include asparagus, cantaloupe, watercress, artichoke, celery, onion, eggplant, and watermelon.
Avoid starchy foods and foods high in simple carbohydrates like sugary foods and foods made from white flours – breads, pastas, etc.
Avoid foods high in salt and sodium.
Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables that have a high water content.
Move your body!

Here is a great recipe that is actually from the Flat Belly Diet that is good to drink during PMS days. I tried it and it really works.

It is called Sassy Water.

2 liters water (8.5C)
1 tsp freshly grated ginger root
1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium lemon, thinly sliced
12 mint leaves

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, chill in the refrigerator, and let flavors blend overnight.

Note: We have had some great health and fitness questions so please visit next Friday because the fitness diva has agree to answer a few more questions....who knows it may be yours.....

8:13 PM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

Congrats to Sandy(mrs.mommyy) winner of the Humpday stainless steel tea kettle combo giveaway! Please contact us asap to claim your prize!(customerservice@littlehandsboutique.biz).

Is Teaching your child to Tie their shoe giving you the blues?...seems hopeless?...have patience, here are a few tips to get your toddler over this challenging feat.

Teaching Your Little Ones To Tie Their Shoelaces


Teaching your child to tie his/her own shoelaces can be great fun if done with plenty of patience, a simple strategy and lots of love. Whatever steps you choose to teach your child be sure to never take for granted (because you do it everyday without thinking) that this can be a confusing and difficult learning experience.

To make learning easier try demonstrating and allowing your child to practice on a large shoe with two different bright colored laces. The colored laces will make each step less confusing as they will be able to differentiate.

A great method to use to teach you child is by telling the bunny story. It goes like this: Make two bunny ears. The bunny runs around the tree, the bunny jumps in a hole, close it up tight!

As your child becomes more and more successful you may want to begin giving him/her their own shoe to practice on, first practice while off, then have them tie them while on.Most important is to remember to give continual praise and support throughout the entire process. You’ll find this can be a great bonding experience with a lesson your child can pass down one day to their own children.

6:25 PM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

Today's Hump day Giveaway expires at midnight...so don't forget to check back tomorrow for the lucky winners of the stainless steel tea kettle combo. The winner will also have their fitness question answered on Fitness Friday! Here's the new hump day giveaway for today....

Let us help you entertain for the holiday seasons with this lovely 12 piece party pack of gold banded mugs. Serve coffee or hot chocolate with whipped cream, your choice.....it's on us! To win this give away you must take part in our quick Scavenger Hunt and answer these two questions? All responses must be emailed to promotions@littlehandsboutique.biz, then come back here and leave us a comment letting us know you have entered! Doesn't get any easier than that! Good Luck....Happy Hunting!

Scavenger Hunt Questions

1) What is LittleHandsBoutique featured charity for this month?

2) What are this weeks featured items?

6:25 PM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

Here are two quick recipes that will definitely bring raving reviews from the kid critics and will still keep your schedule moving! Pizza is always a favorite in my house, so making these mini pizzas for my toddler gets me a yeah mom every time..

Mini pizzas - spread tomato paste or spaghetti sauce onto a toasted English muffin, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and any other toppings you like. Heat in the broiler for a minute or two until cheese is bubbly. Cool and serve, That's it! Doesnt get any easier.

Is your little one tired of the same old peanut butter and jam combo? Well test this little recipe and see if you get a thumbs up or thumbs down...be sure to let us know!

Peanut Butter and Apple Sandwich

Ingredients:
2 slices whole wheat bread
1 tablespoon peanut butter, or to taste
1 small apple - peeled, cored and shredded

Spread peanut butter on two slices of bread, place thinly sliced apples on top of peanut butter. Close sandwich and serve immediately. I was a little skeptical about this one, but my little princess loved it. You'd be surprised what creative sandwiches your child will try, especially if you allow them to participate.

