Rich, sweet and comforting, chocolate remains a staple for the holidays. Melted into creamy smoothness or dressed up with a bow, you just can’t seem to get enough. Now you can choose a chocolate-covered holiday card to satisfy that craving…without any of the calories!

(Via TinyPrints.Com)

   

The ABC Game was commissioned by Gyldendal, one of Norway’s leading publishing houses. It is designed to complement one of Gyldendals reading books for primary schools. The game focuses on the shapes of the letters in the alphabet and aims to make 6 year olds confident and familiar with the characters.

The illustrated letters are painted by Stefano Lemma and the sound is composed by Geir Bremer Øvrebø.

(Via OrgDot.Com)

   

From Baltimore’s greatest director who created new classics like Hairspray and Pink Flamingos comes a different sorts of Christmas compilation.

A John Waters Christmas playlist;

1. Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer - Tiny Tim
2. Christmas Time Is Coming (A Street Carol) - Stormy Weather
3. Happy Birthday Jesus - Little Cindy
4. Here Comes Fatty Claus - Rudolf & The Gang
5. Little Mary Christmas - Roger Christian
6. I Wish You A Merry Christmas - Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva
7. Santa Don’t Pass By Me - Jimmy Donley
8. Sleigh Ride - Alvin & The Chipmunks
9. Sleigh Bells, Reindeer And Snow
10. First Snow - The Cocktails
11. Santa Claus Is A Black Man - AKIM & The Teddy Vann Production Company

Follow the NPR link below to listen to his commentary about putting this compilation together.

Sited Links:
Amazon.Com | A John Waters Christmas

Related Links:
National Public Radio (NPR) | Catchy And Rare; A John Waters Christmas
IMDB.Com | John Waters

   

The Freecycle Networkâ„¢ is made up of 4,173 groups with 4,109,000 members across the globe. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reusing goods and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

It was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson’s downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to “recycle” unwanted items.

(Via FreeCycle.Org)

   

This modern spacious four-roomed dolls’ house is made for active living. The adaptable staircase leads straight into the garden from either of the first floor rooms. Lively colors and fresh looking architecture suit the lovable doll family to a tee.

(Via TheToySpace.Com)

   

If your children are fully charged and waiting desperately for some sign that Santa has a clue what the really-really-really want for Christmas, here’s a great opportunity for you to send them over the edge. The fine folks at IdentityDirect.Com have a FREE letter from Santa that you can customize for your kid to receive either via email or for a small charge via rel=”nofollow”regular mail. Just think of their face when they see exactly how much Santa knows about them!

(Via IdentityDirect.Com)

   

Of all the buzz and din of reviews and marketing ploys I always seem to fall back on the Parents’ Choice Foundation for honest critiques of current toys, books and software for my kids. Parent’s Choice is a non-profit organizational that has been around for almost thirty years and it’s comprised of educators and medical professionals. Although I feel their articles are sometimes flawed or conflicted with regards to their recommendations, I feel they are being honest with me and aren’t driven by industry or marketing dollars.

I happened to stumble across their software recommendations page and want to pass it on to you. Some of the software with the top honors:

1. Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek
2. Crazy Machines 1.5: More Gizmos, Gadgets & Whatchamacallits
3. Pet Vet 3D Wild Animal Hospital
4. Fritz & Chessters Chess for Winners

Almost in the same breadth, I want to point out their Media Management recommendations that are healthy reminders to us parents. I know from experience it can be such a bitter sweet thing to plop the kids in front of the boob-tube and tune it to their favorite channel or console and enjoy a hands-free moment but get that pang of guilt that you’re melting their brain. Well, here are some tips for managing your kids’ screen-time.

Site Links:
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Fall 2007 Software Recommendations
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Media Management

Related Links:
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Playstation or Playground?
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Are Video-Based Toys Good for Your Child?

   

The U.S. Department of Transportation received more than 11,000 reports of lost luggage per day last year—the highest figure since 1990. And sources say that between Thanksgiving and Christmas over 15 million of us will fly the friendly skies. Considering the large amount of mishandled luggage, late flights, dubious mechanical problems encountered and just plain old waiting around involved with air travel I want to share with you a few of the things that may minimize some undue family stress.

My wife has been a flight attendant with a major domestic carrier for over ten years, so it is fair to say - we tend to be over-prepared for traveling with the kids, especially during the busy holiday season.

• If traveling with a toddler or small child, equip them with their own carry-on — either a small rollerboard (rolling bag) or backpack filled with activities, toys and snacks appropriate for the plane ride and concourse. Please keep in mind the T.S.A.’s current 3-1-1 rules regarding liquids; you will have to forgo any juice or milk - of course you can purchase drinks at a restaurant or concession once past airport security.
• Prep your kid for the whole security process. We try to make this as fun as possible for our toddler otherwise it may be a deal-breaker for them when they have to give up their blanket or teddy bear to go through the scanner.
• It is a good idea to slip in a change of clothes as well. We tend to put a pair of pajamas in there and change the boys into jammies’ for the flight so they’re comfy. And if your child wears diapers bring plenty of extra ones, heaven forbid the plane gets stuck sitting on the tarmac and you run out of diapers.
• Pack a DVD player or if they’re old enough consider a portable game system (PSP, DS, GameBoy, etc.). We have mixed feelings about traveling with portable entertainment but as most parents know it sure is nice to pacify the kids for a while. What my wife and I do is use idea of extra “screen time” as a reward for good behavior. We also try to save the movies and DVD’s for the tail-end of the flight so they don’t get in a situation where they watch too many programs.
• We try to pack a separate Goodie-Bag (I usually fill my carry-on) that has special Sticker Books, Picture Books, Coloring Books and so forth that we have purchased just for the flight. We try not to buy any toys or activities that may prompt them to get up and we definitely stay away from toys that sing or chime. The idea is to have quiet busy kids that will not disturb the other passengers.
• Dads equip yourself with is a good selection of lollipops and such so that during take-offs and landings you can give the kids something to suck on to help their ears to pop with the change in altitude.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommends that parents traveling with small children to be equipped with approved children restraint systems (CRS). These are either safety seats (designed to fit or compliment the plane seat much like a child seat for an auto) or approved harness system that interlocks with the plane lap belt to provide three or five point harness protection. Please go to the F.A.A.’s web page for details on recommended and approved restraint systems.

As most of us know it is hard to say what the holiday commute will really be like but it certainly helps to be over-prepared when traveling with the kids.

Sited Links:
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | 3-1-1 Guidelines For Carry-Ons
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) | Child Restraint System Recommendations

Related Links:
CNN | Taking The Kids…
Eileen Ogintz Blog | Taking The Kids
FAA | Childproof Your Flight (PDF)

DULY NOTED:
Every mother loves to give her baby an unusual name. For the top 100 baby names you can surf your net and learn a lot. Mothers have to be prepared about their potty training and use of sleepers should be sure they are good quality and not made from flammable materials or loose fitting.

   

(Via XKCD.Com)

   

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson