Still finding leftover jelly beans from Easter? It seems that these little candies stick around the longest and have the lengthiest shelf life. Sick of eating them plain? Here are some fun things to do with your extra beans! Note – you are in for a sugar overload!

ParentDish.com recommends sticking those sickly sweet jelly beans into ice cube trays. Just freeze into juice or water to make as a snack on their own, or add to a mocktail. This not suggested for very young imbibers due to the small pieces that will melt into their drink.

FrugalVillage.com suggests putting jelly beans on top of frosted cakes, cupcakes, brownies or sugar cookies, or mixing them into Rice Krispies treats.

SeriousEats.com has a sweet recipe for Jelly Bean pop tarts! Here are the instructions. Eat as dessert!

HOMEMADE JELLY BEAN POP TARTS
Makes 8 tarts, active time 10 minutes, total time 30 minutes (includes cooling time)

Ingredients

Jelly Bean Pop Tarts make a sweet dessert

For the Pastry:
- 1 1/2 cups (about 7 1/2 ounces) flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened and cut into cubes
- 3 tablespoons cream

For the Filling:
- 1 cup jelly beans

For the Icing:
- 1 cup (about 6 ounces) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Rainbow sprinkles (optional)
Procedures

1) Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set to the side.

2) Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and blend with a fork, pastry cutter, or your hands. Blend until the mixture is fairly coarse. Add the cream, bit by bit, gently mixing the dough after each addition, until the dough is cohesive enough to form a ball.

3) Place dough on a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut out rectangles approximately the size of 3”x5” index cards, or smaller if you prefer a more modest portion. Make sure you have an even number of cutouts.

4) Place jelly beans in neat rows along half of the rectangles, forming color patterns if you’d like. How many beans fit on your pastry rectangles will vary depending on the brand; I was able to get four rows of four jelly beans on each rectangle. Be sure to leave about half an inch empty on all sides of the pastry.

5) Place the remaining rectangles of dough on top of the ones with jelly beans. Crimp all four edges by hand or with a fork to ensure that your filling won’t ooze out. Poke a few holes in the top to allow steam to escape.

6) Place the tarts on your prepared baking sheet, and bake until light golden on the edges, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

7) While the tarts cool, prepare your icing; combine the confectioners sugar with the cream. After the tarts have cooled, drizzle icing on top. Garnish with sprinkles if desired.

ENJOY!
###

SOURCES:

http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/26/what-to-do-with-that-leftover-easter-candy/

http://www.frugalvillage.com/2009/04/27/use-up-leftover-jelly-beans/

http://sweets.seriouseats.com/2012/04/cakespy-leftover-jelly-bean-pop-tarts.html

Easter may have passed, but chances are that you still have some leftover candy floating around! Not sure what to do with all of it? Here is the first of 3 blogs with a few ideas on how to use up and enjoy that leftover chocolate to the fullest.

Here are some suggestions conglomerated from TheFunTimesGuide.com, ShopSmartMag.com and ParentDish.com.

Chocolaty Goodness

Melt It
Take those chocolate bunnies, eggs and other shaped chocolate and melt them by chopping up the item and putting them in a double boiler on the stove, or on a low setting in the microwave, stirring often as you slowly melt.
- Take melted chocolate and pour it into your own shaped molds – creating all new chocolate treats!
- Use the chocolate as a Fondu! Take fruit or small pieces of cake and other treats, place pieces on toothpicks, then dip the morsels in the chocolate and enjoy! Good edibles to use include strawberries, cherries, pound cake, lemon bread and more.
- Ganache is also fun: when the chocolate is completely melted, add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Ganache is great when poured over vanilla ice cream and topped with nuts, a little whip cream and a cherry.

Chop It
- Chop, cut, shave or break it up into small pieces. Once in bits, you can do a lot with those little morsels!
- Add it to a cake or brownie mix, cookie dough or even pancakes before baking.
- Sprinkle shaved chocolate on the icing of your favorite cake or cupcakes.

Freeze It
Since chocolate freezes well, pack it up in a freezer-safe bag or container and hoard it away until you’re ready to you’re ready to use it in your next baking or cooking experiment.

Trade It
Some dentists will actually “buy” your candy, taking your sugary sweets and trading it for sugar-free healthy snacks or a new toothbrush. Not all dental offices do this, but it never hurts to ask.

Hide It
Squirrel some of that chocolate away in a secret – pieces that are pre-wrapped in foil will last for a bit, so keep some around for those “reward” moments. Get an “A” on a test? Finally conquer potty training? Was there good behavior during a family function? Having a morsel to say “good job” can’t hurt as long as it’s an infrequent surprise. And it never hurts to have a quick bite for yourself after a long day!

What do YOU like to do with leftover chocolate? Tell us in the comments section below, or let us know on our Facebook fan page!

