Update...

Hello peeps... I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I should give you an update or a why.... I'm switching my blog over to be hosted on my site. Stay tuned as the new blog should be completed shortly. Thanks for your readership. Ciao. Ciao.

What happens when you leave...

After a great visit with my nieces, there comes the time when I have to hop on a plane to return home. It breaks my heart to see them sad and crying when that time comes. I used to tell them if I don't go, who will send them mail? That worked but then a friend of mine found a great quote, from Dr. Seuss even! He says "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened". I'm going to try that this weekend when I have to leave my nieces. Dr Seuss is a wealth of great advice and quotes...check out what else he said. http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/61105.Dr_Seuss Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Perfect Birthday Gift...

So what do you get a niece or nephew who has just about everything they need? How about starting a travel fun for them? Each year, I'll send my nieces a little something, since they love mail, but then I'll put what I would have spent on them into a travel fund. As they get a little older, I can give them books on exotic places to peak their curiosity. When they are 18, hopefully the fund will have enough for fabulous trip (or two) someplace fun and that they have dreamed about. If I'm lucky they might even ask me to join them! Ciao. Ciao.

Make nutrition fun and educational

My sister constantly inspires me. If I were to have kids, I think I'd be raising them the same way. My sister, a health nut, wants to instill that in my nieces too. So she is starting to let them choose there own cereal. Naturally, there is a catch. It must have 10 grams or less of sugar and 3 or more grams of fiber. They have to find the word, and then figure out is 12 more or less than 10. They are after all in preschool and first grade. If they select the cereal, they can't really complain much either. Hopefully, just learning they didn't like it all that much and to make another selection next week. There are lots of fun ways out on the Internet to help kids learn about nutrition too. Check it out http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/activities-main.asp
Have fun. Chow. Chow.

Happy New Year...

Here I am just wrapping up Christmas with barely a chance to put away my holiday decorations and it is already January 7th. How does that happen?! Every year instead of just tossing all my holiday cards, I love to keep an album of all the photo cards. I feel like I get to watch my friends children grow over the years...and boy are they getting big. Teenagers even!! Talk about time moving fast... It has even come in handy during the year when I can't remember a newborns name etc, I just refer to my album. Have fun! Ciao. Ciao.

Christmas Countdown....

December has descended upon us so fast this year! But I know for kids it can never come fast enough! The countdown until Christmas morning. A couple of years ago I started an advent calendar for my nieces. I found one that had little boxes and I stuff those boxes with chocolates kisses, mini-ornaments, red & green hair scrunchies etc. My nieces love it. I know my sister uses it as a reward sometimes....clean you room, then you can open today's box. Advent calendars are easy to find....www.target.com or even on www.ebay.com just search for Advent calendar. If you don't have time to "stuff" your own, many come prestuffed. It is not too late to get one today....they still get 15 days to open goodies, or look for one on sale at the end of the month and save it until next year! Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Thanksgiving Enjoyment...

Thanksgiving at my sister's house is a wonderful time to see and dote on the nieces. I'm simply amazed at how fast they are growing. Kids love traditions. They not only have favorite foods at Thanksgiving but one of our family traditions is to make Christmas cookies the day after Thanksgiving as well as decorate a gingerbread house. Yes, the sugar is flying! But it only comes once a year, and we have even started to call it Thanks-mas weekend. Thanksgiving and Christmas in one weekend. Works for me, since I don't get to see my nieces on Christmas day, but I'm happy just to help them kick off the season. And you can't forget the advent calendar. Leaving them a little something to remind them Christmas is coming. My younger niece even asked my sister in July, when she got to the the calendar countdown again?! They remember. What are you favorite holiday traditions?? We can all learn from each other. Enjoy. Ciao. Ciao.

Back to School....

For most kids back to school is a fun time. They get to see there friends again, and have more things to do. Times do change, but that is how I remember it anyway. To make it even more fun for them, send them on a treasure hunt for their new school clothes or supplies. If you don't have the creative side or energy to do this yourself get a little help with giftventure. You hide the stuff and they mail the clues. Check it out. www.giftventure.com Plus it gets the kids some extra snail mail, and you know how kids love snail mail! Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Birthday Gift. idea....

