LilSugar

Grab a Taste of Nature With Dora and SpongeBob Nickelodeon Squeezers

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 06:30:53 PST

Give it a squeeze! My home converted to the ways of squeezable nourishment as soon as my lil one started solid foods. We' now tote packs of pureed organic fruits and veggies with us everywhere we go. But to my older tot, the pouches are nothing more than baby food. He sees his younger brother suck down spinach, pear, and pea combinations that he wouldn't dare try himself. Even when I offered him all fruit versions, he'd tell me they were for babies, "not big boys like me."

So when Nature's Child sent over their Nickelodeon Squeezers ($3 for a box of four), I was sure he would turn up his nose. Rather, he took one look at SpongeBob on the packet and declared them a big boy treat. Having been around the block a few times, I was certain that this character-laden snack would be packed with sugar, preservatives, and other nasties like many cartoon products are. Much to my surprise, the packs (adorned with either SpongeBob or Dora) are packed with 100 percent all natural fruit, without any added sugar.

Who is this product designed for? The packs are great for families on the go. Stick a few in the car, mama's purse, or a tot's lunch box, and hungry kids can get one full serving of fruit with a single squeeze.

Is it practical? I'm already a believer in the wonders of squeezable packets, and these don't disappoint. Fruits can be consumed mess-free – without the need for utensils or napkins – and don't have to be refrigerated until they're opened.

Keep reading to see what could be better and if I'd buy them on my own.

10 Character-Driven iPhone Apps For Kids

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:00:03 PST

The TV is off, but that doesn't mean lil ones are taking a break from their favorite characters! From games to books, tots can have Elmo and Dora at their fingertips all the time. The onscreen personalities have even made their way over to mama's iPhone. Check out these kid-friendly iPhone apps that feature the lovable pals.

Five Hot Toys For Summer

babysugar — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:00:28 PDT

Hot toys in the Summertime! An estimated 160,000 toys cram American store shelves at any given time so how does a mom know with which toys her kids will tinker? I got the inside scoop yesterday at Time to Play magazine's showcase of Summer toys in NYC and rounded up my five favorites to simplify your shopping. Check out the picks!

Daily Tech: The Pogoplug Shares Content Via Four USB Drives

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:40:33 PST

The Pogoplug is a neat gizmo that allows you to share movies, music, or photos using four USB drives - Gizmodo
The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is now available from Verizon - RIMarkable
American Airlines has just launched a widget that will let you know if your plane has WiFi - Engadget
Check out the ultimate holiday smartphone buying guide - CrunchGear
Vive la France! Twitter is now available in French - TechCrunch
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom for the Wii is a great game for kids ages 3 to 6 - USA Today

Do Kiddie Characters Really Need Makeovers?

LilSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:50 PDT

After much speculation, the new tweenage Dora the Explorer was unveiled this week. Some mothers breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the long haired, leggy character was not quite as mature as some had feared, and Mattel assured them that she will remain the same wholesome girl their daughters have grown to love. Dora is not the first children's character to mature right before our eyes. Last year the company behind Strawberry Shortcake revealed their modern version of the doll in hopes of attracting a new audience and Barbie seems to get slightly modified annually.

The Five Funniest Things We Saw at Toy Fair

LilSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:00:28 PST

Yesterday we showed you the top five trends from Toy Fair, but amid the great Eco-conscience toys and educational games, there were a number of items that kept us laughing throughout the day. From edible play dough to people posing with Lego men, there was a fair share of funny items. Check out our slideshow to see our favorites.

Source

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Maraka!

GiggleSugar — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:00:00 PST

Dora the Explorer has a "bad seed" in the fam and her name is Maraka. Girlfriend is a Spanglish-speaking, foul-mouthed little spitfire who engages in Dora's signature question-and-pause-pause-pause-for-answer games. But Maraka's questions are different from Dora's. I drew the line when she asked how to check for a hernia. ¿Como se dice "punk" en español?

Mommy's Lil Helper: Table Topper Placemats

babysugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:00:56 PST

Taking your babe out to dinner can be stressful with people staring, highchairs in short supply and the possiblilty of temper tantrums. One way to make it easier is to bring along your own disposable placemats made by Neat Solutions ($9).

The placemats have two adhesive strips that you stick down on the table to keep it in position. You can choose from Winnie the Pooh, Dora the Explorer or good old Sesame Street. While you protect your child from the germs on restaurant tables, the designs and characters will keep your baby occupied and entertained. When baby is finished eating, all you have to do is wrap it up and throw it away.

if you're lucky, you'll get a bite to eat too.

11 Rules to Dramatically Increase Your Productivity

Wise Bread — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:35:04 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

There's a problem with a lot of productivity advice out there, and it's this - your "rules" for personal productivity are often going to be different than mine. Sure, sometimes there's overlap. Sure, you can always learn from others.

But if you want to see a dramatic increase in your productivity, spend less time reading and memorizing other people's rules, and more time figuring out what your own rules are. You'll be more productive and in a way that works with who you are.

So I'm sharing a few of my personal productivity rules. Maybe some of them will work for you or inspire you to think of your own.

1. Small Daily Movements Become Big Accomplishments

I tend to think that I must have big blocks of time in order to get any forward movement. So I hesitate and procrastinate, waiting for that "open time" when I can really push and get a lot done on whatever the current project is.

Turns out, that's a waste of time. Small daily movements add up. It's just that the movements or steps themselves are so small, I think they don't count. They do.

I have to constantly remind myself that I don't need a whole day or a whole week to devote to some project. I just need to take the 10 or 20 minutes I have here and there and use them. I need to achieve a little bit of forward movement every day. That adds up, and it builds momentum, and pretty soon there's been quite a lot accomplished.

For more rules, read after the jump.

Flashlights That Add Some Light to Halloween Night

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:52:07 PDT

Light up the night! Wandering dark streets in search of treats can cause a tot to tumble on uneven pavement or steep steps. Avoid the obstacles by arming your kiddo with a flashlight of his or her own!

Clockwise from top left: Fisher Price Toy Story 3 Rex Light ($11), Dora the Explorer Flashlight ($13), Fright Light Halloween Flashlight ($30), Star Wars Darth Vader SFX Lightsaber Flashlight ($25), Little Tikes Scream Beams Zombie Flashlight ($15), Rubies Green Lantern Accessories Kit ($6), Little Tikes Pumpkin Halloween Flashlight ($13), Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Blaze Firefly Flashlight ($7), Tinkerbell Light Up Projector ($10).