The winner is . . .

Thanks to everyone for entering the Happy Green Bee Giveaway at Thriving Babies. I rolled the virtual dice on random.org and #1 is the winner! Since Heather was the first to post a comment, that means she WON!

Congratulations, Heather. I hope your child enjoys the yummy organic leggings. I'm sure HappyGreenBee.com will be another great resource for you to recommend to your clients, too!

Enjoy,
Rebecca Wolf

Happy Green Bee Giveaway

I am so excited to tell you about this Giveaway! Happy Green Bee, manufacturer of organic, children's clothing, is offering a FREE pair of leggings in the size and color of your choice to the Winner of this Giveaway.

You're probably wondering, "Gee, how difficult is it to enter?" Well, just leave a comment below and you're in, baby! It doesn't get much easier than this to have FREE organic clothing delivered to your doorstep.

Winner will be chosen at random via random.org by end of the day on Sunday, June 14th! Be sure to check the blog next week to see if YOU are the Giveaway Winner.

Good luck to you, from my little Happy Bee (did I tell you how much she loves her HGB clothes)!
Rebecca Wolf

Happy Green Bee Review

One day, I saw my friend's daughter in the cutest little striped outfit. I said, "Hey, where did you get that from?"

She said, "It's from Happy Green Bee. They have the sweetest clothes for kids AND they are all organic cotton."

So, I checked it out. And she was right. The thing I love best is that these clothes are great for boys AND girls. Not only are these clothes a great bargain for ORGANIC cotton, but you can buy them and use them again on your younger kids regardless of gender. I don't know how they do it -- the designs are SO cute but they don't scream "monster truck" for boys or "pretty in pink" for girls. Ingenious!

I really admire their mission, too: "To create cheerful gender-free organic kids clothing with sustainable earth friendly manufacturing practices in an effort to meet and increase the demand for organic children's clothing that not only looks and feels great but is contributing in positive ways to the welfare of our planet."

I ordered the solid leggings because Ostara is on the lean side and I thought these would fit her well. As soon as the package arrived, I tore into it and was delighted to find these adorable pants with the Happy Green Bee logo embroidered on the backside.

I showed the leggings to Ostara and she excitedly pointed to the bee.
"Who 'dat?" she asked.

"It's a little bee just for you," I said. "These pants are for you."

She immediately started stripping so she could try them on. Needless to say, these leggings are now a staple in my daughter's wardrobe and often requested. She loves that little bee and when I see it, I feel pretty good too. What a good investment for keeping my child, and my planet, chemical-free.

I'm so HAPPY with my Happy Green Bee clothes, that we are going to be holding a Giveaway for a pair of Happy Green Bee Leggings next week.

Stay tuned for details on how to enter!

Enjoy,
Rebecca

Dora Birthday Party Fun

Here is a summary of the Dora the Explorer party we did for Ostara's birthday. The appetizers and crafts were for the kids who arrived on time, then we commenced with the games.

Appetizers:
taco ships and salsa or guacamole
bean dip (1/2 package of cream cheese, heated with one can of refried beans, and half a jar of salsa mixed in when it cools)

Crafts:
Beaded bracelets on cord
Coloring pages from Nick Jr.
Made maracas/egg shakers

Games:
Pin bracelet on Dora (blindfolded) from Party City
Play Dora, Dora, boots (like Duck, Duck, Goose)
Used shakers for a Mariachi Circle Dance

Entree
Turkey and ham rolled up in tortillas
Mexican Rice Salad
Cut up fruit
Drinks

Just as we were ready to put candles on the cake, I noticed they were missing and said, "But where is the candle for Ostara's cake?"

Swiper appears and says, "I hid them on a far away island where you'll NEVER find them," and then laughed and ran away

"Let's all help look for Ostara's birthday candle." I said.

We passed out backpacks (with map, puzzle piece, and maracas) WATCH OUT for STARS along the way.

How will we know how to get to the island? (MAP)
Say it with me, "Puzzle Point, Balloon Bridge, Treasure Island"

We put puzzle together, which was a cut up Dora poster that said follow the STARS.

