Entries Tagged 'Kids' ↓

The Chick-a-Dee Smoke alarm is a stylish and quirky new smoke alarm in the shape of the cute American Black-capped Chickadee perched on its branch. Like any smoke alarm, the Chick-a-Dee smoke detector is easily fitted to the ceiling. It boasts an impressive 1.5-year battery lifetime, as soon as smoke is detected an 85 db alarm signal is activated. When the battery goes dead, an alarm signal will be played so you will know when to replace the battery. Under normal conditions, a control light flashes once a minute. The Chick-a-Dee can be tested by pressing the test button.

The Chick A Dee smoke alarm is available in white, pink, blue and white/black. Dimensions are 17×17x12 cm. $69.00

www.dutchbydesign.com

Lately I’ve been in a crepe craze! Since discovering this charming children’s book “Crepes by Suzette” which is an enchanting story that teaches kids the geography of Paris and gives them a recipe for tasty crepes. (shared below) I’ve since learned they are incredibly easy to make and a favorite for breakfast served up with nutella and fresh berries! Crepes by Suzette $40.00 - Taryn Cox for THE WIFE.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Utensils: a big bowl, whisk, ladle, spatula, and a large frying pan
2. In the bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Beat in the milk. Then add the flour and mix until very smooth. Add the melted butter, sugar, and salt to the batter and blend well. It should be the consistency of very heavy cream. Add slightly more milk if necessary. (Alternatively, the mixing can be done in a blender or food processor.) The batter can be used immediately, but even better, cover and chill 1 hour or overnight.
3. Heat the pan and brush lightly with melted butter. Pour in a ladle-ful of batter (about 3 tablespoons). Quickly swirl the pan around so the batter spreads out thin. Cook over medium-high heat until the crepe is set and the edges are lightly browned and lift up easily, about 2 minutes. Flip it, spread it with your favorite filling, and cook for about another minute. Fold it in half, and then in half again, creating a triangle, then serve! (makes about 8 crepes) Bon appetit!

If your a parent who finds it extremely difficult to part ways with your children’s art work here’s a creative way to save it. Whether it’s your child’s wobbly handwriting or a darling drawing (Jigsaw Graphics can work with most images) this is fantastic idea for personalized thank-you notes. All you need to do is scan or photograph the artwork and email it and they letterpress your child’s designs. Allow 3-5 weeks for creation and delivery. The size of these note cards is 5.5″ x 4.25.” 30 Cards for $79.00.

www.jigsawgraphics.com

All cards can be found at Minted.Com

Rabbit Giclee Print (70 x 50 cm) 125.00 Pounds, Wild-Animals.nl

100% Cashmere Fox Crew Neck Sweater, $198.00, ChristopherFischer.com

Monogrammed Baby Bloomers, $28.00, CuteyBooty.Com

Boys Days of The Week Organic Cotton Underwear Set, $81.00 StellaMcCartney.Com

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This was my very favorite Christmas movie as a kid! I would watch it over and over and over again! Perfect to get your kids in the Christmas spirit! - Taryn Cox for THE WIFE

Two New York children know what they want for Christmas and come up with a scheme to make sure they get it. Ethan and his younger sister Hallie plan to get their parents back together for the holidays. First, they need to rid themselves of pesky Tony, a businessman who has taken an interest with their mother. With the help of mice, an ice-cream truck, a few telephone calls and the magic of Santa, their plan might just work.

Minted.Com has come up with the most darling idea for Mommy Calling Cards. Perfect for setting up those back to school play dates with your child’s new friends. I could only imagine juggling a child, backpack and purse all while trying to fish out your iPhone to add a new contact. What a breeze handing over one of these adorable calling cards would be. - Taryn Cox for THE WIFE

www.Minted.Com

With Summer ending and Labor Day around the corner what better time to whip up some tasty uber fancy S’mores. I first saw this idea on Oh Joy Eats and since have been noticing the many different varieties of gourmet marshmallows you could get creative with. First up is Whimsy & Spice which can be ordered online or found at Dean and Deluca (Soho Location) with their flavors: Caramel, Cardamom, Maple, Lemongrass, Chocolate and Rose Vanilla. Next is Plush Puffs which can be found at Whole Foods with wild flavors like: Maple Bacon, Vanilla Bean, Caramel Swirl, Chocolate Chip, Toasty Coconut, Peppi-Mint and Cinnamon.(Bonus - Most Plush Puffs are Glutten Free, Corn Syrup Free and Fat Free!) And last but not least is Butter Baked Goods that are sold at Joan’s on Third with homemade marshmallows in simple flavors like: Raspberry, Vanilla Mint and Coconut. - Taryn Cox for THE WIFE

