its december already!!!???

oops. i guess i skipped over thankgiving. i don't know about you, by my house gets crazy!  we are just now settling down, but now its  time to get ready for christmas!

well thanks to one of my bestie gal pals, claudia...i have this cool tool to share with you and your kids. its a must have, and you can use it as much as you like!

all you do is enter your childs info, what they need to work on (please, thank you, tantrums, etc.),  and pics, and bam...good ol' santa clause has a message for them.  you can have it emailed to you, or if your child is old enough, you can have it go straight to their email box.

its so much fun!

ho ho ho!

-jenn

halloween costumes to die for...

COSTUMES 

here are some FUN ones i found.

available on ETSY from Katesy's Shop.

also available on ETSY from Katesy's Shop.

available on ETSY from Bethany's 5 shop.

available on ETSY from The Green Hedgehog.

available on ETSY from The Green Hedgehog.

available on ETSY from babybayrs 's shop.

its that halloween time again...

its that halloween time again! i have been really busy this october and i have some great ideas for you, in case you have been busy too! 

DECORATING YER PUMPKIN.

here are some fun and FREE jack-o-lantern faces from SWAN'S PUMPKIN FARM in WI that you can download and print out and use as a stencil on your very own pumpkin!

                

all you do is tape on your pumpkin and punch small holes on the outline of the black images. take the paper off and start cutting your design! remember to put vaseline all over the edge of your design and the inside of the pumpkin. it helps your pumpkin from turning yucky before your ready for it to go!

{tips:}

1.  lay parchment paper down for easy cleaning. newspaper can get wet and the ink can stain your kitchen table.

2. get two bowls to divide your pumpkin scraps in.  scoop all of the insides into one bowl, including the seeds.  

once you have cleaned out the "guts" then you can scrape the good pumpkin off the walls of the inside of the pumpkin and place in another bowl.  

scrap as much fresh pumpkin as you want or need for your favorite recipe. you can always steam + puree + freeze it for a recipe later.  (DONT MISS directions on what to do with the fresh pumpkin. recipes to come!)

3. sort your pumkin seeds out of the "guts" bowl and lay out on a cookie sheet until they dry out. these will be good for making your own roasted pumpkin seeds! yum!

Here is how our pumpkin turned out! 

here is a NO MESS pumpkin decoration idea.  these are great if you have lil ones and they aren't old enough to help clean and carve a pumpkin! i found both of these items in the halloween decorating section of TARGET.

FOAM PUNKIN'

MR. POTATO HEAD PUMPKIN

slip on converse.

we all know (or if you don't...you do now!) that my little taylor is obsessed with converse. this is thanks to her dad.

here is our new obsession. slip on's.

for girlz ::
EASY STRIDER (raspberry/black).

for boyz::
EASY STRIDER (black/gray)


need i say more?

my crafty weekend finds.

i thought these were so cute! they are made by THE LITTLE EXPERIENCE, a company dedicated to making fun crafty things for kids.  I found these two cute stitch-it kits when i was out and about this weekend. this is something i am going to give as gifts and try with my tot when she gets a bit older.  (for 6 yrs +)

the two kits i had my eyes on were the STITCH-IT RACOON KEYRING KIT and the STITCH-IT BEAR KEY RING KIT !  these kits include pre-cut bear felt pieces, printed canvas and floss, ready to stitch together to make a cute keyring!  they are reasonably priced and a fun activity, and you end up with a cute little animal in the end! They also have KNIT-IT, BUILD-IT, and CREATE-IT items as well, for whatever you and your babes fancy! awww, what better way to get your tot moving creatively!

check out this cute SOCK MONKEY + FRIENDS book. you know those extra socks you have around the house that lost it's pair?  well now you have a use for them!!  you can make socks into stuffed-animal friends with this sock monkey craft kit by CHRONICAL BOOKS! it features step-by-step instructions for 9 unique sock creatures—including a cat, bear, pig, rabbit, elephant, and even a crocodile—plus basic sewing instructions for beginners and all the materials needed to create one adorable sock animal. the kit includes ::  instruction book, two colorful socks, stuffing, and two buttons. reccommended for 8+ to make, but the results can be an adorable animal for any age!!
i love this.

sweet potato pancakes!

 

WOW!  can you believe i already have a recipe for you?  well this one is a good one, if i do say so myself.

my tot has a hard time getting down veggies.  its not because i don't put them in front of her. so with plenty of reading i have found great ways to hide the veggies. shhhhh........

YOU NEED:

......................

1 CUP OF WHOLE WHEAT PANCAKE MIX
1 CUP OF MILK or WATER
1 EGG
1/4 TSP OF CINNAMON
1/2 CUP SWEET POTATO PUREE
1 TBSP VEG OIL
ALL NATURAL MAPLE SYRUP
1 CUP BLUEBERRIES (OPTIONAL)

-BLEND ALL INGREDIENTS IN MIXING BOWL TIL SMOOTH.

