If you are a mom of a toddler or preschooler, you may have noticed that a few extra pounds have creeped up to your waisteline (or lower) over the past few months. I am sure (Like myself) that it is not your intention to eat the crusts off your kids weekly grilled cheese sandwiches, finish the remaining fries or nibble on the cookie that was left behind. But if you are like me, seeing so much food go to waste on a daily basis can make a person sick! So now, months later and 5 lbs heavier, you are wondering why your skinny jeans just don’t feel so skinny and your waisteline gives a new meaning to the term ‘muffin top”!! Well, I am happy to offer you much empathy, but even better than empathy, I have a super yummy recipe for Zucchini Chocolate Muffins that I stumbled upon that your kids will love so much, that there won’t be any remnants of crumbs left over for you to nibble. Better yet, go ahead and eat your own muffin!! You will be feeling so good about your inspired approach to better health, that you’ll want to take the kids on daily walks, get that jog stroller from out of the garage or heck take a dance class! Sooner than you realize, you will be fitting in your skinny jeans again and feeling good about your reclaimed figure.

This recipe is pretty versatile so you can add dried fruit, carob chips, cut the oil and add more applesauce (to reduce the fat) and just plain enjoy them!

ZUCCHINI CHOCOLATE MUFFINS:

3 eggs
1.5 cups white sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup of applesauce (I used cinnamon applesauce)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Add: dried cranberries, carob chips, raisins, nuts, coconut or anything else you think will taste good!

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease or line two 12 cup muffin tins with paper liners.
2.In a large bowl beat the eggs. Beat in the sugar and oil. Add the cocoa, vanilla, zucchini and stir well.
3.Stir in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. Mix until just moist.
4. Add your favorite mix-ins (carob chips, dried fruit, etc..)
5. Pour batter into prepared muffin tins filling 2/3 of the way full. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool on a wire rack. Store loosely covered.

Share with your kids and watch them devour these yummy muffins…just don’t tell them they’re made with zucchini!!

Decorative Kids Night Lights are a fun, colorful and affordable way to update your kids rooms for little money. Summer is a great time to update your child’s room and if extra money is tight, then adding little touches of decor is a simple and affordable way to update your child’s room without breaking the bank. A wonderful example of this are the adorable artistic nightlights made by Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids. These sweet nightlights are little works of art stretched over 2 wooden frames. Oopsy Daisy is known for their amazing quality of fine art for babys, kids and adults. They have now taken this beautiful art made by their host of artisans and down sized it to serve as a nighttime friend to prevent bad dreams or light the way for those late trips to the bathroom. We offer many different styles and colors of Kids Night Lights such as a Ballet themed nightlight for girls or sports themed nightlight for boys.

Each Oopsy Daisy Nightlight includes a miniature art canvas that is mounted through the wood to the night light base. When the night light is no longer needed, then each canvas become a mini work of art to be admired by your child for many years to come.

And affordably priced at $25.00, these children’s night lights are the perfect kids birthday gift or new baby gift. Find one for your child today at www.cuddleskidsbedding.com

Summer is not quite over yet (despite all of the back to school ads on tv these days). The month of August is the perfect time for familys to enjoy the last of the summer sun shine by enjoying family fun outings such as going to the theme park or a well planned family vacation. Make your summer travels a breeze with our InStep Double Strollers. The InStep Double Stroller by InStep offers a comfortable ride for both the kids and the parents. Each child has the benefit of having their own padded seat which helps to keep the “he’s touching me!!” complaints at bay. Dual sun shades and seat belts provide for individual comfort for both children regardless of age.

For parents, the InStep Double Jog Stroller offers dynamic safety features as well as large swivel wheels which create a smooth ride and easy handling. Theme parks this time of year are so crowded and busy, but having a smooth operating double stroller allows parents to know their kids are safe and contained in one place and the manueverability creates simplified navigation through those tough crowds and long roads. And so reasonably priced at around $200.00, it will be well worth the money for the peace of mind it provides.

