v1 issue 2: Bold & Bright for Summer
v 1 issue 2: Bold & Bright for Summer
Bright & Bold Summer
We've got some bold ideas for a bright summer that we can't wait to share. Get these fabulous and colorful products for your own kids, or give them as a gift to brighten someone's day!
bold and bright reviews
1. Melamine gets a makeover with these fantastic Monster Plates from French Bull. Did we spark an interest? Then head on over to Sparkability to pick up something special for your little monsters!
2. Mahar Dry Goods is serving up "summertime on a stick" with these scrumptiously scented Summer Lemonade Soapsicles. Each handmade glycerin soap smells good enough to eat, and is mild enough for kids to enjoy in the tub (lots of foamy suds guaranteed). We also love the Nilla Samies Soapsicles!
3. The adorable Oskar sandal from Vincent makes 'Shoes Required' a beautiful thing. Big style for small feet at Vincent.
4. We're in love with these super sweet bags from Maui Rose, so its only appropriate you will find a great selection at Love!
5. No need to scream for ice cream! With this bright Ice Cream Ball from L.L.Bean, making delicious homemade ice cream takes less than 20 minutes, and as few as three ingredients.
mom tips
Cleaning Tip: If you have stainless steel appliances, you'll love this cleaning tip. Simply take a small amount of baby oil, apply to a cleaning rag, and rub onto your stainless steel, top to bottom. Tried, tested and true, this trick will get rid of those annoying streaks other cleaning solutions leave behind!
Greening Tip: If you're a mom, you know the value of plastic Ziploc bags! Perfect for snacks, crayons and lunch money...but terrible for the environment. So, try reusing those Ziploc bags. A simple gadget called the Bag-E-Wash allows you to put used bags right in the dishwasher for easy cleaning and disinfecting.
Financial Tip: For all you mom's who haven't checked it out yet, the new eBay is Craigslist. Simply choose your state (listed on the right hand side of the site), and then visit the 'For Sale' section for lots of great finds!
Parenting Tip: Teach your kids about the importance of writing Thank You Notes, and make it fun so that it becomes a life-long practice! For younger kids, talk about why you are writing a thank you note, and then allow them to draw a picture for the person they are thanking. Allowing them to place the stamp on the envelope and help you put it in the mailbox will add to the fun. For older kids, fun stationary that's all their own will do the trick. We love eeBoo's sweet notepapers!
cool recipes for hot summer days
Thanks to our readers for some cool recipes that beat the summer heat!
Recipe 1: Healthy Lemonade:
What you'll need...
:: Juice from 2 lemons
:: 2 quart pitcher full of water
:: 2-4 droppers full of Sweet Leaf Stevia (plain or Lemon Drop)
What you'll do...
Stir and enjoy!
It's healthy, and the lemon water helps your kids maintain healthy pH levels.
Recipe 2: Fresh Fruit Kabobs
What you'll need...
:: Choose a nice assortment of fresh (and still firm) colorful fruits such as Pineapple chunks, strawberries, mangos, grapes, watermelon and apples.
:: Skewers
What you'll do...
Wash the fruit thoroughly, and then cut into similar size pieces...approximately the size of a large grape. Then, you will simply arrange the fruit on the skewers to make a colorful and fun presentation. If old enough, let your kids help you and encourage them to try different themed kabobs such as Tropical fruits, Passion Fruits etc. Be sure to leave enough room so that you can hold the end of the kabob while eating! You can also experiment with yummy dips such as yogurt and peanut butter (be aware of allergies and choking with younger kids). Have fun!
Recipe 3: Frozen Chocolate Dipped Bananas
What you'll need:
:: 4 bananas
:: Orange Juice
:: 1 cup chocolate chips
:: 2 tbsp oil
:: Colored Sprinkles or nuts
:: 6 Popsicle sticks
What you'll do:
Simply cut the bananas in half, insert Popsicle stick lengthwise, and dip banana in orange juice. Then arrange banana sticks on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze for 4 hours (or until frozen firm). To melt the chocolate, create a double boiler and melt chocolate chips and oil together. Once chocolate is smooth and melted, spoon over the banana sticks. Let your kids help you spoon the sprinkles and nuts before the chocolate hardens. Enjoy!
