Mixed Berry Jam

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Mixed Berry Jam Ingredients 2 cups blueberries 2 cups raspberries 1 cup strawberries, diced 1 box (1.75 oz.) pectin 6 cups sugar Directions *Heat your empty jars in boiling water while you prepare the jam. When you process the jam, you should have 2 inches of water above the jars. 1. Rinse the berries under cold water and place them between paper towels to dry. 2. Place the berries in a large sauce pot. Crush the berries with a potato masher. 3. Stir in the pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat and stir constantly. 4. Stir in the sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. 5. Skim off any foam. 6. Pour into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space. 7. Clean the glass rim well with a clean wet cloth. Top with canning disk and screw on the ring. (Do not tighten it tightly.) 8. Place the jars in boiling water for 10 minutes with lid on. Turn off the heat. Remove the lid and keep the jars in the hot water for 5 minutes. 9. Remove the jars from the water, being careful not to tip the jars. Place the jars on a cooling rack. Do not touch the jars for 24 hours. 10. Unscrew the rings on the jars and check the seals carefully. If sealed properly, the jam will be good for one year. *This recipe makes about 5 half pints.

Check out Make Ahead Meals for Moms (Thanks for this recipe!)

Make at Home Fun Finger Paints :)

All you need is: 2 cups white flour 2 cups cold water food coloring Pour water in bowl. slowly add flour, while stirring. Pour into smaller bowls. Add various food coloring. Paint and enjoy!

Check out ...Edible Playdough

Please check out simplygoodstuff.com by clicking the link in the blue box on the left hand side below. Thanks, It has recipes for edible playdough. Fun!

Fun Summer Art

Today we had some friends spend the day with us (ages 4 - 8) My son, who is 2, enjoys it when we spend the day with friends. To help fill the time and do something special with the kids, we made butterfly art. We took tissue paper and colored it with markers. Once colored we sprayed the tissue paper with a little water. This made the markers run together like paint. It was neat looking. We then crimped the center together with colorful pipe cleaners and made butterflies. This can also be done using coffee filters and pipecleaners, instead of tissue paper. It was a fun activity and everyone's art looked different and unique. :)

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• How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers for a Centerpiece (brighthub.com)

DID YOU KNOW?

Most food stains can be removed from your carpet using shaving cream or vinegar. Of course, the first approach is water and dabbing but if it is a hard to remove stain try shaving cream or vinegar. :)

HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH

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Homemade playdough is an easy and economically reasonable activity you can do with your toddler or preschooler. It is something both me and little boy enjoy! One simple clay recipe is: 1 c. corn starch 1/3 c. veg. oil 2/3 c. flour Mix well into a dough mixture. Enjoy! For an additional recipe check out the photos attached!

Sharing

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Young children, especially those under 5, love to explore the world around them and are still learning social rules and boundaries. It is normal for a young child not to share. One way to encourage sharing is to implement it in your daily life. When you are giving your child a toy or a snack during the day, take a moment and say "I will share with you" as you give it to them. Encourage sharing and lead by example. Don't yell or get mad at your child for not sharing at a young age. Instead, interact and encourage sharing by offering another toy, bringing multiple toys of the same type, or pointing out when other children share. Look how nice Joey was. He is sharing with you. Sharing is a social skill that takes time, patients, and practice. Most of all relax and now that over time your child will start to understand sharing.

Easiest Ever Orange Marmalade

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Make orange marmalade with only 2 ingredients: (GREAT WITH TOAST OR EVEN A SCONE)

6 oranges (and or lemons)
5 cups sugar

Cut oranges into small pieces (rinds and all), grind in food processor. Place in pot. Add sugar. Bring to boil. Boil for 20 minutes. Pour into canning jars. Refrigerate. Will last about 6 months with no other preserving needed.

Articles Worth Sharing:

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Today's article worth sharing is written by Kathy Lee:

What’s Your Guilty Pleasure?
Wednesday July 14, 2010
The other day, I ate almost an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's chocolate brownie frozen yogurt. If I'm not mistaken, the entire thing is supposed to be four servings. I know it's definitely not one.