Come see the newest 2010 InStep Double Stroller styles for both boys and girls from Cuddles Kids Bedding Boutique

Having a baby boy or baby girl, or keeping the babys gender a secret until the big day? Preparing a nursery for a baby whose gender is a surprise is both exciting and a little challenging. You are lucky enough to avoid the sea of blue and pink crib bedding sets, but what’s left that says “baby” in a classic and traditional way? Toile Baby Bedding may be your answer. Pronounced “twal”, this lovely style of nursery bedding originated in France in the 18th century. Toile Baby Bedding features gentle picturesque scenes against a neutral background. The pattern is both traditional and elegant and works perfectly in a gender neutral nursery. Another wonderful feature of Toile Baby Bedding is that it comes in a large array of colors and patterns. From pale pink and blue to sage, chocolate and even black. The toile pattern used in a nursery offers a beautiful accent against a solid colored background or it can be incorporated selectively in the crib bedding as well as in elements of room decor to give your babys nursery a finished appearance. An example might be to have the toile pattern in the babys crib bumper, window valance and lamp shade and use a color that compliments the toile baby bedding as a strong neutral base. This lovely pattern can also be transformed into a more mature setting for when your baby outgrowns her nursery so that many years of use can be enjoyed.

Preparing your babys nursery can be alot of fun. And choosing a pattern and style of decor that is both effortless and elegant makes the work of completing the nursery a pleasant experience.

Enjoy browsing our affordable selection of designer Toile Baby Bedding at Cuddles Kids Bedding Boutique.

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When it comes to decorating your babys nursery, the prominent pieces such as the crib, changing table, rocking chair as well as the nursery lighting are essential.

Nursery Lighting today comes in a variety of styles, designers and functions. From table lamps to pendant lights or chandeliers to night lights, the options are endless. It is important to give serious thought and conisderation to the right lighting, because just as with the crib and changing table your babys nursery lighting will be a functional piece of decor that will be enjoyed for years to come.

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Table Lamps are a perfect option for those early morning feedings or late evening stories. With the proper light bulb wattage, table lamps caste the perfect brightness of light for your babys room. Table lamps options are so numerous. A parent can choose from unique, artistic pieces that are true works of art, such as Oopsy Daisy’s Table Lamps.

Pendant lights can sere a focal point in the nursery. With so many unique shapes and styles available, a parent can even customize the pendant shade to coordinate with their babys crib bedding ensemble for a complete customized and designer feel. Take the Pendant Lights from Oilo that work perfectly with their crib bedding sets or the pendant lights from Charn and Co that also coordinate perfectly with the Maddie Boo, Caden Lane or Doodlefish Bedding set.

For a touch of luxury, a chandelier adds just the right sparkle for your babys nursery. Styled with many embellishments or just a few, in colors that span a rainbow. Your baby will feel like royalty sleeping beneath a collection of gems and jewels. Nursery chandeliers such as those from top designer, The Jubilee Collection offers a wonderful selection of chandeliers for both baby boys and girls. Reasonably prices and designed to last a lifetime. The Jubilee Collection of baby chandeliers are the top choice to add a touch of luxury to your babys nursery.

Finally, when you need just a touch of light to change a diaper or when your baby gets a little older and needs a little light to keep bad dreams at bay, a Night Light is your solution. Designed as functional art, the Oopsy Daisy night lights are living art. Created in many of your childs favorite themes or choose to match the room decor. And affordable priced at $25.00, these night lights will be joyously passed from child to child as the years pass and when a night light is no longer needed, the appreciation of the artistic design continues as each Oopsy Daisy night light becomes a small canvas of art.

Brighten your child’s nursery today with a fun, functional and unique nursery light from Cuddles Kids Bedding Boutique!

It will soon be time for you to bring your new baby home to his new surroundings and new home. You have already picked out the perfect “going home outfit”, pre-ordered all your babys birth announcements, completed your gift registry and will be shopping this week for a chic hospital gown…yeah right. This may not be your experience with preparing for the arrival of your newborn. It takes alot to be prepared with so many important details to remember such as, where will my baby sleep when he or she comes home. Many parents will choose a well made, wooden cradle to serve as their newborns first resting place. Wooden cradles today come in an array of designs and styles with so many bedding options that they can easily compete with the numerous choices in designer crib bedding sets.

