LilSugar

Holiday Photo Style: Getting the Perfect Picture

LilSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0800

Lights! Camera! Family! It's time to snap that perfect shot. We looked to the professionals at Classic Kids to get some tips for taking the most memorable photos. According to the company's founder, Julie Floyd, the key is to keep your subjects relaxed and remember that children do not need to be perfectly posed in order to get a great image. She also recommends:

Never say “smile” or ask the children to say “cheese.” The mouth will smile, the eyes will not. You must work for your smiles by entertaining your subjects.
Get down to their level. The photographer needs to bring the camera down to eye level. Even lay on the floor if necessary.
Fill the frame with your subject. A nice close shot is far more interesting to the viewer than seeing a lot of background.

To read more of Julie's tips, including some to keep in mind when going to a professional photographer, read more.

Leave props out of the photograph unless the object is something your child can’t live without.
Make the shoot fun. If your family of four kids has to sit still for the picture, be sure that you are very entertaining. Enlist help from another adult if necessary.
Let kids be kids. Don’t stress about Band-Aids, braces, bruises, and black eyes. Imperfections are charming and make kids look real. Don’t insist that hair is perfectly styled. Natural truly is timeless.

If going to a professional photographer, Julie offers two additional tips:

Choose a photographer who loves kids and will make the experience fun for your children. Don’t give your kids instruction on how to behave during the shoot. Tell them they are going someplace to play and let the professional control the kids and the shoot.
Choose comfortable clothes the kids like. Give them a choice of several outfits preapproved by you.

Source

Delilicious: Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

LilSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:37 -0800

Lisa Barnes, author of Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, shares with LilSugar a classic sugar cookie recipe that works for all seasons - though it's especially great for a holiday party, cookie swap or playdate activity. Kids can help dump the measured ingredients into the mixing bowl and turn on and off the electric mixer to help make the dough. Of course the fun really begins with the cookie cutting and icing decorating.

To see how to make this tasty and classic holiday treat with your tots, just read more.

Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs
From Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Ingredients

2/3 cup organic unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 large cage-free organic egg
1 tablespoon organic milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt and beat until combined. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour, ¼ cup at a time, until all is incorporated.

Cover and chill dough for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, and using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Once completely cool these can be frosted with your child’s favorite royal or powdered sugar icing. For easy, frosting set out small spreaders and squeeze bottles so frosting ends up on the cookies and not your child, floor, and table. Add sprinkles to wet frosting for even more fun (and mess).

*Makes about 35 (2½-inch) cookies

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The Gifted Child: Hip Holiday Gift List For Grandparents

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:52 -0800

Ask most grandparents what they want this holiday season and they'll tell you time spent with the next generation. Ask any kid what they want from grandma and grandpa and expect the world. Each family's relationship with grandparents takes on its own form, but mas and pas are known to spoil their little darlings at birthdays, during the holidays and any given day of the week. Take control of the gift giving this holiday season by setting some ground rules and giving them a short list of items your wee ones would love and need. Classic toys like the Radio Flyer Little Red Wagon ($19) allow grandparents to celebrate vintage toys of the past - just don't say "vintage"! - and will be loved for years to come. Here are some other hip holiday suggestions to share.

For a full widget of adorable gifts any child would be lucky to receive from grandma and grandpa, as well as a guide to making a wish list you can share with family and friends, read more.

Want to make a holiday wish list for your tots and share it with the family? Log in to ShopStyle, hover over items and click "wish list." You will create a wish list just like mine that you can share with family and friends.

It's a Wild Thing Halloween!

babysugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:00:58 -0700

Ding, ding, ding... we have a winner! My jaw dropped when I saw these costumes in our Sugarbabies group. User ShedItandGetIt shared these amazing photos of her children and their fantastic holiday gear. A daughter of a creative talent, she said:

My mother was inspired by the childhood classic and movie "Where the Wild Things Are" so she made these costumes for the kids in our family.

I'm inspired just looking at these. Don't forget to add your tots to the Sugarbabies mix! They'll get a hoot out of seeing themselves on the computer screen, especially dolled up in their wacky, fun costumes.

Delilicious: Monster Candy Eyeballs

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

I know it is only a short while before my lil ones come home with bags of treats, so I wanted to try to make my own candy! Epicurious had a great recipe for a frightful version of buckeye candy; traditionally it is a peanut butter ball that is then coated in a thin layer of chocolate. With a little creative dunking and a bag of M&M's, these candies are transformed into a spooky, yet, scrumptious monster eyeball.

