Do you think your child would be a great model? Do they love to be in front of the camera? Here is your chance to get them started. The deadline to submit your information is Wednesday, June 26th. It’s time to get those photos over to us.

No time to waste!

Today’s adorable Darling is Maya, 9-months-old. This photo is from her first Easter where she celebrated wearing her favorite Le Top “Just Ducky” striped sundress & panty. Maya is a true ray of sunshine! She wakes up with a smile and flashes it all day long until the second she goes to sleep. She loves absolutely everything but her favorite things are her pug, Homer (who she calls Momo), music, and food (especially peaches!)

Maya adores other little kids. We’re told that in this picture she playing with three older girls who were seeing how many pillows they could pile on one bed. She loved being in the center of their excitement! Awe!

Congrats to Maya for being the Le Top Darling of the Day!

Here are some inspiring and fun ways you can present food to your kids to make mealtime fun and healthy! Enjoy! Pretty cute huh?

DOLPHIN BANANA
Ingredients:
banana

TEDDY BEAR TOAST

Ingredients:
toast, banana, raisins, butter/margarine, cinnamon and sugar.

 
FRUIT PALM TREES

Ingredients:
banana and cutie orange

ANGRY BIRD PIZZA
Ingredients:
store bought pizza dough, pepperoni, mozzarella
shredded cheese, red mini tomatoes, orange slice and black olives

ROADSTER HOT DOG

Ingredients:
hot dog, hot dog bun, pickles, tooth picks, ketchup, and mustard

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Whether it is a summer birthday party or just a hot day and the kids need a splash, check out this fun idea for “water balloon piñata”! What better way to beat-the-heat! Fill up the balloons and your kids and their friends will have a ball!

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Twine or a strong yarn
• Balloons
• Structure to hang the balloons like a monkey ladder or wooden structure

Note: The balloons are quite heavy when full. Hanging the balloons with regular yarn didn’t cut it. Also, the fuller the balloons, the easier they pop. They won’t break without some SERIOUS whacking. I highly suggest filling yours with more water to make it a little easier for the kids.

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This is a great recipe that your kids can help with too!  Kids will love preparing the ‘fries’ and coating the chicken. Serve in rolled newspaper for an authentic ‘fish & chips’ and cool-kid feel. Enjoy this tasty and healthier meal for your kids this summer!

APPLE FRIES

• 2 cups apple cider
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 tsp. coarse salt (optional)
• 4 tart but firm apples, peeled, cored and cut into 8 wedges (per apple)
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme

CRISPY CHICKEN FINGERS

• 1 cup crushed corn flakes (or crushed whole grain flakes)
• 1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 lb. chicken breasts, sliced into strips
• 2 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce (or buttermilk-enough to dip in)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In large saucepan over medium-high heat, boil cider until reduced to 1/3 cup, about 20 minutes (it should have a syrupy consistency). Remove from heat and whisk in butter and salt.
2. Preheat oven to 400 F. In bowl, toss apples with 2 Tbsp. of the glaze and 1/2 Tbsp. thyme. Arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.
3. In bowl combine corn flake crumbs, salt and parsley. Set aside. Dip chicken strips in sweet chili sauce and then coat with corn flakes. Arrange in a single layer on a greased baking sheet.
4. Place chicken on the top third and the apples on the bottom third of the oven. Roast for 10 minutes. Turn chicken, drizzle apples with remaining glaze and switch baking sheets so the apples are now on the top third of oven. Continue to roast for 10 minutes and remove chicken from oven. Let chicken fingers cool while apples finish caramelizing, about 5 to 10 minutes more.
5. Sprinkle apples with remaining thyme and additional salt if desired. Makes 6 servings.

Per serving: about 220 cal, 18 g pro, 5 g total fat (2 g sat. fat), 25 g carb, 2 g fibre, 55 mg chol, 780 mg sodium. %RDI: iron 10%, calcium 2%, vit A 8%, vit C 15%

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A common conversation between my friends and I are how much getting a babysitter on a weekly basis or being willing to hire one for a nice night out with your husband and friends can truly help a marriage. At times there are quite a few moms, whether it be their first child or not, have trouble leaving their children and it comes at the cost of their relationship with their husband. I strongly believe it is important to find someone to help out with your kids once in awhile – not only to give moms a break, but to allow time for wives and their husbands to spend a little quality time together. A weekly date night is really healthy – realistic? Maybe not, but what if it was two times a month? That might be a little more realistic.  A good babysitter can save your marriage by making it simple for you and your spouse to leave the house.

According to a study by the National Marriage Project, couples who schedule weekly date nights or time alone each week were 3.5 times more likely to report being “very happy” in their marriage than couples who did not. Having a safe, reliable sitter readily available makes it easier for parents to schedule that time together.

