Breakfast (or Dinner) on the go with Aunt Jemima Lil’ Griddles

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Thank you to Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast for sponsoring this post. “Like” Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast on Facebook.

Breakfast is a big deal in our house.


BIG.

Because of late commutes and crazy schedules, it’s tough to pin down the entire family for dinner during the week—forget about breakfast. However, on the weekends, breakfast is a totally different story. Hot, crisp bacon normally complements a batch of pancakes or waffles made from scratch, making Saturday and Sunday mornings well worth the week-long wait.

During the week, though, no matter how hard we try to perfect our morning routine to defray the chaos and rushing around, it seems we never have enough time for a hot breakfast. No time for pancakes, no waffles, just cereal. Biggie begs and pleads for pancakes before school, but let’s face it, after making lunch and ironing uniforms, the last thing I want to do is whip up a batch of pancakes from scratch.


In our house, pre-packaged foods are usually reserved for Trader Joe’s goodies, but on rare occasion, we’ll come across staples that are worth trying out. In fact, Aunt Jemima’s Lil’ Griddles fit the bill. As far as packaged breakfast for the kids, Aunt Jemima’s Lil Griddles Pancakes surprised me. I was expecting something a little less appetizing.


Though it’s hard to botch pancakes, you’d be surprised at the things you’d find on our shelves today. One to study labels before buying, the ingredients in Aunt Jemima’s Lil’ Griddles are pretty close to homemade, minus the fact that I don’t have to measure and pour it all myself. I appreciated that Lil’ Griddles contain real ingredients—flour, eggs, sugar, milk—and there’s no sign of fructose corn syrup. Nothing will ever beat a homemade meal made with love, but I like that making breakfast can be as quick as popping the Lil’ Griddles in the microwave or warming up on the oven. 10 minutes flat, if you don’t include bacon prep time.


We were so excited to try out Lil’ Griddles that we had them for dinner. Breakfast for dinner is something I never usually do because I reserve that deliciousness for weekend breakfast. But with the convenience of Lil’ Griddles, not only could we treat ourselves for a mid-week hot breakfast on the go, but we could also enjoy breakfast for dinner.


Biggie asked me, “are these homemade? I didn’t see you mix them!” I’d say that he approves of Aunt Jemima Lil’ Griddles.

This is a sponsored post as part of a Clever Girls Collective #AJLilGriddlesCG campaign. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.


Best Kid-Centric Twitter Profiles

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Happy seven years to Twitter!  As a writer who has transitioned mainly from print to digital, I’ve found Twitter to be an invaluable resource. But more importantly, as a digital mom, Twitter is always there at 2am when my IRL network of family and friends are asleep and I have a bizarre question about one of my kids or some random thought that’s keeping me up at night.

Seriously, social media is my bff when it comes to researching ideas or stirring up inspiration. And in between the actual writing of articles, I appreciate tweeting with friends and kid-centric brands and organizations.

Always researching the latest in kid trends and relevant parenting topics, my Twitter Favorites list is a hotbed of profiles that (I think) are worth following.

1. @PBSKids

While yes, I may be a PBS Kids VIP, but I’ve been following every PBS Twitter profiles long before joining this fun ambassador program.  Specifically, @PBSKids does a great job with sharing great ideas for the kids, as well as relevant show and digital media information.  I’m big on continuing educational conversation at home, so even if it’s a 20 minute after school activity, I appreciate PBSKid’s helpful links, which often highlights their curriculum-based media with characters that my 5-year old knows and loves.

My most recent @PBSKids favorite links to some writing milestones for kindergartners from @pbsparents

I’m such a fan of Sara DeWitt, VP of PBS Kids’ Interactive.  I favorited her tweet that shared the link to her Podcast of her session at SXSW.

2. CBC Book

The Childrens Book Council dishes out the latest and greatest in children’s and young adult lit news. One of my most recent favorites from them was this one:

3. Kidscreen

Kidscreen tweets timely headlines about children’s entertainment industry.  And because they cover the global market, they share breaking news about toys, online media, tv shows and much more.

4. @Inhabitots

Inhabitots tweets interesting news that may be relevant for the eco-concious family.

5. @Playworks

I’m all about playtime and encouraging play and recess, which is why I appreciate following Playworks.  They not only share helpful stats and articles relating to play, but they also engage with like-minded advocates.

6. @HasbroNews

We’re all about toys and theHub as of late, so I love checking out @HasbroNews to keep abreast of all of their properties.