I justified my oink-out this way: I eat right most of the time; it's summer; and it's yogurt, not ice cream. Okay, so it still has calories and sugar and fat, even though it's yogurt. And okay, I try to eat right most of the time (this was not my first time eating nearly a pint of frozen yogurt or ice cream). And the fact that it's summer means I should actually try to avoid treats like this so that I can actually fit into shorts and little summer dresses. Sigh.

But you know what? It was good. And at the end of the day, that little bit of guilty pleasure was entirely worth it.

What's your guilty pleasure? Trashy mags? Twilight movies and books? Super-gooey pizza with everything on it? Do tell!

Amusing Advice of the Day - Topic: Help Parents Enjoy Summer Vacation

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Ramp up your caffeine intake if you feel your energy level starting to dip. You've got to play hard when you're on vacation, right? And as for annoying side effects like restlessness, edginess, and caffeine-induced insomnia? They'll wear off once you push yourself to the point of full-blown exhaustion, don't you worry.

written by: Ann Douglas is the author of numerous books about pregnancy and parenting. She is also a family vacation survivor.

Contests and Giveaways

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Check out the below link to view current contests and giveaways from Parenting magazine and Babytalk! Enjoy http://www.parenting.com/article/Gear/Mom-Must-Haves/Contests-and-Giveaways-1200408621559

Mommies DON'T FORGET...

Don't forget to take time out for yourself by...

* taking a hot bath, doing your nails, soaking your feet, just relaxing;
* going for a walk;
* calling a friend; or
* reading a book;

Yes, mommies deserve a time out too now and then. Relaxing for a bit makes us better mommies. :)

Preparing Your Toddler For the New Baby

Cover of The New Baby

Preparing Your Toddler for a New Baby.

Are you expecting with your second child? I am and I'm 26 weeks along, with my little girl. I currently have a two year old boy and it is important to make sure he understands and adjusts to the changes a new baby will bring to the family.

A few helpful hints I have learned in researching this topic is:

1. Don't hide the pregnancy from your toddler. Talk openly about why you may not be feeling well. Explain as the weeks go along that a baby is in your tummy. This gives your child time to adjust.

2. Don't blame the baby. If you are not feeling well or can't lift your toddler like you use too, do not blame it on the baby. Just comment that your back hurts or that it might hurt mommy.

3. Make changes in your toddler's life early. If you have to change from a crib to a bed do not wait until the baby comes. Make any needed changes in advance so it doesn't feel like the baby is replacing the toddler.

4. Involve your toddler in the pregnancy. Let him or her come to a couple of your prenatal dr. visits, if appropriate. Let him or her hear the baby's heartbeat and see the photos.

5. Talk about how important older brothers and sisters are. Make your toddler feel proud of who they are and emphasize how helpful and loved that they are.

link to www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=proudmom

Free John Frieda Root Awakening Hair Care

Check out www.johnfrieda.com to receive free samples of the John Frieda Root Awakening Hair Care!

Freebie - SEND SASE

Hi, to receive a free sample, please send a self addressed and stamped envelope to: Toilex, LLC, Attn: Free Sample, P.O. Box 883, Chesterton, IN 46304. Enclose a note requesting either Fresh Lavender or Citrus Bubble Scent. Allow up to 2 weeks for free sample to arrive. Enjoy!

Seeing the World Through My Child's Eyes is a Gift!

It is amazing how a two year old child can take everyday occurances and turn them into something special. How they absorb everything around them and turn these things into something special.

Not only does the little things make my son's eyes light up with wonder but he also thinks everyone is his friend. No matter where we go and who we meet, he greets them with the phrase "my friend." If only the world functioned this way. I know over time this thought will fade, as he realizes that not everyone is friendly, but until then I am going to enjoy the innocence of childhood that gleams from his eyes. I am not naive, I understand that there are inherent dangers of being so friendly but at age two, everywhere he goes I go with him. It is my job to keep him safe and it is his job to view the world through a child's eyes. Occasionally, when I spend a lot of time with him, I too get a chance to view a glimps of this magical world. Though, I have completely grown up now, I too get a glimps of what the world looks like through a child's eyes.