ARTICLE: Kids Flu Prevention Tips

• Always, always have kids wash hands before eating
• If you are out of the house use antibacterial gel
• Remember antibacterial gel is to be used only when you don´t have a sink with soap and water
• Show children the proper way to wash hands (have them wash while they sing a popular song)
• Keep antibacterial gel in purse, diaper bag and car
• Remind children not to share food or drinks with classmates or friends
• If your child is sick, do not take them to crowded places
• Keep fingernails well trimmed
• At the first signs of the disease contact your pediatritian
• You can get infected by the flu virus when you touch mucus membranes : Play a game with your children, whoever touches their mouth, nose or eyes loses a point.
• Talk to them about the flu, how it is a serious disease and that they need to be extra carefull to prevent it

DAILY RECIPE: Basic Cheese Pie

1 graham cracker pie crust
1 large cream cheese
1 can condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Can of fruit topping

Blend cream cheese until softened. Gradually add condensed milk, lemon and vanilla. Pour into pie crust. Chill for three hours. Decorate with fruit topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

TIP OF THE DAY

Take a basic first aid kit in your purse when trick or treating: anti-bacterial gel, desinfectant spray, bandaids... so a small scrape won´t stop the fun!

HALLOWEEN GAME: Trick or Treat

Great for classrooms, parties or family time. Cut small strips of paper. Draw a candy on half, draw a ghost or pumpkin on the others. Fold in half and place inside a plastic jack-o-lantern. Sit children around in a circle. Pass the jack-o-lantern around. Each child, in his/her turn, will take a paper out from the jack-o-lantern. If it´s a candy, they get a treat. If it´s a ghost or pumpkin, that means it´s trick time. They have to perform a stunt such as a song, dance, pretending to be a Halloween character, etc. To make a longer game, pass the jack-o-lantern around with music. When the music stops, the person who has the jack-o-lantern takes out the piece of paper.

ARTICLE: Limits Please!

With the busy lives we live today, mothers working away from home, and media influence, our children are often given what they ask that very minute. It´s hard after a day of work, tired and guilty, to come to your house and forbid your child to eat that candy bar before dinner. Sadly, though, we have to do it. It´s hard not to please your child, especially if you´re only with him or her for a few hours each day. But still, children need limits. It´s our way to show them that we care. Keep in mind that you will never be able to give your child everything, even if money isn´t an issue. If he wants the picture frame on the wall, you can give it to him. But what happens when he wants the nail? Maybe you could give it to him, too. And then, he will ask for the hole the nail left on the wall. What do you do then? Remember, when your child gets angry or throws a fit because he doesn´t get his way, you´re doing your job right!

DAILY RECIPE: Vegetable Chicken Apricot Stir Fry

1 lb. diced chicken breast
garlic salt
butter
2 zuchinnis (cut into long thin strips)
2 carrots (cut into long thin strips)
1/2 cup apricot jelly
1/2 cup lite soy sauce
1 cup chicken broth

Melt butter in a deep saucepan. Add seasoned chicken and cook until lightly browned. Add vegetables and cook for a few minutes. Meanwhile blend jelly, soy sauce and chicken broth. Add to chicken and vegetables and cook till thick and bubbly. Serve over white rice or pasta.

TIP OF THE DAY

When cooking with a little extra time, try doubling the recipe. Freeze half, and use on a hectic day.

HALLOWEEN: Last Minute Costume with a Box

Halloween is this Saturday!!! If you still don´t have a costume for your child here´s an easy way out. Find a large box (check out your garage or your local grocery store). Many costumes can be easily made with paint, paper, glue gun and of course, a cardboard box.

• TV - paint black or gray, add a screen with a cut out from a favorite tv show
• iPOD - paint black, white, pink add an image of a favorite character or singer, or add your child´s own picture
• ROBOT - add buttons, glue spare metallic objects, with a smaller box you can add a head to the robot
• Rubik´s Cube - a step back to the eighties, but still fun, cut out squares from colored paper and glue all around
• Dice - easy! Paint white and add dots with a thick black marker

For all costumes, remember to cut a slit on top of box for head, and two on the sides for arms to come out. Do this carefully with scissors or cutter, with your child far away from you. For the decorating, invite them to join the fun and give their ideas. When you´re done, simply dress your child with clothes matching the costume your chose! Happy Halloween!

DAILY RECIPE: Potato Onion Salad

1/2 onion sliced

1 lb. baby potatoes

vinegar

olive oil

salt and pepper

Cook and peel potatoes. Cool. Mix two parts vinegar with one part oil. Add salt and pepper. Toss with potatoes and onion. Great with a steak dinner.

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep an ordinary planner next to the phone or computer. Whenever an important date or appointment needs to be jotted down, it´s much easier to do it with pen and paper than on any electronical device.