Santa on the Loose! ─ A Seek and Solve Mystery!

Santa on the Loose! ─ A Seek and Solve Mystery!
     Santa Claus’ sleigh has been checked and is ready to make his annual nighttime trip, except there’s just one (big) problem─ the presents are missing!  This colorful and amusing book by author Bruce Hale reminded me of the “Where’s Waldo?” books that were so popular when I was younger.   Both you and your little one will have to search among brilliantly bright illustrations to solve the clues.  Who hid the presents, you ask?  Was it Loki the eyeglass wearing reindeer? Or could it be Emo, Santa’s elf helper?  Both you and your little one will have to search among pages of brilliantly bright illustrations by artist Dave Garbot.  With so many suspects, your little one will have to do a lot of thinking to crack this case before Christmas comes! 

 

Written by Bruce Hale & Illustrated by Dave Garbot

Retails for: $7.99 (Hardcover)

Ages 4 thru 8

 ISBN:978-0-06-202262-2

 Publisher: Harper Festival

Website:www.harpercollins.com

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #6-Step 2 Creative Cooks Kitchen

Step 2 Creative Cooks Kitchen

     Your littlest gourmets will play with delight in this bright and colorful kitchen from Step 2 that resembles mommy's grown up kitchen!  Realistic features include a farmhouse sink; working shutters, back splash, electronic stove top and microwave create an almost perfect backdrop for hours of imaginative playtime.  The kitchen also contains a 39 piece accessory kit, with large storage space in the fridge and freezer, along with cabinets and bins. 

     The setup and assembly took about 90 minutes altogether, and the kitchen is well built and sturdy enough to handle the task of dealing with the Pre-Ker's in my school! There is plenty of room in this sprawling kitchen.  One of my favorite details is the spinning spice rack.  The little spices contained in this set, fit nicely in the little carousel that spins around (a nice little feature that I'd like to have in my own 'grown-up' kitchen.

      This play kitchen is a great example of a high quality, functional make-believe toy that my family has, for years, turned to Step 2 to provide.  It is a toy that is colorful and bright, yet realistically mimics the tools and products that we,  moms and adults alike, use in our very own real life 'grown-up' kitchens!

     The Step 2 Creative Cooks Kitchen retails for $199.99, and can be found in Target, Wal-Mart and Toys-r-Us stores nationwide and online.

 

Prematurity Awareness Month--Tips for Mommas-to-Be

     Along with all of the joy and anticipation that pregnancy brings, come several unknowns and quite a few worries. First time moms and seasoned pros alike share a common concern─ preterm labor.  Sadly, this concern is well-founded according to the March of Dimes, as nearly half a million babies are born too soon in the United States each year.  Our countries premature birth rate has risen by 36 percent over the last 25 years.  This month is National Prematurity Awareness Month, and according to Dennis Costakos, M.D., a neonatologist at the Mayo Clinic Health system in La Crosse, Wisconsin, “one-third of the time, a preterm birth is due to infection, such as membranes rupturing.  Another third of the time, it is due to a medical condition such as preeclampsia or high blood pressure.  Other factors that can raise your risk of preterm labor also may include the following:

●Maternal age─ risk increases if you are younger than 17 and older than 35.

●Being underweight or overweight before pregnancy, or gaining either too little or too much during pregnancy.

●Chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

●Certain problems with the uterus, cervix or placenta.

●Past history of miscarriage and/or vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.

 

     To lower your risk of developing preterm labor, Dr. Costakos stresses the importance of prenatal care.  “Also, women should avoid smoking, and stay off of their feet as much as possible,” he states.  “A pregnant woman shouldn’t be on her feet for more than 10 hours a day.”

Faber-Castell's Creativity for Kids Beaded Snowflake Kit

     The weather has been getting colder as the days go by, and as we are quickly approaching the holiday season (with Thanksgiving being two days away!), as a mom and as an elementary school librarian, I am constantly on the lookout for holiday creative and fun activities for both my family and my students to work on while we are stuck indoors.

     Faber-Castell’s Creativity for Kids Beaded Snowflake Kit is simply the perfect cold weather day activity.  This kit includes a wide variety of shiny rhinestones, markers, color-in foil stickers, hanging ribbon and convenient gift wrapper envelopes that you can use to give your creations as gifts.  When completed, the snowflake measures about 5 ½ “, and the flakes can be hung in your windows, use them as a decoration when wrapping your presents, or will look pretty hanging from your tree.  The six snowflakes that my son and some of my students created will be hung on our classroom tree next month, and we are all excited to see how they look like when placed against the tree’s lights. 
     My family and I have been fans of Faber-Castell’s Creativity for Kids line of arts and crafts kits for children since our son was small.  There wide variety of kits provides children of all ages with an outlet to discover their ‘artist within’ and strengthen their imaginations, and the Beaded Snowflake Kit did not disappoint!  To find a retailer near you, please visit the Faber-Castell’s website at: http://www.fabercastell.com/creativity-for-kids

34° Sweet Crisps from 34 Degrees

     I’ve found that as I’ve neared the big 4 0, I’m not much of a ‘big’ dessert eater these days, as I prefer to enjoy a lighter, yet satisfying taste to calm my sweet tooth!  Recently, the kind folks from 34 Degrees sent over four flavors from their newest line of ultra-thin, yet ultra delicious cookies, 34° Sweet Crisps for our family to taste. These thin, sweet crisps only contain between 50 to 60 calories per serving, depending upon the flavor crisp you’ve purchased.  And, although they may be thin, don’t let appearances deceive you, as they are rich in flavor!  Made with natural ingredients, they are perfect straight out of the box.  Available flavors include Caramel, Chocolate, Cinnamon and Graham, and each one was an individual favorite with everyone in my house! 

