Super Soft Baby Gifts

I love baby clothes because they are so cute and tiny and have the softest fabrics. These Bunnies By The Bay items are perfect because of just that. They offer silky-soft, rich and luxurious gifts for baby and mom. My favorite is their cuddle coats. They are adorable, very soft, and machine washable with special care. They make a perfect baby gift or even keepsake item for the nursery. Check them out!

http://www.bunniesbythebay.com/index.cfm

--The Unique Mom

Splash Into Summer!

What's a better way to beat the heat than to go swimming! It's fun for babies, toddlers, kids, teens, and adults! Here are some things you might want to bring or try at the pool this summer:

1. First off, don't forget the sunscreen and a hat! You can never be careful. Remember to reapply often.
2. Bring cups, buckets, and plastic containers. Little kids love dumping out water into other containers. My two year old can play for hours with these.
3. Bring soft, cushy balls to toss. These are fun for little and big kids. Big kids can throw these around to play catch and little kids like to make the water squirt out.
4. Bring squirties. These are fantastic for both the bath tub and at the pool. We bring enough to have a little squirting war. Also great for when mom is sitting on a pool chair and wants to cool down--just spray and enjoy!
5. Snacks and water to drink if your local pool will let you have it on-site. Our pool doesn't mind if little kids have sippy cups or baggies of small cheerios. These are great for a quick snack during pool checks.
6. Your child's favorite plastic toy. This will provide endless hours of entertainment. For us cars and trucks are wonderful but for a girl it might be her favorite plastic baby doll. Because its plastic, it won't hurt for it to get wet.
7. Try showing your child how they can play in the water. Scoop up water with your hands and show them how to use their hands to do this. Or show them how to make waves in the water. You can even make a game of it by encouraging him/her to make the smallest or biggest waves. Be creative and have fun!
8. A giant beach bag and towel. Pack in a freezer size ziplock bag to put all your toys in so they don't get everything wet and pack a plastic grocery bag if you need to change out of your wet swimming suit.

Have a Safe and Cool Summer!

--The Unique Mom

"Kids" Chocolate Chip Cookies

This special recipe my son loves to eat up. Its extra chocolatey and super fun to make. You just take a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe and make a couple yummy changes. But try not to eat the whole plate right up!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour


• 1 tsp. baking soda


• 1 tsp. salt


• 1/4 cup cocoa


• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened


• 3/4 cup granulated sugar


• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar


• 1 tsp. vanilla extract


• 2 large eggs


• Several varieties of chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate chunks, etc.)


• Chopped nuts or small marshmallows (optional)


• 2 tsp. Hersey's chocolate syrup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. **Note: For best results chill dough before baking for 1/2 hour.**


2. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate syrup. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, marshmallows and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets, or use an icecream scooper for perfect shape and easy scooping.


3. Bake 8-10 minutes or until done in center. Cookies will be a medium brown. Cool on baking sheets and remove to wire racks to finish cooling. Serve warm with glass of cold milk. Yum!

--The Unique Mom

Picture Pefect Bows!

I found the cutest little girls bows while looking for a children's boutique in my homestate of Iowa. The Pink Hippo is located in my hometown and offers adorable baby girl and big girl accessories as well as fashion items. I adore their custom made-to-match Gymboree selection of bows and their Iowa Hawkeye and Iowa State Cyclones bows. With the big game coming up this fall between the two teams, I will be recommending this to everyone I know with a little girl. They are too cute!
http://www.pinkhippobows.com/
--The Unique Mom

Fun Playtime Tee-Shirts

These days everyone wants to make a statement. Although I don't always go for the sayings tees, these are pretty cute! Food fight tees offers a huge selection of onesies and tee shirts for babies and kids. I really love their Olympic tee shirt. What better time of the year to wear that than right before the Olympics! My other favorties are their organic and big wheeler tees. Check them out, I had fun just looking!

http://www.startafoodfight.com/

--The Unique Mom

Quick & Easy Craft Tips

If your child loves arts and crafts, here are some quick tips. There will probably still be glue on the table or crayon marks on your walls (thats where wipes and magic erasers come in handy by the way), but here are a couple of neat tricks to keep you organized and your kids happy.

1) Start a craft bin--buy a tote or plastic bin with a lid and use it to contain all of your kids fun craft things. I actually have two, one for all of the crayons, sticker, markers and miscellaneous things we use for crafts and one for anything I have planned for a special project or that needs kept separate. I keep paper plates, plastic baggies of rice and beans, a stapler and tape, and pre-cutouts of shapes from construction paper in this bin.

2) Try something different--don't use just plan old crayons and markers even though they are wonderful. Use glitter sticks, finger paint, watercolors, felt pieces, glue, playdoh, used egg cartons and toilet paper rolls, etc. Anything around the the house can be a new craft!

3) Do art with your kids--this will keep them occupied for longer and give you an opportunity to teach them something new. You don't have to be an aspiring artist to teach your kids something. You can show them how to mix paint to make a new color or show them how to draw silly faces. Staying involved will make it lots more fun for both of you.

--The Unique Mom

Fun Playtime Toys!