Sources:

http://holidays.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/03/leftover_easter_candy.php

http://www.shopsmartmag.org/2011/04/what-to-do-with-that-leftover-easter-candy.html

http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/26/what-to-do-with-that-leftover-easter-candy/

Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Chocolate.jpg

Seasonal allergies are hard enough to deal with as adults, but they are even more miserable for babies and small kids. With spring arriving early this year in many parts of the United States, little ones may be experiencing the wrath of pollen, mold, trees, grass, weeds and things that flower a little sooner than normal.

Flower pollen is one of many allergy triggers.

So what’s actually going on with the body when allergens are present? According to BabyCenter.com, “Pollen and mold aren’t actually harmful in any way, but when an allergic child or adult breathes in pollen or mold spores, his body perceives it as a dangerous invader and reacts by releasing histamine and other chemicals. Histamine inflames the nose and airways, and the other chemicals cause the well-known symptoms of hay fever: congestion, runny or itchy nose, scratchy throat, watery or itchy eyes, and itchiness in the ears.”*

And then there is the dreaded mold. It grows everywhere, and it thrives in damp areas and decaying materials like dead leaves, rotted logs, grass, soil, etc. And those are just the outside locations! When it warms up after a period of cold weather, mold and their spores come out to wreak havoc.

It seems like this time of year brings out the itching and sneezing. Although many people suffer from “seasonal” allergies (suffering the worst effects in the Spring or Fall), some individuals suffer from different allergy issues year round, based on geography and other environmental factors.

SYMPTOM GUIDE (click to check symptoms with BabyCenter.com)

How can you tell if your child has seasonal allergies? Some signs can include itchy, watery eyes, excessive sneezing, runny nose, coughing and raspy throat, skin irritation or rash.

Although allergies can’t be prevented, there are some things you can do to ease the symptoms. FIRST AND FOREMOST: check with your family physician if you suspect allergy or other possible ailment. A doctor can correctly test for and diagnose specific triggers and help find the right treatments for your child’s unique issues. Along with a treatment plan from your family physician and/or allergist, you can minimize exposure by:

For inside your home:
- Keep windows closed to keep the outside antagonists from coming indoors.
- Keep the house clean by dusting, sweeping and laundering (especially bed sheets) often.
- Keep chemicals like cleaners, solvents and bug sprays in the basement or garage.
- Do not let people smoke indoors.
- Use a dehumidifier to keep mold from growing.
- Keep pets outside, or keep them out of bedrooms if they are going to be inside.
- Cover pillows and mattresses with special mite-proof covers.
- Forego the feather or pillows – these items make some kids with allergies miserable.

For outside activities:
- Make playtime activities for after 10:00am, as pollen counts are at their highest between 5:00am and 10:00am.
- Remove any plants from your yard that are triggers – certain flowers or trees can make allergies worse. Don’t remove your whole yard! But opt for vegetation that does not aggravate the allergy (a doctor can diagnose which plants are triggers).
- Once playtime is through, change clothes to remove any allergens that have come in from the outside during activity.
- Limit outdoor activities during the most active allergy season – if allergies are worse in the Fall, then raking leaves and jumping in leaf piles in the autumn is not a recommended activity for this time of year.
- Be smart about play time! For example: If your child reacts to flower pollen, a trip to the local arboretum may be tricky. Simply think before you play.

Is your little one already affected? Parents.com** has these tips for soothing your little one’s discomfort:
- Use skin moisturizers or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for eczema and other allergic rashes.
- Under a doctor’s guidance, try oral antihistamines, like Benadryl, for rapid relief of an older baby’s symptoms. There’s good news for infants suffering from allergies. The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the prescription antihistamine Zyrtec for the treatment of year-round allergies in infants as young as 6 months old. It’s the first and only antihistamine — over-the-counter or prescription — demonstrated with clinical trials to be safe in infants this young.
- Allergies usually get worse unless exposure to allergens decreases. If you can eliminate baby’s exposure to whatever is causing his reaction for at least six months, his body will essentially forget about it. However, it’s often difficult to identify what’s causing the allergy. You should keep a careful diary of what symptoms occur and when. This may expose a specific pet, article of clothing, food, or room in your house as the culprit that’s causing the allergy.

See your family physician, and be prepared to load up on plenty of TLC this allergy season – your little one (and you!) can get through this!

Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. Medical conditions can only be diagnosed by a physician, and medication should only be dispensed while under a doctor’s guidance.

