Tiny Talk and the Adventures of Plastic Mommy

Summer Is Just Around The Corner!!!

2009-04-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Summer is just around the corner ....are your little darlings all set for picnics in the park and romp time in the back yard? Not to mention the countless expeditions and adventures we mommies plan for the best "tortured fun" you have all year. Don't get me wrong, the memories are priceless, but the " I have to go potty" when there is no bathroom in sight, "I'm hungry" in the middle of the guided tour (only after refusing to have anything but a drink box at lunch)or how about picking and pouting for the only stuffed animal at the zoo's gifts shop that cost $39.99??!( what about a cute little globe for 8.99? No way.) Yes, as moms we have to be prepared for everything! So here are a few tips for having adventures that go off without a hitch( okay that run a little smoother... lol)

1. ) Always, always have potty runs before you leave the house and at whatever spot you stop at that is clean and convenient. ( Take your own paper toilet covers with..if your paranoid about germs like me!)." I don't have to go potty now" Nope, not gonna fly little one. Try try anyway! Lastly limit drinking as much as possible to areas where children can potty soon after.

2) Always carry portable snacks; crackers, cookies, or even cut up fruit. Children are very finicky and will usually only want to eat when it is not convenient.

3) Help your little one make good decisions. Give him/her limits like ( only 1 toy or nothing over $10.00) then let them make their own choice like a big boy or girl.

These are just a few tips you may or may not already do, if not, hopefully this helps.

Here's to a fun and painless summer!

Second Hand Clothes-The "Hottest New" Thing

2009-03-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Hard economic times have caused many smart mommies to shop second hand stores. The great thing about moms is that we learn quickly how to be frugal, yet still keep our families happy and looking great! I for one believe that sometimes great things can come from bad situations. For example shopping second hand in hard times! Kids grow quickly and while their clothes don't grow, many times they are in great condition and have tons of wear left in them. Why not wear named brand clothes for less than half the price. Let's face it, even before these hard times many families could not afford certain brand names. Second Hand shopping allows you to wear the best for less. Stores like LittleHandsBoutique.com take pride in bringing you items that look great at a fraction of the cost you would have paid. Don't take my word for it.....Look for yourself. Shop LittleHandsBoutique.com Now.

Kick The Chaotic Morning Blues

2009-02-17T14:15:00.000-08:00

If your like most mommies who have school- age children mornings can be SO chaotic. You have to get the little ones cleaned, dressed and fed all before rushing off to school. Here are a few tips to kick the Morning Chaos.

1. Try making a breakfast casserole at night. Prepare this quick meal before bed so all you have to do is warm it up in the morning.

2. Did you know that breakfast burritos freeze great? Prepare a batch and take them out to heat up for breakfast.

3. Try a quick breakfast like boiled eggs with toast and juice.

4. A great time saver is to set the table for breakfast at night with a vitamin by each plate and all. One mom said she even put the stopper in the sink with a bit of dish washing liquid in preparation for clean up.

5. Attempt to find hairstyles for girls that can last a couple of days at at time or if that's not possible, have all necessary bows and accessories to go with outfits already laid out.

6. Iron school clothes for the week on weekends.

These tips may not be for you, but consider your morning routine and take note to what task can be done at night or in a more efficient manner. Each minute shaves time wasted and gives you more control over the Chaotic Morning Blues!

Good luck

Step Into Spring!

2009-02-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

April Showers ...........

Bring May Flowers!

In some parts of the world spring is starting to rear it's pretty little head and in others parts flowers probably wont bloom for yet another month or two, But no matter what part of the world you live in(just about), you can bet your bottom dollar that April showers and May flowers will eventually make their way to your doorstep. With that being said, mommies we can count on many days at the park, zoo, aquarium etc. You and your little balls of energy will be steppin out everywhere! Why not stop by LittleHandsBoutique and prepare those little feet to step into spring with style.

Whether it be sandals

Gym Shoes

Or even .......Dress Shoes for Easter !

We've got a variety to choose from.... so get a head start on preparing those little feet for loads of fun!

Keep your little one stylin' and your pocket smiling!

2009-01-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

What's New At LittleHandsBoutique?

Yes....we've heard it for months now....we are definitely in a recession. Food prices are soaring, Gas is inching back up and money is definitely not growing on trees....but I have good news! ( I saved 100.00 on my insurance at Gieco!...okay, I know bad joke but I couldn't resist) Okay really the good news is that LittleHandsBoutique has been scouring the city to find the most adorable fashions at bargain basement prices! Check out some of our latest finds...You wont be disappointed!

This adorable 2pc by George absolute steal...Priced to go and ready to wear!

or put your little dainty fashionista into this lovely Tomy Hilfiger Set and she'll be the envy of her playgroup.

Not yet convinced? How about this adorable spring raincoat made especially for your little sunshine!

Want more? Stop on by LittleHandsboutique now...What are your waiting for? Get going!

Recycled, Not Used: Why Would You NOT Buy Second-Hand for Your Little Ones?

2008-11-29T23:53:00.000-08:00

Second-hand. Used. Recycled.

What do you feel when you hear each of these words? 'Second-hand' might bring back painful memories of wearing an older sibling's (or cousin's) bell bottoms that were so last year, while 'used' might conjure up images of a slimy car salesman dishing up a lemon for your first car, yet once you throw the word 'recycled' into the mix, the whole mood changes. 'Recycled' has happy vibes, with images of sparkling clean water, green, green grass, and smiling children frolicking in bright sunshine. Truth be told, you are probably thinking that the day you don't buy your kid(s) brand-new off-the-rack clothing is the day you finally accept poverty as your fate. Sadly, this mentality can cause you untold dollars of un-necessary clothing costs as your little ones grow up, especially when they are in the toddler stage of outgrowing everything before it wears out. Today, I'd like you to go back and reformat your perceptions on gently-used clothing. Replace words like 'used' and 'second-hand' with 'recycled.' By purchasing recycled clothing, instead of new items from Big Box Retailers, you'll be saving a lot of green and supporting small businesses run by ordinary moms and dads, like Little Hands Boutique. Want to see how you could save by changing the way you think about second-hand clothing? Check out our Price Wars series:

Price Wars 4: A Holiday Showdown

2008-11-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

If you've been watching major retailers' new commercials for this holiday season, you might be noticing a theme- X retailer claims to have lower prices than their competitor, with slogans similar to this: "X retailer's prices will save Christmas." But I beg to differ- not only are they over-exaggerating real price cuts, especially when you are looking to outfit your little ones for the holidays, the reality is that the 'savings' you will get from shopping at X retailer(s)...will be practically nothing, because most holiday outfits are a one (or two) time use only item. Let's face it, why should you waste money on pricy little get-ups when your little munchkins will outgrow them long before they get another chance to wear them?

Little Hands has the best deals on holiday dress-up items this season, hands down! (No pun intended.:)

$6.99 (LHB)
$24.99 (BB-R)

Savings: $18

$7.99
$36.00
Savings: 28.01

Total Savings: $46.01

Tempting Tuesdays!

2008-11-18T07:14:00.000-08:00

Check out this cool recipe we found to tickle your little one's taste buds!

Meowth Peanut Butter Crisp Wedges

Ingredients: 4 cups rice cereal, 1/2 cup raisins, 16 oz. can of Vanilla Frosting, 1/2 cup crunch peanut butter. Line two 8 inch round cake pans with foil. In large bowl combine cereal and raisins; mix well. In small saucepan, combine frosting and peanut butter; heat over medium until mixture just begins to bubble, stirring frequenting. Pour over cereal mixture; mix until thoroughly coated. Press in foil lined pans. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Remove from pans; remove foil. Cut each round into 8 wedges.

Trying to think of new ways to help your little one recognize the alphabet? Try these two activities for educational fun....

My "A" Book -Staple several pieces of white construction paper together with a colored construction paper cover. "My A Book" and your children's name on the cover. Cut out magazine pictures of those things which begin with the letter "A", as well as actual upper and lowercase letters from ads or article titles. Let the children chose the pictures and letters they want, and glue them onto their book pages. Later, arrange a time for the children to read their books to you.

Feelie Box-Have a feelie box, that children can't look into, such as covered with a towel or sheet. Have them guess the object starting with the letter "A" that you have placed in the box.

Use these two cool activities to teach alphabet letters A-Z and numbers as well.

Want more?

Make your own Zoo!

"A" is for animals-Cut out magazine pictures of animals and laminate, if you wish. Have your child put them on a poster board or a wall in their room and create their own zoo! Talk with children about how animals walk, eat and sounds they make...and then when ready take your child to the real zoo for a more enhanced experience. Alternatively, photocopy animal coloring book pages for the children to color and make a picture book.

