LilSugar

Traditional or Inventive?

babysugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:00:35 -0800

My Name is Earl star Jason Lee is infamous for naming his son Pilot Inspektor. Hollywood or mainstream, it seems to be a trend to give offspring unusual and inventive names. But some parents are still sticking with the old tried and true traditional monikers.

Which is your preference?

Source

Are We Generation Mom?

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:30:04 -0800

Are moms being spotlit more than before? Or are Gen X and Gen Y-ers, using their "with child status" to form Generation Mom?

Unlike most previous generations, many women spend a significant amount of time building their careers before venturing into the world of motherhood. They also to utilize their work skills in the home. Moms have written countless books about parenting styles and have invented new products designed to make their lives easier. In some circles, playdates have evolved into networking groups for like-minded ladies.

Have Gen X and Yers become Gen Mom-ers?

Don't forget to join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar Community to chat up the mom talk! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Elvis Pancake Sandwiches: Breakfast and Lunch!

LilSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:00:39 -0700

Breakfast sandwiches are popular with rushing mothers and their kiddos on the go! From egg filled bagels to bacon and cheese caught between an English muffin they fill the tummy up right. My son favors waffles sandwiches. The handy breakfast is easy enough for him to munch on in the car if he doesn't finish it before I have to shuttle him to school. While all the hearty meal involves is the simple assembly of two whole grain waffles (store bought or homemade) and a slathering of fresh peanut butter between them, I recently watched Big Daddy over at the Food Network make a more inventive recipe for his boy.

A twist on a sandwich Elvis Presley was famous for - peanut butter and banana, the cook takes buckwheat pancakes, adds the protein spread, sliced bananas and a drizzle of honey to make a morning sammie that can be finished in the afternoon if you pop it in your kiddo's lunchbox. While the flavors appeal to wee taste buds, its quick prep time makes it a dish mama can accomplish even if she isn't completely awake.
To get the recipe, read more.

Elvis Pancake Sandwiches
Recipe courtesy Aaron McCargo Jr., Food Network

Looking for a meal that can be made for breakfast and finished for lunch? Try Big Daddy's Elvis pancake sandwiches.

Ingredients

Batter:

* 2 cups buttermilk
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 6 tablespoons butter, melted
* 1 cup all purpose flour
* 1 cup buckwheat flour
* 2 tablespoons butter, cold plus more as needed
* Peanut butter, for topping
* Sliced bananas, for topping
* Honey, for topping

Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, baking powder, sugar, salt and butter.

In another large bowl mix together all-purpose flour and buckwheat flour.

Slowly add flour into the wet ingredients mixing with a whisk. Mix until there are no lumps and the batter is smooth and velvety.

In a large cast iron skillet or flat grill pan over medium-high heat, melt a tablespoon of butter. Ladle pancake batter onto skillet to desired size. Using the ladle, form pancake into circular shape. Cook on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Set pancakes aside and keep warm. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Once completed, spread peanut butter on a pancake, layer it with sliced bananas and drizzle it with honey. Top the pancake with another pancake to form a sandwich. Repeat with remaining pancakes and serve with extra honey.

Print recipe with images | without images

Courtesy of The Food Network.

A Vegetable by Another Name

LilSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:00:59 -0800

My brother enjoyed Spiderman pancakes and Superman eggs when we went out to brunch growing up. I've heard of parents telling their tots that broccoli florets are lil trees and carrots are the Easter bunny's candy, but have never called them by another name to my own kids. The results of a Cornell study may have you calling cucumbers "flying torpedoes" and spinach gratin "brilliant brain-food." One report said:

When 186 four-year olds were given carrots called "X-ray Vision Carrots" (they) ate nearly twice as much as they did on the lunch days when they were simply labeled as "carrots." The Robert Wood Johnson-funded study also showed the influence of these names might persist. Children continued to eat about 50% more carrots even on the days when they were no longer labeled. The new findings were presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the School Nutrition Association in Washington DC.

Apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, since an adult study also proved that descriptive menu names increased the sales of certain basic entrees. Does your family have inventive names for foods?
Source

Opinions Please! What's Your Stroller Recommendation?

LilSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:00:55 -0700

The difference between a mad woman and a happy mother? Her stroller. I'd go so far as to say it's the single most important material purchase parents make for their baby since they use it all the time. As we prep for baby number three, we'll be purchasing our fourth buggy. Clueless of what to look for, we went through two with our daughter. First, we shelled out for an elaborate system that couldn't handle the city streets and had poor shocks and squeaky wheels after our first lengthy walk. Then, we invested in a jogging stroller that was great...until we had to turn it - its front wheel was stationary.