SOURCES:
*http://www.babycenter.com/0_seasonal-allergies-hay-fever-in-children_66242.bc
** http://www.parents.com/baby/health/allergy/all-about-baby-allergies/
Photo – http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Alcea_rosea2_ies.jpg

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“Hooray for Hands”

Hands are happy and busy things,
They clap, and they feed, and pretend to be wings,
They hold, and they greet, wear gloves and rings,
They throw, and they catch, and tie ties and strings.
They’re on monkeys, on monarchs, and kids and kings,
They help you through winters, and falls and springs,
When it’s summer they help play on the slides and the swings,
Hooray for our hands and their helpful givings.
-    by Kate Miller, (c) 2012

Hands do so much, but they can also be the one of the germiest places on our bodies. That’s why it’s very important to keep them clean, and to teach kids the importance of healthy hand-washing habits.

Hand Washing Keeps Us Healthy!

Where do hands get dirty? Everywhere! Whether it’s playing outside or going to a friend’s house, dirt and illness-causing bacteria can be found in just about every nook and cranny. Nasty things like colds, flu, and infectious diarrhea can be picked up and spread by your hands. Some places to especially be aware of include toilets, trash cans, diapers, public play areas, and places where sick people are, like in a hospital or an ill person’s home.

Nobody wants to live in a bubble, though! So go out and enjoy life, and follow some simple guidelines to help keep you and your little ones safe. Here are some tips for you and your entire family:

-    Keep your hands away from your nose and mouth. Touching your nose and mouth with germy hands can cause you to get sick with whatever is on your hands.
-    Avoid friends and family members who are actively ill.
-    Always wash hands after using the restroom.
-    Wash hands after you sneeze, and try to sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve to avoid getting hands icky in the first place.
-    Make a habit of washing hands before and after eating.
-    Definitely wash up after playing with pets or taking out the trash.

WASHING TIPS
-    Wash with warm water and plenty of soap. It does NOT need to be expensive or antibacterial soap.
-    When washing hands, get under nails and in between fingers.
-    Hand washings should take a minimum of 20 seconds, or long enough to sing a simple song like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “Twinkle, Twinkle”.
-    After hand washing, turn off the water with a towel or your elbow to avoid touching a possibly-dirty knob or faucet.
-    Always dry your hands with a clean towel.

You’re ready to spread the news, not the germs. Good luck – here are some jokes from KubKids.org that you can share along with the tips above!

1)    What do you call a germ who wants to have a good time?
2)    What do you get if you cross a comedian with germs?
3)    Why did the germ cross the microscope?
4)    Did you hear the story about the germ?

[Answers below]

1A) A fungi (fun guy)!
2A) Sick jokes!
3A) To get to the other slide!
4A) Never mind. I don’t want it spread all over!

Sources:

http://www.kubkids.org/handwashing/handwashing.htm

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/hand_washing.html#

http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/kleenex-keeps-it-clean/?lastPage=true&page=9

Photo: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Faucet_in_a_bathroom_sink.jpg

Jennifer R.  emailed us the following message and picture. Jennifer, we are posting this for you as it’s just too cute not to share. Anyone that wants to email us a picture of their child with our products – please do. We’ll be happy to post them here!
Leo Loves his blanket! I was hoping to upload a picture of my grand son with his blanket, but can’t find a way to do it. Anyway, we’re very, very pleased with our new blanket!

Ah, the beauty of a nap – peaceful, serene, comforting. For a child, however, it may seem like a sentence of doom that’s cause for fits of crying and protest.

According to WebMD*, "Napping conserves energy," explains Charles Shubin, MD, medical director of the Children's Health Center of Mercy Family Care in Baltimore and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland. "When going through a growth spurt, an infant or toddler will sleep more and eat more because the energy demand that growth creates is tremendous," says Shubin, also an assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Naps are not only beneficial to children, but to exhausted parents, who may take those quiet moments to catch up on a few winks themselves.

Some things to note: babies will need more sleep than small children, every kid has different sleep patterns and needs, and there is no magic answer to hasten the journey into dreamland.

So how can you make it happen? From where does that fountain of Zen-filled peacefulness spring? When kids are fighting naps, there are plenty of ideas floating about.

1)    Make a routine.
  -    Try to figure out what time(s) of day are best for a nap. Schedule other consistent things around nap time, like story time or snack time. Keep everything in the same order and be consistent.
   -    If even the word “nap” sets off a storm of protest, attempt using words like “rest” or “sleep” or “quiet time” to help avoid whatever negative connotations “nap” may incur.
   -    Make the 10-15 minutes before nap time a “prep” time. This should be a transition of going from doing activities into becoming calm and settled.
2)    Staying in bed.
   -    Even if your little one isn’t drifting off right away, make nap time a commitment to quiet time, leaving him or her in bed for the entire nap cycle.
   -    Try to keep nap time to a set time frame. Don’t cut it short, or let it go longer than your standard time.
3)    Environmental factors.
   -    No toys or distractions in bed, including a bottle: these can draw focus from rest time.
   -    Don’t use a TV as a soother, it’s really just another diversion from sleep.
   -    Darken the room, like it’s night time.
   -    Keep a comfortable room temperature: sometimes a little cooler is better.
   -    Make sure the area is quiet.
4)    Don’t fall for it!
   -    Stall tactics such as needing that drink of water or needing to find another stuffed animal should be dealt with lovingly, but firmly.