- TURN STOVE ON MEDIUM.
(i have a gas stove and i turn the heat up to 3)

- SCOOP PANCAKE MIX IN SKILLET AND FLIP TIL DONE.

- POUR THE MAPLE SYRUP ON TOP AND EAT!

......................

these pancakes come out almost cake-like and delish!  we couldn't quit eating ours!

would love to know how yours turns out!

x
-jenn

recipes for yer tot.

FOOD! you know you love it!  i do, but i don't think my babes does. so that is why i got this idea!!

i will be blogging about fun, healthy recipes for your tot. hopefully it will give you ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!  i feel like i am making the same thing all the time, so i thought this would be fun to share my recipes, recipes that i find, and our readers' recipes.  hopefully, i will learn something as well!!

if you have a recipe that you would like to submit, please EMAIL me and i will post!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


here is a fun way to keep your recipes cards for you AND your tot!

photo courtesy of www.aviedesigns.blogspot.com

avie gives a cute recipe card idea and some cute download-able cards for you to make your own recipe book!  Print them out and get ready!  I will have some good recipes for you and yer tot to fill them up soon!

thursdays fun finds.

check these adorable change purses from MUNCH MONEY. they are just the thing for your tot. (or you, whichever you prefer!) i thought this was a cute way to hold on to yer child's dinero!  they come in lime green, lilac, dark red, dark blue, light blue, and brown. too cute...now get munching!

awww, sweet lil' sarah + abraham. these plates caught my eye because you can personally design them for yer babes.  i mean, how cute is that!!??  they have a lot of OTHER PLATES you can choose from, but i loved that you can design the child to look like yer own. You click on the BOY or GIRL plate and it has a check lists of characteristics like : background color, hairstyle, hair color, eye shape, eye color, skin tone, and glasses and you add your child's name too!  You can also add a matching bowl to add to the fun!

stuck on the internet.

i get so lost in browsing the internet. it is like my creative mecca. i keep finding these great creative outlets, blogs, websites, and one thing turns into another and i have been browsing for 45 minutes. it overwhelms my thinker. i do come across some amazing finds.  here are some of them.

 w  w  w  .   j  a  n  e  l  e  n  i  .  c  o  m

great item to get organized.

 

too cute to not share. available at WORLD MARKET.

oops. i missed earth day.

ok. well i know i missed earth day...but isn't every day earth day??!!  well i wanted to share with you some products that i think you can have fun with and help save our planet at the same time. :: w i n k ::

heliscoopter

BUZZZZZZZ!!! taylor got this fun gift for her 2nd birthday from her pal COLE! its by a company called SPRIG and this eco-friendly toy is called dragonfly’s heli-scoopter !  its made by recyclable material and it is a 5 in 1 play-set! it includes a dragonfly, heli-scoopter/sand scoop, landing pad/sand sifter, and wildflower seeds. this eco-friendly playset is fun and can be used as your tot's garden tool and they can grow their own flowers too! there are so many other eco-friendly toys by SPRIG that you can check out here.  the website also has color sheets you can print and fun activities on their website for your tot!  We love it. Gooooo earth!

eco-options at home depot.

home depot is making it easier for you to make eco-friendly choices when you shop for your home.  they have created this great web page so that you can find out about products that make a difference.  You can learn where to dispose of your energy saving light bulbs, best way to be energy efficient, water conservation, and more.  you can even do a home efficiency audit to see where your household stands.  its worth the time to check it out.  even if you do one thing it will make a difference.

i found a whimsical green pomegranate.

  

GREEN POMEGRANATE is the perfect whimsical store. their products consists of vintage or recycled materials forgotten or unused. each hand taylored piece is made entirely of recycled cottons, vintage linens and other unique materials.  they don't only carry clothes...

they also carry cool unique gifts that are recycled or handmade as well!  

they have two locations in atlanta now - virginia highlands and serenbe, ga. 

if you are not in atlanta...don't fret. keep your eyes out for more stores to open! 

sugar booger.

nooooo...that's not my new pet name for you.  its this wonderful amazing product line by ORE'.

she has amazing products that she designs for you as well as your tots. she has home organizational items, pet products, and of course the sugar booger line for tots.

 

these trays are one of my new faves. it makes dinner time easy, and the food doesn't touch. (very important in my household!) You get the food tray, 6-ounce cup, fork and spoon. All items are non-toxic, post-industrial recycled melamine in their construction. the material that they use gives each tray set a one of a kind look! they are dishwasher safe but are not made for microwave use. (but you shouldn't be putting plastic in microwaves anyways!) ORE' states that "re-using a common material such as melamine that would otherwise be destined for landfill is a plus for the environmentally conscious and it's just plain good for the planet." 

well sugar booger, we agree.

ps. you can find these trays at GREEN POMEGRANATE in ATLANTA or order them ONLINE.

benedryl, tylenol, motrin, etc. RECALL.

ok...so normally im not so serious.  

today a friend of mine sent me an email about children's medicine recall.  i checked the products that i have in the cabinet and ALL 3 (Benadryl, Infants Motrin, & Infants Tylenol) were on the recall list!!

this inspired me to share this important information with you.  I have listed below where you can find out if the medicine that has been recalled, a link to get a coupon for another bottle, and a link to tell us how to dispose of the unwanted medicine properly.
  

