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Holidays with the Kiddos: New Ways to Decorate Christmas Cookies

A Guest post by Melissa C.

After all the years hard work, after shopping for Mario party supplies, blowing out birthday candles, taking the kids to soccer practice, and making dinner, the holidays are here. The truth is, in many ways we celebrate the holidays more for our kids than we do for ourselves. We want to create family traditions that will survive generations, and we want to take the seasonal opportunity to bond with our little ones. Every December, thousands of families get together to bake and decorate sugar cookies. Decorating sugar cookies may already be a tradition in your family. This year, get the kids in the kitchen and try out some new sugar cookie decoration techniques to add new fun to a family tradition.

– Chocolate Sugar Cookie

Chocolate junkies will appreciate this chocolate version of the traditional sugar cookie. Simply incorporate cocoa powder into the dough mixture with flour and your dough will turn into a nutmeg-mocha brown. Add a touch of cinnamon to the mixture as well for taste. After refrigerating the dough, roll out into sheets on a powdered countertop, using not flour but cocoa as the substance which prevents the dough from sticking to your rolling pin. Now that’s good!

– Stained Glass Windows

For those who like hard candies, you can make a gorgeous stained glass look on your sugar cookie by crushing up tiny candies and putting the pieces in the middle of the cookie dough prior to baking. Watch these cookies closely, though–you don’t want the sugar to burn!

– Black & Whites

Try this sugar cookie spin on a traditional favorite by making Christmas black and whites. Simply melt chocolate chips in a double boiler on low heat. Be patient, chocolate should not melt right away. Stir gently until the chocolate is fully melted, and then dip circular sugar cookies into chocolate, halfway covering the cookie. You can leave the half-dipped cookie as is, or you can put red and white sprinkles or candy canes on the melted chocolate.

The sugar cookie tradition never gets old, especially with decorating tricks like these. Keep your tradition fresh by incorporating these new tips into your holiday festivities.

Choosing the Best Connecticut Day Care

Tips on how to choose the best Daycare for your children

As much as parents would want to stay at home with their kids to take care of them, they have to work and earn a living. Especially now that times are though, most families can’t afford to become a single-income generating family and these leaves both parents no choice but to find someone to look after their kids while they are at work.

One of their options is to bring their child to a daycare like any of the CT daycare in Connecticut. Since the daycare is where your kids will spend most of their time, it is here where they will start to learn and develop values and interpersonal skills so it is really important to choose the best daycare that will ensure your kids will get the best care, attention and education.

So how do you choose the best daycare for your kids:

  • Research. Check your phone directory and look for daycare centers in your area. Location of the daycare is of primary importance so it will be convenient for the parents every time they drop and pick their kids from the daycare.The internet can also be a good source of information as most day care have website where you can have virtual tours of the center, check the mission of the center, their staff and other important information that will help you narrow down your list.
  • Visit the Day Care. Once you have a short list of the day care that you are considering, visit the center so you can see them in action. You can observe how the teachers and staff treat the children, the cleanliness of the surrounding, the security and safety of the kids and more. Doing a visit is also a perfect opportunity to talk to the administrators and staff and ask questions that you may have about their centers to help you decide which daycare to choose for your kid.
  • Ask around. Ask your friends and neighbors for their recommendations on any of the CT preschool where they send their child. Parents who bring their kids to this center will be able to give you first hand and taken-from experience feedbacks so you will get the most honest information about a particular center.
  • Check Local Children and Family Agencies. These agencies can also give you a list of daycare centers that will suit your need and requirement. For example, they can give you a list of a Connecticut day care that is of close proximity to your home, centers that offers home-inspired, center-based developmental child care services, daycare that offers hot lunches and more. They can also give advice on how to look for the best daycare for your child and will even give you a list of FAQs that you can ask day care administrators as you do your site visit.

The Daycare will be your child’s second home so it is really important that you do a good amount of research before finally deciding which daycare center should you entrust your child.

About the Author:

Aggie Aviso is a freelance consumer and business writer, writing comprehensive reviews, articles and how-to’s.

Fixing Things Around The House

Only during the holiday break that we get to have an extra time to do some fix around the house. We are now to pursue our bathroom fix that has been put on hold for the longest time. DH are now starting to canvass for the materials to be used. They will start on the electrical wiring, so he’s looking around for wire duct to keep those wires in a neat and organized place.He said that there are different styles and models now to choose from that will compliment our choice of design. Next will be tiles to be used and then goes the accessories. Hoe that we’ll be able to finish it before the end of this year.

Down with Flu

Yesterday was a terrible day for me. I was not really feeling well in the morning when I woke up, but I still manage to go to the office thinking that I will feel better after drinking a paracetamol. I just though that it was just a simple headache and slight fever. It got worst after lunch that I have to go to the bathroom and vomit twice. Then I suddenly felt body and muscle aches, all of them came at once in the afternoon.