Here is a great treat I found on FamilyCorner.com, its great for now when you just want to delight your toddler or you may want to save it for Halloween.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Covered Apples

You will need 12 wooden ice cream sticks 12 medium apples, stems removed 1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar 2/3 cup cocoa Optional for decorating apples:chopped peanut butter chips chopped or mini chocolate chips, chopped vanilla chips, flaked coconut, colored sprinkles, chopped nuts

Directions

Insert wooden stick into each washed and dried apple. Cover a baking sheet or tray with waxed paper. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, stir together peanut butter chips and oil. Microwave on high 1-1/2 minutes or until chips are softened. Stir until melted.

Stir together confectioners' sugar and cocoa; gradually add to melted chip mixture, stirring until smooth. Microwave on high 1 minute or until very warm. Dip apples into mixture, twirling to remove excess coating. (If coating becomes too thick, return to microwave for a few seconds). Roll coated apple in chopped chips or coconut if desired, or sprinkle toppings onto apples. Allow to cool on prepared baking sheet or tray.

More peanut butter please!?? Okay.... so here is something crazy and fun your toddler will giggle like crazy about! Here a quick little activity that only involves marshmallow and peanut butter. Try it out, my toddler couldn't stop smiling!

Marshmallow Peanut Butter Beard

Spread peanut butter on your toddlers chin area and then stick the marshmallows on top of the peanut butter until you form a full white beard, take pictures, the grandparents will love it!

However she did insist on wearing her beard for quite a while longer than expected, and followed me from room to room eating off her face. Which brings me to.......

Exhibit A- It also makes a tasty afternoon snack!

11:38 AM
Categories: family life, recipes, Toddlers. Author: Tiny Talk

If fall's cooler weather has hit your area already, you're probably in need of some cute vests. Before you go to the mall and pay full retail for something that won't even fit next season, check out this week's great deals. The Carter's vest on the left is an unbeatable $4.99.

This sweater vest and button-up shirt in festive fall orange is perfect for any little man and is a steal at only $5.99 (for the whole set!).

This little set, beautifully embroidered, will delight any little girl (and her mommy, as it is attractively priced at $7.99).

And last but not least, take some time out of your busy fall schedule to relax and pamper yourself with our teatime giveaway- a gorgeous stainless steel teapot and gourmet green teas. Ends September 17th!

9:54 AM
Categories: the Budget Stretcher, Toddlers. Author: AJae

The skills and habits your child learns now are likely to be ones that will develop and last a lifetime. Be careful to teach and cultivate positive habits that you would like to see you child implement in kindergarten, grade school, high school, college and adult life. Who knew teaching your child to organize his blocks, cars, and stuff animals would have an effect on keeping school assignments together in order to be more productive in class? One way to begin teaching your toddler to be organized is to teach him to clean his room and put things in their proper place...and let's face it with all that we have to do, every little bit we don't, is a sigh of relief. Here are some suggestions on how to teach you little one to organize and keep his room clean.

1. Gather all toys and other items from out of closets, under beds etc.

2. Create 4 piles: Keep, Throw Away, Give To Charity, Misplaced item(should be in another room in the house.

3, Create and Label Bins to put like items in(IE: truck/cars in one bin, stuff animals in another, etc)

4. ) Define locations for where things should go. Clothes should go in closet, toys in labeled containers, books on the bookshelf and so on. Discuss with your child where each item should go. Remember when labeling containers make it conducive to your child's level of understanding. You would want to label a toddlers containers with pictures. Your child can see that the container with picture of cars should hold all the cars.

Teach your child to put one toy away before taking out another. Sometimes there will be items that your child will play with together such as stuffed animals and a tea set, however non related items should be put away.

Take the time to clean up with your toddler until he feels comfortable doing it alone. Praise your child and tell him how proud you are when he cleans up. Make clean up time part of your child's daily routine. Teaching your child these important skills now may save you time now and your child the frustration of being disorganized in the future.

4:31 PM
Categories: family life, school aged children, Toddlers. Author: Tiny Talk

Welcome to to Fitness Fridays where we will try to keep you in the loop with up to date health, fitness and nutrition information. Mommies are constantly giving, but if we dont take care of ourselves there will be nothing left to give....Take care of you.

Here is a great article discussing two ways in which Yoga is beneficial to you. Concentration and Motivation....what mom couldnt use those!