While expecting my son, I did my research before buying (the then largely unknown) phil & teds E3 with the doubles kit. For three years, the amazing invention rolled everywhere from Lake Tahoe's nature trails to my husband taking it off-roading over rocks in Golden Gate Park. The orange fabric has endured more than a few mud and chocolate milk splashes and my lil guy eventually preferred to walk (read run) everywhere so the beloved buggy has retired to our garage. To see what I need in our next set of wheels and to offer your recommendations, read more.

My husband and I want our soon-to-be infant to have a fresh, clean carriage so we're figuring out what to get next. Our needs are a bit different than before - the stroller will be mostly for the new babe, but I want the convenience of an attachable seat in case my son hits the hay when I head out shopping or want to walk long distances to shed postpartum pounds. Living in a city full of cracked sidewalks and pot holes makes durable tires a must and I don't need a ride that accommodates an infant car seat since we'll be using our Britax Boulevard from the get go. Since I'll be juggling three kiddos in parking lots, I'll also need a buggy that is quick to collapse and easy to pop in the trunk. So far, the front-runner is the phil & teds Vibe, which comes highly recommended by BabySugar and is a brand I trust. Do you have a stroller suggestion that fits my criteria? If so, please share!

Nursing Pillows That Make Breastfeeding a Breeze

babysugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:30:46 -0700

What did mothers do before all of the posh pleasures of newborn life were introduced to the modern world? Technology and genius inventions have made the life of a mama much easier to manage, even breastfeeding. Where a pillow and a couch were the only accessories a mom once needed, she can now sit in the lap of luxury with a plush nursing cushion that adjusts to her specifications and even has a pouch to hold her nipple cream and water. Some offer a separate layer to adjust the child's positioning while others turn into lounge chairs for the wee ones. While any woman could get by with her own two arms and her babe, it makes the lactating world a more pleasant place to be when mommy can rest easily.

Fair warning, I've heard of certain men taking control of these tools of motherhood for their football watching frenzies on Saturday afternoons and turning the pouch into a beer and remote control apparatus.

Did You Give Your Daughter a Masculine Name?

babysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:09:08 -0700

Move over Judge Judy! You may have agonized over coming up with an inventive name for your daughter, but your little miss Ryan, Kelly, or Riley may be headed for the high court. That's because a recent study has found that females with masculine names are more successful in law careers than those with girly-girl monikers.

Whether or not you intended for her to go into the law profession, did you give your daughter a masculine name?

Peek-a-Belly: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

babysugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:00:30 -0700

Baby tummies are meant for tickling, kissing, and rubbing - especially those round delicious Buddha bellies. Onesies can often get in the way a good game of raspberries or smooches, which is why mompreneur Sue Zeiler came up with the idea of Peek-a-Belly ($28-$30). Mums who like to dress their wee guys in one-piece tees can still enjoy their infant's baby soft tum when dolled up in these infant inventions. A split seam around the midsection allows caretakers to sneak a peek at the belly button while still providing warmth, coziness, and clothes security for the rest of the body.

UFO Cap Umbrella: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

babysugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:15:51 -0700

From backpacks to lunchboxes, school books to cleats - kids have a lot to juggle these days. When dark clouds start to rumble, an umbrella may be the best idea, but it can also be tough to manage with a full load. Have no fear, the UFO Cap Umbrella is here! Appearing to be straight from space, these futuristic Korean-made inventions are said to keep heads dry and arms free. They are apparently pretty handy when fishing or hiking in the rain, too! Tell me, would you put one of these on your tot?

Expand Your Working Mommy Group With The Office Kid

LilSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:00:08 -0700

When a friend returned to work after maternity leave, a couple of her childless colleagues voiced envy of what they considered her "four month vacation." It sounds like they were perfect candidates for The Office Kid ($20). Invented by self-described "20 something childless advertising drones" who were jealous of their co-workers kidcentric excuses for missing work and wondered if the offspring even existed, the create-a-kid kit was born.

Anyone looking to impersonate a parent around the workplace can purchase the starter pack which includes a welcome letter and excuses, a framed picture of the child and art work to display in the office cubicle. For an additional $10, a doctor's note, more artwork or a sports team photograph can be bought.