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