Animal Masks-

Make animal masks out of paper plates or grocery bags using decorative items such as stickers, tissue paper, markers, glue, yarn, etc. Have a puppet show or small play and let the children make up their own lines for their animal.

Hope you enjoyed these tidbits of fun....check back tomorrow for Wednesday's Humpday Giveaway!

Congrats Zwriter!-Winner of the EasyLiving Giveaway!

2008-11-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Zwriter you are the winner of the Easy Living Giveaway, Your are just one step from adding an a little extra time to your day! Please contact us within seven days to claim your prize!

Price Wars 3: Why Little Hands Has the Best Deals on Quality Outerwear

2008-11-12T22:38:00.000-08:00

Jacket and boots season is upon us and if you've been fretting over outgrown coats and jackets, we've got wonderful news for you-this season, give your wallet a break with quality, brand-name gear from Little Hands Boutique. The past two weeks, we've shown in a piece-for-piece match-up that gently used toddlers and infants clothing is often the better deal than the original, full-priced item, and this week will be no different. Little ones tend to outgrow items long before they wear out, so when you shop at Little Hands, you're definitely getting a bargain.

Take, for instance, this boys jacket from a BB-R (big box retailer):

only $59.50

Little Hands has a LondonFog jacket (only worn once) for...

$15.99

Savings so far: $43.51

Or, for your little lady:

only $54.50 from a BB-R

just
$7.99 from Little Hands!

Total Savings: $90.02

Next week, we're starting the holiday magic early with a Little Hands-style celebration of how much money you'll saving on your dress-up items for your little ones this season (a.k.a. the "how to have more money for gifts without expanding your credit line" guide). Don't miss out!

Price Wars 2: Essentials for Your Baby Girl

2008-11-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

Last week, we compared three essential items for your little guy's wardrobe in a price check that pitted our prices against various big-box retailers. This week, we're proving that LHB has the best deals for toddler girls, too.

Exhibit A, the cute top:

$2.99, LHB

$16.50, BB-R

(Savings: $13.51)

Exhibit B, her new favorite boot:

$7.99, LHB

$29.99, BB-R

(Savings: $22.00)

Exhibit C, the adorable but durable jean:

$29.50

$4.99

(Savings: $24.51)

Total Savings: $60.02

Coats and outer gear are up for next week's pricing face-off, so to ensure you don't miss any of our budget saving advice, don't forget to hit that subscribe button before you click onward in your online travels today. See you next week!

Easy Living- Humpday GiveAway

2008-11-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

The "Easy Living" Giveaway is just that, a couple of great items to make your life easier. Take a look at these great items! The Micro Grill "As Seen on TV" and The Automatic One Touch Jar Opener also "As Seen on TV"! These two items boast to save you time thus adding an extra few minutes to every day!( And what mommy couldnt use that....)

To participate in this giveaway you have two options to choose from

1. Post information about www.LittleHandsboutique.com anywhere and email us the link here in the comments section) Example- Check out this great site for upscale resale of infant and toddler clothes- www.Littlehandsboutique.com) It's just that simple once your link is verified - you will be sent an email verifying your entry!

2. Invite a friend to come along with you to www.littlehandsboutique.com, click shop now, scroll down and join our email list. Then send an email to customerservice @littlehandsboutique.biz naming the friend you referred! You will receive a verification email that you have been entered! Also don't forget to let your friends know that once the have joined the email list they may also refer a friend, send an email to the above address to be entered as well!

Contest ends Nov 12th at 12am( Open to the US only)

Good Luck

Congrats Aimee!

2008-11-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Aimee(acirucci), you are the winner of our Think Pink GiveAway. Please respond to our personal congrats email within 7 days to claim your prize! Thanks to everyone for participating and get ready to participate in our next Humpday GiveAway on Wednesday the 5th this time the winner could be you!

Price Check: Why Little Hands Beats Big Box Discount Stores

2008-10-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

This week's Budget Stretcher was inspired by the current wallet-shrinkage crisis. With the economy looking ominous, you need to be sure that you are using your family's money wisely, and with that in mind, we've assembled a few essential items for a bare-bones price check that will prove for once and for all that Little Hands Boutique is the smarter choice.

Little Hands faces the lowest price budget brand from a big box discount retailer (W*l-M*rt, etc)

Jeans:

$4.99 [LHB]

$7.96 [B-BR]

The Graphic Tee:

$1.99 [LHB]

$6.96 [B-BR]

Boots:

$9.99 [LHB]

$22.99 [Discount shoe store]

Bottom line? We've got the best priced gear to keep your little ones outfitted for any occasion.

HumpDay "Think Pink" GiveAway

2008-10-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

Humpday GiveAways are back! Did you think we forgot??....Well no excuses...let's get down to business. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is quickly coming to an end, but that does not mean we should forget about health awareness. Continue to do your self exams. Stay informed and make a conscious effort to get in shape and to maintain a healthy state. Our next give away is meant to encourage you on your journey to become the best you that you can be. The Let's Get Fit/ Think Pink GiveAway

Included in this GiveAway is 1 Adidas (Pink & Black ) gym bag, 1 Pink -The Body Ball, and 1 lovely pink and white Breast Cancer Awareness sports cap.

To participate in this giveaway simply visit littlehandsbouitque.com, come back and post a comment letting us know what you enjoyed most about the site and what your favorite item is. That's it you're entered!

Bonus: If you have a website or blog, link back to us and this will count as two entries(you may also link back by adding us to your signature line(ex: Visit this cool site http://www.littlehandsboutique.com/)

Good Luck and please continue to educate yourselves as much as possible on early detection and ways to prevent breast cancer.

What to Do if Your Child is a "Character Cutie"

2008-10-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

Or, 'You Know You're the Parent of a Character Fanatic if...'

You're sick and tired of the words:

"Cars!"
"Dora"
"High School Musical"
"Hannah Montana"
"[Insert favorite t.v. show or sports team here]'"

Your impulse purchase budget is always being spent on pricey brand-name versions of ordinarily inexpensive children's clothing
You can't enter (and successfully leave) any clothing related store without (a.) purchasing said character items or (b.) witnessing a character-related meltdown from said fanatic child

As much as you are probably wishing that we are about to reveal a top-secret 10-step program to cure the character fanatic(s) in your family, but sadly, there is only one way we can soothe your pain while you wait for this phase to pass: find budget friendly solutions for your Character Cutie's apparel.

$9.99

$8.99

$0.99

$2.99

Tips on Being a WAHM When You Have Toddlers

2008-10-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

More and more moms are taking the leap into the growing pool of Wahm's. It is a freedom that moms have found to be unmeasurable. Although working at home has great advantages, such as: creating your own hours, possibly forfeiting the cost of daycare and having the great privilege to teach and care for your little ones at home, as well as savings in the form of less gas and time traveling. Sounds great right? Well not so fast....this wonderful life also come with it's challenges, and when you have a toddler at home that is and understatement, but with thought and preparation it can still be a win/win situation. Here are some tips on successfully working at home when you have a toddler in the home.

1. Be realistic- Do your research and choose your work at home job or business wisely. Many telecommuting positions can still be time consuming and require constant quiet, therefore a child in the home during work hours would be inappropriate(ie: customer service). Be sure that your choice fits your needs.

2. Keep work physically separate from children. Create a viable workspace and keep children out of this area, this ensures the safety of the children as well as work related items. However as moms we know that it is always a good idea to childproof every area of the home as a precaution.

3. Muti-task- When possible take advantage of times when you are able to work and care for children at the same time. For example if there are some calls you can make with the children around, be creative and set up a play office area for your toddler, they love to imitate and this will keep them busy as you finish up last minute things. This is helpful as long as you are able to work and keep and eye out at the same time. Be careful to assess when the task does not allow you to work and care for your child at the same time. Know when you should set aside work to care for your child. Never step over this boundary.

4. Take full advantage of nap time: This is a valuable time, be sure not to get distracted and waste time on things that you can do when your toddler is awake

5. Try to arrange a play date with a family member or friend once a week if possible. This will give you some time to devote undivided attention to your work.

Being a Wahm is not to be taken lightly. It should be given careful thought and you should have a well laid out plan if you intend to be successful. But when all is said and done it can prove to be a great way to support your family without having to give up the care of your family to strangers. Good Luck!

We're Back....