Not for a child but for you! As a grandparent, aunt, uncle etc we all naturally cherish something handmade by a child. But every year? And then what? We'll as someone who likes to dabble in the garden, and I believe all gardens need to have a path, even if that path goes now place. So I have started the tradition of having my nieces make me a stepping stone every year for my birthday. Eventually, I'll have a full path. I just love how the stones change over the years. Not to mention, my sister likes the idea as it is low cost and she doesn't have to rack her brain every year as to what to get someone who can be impossible to shop for. Here is a link for you to pass on, and make gift giving easy. http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/steppingstones/a/040201a.htm I think it is something handmade that you'll really enjoy. Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Stay-cation

Don't you just love the new vocabulary words? Having all the vacation fun, and none of the airfare, or gas! So now what to do with the kids, especially when going to the pool can be pretty standard fare for the summer. Here's my idea and my nieces approve. We pretend for a week we are in Italy and what I love most about Italy is the food....gelato in particular. So everyday for a week, (remember you are in Italy) you have to try out a new place for gelato. Search the Internet http://www.google.com/ as I'm sure there is more than one in your area. At the end of the week, you can decide who has the best gelato. If for some reason, one does not like gelato, try searching for the best pizza or pretend you are in Texas and go for ribs. Get creative and have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Play Date....

It's Wednesday, my blog day, but I'm away from my desk right now enjoying play time with my nieces. Doing some research for more fun ideas to share with you as well. Stay tuned! Until next week..... Ciao. Ciao.

Lemonade Stand with a twist

Nothing says summer time like the site of a young entrepreneur standing behind a lemonade stand. I remember those days so clearly. I had a stand on one side of the street with my girlfriends and my brother had claim to the order side of the street with his friends. Oh the friendly competition! Well I think now I'd have the edge....as I saw happen small town America. They were selling the lemonade out of mason jars, you know the stuff people can peaches/jams with. So cute, as the ice chest was filled with them. Not only did you get extra cold lemonade, you got the jar! A great way to have several flavors, in small batches and who doesn't love drinking out of a mason jar?! Great idea to share with your little loved ones and even help them to get it set up. I still can't resist stopping when I see a young entrepreneur trying to sell something. Just the other day, I stopped for just a glass of water and let me tell you that kid was raking it in! Happy Summer. Ciao. Ciao.

Sand Castles

WOW the summer time can sure but hot! Particularly in my neighborhood today. If you are lucky enough to live on one of the coasts, I say it is time to hit the beach and have a sand castle building contest. This can keep the kids busy and active for hours. If you don't live on the coasts, do you have a sandbox in your backyard? Just add a little water and you can build castles too. Who lives in those castles? Get their imaginations going. I like to have my nieces build me a house, a really big one of course. If you have absolutely no clue how to build a sand castle, check out http://www.sandcastlecentral.com/ they have some great tips for the beginner and expert. Plus they have some pictures that will blow your mind. At the beach, I also have fun burying my nieces from the waist down and turning them into mermaids, or giving them an extra fancy skirts etc. Have fun in the sun!! Ciao. Ciao.

Fourth of July fun for kids

In my book, Fouth of July is all about BBQ's, fireworks and family time! But why is it that kids are always asking what next, what next.... Never living in the moment. So best be prepared with something up your sleeve. Check out the ideas from Kaboose http://holidays.kaboose.com/july-4/index.html If it is hot where you are, you can make flag fans. Print off some of their coloring sheets, and have a coloring contest, where everyone is a winner. Pick up some beads to have the kids make their own red, white and blue jewelry. My personal favorite, simple ice cream recipes. Lots of things that will keep the kids busy until it's time for the fireworks. Happy 4th of July. Ciao. Ciao.