Overall, I’d love to see more organic conversation on Twitter, including these brands, I do like seeing them in my Twitter stream.  Everyone I know uses Twitter differently, but I really wish people didn’t use it as a surveillance channel or as an promotion machine.  I get it, people enjoy “watching” others online, but Twitter was actually created to stay in touch with friends.  As in, conversation.  Conversation, to me, is key when it comes to Twitter.  Sharing information and interacting with others first-hand is perhaps the coolest aspect of this social media channel.  I appreciate brands and organization who “get it” and follow through with dialogues that were created by “regular” followers and fans.  Better yet, I appreciate fellow Twitter users who still engage with one another!

And if you’re one of those who just funnel links to your work on Twitter, well, I’m just not a fan…and I know many others aren’t a fan either.

So, who are your must follow Twitter profiles?

A Taste of the Finger Lakes

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

I just spent the last four days eating and drinking my way through the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Just a five hour drive northwest of NYC, together with my girlfriends, we explored the best of what the Finger Lakes has to offer.


And based on my full belly, fond memories and a trunk full of pies and wine, we completely enjoyed the Finger Lakes. While most of my trip was a girlfriends’ trip, I’ll most likely post about the more family friendly topics here and will share the other adventures on other publications.


Since it’s still so fresh in my mind, the highlights of this weekend were the various wineries, the award-winning Leaf Kitchen a locavore restaurant in Geneva, Touring the up and coming microbrewery the Naked Dove, enjoying Monica’s Pies and cooking at The New York Wine and Culinary Center. Above all the delicious wine and food, I was most impressed by the overall collaborative effort that the area has put in with their local food revolution. From retailer to manufacturer to family-owned wineries, each company and organization embraced a sense of camaraderie throughout industry as a whole.


And even though I’m blogging from the back seat ON our way home and sitting right next to them, big hugs to my beautiful friends, Carol, Corine and Liz, with whom I enjoyed exploring the Finger Lakes. A special thank you to the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, Geneva on the Lake, surrounding counties and all of the other wonderful organizations who made our trip so incredible. I can’t wait to share more!


In the meantime, feel free to catch a glimpse of our adventures on Twitter or Instagram by checking out the #FLXTrip or #FLXFoodRev hastags

Pot of Gold Cake Pops

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We could take all the good luck that we could get, so when it comes to St. Patty’s Day, with a kid who believes in the magic of leprechauns and the belief that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, what do you do? We make our own pot of gold


For biggie’s St. Patty’s Day party we made pot of gold cake pops. If you’re already familiar with cake pops, then this treat is a breeze. I got the idea after a quick google and made my own revisions.

Read More

Staying Comfy with Spring PJs from The Children’s Place

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In our house, pajamas are a big deal. Biggie and I are all about comfy pjs. In fact, Jack won’t wear pjs if they don’t match or if they’re too scratchy. So, I always make it a point to buy pjs that meet our stringent requirements: comfy, durable, but also cool. And when I say cool, I mean pjs not emblazoned with trains and obscure designs.


So, when it comes to the baby, I have to admit, he has the best hand-me-downs, and of course, the most comfortable pajamas. When I shopped for my first baby, I kept durability and comfort in mind. With the baby, the first pjs I always grab are always The Children’s Place. Even 5 years later, they’re still soft and have held up amazingly well.


When TCP asked me to check out their spring selection of pjs for Baby, I happily jumped on board. I love the bright, vibrant colors TCP has this season. After such a drab winter, it’s so nice to welcome fun jewel-toned stripes and modern prints that suit my feisty and colorful boy!


One of my faves, though, has to be the 2-piece pjs that has a monster theme. The lime green colored top with a singular eyeball is so reminiscent of Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. and the upcoming Monsters University.

Just like our hand-me-downs from TCP, baby’s latest selections are durable, fun and will withstand a toddler’s messy, rough-and-tumble day. I love the grippy footies on the sleepers which are convenient for my not-quite walking tot.


The Children’s Place pjs, without a doubt, are high on our list of faves. If you’re heading off for a spring break trip or need to update the kid’s pjs after they’ve outgrown their current ones, be sure to check out the spring selection of pjs at The Children’s Place.

The Children’s Place kindly sent us a giftcard to facilitate this review, but as always, opinions are my own.

Healing with Playtime

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

I’ve made toys and playthings my niche, so was it any surprise that toys and games have doubled as tools to help my family heal? My husband moans that we have too many toys in this house. And, while yes, that may be the case, it’s also an indication that we take playtime seriously.

In my most recent post over at Time to Play, I shared how playtime is how we’ve been healing with our medical misfortunes. And since every day is a constant struggle (sickness or not) I thought I’d share more details about some of the games and toys I mentioned.