Simply cut each fancy marshmallow in half, join the two halves together, then toast them with the chocolate and bottom graham cracker in the toaster oven. When it comes out, the marshmallows will be toasty and gooey…and the chocolate nice and melted. Top it with the 2nd cracker, and you’ve got a fancy marshmallow and chocolate extravaganza for your taste buds. The one photographed above is with rose vanilla, toasted coconut, and crisped rice chocolate, but you can make it simpler with plain marshmallows and solid dark or milk chocolate… or dark chocolate with sea salt — Oh Joy Eats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup Ketchup
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 Pounds Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• Kosher Salt and Pepper
• Canola Oil for The Grill
• 6 Ears Corn, Shucked
• 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter, Cut into Pieces
• 2 Scallions, Sliced

Directions

1. Place twenty 8-inch wooden skewers in water to soak. Heat grill to medium-high.
2. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Set aside.
3. Slice the chicken lengthwise into twenty ½-inch-thick strips. Thread each strip onto a wooden skewer. Season with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
4. Lightly oil the grill. Cook the chicken, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, basting with the ketchup mixture during the last 2 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, grill the corn, turning occasionally, until slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Cut the kernels off the cobs, place in a medium bowl, and toss with the butter, scallions, and ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Serve with the chicken. - Real Simple Magazine

* This recipe is great for kids, so easy to make and perfect for grilling outside during Summer. Did I mention it’s delicious??

www.31philliplim.com

Los Angeles has a reputation for fantastic weather and an epic spread of land, but rarely do you get to experience the two unadulterated while nursing a cocktail. At the Yamashiro Farmers Market, however, every Thursday atop a peak in the Hollywood Hills, visitors can take in Los Angeles on a hot night with sweeping views of the sparkling grid, along with a few other California specialties: fresh produce and artisanal prepared foods, plus our greatest export alongside Hollywood — wine.

Set in the parking lot outside Yamashiro, the majestic CalAsian restaurant, patrons can stroll from booth to booth, sampling everything from Nicholas Family Farms’ fresh juices such as mandarin and grapefruit, to buying ripe roses from Eufloria, a sixth-generation flower-farming business. There are also food trucks, Last week was the Cool Haus and Heirloom Catering Trucks. You can purchase your own wine (in moderation, please) from a variety California vineyards (along with some French and Italian pours).

But maybe most popular of all is the Yamashiro Grill stand, which hawks street tacos spilling over with braised short ribs, hoisin duck confit (My Favorite) or miso-sake-marinated black cod, with sides such as wasabi guacamole and ginger salsa.

Yamashiro Farmers Market started back in March 2010 and has been a hit ever since with the locals. So next Thursday evening grab the family and come enjoy the sweeping city views, shop for your weekly produce and grab dinner while enjoying some music! - LA Times

Visit The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles April 11 through September 6, 2011 to see more than 40 different butterflies and an array of plants. They take up residence every summer for our much-anticipated seasonal exhibit, the Pavilion of Wings. Wander through a unique changing and growing ecosystem. Witness wondrous free-flying creatures interacting with plant life and with each other and emerge with a better understanding of the environment needed for the survival of these spectacular animals.

By no means a static exhibit, the pavilion showcases the fascinating dance between butterflies and moths and the plants that surround them. These life forms have refined their impressive interaction over the course of millions of years. You’ll be able to see, up close, how butterflies obtain nectar from flowers. You’ll witness caterpillars as they feed on plant leaves and go through the process of their transformation into adult butterflies. Various butterflies are present at different points during the season and the plants continue growing and changing throughout the process. This means that you can visit the Pavilion of Wings throughout the summer and have a different experience every time.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 763-DINO

www.nhm.org

Belle Heir was created out of our love of fine vintage and in appreciation of the
care, quality and attention to detail that once went into the construction of clothing: hand-stitching, smocking, pin-tucks, pleating, embroidery and button-work. They have sought out the most unique and original pieces from this lost age of elegance and offer you these treasures to become your child’s own, one-of-a-kind keepsakes or beautiful gifts for those you love. Their focus is on clothing for newborns to five year olds, with an emphasis on fine cottons, linens, silks and soft woolens.

www.BelleHeir.Com

Parents traveling with kids are probably all too familiar with the grimacing faces of fellow passengers when you board a flight with a baby or toddler… It’s enough to make any new parent feel apprehensive about traveling.

My daughter Violet was born three years go, right around the time my husband’s work was due to take him around the globe. Not wanting to be apart for so long we decided to travel together, so at 3 weeks old Violet had her passport and we were packing our bags… and we haven’t looked back since!

