LilSugar

OnSugar Blog: Fabulous Paper Art

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:00:53 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud and Hansel and Gretel does too. Following on the heels of our downloadable paper toys post, Fabulous Paper Art comes from the OnSugar blog Hansel and Gretel.
Apple Tree, Pop up dollhouse, Funny Face, Wishboats

These amazing paper art works can be found at Upon A Fold. Upon A Fold is a boutique business based in Sydney, founded by paper lover Justine. If you are looking for a really unique gift, this is certainly one online store you need to take a look at however due to the uniqueness, there is limited stock of each paper object.

I was amazed by the beautiful objects all created by paper, I would love to watch Justine at work carefully folding and cutting. Upon A Fold also stocks paper tape, garlands which are adorable, a paper lampshade and so many creations that will make your mind boggle.

Want to see more? Start following OnSugar blog Hansel and Gretel, or start your own OnSugar blog. We may just feature your content on LilSugar.

Paper Toys That Put Printers to Work

babysugar — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:45:48 PDT

Toy stores are filled with plenty of items that tots love to play with, but within hours, their thoughts and interests may move on to something newer and shinier. Rather than spend a fortune on playthings that will be discarded like yesterday's paper, why not consider offering them toys made from just that - recycled paper? The web is filled with downloadable paper toys that can be printed onto eco-friendly paper, played with for a span of time, and then recycled when lil ones grow tired of them. We've rounded up five inexpensive toys that are ready to be printed out at home.

Cool PaperCraft Fun: Goobeesta

GeekSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:45:49 PDT

I know how you all love papercrafts, so when I found these super-cute, ice cream-loving guys while surfing the Internets, I had to pass them along to you. Free to download, these "Fold and Fun" characters are pretty easy to put together, as I did all three over the weekend.

Goobeesta has even provided a blank cutout for you to design your own paper monster! Check it out here - get creative then upload pics of your custom design in the comments for the rest of us to see! I bet you guys can come up with some awesome little monsters, and I'll even round up all your hard work in a gallery next week!

7 Money Tips For Couples Starting a Family

Business Insider — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Middle-income parents will spend nearly $227,000 in 17 years for children born in 2010, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

But don't let that scare you - saving for a family can actually be fun if you know what you're doing.

"The most important thing to understand is that your priorities are going to change and your spending habits need to change to reflect those changes," says Stuart Ritter, a financial planner at T. Rowe Price.

With Ritter and other financial experts' help, we'll help you prepare.

Invest in a 529 savings plan

Saving for your child's education is crucial to his or her success, and 529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings accounts that are available in all 50 states.

Most are free to set up, while some states require a minimum of $25 to open an account, says Adam Koos, a certified financial planner with Libertas Wealth Management. Anyone can contribute and take advantage of the tax benefits.

Open the plan before your child is born, says Ritter, and name yourself the beneficiary. You can change the name on the account once your child is born.

Read on for more.

Transform Your Empty Boxes Into Instant Toys With Box Play

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:32:27 PST

Kids tend to make toys out of the most amazing and unconventional items. One man's trash, is another kid's toy, so don't be so quick to throw out your empty boxes and containers these days. Box Play For Kids created a line of 100 percent recycled stickers ($4-$12) to fit over milk cartons, toilet paper rolls, and egg cartons, so lil ones can bring new life to what otherwise would be thrown away. Make bracelets or army binoculars out of toilet paper rolls. An old box can turn into a sushi bento box or a turntable. Like Rolobox - the wheels that convert empty cardboard boxes into vehicles - through an afternoon of play, these stickers subtly teach tots that recycling can mean more than placing garbage in a blue bin in the garage.

5 Festive Ways to Find Intimacy During the Holidays

Annie Scudder — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:55:56 PST

"Getting through the holidays isn't always easy, especially when it comes to your relationship," admits sexual health expert Dr. Hilda Hutcherson. Despite the challenges, the director of the Center for Sexual Health at Columbia University and co-author of the new Seasons of Love ebook believes the holidays actually provide an opportunity to improve your relationship. We caught up with Dr. Hutcherson, and she gave us five tips for turning the stressful season into a sensual one. Here they are:

Make time for date nights. "Just as you set aside time on your calendar for a cookie swap and office party, reserve at least two nights just for you and your partner," advises Dr. Hutcherson. And she suggests letting Winter inspire your date ideas. "Take a walk to admire the decorations in your neighborhood and keep warm with a cup of hot chocolate," she says, or "grab an hour or two and go ice-skating at a local rink."
Use sexy stocking stuffers. "Who says toys are just for kids?" Dr. Hutcherson asked us. She thinks we should spice up our stockings. "For the more tame, grab massage oil and some candles; they will not only set the mood for more romance, but a soothing rubdown can ease even the most tense of partners." As for the adventurous givers, "a vibrator is sure to get her engine revving and rid her mind of any Yuletide blues. Looking to fall somewhere in between? Take it up a notch with an arousal gel to heighten sexual pleasure and sensitivity, like the new K-Y Date Night Packs."
Make sexolutions. "We take the time to focus on our finances, waistline, and jobs come Jan. 1," says Dr. Hutcherson, "but why not our relationships?" Her tip for making them last: "Take small steps and gradually build up to a great result. For instance, don't make a promise to have more or better sex, be more specific - have sex once a week, try out a new position once a month, enjoy a date night twice per month."

Keep reading for two more sensual suggestions from Dr. Hutcherson.