2008-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

If you have been wondering if Tiny Talk fell off the face of the earth...the answer is no, just fighting a mild illness and we won! So many apologies for not updating you with great info and prizes for the last week or so, but as mommies you know you have to take care of you or you wont be able to take care of anyone else. With that being said we're back and will be doing our best to stay on track and bring to you great info this last half of breast cancer month and promise to end the month with a great giveaway to remember! In the meantime please dont let the next few days get away without browsing this very useful site Breast Cancer Awareness Month It is a great site that will offer you tons of information and direction on breast cancer. Whether you are newly diagnosed, A survivor, or just curious about how you learn more and provide support for this great cause, This site answers all those questions and more.

Then after browsing that site, mosey on over to this great website . This cool website provides great must have products and guess what? All the proceeds will go to breast cancer research! What better incentive is there to Shop! You can shop and feel great about every penny you spend!

Remember to stay informed and take advantage of all the great information that is highlighted this month!

Don't Let the Price of Costumes Haunt Your Budget This Fall

2008-10-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Whether you are dressing up your little ones for Halloween or just for fun, costumes can be an unnecessary strain on your budget, but that shouldn't mean they'll have to sit out the party. This year, instead of wasting your money on cheap, ill-fitting costumes from a major party retailer, set aside an afternoon with your little munch-kins and get creative. Stock up on some cheap craft supplies like loose dyed feathers, glueable gemstones, pompoms, finger paints, and other small, lightweight objects. Add some large paper bags, construction paper, disposable paper plates, or paperboard for the mask base (for a sturdier base, you can make a paper mache mask), glue, a bit of thin elastic or regular string to secure the mask(s), markers and crayons, and get ready to get messy!

First, using the pencil, mark the approximate locations of the mask-wearer's eyes, nose, and if desired, mouth. Cut away the material to leave holes and punch out two small holes right around eye-level on either side. Next, glue, paint, feather, and decorate to taste. Allow to dry fully and then tie the string or elastic to the mask.

------------------
Other Fun Costume/Dress-up Ideas:

This little dress ($6.99) combined with a dollar store tiera and wand could be the perfect outfit for a princess or belle of the ball:

Your budding jungle explorer, safari kid, or Indiana Jones treasure hunter will appreciate this accessory (and at $2.25 , so will your budget).

This hat would be the perfect for a soldier or hunter costume:

Frolicking Fall Fashion for Your Puddle Jumpers!

2008-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Keep those adorable little toesies warm this season with affordable, quality shoes at bargain prices from Little Hands Boutique. Check out a few of the shoes and boots we've found so far:

Yummy Sweets for Your Little Sweetie!

2008-10-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

DINOSAURWICH - KIDS TREAT

3 1/2 c. (8 oz.) Cool Whip (thawed)Box of Dinosaur Graham CookiesGarnish: M & M's, Reese's pieces, sprinkles, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, etc.
Spread Cool Whip about 3/4 inch thick on one cookie, place another cookie light on top.
Roll or lightly press edges of cookie into any of the above garnishes (M & M's or Reese's pieces you have to place into Cool Whip edges).
Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. Wrap in Saran Wrap to store in freezer up to 2 weeks.

Easy Nesquik Butterfinger Dessert

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup NESTLÉ NESQUIK Chocolate Flavor Syrup, divided
3 (2-oz) bars NESTLÉ BUTTERFINGER Candy Bar, finely chopped, divided
30 graham cracker squares

Directions:BEAT cream in large mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup Nesquik until stiff peaks form. Stir in 1 cup Butterfinger pieces. SPREAD about 1 heaping teaspoon whipped cream mixture evenly onto each of 6 graham cracker squares; stack. Place stack on side on long platter or baking sheet. Repeat with remaining graham crackers and whipped cream mixture until 5 stacks are assembled. Press stacks together to form a loaf.SPREAD remaining whipped cream mixture over top and sides of graham cracker loaf. Top with remaining Butterfinger pieces.REFRIGERATE for at least 2 hours or overnight. To serve, slice diagonally across loaf into 1-inch slices. Place each slice on plate and top with remaining Nesquik.

Do you have a favorite dessert you make for your little ones? Please share!

Laundry Room Blues? Here's Help!

2008-10-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

If you are one of those people that have some organizational challenges then this article may be for you. For a busy mom the at some point or another the laundry just seems to pile up. For me this time or another comes about every week. It seems that in a family of Six the phrase "caught up on all the laundry" is just a wonderful dream. The more laundry I do, the more the laundry fairy delivers to me daily. My laundry room is quite small and discouraging, thus my excuse for the clutter and constant feeling of chaos that comes over me when ever I walk into this area of the house. Am I alone on this one? I have to believe that someone out there who relates and feels my pain! With four teenagers and a toddler constantly in tow, organizing my laundry room became much more important than some will ever understand.

The more organized you are the more time you waste and the more time you have to do things you love and to spend time with the people who mean the most to you. Without further ado, here is the coolest article on getting rid of the chaos in your laundry room!

5 Easy Ways to Rake In Fall Savings

2008-10-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

1. Get ready for cooler weather and save energy costs by making sure your furnace and other appliances aren't inflating your utility bills unnecessarily.

2. Buy in-season fruits and vegetables, and trade in those name-brand toaster pastries for the generic kind. Most brand-name products aren't much better than the grocery store's brand, anyway.

3. Play the money jar game.

4. Cancel all those expensive cable movie packages, and tune in to the basic channels' newest delights. (Psssttt...a little secret-fall's series are definitely worthwhile!)

5. Shop at Little Hands Boutique!

This Baby Togs button-up is only $3.99.

These Old Navy pink jogging separates made from fluffy velour are $7.99.

An IZOD zip-up hoodie is $3.99.

And Old Navy jeans with shearling trim have cornered the market at $4.99.

Think Pink! Breast Cancer Awareness

2008-10-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

This link contains great video instructions for self breast exams and eating to prevent breast cancer...please check it out.

Congrats Humpday Winner/ It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

2008-10-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Idahomom! You are the winner of the Automatic Jar opener! Please contact us within seven days (customerservice@littlehandsboutique.com) to claim your prize, you will also receive a special Congrats email! Thanks again for participating.

Well I know normally this is the time where I introduce a new giveaway, but today I decided to do something a little different. To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month I decided to have a special give away that I will announce on Fitness Friday. I want to provide as much useful information as possible about this great cause and offer you some nice give aways as well. So those of you who have subscribed watch closely this month not only for great giveaways but great information. If you have not subscribe please do so right away! Up next a great link to check out. I will be posting this link separately, it is a very detailed guide on doing self breast exams, eating to prevent cancer and even awareness in men. This is one guide you don't want to miss.

Much Love and Support to all our mommies out there and especially to those who have been directly touched by this terrible disease.

Never too busy for quality time and learning

2008-09-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

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:

Fitness Friday...a little late but still on time!

2008-09-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

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

And the winner of the Party 12pack of Gold banded mugs is....

2008-09-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

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!

Quick and Delicious...What more could a mom ask...

2008-09-23T18:35:00.001-07:00

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.)

Getting Organized with Kids Activities

2008-09-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

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.

Fitness Fridays.....I'm so excited!

2008-09-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

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.....

The winner of the stainless steel tea kettle combo is.....

2008-09-17T18:25:00.002-07:00

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.

Happy Humpday

2008-09-17T18:25:00.001-07:00

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?

This Week on Tempting Tuesdays....

2008-09-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

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!

We Have a Vested Interest in Keeping Your Babies Warm and Your Wallet Full

2008-09-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

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!

Teaching Your Child To Organize and Keep Their Room Clean

2008-09-14T16:31:00.001-07:00

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.

It's Fit Friday!- Yoga Improves Concentration and Motivation

2008-09-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

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!

Toddler Times Thursday- Visit Two Great Websites

2008-09-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

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!

Humpday Give Away Winner & Today's New GiveAway!

2008-09-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

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

Tempting Tuesdays

2008-09-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

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!

Please,Sorry and Thank You! Praising Positive Behavior in Toddlers

2008-09-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

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?

Beat the Rainy Day Blues

2008-09-08T00:02:00.000-07:00

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

After layering the ingredients, pop them in the microwave for a few seconds, watching carefully.

Toddler Times Thursday

2008-09-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

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!

Humpday GiveAway!(Espresso Maker)****Note: This GiveAway Has Expired...So Sorry for the error on the sweepstakes site, Please enter todays giveaway...

2008-09-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

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!

The winner of the Last Minute Back to School Giveaway is.....

2008-09-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

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!

Tempting Tuesdays!

2008-09-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

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!

Crazy Steals on Summer Gear!

2008-09-01T01:13:00.001-07:00

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

or this Children's Place Ski Vest for $8.99-perfect for those days with a nip to the wind.