Saying that, traveling with a baby isn’t what I’d call ‘easy’, but there are things you can do that make it a lot easier. Here are my top ten tips to making journeys with little ones bearable, even enjoyable!

1. Routines are key! While everything around them is changing keeping to a routine helps to make your baby feel secure in their new environment and adjust faster to time zones. It also helps avoid those tired/hungry melt-downs! If it’s bedtime or naptime at home then it’s sleep time on the plane too. Bring diapers, pajamas and their favorite cuddly toy and make it clear it’s time to sleep. When you land, adjust this routine to the new time zone. Sticking to it can be hard but persevere as over time it really does pay off.

2. Consider travel plans when investing in key baby equipment, particularly your stroller. Go for a compact, light-weight, fully collapsible one. I recommend a sling for very young ones, which allows you to carry your baby but be hands-free at the same time. BabyBjorn does a brilliant one.

3. Travel with your own car seat. It’s a pain but better than arriving somewhere and finding there isn’t one or it’s the wrong size. When you check-in ask them to bag it in plastic or pay to have it wrapped by machine. Otherwise they get battered, dirty and often wet when stowed.

4. Organize your hand luggage ready for security checks. Sounds silly but you’ll have your hands full with baby, removing coats & shoes, folding down the stroller etc, so make life easier by putting lap-tops and liquids within easy reach. Plus wear easy to remove footwear!

5. Bring a change of clothes in your hand luggage - for you as well as your baby. Spillages, leaky diapers, sicky-babies… there’s nothing worse than a long haul flight wearing soiled or wet clothes!

6. Don’t fall into the sugar trap! Tempting as it may be to give sweet treats to toddlers to keep the peace, avoid at all cost! Sugary snacks, juices & sodas make them more over-excited and less likely to behave. Bring a good stock of healthy snacks and keep them hydrated with regular drinks of water. Bringing your own beaker cup helps avoid spillages.

7. Don’t reply on airlines to provide healthy food. It doesn’t matter which airline or class you fly, kids food always seems to be junk and usually full of high-sugar snacks. Try to cook up one meal to bring with you - something simple like veggie pasta. There are great lunch boxes designed for kids-on-the-go - invest in a fun one.

8. Bring a good selection of toys and activities. Pack a ‘bag of tricks’ full of little things for them to play with on the plane, plus some good books. Coloring pens and children’s magazines are excellent too. Anything they can play sitting down! Bring one DVD for long flights – but save it for emergencies!

9. If you are staying in a hotel phone in advance and put in a list of requests. Hotels are usually happy to provide basic baby equipment. If you know people where you are going, beg & borrow whatever you can to make life easier. The less you have to carry the better!

10. Make it exciting! If you are relaxed and enthusiastic your child will most likely follow your lead. Things will go wrong sometimes but try your hardest to stay calm in front of your baby. Chat to your toddler about your travel plans. Get excited together about the trip to the airport, the plane, the hotel and the prospect of a new bed/crib to sleep in. Do some research into fun things to you can do when you get there. There are lots of websites and baby-blogs with good city guides and chat to hotel staff for suggestions.

Happy Travels! - Chloe Buckland

www.OscarDeLaRenta.Com

For More Info visit: www.behance.net

Twenty-one revamped, tongue-in-cheek, name-dropping nursery rhymes, This Little Piggy went to Prada is the must-have gift for yummy mummies. Politically incorrect, utterly frivolous and lots of fun. If the Sex and the City girls had a baby shower, it would be top of the gift list! ”This Little Piggy Went to Prada”, $19.99, Available for Purchase at Amazon.Com

Staying connected to kids that are in school all day takes some creativity. Meaningful conversations are all the more important if you are juggling work and family and have limited time for leisurely chatter. The two savvy women behind ‘kids off the couch’ have discovered a reliable and inspirational way to guarantee some real quality time with their kids.

In between birthday parties and sporting events, they slip their family a little culture. But the medicine goes down easy because first they show the kids a great movie. The Kids Off The Couch concept is idea is to show a movie and then get off the couch and go experience something related to the film. Screening “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” gives context to a planetarium visit and always opens the door to a discussion about how it feels for an alien (or a kindergartener) to be away from home. You will see how watching “Bend it Like Bechham” is the perfect entree to an Indian meal and a conversation about friends from different cultures.

Each week, ‘Kids off The Couch’ offers a new, family-tested adventure. Sign up for their free weekly newsletter and cruise through their online archives to find new ideas for bonding time with your family. It’s like talking to your most resourceful girlfriend. One less thing to worry about, your weekend planning duties are done. Right now, the adventures are inspired by Los Angeles events and activities, but New York and National editions are launching in September. - MommyTracked

www.KidsoffTheCouch.Com