      Their thin shape makes them an ideal snack to pack in your children’s lunchbox, but as they are delicate, I usually pack them along with my son in a small plastic container.  Next week, I’ve planned on using the crunchy chocolate crisps as a crust for my cheesecake bars for our Thanksgiving dessert.  With a wide variety of flavors (including their “Flatbread” line of savory flavors, including Rosemary, Cracked Pepper and Sesame, to name a few) to choose from, look for 34 Degrees on Twitter and “like” them on Facebook, or for further information, please visit their website at: http://34-degrees.com/   where you can find a retailer near you.  

 

Suki Creamy Foaming Cleanser

 

     Suki® is a 100% natural skincare brand that is free of harmful synthetic ingredients and parabens, suitable for all skin types, (especially for those, like me, who suffer from sensitive or eczema prone skin tone).  Recently, I received a sample of the Suki® Face Creamy Foaming Cleanser,  and it could not have come at a better time, as the weather in my part of the country is becoming increasingly drier and cooler, and so, unfortunately, has my skin.

     This pleasant, gentle daily cleanser worked very well for my skin, and the vibrant smell of citrus and apple is just the perfect scent to wake me up in the morning!  Active ingredients like Acai Oil, shea butter, grape seed and chamomile extract, will help you fight against those nasty free radicals, while reducing the pore size and removing dirt from your face.  While one should take care, as the cleanser comes in a glass bottle (especially if you take it into the shower), I found that the pump is very well made and it pumps out surprisingly little, but you don’t need to use a lot in order to achieve great results (only two to three small pumps will suffice).  This cleanser never left my skin with a nasty filmy residue, as it foams beautifully and easily glides all over my face.

     Retailing for $32.95, the Suki Face Creamy Foaming Cleanser can be purchased directly thru Suki®’s website at: www.sukiskincare.com

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #5--LEGO Creator 7345 Transport Chopper

LEGO Creator 7345 Transport Chopper

     Here comes your little hero to the rescue with this 3-in-1 block set.  This 383 piece set features large engines, working rotors, a back ramp which opens, and a fold-away undercarriage.  Children can assemble a detailed transport helicopter, then take it apart to rebuild into a transport boat or a sea plane.  My son, who has been an avid LEGO collector and builder ever since he received his first “Thomas the Tank Engine” LEGO set when he was two years-old,  enjoyed the fact that there was a lot of versatility and creativity in this set─ he even tested the ferry in the bathtub, and to his delight, it actually floated!   The detailed, step-by-step building instructions are very kid friendly, and they encourage new creations and building explorations.  For $34.99, this set is a great value and is guaranteed to provide your little builders with hours of building fun. 

     The LEGO Creator 7345 Transport Chopper can be found in Target and Wal-Mart stores nationwide and online.  For further information on this set, as well as others, please visit the LEGO website at: www.lego.com

 

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #4- Jenny and "The Sweet Shoppe Mystery"

Jenny and "The Sweet Shoppe Mystery”

      Jenny is a delightfully well-made 18 inch doll from the creators of Our Generation line of dolls and accessories, who comes along with an illustrated storybook, The Sweet Shoppe Mystery.  Readers will learn about Jenny’s intriguing life story of solving mysteries, all the while creating the most delectable, and world- renowned cakes! The doll also comes with two complete outfits and several baking accessories, including baking set including cupcake tray, cupcakes, chef’s bag, bowl, whisk, eggs, recipe card, carton of milk, bag of flour and box of butter so your little girl can help create delicious desserts just like Jenny!

     This line of dolls from Our Generation is so adorable and extremely well-constructed.  The facial features are delicate, with eyes that open and close.  The value of this doll and her accessories when compared with other similar doll lines on the market just can’t compare.  Best of all, Our Generation is a company with a conscious─not only is all of the packaging made from recycled material, but for every Our Generation doll or accessory you purchase, 10 cents goes to the Free the Children’s Power of Girl Initiative, an organization started 16 years ago that now has built more than 650 schools worldwide that educate more than 50,000 children.  Retailing for $31.99,  please visit Our Generation’s website at: http://www.ogdolls.com/pages/where  to find a store locator near you.

