LilSugar

Five Budget Friendly Activities For Fall

LilSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:24 -0700

As the pools close down and the heat comes to a halt, so does our repertoire of Summer activities. Hang up your swimsuits and get ready for Autumn! Enjoy the changing seasons, while keeping a little extra change in your pockets with these five budget friendly activities for Fall.

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What Are You Most Excited to Do With Your Kids This Summer?

babysugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Schools all over the country are getting ready to close their doors for the next few months. When that final bell rings, teachers and their pupils may celebrate, but some mommies are more concerned with figuring out what to do with their kids during the time. Some families heading to the local pool to soak up the sun or ship their youngsters off to camp.

My working mama always looked forward to taking a couple weeks off for our monumental road trips. I, too, can't wait to pack up my wee ones for a family holiday that will include hiking, swimming, and biking. What are you most excited to do with your children this Summer?

Mamma Mia! Invites Families to Sing it!

LilSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:00:07 -0700

If you have a family that thinks that life's a musical, there's a fabulous and kid-friendly activity that will have you all straining your vocal cords. Take them to the limits and let the kids go wild at the Mamma Mia!: The Sing-Along Edition, which opens in select theaters today. This special version of the movie lists the lyrics to each musical number on screen. And, there's no need to keep your tot's toes from tapping because dancing is encouraged, as is belting out ABBA songs. To see if the show is available in your area, click here.

10 Hints For Having Little Helpers in the Holiday Kitchen

LilSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:22 -0800

Too many cooks in the kitchen is a good thing this holiday season. Lisa Barnes, fellow mom, chef, and author of Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry reminds stressed out parents that, "The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to allow your children to help with the meal preparation and offers quality time together as a family. This is a way to keep your children occupied, but is also a fun, educational activity that incorporates a range of skills and senses, such as counting, measuring, reading, touching, listening, planning, smelling, tasting, and creativity." To add some cheer to your cooking during this festive time, Barnes gives LilSugar readers these helpful hints for having your own little helpers in the holiday kitchen.

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Would You Enlist Your Child's Talent to Pay the Bills?

babysugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

No doubt about it, some families have been faced with some tough times during our recession. The jobless rate keeps rising causing many children to claim homeless status or opt out of extracurricular activities. So what if their beauty or talent could earn the family a roof over their heads or pay for their schooling? It seems many moms and pops are turning to their tots to help foot the bill. Mothers who might not normally enter their babe into a modeling competition are taking head shots and driving to auditions with dreams of childhood stardom. While some criticize the parents for putting their babies to task, others say the actions are harmless and even beneficial. What say you?

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Junior Jetset: Wild About Wyoming!

babysugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:00:24 -0700

The first time a person lays eyes on the Grand Tetons outside the town of Jackson, WY, it takes one's breath away - even a tot's. Nestled between mountains and national parks, the Jackson airport does not serve every major airline, but can be reached through other large hubs. Once there renting a car is a breeze and a must if one intends on taking advantage of all the area has to offer. Aside from the splendid landscape families can also soak up a week's worth of activities. Here are some of my picks!

Alpine slide - Youngsters who like slides will jump for joy to ride the alpine slide at the Snow King resort. After riding the chairlift up the mountain, kids barrel down the pipe on a sled to the base of the hill.
Gondola ride - If hiking isn't in the cards, a gondola trip up to the top of Teton Village will give everyone a sublime view of the valley and afar.
Horseback ride - Lil buckaroos can saddle up for an old-fashioned trail ride through the parks with the opportunity to see wildlife, nature and get some grub along the way.

To see the rest of the exciting activities, just read more.

