HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"We spend January 1 walking trough our lives,room by room,drawing up a list of work to be done,cracks to be patched.Maybe this year to balance the list,we ought to walk trough the rooms of our lives,not looking for flows,but for potential."
Ellen Goodman

Meet The Bubbles !

Bubbles is our new pet little Roborovski Dwarf Hamster.Robs are the smallest of the dwarf hamsters reaching only 5 cm when fully grown.These little critters are super fast and very friendly.
They love to eat:
carrots,celery,nuts and apples.Bubbles is adorable little pet and we are very happy to have her.

Royal Vegetables

Duo or trio this yummy vegetables are just perfect for any lunch or dinner.Purple Mashed Potatoes,Golden Butternut Squash and Tomatoes looks fantastic and their taste is absolutely delicious.Kids love them,adults love them....and guests are always very curious....
Easy to prepare.For Purple Mashed Potatoes same routine like for any other potatoes.Boiling,little sea salt,little milk or cream and butter.
For Butternut Squash cut into pieces,drizzle with sea salt,pepper and extra virgin olive oil.45 minutes on 375 degrees and voila.And for the Tomatoes,always pick the ones that are juicy and sweet,full red color and slightly soft to the touch.Have a great lunch!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

Wonderful Christmas story!

Merlose and Croc A Christmas to Remember
by Emma Chichester Clark

Wonderful Christmas story about friendship and a wishing star.
"It's a Christmas Eve and both Merlose and Croc are all alone in the city.They dream of the wonderful Christmas but feel sad when there is no one to share with."Soon enough this will be beginning of the magical Christmas and the start of the cherished friendship.Have a Merry Christmas.

How cute are these?

Birthdays,parties or just after lunch treat,these monkey cupcakes will definitely put
the smile on kids faces.With yummy vanilla bottom,chocolate ganoush top and cruncy sugar cookie decorations they sure make a fantastic treat.Made with very best ingredients,whole milk and organic flour you can be pleased to serve them as often as you like.Monkey cupcakes are sold in Whole Foods market,6-pack is $5.49.Enjoy!

Beautiful Holiday Lights and Decorations !

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN !

Be Healthy and Creative !

New Organic Yellow Carrots and Purple Fingerling Potatoes are great way to make fun and healthy lunch for the little ones.They will be delighted with purple mash potatoes and yummy sauteed yellow carrots.It is good to know that yellow carrots have 40% more Vitamin A.They are packed with antioxidants including Lutein for great Eye health.You can buy Baby Yellow carrots in Whole Foods market.1 lb bag is $2.99
Purple Fingerling potatoes have great nutritional value.They have high complex of carbohydrates which provide potassium,protein,iron,niacin,calcium,vitamin C,vitamin B-6 and dietary fiber.Pound of Purple wonders is $1.99
Be healthy and have fun in kitchen with your kids!

Who knew "TROUBLE" could be so much fun!

I was very pleasantly surprised when my hubby recently bought a family game "Pop-o-Matic Trouble"by MB Milton Bradley so we can all play together on the rainy days.And guess what it is Saturday and it's raining.This game is fantastic.It is exciting and fun.Winner is ecstatic and lousers are,well just lousers.But they can be easily winners again if everybody wants to play another round.I was still in the kitchen preparing the lunch when my four year old said:"Mama,your colors are waiting!"That is so cute.Yes there are four colors for four players.Dice is locked in the big popping bubble so you don't have to worry that will fly all over the room.I can definitely recommend this game for everybody.Ages are 5 and up.Let's popping and hopping to see who will be the winner.I think sister will be winner next time!

Yummy Holiday Desert for the Whole Family

I love Holidays and cooking around this time of the year is special.Make it even more fun with this wonderful light desert recipe that everybody in your family will love.

White Clouds in the Yellow Bath

You will need:

For the White Clouds

3 cups of non-fat milk
6 large egg-whites
1/4 cup of powder sugar

For the Yellow Bath

1 cup of non-fat half&half
6 large egg-yolks
1/2 cup of powder sugar
1 tbsp of vanilla sugar

To make white clouds
Put the milk in the wide sauce pen and cook the milk over low-medium heat.Separate egg whites from the yolks(yolk set aside for later).Put the egg whites in the large bowl and using the electric mixer make a foam.Add sugar spoon by spoon.Whip until whites are firm but still glossy.One by one give the clouds bath in simmering milk.Poach the clouds one minute in each side.
When they are done transfer them in the big glass dish.

To make a Yellow Bath
In the same milk that you were cooking the clouds,add additional cream.Put the yolk and sugar in the heavy sauce pan and whisk until thick and pale.Add sugar and vanilla sugar.Using wooden spoon stir until smooth creamy custard is formed.
Top the white clouds with the yellow bath.Chill desert in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.Enjoy!

