Best wireless headphones for the car ever!

Last year my mother-in-law bought my children headphones for the car by, “Kidz Gear”. We take long trips to the beach every weekend, and tend to watch a movie on the long drive.

Our truck comes with headphones which can be heavy for the kids, and these are lightweight, cordless, and are extra wide, to fit my daughter’s hair low, lol!

Amazon sells them, for $25.99 and remember that they are wireless, for they have one with a wire (don’t like those for children can chew on them, and one less thing to untangle right? LOL)

Enjoy!

Danielle

Can you say relax?

The word relax as a parent sounds too good to be true, but it is so important to take 5 minutes to just breathe…

A few years ago in Whole Foods I was looking for lavender & rose aromatherapy oils, and stumbled upon lavender, orange, mint, lemongrass, and rose-water spray. Since this discovery, I keep them in the car, and sometimes my bag. Orange, mint, & lemongrass is to refresh and awaken, and the rose & lavender is for relaxation.

Within just 2 minutes, I close my eyes, and in the next few minutes I breathe deeply to get instantly recharged, and so can you!

Another great tip, is that when my kids are winning or are cranky, I spray them in the backseat, and still do and called it, “Cranky Spray” lol! You be surprised how they either laughed or calmed down in a few minutes. I also get a kick out of it to, lol!

You can make it as well… You will need a small travel size spray bottle (Target in the travel toiletry section), essential pure oil of your choice, and good old H2O. Add 3-5 drops of the oil into the bottle, then fill the remainder with water, & enjoy!

It will make you a better parent, & give you a moment of OHM, for you DESERVE 5 minutes!

Enjoy!

Danielle

Want to make gingerbread cookies in a flash?

I usually make cookies homemade, however I found a great product from IKEA, yes… IKEA! (Which are located in their freezer section downstairs in the food department.)

They sell a frozen roll of gingerbread dough which is delicious!

Just defrost overnight, follow the directions on the package, and set up the toppings (raisins, M & M’s, shoelace licorice to add hair or a bow, small gumdrops) in small cups for each child and have fun!

Your home will smell like Martha Stewart’s, lol!

Happy baking!

Danielle

How to teach responsibility…

From when your chid turns one, it is a great time to begin teaching him/her to put their toys away. Of course you will be doing most of the work, lol, but it is important for a child to learn responsibility.

Having your child hand you specific thongs is a great learning tool, as well as building your child’s vocabulary in the process.

As your child turns two, he/she can help sorting laundry (colors or by family members, making piles), helping you make their bed, set the table, and help take the waste paper garbage.

My son has been doing that since he was three, where he would go to all the bedroom and bathrooms and bring me all of the bags. He felt and still feels great helping out.

My daughter’s job is setting the table, feeding her fish, and making her bed, just as her brother des,

I of course go over it when they are at school, however it is teaching them to be responsible.

There are endless chores and takes to teach responsibility taking care of a pet, assisting with cooking, cleaning up their toys, etc, but it is an important part of your child’s development for them to learn this trait.

Enjoy!

Danielle

Want great Christmas & Hanukkah Gift ideas for kids?

I have been collecting these beauties for the past few weeks & am ready to share them…

1.) For the little girl or boy who loves to dress up, check out Disney’s website & outlet site, Buycostumes.com, Amazon, Khols online, Melissa & Doug and create your own costume Dress Up Trunk!

My daughter, age 4, loves to play dress up, yet the pre-boxed trunks seem to be too small, whereas if you order costumes, they are the, “just right size”.

2.) For the Lego-lover, you MUST go to the Lego store in NYC in Rockefeller Center. You can purchase a plastic container that you can individualize colors from their Lego wall!

3.) Great accessory for the IPAD for kids, it is called, “Iguy foam pad stand”. What I love is that it has two handles that children can hold, or stand it up to watch a movie. (It sells on Amazon.)

4.) Gift cards to specialty stores (American Girl, Lego, FAO, Target, Barns & Noble, or Toys r Us) where your child can go after the holidays to get great deals on toys, and have a special day with you! Target for one has a 30% off section right after Christmas to blow out all of the overstock fyi. It is als a great time to stock up on birthday gifts then too!

5.) Sbyke P-20 rear steering scooter on Amazon, love the bike handles and breaks, for kids tend to go too fast!

