June 6, 2011 - BIRD FEEDING CRAFTS FOR KIDS
To celebrate and support our new line of birdhouses and birdfeeders, we are bringing you some very easy crafts for kids and toddlers to do. These are all inexpensive - but invaluable to our bird community! Enjoy!
PS: LittleCB Tip - we bake our pinecones in the oven, on low heat (approx. 200 degrees) for about an hour and the open up beautifully! This will give more surface for the peanut putter. We also use chunky peanut butter as it gives a bit more protein for the birds.
Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Here's what you'll need...
•Pine cone (bigger is better)
•Peanut butter and something to spread it with
•Seeds, either bird feed or sunflower seeds/nuts
•Yarn and scissors to cut
•Paper plate
 Here's how you make it...
1. Tie your yarn around your pinecone and then tie it again at the top so that you can hang it on your favorite tree.
 2. Smear peanut butter into the groves of the pine cone, pour some seeds onto a paper plate and roll the cone around to coat it.
3. Hang it in your favorite tree, try and hang it by a strong branch so the birds have somewhere to perch! Hopefully soon you'll have some new friends arrive for a visit!
April 18th - Full Moon Article
OK moms, I don't know if you felt the full moon as much as we did here (or mostly my kids swinging and screaming until 10pm), but holy moly..time for some mommy reprieve. What better way than to give you a recipe that involves chocolate (and if you are really close to my heart - wine!). We are getting back to our British roots (Bond, Cinnamon Bond) and will be bringing you our famous Middleton cohorts recipes during the month of April in support of the Royal Wedding. Whether you care or not ( I still remember Princess Diana's) you can enjoy some great food. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS (HECK YEAH!!!)
Ingredients
- 1 (11.5 ounce) package milk chocolate chips, divided (BEST CHOC. PLS)
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions
- Trim 12 paper muffin cup liners to half of their height.
- Place 1/2 chocolate chips in a microwave safe container. Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring after each minute. Spoon melted chocolate into muffin cups, filling halfway. With a spoon, draw the chocolate up the sides of the cups until evenly coated. Cool in the refrigerator until firm.
- In a small bowl, mix together peanut butter, confectioners' sugar and salt. divide into the chocolate cups. Melt the remain
ing chocolate, and spoon over peanut butter. Spread chocolate to edges of cups.
What a fantastic Easter homemade treat - and easy peasy! Enjoy Mom's - what's life without chocolate.
Scroll down below for our April Easter Crafts...but we just couldn't resist sharing this fantastic meal time suggestion for your kids!
With three young kids who each have strong preferences about food, meal and snack time can sometimes stress me out! Trying to find something easy but healthy that all the kids will eat becomes a challenge; I want there to be at least a few foods each child likes, but I also don’t want to become a short-order cook, creating different meals to suit each kid’s current (ever-changing) tastes. It’s easy to latch on to the same (limited) rotation of things that I know they will eat, but boy does that get old – and boring!
Enter: muffin tin meals! They are just so easy, and they lend themselves really well to toddler and preschooler eating habits: little bits of this and that, all separated, nothing touching.
peaches or apples, whole wheat bun, corn and peas, mayo, turkey burger strips, katchup
All you do is this: at mealtime, instead of a plate or bowls, grab a muffin tin. Fill each hole with a different thing – I do a carbohydrate or whole grain or two, a fruit and/or a veggie, some kind of protein, a dip or condiment, and maybe a treat or dessert. Add toothpicks or chopsticks for fun if you’d like. I find regular six cup tins work best for us, though they are becoming harder to find, I’ve found – most in stores now are 12! Mini-muffin tins can work as well, as can ice cube trays, at least for smaller items.
I often find this is a great way to empty out the fridge of leftovers – and for some reason the novelty of the presentation makes my kids a lot more likely to give things a try! Sometimes I will put a new food in one or two of the cups, and I can easily cater to each child’s dietary needs or preferences by substituting one thing for another, if needed.
egg salad, apples, potatoes, quesadilla, milk, carrots
Here is the Muffin Tin Meals Flikr group with many more pictures of all sorts of muffin tin meals. There are some folks out there who take this to the extreme – super fancy, time-consuming, themed meals for tots, and while they are impressive and sometimes fascinating, that is just not my style – we go pretty simple around our house! But, I find the concept is a really good one – my kids cannot wait to dive in when they see the muffin tins on the table!