9:19 AM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

Keeping our little busy bodies occupied can sometimes prove to be a challenge, and what is even more challenging is making sure that we remember to stimulate their little minds so that they are learning while they play. I love that my toddler enjoys Sesame Street every bit as much as I did, that is one program that will be around forever! Did you know that Sesame Street now has a website? It is a great learning resource for your toddler and guaranteed to be loads of fun! This site is packed with activities such as games, video, stories and tons more! The best thing is knowing Sesame Streets reputation you can feel assured that all of these activities are aimed at developing your child's fundamental skills. What are you waiting for? Visit now!

Another great website for moms is MommyReview. This site provides great information on safety, new products, activities and more, so grab a cup of coffee or tea, kick off your shoes and browse around the site! Until next time...Have a wonderful Thursday!

7:04 PM
Categories: family life, school aged children, Toddlers. Author: Tiny Talk

Congrats to Jodi of Michigan on winning the Humpday Give Away Espresso Maker! Please contact us ASAP to claim your prize! We wanted to take the time out to thank over 200 wonderful people who entered the Giveaway. Your input on our website was invaluable and we hope that you will visit our website again soon as in the next couple of weeks we will be implementing many of the changes you suggested. Without you there is no us so we will work hard to create for you the best shopping experience possible. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Now....how about another give away? I know many of you mommies out there were thinking an espresso maker is nice but what about the tea drinkers? Poof.....Your wish is my command!

Enjoy a relaxing moment( because mommies usually don't get much longer than that!)alone while you pamper yourself with a nice hot cup of green tea. This stainless still tea kettle and assorted green teas are valued retail at $43.99.

Rules: In order to be entered into the give away you are required to leave a comment which consist of two questions that you have related to health and fitness. That's it you're entered! The winner will receive this wonderful giveaway and as well their health and fitness questions will also be featured on our blog on the following, Fitness Friday(Sept 19th).Your questions will be answered by our guest bloggers/ fitness and nutrition experts! Good Luck!

Note: This giveaway ends Sept 17th and is open to the US only

7:28 AM
Categories: Contest and Give Aways, pamper yourself. Author: Tiny Talk

Tempting Tuesdays has come again and below are some quick & tasty ideas for your picky eater.

Breakfast:
Toast with a Face: Use cream cheese, slices of strawberry, blueberries and other fruits to draw a face on toasted bread.
Breakfast Smoothie: Blend low-fat yogurt with fruit to make a tasty, drinkable breakfast.

Lunch:

Silly Sandwiches: Use cookie cutters to make sandwiches in fun shapes. Cold-cut Roll Ups: Instead of a sandwich, take lunch meat, cheese slices, and a tortilla and roll them up together.

Dinner

Mini Pizzas: Use the usual ingredients and toppings, but a bagel for the crust.
Breakfast for Dinner: Serve waffles or omelets at dinner time.
Snack

Ants on a Log: Celery with peanut butter and raisins. Spread peanut butter on celery and line raisans up like ants in a line.

Frozen Juice Popsicles: Freeze no-sugar added natural juice in ice-cube containers, add toothpicks or popsicle sticks.

Remember being creative doesnt have to be time consuming. We can get our finicky eaters to enjoy meals with just a little thought on our part without lots of effort!

Quick Craft Idea: Toddler Bean Bag

All you need is

1 cup of beans

1 plastic baggie,1 baggie tie/string, an old sock(furry one preferred) and a rubberband.

My little one enjoyed making this bean bag. First we put the beans in the plastic baggie(we counted up to 30 as we put them in then my daughter just grabbed handfuls and put them in the baggie. We talked about the texture of the beans as well. Intitially grabbing the beans one by one is great for using motor skills! After putting all beans in the plastic baggie we tied it with a string and then put it in a sock and sealed it with a rubber band, but you can use a string for that as well. We used a furry sock because she loves furry socks so much! It was very simple and to my teenagers lame, but my little one thought is was great fun and loves throwing it around!