Glad that I was able to go home safe and sound, I did went straight to the bed to get a very needed sleep and rest. I woke around 2 am, chilling and vomited at 3 am. I felt better after. DH was kind enough to do the laundry. Got no more fever now, but still has a headache. I hope to feel better soon. I really hate the feeling especially the stomach discomfort. Still got a lot of things to do. I have to take some more rest after this.

Kid’s Outdoor Play

Last Wednesday, the kids took advantage of the no classes day by playing around since early morning. I was down with terrible colds and cough at the time so I just let them go and play around the house while I took some rest and catch on sleep. I saw them playing at the terrace on a tent which is kinda’ similar to the kelty tents that I saw on the net. The ones being used by the hikers when they go on their outdoor/ mountain activities. DH’s sister set it up when they saw it on the store room while they had some general cleaning.

It’s fun to see them do things creatively :). At least they were able to go on their outdoor play right inside the comfort of our home without me really having to worry a lot since they are within the reach.

Hello December!

24 days to go before Christmas. 🙂 the downside is, I got terrible colds, cough and sore throat. It got even worst yesterday, but I was still able to do some household chores in the morning and took the whole afternoon for some rest. Good thing it’s a regular Holiday yesterday in lieu of Bonifacio Day. 

We were suppose to go out yesterday to buy some stuffs at the mall including a metal hose for our hand shower that got broken a a couple of months ago. DH saw a pricey yet quality made one in a hardware store inside the mall. Hope we’d still be able to see it by next week and I hope by then, nobody is getting sick anymore.

For this month, I am looking forward to a very busy schedule. With so many events and occasion to attend to- Christmas and birthday parties, school activities for the kids. I really hope that we’ll be able to deliver. I am so looking forward to Christmas shopping too 🙂

Christmas Wish list

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Only one day left before the month of December comes in, and it’s exactly 25 days left before Christmas. People around are so busy planning their holiday activities. Christmas holiday is my top favorite occasion, a time of the year when all are just in their jolly and holiday mood. The sharing, gift giving, party and festive mood is just really inspiring.

It has always been a routine, or you may say a “tradition” for many (including myself) to create their yearly wish list for the holiday season. I’ve always been creating my list since I was a kid, hoping that Santa will deliver all of the toys, toys and more toys that I have written down on my list 😀

As I grew up, I realized that mom and Dad were my “Santa Claus” who tries to grant all of those things that I have written on my “Dear Santa” wish list. But up to this date, I still do continue writing one, only to hope that I ( I consider myself the Santa Claus since I earn my own money now) would have enough budget for those things. LOL. DH and I were also Santa for our kids now.

For my 2011 Christmas wish list, I want:

  • A notebook for myself, so I am now canvassing on some cheap and yet quality made laptop computers around the net.
  • Office bag
  • Pairs of shoes
  • New pants, shirts and blouse. Ok, I want a closet makeover.
  • Iphone or Ipad

I hope Santa will grant my wishes, not necessarily all of these things but I hope that he’ll consider any of the techy gadgets 😉

Pasalubong From Quezon | Quezon Delicacies

Saturday last week, DH went to their province in Quezon with his sister and brother in law to attend  to some important family matter and visit their relatives as well. It has been quite awhile since our last visit. of course, I kept on reminding him to buy some delicacies that we truly miss from Quezon.

Broas/ Lady Finger

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By Koffee Klatch

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Our favorite Pancit Habhab/ Pansit Lucan

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I actually forgot to take a snap of the Longganisang Lucban, our good and yummy breakfast for three days in a row 🙂 will share on upcoming posts some of the other goodies like espasol and kakanins! Now am craving for the broas:D

Events and Conferences

It has been year since I attended an event. Last week, the boss informed me that I will be attending a Channel conference. I actually don’t feel like going since I know that I will be going all by myself while other attendees comes in a group. But then again, just like the previous event I attended- I enjoyed the said conference despite having the feeling of initially being “out of place”  🙂

 

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It’s another learning experience for me. The new concept and products for launch for the coming year- 2012 looks promising in line with our business which is computer products.  For the conference itself, I must say that the organizers have made a job well done.

There was a smooth flow of the talks and other activities during the entire event. The trade show displays are all eye catchy and interesting for the dealers and attendees. Of course, we all do enjoy the perks and freebies like giveaways, food and gifts that comes along with it.

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. As you can see, it’s been three days since my last post :).
2. See you soon!
3. I love to buy gifts especially during Christmas season.
4. I love to receive gift(s).
5. What’s up with my mood lately.
6. Too much typing causes me numb fingertips.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to DH’s arrival from the province, tomorrow my plans include chores,chores, chores! and Sunday, I want to go shopping!