Bright & Bold Summer
We've got some bold ideas for a bright summer that we can't wait to share. Get these fabulous and colorful products for your own kids, or give them as a gift to brighten someone's day!
Cover by Tonya Dailey
bold and bright reviews
1. Melamine gets a makeover with these fantastic Monster Plates from French Bull. Did we spark an interest? Then head on over to Sparkability to pick up something special for your little monsters!
2. Mahar Dry Goods is serving up "summertime on a stick" with these scrumptiously scented Summer Lemonade Soapsicles. Each handmade glycerin soap smells good enough to eat, and is mild enough for kids to enjoy in the tub (lots of foamy suds guaranteed). We also love the Nilla Samies Soapsicles!
3. The adorable Oskar sandal from Vincent makes 'Shoes Required' a beautiful thing. Big style for small feet at Vincent.
4. We're in love with these super sweet bags from Maui Rose, so its only appropriate you will find a great selection at Love!
5. No need to scream for ice cream! With this bright Ice Cream Ball from L.L.Bean, making delicious homemade ice cream takes less than 20 minutes, and as few as three ingredients.
mom tips
Cleaning Tip: If you have stainless steel appliances, you'll love this cleaning tip. Simply take a small amount of baby oil, apply to a cleaning rag, and rub onto your stainless steel, top to bottom. Tried, tested and true, this trick will get rid of those annoying streaks other cleaning solutions leave behind!
Greening Tip: If you're a mom, you know the value of plastic Ziploc bags! Perfect for snacks, crayons and lunch money...but terrible for the environment. So, try reusing those Ziploc bags. A simple gadget called the Bag-E-Wash allows you to put used bags right in the dishwasher for easy cleaning and disinfecting.
Financial Tip: For all you mom's who haven't checked it out yet, the new eBay is Craigslist. Simply choose your state (listed on the right hand side of the site), and then visit the 'For Sale' section for lots of great finds!
Parenting Tip: Teach your kids about the importance of writing Thank You Notes, and make it fun so that it becomes a life-long practice! For younger kids, talk about why you are writing a thank you note, and then allow them to draw a picture for the person they are thanking. Allowing them to place the stamp on the envelope and help you put it in the mailbox will add to the fun. For older kids, fun stationary that's all their own will do the trick. We love eeBoo's sweet notepapers!
cool recipes for hot summer days
Thanks to our readers for some cool recipes that beat the summer heat!
Recipe 1: Healthy Lemonade:
What you'll need...
:: Juice from 2 lemons
:: 2 quart pitcher full of water
:: 2-4 droppers full of Sweet Leaf Stevia (plain or Lemon Drop)
What you'll do...
Stir and enjoy!
It's healthy, and the lemon water helps your kids maintain healthy pH levels.
Recipe 2: Fresh Fruit Kabobs
What you'll need...
:: Choose a nice assortment of fresh (and still firm) colorful fruits such as Pineapple chunks, strawberries, mangos, grapes, watermelon and apples.
:: Skewers
What you'll do...
Wash the fruit thoroughly, and then cut into similar size pieces...approximately the size of a large grape. Then, you will simply arrange the fruit on the skewers to make a colorful and fun presentation. If old enough, let your kids help you and encourage them to try different themed kabobs such as Tropical fruits, Passion Fruits etc. Be sure to leave enough room so that you can hold the end of the kabob while eating! You can also experiment with yummy dips such as yogurt and peanut butter (be aware of allergies and choking with younger kids). Have fun!
Recipe 3: Frozen Chocolate Dipped Bananas
What you'll need:
:: 4 bananas
:: Orange Juice
:: 1 cup chocolate chips
:: 2 tbsp oil
:: Colored Sprinkles or nuts
:: 6 Popsicle sticks
What you'll do:
Simply cut the bananas in half, insert Popsicle stick lengthwise, and dip banana in orange juice. Then arrange banana sticks on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze for 4 hours (or until frozen firm). To melt the chocolate, create a double boiler and melt chocolate chips and oil together. Once chocolate is smooth and melted, spoon over the banana sticks. Let your kids help you spoon the sprinkles and nuts before the chocolate hardens. Enjoy!