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And don't forget to test your luck on our fabulous last minute Back-to-School Giveaway.

Today is the last day to enter!

How to get it all done.....

2008-08-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling to get it all done? Quality time with your toddler, cleaning , cooking, errands and more? It 's enough to to make you shave off your eyebrows!(okay, maybe that's just me) But it can make you feel a little bit out of control to say the least. The key to getting it all done and feeling great about your day is to put a routine in place for your little one that also works well with your schedule of task for the day. Click here to read more about putting together a routine for your todder. Once you have a routine down for your little one it is easier to gel your task into this routine. Being able to meet the needs of your toddler as well as your own can be trying, but it can be done!

We're Making Some Changes.....

2008-08-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

We are so excited at Little Hands Boutique...September is going to be a great month! It will be full of awesome giveaways, great toddler stories and advice, recipes and crafts, as well as fitness and pampering for mom. We love being informal but we want our readers to have a sense of what they can expect as well. So with that being said, Here's the new line up.

Mayhem Mondays- Kick the Monday blues with great organizing tips that will make life with a toddler just a little easier. Mondays will also feature The Budget Stretcher, which will give you heads up on great deals that you don't want to miss at LittleHandsBoutique.

Tempting Tuesdays- Great Kid Approved Recipes to tempt your toddlers tummy! (We will also throw in a craft idea as well!)

Wednesdays Humpday GiveAway- Awesome Giveaways. Each giveaway will begin on Wednesday and end on the following Wednesday. Winners will be given 3 days to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.

Toddler Times Thursday- Great stories and advice on raising toddlers, including news about great toddler products, learning activities, and kid fashion.

Fitness Fridays- Fridays are just for moms: Fitness Friday is not just to get you physically fit, it is to get you physically,financially, emotionally and spiritually fit: Included will be great articles on getting fit and great talk about nutrition, healthy skin and hair, and last but not least great ideas on pampering and nurturing the diva in you!

Hopefully you are just as excited as we are, leave us a comment about what you'd like to see as we make changes, we'd love to know how you feel.

Truly

Yvonne and Tenisha(Owners of LittleHandsBoutique.com)

And the winner of the Mommy and Me Giveaway is.....

2008-08-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Retonya Hill, winner of the Mommy and Me Giveaway! Stay tuned to Tiny Talk as next week starts our Newest Giveaway and the end of our Last Minute Back to School Giveaway. This contest ends Sept 2nd so there is still time to enter....Next time it could be you!

Last Minute Back to School GiveAway

2008-08-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

We know that school is in for kids in most parts of the world, but for the select few mommies who have yet to purchase school supplies or may know someone who is in need, please enter our Last Minute Back to School GiveAway. Included are two book bags(Barbie and Cars theme) and the supplies that you see in the picture. Don't forget school supplies always need to be replenished so save your budget by being prepared when what you purchased runs low.....Hey it's free!

To enter just subscribe to our feed and leave a comment. That's it. Your entered!

Contest ends Sept 2nd. Winners will be notified by email and have 1 week to claim their prize or another winner will be choosen. Good Luck

Stretch Your Budget This Fall With Tiny Hands' Latest Deals and Steals on Toddler Clothing

2008-08-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

This fall, if your budget pinched so tight that pennies are squealing for mercy, you've probably been searching for an inventive solution to your kids' clothing needs. Here at Little Hands, we understand the dilemma that growing kids create. We were founded by two mommies who were tired of sacrificing quality for cheap "bargains" that often wore out months before a penny-strapped budget would allow replacements to be purchased. This week, Little Hands Boutique is pleased to kick off a new weekly tradition-the Budget Stretcher (a.k.a 'not-your-average-sales-circular').

Here are a few of the great deals we found this week:

A new (complete with original tags) Ecko Unlimited Jogging set for 10.99:

This adorable set from Buster Brown will keep your little princess looking cute-as-a button...for only 6.99.

Get your little one ready for cooler temperatures in this like-new RocaWear coat with a fur trimmed hood for 9.99.

Well, ladies, that's all for this week's Budget Stretcher, but don't forget to check out the foolproof way to discover our latest finds. Subscribe to updates through a feed reader or via email and never miss out on any of our fabulous deals (or life tales from us plastic mommies!) again.

A Very Special Invite-Please join the Thirty Days to Live Challege!

2008-08-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Dont Believe the Hype....Family Time Still Rules!

2008-08-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

Family time is important to me, but it just seems the older my children get the more they think everything I say and do is "friendly". Now for all you moms that are not quite as hip as me(yeah right), friendly in teenage language(at least in the southern parts)means square. I pretty much just ignor all the smart remarks and force them to spend time with me, my husband and our two year old(we are the outcast).

I've been wanting to do a collage for my two year old's room with pictures of our family and decided this was the weekend to do it. You cant imagine the moans, groans,random Oh my goodness's!, I cant believe this!, This is so lame!, This is just plain friendly! and my favorite"Just shoot me now!"... Yep I just ignored them and explained that we were gonna help Kayla(my 2 year old) cut out picture of the family and together figure out what words or phrases we want to go under the pictures. Blank stares from everyone, but my smiling Kayla.

Anyway everyone starts painfully cutting out pictures, but while looking at old pictures they could'nt resist laughing and making smart remarks about each and every photo. They begin to ask questions about pictures and then I got to tell stories that otherwise they would have never been interested in hearing. By the time we finally finished we had laughed ourselves silly and they reluctantly admitted they had fun, although they did say they would never admit it if asked again....WHATEVER!

So for all you parents that hesitate to do things that seem a bit "friendly" with your growing family...hey try it..you never know! As far as I am concerned Family Time still rules!

Still Greening it Up!

2008-08-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

This post may not be as exciting to you as it is to me, however sometimes when you are a stay at home mom, you have to find the excitement where you can. So, while shopping at linen and things the other day, I came across a product called Greening the Cleaning and because I am on a new endeavor to participate in saving the environment I decided to try it. For some reason I couldn't wait to go home and clean my face bowl with it, I know..... sounds a little pathetic right, be that as it may, I rushed home and cleaned my face bowls in my master bath with it and behold to my surprise the bowls started gleaming! It even gave off a fresh clean scent! I was sold. Why am I telling you this? I shared this story not to bore you to death, but to encourage you to venture out and try some products that are environmentally safe. I am as brand loyal as they come and would have never thought anything else would clean my bowls the same, but what do you know, I'm evolving!
Do you use some environmentally responsible products that you can share? I cant wait to refill my shelves with great products! Let's all work together to make a difference.

Okay Ladies It's Time for a Spa Night!

2008-08-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

If you've ever visited LittleHandsBoutique Toddler Times(Mom Corner)you know we highly suggest when the going gets tough, it's time for a spa night...Well recently i had one of those days where either you find a way to relieve the stress or you call your local paddy to see if they have a wagon available. Well as appealing as the latter sounds(no cleaning, cooking, people bring you your meals...hmmm....), I chose to do a spa night. Sometimes mommies you gotta take time for you. Treat yourself like the queen you are.

The second picture shows you what my tub looked like Before(hey the thought of cleaning it out made me wonder if I really wanted to do a spa night...but I pushed on..lol) The first picture is what it looked after. Ahh....those were the best 30 minutes of this week( of course after 30 minutes I was summoned by my daughter who woke up crying)

Hey you have to enjoy it while you can!

Spa Night should include:

Your favorite bath salts or bubble bath.
Soft music
Fresh Fruit(I always have grapes and strawberries)
Candles(No Spa Night is complete without them)
I also add rose petals for a hint of royalty

Spa Night Tip:

Free your mind- for this short time forget that the house still needs cleaning, grocery shopping needs to be done, and that the little one's potty training seems to be going all wrong....this is about you. Allow yourself to be refreshed and replenished..take care of you!

Baby Steps To Going Green!

2008-08-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but my life as mom and entrepreneur can get very hectic. Sometimes we forget to make time for things that we know are important. I have been contemplating how to contribute positively to our environmental issues for a while. I guess I was looking to contribute in a big way, not realizing that every little thing I do to help adds up to something big. Our children deserve to live in a great healthy environment. We can all do our part by taking small steps that wont add more stress to our already hectic lives. Here are 5 simple tips to taking Baby Steps to Going Green:

1)Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and few degrees higher in the summer- save money on heating and cooling as well!

2)Install Florescent light bulbs when incandescent bulbs burn out. They are more expensive to purchase, but last much much longer and use less energy saving you money on your energy bill. After replacing my bulbs with florescent bulbs, the very next month I experienced a significant decrease in my energy bill(like $50.00 whoohoo!)