Starlight Foundation
First of all, Starlight Foundation. I had honestly never heard of Starlight Foundation until we stepped foot into St. Clare’s pediatric wing that fateful summer day. As opposed to the outdated toys normally found in doctor’s offices, the playroom at our hospital had a wide range of updated toys. Even though Josh doesn’t play with toys, or couldn’t even sit up on his own at that point, that play room was designed to not only provide comfort for its pediatric patients and their families.
In our case, that playroom brought solace to our big boy who was confused and not willing to separate from mom, dad and sick baby bro. Because our family spent an entire week there, Jack played for hours in that room. He befriended other pediatric patients, challenged them to fierce games of Candyland and never batted an eye at their EEG set up and the electrodes glued and bandaged to their heads.
From exercausers to train tables to Candyland to Legos, the Starlight Site at St. Claire’s had it all. And for that, we, and all of the other families who have to spend time there, are eternally grateful.
Perhaps it was the Starlight Foundation’s intention to provide a fun space for the young patients, but in our case, big brother shared smiles while meeting those young patients.

I applaud the Starlight Foundation for their ongoing endeavors to help kids and families smile despite their circumstances.

LeapPad2


The LeapPad2 which has garnered a bounty of awards for being a tech innovation for kids, has been our most portable and educational device on-the-go. Jack has dropped it, he’s lost it, he’s sat on it and he’s even slept on it, and yet, the LeapPad2 survives long enough for him to feed his pets and create art. Since we’ve had an ipad and multiple iphones and ipads, I’ve always been ambivalent about the LeapPad. As we’ve learned when we’re on the go, this thing is a life saver. He has fun educational games, including Toy Story, Scooby and a few other titles. Beyond the cool titles, the LeapPad2, on its own is a pretty innovative tech device for kids this young. It has a cool camera and video functionality that allows kids to create their own media, on their own terms. The photos I find of me in my best/worst are hysterical and priceless.

Wild Kratts Creature Power app

I’ll have to devote another post strictly for apps, but apps on our iphone and ipad have been invaluable while holed up in the hospital. Jack’s favorite app as of late, Wild Kratts Creature Power, has a few games and a cool camera and stickers feature. The games, Bee Game and Elephant Game, like their show, follows the adventures of the Wild Kratts while educating about animals. These games employ colorful graphics and ios technology that many kids already enjoy. The Bee Game is more straight forward where a bee (one of the brothers) must navigate to successfully pollinate a flower. The Raccoon Game helps the raccoon find food for her babies. In the elephant game, the player has to help the elephants with different kinds of baths. The Bee Game and Pictures and Stickers are definitely Jack’s favorite. Like the sneaky boy he is, he thinks it’s hilarious to snap pictures of us while we’re sleeping…but we won’t go there.

This app is exclusively available for iphone and ipod Touch. We are obsessed with this show, so we can’t get enough of it. There’s a new Wild Kratts math app that I’ll have to share more about once I check it out!

Classroom Fun: Oh, The Places You’ll Go and Oceanhouse Media Dr. Seuss Apps

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

As Read Across America week winds down, I thought I’d share about my fun afternoon with J’s class today.

Untitled

Dr. Seuss reminded us that Life’s a Great Balancing Act (Just never forget to be dexterous and deft).  Which is why I chose to read Oh, The Places You Go! in class today.  In my trajectory as a writer and parent, I want to believe that it was his suggestions and wise words that have pointed me in this direction. (More on this later…)

Even though Oh, The Places You’ll Go! can be verbose for young five year olds, the class very much understood Dr. Seuss’ ideas and emphasis on imagination.
After reading to the class, we continued the conversation about Dr. Seuss with What’s in the Cat’s Hat, a hands-on game game from my friends at Wonder Forge.

This game is a classic guessing game, where the kids can utilize their senses by guessing what’s hidden IN the Cat’s hat.  Each kid took a turn poking and shaking the hat, even reading off prompted questions from the cards.  We heard silly guesses, but once the kids started getting their guesses right based on clues, the momentum of their deductive reasoning started to roll. I can’t say enough good things about Wonder Forge; this fantastic company has won numerous awards for their games and it’s no wonder why. Beyond What’s in the Cat’s Hat, Wonder Forge has various Dr. Seuss puzzles and games, including an app-centric game called Fun Machine.

