Doc McStuffins Entertains and Educates in “Friendship is the Best Medicine”

 Disney, Entertainment, For the Kids, For Toddlers, Reviews  1 Response »
Apr 112013
 

Thanks to Disney for providing us with a copy of this DVD.

Doc McStuffins: Friendship is the Best Medicine

Disney Junior’s Doc McStuffins

From the very first time that we took Bubbles to see her pediatrician (at age 1 week), she cried.  She cried when the nurse came in to get her measurements, she cried when the doctor came in to see her, cried while waiting for shots, and cried during the shots.  Crying didn’t really let up much until we were in the car and she realized that we weren’t going back in.

I thought it would end by her 1 year checkup, but it didn’t.  Nor did it end at 15 months, 18 months, or 21 months.  Yep.  Lots of tears, every time.  Each time the flow would grow shorter, but they were always there.

It was around her 21 month appointment that we discovered Doc McStuffins on Disney Junior.  I don’t remember exactly how we found it; we may have just been a little slow to change the channel after one of her other shows.  But from the start she showed a lot of interest.  If you’re not familiar with the show it centers around “Doc” McStuffins, a 6-year-old that is able to speak with toys and stuffed animals.  Her mom is a doctor of people and Doc has become a doctor of toys.  Along with Hallie the hippo, Stuffy the dragon, Lambie the (you guessed it) lamb and Chilly the snowman, she runs a clinic to fix any toy boo-boos that may arise. Continue reading »

Celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week!

 For Teens, For the Kids  No Responses »
Apr 082013
 

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Tour a Local National Boys & Girls Clubs of America Program This Week

After School Programs From BGCA

I’m mentioned a few times that I grew up in a very small town in Maine.  To give you some perspective on just how small, there are roughly 1400 people living there today.  There is a grocery store, two gas stations, a diner, a pizza place, and a handful of other random stores.  So, you know, small.

What we didn’t have were many after-school options.  If you weren’t playing a sport or didn’t have a job then there wasn’t much to do.  Fortunately most kids had parents that made sure where they were and what they were up to, but that wasn’t the case in every situation.  And regardless of checked in on, or not, it would have been great to have someplace to go where we could participate in fun activities, reinforce the skills and behaviors we learned in school, and to be active outside of the 20 minutes of recess we had each day. Continue reading »

10 Book Suggestions for International Children’s Book Day

 For the Kids, For Toddlers, Holidays  1 Response »
Apr 022013
 

10 Childrens Books for International Book Day

Today is International Children’s Book Day.  It is celebrated on or around April 2nd, as that is the birth date of Hans Christian Andersen.  (Did you know he is the one whom originally wrote The Little Mermaid and The Emperor’s New Clothes?)

Bubbles still continues to demonstrate a love for reading and we’re happy to indulge her in it.  She will sit down and read to herself a few times each day, and then we’re usually recruited to read or be read to at least once or twice.  I had hoped we’d make it over to the library today to check out a couple of new books as a way to celebrate, but the day kind of got away from us before we could make it over.  Instead we’ll honor the day by reading our current favorites a few extra times.  I hope you’ll have a chance to read with your kiddos today, as well!

10 Of Our Current Favorite Books

  1. The ABC’s Of I Love You
  2. Where Is Baby’s Puppy? (any of the Karen Katz books)
  3. Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch
  4. My First Look & Find: Cars 2
  5. Kiss Kiss
  6. My Little Word Book
  7. Sleepy Me
  8. Toy Story 3
  9. My First Book of Numbers
  10. Look & Find: Minnie Mouse

And check out 15 of our favorite board book for toddlers!

What are your favorite children’s books?

Making Easter Special With Unique Easter Baskets

 Family Fun, For Teens, For the Kids, For Toddlers, Holidays  7 Responses »
Mar 202013
 

Thanks to Hershey’s for providing us with a basket of treats.
Making Easter Memories with Hershey's

Create Easter Memories to Last a Lifetime

Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays.  It’s in the spring so normally we had a bit of sunny, warm weather (though in northern Maine snow on Easter wasn’t out of the question) so when my brothers and I would wake up we’d find the sun shining through our windows and spotlighting dozens of eggs and other little treats scattered across the floor.  An empty basket was always by the foot of each of our beds and we’d follow the trail down the hall, down the stairs, and all through the house, collecting jelly beans and chocolates as we went.

Making Easter Memories

It’s a tradition that I’ve been excited to share with my own family.  Last year was the first year that Bubbles was mobile and interested enough to toddle around and collect a few eggs in her basket.  She was delighted with the entire process so I think this year will be twice as fun for her.  She’s already talking about the Easter bunny, baskets, eggs, and chocolate.  It was very exciting for her to already have receive one basket.  As it is she loves when the delivery folks knock on our door; she has such fun “helping Mom” open boxes.  So when we recently opened a box that contained an Easter basket full of yummy Hershey’s treats she was extra excited. Continue reading »

Fast and Fun Breakfast & Brunch Ideas for Kids

 For the Kids, For Toddlers, Recipes  1 Response »
Mar 182013
 

French Toast and Pancake Recipes for Kids

It always seems that breakfast is one of those meals that is almost always the same.  Yogurt and a piece of toast, some scrambled eggs with a couple strips of bacon, pancakes, cereal – whatever it is, I feel like once we find something we enjoy that fills us up for the morning we tend to stick with it.  Habit and routine help us get our morning started and keep everyone on schedule.

Every once in awhile, though, it’s nice to break out of the rut and add in some new options.  On the weekends we have a bit more time and try things like different breakfast casseroles, omelets, Eggs Benedict, and things like that.  But during the week to help add variety, yet still get our picky eater to eat, we sometimes turn to frozen products to help speed up our prep.  And because breakfast for us is mostly about getting Bubbles to eat something I really like the “mini” frozen foods, like the new Aunt Jemima Lil’ Griddles.  They have mini pancakes, mini blueberry pancakes, and french toast sticks. Continue reading »

 Older Entries  Newer Entries