3) Wash clothes in cold water when at all possible. 85% of the energy used to machine was clothes goes toward heating the water.

4)Take shorter showers. If you're like me you love taking long showers, but I guess I could cut it by a minute or two :-)... This will save money on heating and water bills.

5)Skip bottled water- Purchase filters to purify your water, this cuts down on the large amount of container waste. I must admit that this one was a hard one for me. I have cut down, but I have been known to still purchase a bottle here and there...Baby Steps Moms.....Baby Steps.

For more Green Tips visit us daily on myspace. www.myspace.com/littlehandsboutique1

Mommy and Me Give Away!

2008-07-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

The first of many Give Aways begins today! Relax with your new Coffee/Tea Mug and matching spoon set! Then take a nice hot spa bath with your new Green Tea Organic Bath Set!(Includes: shower gel,bath salt, lofa and lotion. And for your little one this adorable ice cream scooper makes getting ice cream double the fun ( ice cream not included)

To enter the Give Away just go to our site http://www.littlehandsboutique.com/ browse around, come back and tell us what you like here by leaving a comment. It's that simple, your comment enters you in the Give Away!

This Give Away ends August 30th so post your comments now.

Teens, Tweens and Toddlers Under One Roof...Help! Pointers on How to Bridge the Age Gap

2008-07-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a good night. The house was miraculously quiet due to the fact that my pre teen and teenage boys decided that their on-going debate over who is the “lamest” (apparently lame is the cool word for this week) could be continued in the morning, and to my surprise my two year old energizer bunny did not keep going and going and going.

Sitting down for a cup of herbal tea is a rare treat in a house of seven, but you sneak it in where you can. Even as I sit blowing a steaming cup of tea, I reflect briefly on what insanity possessed me to come so close to Independence Day, only to rewind time and start all over again. The bottles, the diapers, the crying, the tantrums…oh the thought of it makes my head hurt! Then that little angel face creeps into my consciousness and the stress lines slowly disappear from my forehead and a smile forms. My two year old is just the cutest thing you will ever see and all the dirty diapers in the world could not taint the abundance of joy she fills my heart with daily! They are so open to the world at that age. Always discovering and unconditionally loving… Ah….what we all could learn from them.

However, don’t be fooled! When you have to run around all day like a taxi cab driver taking your older kids to sports engagements, barbershops, the mall, etc, all the while with a two year old in tow, its no picnic. I complained about the running around but then out of no where it went from bad to worst. Who said 16 year olds could drive? (I’m sure whoever it was that originally suggested it was childless). So add a jump of $100 in car insurance to add on a 16 year old driver with the increasing price of pullups! So Lets see, now I have…Dora the Explorer shoes vs. the newest Jordans, The unrelenting pleas for buying the Barbie jeep vs. pleas for buying a starter car, helping my little one learn to count past 50 vs. finding some one to help with pre-calculus! What a complete roller coaster!

Even with life being constantly hectic, I feel blessed to have such a wonderful family and cherish the challenge of giving them the best childhood and the tools they need to become responsible adults who know first hand and cherish the value of family.

Three things are key when raising children with a large age gap:

Respect the uniqueness in each child – Every child is different and moves at a different pace and to a different drummer. I learned that a long time ago (somewhere around child number two). I work hard to let each child know that I accept and love their unique characteristics, no matter how different or difficult to understand. This will also help prevent jealousy and some rivalry among siblings

Nurture the Bond- Children born with quiet a few years between can sometimes have trouble finding things in common that they can do together. Encourage older children to share hobbies and talents with younger children. Each of my boys are encouraged to spend an hour or so a day with their two year old sister. In this time I suggest my eldest child who likes to write stories share this talent for storytelling with his sister. This is something they can both enjoy. My middle son loves to draw and in his time with his sister he is teaching her to be quite the artist. My 11, and 13 year old are still very playful and love giving piggyback rides, taking her out to ride her bike and drive her car. They all have their own unique way the can bond with their sister despite the huge age gap.

Spending Time as a Family- This is critical. It is not only enjoyable , but creates lasting memories. Quality time spent together knits the fabric that strong families are made of.
It strengthens the love, the loyalty and intimacies that all families should share. There is no age gap in family time together, everyone belongs and it doesn’t feel complete when someone is missing.

So no one ever said it would be easy (and if they did, you been lied to!), but what it is…..is fulfilling, fun and exhausting, but most of all, it’s totally worth it!

Here are some of my favorite family quotes:

If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable - each segment distinct. ~Letty Cottin Pogrebin

Bringing up a family should be an adventure, not an anxious discipline in which everybody is constantly graded for performance.-- Milton R. Saperstein

I think people that have a brother or sister don't realize how lucky they are. Sure, they fight a lot, but to know that there's always somebody there, somebody that's family.-- Trey Parker

"When you look at your life, the greatest happiness’s are family happiness’s."
Dr Joyce Brothers

3 Quick, Delicious, Kid-Approved Recipes!

2008-07-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

Pleasing our little ones is not always so easy. Coupled with all of our other mom/wife duties sometimes time can seem like the enemy! Here are three recipes that will be sure to put smiles on your little ones faces and will still allow you to complete your daily task list.

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients
1 cup creamy peanut butter, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 tsp. vanilla

Directions
In pot bring sugar & water to a boil. Let the mixture boil for exactly one minute. In a bowl, have the peanut butter and vanilla measured out and ready. Pour the sugar and water into the bowl when ready, and mix well. Pour into an 8x8 greased pan.

Let cool and enjoy...Make sure once you pour the sugar and water into the bowl with the peanut butter and vanilla work quickly it starts to harden up fast.And don't use a natural peanut butter it does not work...Use a brand like Skippy creamy

Not Quite Cheesecake

Ingredients
Cheesecake flavored instant pudding, Oreo Pie crust, A few Oreos chopped up.

Directions:
Make the pudding, fill the crust, sprinkle Oreos on top. Refrigerate & enjoy after the pudding sets good. Doesn't get much easier. Not exactly gourmet, but good

Chocolate Peanut Supreme

Ingredients
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter, 1/3 cup butter melted, 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 cups cold milk, 1 package (5.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix, 1 carton (12 oz) cool whip thawed, 1 cup chopped peanuts

Directions
In a large bowl, combine peanut butter and butter. stir in cracker crumbs and sugar. Press into a greased 13x9x2 inch dish.*In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 min. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft set; spoon over crust. Spread with whipped topping; sprinkle with peanuts. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until set. Refrigerate leftovers. 12-16 servings

The Best of Both Worlds- Make Money and be a SAHM!

2008-07-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

Whether you are a stay at home mom, an aspiring stay at home mom or even just really need more money coming into the household, ladies this article is for you.

One of the worst days of my life was the day I dropped my little girl off to daycare for the first time. She screamed and kicked and reached out to me yelling my name. I ran to the car and cried. That day I made up in my mind that working full time for me would only be temporary. I went home and focused on what I could do to make enough money to stay at home and care for my little sweet heart. As I researched different business ideas it was very frustrating. It seem that there were so many scam artist just waiting to take my money, fill me with high hopes, only to leave me disgusted with myself for being so vulnerable. Believe me I’ve tried it all and sometimes I even felt I might get taken, but I had to know if it was a legitimate opportunity so I would just try. My mother always said that you will never see success without experiencing failure. Well after trying what seemed like hundreds of other business ideas for work at home I finally found something that could supply the income I needed to make my dream of being a stay at home come true. Now you definitely will not become rich doing this and it is not easy, but it is a legitimate opportunity and I made money quickly.

The Wonderful World of Amazon

I know many of you may have heard of Amazon before or even purchased a book or two online. Some of us have even been as savvy as to try and sell old school books for money. Did you know that thousands of people make their living selling on Amazon? When I heard this it was from a girlfriend whose job was just to input the books for a woman whose company sold books on Amazon. Well like I stated earlier, I am someone who is willing to give almost any good opportunity a try.
After doing my research I found that selling on Amazon is as easy as setting up an account (Amazon.com) in five minutes and poof, begin selling. I started out by putting two books I had laying around the house online, to my surprise when I awoke up the next morning the books had sold! I had made 20 dollars while I slept! Okay now I was hooked! I spent the next week researching the Amazon’s online community to learn the in’s and out’s of the business. I was absolutely amazed to find so many people who had been making their living this way for years. I knew I had stumbled upon something that would change me forever because it would help affirm that I didn’t need a 9-5 to bring in money, I could do my part and take care of my little angel as well!

Pay attention because what’s coming next is valuable information.

