December Thoughts

Holiday Giving - Where do I start?
Looking for a great gift this holiday?  Don't get one.  Some of the most meaningful gifts this year won't collect dust on a shelf or sit unponened in a drawer.  Giving charitable donations in somone's honor has gained a great amount of traction in response to hyped marketing and frenzied consumerism.  Start at Kiva or Unicef to get an idea of how great an impact you can have this year with your giving.

Hannukah - The Festival of Lights
The final candle has been lighted for Hanukah, but some of us would like to continue enjoying latkes, applesauce and fudge.  Hanukkah celebrates triumph over religious persection.  From traditions to politics, knowing one's history and roots has a profound affect on even the simplest of decisions. As the season closes, here is a chance to reflect with your family on the importance of how knowledge of history affects our decisions.

Are You a Christmas Super-Mama?
Target is offering a free taste of fun, hip holiday music until December 26th.  Visit their site to listen to the tunes online or download them as a zip file.  My favorite is from The Pinker Tones.  When you hear it, you'll know why

Feeling Beat? Prop your feet

Chocolate brown ottoman giveaway at Sammi's Blog of Life from Kirkland.  Oh, how I long to hide my son's toys in this utilitarian design wonder. 






Care to join me in the quest for foot comfort?  Go to http://www.wordsearchpuzzledreams.com/2010/12/kirklands-review-and-giveaway.html  Giveaway ends 12/18.

re Your Child's School Lunches Lackluster?

Let's face it; since peanut allergies emerged, our old stand-by has now become $10 and wishful thinking that the school is serving salad and fruit alongside the pizza and cheese sticks.   Did our  gusto for healthy lunches end two weeks after Labor Day?  As we rush down the aisles at Trader Joes, we wonder how often we can slip Tasty Little Crackers into our kids lunches and have them think its vogue. 

Need lunch ideas that won't send your kids straight to the lunch bartering table in hopes of fruit roll-ups? 

 

A few reminders for you as you work up the courage to entice your child away from the more processed and packaged foods (cited from http://busycooks.about.com)

• Actual time for eating lunch at most schools only lasts for 15 to 20 minutes and is filled with distractions. Make sure the lunch foods you pack are easy to eat, packed in easily opened packages, and don't require peeling or special tools.
• Small foods are not only easier for children to handle, but they are more fun to eat. Cut sandwiches into smaller pieces, use tiny tortillas for wraps and small sandwich buns, serve baby carrots and peel and cut fruit into smaller pieces to interest your child in the foods you pack.
  
• Salsa, hummus, bean dips, or fruit dips with baked chips and veggies or fruit are good lunchbox choices, since these foods contain more vitamins and fiber.
  
• If you make your own snack mixes, you can include healthy additions like dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels, and baked crackers. Kids love to munch on something crunchy and sweet or savory.  

For more great tips and recipies, visit Good Housekeeping's website:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/healthy/ideas-kids-school-lunches

 

 

 

October 5th through 11th is National Pet Peeve week

Cell phone drivers navigating two lanes with their blinkers on? Know-it-all mother-in-laws telling you to rub every ailment in tomato juice?  Television commercials that perpetuate the worst of every stereotype known to humanity?  Well, here's your week: a self-indulgent tweek devoted to snarky diatrabes. Blog, whine, tweet and correct the terrible syntax and grammar on your friend's facebook status updates.  This week only comes once a year!