When our daughter was growing up, she was in Girl Scouts. One snack she learned to make was called “Ants on a Log,” not too appetizing of a name. But in actuality, it was and still is a very tasty snack, one that we have continued making through the years. I remember when she’d be home from college during the summer, I’d make a big plate full of these for both of us to snack on, and they’d be gone within ten minutes or so. The neat thing about this snack is that all the ingredients are healthy, and it’s satisfying because of the fiber and protein in it:

• prepare celery in varying lengths, 2-4 inches long
• spread with reduced fat peanut butter
• top with “ants” (raisins - considered to be a “super food”)

This is also a great snack when trying to lose weight.  It’s a healthy snack for kids and everybody, and in case your kids don’t like ants, you can call it something different.

After watching a video about the safety of fluoride in our water by Dr. Bill Osmunson, I decided to sign the petition for Congress to have hearings about fluoridation.  It’s especially dangerous for babies.  (I’m glad Baby J’s bottles are made with bottled spring water.)  According to the CDC, one third of children are showing signs of too much fluoride on their teeth.  And if you look on toothpaste tubes, if someone swallows toothpaste, they are to call the Poison Control Center because the fluroide is not safe.   There is as much fluoride in a pea size measure of toothpaste as there is in an 8 ounce glass of tap water.  That doesn’t sound good to me.  Dr. Osmunson urges everyone to check out both sides of the issue for themselves and sign the petition for hearings on fluoride safety.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Ys9q1cvKGk

Everybody needs it, everybody wants it whether they realize it or not, and it’s the kind of love that lasts…unconditional love. It’s the kind of love that says, “I love you no matter what.” This kind of love is crucial for a marriage. Marriage is not always easy, but it’s definitely worth the effort put into it. As parents, we must have that unconditional love for our kids, especially during the teenage years when peer pressure is so intense and maybe on some days self-esteem is low. If a teenager knows that mom and dad will always be there and value them, always love them even though they don’t like their action sometimes, then that gives a sense of stability. And unconditional love gives just that…a sense of stability…no matter what happens!

If you’re looking for something unique and trendy for baby gifts,then check out Polkadot Patch Baby Boutique. They have fun and funky styles as well as colorful designer styles that are unique. If you’re looking for something with that handmade look, they have unusual handcrafted gifts as well. And they offer the largest selection of colorful unisex baby clothes online which is great if you need a gift and don’t know if the baby is going to be a girl or boy.

I love homemade soup, especially during the winter. Elizabeth at Table4five.com also writes for the Precious Moments site and has a great soup recipe. It sounds so delicious and is called Lemony Turkey Rice Soup. Click here to see the recipe. To see other good recipes and kid-friendly ideas, just go to PreciousMoms.com and click on “Mom-to-Mom” and then go to “Mom Cooks.”

This is good information to have written down for a babysitter:

• Where you will be or a list of the places you will be
• Phone numbers where you can be reached at all times
• Names and numbers of neighbors to contact in case of an emergency
• Allergies that a child has and what do to if necessary
• Where the food is located that will be used while you are gone (make it easy to fix)
• Schedule for the child/children
• Discipline policy / Time out *
• Bedtime rules

Vat 19 has “curiously awesome” products that you don’t find just anywhere. They sent me some samples of a few of their products. One product called Insta Snow Powder, my favorite, is pretty cool. All you have to do is add water and this white powder expands and really looks like snow. Kids of any age would love it! I also received an Ambient Fire Video Fireplace DVD . It makes your TV screen look like a fire burning in a fireplace. That’s neat for those who don’t have fireplaces. The third thing I received was a scented pencil which smells like cotton candy.

If you would like a “space efficient electronics charging valet” that is an electronics charger station which neatly hides cords for charging adapters, then check out Vat 19. It will hold three adapters and charge them while concealing all the cords in a neat little station. It also has a surge protector and a little drawer to hold small items.

The Amby is the original and safest hammock bed for babies in the market today. This world wide patented natural motion bed has been used worldwide by maternity hospitals and homes for the past 18 years. The Amby Baby Motion Bed has been recognized in the United States by the JPMA, a highly regarded certification authority, for its safety and effectiveness. If you have a baby with colic or reflux, a premature baby, or a baby who is a restless sleeper or short napper, then you especially might want to check out amby baby which mimics the natural movements within the mother’s womb.

Eve has some great gift ideas for families. One thing that she mentions is the Wii. We got one when they first came out, and it is a great game system for the whole family. Young children, kids of all ages, teenagers, parents, and even grandparents can all enjoy this system. There is a wide assortment of games to meet everyone’s interest. In case you don’t know about the Wii, you can hook it up to your TV and everyone can see what’s going on at all times. And the really neat thing is that it brings everybody together in a fun way.

If you’re looking for a great Christmas gift for the “scientist” at your house, check out Elizabeth’s Discovery Exclusive Tornado Lab. And for the non-scientific students, it would be so much fun that they wouldn’t know they were learning. When I used to teach first grade, we would do a science experiment with a two liter bottle and make our own twisters. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t work very well. This would have been so cool to have!