Where To Get Books To Sell On Amazon

One of the most valuable places you can get books to sell on Amazon is auctions. Many places such as the Goodwill and the Salvation Army in your area will have weekly auctions for books. To my surprise you are able to by very large boxes of books somewhere in the range many times of 15-40.00. These boxes will use have 200+ books in each. As you can imagine you will need someplace to store these books( I used my garage) About ¼ of these books will be good sellers but you will usually make about 5 times what you paid.

The second place to purchase books is at the Thrift Stores. Usually I purchase books for $2 and under and resell them on line from 10-25.00. This is a huge return and the great thing is that it is not limited to just books, you can also sell cd, vhs and dvd’s.

Garage sell, Church sells, local half price books and library sells are all places you can find books to sell. Also make sure to visit a website called booksalefinder.com which will provide you with information regarding book sales in your area for whatever state you live in.

I definitely did not become rich selling on Amazon but I made as much enought money to cover groceries and utility bills. This is not an easy job and requires dedication like anything else, but you can make your own hours and everything is done from home. My husband would come from work and we would package books to go out the next morning. The great thing about the modern world is that there are so many tricks of the trade to help you make life easier. One convenience is having the post office pick up packages at my door each morning which can be order by going on usps.com the night before. To do this you will need to get an account with stamps.com or endicia.com so that you are able to print you own stamps.

This business also requires impeccable customer service. When you are entering your item description, be honest about the condition of your book. Think about how you would feel if you thought you purchased one thing and received something else. Your rating on Amazon is given to you by your customer so being responsive to their needs will carry you a long way. The better your feedback from customer is the better chances you have of selling your book before someone else. Provide quick response to questions and concerns and you will receive great feedback and maybe become a seller of choice.

Another piece of invaluable information is that all of amazons books have ratings. The lower the rating the better chance your book has of selling. You can find the rating on the sales page as you are entering your book for resell. If this number is above 500000 the likely hood that the book will sell quickly is slim. However it the rating is under the 300000 the book will probably sell in a couple of weeks under 200,000 usually will sell within a week.

How do you get Paid

The beauty in all of this is that you are paid as often as you sell if you like. You will set up your account which is linked to your bank account and you can transfer the money as you make it or allow it to transfer automatically every two weeks. Note: when you transfer the money it does take 3-4 days to get to your account. I usually would transfer every hundred dollars. What ever way works best for you.

Bonus: The best kept secret I found when working on Amazon came in the form of a scanner that I purchased after about 6 months of selling. This is a product that will tell you before you buy how much the product will sell for on Amazon as well as the rating. I will admit it was a little pricy(almost 800.00) but after selling for awhile on Amazon you will be able to afford it too. This product will more than double your profits.

The great thing about selling on Amazon is your target market can be the whole world, Amazon receive millions of visitors a day. You don’t have to solicit business, it comes to you.

If you are really serious about being a stay at home mom I believe this will help you do it.

Like anything else this may not be for everyone, if it is not for you dont give up, check back often as we will be posting more ideas soon!

Good Luck Ladies

God Bless

What to do when you suspect your toddler has a speech delay

2008-07-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Watching a toddler develop is one of the most awesome things a parent can experience. We marvel at their first steps and anticipate their first words. Most parents anxiously await the development of their child’s vocabulary not only because it is cute, but because it gives the child the ability to express their wants and needs. It’s understandably concerning when your toddler appears to have a language delay. So the questions you should ask yourself are: Is my toddler experiencing a speech delay or just moving at his own pace? And if so, how do I help my child to progress at a pace that will support the stage of learning he currently needs to meet?

Experts believe that a child's development should ideally fall into these categories

* 12-15 months- child can say Mama-Dada
* 18-24 months-child is able to point to and name a few body parts as well as name pictures of animals and other items.
* 16-24 months- able to combine a couple of words together to form short sentences. If a child cannot do so by at least 24 month the parent should consult the doctor for direction.
* Usually a child 2 and over can say in the neighborhood of about 50 words.

If you are concerned, you should first schedule your child for a doctor’s visit to have a full physical done including, hearing/vision. A major oversight by many parents is that a child may be disobedient or not able to follow instruction due to rebellion or a learning disability. In some cases the child’s hearing or vision may be inadequate. It could be something such as a prolonged ear infection or various other hearing impaired issues. For this reason this is the first step to assessing possible speech delay.

If indeed your child’s is physically okay here are some other steps you should take:

* Begin to talk with your child more! As you are talking to him make sure to verbalize what you are doing. For example say. Mommy is doing the laundry, we need to get the clothes clean!
* Ask questions to encourage conversation. The more your child talks the more confident he will feel with his speech.
* Read to your child. It not only allows him to hear words, their pronunciation and usage, but it is also great quality time.
* Find a playgroup or daycare setting where your child can talk and socialize with other kids his age. Like with anything else repetition is key.
* Don’t criticize your child speech it will only discourage him from speaking. And if after doing everything you know to do and you see no improvement, seek outside help by getting a referral from your pediatrician.

Most importantly be patient, as you probably know every child develops at a different pace. Allow your child to grow and develop naturally while closely monitoring for possible special needs.

It's Finally Here! July 1, 2008-Little Hands Boutique's Grand Opening!

2008-06-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well everyone in an effort to provide you the best shopping experience our Grand Opening had to be put off for a while, but we are excited to announce that on July 1st we will be open for business! Whew! It's been a lot of work including but not limited to a lot of time scouting for product! We wanted to be sure that we gave our customers the best out there to give. This journey has taught us alot about patience, endurance, and the need to do things in order and in excellence. Putting God first in all that we do has been our hearts desire and we have tried to let this shine through in all our efforts. It is our desire to not only provide you with quality products , but with products at prices that you can afford.

Needless to say we are excited!

Our journey has included, countless hours working with web designers, merchant reps, store reps, and even UPS who gave a huge scare when it appeared they lost a shipment of product that we spent many, many, many hours shopping for! But all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord. As you probably have guessed this site is owned by two christian moms. Originally our desire was like many moms, to find a way to stay home with our children. But this endeavor has become so much more. It has become a quest to help people save money in a time where every dime is so important. It has become our voice to moms everywhere who need support, advice, or just an ear. It has become a way to help charities that strive to help those in need through financial support and research. Last but not least it has become our vehicle to something bigger that will help women and children everywhere on a much larger scale. In the near future you will be reading about new ventures Littlehandsboutique will embark upon...we plan to take you with us all the way! Thanks so much for stopping by and please remember to log on July 1st to LittleHandsBoutique.com and take advantage of great savings!

Pamper Yourself

2008-06-06T15:28:00.000-07:00

Up til now ladies all post have focused on our little ones. Well this one is for you. Remember the better you take care of you, the more you will have to give to you child. Often times we neglect self and even loose self in caring for our family. Love your family more by Celebrating you!

Pamper Yourself!!!

Being a mommy is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences any woman can have, but sometimes nurturing colds, attending to cuts and bumps, bathing feeding, singing…..well you get the picture….sometimes being a mommy can be a little exhausting. Let’s remember to refuel the tanks so we can continue to have what it takes to keep up with our little energizer bunnies!

Treating yourself like a queen does not have to be expensive; a spa day may be hiding in your Fridge. Below are some great ideas for treating yourself on a shoe string budget.

Spa Night

After your little one goes to bed draw yourself a hot bubble bath. Make it special by surrounding yourself with candles (found at your local dollar store) be sure at least one is an aromatherapy candle (lavender is very relaxing). All queens deserve petals so add the rose petals to your bath for a touch of class. Don’t forget to bring your glass (wine glass) of sparkling cider or drink of your choice, and fresh cut up fruit to go with. Add some soft music and you’ve got yourself a Spa Night!!!!

Dull Skin?

A great home remedy to give your skin that healthy glow

Purchase some raw honey from your local health food store, heat a small bowl up, either on the stove or in the microwave. Let it cool slightly. Apply warm honey to face and neck. Allow mask to sit for 10-12 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Watch as your skin begins to radiate!

Foot Spa

No time for manicure/pedicure lately? Treat your self to a relaxing Foot Spa

Warm 7 cups of water and two cups of milk on the stovetop or in the microwave. Make this mixture as hot as your feet can take it. Combine ½ cup of sugar and two tablespoons of lotion for an exfoliate mixture. Soak your feet in the mixture of milk and water. After about ten minutes began to massage the exfoliate mixture on your feet. Rinse with clear water and pat dry. Massage on additional lotion as needed. Ahhh….your feet will thank you!