These are not your average stuffed animals! These handknit toys are just adorable and come in four different jungle animals to choose from. Plus Pokkadots has lots of other neat baby and kids items to choose from!

http://www.pokkadots.com/index.cfm

--The Unique Mom

Retro in the Kitchen

I love to cook but I never find really cute aprons and find myself always spilling something on me while cooking. These however are so orginal I want one so bad! Stitch Thru Time offers a huge selection of old-fashioned aprons for moms and daughters. I really love the holidays ones but this red kitchen cherries one is very cool! I might have to get this one!

http://www.stitchthrutime.com/

--The Unique Mom

Mmm! Monkey Bread!

A long time ago I came across this recipe. It is so sweet and delicious no one wants to miss out on it. It's the perfect way to start your Saturday or Sunday morning!

Ingredients:
4 cans refrigerated biscuits (Use the mini biscuits, not Grands or the flaky biscuits. I buy a 4-pack of mini biscuits.)

2 sticks butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a bundt cake pan.
2. Shake up cinnamon and white sugar in a freezer size plastic bag. Cut the biscuits into quarters. Break apart pieces and put in bag. Shake up to mix and coat all pieces.

3. Place coated pieces in the bottom of the greased pan. Layer them until full. Sprinkle extra cinnamon/sugar mix over pan.

4. Melt the butter on the stove with the brown sugar over low-medium heat. Let cook and bring to boil for 1 minute but don't overcook.
5. Pour mixture into the pan coating all pieces. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pull apart and enjoy!

--The Unique Mom

Fun Rain Gear For Kids!

Its been raining a lot here in the Midwest lately and I haven't been quite able to find a cute rain jacket and umbrella for my son. I have been hunting for a cute one and could not believe it when I found this set. My son LOVES frogs right now and this is just too cute for a little boy. Coco Bonbons carries the cutest things for both boys and girls! I also love their other rain gear collections, which all offer matching rain boots, umbrellas and jackets! It's a great way to brighten up any rainy day!

http://www.cocobonbons.com/

--The Unique Mom

Cool Baby Shower Gift!

Looking for a cool baby shower gift? Are you hosting a baby shower and looking for a cool centerpiece?

I am! My sister's baby shower is coming up and I am hosting it. Well I found a really cool diaper cake website and since her baby shower theme is baby jungle animals I could not pass this one up. But the website offers all sorts of other themed diaper cakes. I already ordered! Now I cannot wait for it to arrive!

http://www.lilbabycakes.com/

--The Unique Mom

Mama Mia!!! Easy Pepperoni Rolls!

I make these for my son ALL the time. We call them "baby pizzas" and he eats them right up.

What you need is:
--A can of Pillsbury crescent roll-ups (not the crescents, but the mini rolls)
--A can of pizza sauce or your own (a quick tip for picky eater is to puree veggies into the pizza sauce)
--Mozzerella shredded cheese
--Diced Pepperoni (regular is fine, you will just have to cut them into halves)
--Assortment of any other veggies or toppings you like
--Cookie Sheet & non-stick spray
--Cutting board or clean lightly floured surface
--Seasoning if you prefer, I use garlic and italian seasoning

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to about 350 degrees F. Spray non-stick cookie sheet and set aside.
2) Open rolls over cutting board or clean lightly floured surface. Separate rolls and peel out so they lay like flat sticks of dough. Line them all up together so that they lay next to each other on surface
3) Spread sauce over dough. Sprinkle seasoning and toppings on top at this time. Don't put too many toppings on.
4) Next add cheese so that it light coats strips. You should be able to still see the red sauce through the cheese.
5) Now individually roll up the rolls from one end to the next, like a spiral. Place onto baking sheet with the spiral side visable from a birds-eye view. Finish the rest. Evenly space on sheet.
6) Pop in oven and cook for about 8-10 minute or until golden brown and done in the center of the dough. Let cool and enjoy with fresh fruit!

--The Unique Mom

Fun & Funky Clothes For Kids!

I have been ordering from the Polkadot Patch Boutique for a long time now. They offer so many cool and fun items I can't resist! I love it because they have the COOLEST stuff for kids. I love their clothes because they are so bright and colorful. They are so original and you can't find items like this anywhere else 99% of the time. I especially love their custom-personalized onesies for infants. I bought one for my sister who is expecting! It came all cute and wrapped up like a piece of hard candy! It was a perfect shower gift!
http://www.polkadotpatch.com/

--The Unique Mom

The CUTEST little girls dress up clothes!

How adorable is this!?? I have completely fallen in love with this company's tutu's and dress up clothes for little girls! Check it out--they have tutus for infants all the way up to big girls!
http://lilyannaforgirls.com/shop/index.php
--The Unique Mom

Introduction

My name is Jessica. I am young mom to an almost 2 1/2 year old little boy, happily married, and living in the Midwest. I am also expecting in December 2008 my second child. I am a modern mom who is also currently busy finishing up my degree. I have passion for parenting--and everything that comes with it. From teaching my kids their ABC's and numbers to showing them the value of love and friendship--being a parent is amazing. I especially love to shop around for my children and family and find one-of-a-kind items. Even if I don't buy things, I enjoy the search for something different. Fashion is something I have always loved and although I am no celebrity, I have a knack for finding really cool things. I am also interested in politics and international issues so I consider myself a pretty hip and global mom. I love to travel, whether locally or abroad. I some day hope to open my own boutique but for now I enjoy shopping in them. I hope to share on this blog not just all the neat things I find, but also maybe a little bit about myself and what is going on in this big crazy world. Hope you enjoy!

--The Unique Mom