Kids can definitely help with the whole process because the recipe only requires a microwave. You might even be grateful as mixing the peanut butter and powdered sugar is best done by hand and can be a pretty messy job! The finished candies would be cute packaged in small gifts bags as a ghoulish treat for your kids' friends! Children of all ages (including adults) are bound to love this classic combination, so if you want to get started on your own eye-poppingly delicious candy for Halloween keep reading for my tips and recipe.

Delilicious: Ring in Rosh Hashanah With a Round Apple Challah

LilSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:30:16 -0700

Let the celebrations begin! Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown tonight, and the holiday is filled with Fall flavors to kick off the Autumn season. As a religious celebration, Rosh Hashanah is ripe with foods that symbolize the cyclical nature of the calendar and the sweetness that comes with the new year.

To usher in the holiday, we brought the kids to the kitchen so they could enjoy the fun of whipping up a modern twist on the classic challah, or egg bread. Unlike traditional challahs, this one is round (to celebrate the cycle of a new year) and includes plenty of apples and sugar to guarantee a sweet year ahead. Best of all, the bread can be enjoyed by everyone throughout the year.

See the recipe and step-by-step directions when you read more.

New Year's Apple Challah
From Tammy's Recipes

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil or melted butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons dry yeast
5 to 6 cups flour

Apple Filling
3 cups coarsely chopped apples
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon lemon juice (skip if apples are tart)

Egg Wash
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon sugar
Coarse sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the first seven dough ingredients, in order listed. Stir in a cup or two of the flour, then add yeast.

2. Add enough additional flour to equal about 5 cups, and stir/knead into a smooth dough, adding additional flour if needed. Knead dough for 8-10 minutes. Shape into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45-60 minutes.

3. Place apple filling ingredients in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Set aside.

4. Punch down the risen dough, kneading to remove excess air bubbles. On a lightly-floured surface, roll the dough into a large round, about 1/2-inch thick. Spread apple mixture over the dough.

5. Fold the edges of the dough over the apples and continue to fold/roll the dough to make one big lump with the filling enclosed. Let rest 5 minutes.

6. Grease a 10-inch springform pan. Place springform pan on a large cookie sheet (to catch any leaks during rising/baking).

7. Using a sharp knife, cut off chunks of the dough and place them in the prepared pan. You should end up with 15-20 chunks of dough (though a particular number doesn't matter). The apple pieces should be randomly dispersed throughout the dough chunks. Sprinkle with any escaped apple pieces.

8. Combine the egg and sugar, and then dab the egg wash over the top of the dough. Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Cover gently with a piece of plastic wrap and place pan in a warm location to rise.

9. When dough has almost doubled in size, preheat oven to 350 degrees and then place baking sheet/springform in the middle of the oven (remove the piece of plastic wrap first, of course!) to bake for 45-55 minutes or until done. When I make this, usually the edges of the top get well-browned before the middle is cooked. So, after about 25-30 minutes, I cover the darker areas loosely with foil - sometimes forming a large loose "ring" of foil (with no foil in the middle) to lay on top.

10. When challah is done, remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto a cooling rack and cover with a clean towel until completely cool.

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Front of the Class Fashions For Boys Hitting the Books

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:00:08 -0700

Picking out their school wardrobe is a big deal for kids and it's an opportunity for them to express their creativity. Forty-nine percent of lilsugar readers' classroom-bound children enjoy picking out their own duds, rather than a uniform, each morning. Before heading to the stores, check out some of the hottest trends for boys which include several mix and match items to take them through the year.

Rock Star Chic takes on a whole new meaning when turning back the clock to the rockin' 60s. Dark denim straight-leg jeans are the foundation for this look, paired with a vintage concert-inspired tee and topped off with a vest that has some surprise graphics on the back.
Layered Jock combines the comfort of sweats with the layering trend. Start with some cozy loose sweatpants, add a long-sleeve polo and finish off the look with some classic, casual kicks that can be worn with anything.
The Classic Prepster has an air of sophistication about him with his tailored cords, a classic quilted barn jacket and Top-Sider booties that will take him from the muddy fields to dinner with the grandparents.

Enter to win a $1,000 wardrobe for your child from Tea Collection!