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #3-VTech's Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet

VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet

     Your child will learn how to build and develop cognitive and developmental skills through tablet play. This touch tablet has 80 educational yet amusing activities that will engage your child as they learn through interactive games filled with skill drills in creativity, language arts, math and science. When the unit is turned on, you will see the category menu. To choose a category, little ones can touch the arrows on the screen with a finger, then touch the category icon or press enter. Children can also use the tablet's motion sensor and tilt the device left or right, then touch the category icon or press enter. With the sophisticated look of a tablet device but with a kid-friendly design and content,  my son and I enjoyed all of the wide variety of activities available for kids to play, and the different levels for each activity kept the content challenging and engaging. VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet is for children between the ages of 4 thru 7 years, and it retails for $35.99.  The VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet can be found in Target, Wal-Mart and Toys-r-Us stores nationwide and online. For further information, please visit the VTech website at: www.vtech.com .

VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet Highlights:

● Touch tablet features an LCD color touch screen.

●Motion controlled games.

●Parents can see what their child has learned with the Progress Report key.

It's Christmas! A New I Can Read Series 3 Book

It’s Christmas! (I Can Read Series 3)

     Filled with lovely holiday inspired poems by our nation’s first Children’s Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky and delightfully bright water colored artwork illustrated by Marylin Hafner, It’s Christmas! has been reissued for Harper Collins’ I Can Read series of books.   With twelve humorous rhyming verses about Christmas trees, wish lists, nativity plays and caroling, all of those familiar, warm holiday traditions are sweetly shown from a child’s point of view.  It’s Christmas! is the perfect read aloud for one child or for an entire group of children.

Written by Jack Prelutsky & Illustrated by Marylin Hafner

Retails for: $3.99 (Hardcover)

Ages 4 thru 8

ISBN: 9780060537081

Publisher:  Harper Collins

Website: www.harpercollins.com

Dixie Wins the Race

 

      Dixie Wins the Race is the fifth and latest edition of the popular “I Can Read” series of books featuring Dixie, the loyal canine companion of Emma.   Emma is running in a big relay race, and her loyal, lovable pup Dixie has come along to watch the event. When Dixie hears that she must sit and cheer from the sidelines, she is sad, but is determined to show her friend that she can do what she is told.  However, when Emma falls during the race, Dixie must decide to continue to obey her friend, or join in to save the day.  This lovable tale from author Grace Gilman and featuring delightfully whimsical illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers will easily become a story that your little one will want you to read over and over again!

For ages 4 to 8

Retail price: $16.99 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 9780062086181

Publisher: Harper Collins

Website: www.harpercollins.com

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #2: Chuggington Die-Cast Railway Wilson's Wild Ride

     Chuggington Die-Cast Railway Wilson’s Wild Ride – Inspired by the popular children's television series beloved train, Chuggington Die-Cast Railway Wilson's Wild Ride playset provides your little conductors with the tools to be able to build a spiral of more than two feet tall!  Your little ones (this set is perfect for children between the ages of 3 to 5 years-old) will delight with the sounds of rain, wind and thunder as Wilson enters the Storm Maker.  Launch Wilson downwards through four spiraling levels of track, through popping construction cones.  This set is well-made, easy to put together and best of all, it is rearrangeable into different layouts. The set also comes with one adapter for older diecast Chuggington track sets.  Retailing for $49.97, Chuggington Die-Cast Railway Wilson’s Wild Ride can be found at Target and Wal-Mart stores nationwide and online. 

Chuggington Die-Cast Railway Wilson's Wild Ride Highlights:

• New and improved track
• Storm sounds
• 360-degree spiral
• Over 2' tall
• Includes an adaptor track piece that allows you to connect your existing Chuggington Die-Cast track to the new and improved track
• Requires 2 AA batteries (included)

 

A Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #1

     Finding the best toys and gifts for your children during the holiday season can be, well, let’s face it, overwhelming.  With so many toys out there to choose from, and the added pressure of your child being bombarded with advertising everywhere, it’s hard to decide which toy is right for them.  So many questions come to mind─ Is it fun?  Is it safe?  Does it interact or teach my little one something, and most importantly, will the play value extend well past the holidays?  But, fear not, as Modest Momma will be putting a spotlight not only on some of this year’s hottest new ‘must have’s’ but will offer you with out of the ordinary, creative, education and fun choices for children of all ages.  I guarantee that you will find something perfect for your little one here. 

 

Our First Spotlight:

HABA Treetop Trouble

     This game will quickly remind you of the old Memory card game from childhood, but with a special unique quality that will engage your child’s imagination.  A delightfully illustrated game where children between the ages of six and up will have to use their memory skills  to help Frog, Fox, Badger and other animals critters back to their home.  The object of this game is to get each of your six animal tiles to their proper floor.  With each roll of the dice, your little ones will send the elevator up or down one or more floors, where all players (best played with two to four players) swap their elevator tile as it enters the elevator.  When you roll, you’ll control whether the elevator goes up or down.  The first player to get all their animals tiles back home wins! 

HABA’s Treetop Trouble includes the following:

2 game boards

1 symbol die

24 animal tiles

Instructions featured in several languages. 

     Retailing for $12.99, you can purchase HABA Treetop Trouble on the HABA website at: http://www.habausa.com/ . HABA has always consistently created appealing, quality products for children, and Treetop Trouble, with its wonderfully illustrated game board and tiles, will surely not disappoint!