We met a TROLL at Balloon Bridge and had to answer a riddle to pass: you wear it on your back and it holds lots of things. (Watch out for stars, they were scattered all over the ground.)

The reward for answering the riddle and crossing the bridge was a helium star balloon for each child!

We also picked up the lollipops from Lollipop Trail and went to Treasure Island.
At the top of our climber, we find a TREASURE BOX with a sleeping (stuffed) BEAR on top of it.

"Oh no, how are we going to wake up the bear?" (check backpack and find maracas)

Get to treasure chest. I take it and say, "Oh No, it won't open. What do we need to say?" (ABRE)

We then went back inside and sang to the birthday girl. Andrew made a delicious homemade ice cream cake with oreo ice cream on the bottom, crushed oreos in the middle with chocolate sauce and vanilla on the top. It was frosted with cool whip.

Each child left with a goody bag filled with tattoos, chocolate coins, dora pencils, stickers, a helium balloon, and a certificate saying "You Did It" from Nick Jr.

Another Treat

I am writing this post as I sample the pleasures of my favorite candy bar: a Symphony with almonds and toffee chips. Don't know why, but this one just does it for me.

Anyway, I had the sheer pleasure of enjoying a music concert at Rochester's Lilac Festival last night. Granted, I haven't been to many musical concerts since I had children. We saw Bill Cosby at the Seneca Niagara casino last year, thanks to my sister-in-law, who scored us some free tickets. Man, my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard, but I don't really count that as a music concert.

Rickie Lee Jones put on an amazing show, albeit far too short. We were afraid we might get rained out, and of course, it was an outdoor concert. As luck would have it, the skies were partly cloudy and there was a stiff wind, but no precipitation during Rickie's act.

She started with Weasel and the White Boys Cool. She sang some songs from her yet to be released album, and her newest one, The Sermon on Exposition Blvd. Half way through the concert, I shut my eyes, leaned back in my fold-up camping chair, and just listened to her sing to me like I was the only person in the world. I felt the sun warm my face and the wind brush my hair.

Rickie was singing Horses from the Flying Cowboys album, one of my favorites. She sang it for her daughter and in honor of Mother's Day. As I was listening to her lyrics, I felt this rush of hope and love. She sang, "That's the way it's gonna' be little darlin'. We'll go riding on the horses in the end. Way up in the sky little darlin'. And if you fall, I'll pick you up, I'll pick you up."

I thought, "Man, isn't that something a mom would say?"

I want so much to protect my girls from anything harmful or negative. I want to shield them from pain and make their lives easier than mine was. But I can't. I can't live someone else's life or soak up all of the badness for them. The only thing I can do is be a model for them of a loving, caring person who stands up for what she believes in and takes care of her own.

Sometimes I feel like too much of a nervous Nellie. I'm always saying, "Don't do this. Don't do that, you might hurt yourself." Rickie was a wild one but can still express her affection for her daughter without being overprotective. Maybe there is something for me to learn here. Maybe I can just trust that my daughters have decent judgement and can pick themselves up once in awhile. Maybe I can just concentrate on enjoying their fleeting childhood years and celebrate them for who they are, and not who I want them to be.

Maybe . . . .

Rebecca Wolf

Happy Mother's Day!

I just had to share with you what my daughter (with the help of my husband) wrote on our "Magic Chalk Board":

"Dear Dr. Who,

My mom wants you to come visit her.

Love, Arianna
P.S. Can you take her for a ride in your time machine?"

FYI, Arianna writes to her favorite characters on the chalk board and over night, they magically write back to her. So far, she's written to: Morgan le Fay (from the Magic Tree House books), Yoda, Obi Wan, Zunar J5 and Cerberus, the 3-headed dog that guarded entrance to Hades in Greek mythology ...

Anyways, her message was supposed to be my Mother's Day gift (that and the roses, candy, and pancake breakfast). We'll see if Tom Baker shows up on my doorstep anytime soon.

