v 3 issue 12: Winter Wonderland

Cooler days are here with more on the way and we have found products that make it easy to keep your children warm. Plus: Some ideas for having fun in the winter air.

Cover by Erin Carlyle










1 From slope to playground, this Denim Snowboard Jacket from Polarn O. Pyret keeps kids warm and dry for hours of outside fun. The rugged construction of the wind-resistant, waterproof jacket is framed from a "denim-look" fabric, Thinsulate, and fleece lining. Designed with flexibility & play in mind, the loose fitting jacket's greatest trick is thumb holes at the wrist for keeping sleeves in mittens. Huge winter sale going on now, savings up to 70% off.

2 We are huge Sunuk fans! Our newest favorite is for mom. The Laurel Chill Sidewalk Surfer combines the same rubberized Happy-U sole with a textured upper with a “Chill” liner. Come on...ride the wave of style, warmth and comfort with Sunuk.

3 Working respectfully with talented tailors of the Indian Himalyas, Eternal Creation brings forth children's clothing inspired by the blended colors & backgrounds of both founder & employees. The hand crocheted jacket of the winter collection offers a charcoal wool blend with red and white accents in it's roping and flowers. Available in sizes 2 through 10. Enter code: TTSHIP for Free International Shipping on $75 or more.

4 Here is a stylish and classic way to keep warm this winter. Choose from the many styles, colors and collections of hats and scarves for mom and the whole family at Stitches Of Faith. Each of Faith's pieces are handmade using 100% cotton yarns with organic yarns available upon request. Our favorite...the floppy Beret. Enter code: TTWSOF for Free Shipping thru 1/30.

5 The highly respected sole of KEEN is fashioned into a trendsetting boot. With fleece insides and gripping soles, the Tallinn Keen boot enables kids to romp and stomp through snow and ice with no falls & nice dry toes. Available in shades of potting soil or brandied apricot.

6 Keita Slip-On Shoes come with a "beefy" non-slip Vibram sole and genuine sheepskin lining to handle the inclement conditions of winter. Combined with chocolate suede uppers, these slip-ons from Soft Star Shoes are perfect for stepping in and stepping out for a quick jaunt to the store or anywhere. Available in youth and adult sizes.

7 Spell out fun with handcrafted blankets and pillows at Butterscotch Blankees. Choose from 11 designs using 2 color combinations personalized with name, initials and date. Arrives packaged in butterscotch foil paper tied with bronze tulle ribbon on the ends.

8 Get all wrapped up in this double-layered scarf of many colors. Made of 100% cotton and 101 inches long … This scarf is the perfect way to stay warm while expression their love for color. Available at Little Miss Matched.


This weeks mom tips:
Green Tips:
Save an average of $90 a year by shutting down a home computer every night. Also, shut it down if you don't expect to use it for the next two hours. Turn off the monitor if the lag is going to be at least 20 minutes.

Generating enough electricity to cook for an hour in a standard electric oven creates 2.7 pounds of carbon dioxide. Here's a list of what can do it for less: toaster oven, 1.3 pounds over 50 minutes; slow cooker, 0.9 pounds over seven hours; and microwave, 0.5 pounds over 15 minutes.

Programming your thermostat to reduce your home’s temperature by 5 degrees when you are asleep or away will reduce your heating bill and your impact on global warming. Wearing a sweater and turning down the heat while you are home will save even more energy. In fact, each degree below 68 will reduce the home heating bill by about 3 percent.


Organizing Tips:
Constantly evaluate your children’s clothing by setting aside a pile of clothing that is too small for donation you will keep their closets more organized and help a family in need.

Set a cleanup time in the evening when everyone picks up their space. Show your kids exactly how you want their room picked up…label bins with photos so that your kids know what should go in them (or words for older kids who can read).


Cleaning Tip:
Found a sticker on the wall? Remove as much of the sticker as possible then remove the rest with a little bit of Ben Gay ointment and a blow dryer (on low heat setting). Other ways to remove stickers include WD-40, Oops brand latex paint remover, De-Solve, fingernail polish remover, and rubbing alcohol.

One day a week, you and the family finish up the rest of the housecleaning that didn't get done during the week, or any larger jobs. Keep track during the week of areas that need more work during your clean-for-all. Assign tasks to all members of the family. Again, set a time budget and use your timer to stick to that budget. Anything that doesn't get done this week will get done next.


Fun in the Winter Air
Who says that the cold weather means you stay indoors? There is no reason why the winter can’t be a fun time for family just like the summer. Here are some ideas for having fun in the winter air.

1. Go sledding. The big hill could be in your back yard or somewhere else in the neighborhood. Grab the sleds and head for the top. Sledding is one thing that adults can do and still feel like a kid. Everyone loves the feeling of their heart in their throat as they go speeding off towards the bottom of the hill. Hardware stores sell out of sleds so get yours early.

2. Have a snowball fight. But, don’t just hide behind a tree. Take the time to build a snow fort. The family can divide into teams and each take an hour or two to construct the snow place of safety. Once the forts are finished and the flags are flying, let the snow fly!

3. Make snow angels. Wear a warm coat, gloves, and hat before attempting this wonderful winter artwork. Find a clear clean place in the snow and allow yourself to fall backwards. The snow will break your fall. Once you’re down there start flapping those arms and legs.

4. That walkway isn’t going to get clean all by itself. Each person can take a shovel or a bucket and work together to get it cleared. Why pay someone else to do it when the family can get some physical activity together? Afterward, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa together and warm up.

5. Try a new sport. The winter brings a new set of exercises to enjoy. Take up snowshoeing. snowboarding, skiing, or ice skating. The point is not to become an expert but to have fun with your family.

6. Catch a snowflake on your tongue. This is an activity that has to wait until the snow is actually falling but when you live far up north that could be an everyday occurrence. Stand out on the front lawn and throw your head back. After catching a few, take a break. No one wants to get a sore throat. Besides, the neighbors will wonder what is going on when they see everyone sticking their tongue out.

7. Build a snowman. By this time, you’ve tried everything else so a snowman is the last best thing to do in the snow. It’ll take everyone’s help to roll a really big base and lift the other body parts on top of each other. A sturdy snowman will take longer to melt in the sun.

Don’t sit in the house longing for warmer weather. Get out and enjoy the possibilities of the winter season...together.