6:09 PM
Categories: recipes, Toddlers. Author: Tiny Talk

As busy moms one of the things that can really make your day challenging is spending lots of time correcting and issuing discipline to exploring (putting it politely) toddlers. It makes our day so much easier when our little ones display those positive behaviors we love most. Well, your toddler is not perfect and who wants them to be? It's those exploring times that give you the opportunity to teach, correct and bond with your toddler while building character. However, in between character building we have to wash dishes, do laundry, cook dinner and the list goes on....So how do we get our toddler to practice regular good behavior? The power is in the praise!

Praise your toddler to reinforce positive behavior- Here are some tips:

Teach good manners and praise your toddler each time they use them(ie: What a polite little man mommy has!)

Give more time to praise than correction- Be concise but firm with correction so your toddler is aware that this is behavior you are not happy with. When praise is due spend double the time giving compliments and hugs and kisses. Toddlers thrive off of attention and whichever action gets the most attention will be the action he/she chooses to repeat.

Speak in a very proud energetic tone when giving praise. Toddlers feed of of your energy. When they realize how happy they have made you they will seek to continue this particular action creating valuable lasting habits.

What are your suggestions for reinforcing positive behavior?

6:47 AM
Categories: family life, Toddlers. Author: Tiny Talk

Suit up and dance through fall's rainy days, splash in every puddle--share all the new wonders of the fall season with your little ones. This Dino Rain Coat will keep your cutie looking great at budget stretcher prices.In the spirit of the season, here are some fun fall activities to try.


Pick Apples (or Pumpkins...)

Head to your local nursery, apple orchard, or farmers market and pick out your own little piece of fall's bounty. Don't forget to bring the camera to snap some adorable pictures of your angel(s) wrestling pumpkins or climbing haybales.


Make Your Own Fall Story Book

Buy cheap notebooks at the dollar store and decorate the covers with construction paper and common household trash like pieces of popsicle sticks. This idea can be great for several age ranges, as older children can write about their fall experiences and what they are learning, while younger children can go for a more multi-media approach and tell their stories with pictures and collages. Go for a walk around your neighborhood and collect interesting leaves and sandwich them between heavy books or other flat, hefty objects. When dry, the leaves can be glued as is in your journals or used for leaf rubbings. Take a leaf and place it on a table or desk. Cover it with a blank piece of paper. Use pencils, oil pastels, charcoal,or crayons and lightly rub over the top of the paper with the leaf underneath until the impression of the leaf shows, and voile`, you'll have your own leaf in any color you wish.

Go Indoor Camping!
Grab some thick sheets or blankets, drape over a few tall chairs, secure the ends with clothespins, and get ready to go camping in your new "tent." Don't forget your sleeping bags and other essential camping gear. With a flashlight or electric lantern, you and your little ones can curl up and tell tall fall tales. And what would camping be without S'mores?



Here's a quick and easy recipe for microwave S'mores:

• 20 whole graham crackers cut or broken in halves
• 20 marshmallows
• 1 jar premade chocolate frosting or one recipe chocolate frosting
  

12:02 AM
Categories: cooking, dessert, recipes, the Budget Stretcher, Toddlers. Author: AJae

Now I know your thinking....why in the world is she posting Toddler Times Thursday on Saturday? Well as it was intended to get you this article on Thursday, i fell ill and was unable to, but guess what this is our blog, we promised a Toddler Times Thursday and that's what you're gonna get!(On Saturday!)

The topic for this Thursday is ......

5 Great Ways to Save At Least 100.00 per month!

As the economy seems to drag it is getting harder and harder to save money. The government continues to stress that we are not in a recession, but recession or not, food prices are sky high and gas prices are uncertain. This is all the more reason we need to make a conscious effort to have an emergency savings if at all possible. Here are a few tips to help you save at least 100.00 per month.

Clip Coupons- Now wait just a minute, I know you like many people have a hard time keeping up with news papers with sales, let alone clipping them right? Try this website: http://www.coupons.com/ where you can put in your zip code and print out coupons in your area! Hey when you’re ready to go shopping they will be waiting for you.

Electricity Check- Electricity can be one of our biggest expenses. Running your air in the summer and heat in the winter can make your feel like you will never get a break. Changing a few of your habits can save you as 30 or more per month on your electric bill. For example changing your incandescent bulbs to florescent will save energy because they use less wattage, saving you money monthly. A great website to check out for energy savings is http://www.ase.org/

Do your own hair- I know seems like a hard thing to do, but making the effort to learn to do your own hair can save you anywhere from 40.00-120.00 per month. Wow sounds worth it to me!