LilSugar's Must Haves For December

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:04:24 PST

With the holidays upon us, we're inundated with gift-giving ideas that are supposed to wow the kids when they tear off the wrapping paper. Our mailboxes - both traditional and electronic - are so stuffed with catalogs packed with dolls, toys, and gear that it's hard to cull it down to a few great finds. That's where we come in! We've shown you our favorite gifts for tots of different ages, but there are a few items that we just couldn't fit on those lists. Check out five more great finds and let us know if any will make their way into your lil ones' hands this holiday season!

Soleil Moon Frye Shares Her Tips For Taking a Family "Time Out"

Guest Writer — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:07:33 PST

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Soleil Moon Frye, Target's mommy ambassador, author of Happy Chaos, and mom to Poet, 6, and Jagger, 3. This week Soleil shares her tips on traveling with kids.

I'm a huge believer in the importance of taking the occasional "time out" as a family and planning an escape to recharge and reconnect.

Last year, Jason surprised me and the kids with an impromptu jaunt to Mexico. Although it was stressful to think of dropping everything on such short notice, the trip turned out to be exactly what we needed. It was an invaluable treat to spend quality time together without the distractions that pull us in a dozen different directions every day.

Whenever I'm traveling with my girls, my carry-on always includes these essentials:

An assortment of portable activities like books, a few toys, and paper and crayons. I have the girls pick out a few of their favorite things from home to take with them - this way we're not overloaded with too much stuff, but they feel connected to what they are bringing.
A first aid kit with Band-Aids and other Doctor Mom must haves in case of emergencies.
Wipes, wipes, and more wipes. They're quick and easy for cleaning up spills and sticky fingers on the go.
A change of clothes for both girls, including a sweatshirt in case they get cold.
A stash of yummy snacks is the best way to combat the inevitable crankiness that comes with restless flights and travel delays.

A successful family trip doesn't require airplanes or lush accommodations. When I was growing up, my mom would delight us by laying blankets on the small balcony of our apartment and letting us sleep under the stars. I've inherited her passion for making an adventure out of everything and am also a big advocate of "staycations." In my house, we love to camp out in the living room and decorate the space to look like an exotic location. You can go all out and cook foods native to those places and do activities inspired by their cultures.

The idea is to carve out time to be together and create a special experience that the kids will always remember. The extravagance of a getaway isn't what will factor into the memories.

I'm always looking for fun family bonding ideas, so please share your cost-cutting travel tips and creative "staycation" plans with me on the Target Baby Facebook page!

. . . Soleil

15 Web Sites For Finding Deals Online

Kiplinger — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:59:08 PST

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

We've tested and picked 15 Web sites we think are easy to use and will help you save money all year. Even if you don't end up buying online, it never hurts to find the best deals on the Web before you hit the stores. Then you can comparison shop and make better choices. We also list three smart-phone applications that will help you get deals in stores. Take a look:

Find deals

If your number-one goal is to score deals, start by checking out sites that do the bargain hunting for you. Deal sites scour the Web for discounted items - saving you both time and money.

Our favorite deal site still is dealnews, which has a team of deal hunters keeping their eyes on a million products at more than 2,000 online retailers. Plus merchants and the site's visitors tip them off to bargains. The deal hunters hand pick the best deals among the thousands they get daily and update the site at least 200 times a day, says Dan de Grandpre, founder and chief executive of dealnews.

The site also bans stores with poor customer service. Plus, you can sign up for e-mail or RSS alerts for products or stores you're interested in and get gift ideas from the site. Dealnews also has added a local deals section to help you find discounts at brick-and-mortar stores near you.

GottaDeal.com is another great source of deals. You may find some here that you won't find at dealnews (we did recently).

A reader favorite is Slickdeals.net, a user-driven deal sharing site. It features a few deals on its homepage daily, but its forums are where you'll hundreds of deals posted daily.

Read on for more great deal websites.

Soleil Moon Frye Shares Her Favorite Birthday Party Tips

Guest Writer — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:33:02 PDT

I'm a huge holiday person, and birthday celebrations are especially important to me. It's not about the presents - my favorite memories from childhood birthdays are of my mom showering me with attention, filling the day with my favorite foods, and making me feel special and loved.

I'm not sure anything will ever top Johnny Depp crashing my 12th birthday (a special surprise from a mutual friend), but I'm determined to create similarly unforgettable birthday experiences for my girls.

For Poet’s fifth birthday, we had a Grease-themed party and went for a full-out, '50s-style event. It’s possible to be elaborate without being expensive - for the Grease party I found discounted Halloween costumes and spandex pants online, then scooped up festive and affordable party supply essentials at Target. My friends set up a makeup station and sprayed the girls' hair into wild Grease-era styles. If you’re willing to play DJ on your iPod, a dance party is free!

Here are some other fun, budget-friendly ideas:

DIY goodie bags: Fill large mason jars with candy and let kids decorate brown paper to-go sacks with stamps and stickers.
Treasure hunt: Scatter little toys and treats around the yard or park, and send the kids to go find them. Works every time!
Crafts: Buy a bunch of inexpensive picture frames and let the kids decorate them with paint, stickers, and glitter. If you’re a fan of Polaroid cameras like I am, snap photos of each guest with the birthday boy or girl to go in frames as a memory of the day.
Philanthropy: It's never too early to introduce kids to the concept of giving back and instill a sense of compassion and awareness. Have guests bring toys for kids in need or donate the crafts made at the party to a local children’s hospital.

Keep reading for Soleil's tips for ensuring smooth sailing at your party!