Custom cradle bedding sets by New Arrivals and Green Frog Art welcome your baby home in style. The New Arrivals Custom Cradle Bedding Sets are 2 piece sets which include the crib sheet and 4 sided bumper. Both are made in New Arrivals signature fabrics to give your baby a charming place to rest. Each cradle bedding set has coordinating pieces such as the changing pad cover or a complete 4 piece baby crib bedding set which will enhance the custom nursery theme. Green Frog Arts Custom Cradle Bedding offers both luxury and style. Their signature use of plush fabrics and detailing make these cradle bedding sets highly sought after year after year.

While the idea of having a custom cradle bedding may seem a bit like a luxury, purchasing a high quality set with impeccable workmanship will ensure years of good use and tradition as it can be a joy to pass your babys cradle bedding down through the generations within your family.

Purchasing a lovely wooden cradle with a well made cradle bedding allows both peace of mind for new parents as well as offers a wonderful way to say ‘Welcome to our World” for your new baby.

Both adorable wooden cradles and designer baby cradle bedding are available at Cuddles Kids Bedding Boutique.

TEEN SUMMER SAFETY

School is out and your teen and their friends are ready to relax, enjoy the hot summer days and spend time with their friends. The lazy days of summer are different today than just 10 years ago. There are more dangers and risks to teens in simple, daily activities. Therefore, as parents we must keep our eyes open and be aware of these potential dangers so that your teen can truly have a safe and fun summer vacation.

The tips suggested are simply guidelines to use when preparing activities or planning outings. As the parent, no one knows your child better than you. It is important to develop an open and honest relationship with your teen. Have ongoing conversations and learn about their interests and friends.

4 TIPS FOR TEEN SUMMER SAFETY:

1. Do you know who your child’s friends are? A simple, but important question.
Get to know your child’s friends, where they live and what their parents are like. Plan activities at your home
with their friends, so that you can see how your child interacts when around their friends.

2. Is your child active online? Have all of your teens passwords for Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and any other social media site. Check out their MySpace and Facebook pages and see how they describe themselves to others. Does your teen use their real name or an alias? Does your teen maintain regular communication with strangers, unknown individuals or unknown males?

Your child should know to NEVER give out their real name, address or telephone number, or agree to meet with someone in person. Regularly go on these sites and review how your teen is communicating with others. Review their text messages and have open conversations about the risks of interacting with others, especially strangers.

3. Summer Fun at the Beach! You daughter calls to say she is going to the beach with her “girl friends” and asks permission…do you let her go? Well, there are many questions to consider. Do you know her friends?, which beach?, what time and for how long? who is in charge of transportation? and will they be meeting any other friends at the beach? So many different scenarios can present themselves to this simple request to go to the beach. But by knowing your child’s plan, it will make preventing problems a little easier.

4. Water fun on a Hot Day…So you know who your teens friends are and where they will be enjoying the cool water. Its now important to ensure your child will be safe in the water. Basic tips related to water safety are essential and can ensure a fun time in the water. Share these tips with your teen for added safety and fun:
* Tell them to never swim alone or in an unsupervised place. Always instruct them to swim with a friend.
* Teach you tween and teen about the danger of drinking alcohol and swimming, boating, or engaging in water activities such as water skiing. Alcohol use is involved in 25-50% of adolescent and adult drownings each year.
* Encourage your teen to learn CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation). Make a plan to take a CPR class with your teen so that you both are aware of this important skill.
* Instruct your teen to always check the water depth before entering a pool or natural bodies of water. Severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, paralysis and broken bones, can occur if water is too shallow for diving or jumping. A depth of nine feet as a minimum is required for diving or jumping in pools. If you have a pool at home, post clear signs where it is too shallow for diving or jumping.
* Be mindful of weather conditions and forecast before letting your teen go swimming or boating. Thunderstorms and strong winds are dangerous to swimmers and boaters.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, these tips are a good start to ensuring your child’s safety and fun this summer and hopefully encourage further exploration for what YOUR child may need to stay safe this summer!