Veggies: The Dreaded Enemy

2008-05-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Veggies: The Dreaded Enemy

Why is it that m&m’s taste like a little piece of heaven but will give you cavities but beets taste like and old mop rag and are good for your heart? Was Mother Nature really thinking clearly when these were created? Unfortunately giving your toddlers only what taste good is not going to fulfill your duty of raising a healthy child. Undoubtedly the more you urge your little toddler to take one bite of broccoli the louder he/she will yell “No!” Toddlers are often curious but at the same time suspicious of new foods and though they may be the least bit tempted to taste they will usually opt to feed it to the dog or use it as finger paint across the highchair. It is best to start as young as possible introducing new foods, as they grow they develop a taste for certain foods and become much more picky!

Although it seems like it would be easier to tackle putting a collar on a bee there are ways that are somewhat painless to get you child to eat vegetables.

One mommy told a story of how she hid veggies in all sort of places, such as inside of fruit, Jell-O’s , and even inside of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!“ It was always very amusing to watch them happily chomping on one of there favorite foods and then suddenly they’d get a slightly confused look on their face (which usually only lasted a moment) and then they would going on chomping totally unaware of what had happened. Sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures!

Try these tips to get your toddler to partake of the dreaded vegetables.

Serve the vegetables first while the toddler is hungry. Usually they will take a few bites because they are hungry, which is great, a few bites are better than none!
Be creative when serving vegetables, camouflaging them in different ways, for example: chop up vegetables and add to pasta sauce, lasagna or even as pizza toppings.
Allow your child to help you prepare a meal creating more interest in the foods when served.
Offer a variety of foods to your child, there are bound to be some vegetables he will tolerate. Remember some foods have to be introduced as many as 10-15 times before a child will accept it. Don’t give up!
Offer your child a vegetable fruit blend, like V8
Lastly if every other attempt is unsuccessful talk to your pediatrician about a multivitamin supplement.

Don’t be put off by rejection, your little anti-veggie monster will eventually accept something. Keep in mind the daily serving for a toddler is much less than for an adult, so just a few bites may be more than enough. For a toddler usually one teaspoon per year of age is enough and ½ a piece of fruit is a serving size.

Make and effort to sit down and enjoy a portion of vegetables with your child, make it a fun time. Children tend to like to imitate adults! Set a good example.
Be patient and Good luck!

Fun food games:

Counting Down
Line little pieces of vegetables up and count down as they vanish down the hole

Decorate Food into faces
Ask toddler to eat the eyes, nose, mouth, hair etc

Picnic
Let them have a picnic on the floor and dress them up like a familiar cartoon character. Usually when a toddler is having fun with meals they will be more apt to try diffent foods!

Sometimes it will take of bit of creativity and effort, but are little darlings are definetly worth it! You will sleep better at night knowing youve done all you can for the health of your child.

Happy Mothers Day!

2008-05-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful mommies out there....It's your day, relax and celebrate you!

From all of us at

Weaning your little one from the bottle

2008-05-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Weaning a child from the bottle can be a traumatic time for mommy…oh yeah and the baby too! Many times the bottle has become so much more than a drink of milk or juice, it is their comfort zone. It’s what puts them to sleep at naptime or bedtime
and what comforts them when they are upset and crying. Imagine having what comforts you the most just snatched away from you one day. For some of us if we couldn’t have that morning cup of coffee our world would come crumbling down around us. For me life without any melted cheese sandwiches would require me to obtain some extensive therapy! Bottles have been a constant in our toddlers life, something they can count on when everything in this big world is changing daily right before their eyes. What a wonderfully confusing time it must be for them. So when you think about it, it is easy to understand how the bottle could have become an attachment. Great, so now that we understand it, what are we going to do about it?

Well ladies, the good news about this is that most toddlers can be persuaded to give up the bottle if you offer something in its place. This should be a gradual process, as for some children it can be very upsetting. Start by decreasing the number of bottles you offer a day. Take your toddler with you to the store to buy sippy cups and let him choose ones with fun cartoon characters. Allow them to take ownership which will increase their desire to drink out of the cup. Begin by offering your toddler a cup a lunch time instead of the bottle. Lunch time can be a fun time of eating and sharing with your child. Talk about how happy you are to see your big girl/boy using the cup. Toddlers love praise and reinforcement when they have done something right. After a couple of days of offering the bottle at lunch, try offering it at dinner time too.

As you replace the bottle for each meal, do remember to allow days in between. Each time you replace the bottle with a cup you should allow time for more hugging and cuddling. Your toddler is reaching a huge milestone and needs to continue to feel secure even though his comforter (the bottle) will no longer be there.

When you finally are down to the last bottle of the day begin to put less and less milk in the bottle so your toddler spends less time drinking. Replace this with extra hugging and if your toddler is still thirsty offer the cup.

Now I know you are saying “this is all fine and dandy, but it just may not go that smoothly” Definitely all toddlers are different and while this may work for many, it will not work for all. Use your mommy radar; is it really time for your child to give up the bottle? If you are finding you child to be extremely disturbed by you taking away the bottle maybe it is not yet time. Talk with your pediatrician about the timing and about the health of your child’s gums and teeth. Maybe you will want to put water in your child’s bottle instead of milk as a lot of toddlers of really attached to “comfort sucking” and not what is actually in the bottle. Try different things, one mother talked about how she discussed with her child regularly that soon it would be time for the bottle fairy to come and take away all the bottles and they would need to by her a big girl sippy cup so she could still have something to drink out of. She said this worked perfectly for her and in a couple of weeks she took her toddler to the store and said I think the bottle fairy may be coming tonight we better find the perfect sippy cup for you today. Her and her daughter spent twenty minutes in the store finding the right sippy cup and that night her toddler went to bed with her sippy cup and never looked back. Because this mom was so excited about how well this worked for her she told a good friend of hers who was having the same problem with her son. Her friend then shared with her son how the bottle fairy would be coming to take away his bottles soon and they would need to go to the store and buy him a big boy cup. Her two year old son looked up wide eyed and said. Fairy take away ba-ba? Mom replied “yes dear but mommy will take you to the store and buy you a brand new sippy cup so you can have something to drink out of.” Unfortunately to her dismay he said “No mommy buy new bah bah!”

This story goes to show you that all kids are different and we just have to keep trying and keep looking for new ideas that work for your little one. Good Luck!

What causes temper tantrums and how to effectively handle them

2008-05-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

What Causes Temper Tantrums?

If you have been a parent for a while chances are you have had to deal with the unpleasantness of tantrums and if you are a brand new parent…..well let’s just say you're in for some fun! Although someone witty said the terrible begins at two I think you may find that for some, terrible stops by a little early.

Well the bad news is that if you have a toddler, a temper tantrum, in some form is inevitable. The good new is there are ways to decrease tantrums and to avoid them altogether.

Your toddler is very new to this world and his inability to express himself leads to the dreaded tantrums. Your toddler may feel the need to have a tantrum because he is tired, irritable, scared or just plan uncomfortable. Remember there are very few people in which he feels secure with so when something or someone is unfamiliar the best way to let you know this may be in the form of a tantrum. Your attention is very important to your toddler and when your attention is elsewhere your toddler may feel insecure. So if you were wondering why he only needs to tell you something when you get on the phone? Now you know.

I know you're thinking yeah, yeah, yeah, get to the good stuff! Okay, okay, but I am a firm believer in the fact that in order to solve a problem we must get to the root of it. It is important you know that although it appears to be nothing wrong with your toddler and that he is just trying to see how quickly he can get on your nerves, there are truly underlining circumstances.

How do you handle a temper tantrum?

Well there are several ways in which a tantrum can be dealt with. The first way which seems simple but not so obvious all the time is avoidance. When you are home create a routine for your toddler. Routine creates security and a sense of control for a toddler. They know what to expect and are comforted in knowing what will happen next. If you have to change the routine talk with your toddler and let them know what will happen and try to make them a part of the changes. If you are going to be out. Try to remember what some of the causes of tantrums are and stray away from the things. Make sure your toddler is still fed at the correct time. A toddler who is used to having lunch at 12:00 may very well make a fuss if he is not fed until one. Brings familiar items from home to occupy your toddler. A toddlers attention span is not very long and an afternoon at a friends may be a little much without adding some sense of comfort.

Another way to handle tantrums when out is to use distractions. If you are shopping at the grocery store,include your toddler. Ask he/she to identify certain foods and praise her for correct answers, allow your toddler to be mommy’s helper and hand you things to put in the basket. Toddlers are easily distracted and many outings can become fun learning experiences.

Sometimes toddlers will feel the need to challenge you and turn it into a battle of the wills. If no is your answer to something be firm and consistent. Do no give in to a tantrum. If your toddler has gotten out of control be prepared to leave a public environment in order to regain control. If at all possible and safe to do so ignore the tantrum as a tantrum is only effective with and audience.