What are some of our Facebook Friends saying about getting kids to nap???

Emily O – A reward system always worked pretty well in this house!!! "When you wake up, we get to…"
 
Christina W – Music! A CD.
 
Laurie PH – We had a sticker reward chart. So many “sleeps” meant getting to do an activity or to get an item they wanted. We also used the same CD of Chinese lullaby’s for bedtime or nap time. Consistency and similar rituals help with sleep. We also used the same CD of Chinese lullaby’s for bedtime or nap time. Consistency and similar rituals help with sleep.
 
Jeanette F – As he became older, it wasn't "nap time" it was "rest time" where as long as he stayed in his bed he could look at books while listening to music. He lasted a few minutes and then was snoring away. Keeping it at a consistent time every day (including the weekends) really helped.

Gordon W – We use music to help Bella sleep. They do it at the day care center, also, as something that calms them down. Bella listens to music that she listened to in the womb and on her day of birth.

Jesse S – The only time my kids take naps is if we go for a 20 min or more drive in the car… they wake up most times when transferring them from car to house. They do take naps when they have real active days, but that is usually late in the day and more likely going to bed early, which is better, I think (trading nap time for early bedtime).

Regardless of tactics, consult with your family physician if you are concerned about your child’s napping habits – parents know best when their gut is telling them something is "off". If you're uncertain, check out possible medical issues that could be hindering a child’s sleep.

What do you do to help your wee one sleep? Tell us in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook Fan Page by clicking here.

Sources:
*http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/no-nonsense-napping-guide-for-toddlers
  http://mightymommy.quickanddirtytips.com/kids-and-naps.aspx
  http://www.parents.com/kids/sleep/naps/baby-nap-time/

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Louis-%26-Chanel-taking-a-nap.jpg

We've been scouring the internet for some fun craft ideas. We were thinking "sky and sand", so we borrowed the following two paper craft ideas from Disney's Family Fun Site*!

Dreaming of beach treasures? How about creating your very own paper sand dollars?

What's a sand dollar?

• The sand dollar is a living creature of the sea that has a circular shape and is related to the star fish and sea urchin. They live in shallow waters off of the coast and measure 2-4 inches in diameter (that means all the way around!)
• Live ones look a bit like fuzzy cookies – when they are in the ocean, sand dollars are covered in a velvety covering of tubular spines and tiny muscle-like projections that help them move around and burrow in the sand.
• The sand dollars that are found on the beach are no longer alive, and are just shells that look like grayish white discs with a five-pronged imprint in the center that looks like a star.
• Many legends are attached to Sand Dollars – one fun tale is that Sand Dollars were once used as money by mermaids!

Paper Sand Dollars –
Time Needed – About an hour

Materials

• White or cream-colored card stock
• Round cotton pad or circle of packing foam
• Glue
• Kid-Safe Scissors
• Clothespins
• Dry barley

Instructions

Step 1 – To make your own paper sand dollars, first cut a pair of circles, about 3 inches in diameter, from white or cream-colored card stock.

Step 2 – Sandwich the 2 circles together with a round cotton pad or circle of packing foam between them.

Step 3 – Glue the circles together, using clothespins to hold them in place until the glue has dried.

Step 4 – Finally, glue on a star-shaped design of dry barley, as shown.

***

Want to touch the sky? Try these fun fold-and-snip stars!

Stars are actually giant balls of plasma that exists in outer space. They're held together by gravity, and are actually huge spheres of energy and light. Stars look like tiny points of light up in the sky because they are so far away – they are actually millions of miles away from Earth! Don't worry, though – you can create your very own stars right here on Earth.

Fold-and-Snip Stars
Time Needed – About an hour

Materials

• Paper
• Kid-Safe Scissors

Instructions

Step 1 – Fold the paper in half from top to bottom, creasing it firmly. 

Step 2 – Fold the paper in half again, creasing it lightly.

Step 3 – Undo the second fold.

Step 4 – Make a third fold, bringing the tip of the upper right corner to the crease mark at the paper's left edge.

Step 5 – Fold down the upper left corner along the top edge of the section you folded in step 4.

Step 6 – Fold the paper vertically so that the left and right edges match up. Cut the paper at a sharp angle, as shown, creating a small triangle. Open the triangle, and there's your star.

HAVE FUN!

SOURCES:

*Disney Family Fun – http://familyfun.go.com

Paper Sand Dollars

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/paper-sand-dollars-668483/ 

Paper Fold-and-Snip Stars

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-material/paper-crafts/paper-crafts-850665/#Fold-and-snip%20Stars;10