 

...............................................................................................................

To see if your child's medicine is being recalled... CLICK HERE.

...............................................................................................................

If your medicine has been recalled, get a free coupon for another bottle... CLICK HERE.

...............................................................................................................

Thanks for Smart Disposal for starting a site to help us know how to properly dispose of unwanted medicines.  The first rule is DO NOT dispose in sink or toilets.  For directions on how to properly dispose of your unwanted medicines CLICK HERE. 

...............................................................................................................

i hope this helps!
x
-jenn

atlanta peeps.

Here are some events at DABBERDOO, one of my fave boutiques in Virgina Highlands that you need to pay attention to!!
........................................................................................................

march 26th & 27th
DABBERDOO and DAKOTA JR. are having a sale! you shouldn't miss this one!
(today & tomorrow!)

.........................................................................................................

april 21st & 22nd

Remember those cute silhouette that Taylor got done last year? Well the artist is coming back to DABBERDOO! 

(this is a photo of taylor's silhouette. disreguard the color in the pic.  the silhouette is b&w.

my camera did something weird when i took the photo.)

April 21st and 22nd from 1:30p-6:00p.

The cost is $25 for a one person sitting and you will receive two 5x7 matted silhouettes to take home that day!  

They make great Mother's Day gifts!  He can do individual or multiple children in each setting (there is an extra charge for multiple children in the silhouette), has frames available, and it only takes about 15 minutes. 

Make sure you stop by or call DABBERDOO to make an appointment. 

Phone: 866.968.4438

DABBERDOO'S physical addy:
1048 N. Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30306

HOURS: (9am - 5pm ET)

NOTE:
Im telling you, they are really amazing!  He cuts the silhouette out with scissors while you sit there. Its great for babies, toddlers, and older children! 

We are definitely getting ours done again this year!

n is for newborn.

some really good friends of mine just had a baby girl this past week, so it inspired me to do a newborn issue. there are so many great finds out there right now that are must have's. 

ok ok...maybe not must have's, but after you see them...you will want them! (wink) 

.........................................................................................................................

CONGRATS TO COURTNEY & ED 

and

SMOOCHERS TO BABY PAIGE!

......................................................................................................................... 

   

b is for bootie.

i cant get over how cute these newborn felt booties are from HUMBLEBEA . i wish my little one was still small so i could buy these for her. i love the design, the color, and the a-b-c's!

perfect for a gift or for your own lil' one. (0-3mo). they measure about 4 inches outside and 3 1/2 inches on the inside and there are no exposed seams to irritate babes lil' piggies. these just make me say...awwww. 

c is for clean bean baby.

check out this baby mat by CLEAN BEAN BABY.  this is made by local ATLANTA gal who is an on-the-go mom like me.  i think it is absolutely perfect for your babes.  

you can use it for an on the go changing mat or just a mod little mat to lay your babes on when you are out and about.  its cute, wipe-able, durable, and comfortable.  its light weight and easy to roll up and put in your tote. unfortunately i found it too late to use for my babes, but it will be perfect for a gift! (or when i have another tot!) right now you can order them online at www.cleanbeanbaby.com or you can find them at DABBERDOO in virginia highlands in ATLANTA.

t is for totebag

taylor's aunt and uncle gave her the cutest gift and i had to share it with you. if you take a look at the design on the tote, it looks like an adorable dragonfly.  take a closer look and the dragon fly is actually the letters in taylor's name!  

 debbie yennaco is the creative mind behind all of the precious critters. she can do all kinds of design's with your children's names.  you look on her list of designs and names and she will create something spiffy, just for you! she has everything... onesies, notecards and stamps, framed art, tote bags, blankets, pillowcases, etc. seriously, we cant get enough!! join her v.i.p. list and get member discounts!

n is for nook

this incredible company has a healthy baby in mind. NOOK SLEEP SYSTEMS have created a non-toxic infant mattress that has an air layer that fosters oxygen flow inside the mattress.

 

it has all-natural eucalyptus fibers, organic cotton, zinc, and polyester, and a unique pebble surface that promotes air circulation. not only are they fun looking, but they are healthy for our tots. that's a-ok in my book.  they also have crib sheets that match the flare of the underneath. its a little pricy, but seriously...your babe's health is worth it.

p is for paul frank. 

i came across these cute paul frank baby items while i was searching for things for taylor's birthday party. (she is having a paul frank bday par-tay this year!) first i found the cute booties and newborn cap (comes in pink for the girlies too!) you can bring yer babes home in style!

they also had these amazing diaper bags. it comes in blue, pink, or black. so fun! i want one!

If you are looking to give a gift...these bottle, bib, bootie packages are awesome too!

if you don't know paul frank. now you do.