UltimateMama wants to give you a quick breakfast tip:  try a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread.  If you want to be fancy, use almond butter and a nice raspberry fruit spread!  You could even add banana slices for extra nutrients.   Your child will love their nutritious snack.  Plus, it is portable!

UltimateMama wants you to dart to The Children’s Place right now during its Swim and Shorts Sale (in stores and online) for boys and girls of all ages (infants on up).  Use your The Children’s Place  Summer Pass to get an extra 15% off (valid April 8 thru May 12, 2010).  

 
UltimateMama just went this morning and stocked up on swimsuits for her little one!  At $8.50 each ($10 sale price plus 15% off with Summer Pass), that is a deal she couldn’t pass up…especially with summer around the corner!

UltimateMama has a simple yet effective tip for you that will make your life a lot easier if your trip gets delayed or if you are planning to arrive back home late at night.  Buy organic milk before your trip as it often has a longer expiration date compared to non-organic milk. Also, have a meal in the freezer for your family – pasta sauce, ham, meatloaf, etc.  Additionally, keep some frozen fruit in the freezer for breakfast the next day.  This way, if you arrive to your home too late to hit the grocery store you will be able to get by with a few meals!

You will thank UltimateMama when you arrive home with hungry kids late at night!

Recently, your UltimateMama spent a week in Florida.  It is part of the NYC triangle – Manhattan, Hamptons, Florida – that most folks find themselves in during the year.  Anyhow, sunscreen was a big part of UltimateMama’s family vacation, even on cloudy days.  Every morning, after a wonderful Chef UltimateMama made breakfast of fruit, pancakes, turkey bacon, and eggs, the while family would spend fifteen minutes lathering up SPF 30 (or above) sunscreen.  Then, after swimming it would be reapplied.  It was a ritual for UltimateMama’s family.   

UltimateMama is always SHOCKED, STUNNED, MORTIFIED, and ANGERED when she comes across parents or caregivers who regularly fail to put sunscreen on their children. They argue that the kids complain about the sunscreen applications or get it in their eyes.  UltimateMama believes that once it is part of a “routine” your child will stop complaining.  It is like zipping up a jacket or brushing teeth.  You, as the parent, can get your child to accept it if you are consistent.  Consistency is key.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sun and covered with protective clothes. 

If you are worried about your child having an allergic reaction to sunscreen then start by applying a small amount or “patch” on their arm and observing their reaction for the next 24 hours.

Keeping your child’s skin healthy now will benefit them in the long run!

UltimateMama loves to multitask. Every chance she can get she tries to accomplish a task while teaching her children in the process. 

This weekend her oldest daughter wanted raspberries – red, not golden.  Three year olds are very specific as most of you know!  Anyhow, UltimateMama and her daughter visited their local grocer and discovered that raspberries were $6.99 for a small container, way too expensive to purchase.  The good news was that strawberries were only $1.89 for a large container.  However, UltimateMama’s daughter did not see it as such and so began our quest for inexpensive red raspberries. 

UltimateMama took this opportunity to teach her daughter in a fun and sneaky manner the following:

– Seasonality of fruits

– Price differences between stores

– Budgeting money

After visiting three stores, UltimateMama helped her child with counting, weight calculations, and comparison shopping.

UltimateMama has received some questions lately from active readers wanting to know where they can find BPA-free cups, bowls, plates, and other tableware. 

UltimateMama wants you to try Preserve products which are made from recycled materials and are BPA-free and melamine free!

Treat your family to a safe, functional, attractive tablescape!

http://www.preserveproducts.com/

UltimateMama and her family enjoy staying in condos when on vacation. She always makes grocery lists in advance so that she can swing by the grocery store and stock up on necessities for her family before checking into her condo. That way, all she needs to do is supplement here and there as the week progresses.  Also, there is no temptation to buy unnecessary items. 

By creating the grocery list a few days before she leaves for her trip she can also discuss the items on the list with her children who like to offer their input. This is a great way to involve the whole family in the process of meal-planning as well as get them excited for their upcoming vacation.

Below is a sample Grocery List for UltimateMama’s upcoming trip to Florida:

UltimateMama enjoys helping with group class projects that are auctioned off to raise money for the school.

UltimateMama has a few creative group project ideas for your tots:

– Photo Puzzle – Take a class photo and convert it to a puzzle through any photo service.  Some photo services allow you to make “chunky” puzzles which may be easier for your toddler’s hands.  Also, you may be able to customize the puzzle by superimposing the school logo over the puzzle.

– Caricatures – If one of the parents in your class happens to be a caricature artist you may be in luck to do such a project!  The parent can do individual caricatures of the children and then the project can be framed and hung.

– Painted Toy Chest – Purchase a bare wood toy chest at a bare furniture store.  Paint the toy chest a cream color or something neutral. Have the teacher or parent helper paint each child’s hand or foot a primary or fun color (red, blue, yellow, etc.) and have the kids put their HAND or FEET
prints on the toy chest.  Use a permanent pen or paint pen and write each student’s names under their prints.

– Platter – Purchase a plain white ceramic platter (or serving dish or plate) and have the kids decorate it with paint and put their names underneath their little “paint marks”.  Many “paint your own pottery or plastercraft” stores will be able to help you out – and you may get a discount if you mention it is for a school fundraiser!

– Photo calendar of the class.  Use an online photo center such as Shutterfly or Kodak and create a photo calendar of the school year.  Have all parents send in their favorite school-related pictures from the year! 

UltimateMama likes to pack in advance – surprise, surprise! And, she always reads the latest updates on airport security from the TSA. 

Guess what?!  Baby formula is allowed on airplanes as is breast milk. Even baby food is acceptable for air travel.  However, do yourself and everyone else in line a favor and declare all baby related items at the checkpoint right away. 

For a list of acceptable items for carry-ons as well as packing tips please visit the Transportation Security Administration’s site:  http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

UltimateMama realizes that holidays do not have to be all about candy!  Your child will be surprised when they wake up to see a nicely stuffed basket full of non-edible treats, trust your UltimateMama.

Here are a few suggestions from UltimateMama for alternative Easter basket items:

– Books

– Fun character toothbrushes

– Brightly colored socks or underwear

– Stickers

– Bookmarks

– Headbands for hair clips (bunnies, rabbits, chicks, etc.)

– Bubbles

– Sidewalk chalk

– Jump ropes

– Balls, baseball gloves

– Baseball hats

– Art supplies (crayons, markers, glitter pens, paint)

– Coloring books

– Journals

– Purses

– Chapstick or lip gloss

– T-shirts

– Flash cards

– Washcloths, towels, beach towels

– Fun toys, such as Mr. Potato Head

– Games (Memory, Chutes and Ladders, Cranium Cariboo Island game)