School Year's Resolutions: The Buttoned-Up Classroom Mom

LilSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:55:33 -0700

The kids aren't the only ones who need a few items as they head back to school. If you are a mother who plays by the rules, put a little punch into this conservative wardrobe by adding your own splash of color to these buttoned up basics. With a few simple pieces that require little thought during the morning rush, you can mix and match your way to the head of the class.

For a simple and sweet relaxed mommy look, put a twist on the classic cardigan with this Merino Maya sweater, a pair of cropped corduroys, and a Tory Burch flat that will look pretty even when you are making a mad dash to get the kids into school on time.
Wrap up the whole package with an essential trench coat that can hide whatever lays beneath. This season is all about plaid, but putting a ruffle detail on a fitted shirt and pairing it with some skinny jeans turns it into a can't-lose outfit.
Take a cue from the man of the house and steal his blazer look. A boyfriend blazer over a crisp white shirt and a pair of black leggings takes little effort and goes a long way. Finish it off with a pair of flat black boots, and a new daily uniform is born.

Enter to win a $1,000 wardrobe for your child from Tea Collection!

School Year's Resolutions: Eco-Friendly Lunch Boxes

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Brown paper bags are so passe. Make sure your child isn't outcasted at the earth-friendly lunch table by buying them an eco-friendly lunch box that helps reduce waste. Unlike the green lunch carriers of years past, today's bags are cute, kid-friendly, and serve many purposes. Check out a few of our favorites:

Kids Konserve lunch kit comes with a stainless-steel bottle, two stainless-steel containers with leak-proof plastic lids, a reusable baggie, a cloth napkin, and both a recycled aluminum name tag and recycled cotton lunch sack all made from nonleaching, BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free materials.
Munchlers Backpacks come in three cute polypropylene designs that unzip right into a place mat. The insulated bags easily fit lunch and a beverage.
The Lunchsense Lunchbox Set is BPA, PVC, and phthalate free, and comes with four food containers, a drink bottle, and a reusable ice pack. It opens up flat so it can be used as a place mat as well.
The lead, PVC, BPA and phthalate free Gator Tots Lunch Bag is large enough for a large lunch and keeps foods cool throughout the day. Its retro fabrics make it fun to look at too.
Cartoon and movie-loving tots will love Zak Design's phthalate-free lunch totes that feature every character from Spiderman to High School Musical.
Crocodile Creek's fun designs are a great alternative to character-driven ones. The eco-friendly bags even have an outside pocket for notes, utensils, or extra lunch money.
The Land's End Critter Lunch Box is a classic that has been lead and PVC-free for years.
Fleurville's Lunch Pak functions like a backpack that is insulated and ready to hold a midday meal. The lean and PVC-free bag also has storage compartments for holding projects from school.

Enter to win a $1,000 wardrobe for your child from Tea Collection!

Wheelin' the Goods and Wee Ones Around Town

LilSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:00:14 -0700

Round up those wagons! As any beach or park-going parent knows, gathering children and all of their stuff for an afternoon of fun is an exercise in balance and coordination. Between pushing the strollers and finding space for all of the snacks, blankets, toys and changing supplies, the likelihood of holding onto everything is slim. Wagons, like the custom one Kingston Rossdale rides and the more traditional ones Sadie Sandler and Eden and Savannah Mahoney have are a great solution for maintaining some organized chaos. Whether you opt for a wooden version like the classic Radio Flyer or a more elaborate one like the HABA trolley with rubber wheels and removable nylon fabric, the wagons can be used to pull multiple kids or their stuff. Parents with some craftsmanship ability can also customize their trolleys, adding things like covers, MP3 holders, speakers and attachable blankets to make the rides as plush as possible. Check out some of our favorite ones below.

Wooden Animal Puzzles - $39.00	PlanToys Modern Doll Family - $20.00
Blue and Brown Dinosaur Pull Toy - $25.00	Prince Lionheart® Cow Wheely Bug® - Large - $85.00
Dieter the Monkey Wheelie Bag - $98.00	Percival the Dino Wheelie Bag - $98.00
Prince Lionheart® Ladybug Wheely Bug® - Small - $75.00	Walk Roll Pull Toy - $49.00
Sterling Silver Bunny Pacifier Clip - $36.00	Augusta Dollhouse - $79.00
Radio Flyer Classic Wood Rocking Horse - $119.99