6.) On Amazon they have a section where you can look at age appropriate toys from birth-teenagers, and read individual review for toys & products. With toys for babies being recalled, it is a great way to research, and the hw is done for you… love it!

7.) For the American Girl lover, aside from the store or online, Target & Pottery Barn Kids have a less expensive line of products that fit and go with the dolls!

8.) Good old board games! Children today are busy with activities, technology and so much more, and NEED to learn how to THINK! Board games are a great way to teach critical thinking & strategy, as well as INTERACT with others, aside from DS, IPADS, & other video gaming systems. Target, Wal-Mart, 5 & Below stores, Toys R Us, The Learning Express stores, & Amazon have great deals on games, so stock up!

9.) Library basket, go to Barns & Noble, Scholastic Book, or Amazon’s websites and order age appropriate books that your child loves. Whether it be a character they like, an interest, or something they would like to learn about, this is a GREAT way to promote the love for books!

10.) Buy a toy from your era that you think your child would like! I gave my daughter a few of my dolls, as did my husband give our son some of his Matchbox cars & Star Wars figures which they got a kick out if it! Some of the toys from the past, are still enjoyed today, lol! (FYI I am only 38, lol)

More gift ideas to come…

Enjoy!
Danielle

Mothers Instinct…

For almost eight years I have realized that a mother’s instinct is usually right. Between asking a doctor, friend, or family member, what you feel in a situation, you need to react on what you feel at that point.

Whenever I didn’t go with my gut feeling, I was wrong. For as parents, we want to help our children, and want the best for them. No two people will have the same opinion, which can be confusing where you can second guess yourself, and make the wrong decision.

Being a parent is not a textbook situation, but a learning experience.

Like animals we too share a common bond, INSTINCT, so go with it!

Great tip on getting your newborn right to sleep after a feeding…

A friend of mine has been having trouble getting her baby back to sleep in the middle of the night. The minute she is put in the crib she wakes up, which is frustrating.

My son used to do the same thing, until one night at 3am, I had a solution, lol! I took out an electric heating pad and put it in the crib while I was nursing him. Right before I put him in the crib, I took the heating pad out and unplugged it. The crib sheets were warm, just like my body temperature, and it worked like a charm!

My friend is so grateful for that tip, which has helped her tremendously.

Have a good night sleep!

Danielle

Must haves in your car!

A friend of mine eight year ago, a mother of three taught me the best advice of all… “always be prepared,”.

That has been my mantra for seven and a half years,
Especially in our truck.

I always have snacks & water in the car for those just in case moments. My husband didn’t understand, until one night it took me four hours to get home with my two children, due to a car accident on the Turnpike. Thank God I had those items in the car, for you never know what will arise.

Another thing I keep in the car is a backpack with a change of clothes for both children (which I change seasonally), including pajamas, toiletries, wipes, garbage bags (for if your child gets carsick or has an accident it is a lifesaver!)

Lastly, I always keep a ziplock of hand wipes, coloring books, markers and crayons, books, stickers, magnetic puzzles, playdough, and other small things. Whether we are going to a restaurant, or the kids need something to do on a long car ride minus a movie… It is the best trick of all.

Hope you enjoy these tips!

Danielle

Great idea for Wish List’s for your children this year for the holiday’s!

Throughout the year I compose an Amazon Wish List, that makes Christmas so much easier. Between family and friends who never know what to get the kids, or myself forgetting everything they see in a store or on television… this makes life so much easier! As soon as we get catalogues, or they see a TV ad or something in a store I add it immediately.

My children are at the age where they want to pick out their own things, and we do it together. They think the list we are making is for Santa!

Also Amazon usually has better prices than in most stores, as well as has FREE shipping with setting up a Prime account. It is worth it weight in gold, for for under $80 a year, shipping on items is FREE, & you don’t pay tax, love it!

Enjoy!
Danielle

Donate to the less fortunate, it is easy…

For the past seven years the week after Thanksgiving, I go through my children’s toys to donate to the less fortunate. Either toys or books they outgrow, clothing, there are so many women’s or homeless shelter’s in your area that are in need of these gently used items.

As your children get older, whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, it is important for your child to learn to give to those less fortunate.

It is such a good feeling to know that what we donate, can make a child smile!

I usually do a Google search in our area of women’s & homeless shelters and call them to see what they accept.

Happy giving!

Danielle