Category: Fun for Kids


Mar
2014

Simply Super Sugar Cookies!! Sugary Bonus, Sweet Tips And Tricks!!

categories: Desserts, Fun for Kids, Recipes

Ready to pull your hair out when you need to make cutout sugar cookies?? Take a deep breath, I have a never fail recipe and some great tips to ensure cookie success every time!! No tears! And they are delicious!!!

Ever eat a beautifully decorated cookie that tastes like cardboard?? Yup! Make sure your cookies taste amazing!
Ever eat a beautifully decorated cookie that tastes like cardboard?? Yup! Make sure your cookies taste amazing!

I am no cookie connoisseur, but I have learned a few tricks along the way that I wish someone would have told me!!!

#1 Always place cutouts on parchment paper lined cookie sheets!
This eliminates scraping cookies off of the sheet, breakage and bottom burning!

#2 Always set a cold cookie sheet on dough while you are working!
If the dough gets warm, it get sticky and sticks to the rolling pin and work surface. Not to mention, the cookies will not rise when baked!

#3 Always switch to the dough hook after creaming butter and sugar. The dough can bend or break your beater arm! It gets way to heavy!

#4 Always let the cookies cool before trying to use icing or decorate!
If the cookies are not completely cool the icing will run and waste your hard work! They will taste good, but look a mess!

Simply Super Sugar Cookies
Makes 3 dozen 2-1/2 inch cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp. milk

1 cup powdered sugar for work area

Directions:

Preheat oven 350
Cream butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
Add egg and milk, beat.
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt .
Mix on low dry mixture into bowl a little at a time.
Beat until it pulls away from bowl.

Refrigerate dough in 2 balls wrapped in waxed paper for 3-4 hours.
Brush rolling pin and work area with powdered sugar.

When making sugar cookies try using powdered sugar instead of flour for your rolling pin and work area!!
When making sugar cookies try using powdered sugar instead of flour for your rolling pin and work area!!

Roll out 6 inch ball into an oval 1/4 inch thick.
Cut with cookie cutters.
Place cutouts 1″ apart on parchment covered cookie sheets.
Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden!

The difference between a slight golden finish on the left and a crispy overcooked version was. 50 seconds! Watch them closely for the last minutes!!
The difference between a slight golden finish on the left and a crispy overcooked version on the right was 50 seconds! Watch them closely for the last minutes!!

Let them cool 5 minutes on pan and transfer to cooling rack.

Theme cutouts are my favorite! Birthday parties, showers, weddings, celebrations! These are for the church fish fry! Crosses, tulips and daisies!!
Theme cutouts are my favorite! Birthday parties, showers, weddings, celebrations! These are for our church’s Friday fish fry! Crosses, tulips and daisies!!

Decorating is a whole different post for sure! It can be a meticulous process! Making delicious cookies, is definitely the first priority. Use an easy cookie glaze or buy the squeeze bottle Wilton icing as a start!

Ciao!


Mar
2014

Kids Birthday Party Season! A Look Baaaaaack Brady’s On The Farm 1st Birthday Party!!

categories: Fun for Kids, Party Time, Recipes

My backyard was filled with goats, pigs, sheep, a miniature pony, a puppy, a llama and kittens. My kitchen was filled with chicken fingers, pasta, lasagna, meatballs, potato salad, baked beans, fruit salad, Caesar salad, Mexican dip, various appetizers and desserts. Overboard,  you think? The animals?? No way! The food?? Oh Yes!

Barnyard petting zoo! Eighty four , PA
Barnyard petting zoo! Eighty Four, PA! They bring the animals to your house!!!

We bottle fed the babies!!

Bottle feeding pigs!

The On the Farm theme was a blast to plan and so easy using Oriental Trading! I ordered everything from their massive barnyard theme party arsenal! A personalized banner, #1 red balloons, tablecloths, paper products, cups, even a helium tank! The favors were Oriental Trading plastic cow cups and straws and a barn favor box filled with farm animal water squirties, crayons, coloring books and whistles! I still buy odds and ends from Oriental Trading. Lately, I have been finding really cool homemade decorations, favors and invites on Etsy!

Banner

Red Balloon!

So let’s talk food! I used to cook 6-8 dishes for a party this size! Why? Because my mother always had the same full spread- 2 or 3 long folding tables filled with food!!

I have learned to focus on a menu theme and stick with it! Have your menu make sense. Save yourself a ton of work!  Here are some fast and easy kids party food menus…

Lunch theme– sandwich rings, 2 cold salads (potato salad and coleslaw) and chips!

Pasta theme– pasta bar, meatballs or sausage, a garden salad and bread with butter

Mexican theme– taco bar, tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole!

Pizza theme– pizzas, salad bar and fruit!

You get the idea!

Changing my party menu mindset has simplified the prep work and lowered my stress levels, leaving me countless additional hours to spend hanging paper tissue balls and front door signs to making theme decorated sugar cookies!! I love it all and wouldn’t trade my kids elaborate, exciting, entertaining, extraordinary parties for anything in the world!

My first try - wow have I come a long way! Fun looking baaaaaack!
My first try – wow have I come a long way! Fun looking baaaaaack!

