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