Dr. Seuss apps from Oceanhouse Media

And speaking of apps, Dr. Seuss has an app—quite a few, actually.  Oceanhouse Media has done a great job with bringing Dr. Seuss titles to iPhones, iPods and iPads.  While I love my technology as much as the next geek, there’s nothing quite like a real book.  Nevertheless, you can’t beat having access to a myriad of Dr. Seuss titles while on the go.  Green Eggs and Ham while in the dentist waiting room? Why not.  Fox in Socks while on a 2-hour road trip? Don’t mind if we do.  The best part of these apps is that they’re interactive where you can record your voice while reading and even share those recordings.  Oceanhouse Media has a number of Dr. Seuss classics in the $3-5 range, as well as a few free apps.

Dr. Seuss Camera

Another app that gets rave reviews from my favorite five year olds: The Dr. Seuss Camera, also from Oceanhouse Media. This app simply utilizes the iphone, ipod touch or ipad camera and frames the subject with several different Dr. Seuss characters and imagery.  Point, shoot, edit and create, this app is endless Dr. Seuss fun and is free.  This app is a great way to continue the Dr. Suess conversation and branch it out to digital media.  In fact, we took pictures of J’s entire class and the kids had a blast picking and choosing which characters they wanted to be.  Sally, by the way, was the class favorite—for boys, too!  Go, Sally!

I loved talking to the kids about my job today.  Since most of the kids aren’t reading quite yet, I didn’t bother telling them about NKT, other than the topics that I focus on.  It was cute getting questions from parents asking me if I work FOR PBS.  No, but I am a proud VIP.

Read More

Navy and Mustard: on-the-go Baby Essentials

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

On the way to school this morning, my older son looked up at the sunshine and determined that Spring is almost here. It’s true; with just a few weeks of winter to go, Spring is, indeed, right around the corner.

And so, since many of my fashion and beauty writer friends (Vera of Lady and the Blog and Jill of Glamamom come to mind) have been sharing the vibrant trends to come, I was inspired to share just some of the many cool baby finds that have been hibernating in my inbox and bookmarks.

I’ve done styleboards and Polyvore boards before, but I’m finding that this is a great way to encourage fresh content while merging social media and fun graphics. I have to note that this particular board was inspired by the Stokke Xpory Winter Kit (which is still very much a necessity for most areas) and that super chic chevron Patemm Pad (which is exclusive to Pottery Barn this Spring.)

So, by the numbers, here are just a few on-the-go baby essentials inspired by these brisk days leading up to a sunny Spring!

1. Clek Foonf

You know how Natalie Portman says in The Garden State that the Shins song will change your life? Well, that’s what I’m getting from the Clek Foonf. Except it’s a car seat. Yeah. So, from what I’ve read and seen, the Foonf is a game changer in the car seat realm. As it should, car seat safety is constantly evolving, and from the reviews I’m seeing, the Foonf is being described as revolutionary. And when it comes to kid safety, who doesn’t want the best?
The seat pictured is called Dragonfly, and it’s one of the many color options of the Foonf. I felt this one had a modern, minimalist feel with its white base and mossy colored seating. Expect to pay top dollar for this sleek car seat that boasts the highest safety standards and features REACT Technology.

2. Thermos Tripoli Foogo Vacuum Insulated Soft Spout Sippy Cup

Sippy cups from Thermos are typically as sleek in function as they are in aesthetic. Foogo was always one of my favorites with my older son, so I’m glad this mainstay in the stainless steel sector has designs beyond licensed characters. Besides the sustainability, I always found that Thermos sippys are just as durable.

3. Skip Hop Treetop Friends Wise Owl Stroller Toy

I’ve been a longtime fan of Skip Hop because of their modern yet playful designs. I know the owl craze has been fading, but I love the colors and textures of this simple stroller toy.

4. Aden+Anais Brilliant Blue Swaddle

Parents know, especially in the infancy stage, a great blanket and/or burp cloth are diaper bag staples. Based on conversations I’ve had on Twitter and simply by walking around the city, Aden+Anais Swaddles have reached a cult-like status among parents because of the versatility of these muslin swaddles. Before Beyonce introduced Blue Ivy to the world with an A+A swaddle in the backdrop, many of us were using these lightweight blankets to wipe up barf, use as a nursing cover, stroller shade and, yes, even as a swaddle. Just as glamorous as Bey, right?

5. Stokke Xplory and Winter Kit

As a devoted Stokke fan, naturally, I adore just about anything this Norwegian company conjures up. Truly. We invested in the Sleepi crib for our oldest and haven’t looked back since. The Xplory, however, sets the bar higher for strollers—quite literally. It boasts a higher seat, giving baby a better view of their new world and more opportunity to interact with their caregivers. The Xplory is noted for its comfort and maneuverability, which is particularly important for families who consider their strollers their main mode of transportation.
For those of us who are still wearing heavy coats and snowboots, the Stokke Winter Kit is, perhaps, an essential for your stroller arsenal. From the sheepskin edged rim to the warm muffs, the Winter Kit is both functional and stylish for baby and parent.