April, 2011
Easter Month...we thought we would pass on an article that we found outlining how to create eco-eggs using natural dies. Non toxic, organic - and made from all natural fridge or cupboard ingredients. After they dry, your kids can use felts, stickers or make stands out of bands of construction paper taped together to hold them on display. Happy Easter!
Natural Egg Dyes
Tools and Materials
Natural dyeing agents (red cabbage, turmeric, onion skins, beets, and coffee)
3-quart pot (or larger)
White vinegar
Strainer
Small bowls
Eggs
Large metal spoon
Paper towels
Drying rack
Dye Recipes
Select a dyeing agent, and place it in the pot using the amount listed below. Add 1 quart water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar to pot; if more water is necessary to cover ingredients, proportionally increase the amount of vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain dye into a bowl.
Red-cabbage dye: 4 cups chopped cabbage
Turmeric dye: 3 tablespoons turmeric
Onion-skin dye: 4 cups onion skins (skins of about 12 onions)
Beet dye: 4 cups chopped beets
Coffee dye: 1 quart strong black coffee (instead of water) Cold-Dipping Method
Cold-Dipping Method
With this method, the eggs and the ingredients for the dye are boiled separately. Using a metal spoon, lower cooled hard-boiled eggs into a bowl of cooled dye, and let them soak for as little as 5 seconds or as long as overnight, depending on the depth of color you desire. Remove eggs with spoon, pat dry with paper towels, and let dry on a wire rack. The cold-dipping method produces subtle, translucent shades, but can result in uneven coloring unless the eggs are rotated vigilantly while in the dye. For hollow eggs that will last indefinitely, cold-dip raw eggs, then blow them out after they are dyed.
/>Boiled Method
This method involves boiling the eggs with the dye; the heat allows the dye to saturate the shells, resulting in intense, more uniform color. Set raw eggs in a pot of strained dye; bring to a boil for the amount of time specified in our color glossary. Remove and dry eggs as with the cold-dipping method.
Color Glossary
Natural dyes can sometimes produce unexpected results, so don't be surprised if, for example, your red-cabbage dye yields blue eggs. Use the following guide to help you achieve the colors you desire.
 Deep Gold: Boil eggs in turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
Sienna: Boil eggs in onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
Dark, Rich Brown: Boil eggs in black coffee, 30 minutes.
Pale Yellow: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
Orange: Soak eggs in room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
Light Brown: Soak eggs in room-temperature black coffee, 30 minutes.
Light Pink: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes.
Light Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 minutes.
Royal Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution overnight.
Lavender: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 seconds.
Chartreuse: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 5 seconds.
Salmon: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
Do You Know?
The tradition of dyeing eggs goes back to medieval times when people made "pace" eggs to celebrate spring and Pasch, the original name given to Easter or Passover.
Jellybean Topiary
Does everyone remember my Halloween topiaries?
I simply couldn't resist...so yes...I have been gluing more candy to balls :)
I started with painting the balls pink. I used one 4 inch and two 3 inch....
Then I took A LOT of these....is 5 bags a lot? I could have done it with 4 but I needed more yellow and purple jelly beans :) No worries though....they are only....ONE DOLLAR per bag :)!
I started at the top of the ball and worked in a circle around it...
I glued a dowel in the middle of the ball...they have a hole nice and ready for ya!
I put mine in little buckets I found in the dollar section of walmart. I put green foam in the bucket and that way they stand up really nicely. Put moss on top to hide it...bow around the dowel...and you get....
How cute are those???
It is SO easy to do and you have a cute fun spring/easter craft!
Happy gluing!!!!
Welcome Spring! Bird Nest Snacks
(Courtesy of Sun Scholars)
Are you ready for spring?
I am not only ready... I'm getting impatient!