Hope you enjoyed your special day (even if it was just created as a ploy by the card companies to get us to buy more cards)!
Rebecca

Mother's Day Brunch Ideas

I run a Montessori-inspired preschool program (see http://SibleyCenter.com) and our class created a Mother's Day Tea together for all our wonderful and supportive moms. Here is an easy recipe you can use if you'd like to create a Mother's Day Brunch for your special mama!

BASIC QUICHE

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (it's usually Havarti or Swiss in most recipes, but I have used cheddar and monterey jack with success)
* 4 large eggs
* 1 1/2 cups milk (low-fat works well but half and half makes it richer)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* dash nutmeg

Creative Additions (base your choices on mom's favorite foods, of course):
* asparagus or broccoli or even dandelion greens
* mushrooms or tofu or chunks of ham/turkey
* tomatoes and onions
* I've even made a Polynesian quiche with rice, water chestnuts, pineapple and chicken in it!

Preparation:
Steam, saute or cook your veggies and other additions, as desired.

You can make a pastry crust, buy one, or go crustless.

Arrange vegetables and shredded cheese in pie dish.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour mixture over the vegetables. Place the filled pie shell/dish on a large cookie sheet to catch any drips.

Place in the oven and cook for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serves 6 to 8.

Add coffee, tea, or orange juice (mimosas are extravagant too).
Consider adding a fruit cup or baked good.
Place on a serving tray with a flower in a vase and surprise mom with breakfast in bed!

Enjoy,
Rebecca Wolf

Homemade Gifts for Mother's Day

When Mother's Day rolls around, kids want to show their moms just how special they are. Store-bought gifts and cards are nice, but they lack that personal touch. Something made just for Mom has much more sentimental value, and kids don't have to spend much money (if any) on it.

Even toddlers can make Mother's Day crafts with a little help. Here's a sampling of things kids can make for Mom.

Framed Photos

Every mother loves to look at pictures of her kids. So why not pick out a favorite picture or yourself with Mom and create a beautiful frame for it? There are many ways you can go about making photo frames.

One of the cheapest and simplest ways to make a picture frame is to cut one out of paper. Construction paper, card stock and thick scrapbooking paper are good choices. Or, if you want to make the frame even sturdier, use corrugated cardboard. Just make sure the opening in the middle is large enough to show the part of the photo you want to display, and make the frame any shape you like. Decorate with paint, glitter and stickers. I've even used scraps of fabric before to make a frame quilt! Add a magnet to the back for easy display on the refrigerator.

You can also make frames out of craft sticks. Just glue the ends of four sticks together to make a square, and decorate with markers or paint. Or if you prefer, buy a plain photo frame and decorate it as you please. I've seen basic photo frames at Jo-Ann's for $1 in the shape of flowers, trains and castles. Michael's also has dollar frames that you can embellish with craft paper or fabric.

Candle Holders

It's easy to make a lovely candleholder out of a small jar. Larger baby food jars work well for tealights and votives. Pint jars can hold votives or small pillar candles.

To decorate, use tissue paper. You can find so many patterns now, you can make your candle holder look like stained glass! Mix equal parts white glue and water, and stick the paper onto the outside of the jar, stopping below the rim. Use pieces of different colors to create a stained glass look. Cut some shapes out of the paper if you like, arrange them in a pretty pattern, and glue on top of the larger pieces. Coat with the glue mixture to seal, and let dry.

Bath Salts

Want to help Mom pamper herself on her special day? Make her some homemade bath salts. They will help her relax and leave her skin feeling great.

Just mix 3 cups of Epsom salts, 2 cups of baking soda, and 1 cup of table salt. Add about twenty drops of a fragrant essential oil. Lavender, sandalwood and chamomile are good choices. Mix thoroughly. Present the bath salts to Mom in a pretty jar tied with a ribbon. If you add a loofah, some bath gel and moisturizer, you can turn this gift into a spa basket!

Decorative Flowerpot

Moms adore flowers. Creating a unique flowerpot with a plant you've grown for her is sure to bring a smile to her face.