One mom discussed how once at a crowded shopping mall her daughter refused to leave a play area. Unfortunately her only resort was to pick her child up and leave with her kicking and screaming. Once away from the play environment she secured her daughter in the stroller and allowed her to finish her tantrum. She said “I just looked the other way and completely ignored her. Eventually she calmed down and said “Mommy you're not looking at me!” I turned to her and said “ Mommy cant talk to you when you are yelling and screaming. If you want mommy to look at you and talk to you, you have to talk quietly like mommy. She said okay” I then asked her why she was angry. She said “I want to play” I explained I understood she wanted to play but we have to leave now and we will go home and count how many days til we come back. She seemed to accept this and we left. I wanted her to know that her behavior would get no attention from me and that her anger could not be resolved another way. After she calmed down we went home and I discussed with her what she should do when she is angry. I have a really cool book that gives ideas on how children can express their feelings in a healthy way.” Then we counted the days until we could come again and put it on the calendar together.

Try to make your toddler under stand that their actions will bring consequences. A tantrum in the store may result in no dessert after dinner or a favorite movie may be taken away for a week. Whatever your choose make sure that your toddler understands this behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Give your toddler alternative ways to express his anger. Such as using his words to express his feelings or counting to ten.

The great thing about toddlers is they love to be affirmed. Usually by reinforcing their good behavior naughty behavior is decreased.

Don't despair, their just little people who want to be understood and loved....Be patient and you will see a independent, mannerable little person unfold as you continue to cultivate good values.

And one day you will look back and laugh....or a least smile.

Getting your toddler to sleep in their own bed

2008-05-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

All day long our busy little toddler amuses us, delights us, and even baffles us with their naïve renditions. The world through the mind of a toddler is a great place to be and it seems like for them the fun never ends….that is except at bedtime. As much as we love our toddlers bedtime for many of us signifies a time where we can either wind down or complete some last minute chores. However for toddlers it can mean war! The battle to stay up and play is not one they take likely and for us mommies the battle can be brutal!
Who taught them such scare tactics?! Like screaming uncontrollably until you come running to retrieve them, surely the neighbors will cry abuse...or the manipulative drink of water/bathroom technique, very clever my little Einstein. Do we really stand a chance against such a worthy opponent? Despair not fellow mommies, those cute little faces might be quite a distraction, but stand fast help is on the way! Here is what one mommy from Chicago, IL had to say when questioned on how to get her toddler to sleep. She stated that she didn’t have a problem with her toddler crying but that her little girl just wouldn’t stay in her bed. She recalled the following incident:

Susan discussed how she carefully planned her daughter Samantha’s, first night in her own bed. They had discussed it and made a big deal of it all day. She prepared the room carefully with Samantha, by putting her favorite cartoon sheets on the bed and putting two night lights in place. Samantha, and her favorite doll peaches, even got a new pair of pajamas for the occasion. Samantha seemed very excited and agreed with mommy that she would sleep in her bed until morning like a big girl. That night Susan read Samantha and Peaches a story, tucked them both in to bed and kissed them goodnight. She was pleasantly surprised, but proud at what a big girl Samantha seemed to be. She kissed her mommy back and said “good night mommy” Samantha said enthusiastically (almost as if she couldn’t wait for her mommy to leave). “Goodnight baby, mommy will see you in the morning” Susan replied. She walked room with her chest stuck out, what a wonderful little girl she was raising! Seconds later her Mommy radar went off. She tiptoed quietly back to Samantha’s bedroom and saw only her little bottom sticking up, as her head was in the toy box. When she called Samantha’s name, she looked up, smiled, and replied innocently “Good morning Mommy!”
Unfortunately it was months before she could actually get her to stay in her bed and go to sleep, but hey the thought was nice while it lasted.

Here are some important tips when trying to get your toddler to sleep in their own bed.

Discuss regularly with your child that big/boys and girls sleep in their own bed. Although they may not completely understand at first, believe me our little innocent bystanders are quicker to catch on then we think.
Make the room a comfortable, yet fun place for your child to sleep. Allow him/her to help choose bedding(maybe their favorite cartoon character)also purchase a nightlight or two, this way they experience the calmness of darkness needed to sleep, but will not be overwhelmed by it at the same time.
Provide a small plastic container of water by the bedside (juice may increase chances of cavities) for the mommy I’m thirsty trick-we’re one step ahead of you bud!
Be sure to make a big deal of potty time before bed and discuss that mommy is making sure you use the potty now so you wont need to go during bedtime. If your child does need to go, do not make a big deal take him/her to the potty and immediately back to be. You will soon figure out when the need to go to the bathroom is simply a tactic.

Make sure your child’s room is childproof incase your private eye does venture out of the bed for some midnight investigation work he needs to catch up on. So much to do so little time!( a monitor is always a good idea as well)
Be consistent. Each time your little adventurer gets out of bed you should put them right back in. It is best to save the cuddling for another time. Be firm as well as brief with each encounter. Be careful! these little ones are very good at what they do. Entering into too much conversation could be just the in they need to access your bedroom and before you know it you’ve had another sleepless night. Hold on! Turn a blind eye to those little tears, contrary to what they want us to believe no child has ever been harmed because the weren’t allowed to sleep with mommy and daddy. Don’t give in

Note: Be sure to carefully assess your child before putting them to bed. Rule out illness, hunger, thirst and potty. Once ruling these things out and making sure child is safe, do not be distressed by your crying toddler. Remember it is considered healthy for a child to learn how to be alone and to discover that you do not always need to be there for him/her to be safe. Learning to be alone will build traits of inner security and self-confidence. Hang in there-learning is a gradual process!

The Joys of Potty Training- This too shall pass...

2008-05-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

It can truly be exciting to watch your child transition from one stage of toddlerhood to another, yet the challenge of getting your little one to actually learn to go on the potty can be exhausting. Here are some tips we feel are essential to properly training your child to the potty.

Assess whether your child is ready-Every child is different, some children are ready at 20 months and others not until closer to three. Signs that your child is ready could be: Staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time consistently, they ask you to change their diaper, they attempt to imitate you going to the bathroom.

Use vocabulary consistent with going to the potty and make sure your toddler understands what they mean. Use words such as pee pee, bowel movement, poop, potty. Learning these words will make potty training easier for you and your toddler.

Be consistent- children learn by routine. It is essential that once you start training you make it repetitive

Reward- Make a big deal when your little one pees or makes poops in the potty. They’ll be excited to do it again! Try reward systems such as using stickers on a chart. Each time your child tells you they have to go to the potty add another sticker to the chart and reward him/her when they reach a certain number or you can reward them weekly. You make the rules, the point is to encourage your child's progression.

Accidents- Be sure to show your little one where he should go and encourage him to tell you
he/she has to go potty. *Note you should also comfort them and let them know mistakes do happen.

Be observant- Be aware of your child squatting to make a bowel movement, or suddenly getting still. Until they get used to what they should do being observant will alleviate some of the accidents.

Make the potty area a fun place. Get a fun potty chair. Make a up a potty song. Have a potty party as often as possible. Remember, to a toddler training to go potty is forcing his independence. You have been caring for him/her unconditionally for as long as he has been alive and now they must begin to do this on their own. The possibility of disappointing you may be scary for some toddlers. It is also an intrusion of their busy schedules! They have so much to do and now they must find the time to go potty smack dab in the middle of their agendas!. The nerve of us!

Be patient, it may seem as though you toddler is not picking up sometimes but usually when you least expect it ,the light turns on , and your little one is on his way to the next challenge.

This too shall pass.....

Happy Training!

Adventures of Plastic Mommy

2008-05-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Official Blog of LittleHandsBoutique

Little Hands Boutique is Upscale Resale for named brand childrens clothes size NB to 5t.

This blog celebrates all Plastic mommies. Now I guess you are probably wondering what a plastics mom is. Well try cooking breakfast, fixing lunches, fixing hair, wiping noses and the list goes on! For some of us we are doing all these things while tending to the biggest kid of all…the husbands.

We are often times pulled in so many different directions….we are chefs, chauffeurs, referees, and more…….almost like a plastic woman! This blog will share wonderful stories that will make you laugh, cry and feel inspired! It is meant to offer advice on many of the challenges we face as mommies and last but certainly not least…it is here to celebrate “you”, not just you the plastic mommy, but "you" the mommy , "you" the wife, "you" the friend, business owner, empowered woman, etc…you get the picture. Little Hands Boutique celebrates all of who you are…..our hats off to the plastic mommy in you!