Check out this snap-on play tray... can't say it's something I'd use that often, but a definite sanity saver for a road-trip family (or long daily carpool rides with the toddler in toe)! Turn any car seat or stroller into a plays pace with a sturdy tray for snacks and toys...
Another innovative children's product from StarKids.
How I wish I had a preschooler to put these on! Chuck Taylor® All Star® glittered low-top sneakers. Everything you love about All Stars, with all the gilded extras! A way hipper skip away from Lelli Kellys... joy. : )
I was planning a Sunday-night-in together with my husband (and a old Woody Allen film), and needed a simple not-so-ordinary dinner idea. My sister-in-law (thanks, Rivky!) gave me her always-awesome pizza dough recipe, and within 5 spare minutes- i spruced it up a bit to give Freida a fully nutritionally balanced meal in one slice of pizza, and a comfort-food treat for Manasseh. The Pizza Dough Recipe:
- 2 packets dry Yeast
- 1 cup lukewarm Water
- 2 teaspoons Sugar
- 5 cups Flour (I used 2 regular, 3 whole wheat)
- 1⁄2 teaspoon Salt
- 4 tablespoons Oil
- 1 cup Apple Juice
I used a small bowl to dissolve the yeast in the water, added the sugar, and let that sit and bubble. Meanwhile, I fitted my Mixer with the dough hook, and put together the rest of the ingredients, pouring the apple juice and yeast mixture in together and started the machine. Let it mix until there is no more dry flour, and then let it get kneaded a bit too. Oil a large bowl, put the dough in, and cover with a towel to rise.
When you are ready to make the pizza, cut your dough to separate it (it can make 3 medium pies), stretch the dough, set it onto a baking tray (or whatever you intend to bake it on), and poke holes with a fork. Layer the sauce and cheese, and bake for about 20-30 minutes on °350 (you may want to bake the dough alone for about 5 minutes before topping it if your like crisper pizza).
For Freida I steamed a bag of broccoli, mashed it with a fork, and mixed it up with the pizza sauce. I spread that on the pizza, topped with mozzarella cheese, sprinkled it with some salt and oregano - and she devoured it!! I froze the rest of that great broccoli sauce to use later (over pasta, pizza bagel etc.). You can do this with any vegetable - just steam, puree, and mix with the sauce!
For Manasseh, I cut up some of our favorite pizza veggies, some fresh basil (i had leftover from a pesto for shabbos), and topped with mozzarella, parmesan, salt, oregano, and some crushed red pepper flakes --- totally kicked! Threw together a salad, and viola!
dough after rising...
Broccoli sauce...
Finished pies...
If you have never heard of Wikki Stix - you're life as a mom is about to change...! Wikki Stix are a nontoxic patented invention providing hours of imaginative no-clean-up fun for kids (and parents!). Part pipe cleaner, part modeling clay - Wikki Stix can be twisted and turned into anything! Compact enough to take just about anywhere (car, restaurants, doctors office etc.), they can even go through the wash and come out just fine!!
Getting tired of the old and typical, far-too-ugly-to-display puzzle options for your toddler? Kid O has a high-design collection of wooden puzzles and activities for tots, based on the Montessori/Reggio educational philosophy. Can it really get any better than this?
1. Matching Shades Puzzle $14.99
