Watch Videos on FoodNetwork.com to Learn About Fun, Healthy Dishes for Kids

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FoodNetwork.com  provides culinary help for momprenurs and dads with an array of healthy, easy, kid-friendly recipes and a new “cooking for kids” video series.

For some cooks, the arrival of fall means trading tomatoes, corn and lemonade for squash, sweet potatoes and apple cider. But for mom and dad cooks, the changing of the leaves means trading the relaxation of summer for harried meal preparation. Luckily, FoodNetwork.com, the top food and cooking site on the Web is here to help, with an array of healthy, easy, kid-friendly recipes.

With FoodNetwork.com’s great ideas, you’ll never have to coax your kids to the table. Start the day off right with Whole Grain Waffles, then spice up your child’s lunchbox with the simple and fun Take-to-School Taco Bar featuring easy and healthy recipes for guacamole and salsa. After school, watch your kids go ape over Frozen Chocolate Bananas, then fill them up at dinner with Mini Meat Loaves with Mac & Three Cheeses.

For more simple kid-meal ideas – with step-by-step instruction to boot – check out FoodNetwork.com’s “Cooking for Kids” videos (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/lf_kids), hosted by kid-food expert Cricket Azima. The food editor for Kiwi Magazine and author of Everybody Eats Lunch, Azima offers the how-to for five great meals and snacks ranging from Breakfast Pizza to Tortellini Totem Poles. Her relaxed style and clear, easy instructions will make you look forward to cooking for the kids.

FoodNetwork.com even helps you make sure your kids are staying healthy with tips from dietician Shirley Fan. Check out some of Shirley’s ideas:

  • Set a good example: Food attitudes of parents are the strongest predictors of food likes and dislikes for children.
  • Create a regular meal schedule: Kids will snack less when there are set meals.
  • Have sit-down meals together. Designate family dinner nights to encourage connectedness and conversation.

For all you busy mompreneurs, next time you’re looking for a meal that will make everyone happy (and healthy!) be sure to consult FoodNetwork.com for all the inspiration and instruction you need in one easy place!

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Elaine H., September 7th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fun Stuff, Video

Picture Taking Tips for Parents Magazine Cute Kids Baby Photo Contest

Parents magazine photo contest

Do you know a cute kid?  It’s that time of year again and the editors of Parents Magazine are looking for the cutest kid in America between 6 months and 6 years old to be on the November 2008 cover kid.  Click here to enter your child!  Entries will be accepted through June 24, so get those camera clicking!

Parents magazine is offering some picture taking tips to hopeful moms and dads entering their cute kids in the magazine’s online baby photo contest, which was just announced earlier this month.

Sharon Elcock has organized hundreds of photo shoots in her role as Sittings Editor at Parents magazine for four years. She shares these basic picture taking tips:

  1. Do: Take photos with a really simple – but pretty background. No one wants to look at dirty dishes in your kitchen sink! Instead, go for natural scenery in front of lush greenery or pretty flowers.
  2. Don’t: Please, please no pictures with food on the face. Cute for grandma’s refrigerator – not so much for the judges.
  3. Do: Try to capture your child in a care-free, happy moment. Photos that are too staged usually don’t show you’re child’s true energy and personality.
  4. Don’t: No extreme close-ups please! It makes it hard to see the whole child.
  5. Do: Be honest with yourself about your child’s temperament. Does he truly enjoy taking pictures or does he burst into tears the moment you point the digital at him? If he does not like taking pictures at this time in his development, be patient! Chances are, with time, he may come to like the camera. Enter the contest then and watch him win!
  6. Don’t: Lose the hat, the towel draped over the kid’s head – what are you hiding under there?
  7. Do: Try taking pictures using interesting, fun angles.

To enter Parents magazine’s online baby photo contest, just upload a picture of your child before June 24.  The winner will appear on the November 2008 cover of Parents Magazine.

“There are so many gorgeous kids out there,” says Judy Goldberg, Senior Editor of Parents magazine. “Judging is going to be a huge – but fun challenge.”

Parents magazine has been America’s number one family magazine for more than 80 years. Since its inception in 1926, it has been a trusted source by every generation of parents. Currently, the magazine is a powerful community of 15.6 million readers devoted to supporting the efforts of parents, educators and other citizens who strive to make the world a better place for our children. Parents can be found online at http://www.parents.com/.

Maybe this year Aidan has a chance to be selected as a finalist?  It seems to me like he’s getting cuter and cuter each day…I know I’m a bit biased!  Good luck to everyone who enters their little one!

And remember to live your life to aspire and inspire with HerBigIdea.com.

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

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Elaine H., May 30th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Contests & Giveaways, Fun Stuff, News

Mom Launches New Children’s Wish List and Social Networking Site

mykidsregistry.com

The newly launched website and social network, MyKidsRegistry.com, provides parents a place to share their kids’ birthday party and holiday wishes with family and friends and much more.The site is a resourceful and comprehensive tool for parents dedicated to birthdays, birthday parties and holidays. MyKidsRegistry.com give parents a place to showcase their children’s milestones and special events, allowing them to connect with family and friends through video-sharing, pictures sharing, groups, IM chats, e-invites, weekly feature articles and much more.

MyKidsRegistry.com’s founder, Yvette Segal — a former NYC Fashion Executive for 17 years — decided to make gift giving for children easier. In her research she found several of the gifting websites to be on the cold side of gift giving when it came to kids. While searching for a community dedicated to kids’ birthdays Segal found that a place where parents can connect and showcase their children’s milestones, at the same time utilizing all of the latest online tools was almost non-existent.

When planning her son’s 3rd birthday it went from being a project of joy to a “project”, Segal began to think of ways to simplify the process. She didn’t like telling people exactly what to buy for her son and the idea of people trekking to the nearest toy store and standing in line for something her son may already have in his toy box, was something that Segal wanted to avoid as well.

Segal wanted to create a website that was warm, friendly, fun, secure and inviting for friends and family to view children’s birthday wishes and view their growth each year. As Segal looked over a bridal registry one day, the light bulb went off and MyKidsRegistry.com was born.

MyKidsRegistry.com is not about an over the top party or a “buy my kids this” mentality, but it is about saving time and money for everyone. Its free membership is designed assist parents in planning and shopping for the perfect party.

MyKidsRegistry.com is affiliated with Birthday In a Box.com, Amazon, KB Toys, eToys, eBeanstalk, Kazoo Toys, Little Tikes, Baby Universe, Upromise, Netflix, Snapfish, giggle, Uncommon Goods, Mini Boden, and Land of Nod.  Mykidsregistry.com is also a proud supporter of AutismSpeaks.org.

MyKidsRegistry.com allows parents to list what a child needs or wants for his or her birthday to help avoid duplicate toys, allows parents to list a charity of choice in lieu of a gift, has links to online shopping so busy family and friends can shop from home, and after the party is over, parents can share photos and videos with those unable to attend. The site makes managing family events via the MyKids calendar a breeze, and as with any social networking site, friendships can be made. Currently, MyKidsRegistry.com has over 250 members across the U.S.

This sounds like an exciting up-and-coming website and social network for families! To learn more or become a member please visit: www.mykidsregistry.com

And remember to live your life to aspire and inspire with HerBigIdea.com.

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

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Elaine H., May 29th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fun Stuff, Inspirational Women