6. Itzy Ritzy Snack Bag in Social Circle Blue

Reusable snack bags are just a few of my favorite items that make sense for families on the go. Whether they’re Annie’s Bunnies or baby puffs, reusable snack bags like these from Itzy Ritzy help diminish waste and add a little flair to the diaper bag.

7. Navy Chevron Patemm Changing Pad Pottery Barn Kids

If there was ever a diaper-changing essential, the Patemm Pad is it. A round changing pad that actually accommodates your growing child AND all of the accoutrements? Say no more. Patemm Pads not only have stylish prints, but they’re also mom-invented. This chevron print is exclusive to Pottery Barn Kids this Spring, so be sure to grab one while you can.

8. timi & leslie diaper bag Sophia – Lemon Yellow & Shadow White

Beyond the color scheme on this board, style and function are the other overlapping themes. Timi & Leslie diaper bags are synonymous with style while remaining functional. Like many other moms on the go, I don’t have time to switch from diaper bag to work or evening bag. Seriously. One of the greatest compliments is when a non-mom friend compliments my diaper bags, thinking they’re “regular” bags.
The Sophia bag in Lemon Yellow and White, which is part of the Convertible Collection, is a roomy bag with a variety of pockets, yet maintains a sleek satchel silhouette on the exterior. I like that this bag looks like leather, but is a vegan-friendly material. And going back to functional, I’m absolutely loving the clutch that’s included. It’s all about the details!

Pinterest President’s Day Activities

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Like many grade-schoolers, my Trans-Kindergartner has off today for Presidents’ Day. Today was one of the few days off that didn’t get taken away because of snow/Sandy make up days. With that said, we plan to do a few activities in honor of our Presidents.

Even though he’s come home telling me stories about our presidents every day for the past few weeks, I have to really wonder if my 5-year-old is actually absorbing the lessons he’s being taught. And because I’m big on enrichment activities at home to continue the conversations started at school, I love referring to PInterest. Like so many others, Pinterest is an invaluable resource for non-teacher parents. So, while many of you are pinning recipes and fabulous crafts, (I do that too), I’m usually pinning grade-appropriate lessons for my kids.

So here are just a few President’s Day activities that I have bookmarked for our day today.

This is a link to a collection of President’s Day activities.  I like that it includes past presidents like Washington and Lincoln, but it also includes an activity featuring our current presidents.  I haven’t seen too many of those, which, to me, makes it worth the $5.00 fee. Source: Teacher’s Notebook

Source: teachersnotebook.com via Jen on Pinterest

This is a fun-looking sight reading book, but this features Washington, making it timely for today’s holiday.  The word, “he” looks like the main word, so it’s perfect for early readers.  This activity book is $.90.  Source:  Teachers Pay Teachers via Maria Manore.

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Jen on Pinterest

This will be the main activity for us while the baby naps later today.  Biggie is all about these mini books because he gets to color, cut and construct.  Best part? It’s free, well other than the ink and supplies.  Thank you, Ready, Set Read for this wonderful, free resource!

Are we following each other on Pinterest? Find me at jenrab on Pinterest!

Dinosaur Train Submarine Adventure Debuts on PBS

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Buddy and the Dinosaur Train gang are heading out on yet another educational adventure. This time, the dinosaurs will head out to sea on a new vessel, the Dinosaur Train Submarine, where they’ll learn about sea creatures from the Dinosaur Age. In their travels, the dinosaurs will see things they’ve never seen such as, Otto Ophthalmosaurus to Archelon turtles.

On February 18, PBS Kids will showcase The Jim Henson Company’s Dinosaur Train Submarine Adventure, which is an hour-long feature. To coincide with the hour-long adventure, Dinosaur Train will also feature new content online and on mobile devices. The special will also be available on DVD starting February 19 for $9.99.

As water lovers, we loved learning about the amazing sea creatures from the Dinosaur Age. Being under the sea with the Dinosaur Gang was a fun change of pace and, not surprisingly, educational and eye-opening. Since it’s debuting today on PBS, if you’re home with the kids for President’s Day, make sure you tune in for this fun feature.  Thank you to our friends at PBS Kids for sending along a screener and coloring pages!

Full disclosure:  As a PBS Kids VIP, it’s an honor to share news about the various PBS Kids properties.  I am not compensated as a VIP, and as always, opinions on NKT are my own.