What a Wonderful Night Light for Kids Room!

Recently I was trying to find good night light for kids room.I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered very nice collection in Target.These night lights have Led battery with charger and they are environmentally friendly.Very convenient,you can place them anywhere you want in the room because they are rechargeable.Circo Led Night Light glows soft light,so they can be on all night long.They come in few adorable characters:Blue Bird,Bear,Mushroom,Monkey and Monster.You can find them in TARGET stores only(not for sale on-line).Price is $12.99.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Afternoon delight

Crumblettes.These little delights are so delicious....Real Autumn treat.You can start with one and end up having much more.Perfect with tea or coffee but fantastic with just glass of cold milk.Crumblettes comes in few different flavors:Pumpkin,Cinnamon Crunch and Chocolate Chip.You can find them in the Whole Foods Market.Pack of 12 is just $5.99.Yummi.

ZARA for kids-Great fashion,Cute style

I love ZARA brand, and their kids line is just wonderful.Excellent quality,fabulous design and affordable prices.Pieces are very colorful,still you can mix and match.You can choose clothing's for play days,school days,special occasions or just fun.For Girls and Boys ages 2-14 ZARA is perfect shopping destination!

What a great siblings book!

Charlie and Lola "I completely know about Guinea Pigs"
Characters created by Lauren Child

This is just wonderful book about siblings and kids being interested in having a pet.
Synopsis
Lola gets to bring the class Guinea pig Bert home,over school vacation!She takes good care of Bert,but when she and Charlie build him Guinea pig run,he escapes.They hunt all over and when they found him they also discover a big surprise-lots of absolutely very adorable baby Berts.
This New Charlie and Lola adventure will have readers giggling and wishing for a pet guinea pig of their own.This lovely story you can get in bookstores or your local library.

Yummy for my tummy!

I always try to be creative with my kids and their lunches.It helps with appetite and they will be more interested to try new foods.This is very simple lunch idea,still a good nutrition.Pigs in the blanket(roll hot dog in puff pastry),creamy spinach,ABC potatoes with side of ketchup and mustard.Plus younger kids love to see picking character faces on the bottom of the bowl.They will"clean the yummines faster"so they can see the whole picture on the plate.Bon Appetite!

Nasty virus

It's been a few weeks that I didn't write anything thanks to nasty virus.Virus did affect our home and I can say that we were all felling very sick.Our best buddy was ear thermometer(great helpful gadget).Symptoms...hmmm,where to begin?
Fever,cough,chills,runny nose and unbelievable state of tiredness.....for days.Best medicine: REST comfortably in you bed.This virus is very stubborn.Has phases which are keep coming every few hours and then finally after ten days or so you a felling like a same old again.
Only good thing that you figure out when you're sick is how your life was good before your illness.We need to appreciate more our great lives.
Be healthy as much as you can!

Fabulous and easy breakfast idea !

Every Saturday we love to have big family breakfast.I wanted to make a little twist on it so instead of the usual eggs and bacon I made super delicious cheese souffles.Pancakes are old fashion recipe that we all know,(I like to add some semi-sweet chocolate chips in pancakes for additional yummy flavor).
For the cheese souffles I will give you quick and easy recipe:


You will need - for 6 souffles

1/4 cup light cream cheese
1/4 cup reduced-fat feta cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup eggwhites
salt for the taste
pepper for the taste

Line up a 6-cup muffin pan with foil baking cups.Spray the cups with cooking spray,or use silicone baking cups for less mess.
Combine the eggs,eggwhites,salt,pepper,and cheeses in a bowl.Mix well.Divide evenly among the muffin cups.Bake at 375*F for 35-40 minutes or until a fork inserted in the center comes out clean.Serve warm and enjoy!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Happy Halloween everybody.
Pumpkin patch creations and pumpkins are sure representing this fun holiday.Don't need to say that trick or treaters are the cutest.

Seattle's Theater-Market Gum Wall

If you are visiting Seattle and famous Pike Place Fish market don't be surprised when you see side wall of the market and Theater building that is actually wall of gum.Tradition started 1993 when visitors and locals decided to post their interesting and creative ideas before sticking their gum to the wall.
This is very tricky,in some sort of way it is art,but still it is just a gum. You decide.

Tales of the nature

It is fall,but still something is blooming,like this beautiful new lemon from the lemon tree flower.

Yoplait Go-GURT - Sooo Yummy

Yoplait Go-GURT Portable Low fat Yogurt is very convenient and good healthy snack.It is like unstoppable fun every day.I was just wondering does anybody have thoughts about contest to see how many Go-Gurt's can one child eat in one day.It seems like every time I buy a new package,next morning this same package is empty.Funny,but it is true.
Good news is that new flavor combination is coming soon in our supermarkets and our refrigerators.It is Banana/Split and Strawberry Milkshake flavor.
I think kids will be delighted.