Downgrade to basic cable- We all enjoy having luxuries, but choosing to find programs you enjoy on basic channels or even better….making time to read a great book, can save you anywhere from 10-25 per month.

Think before you buy- There are many places to shop online that will give you the same value for less money. If you have toddler that grow in and out of there clothes in two minutes, try online upscale resale stores like http://www.littlehandsboutique.com/ that provide quality name brand clothes at thrift store prices. http://www.ebay.com/ is also a great place to find deals. There are millions of people trying to get rid of clothes they never got to wear for a fraction of what they purchased it for. You can also find used furniture and appliances on line. Try http://www.dealcatcher.com/ to find more deals to stretch your budget.

Remember all of these are great ways to save money, but it is only effective if you actually put away the money you saved from making these changes. Good Luck!

6:52 PM
Categories: Author: Tiny Talk

Today starts Tiny Talks new Humpday Giveaways, which will take place each and every wednesday! This wednesday we wanted to do something special for all our espresso drinking mommies out there! Today's Giveaway is a great Krups Espresso Maker and includes a can of Espresso Mocha! The retail value is $65.00. We know sometimes it can get crazy raising toddlers and it seems it and can be all about the kids...these next few giveaways will be directed at the mommies!

Rules:

In order to enter this giveaway just visit our site ,and come back and leave a comment telling us what you like or dislike about our store( your comment wont affect your entry...we promise. It is important to us to know how to make our site better for you!)Once you leave a comment, that's it your entered!

This GiveAway ends next Wednesday Sept 10th. Good Luck!

9:04 AM
Categories: Contest and Give Aways. Author: Tiny Talk

Cori WestPhal! Thanks everyone for participating! Dont feel bad if you are not the winner because tomorrow there will be a brand new exciting giveaway so stay turned!

7:22 AM
Categories: Contest and Give Aways. Author: Tiny Talk

Welcome to Tempting Tuesday, our day to provide you with great recipies to tempt the tummy of your pickly little eater! We will strive to provide you with recipies that do not have 1 million ingredients and will require a sitter for you to make. Fast and easy is our motto! So here try this next recipie and snack idea for your little one next time you are struggling with what to make for lunch/dinner.

Chilli Cheese Cornchip Dogs

Ingredients:
· 2 cans (approximately 16 ounces each) chili with beans
· 1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
· 2 tablespoons instant minced onion or 1/4 cup fresh grated onion
· 1 pound hot dogs, about 10
· 10 hot dog buns, split and toasted
· coarsely crushed corn chips
Preparation:
In a large saucepan, combine chili, cheese soup, and onion. Add hot dogs; heat to boiling then simmer for 5 minutes.
Place a hot dog on each toasted bun then top with chili cheese sauce and sprinkle with crushed corn chips.Makes 10 chili cheese hot dog sandwiches.

Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas
Ingredients:
· 6 ripe bananas
· 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preparation:
Peel bananas; cut in half crosswise. Insert a wooden stick into flat end of each banana half. Lay bananas on a shallow pan; freeze for about 3 hours. Melt chocolate chops over hot water. With a spatula, quickly spread melted chocolate over each banana, coating well. Chocolate will become firm right away. Wrap each banana in foil; store in freezer. Serve when ready!

Hope you enjoyed these great recipes....More to come next Tempting Tuesday!

6:22 AM
Categories: recipes. Author: Tiny Talk

As summer is winding down and the kids are finally back in school, it's time to play seasonal weather limbo. Don't put away those flip-flops yet...and be ready with a snuggly vest or sweater for those chilly, rainy days.

Here at Little Hands, we've got some fun giveaways and in-between the seasons deals to keep your family outfitted in any weather. You'll find deeply discounted summer gear during our Summer Blowout Sale(ending this week) for those Indian summer days, and great new finds like the two below:

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Starting Out Cover-up with Hood

1:13 AM
Categories: the Budget Stretcher. Author: AJae