Send mail to Grandparents

Most kids like to color, and if they are anything like my nieces, they can go through a pad of paper in a day! But what do you do with all those drawings? A refrigerator is only so big. Well, how many of those drawings are you sending to the grandparents? They were raised without e-mail and I think snail mail holds a high value with them and something they look forward to receiving. It is just not the same to scan it and e-mail it over. A friend who has a grandmother in an retirement home, say drawings and pictures from the grand kids are like every one's trophy wall. The more you have the bigger your smile. If your kids are older, and not as into drawing anymore you can still send mail to your parents. Trudy Triner provides you a fun list of easy things to send on her site http://www.makemomhappybymail.com/25-things-to-send-by-mail/ Old or young, make someone smile today with the gift of mail. Ciao. Ciao.

Cooking with Toddlers

One of my favorite things to do with my nieces is cook. I find it to be interactive, bring out a creative side in them and perhaps even giving them skills for the future. I can't believe I have friends (at my age) who barely know how to boil water. Ahhhh the age of dining out. I am also somewhat of a health nut and prefer things that are homemade, even if it is as simple as making a smoothie and pouring it into and ice cube tray for a mini frozen treat later. There are many books out there to help you out, should your cooking skills be rusty, but if you have toddlers in your mix be sure to check out The Toddler Cafe. http://www.chroniclebooks.com/excerpts.php?isbn=0811859274&store=books Many of the ideas don't even require any "cooking", just mixing of a few fun ingredients and freezing, which is perfect for summer time. Happy cooking! Ciao. Ciao.

Family Golf Open

With Father's Day right around the corner, how can one not think of a golf outing. While it is true not all guys are golfers....I'm talking about miniature golf here! You know, pee wee golf. How much fun would it be to have the whole family out for the first ever "Smith" Masters or the Olson Open. Time to get T-shirts printed up for everyone? Even those that don't golf would have fun and it is all about getting the family together! The best part is everyone has a really, really good chance at getting a hole in one! Find the nearest miniature golf course to you at http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/mini_golf Watch out, this is liable to become an annual event! Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Pretend Mailbox

A reminder that kids love mail, and also like to play postman. I'm in love with this pretend mailbox and all the letters that go with it. http://www.craftsburykids.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=233 It is all about imagination, and this brings it out. For me, I'd much prefer my little nieces play postman verses doctor. Also send them mail on a regular basis too. The real stuff can help build your connection with them and make them feel extra special. Ciao. Ciao.

Dress Ups

Last week we discussed 'Fancy Nancy' and she is all about the dress ups. I wanted to expand on that idea with something I did for my nieces who love to play dress ups. The first time I showed up with dress ups (aka old "fun & frilly" clothes, hats etc) I brought them a big storage box too. This was to start the collection of dress ups that I knew that would grow, plus keep my sister happy. She is one of those that everything needs to have a proper place of storage, aka neat freak. Which still perplexes me....how do you do that with 2 kids?! Anyway, now when I show up I have something fun to add to the box. Since I have pretty much cleaned out my closet, I'm working my way around the thrift stores etc. You can find some fun boxes at the container store http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=71230&PRODID=10015492 or just cover a old 2 piece box with some fun wrapping paper. The dress up box is such a fun thing to collect for little girls. Sorry not sure about what the nephews like to collect at this age, as I don't have any.....yet. Don't forget to play dress up with them! Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Fancy Nancy

With a book title like that how can you go wrong?! But then as Aunt Nancy, am I bias? The Fancy Nancy book series by Jane O'Connor is a must for little girls. Here is an excerpt from the book, so you can see for yourself just how sweet they are.... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87988020 They are simple, sweet, and about all the little things you can do to be fancy,everyday. My niece loves the series so much she just had a fancy Nancy birthday party. Dress ups for little kids is like being a grown up. Wonder if that is why my nieces like wearing my shoes so much? If you save some of your old "fancy" clothes or just fun pieces like a pink frilly nightgown or a hat (that derby hat is just collecting dust anyway), you can show up with dress ups the next time you visit. Then have everyone wear them to breakfast for a fancy breakfast. Your nieces/nephews/grand kids will love it. Have fun! Ciao. Ciao.