Here is a fun and simple treat you and your kids can make that I'm sure you'll all enjoy!
Adorable! Don't you think??
These are so simple to whip up!
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Chinese Noodles
- 1 Cup Rice Krispies Cereal
- 1 Cup Mini Marshmallows
- 1 Pkg. Butterscotch Chips
- Peeps
- Jellybeans or other Egg-shaped Treat
- Wax Paper
Directions:
Step 1
Empty the butterscotch chips into a microwave safe bowl. Follow the package directions to melt them, mixing them until smooth.
Here is mine after it's first minute in the microwave at 70% power. I stirred, and put it in for another session.
I was melting the butterscotch chips while my son helped with this step..
Step 2.
In a separate bowl, measure out your Chinese Noodles.... 2 cups
Add 1 cup of Rice Krispies cereal. You might need to taste them to make sure they are good. Wesley gave his approval.
Pour the noodle and cereal mix into the melted butterscotch chips.
Add your marshmallows, and gently stir until everything is well coated with the melted butterscotch chips.
Step 3
Drop a large spoonful of the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Try to mash down the middle and build up the sides to look like a nest.
Step 4
Add a little birdie (peep) and a few eggs to each nest. It may be hard to resist them at this point. Luckily... they just need to set for a bit so the butterscotch can harden. Set them aside on the counter and they will be ready in a matter of minutes!
And there you have it!
SOOOO Cute!
And let me add, very yummy!
**Note**
This recipe made 6 bird nests. You could make them much smaller, getting more from a batch, and omitting the Peeps... so you'd just have little nests with a few eggs. I just couldn't resist using the Peeps.
Here is another enviro craft to do with your kids and is very inexpensive - pick up the cloths from the dollar store and use them as place settings for your Easter dinner.
Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloth Carrot Tutorial
 It's no secret I ♥ carrots {not really to eat} but to decorate... Yes please...
...and now a Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloth tutorial...
Thanks Tasha for the inspiration...
 At the Dollar Tree I picked up this fluffy cloth and "onion grass" Cut the fluffy cloth in 1/4 making 4 small triangles...  roll making a cone...  Sew the cone closed super EASY and forgiving with all the fluff... Just a simple whip stitch.  it will look like this...  Tuck and tack the pointy part inside...  Add a bit of fiber fill although I made a few with out...  Poke some onion grass all the way down inside the carrot...  Tuck the top around the onion grass...
 Sew around the onion grass...
 And you are finished...
May, 2011
We are huge fans of a cooking website called www.thebasiccookbook.com. It is a site that is updated daily with amazing recipes from an amazing couple - Chef Worly and his wife Thora - both from Iceland. Chef Worly is a friend for many years that is currently living and owns a restaurant in the Bahamas - tough life hey! His wife is as much of a contributor, and together, they continually inspire us with good food, drinks and great recipes to cook with our families. Their gorgeous son, Baldvin, is seen on today's post wearing our apron. Cooking with your children is something we great support as it teaches children about food, the importance of nutrition and bonds you together in a fun (and yummy) activity. We are wanting to post some great family recipes in the future...for now, I think we will just pass on this site and some of our absolute favorites.
March, 2011
Well, that was some delay over Christmas. We have every attempt to increase our communication! Here is an article that was passed on by a fellow mompreneur. It is an issue that we struggle with and like some of the solutions we provide. We initially brought in the cupcake piggy banks to support this effort. You can use four to set up: savings, to spend, to donate, long term.
We hope you enjoy...
Entrepreneurial Kids: Money Management – How to Raise Money Smart Kids!
Posted by Sarah Cook on March 8, 2011 · View Comments
It doesn’t take long before kids figure out that money has a special status in our society. Just watch the eyes of a 4-year-old light up at the sight of a penny lying on the ground, “Money!” or listen to their excited voices as they share just how much money the tooth fairy left them under their pillows.
Knowing how to manage your money is an essential life skill. As parents, we can start to educate and empower our children to make smart choices with their money. By teaching them to spend and save their money wisely, we are giving them a gift that lasts a lifetime.