Boat cruise - Surrounded by scenic lakes, visitors can schedule an early morning boat cruise and watch the mist lift off the waters, dine on a delectable breakfast, and sip on "cowboy coffee." People who don't enjoy early wake-up calls may fancy the idea of a dinner cruise instead.
Whitewater rafting - The Snake River runs right by the town of Jackson and has rip-roaring rapids on which local float companies have the pleasure of entertaining thrill seeking visitors.
Hiking - Whether it's a 30-minute hike or a 10-mile expedition, there's a trail for everyone in the area. From a steep incline up the Snow King right in town to a quest around Jenny Lake, trekkers will be in awe of the beauty that surrounds them.
Rodeo - From June to August, the rodeo comes to town and brings all the bells and whistles with it. All through the Summer, the town gathers on Wednesday and Sunday nights for a lil ropin' and bull riding.
Town square shoot out - Every day at 6 p.m., there's an old fashioned western shoot out under the antler arches right in the heart of Jackson. Kiddos will get a kick out of the costumes and parents will like the free price tag!
Biking - People can hike and boat around the area but visitors can also rent bikes and explore paths, rivers and pedal around town while getting a little exercise.
Fishing - All the rivers and streams provide endless fishing opportunities for line throwing families. A fly fisherman's paradise, visitors can float or simply cast into the magnificent bodies of water and hope for a nibble or two.

When it comes to an action packed vacation, there's hardly a better place than Jackson Hole, WY to provide outdoor fun for everyone.
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Website Lil Loves: The Seventh Generation Million Baby Crawl

babysugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:50 -0700

What's up with the babies hauling it through a crosswalk on all fours? They're heading to Washington to speak up, er, babble, for their rights! Many moms agree that the best gift we can give our children is a better, greener, healthier Earth. As the green movement continues to grow, so do the eco-friendly options available to mums. The baby line Seventh Generation churns out environmentally conscience products for wee ones but they are also active in changing legislation to demand higher protection for our lil guys. In an effort to raise awareness for toxic chemical policy reform, they are sponsoring the Seventh Generation Million Baby Crawl.

Mommies who want to sign their baby up for the "crawl" can do so with a few simple clicks. The animated babe can be personalized with skin color and a pastel onesie. Friends, families and total strangers can come onto the site and click on the lil movers to support their cause. The goal is to get one million crawlers onto the grassy screen. So join the troops and get those booties, er, diapers shakin'! Just say "no" to toxic chemicals in the home.

Is the Economy Affecting Your Family Activities?

babysugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:00:18 -0700

As the economy continues to tumble, families are scrounging to make ends meet. Foreclosure signs are prominent across the country and some schools are even switching to a four–day schedule to help save money.

Instead of excursions to museums or trips to the beach, moms are tightening their purse strings by keeping the kiddos home for a day of free coloring and fun in the backyard. Many stay-at-home moms are trying to find new ways to work from home to garner extra cash.

Have you cut your family-activity budget lately?
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Non Voyage: Rev Up for the Ranch

babysugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:31:57 -0700

Giddyup lil doggies! It's time to get the wee ones fired up for some time on mama's kickin' dude ranch. Heading to the Big Sky territory may not be in the credit cards this summer, but there's plenty one can do to create the same atmosphere in their own backyard for a ranch style non voyage.

First off, invest in a musical triangle that can double as a dinner alarm. The kids will get a kick out it when mama hollers, "Cooome and geeeet it!"
Serve up a ranch style breakfast with eggs, biscuits, bacon and grits on a red checkered table cloth.
Get a bail of hay and spread it around the lawn. If you have a wagon, toss the tots in for a mini hayride while they sing songs along the way.
Visit a petting zoo where the wee ones can learn about small animals.
Set up the kiddie pool for an afternoon of fly fishing!
Take the kids to a local stable for an afternoon of horseback or pony riding.
Build a campfire and bring out the musical instruments for some entertaining improvisation.
For the final night, gather the troops for a talent show. The youngsters will enjoy preparing for it all week and the results are sure to be enjoyable. Make sure the video camera is charged up!

An iPhone App That Sparks a Kiddo's Creativity

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:00:25 -0700

There are only so many ways to keep kiddos busy when waiting in a long line! From tissue tricks to modern technology, lots of parents do a song and dance to calm their children. While popular iPhone apps make families' lives easier, there's a fun one ColCityMom shared with the LilSugar Community that caters to entertaining the small set (and even some parents) - Slide-A-Ma-Jig! She said:

It's a kind of sliding mix and match activity with all these funny characters and their body parts can be switched out, plus they have different things on their heads like hats or fish or upside down cereal bowls and a bunch of different backgrounds...you just actually have to see it to totally get it.

If you want to get more cool tips or chat with fellow moms, join The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar community!