Parents don’t want to worry that the sitter is texting or talking on their phone and plopping the kids in front of the TV. It is important that babysitters need to be engaged with the kids. When this happens, parents, like you, can have fun together instead of feeling guilty while you are out.

Here are some tips to helping you find a good sitter:

1. Be upfront about your expectations. Discuss her/his rate of pay, your rules about screen time, your expectations about Internet usage and texting and her behavior with your children. It might be uncomfortable, but these discussions will give you a better sense of how successful your night will be.
2. Great references: Great sitters are hard to come by and the good ones typically have regular jobs and good references. Take time to thoroughly check them though.
3. Responsible and reliable: They show up on time, well prepared and ready to watch your kids. They are polite and respectful.
4. Solid credentials: They are certified and can show you with a current first aid card and CPR training. Check their knowledge of how to handle health issues or common injuries such as cuts and scrapes and bleeding.
5. A bag full of tricks:  Sitters should be prepared with fun, age appropriate activities for kids including games and crafts. They spend time interacting with the kids while enjoying their bag of goodies.
6. They leave the home looking better than when you left it: A top sitter keeps the place tidy and pitches in to help the kids do the same. Good communication is a key here so be sure to set clear expectations for the sitter.
7. Safety comes first:  Good sitters don’t open the doors to strangers, won’t expose kids to Internet dangers. They keep their cell phone off and only use it in case of emergencies or to communicate with the parents.
8. They ask good questions:  Experienced babysitters will ask about the rules, discipline and find out in advance what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior for the kids.
9. They know knowledge is power: A good sitter will request an instruction sheet with contact information and      emergency details.
10. They ask about food allergies and what the children like and don’t like to eat.
11. Make sure they like the kids and the kids like them and can’t wait to see them again.
12. Lastly, relax. Once you are out of the house, resist the urge to call and check on the babysitter.

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This little sweetie is Kylie, 9-months-old. She’s been in our office and I can say that she has a twinkle in her eye and her smile lights up the room. Kylie loves being outside, seeing new sights and is a full-fledged social butterfly. Mom, Michelle, says she gets asked all the time if Kylie ever cries. The answer: “She is usually a happy baby, unless she gets something taken away from her.” Can’t blame her for that.

Kylie enjoys watching her dog and cat play. Lately, she’s started to ‘talk’ to some of her toys. The only drawback to her being enamored with the world and all the people in it is that she never wants to sleep! Her favorite food is mango (YUM) and she is blessed with 3 cousins under the age of 5, who she loves to play with!

Congratulations are in order for Kylie since she is our Le Top Darling of the Day!

Getting your toddler to stay in a car seat is never easy – especially when you are trying to snap the seatbelt on! You wish for the days when he or she was a baby and there was no struggle, and now that they are toddlers, it can be quit the challenge to convince them that sitting in their car seat is a “good thing.”

Here are some quick tips to help get your toddler in the car seat tantrum free!

1. Books: Board books work great at this stage – even a magazine, flyer, or a brochure will help too!
2. House Keys: Use your house keys – the toy keys don’t do it!
3. Snack/Drink: Giving him a snack or drink (sometimes both) really helps to get him in his car seat easily.
4. Silly Games & Singing: Playing silly games or making silly faces while getting baby boy into his car seat often is enough to get him laughing, allowing for me to buckle him up.
5. Toys: Keep a few toys in the door of the car that are only used during buckling up time. Rotate these from time to time so they stay exciting.  Hand one of these to your child with great excitement as you set them in their seat.
6. Helping: Ask your toddlers for help and let their hands “push” your to buckle. (I know – this definitely only works for some kids…)
7. iPad: In desperate needs, have your iPad charged and ready with already downloaded apps or TV shows for your toddler to watch (in case of a serious tantrum).

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This Sunday is Mother’s Day! Why not rock out with some fun mom-inspired music this Sunday with your kids! Enjoy!

Mother’s Day Playlist

1. Mother’s Little Helper by The Rolling Stones
2. Mamma Mia by ABBA
3. Mama I Love You by Spice Girls
4. Thank You Mom by Good Charlotte
5. I’m Yours by Jason Mraz
6. The Best Day by Taylor Swift
7. Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles
8. I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles
9. Love Me Do by The Beatles
10. One Love by Bob Marley
11. Any Way You Want It by Journey
12. My Girl by The Temptations
13. Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
14. More Than a Feeling by Boston
15. Mother and Child Reunion by Paul Simon
16. I Turn To You by Christina Aguilera
17. Mother by Pink Floyd
18. Mama’s Pearl by Jackson 5
19. Mother by John Lennon

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