Small unglazed terra cotta flowerpots are easy to paint on. Use acrylic paint to make a pretty scene or design. If you don't have a flowerpot, a styrofoam cup will do. You can decorate it with markers, glitter glue and stickers. When your creation is dry, fill it with potting soil and plant a few seeds. Try to do this a week or two before Mother's Day so the plant will have time to start growing. Don't forget to give it plenty of sun and water. If you are short on time, craft stores have a wide selection of silk flowers you can use.

Mom is sure to appreciate these simple yet thoughtful crafts. They will give her fond Mother's Day memories for years to come!

Enjoy,
Rebecca Wolf

Craft Ideas for Your Toddler

Getting a toddler to sit still can be a near-impossible feat. They're constantly exploring the world around them. That's a good thing, but sometimes they need some creative downtime. That's where toddler crafts come in.

Crafting is great for toddlers for a number of reasons. It can help them develop longer attention spans. Most crafts help develop hand-eye coordination. And young children can benefit from learning how to follow simple instructions. Here are some craft ideas that your toddler can do (with supervision).

Modeling Clay Magic

Every kid loves to work up a piece of clay and make something unique. Although Play Doh is ubiquitous, I prefer to buy modeling clay because it actually strengthens your child's fine motor muscles. Beeswax takes even more warming up, which again, provides a great work-out for those developing fingers! Modeling clay and beeswax can be used again and again.

If your child wants to preserve a work of art, consider using Air Dry Clay. It doesn't give off any toxic fumes (like Sculpey and Fimo are rumored to do) and you can have even more fun painting it once it dries in about 24 hours. We have even tried making our own beads for one of a kind necklaces.

Craft Stick Puppets

Puppets are fascinating to toddlers. Creating their own puppets is easy, and it's lots of fun. All you really need are some craft or popsicle sticks, construction paper, safety scissors, markers and glue.

Help your toddler cut animal shapes out of construction paper. He can draw faces and other details with washable markers. Glue the stick to the back of the shape, let it dry, and you're ready to put on a puppet show. If you want to make more elaborate puppets, try cutting shapes out of foam. Glue on a pom pom for the nose, and add some googly eyes. My daughter just made a beautiful green dragon (we folded the looong body like a fan) with one stick under the head and another one at the tail. We decorated it with markers and were both pleased at how well it turned out.

Paint with Pudding

Kids love to fingerpaint, but it's so messy. And there's also the concern about them eating the paint. Even if the paints are nontoxic, it can make cautious parents uneasy. The solution? Let them paint with pudding!

You don't need different flavors to make different colors. Just use one serving of plain vanilla pudding, divide it up into small portions, and add food coloring to create various shades. Give your child a paper plate to use as a canvas for his masterpiece. When he's done, he can eat it with no worries.

This is also a great activity for practicing letter formation. It's not as tactile as a sand tray but far more tasty!

Design a T-Shirt

If your toddler sees you sewing or painting clothes with fabric paint, she may want to try her hand at designing clothes. But needles are small and sharp, and fabric paint is messy. What to do? Break out the markers!

Kids can have a blast decorating a plain white t-shirt with colorful markers. If you use washable ones, they can create a design, wear it, and start over after you wash the shirt. If a permanent design is desired, however, you'll have to let him use non-washable markers. You can avoid a mess by covering the work area with newspaper and putting a smock on your toddler.

Placemats

Making placemats out of contact paper is very easy. Have your toddler cut shapes out of construction paper and glue them onto a whole piece with a glue stick. He can add detail with markers or embellish with stickers. When he's done, place the artwork on a piece of contact paper, sticky side up. Place another sheet of contact paper on top, sticky side down.

Most toddlers will only have the patience to make one placemat at a time. But he can make another one tomorrow, continuing until there are enough for the whole table. He'll be so proud to know that everyone sees his artwork at every meal! These also make cute gift ideas for family members and friends.

Crafting can help your toddler learn important skills while keeping him quietly occupied. Whether it's a rainy day or he's just feeling creative, seize the opportunity to let him channel his imagination into something you can both admire. Stay tuned for more ideas on how to create a Montessori-inspired environment for your toddler to thrive in!

Enjoy,
Rebecca Wolf