YumSugar

Shadow or Not, These Sweet Treats Will Help Tots Celebrate Groundhog Day

LilSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:07:46 PST

While it may not be the most widely-celebrated holiday of the calendar year, Groundhog Day (Feb. 2) is a tradition that dates back to 1887, and acknowledges that it is a fun way to add some excitement to your lil one's week. Check out these five sweet treats to celebrate the coming Spring (or extension of Winter).

Fun fact . . . Did you know that Punxsutawney Phil has moved into the 21st century? If you text "Groundhog" to 247365 tomorrow, he'll text you back with his weather prediction!

It's Not Too Late to DIY These Charming Homemade Gifts!

Guest Writer — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:00:47 PST

Stephania and Colleen from Thursdays are back with a great holiday post to help you DIY your way to gift-giving success. Take it away, ladies!

If you still have some people left to get gifts for, but can't bear the thought of going shopping in the insanity right now, we are here to help! These handmade gift ideas pack tons of charm without taking up tons of time or money. Besides, who doesn't love getting a gift that someone has put a little love into?

Healthy Nibbles For Holiday Snacking

Heather Dale — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:51:37 PST

It's inevitable that the snack table is one of the most popular socializing zones in the house during the holiday season. Due to their close proximity to the television, treat-filled coffee tables are prime targets for unconscious nibbling - and who doesn't like snacking while watching a sporting event or a favorite Christmas movie? This year, try removing the bowls of candies and chocolates and replacing them with healthier snack options. Here are some of my favorites that are just as tasty, and your guests won't even know the difference!

Treats For Santa: 10 Sweet Christmas Cookies

Nicole Abbott — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:20:23 PST

Do your kiddos leave a milk and cookies snack for Santa? It's a tradition that's too cute to pass up. Tots light up with joy on Christmas Day as they catch a glimpse of all of the presents Santa has left them - and a cookie platter with nothing but crumbs! This holiday season, treat Santa to a delightful midnight snack with unique Christmas cookies to swoon over.

Feast your eyes on these 10 sweet Christmas cookies sold online; no baking required. They'll have you jiggling your belly and shouting "ho! ho! ho!" in no time, and they make great holiday gifts for anyone on your list!

Quick Fixes For When You Have Overindulged

Heather Dale — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:20:40 PST

While we'd all love to be more conscious of portion sizes to help reduce holiday weight gain, all it takes is a cheese ball here, and a pigs in a blanket there, and those innocent bite-sized holiday treats can produce an explosion of heartburn and bloating in your belly. If you went a little overboard at the hors d'oeuvres table (or the main course), and are now feeling the negative side effects, here are some quick remedies to help ease the pain.

Walk it off: No need for a brisk, speed-walking session, but around 20 minutes after your meal, a leisurely walk can assist in dispelling gas from your abdomen. What walking does is help to relieve overall intestinal pressure and therefore will reduce that uncomfortable bloating feeling. Walking also helps to get the blood flowing, which aids in the overall digestion process. Fresh air in itself can make you feel better too!

Keep reading for more tips.

How Far Would You Go to Get the Hottest Toys of the Season?

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:41:36 PST

We hate to say we told you so, but we warned you that they'd be the hot toys of the season. It's beginning to look like the Zhu Zhu pet crisis of 2009 all over again as desperate parents try to get their hands on the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer and Let's Rock Elmo. Amazon and the traditional brick and mortar toy stores are sold out of both, and parents are doing just about anything to secure them in time for the holidays.

Those with a desire to travel and an extra $780 on hand now have a new option. New York's posh Carlyle hotel (Suri Cruise has spent many nights in its luxe rooms) just introduced a special Santa’s Shopper package that guarantees the kiddos will wake up to either a Let's Rock Elmo or Leapfrog LeapPad on Christmas morning. The package includes a choice of toys, overnight accommodations, two drinks at the hotel's famous Bemelmans Bar, breakfast at the hotel restaurant, complimentary gift wrap (!), and shipping the gifts home (for an additional fee). Extreme, yes, but a mama's got to do what a mama's got to do, right?

Holiday Gifts and Stocking Stuffers Under $15!

YumSugar — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:10:47 PST

The holidays are a good time for food, but a bad time for our wallets. But don't worry! Here are 10 fun ideas for smaller gifts or stocking stuffers for all the food lovers on your list. This season, give the gift of kitchen tools and gadgets that minimize culinary dilemmas and maximize deliciousness. From colorful silicone spatulas ($10) to a mini ABC cookie cutter set ($12), these fun and affordable gifts are sure to be a huge help in the kitchen.

It's Go Time: 9 Beautiful Advent Calendars From Etsy

Natasha Dantzig — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:29:09 PST

Let the countdown begin! Part of the fun of the holiday season is the preparation and excitement leading up to the big day. Advent calendars have a long, storied tradition as a classic and fun way to spend the days leading up until Christmas, and tots love checking off one day at a time, eagerly anticipating that early morning celebration on December 25.

Keep reading for a selection of stunning handmade advent calendars from Etsy that will make the waiting a little more bearable for eager lil ones.

Lil Gift Guide: Great Gifts For 5-Year-Olds!

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:32:02 PST

How best to describe kindergartners? Tots with a lot of personality! No longer "lil ones," these 5-year-olds are at an age where they know what they want and they aren't afraid to tell you. Toys and activities that build on the skills they are learning at school will keep their hands busy and their minds moving.

FIJIT Friends ($40) may be one of the biggest sellers this holiday season with their ability to respond to different commands and dance moves that keep kids wanting to join in the party. If your child has control of your iPad, Angry Birds Card Game ($12) may be the ticket to giving them a break from the screen. Lego's line of city kits just keeps growing, and the City Forest Police ($80) is packed with enough things to build to keep fans busy for a long time. Bead Bazaar's My Butterfly Bead Kit ($23) is filled with more than 200 environmentally friendly, hand-crafted beads to make more than a dozen accessories. If your kid's going to be moving, why not make it an artistic experience? The Razor Graffiti Chalk Scooter ($74) features sidewalk chalk near its rear wheel so kids can look back on their path after they've reached their destination.

Lil Gift Guide: Great Gifts For 4-Year-Olds!

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:33:43 PST

By 4 years old, tots know what they like, and they're already forming their own wish lists for the holidays. Chances are that many of the items on that list are the hottest toys of the season - including the LeapFrog LeapPad and the VTech InnoTab, Lalaloopsy, and Hot Wheels Wall Tracks. If mama's looking for a few new ideas, we've got her covered. Check out our favorite finds for these preschoolers!

The Orb Factory's StoryCraft The Frog Prince ($20) allows for creative storytelling, as tots add shapes and jewels to a 10-page story book about the Frog Prince fairy tale. LeapFrog keeps expanding its popular Tag reading system to do more than just teach tots to read. The LeapFrog Solar System Adventure Pack ($14) uses the Tag stylus to teach lil ones about the solar system - exploring planets and educating tots about life beyond Earth. Exercise doesn't feel like a chore with Diggin's Wobble Deck ($45), which plays music and games while tots try to balance on the board. Mini American Idol fans will love First Act's Voice Rockrz Mic ($25) that not only changes the singer's voice, but provides drumrolls and applause. Kids will rule the neighborhood with Fisher Price's Power Wheels Stinger XT ($250), a motorized car with room for two.