8 Ways to Teach Kids about Money Management and Raise Money Smart Kids
#1: Is there a record of it? – Keeping good records of money saved, invested, or spent is another important skill young people must learn. To make it easy, they can use 12 envelopes, 1 for each month, with a larger envelope to hold all the envelopes for the year or you can use a spreadsheet. It really depends on the child’s style. Establish this system for each child in the family.
#2: Going Shopping! – Going to the grocery store is often a child’s first experience with money. Spending smart at the grocery store (using coupons, shopping sales, comparing unit prices) can save thousands of dollars each year for a family with children. To help kids learn, show them how to compare prices per item/oz/lb etc. Ask them questions to help them figure out what is the best item to purchase. On other shopping trips, you can talk to your kids about quality products, warranties, and other things to consider when making purchases.
#3: Let them spend! – Whether they make a great purchase or a poor purchase, they will learn from their spending choices. You can then initiate an open discussion of spending pros and cons before they make another purchase. Do not fall into the “I-told-you-so” conversation trap because they will stop listening. Asking them questions and letting them come to the conclusions on their own is the best method of teaching. Encourage them to do research and consider other things they could do with that money before making a purchase.
#4: Do they have ad sensibility? – Talk to your children about how to evaluate TV, radio, print, and digital ads. Encourage them to ask lots of questions about the ad. How does the ad make them feel when they see it/hear it? Is a price offered truly a sale price? Are there other products available that will do a better job, are less expensive, or offer better value? Remember to tell them that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
#5: Drowning in Debt! – If you charge interest on small loans you make to your children, they will learn quickly how expensive it is to rent other people’s money. We did this with our daughter over the summer. She learned really quickly that a plane ticket costs a lot more when you pay for it with interest added on.
#6: Paper or plastic? – Every time you open your wallet, you have the opportunity to use paper (cash/check) or plastic (credit/debit). When you choose to use plastic, be sure to explain to your children that you are borrowing the credit card company’s money. If you pay it back within a certain time period, you get to borrow it for free, but if you don’t, you have to pay them lots of extra fees such as interest, late charges and more.
#7: Who’s knows your information? – Be very clear with children about protecting their personal information: name, address, passwords, social security number, bank account numbers, etc. Money fraud and identity theft can happen even with children. My daughter’s social security number was stolen when she was just a few years old! Shred receipts you don’t need for tax purposes and anything with a name and address listed on it.
#8: Family Finance Councils – Sit down as a family for regular group discussions. Talk about money goals; the difference between cash, checks, and credit cards; wise spending habits; how to avoid the use of credit; the advantages of saving and even investments. As your children get older, you can also discuss what is happening with money and economics locally, nationally and internationally.
All of this information will be important as they take on more responsibility for their own financial well-being. By helping them develop smart money skills early, you are setting them up for future success!
November, 2010
Gearing up for Christmas (now that Halloween has passed). We are so excited to be bringing in our Squishy Fish and Mak & Me baby products. Both companies are owned by parents - just like you - and handcrafted using local craftsmanship. The Squishy Fish "Believe" organic cotton onesie's are so incredibly soft and well fitting for your precious baby.
We are also trying to balance our store to include special items for adults. We know, personally as parents ourselves, how hard we work and how tired we feel daily. We need something special that indulges us. Our TOKYO MILK line out of NY is an amazing line. For those who worry that scents are too strong, this is a great line for you. It is fragrant - but only using the highest quality natural products to ensure a nice scent that isn't overpowering or "cheap" smelling. You will love it! No you just have to find the time....
Welcome Message
Welcome to LittleCB. It has been a rather hectic, exhilarating and amazing first year. We have participated in a few shows - baby and gift - and the response has been wonderful. We feel truly blessed to be able to have a site that brings joy and great products to children and the families that love them. We have a motto that "less" is actually "more" when it comes to buying items for your kids. Otherwise, they just clutter our homes, become dusty and contribute to making mom's life crazy. Therefore, we like to choose products that are higher in quality, built to last and be enjoyed for more than a month in the hands of a toddler and/or baby. We offer a very secure site so you can rest assured that your shopping is in great hands. |