Brady is 1!

Coming soon! Mickey Mouse 2nd, Superhero 3rd Easter Egg 4th- Abby Cadabby 1st, Hello Kitty 2nd!

This year…they say they are twins! (2 years and one month apart) They love each other so much and want a joint party! Phew!  One party this year!  I’m busy planning and can’t wait to share my ideas with you!

Ciao!


Mar
2014

“All You Need Is Love, Love.” The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s New Exhibit…WOW!

categories: Fun for Kids

When asked to participate in a focus group at the Children’s Museum last year, I knew a new exhibit was being developed about love, kindness and individuality. I was totally excited to see what it would be in the end! I did not expect to be blown away by its life lessons, interactive exhibits, and its ability to keep 4 toddlers’ totally busy and happy for 3 hours!!!

Here were our favorites within the XOXO Love and Forgiveness Exhibit-

Draw a silhouette. See how others see you. The lesson- Giving others our attention makes them feel loved!
Draw a silhouette. See how others see you. The lesson- Giving others our attention makes them feel loved!
Great Photo Op moms!! Various colored frames and wooden signs saying "I Love You" and "Thank You" against an XOXO printed wall make a fabulous greeting card or a thank you for grandma!
Great Photo Op moms!! Various colored frames and wooden signs saying “I Love You” and “Thank You” against an XOXO printed wall make a fabulous greeting card or a thank you for grandma!
The boys came home with 8-10 love tokens each!
The boys came home with 8-10 love tokens each!
Draw a picture or write a love letter. Crush the paper in a machine and press it into a token with another pump machine!
Draw a picture or write a love letter. Crush the paper in a machine and press it into a token with another pump machine!

We stumbled upon a story time within the exhibit at 2pm! Songs and books about love and friendships!

How do we show our feelings? Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood for sure! Children are asked to write how someone has been kind to them and what they do when they are mad and hang it on the display. We enjoyed reading what others had written!
How do we show our feelings? Mr. Rogers Neighborhood for sure! Children are asked to write how someone has been kind to them and what they do when they are mad and hang it on the display. We enjoyed reading what others had written!

Need something to do with the kids this weekend? Head over to the Children’s Museum!
Mr. Rogers’ Day is March 20th and the museum is offering free admission!

We loved the new exhibit! You will, too!

Create a memory of love!
Create a memory of love!

Ciao!


Mar
2014

Once Upon a Time, To Infinity and Beyond…Our Magical Cruise on the Disney Wonder! Planning and Days at Sea!

categories: Fun for Kids, Travel

Last week, my family experienced our very first Disney Cruise on the Disney Wonder. In fact, it was our very first cruise ever and our first Disney experience. When you wish upon a star…Makes no difference who you are…You will love it! 

Castaway Cay is Disney's private island in the Bahamas! Make sure your ship stops here!
Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island in the Bahamas! Make sure your ship stops here!

 

I do want to mention that this post was in no way sponsored by Disney Cruise Line or any other Disney affiliate. 

Because I have so much to share, I will be publishing multiple posts- planning and days at sea, ports, what to wear what to bring, fashion trends on the cruise…and more!

Let’s talk planning…

When I began researching our usual Feb/March week in Paradise Island, Bahamas, I had sticker shock!  The prices were nearly double what they were the previous three years.  I googled- family vacations, vacations great for kids- and stumbled upon Disney Cruise information.  I immediately thought of a high school friend of mine who I knew, through our Facebook connection, has a wonderful reputation as a Disney travel planning expert! After contacting her, I found out that her services are 100% free of charge and she will plan everything from transportation, to specific activities and adventures!

https://www.facebook.com/MickeyTravelsHeather
heather@mickeytravels.com
Mickey Travels- Heather Goldstein
Mickey Travels- Heather Goldstein

Because we have never cruised, I had no idea about stateroom location, stateroom type, dinner seatings, boarding time etc. After reading some reviews, I knew we wanted to go to Disney’s private island in the Bahamas Castaway Cay.  Heather quizzed me about our preferences and took care of all of the details!  Being our first cruise, and being worried about nausea, we decided on a 5-night Caribbean cruise which included one day in Cozumel, Mexico and one day in Castaway Cay.

I am happy to report that none of us experienced even the slightest bit of motion sickness! I have a terrible time with motion sickness when riding as a passenger in a car or airplane and I was terrified!  Heather booked us a room mid-ship and we had no issues!

Although Disney will take care of everything , we took care of our own flights to Miami and took a taxi to the port! It was waaaaaay cheaper!

A day at sea? Disney has your activities ready! We saw Frozen in 3D , attended a princess gathering, swam in the kids pools, and ate as much ice cream as we wanted!!
A day at sea? Disney has your activities ready! We saw Frozen in 3D , attended a princess gathering, swam in the kids pools, and ate as much ice cream as we wanted!!

Days at Sea
The ship’s Daily Navigator gave us all of the options! We just had to pick what we wanted to do-kids club activities, appearances, shows, movies, party times!