The Beach

It is middle of October,but this beach looks just beautiful.

How sweet !

"Ultimate Guide to Grandmas and Grandpas!" by Sally LIoid-Jones
and Illustrations by Michael Emberley

"Did you know when you have your grandpa and grandma there are guidelines how to best take care of them?"
"This is a story how children should treat there grandparents.How they can play together,enjoy snacks,take trips,tell stories,snuggle and share secrets."

What a wonderful book with a little twist.Usually kids are the ones who are pampered with grandpa's or grandma's attention.There is a small present here or there,little chocolate or trip to the Zoo.
This book is a guideline for kids to love and respect grandparents.

Next time when you are visiting bookstore or your local library try to find this book,your kids will be pleasantly surprised.

Bubble bath anyone?

My kids love bubble bath.I was a little bit sceptic because every time I read a label on the back of the bottle...hmmm all those warnings,kids rashes,and other sensitivities,especially if they stay longer time in the bath tub.
Therefore, I did some research and found this great product.
It's natural,safe and smells wonderful.It's called "Clearing foam bath" by Aura Cacia kids.
This foam bath contains 100%pure essential oils of Eucalyptus and Citrus,there is no synthetic colors no fragrances or preservatives.

www.Auracacia.com

The Beauty of Autumn

Great NEW TV Show for kids"The Upside Down Show"

The Upside Down Show is Logie Award winning live action children's show featuring Shane Dundas and David Collins that airs on Noggin,Nick Jr. and ABC.
Show is extremely funny but still very educational and adventures.
It will catch your kids attention for a while and it's popular for smaller and even pre-teenage kids.
Additional funny characters are:
Mrs.Foils the neighbor,The Puppet,The Schmuzzies friendly bunch of fuzzy creatures,Fido-The Fly,Action Figures,Bob The Blanket and last but not least,The Voice.
Great show,it's fun and very fresh addition to kids programing.

Love for Cupcakes

Like every women(I think I can say that),I love chocolate and any fabulous dessert that has chocolate like "a secret ingredient".Living in Europe made my sweet tooth obsessed mostly with chocolate ice-cream,mousses,fantastic cakes,small delicate cookies,and don't want to forget amazing chocolate croissants.
Now, when I live in California I discovered fantastic sweet delight,cupcake.
So cute,convenient and tasty.Depending in what sweet mood you are that day cupcakes will be your perfect match,because they come in so many yummy flavors.
There is a great cupcake store and even more amazing cupcakes.
They bake their cupcakes from scratch every morning using best ingredients,always fresh and smelling fabulous. I have to say something about cupcake's best part-frosting.I would prefer to call him amazing cream.It is so yummy no wonder why this bakery picked this cute name.
If you are visiting Santa Monica or Burbank be sure to stop by and try this great dessert.

www.yummycupcakes.com

Best toothpaste for kids

Did you ever noticed that some toothpaste for children doesn't do the perfect job?
Well,our little bunch did a lot of research lately and finally found the winner:
Tom's of Maine Natural anticavity with fluoride toothpaste is a brilliant product.Comes in two fruity flavors Silly Strawberry and Outrageous Orange-Mango.
If you using this product for smaller kids it comes also without fluoride.It uses Calcium and Silica to gently clean,and you don't have to worry about leftovers lost in your kid's tummy.
"Our toothpaste features naturally sourced sodium monofluorophosphate as its active ingredient to provide cavity protection and calcium to clean.Real fruit flavor oils-no artificial sweeteners,dyes,or sparkles-are the basis for our kid-friendly appeal."

Excellent product that will make your kids teeth super clean so they can be proud of their pearly-whites.


Active ingredients:

Sodium monofluorophosphate Decay prevention

Other ingredients:

Glycerin Moistener
Water Consistency
Calcium carbonate Mid abrasive
Hydrated silica Stain removal
Fruit extracts Flavor
Carrageenan Thickener
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Dispersant

http://www.tomsofmaine.com/

Funny but instantly rewarding " The Tooth book" by Edward Miller

The Tooth Book:A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums by Edward Miller


From the publisher:
"Crunch!Munch!Most kids take their teeth for granted.However,without their pearly whites it would be much harder for them to eat,smile and talk.Edward Miller provides more than a mouthful of good advice on dental hygiene in this accessible guidebook that makes learning how to care for your teeth fun."

What I like about this book is the whole concept and sections: tooth decay,proper brushing techniques,flossing, history and funny parts like lost tooth traditions from different parts of the world.
Great book for every age, brush beginners or the older ones which forget how to do job properly.
You have to check out this one,kids will get more into whole brushing and care thing. Also book has fantastic and fun illustrations that will entertain your whole reading experience.