Saturday November 14, 2009
Today as I left Costco, I was handed a booklet of coupons letting me know about all the sales going on over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I didn't really
need this information, though, since I've been keeping up with all the rumors (and truths) online. I love going to Fat Wallet to see their
long lists of Black Friday deals. It's easy to find out whether something I'm thinking about buying is going to be on sale that day (and it saved me from some mishaps today).
I also love the Black Friday coverage on the Productopia Blog (an About.com service, by the way) because while long lists are great, I can be a bit lazy when it comes to comparing and working out the numbers. It starts to get a bit painful like trying on bathing suits and then I implode from information overload. They're doing the bean counting for me on some of the items I'm thinking about this year. No toys, yet, but how about that KitchenAid Mixer for mom this year? (Totally justifiable because it can be used to make lots of healthy snacks for the kids, don't you know?)
All in all, though, none of the Black Friday deals are sounding so good that I want to get up at 5:00 a.m. and brave the crowds. The crowds were bad enough just today. I know there are a lot of folks who head out to the stores and get all their gift buying done in a day. I'm just not one of them. I prefer to do my holiday shopping from the comfort of my living room with a side of pecan pie. If you're doing the same, be sure to check out Single Parents Guide Jennifer Wolf's list of stores that are offering free shipping this year. Relax and save a buck at the same time. I guess I'm just more of a Cyber Monday kind of gal.
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Wednesday November 11, 2009
Maclaren Quest
Photo © CPSC |
No matter how ridiculous you think the recent
Baby Einstein DVD return program is, and unlike the debate over whether or not to continue using the
recalled Little Tikes Workshop nails, what we've got here is a much more serious situation. I'm talking about over a million strollers that are affected with reported injuries. Yes, 12 actual fingertips were sliced off after getting caught in the hinge mechanism during opening or closing, so please don't ignore this recall. Stop using your stroller and
get the repair kit from Maclaren if you have one of these sold in the last 10 years:
- Volo
- Triumph
- Quest Sport
- Quest Mod
- Techno XT
- Techno XLR
- Twin Triumph
- Twin Techno
- Easy Traveller
If you don't have this stroller now but it's on your list and you're looking to save a buck by getting one used, be aware of what you're getting. Baby Products Guide Heather Corley says:
"Maclaren strollers have typically been popular for resale since they hold up well over time. Would-be used stroller buyers will want to make sure that used Maclaren strollers have had the repair kit for the hinge recall installed."
She's also got more tips on buying used strollers and ways to keep your toddler safe in the stroller even when there are no design or manufacturing defects to worry about.
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Saturday November 7, 2009
That's right. November is the time to celebrate that ooey-gooey, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth treat -- peanut butter. There are a lot of reasons to love peanut butter. It's a great source of protein. It's a natural part of a vegetarian or vegan diet. It's got no cholesterol. It's very low in trans fat and the natural/organic types have no transfat at all. It's also packed with magnesium, folate and niacin.
So what's not to love? Well, for one thing, if you've got a history of allergies in the family, you should wait before introducing peanut butter to your child. You've also got to be careful with little ones even when allergies aren't a factor, because it can be a choking hazard.
All in all though, peanut butter is an easy way pack the most nutrition into your child's diet. To help you and your child celebrate, I've pulled together some of my favorite peanut butter recipes in a month-long "I Love Peanut Butter" newsletter. If you hate to cook but still want snacks that pack the peanut butter punch, try two of my son's favorites: Clif Zbar Peanut Butter Snack Bar (compare prices) and Late July Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies. Both are organic, healthy and tasty to boot. I've also got some peanut butter trivia you can quiz yourself on, so start celebrating with your wee one today.
Monday November 2, 2009
Trick-or-Treating and Halloween parties are over and now you've probably got an industrial-sized supply of candy. With all that candy around, it's difficult to explain to a toddler why she can only have one or two pieces a day. All your effort will be well worth it, however, when her teeth are healthy and she still has room for
nutritious food. Dentistry Guide Shawn Watson has some ways to set limits on your child's candy consumption so you can
manage all that sugary goodness to your toddler's delight and still keep her teeth free of decay. For instance, you might be thinking that letting your her have a piece or two a day between meals is the way to go, but Watson advises against this and for good reason:
"Schedule candy time once a day, preferably with snacks or meals, not in between. It is always best to eat sweets with other foods. The presence of the additional food increases the saliva production in the mouth. Plaque thrives on the acids produced by sugar. This increase in saliva helps to break down the sugar quickly, which in turn decreases the amount of acid produced in the mouth."
Right now is one of those times when dental care is at the forefront of your mind, but good oral hygiene is important every day. Baby teeth are more than just a temporary set of teeth and it's important to take care of them from today until tooth fairy time.
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