Daily Navigator! Do as much or as little as you want! Princess obsessed little girl? Be at the lobby at 11 to meet Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Tiana!
Daily Navigator! Do as much or as little as you want! Princess obsessed little girl? Be at the lobby at 11 to meet Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Tiana!
Of course we brought our Rapunzel dress for the occasion!
Of course we brought our Rapunzel dress for the occasion!

Disney Cruise Lines provides 2 OnBoard Phones to use between guests! Most importantly, the kids club would text us and let us know if the kids were moving on to the next activity, wanted picked up, or we could call them to check in! Our kids enjoyed both the Oceaneers Club and the Oceaneers Lab’s various activities. Story time with Belle and the Luau with Stitch were a huge hit!

Be prepared to disconnect! The OnBoard ship cellphone rates and wifi rates were astronomical!! Unless you take baths with $100 bills, turn off roaming and wifi and just use your camera.

Spend time with your spouse poolside while the kids enjoy the adventures and learning of the Oceaneeers Club and Lab!
Spend time with your spouse poolside while the kids enjoy the adventures and learning of the Oceaneeers Club and Lab!

 

Disney Wonder's Oceaneer Club contains a giant pirate ship play area!
Disney Wonder’s Oceaneer Club contains a giant pirate ship play area!

 

You never know who you might run into on the ship!!

Bump into your favorite Disney characters all day on the ship!
Bump into your favorite Disney characters all day on the ship!

Ok last thing for today’s post…Can we discuss the food? Order room service 24 hours/day. Sit down for breakfast and lunch, do a quick run through a buffet, or grab pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers, wraps, fruit and other snacks at outdoor fast food spots! Dine at one of 4 different 5 star restaurants every night for dinner with special surprises for the kids around every corner! Everything was delicious!!!

Here were my favorites!
We will be trying these at home!!

Seafood Pasta in a cream sauce...yes! Amazing!
Seafood Pasta in a cream sauce…yes! Amazing!
Beef tenderloin steak, bacon wrapped sausage, grilled shrimp, asparagus in a roasted tomato and mushroom sauce!
Beef tenderloin steak, bacon wrapped sausage, grilled shrimp, asparagus in a roasted tomato and mushroom sauce!

Up next….ports of call! Where we stopped on our cruise and what we did!!

Ciao!


Feb
2014

Paying It Forward – What Are We Really Teaching Our Kids?

categories: Fun for Kids

How Full Is Your Bucket -Kids!

As parents, we read “How Full Is Your Bucket?” We teach the concept of paying it forward. We try!! BUT the most influential way to help our kids make the world a better place is to show them how WE pay it forward and let them experience helping others. Are we a good example? Through our actions are we unconsciously teaching our kids an unfair frustration and intolerance for others?

A few months ago I was in the Starbucks drive thru line and when I got up to the window the drive thru girl said “You’re good ma’am, the woman in front of you paid for your coffee this morning.” I said great! I will do the same! Two things…I can’t stand when people call me ma’am! Do I look like a ma’am??? Already? Really?? And the other thing , After handing the girl my credit card I saw the huge black Lincoln Navigator in my rearview and thought …Oh no! What if they ordered 8 drinks and 8 breakfast sandwiches??? No worries, it was a totally normal order thank goodness!!

I took that opportunity to explain to my kids how the person paid for my coffee and I paid for the person behind me. My 4 year old, Brady, said nobody got me anything and my 2 year old, Bella, said Yea, I want chocolate milk! But maybe some of it sunk in???

But really it is not the kids’ understanding a concept it is their experiencing that feeling…when you do even the littlest special something for someone else. The smiles on their faces, their eyes welled up with tears, the topic of conversation at dinner being what they did for someone else. The excitement to think about how they can pay it forward again. That is how we shape and mold them. Let them feel it not just know what they should do.

“Do small things with great love”- Mother Teresa

Need some cool ideas?

Check out this article I found on Kids Activities Blog:

Teaching Kids to Pay it Forward {Acts of Kindness}
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/23983/teaching-kids


Feb
2014

Frozen… In Summer! Create A Beach Party For Preschoolers Inside!

categories: Fun for Kids

Raspberry Lemonade in Margarita Glasses!

Did I mention I also nanny?  On an Extreme part time basis I have 4 preschoolers!!! One of my passions is creating imaginative worlds of fun and learning! I love a good theme and go nuts with decor, crafts and food!!(You will totally understand when you see my ideas for kids’ birthday parties!)

So today our theme from Frozen, of course, is In summer!!! We did ocean adventure crafts- learned that octo means 8 and made an octopus!
UnderSea and Octopus
I always dig out the water table! Fill it up in the bathroom so cleanup is super easy!! Use bath toys or get out the summer outdoor tote! For fun we wear bathing suits and get out our beach towels and sunglasses!
 
In Summer lunch menu….
Peanut Butter and Nutella roll- ups made with wheat sandwich thins
Fruit Salad

At snack time, I made a raspberry lemonade and served it in margarita glasses! A total hit! The kids thought it was totally rad! We also made Olaf inspired treats with marshmallows, pretzel sticks and raisins!

He is supposed to look like he has sunglasses on! Ha!
He is supposed to look like he has sunglasses on! Ha!

Of course we blasted songs from Frozen and sang along!!