tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1449918886008833112025-12-10T14:23:09.815-06:00Ugga MuggaA blog featuring the latest in natural, well-designed products and concepts for parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers...discoveries to calm the chaos.Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.comBlogger1079125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-20253881339072828272014-09-29T08:04:00.006-05:002014-09-29T08:04:46.748-05:00Kindness Countdown
I cannot believe how far we have all come since I first started the Ugga Mugga blog nearly seven years ago! Your children, whom you began reading this parenting blog for have grown, matured and mastered so many skills over the years! And you're gotten them there! Congratulations! Well done, Mama and Daddy!
Mr. Mugga and I had a third baby and she and our other Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-15248131709597819682014-09-01T15:17:00.000-05:002017-01-29T15:53:45.891-06:00Mophie Cell Phone Battery Cases
I love my iPhone as much as the next guy, but I must admit to neglecting it's battery...when I walk in the door, bombarded by two adorable pups wanting scratches and three equally-adorable children wanting hugs, the last thing on my mind is putting my phone in it's charger. This is why I count my Mophie Juice Pack Air as one of my favorite purchases from last year.
Mophie's cell phone Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-25622005041272641992014-04-30T17:03:00.002-05:002014-06-02T11:28:09.390-05:00Young Living Essential Oils
I've been wanting to write this post for months now, but never knew where to begin to express my love for Young Living essential oils. Finally, in the famous words of Nike, I decided to just do it. And so, without further ado, I give you my thoughts on what essential oils are, why my family only uses Young Living essential oils, and where you can find additional information.
Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-87465943982941668072014-04-25T13:44:00.000-05:002014-04-25T13:47:29.547-05:00Alphabet Spoon Puzzle
My daughter, Hazel, has had her uppercase letters mastered for a while now, but the lowercase ones were giving her some trouble. We practiced writing them in a plate covered in homemade whipped cream, we drew them in sand in the yard, and she played some pre-K iPad games geared towards letter-learning...all to no avail.
And so, I started to brainstorm some other ideas. I had seenUgga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-76197022629209160622014-03-04T16:21:00.000-06:002014-03-04T16:22:13.658-06:00DIY Light Box
Winters in Wisconsin are long (especially this year) and the days are short. In my search to find some fun activities that take advantage of our early sunsets, I happened upon light boxes and tables. But the price tags ranging from $50 to $400 were a bit more than I wanted to pay for something I knew my children would use a few months out of the year, but it gave me an idea. Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-77029869397018249812014-02-27T11:57:00.002-06:002014-02-27T11:57:41.775-06:00A Love Letter to Anthropologie
Dearest Anthropologie,
You are a long-time,
trusted friend...one who has proven to be there for me time and time
again throughout each stage in life. Our relationship began back in 1998 when I was on the market for a new blazer to wear to my college internship interview. Of course you came through for me. And as I saved money earned from that first
job (Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-51238419168748104322014-01-21T09:29:00.003-06:002014-01-22T10:33:14.110-06:00Freezer French Toast Sticks
I'm always on the lookout for healthy snacks and meals that can be
prepared ahead of time and enjoyed with only a moment's notice. And if said nourishment can be prepared by my independent children, then I'm an extra happy mama!
These french toast sticks meet all of the above criteria...plus, they're delicious. That's what I call a win-win-win!
Ingredients
16 slices of Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-69859247717817516322013-12-31T06:39:00.002-06:002013-12-31T06:39:31.223-06:00New Year's Eve FREE Printables
This year, since two of my three children can now write on their own, we're going to start a tradition of writing a letter to ourselves on New Year's Eve...and our hopes and dreams for 2014. In researching different ways to do this, I happened upon this great little kit from run lucas run.
Included are Resolution Cards (which include great prompts like A habit I'm going to break,Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-33034135764292845992013-11-26T17:38:00.002-06:002013-11-26T17:49:09.059-06:00Handprint Beanie Turkeys
With only two days to spare, I finally executed a Thanksgiving craft with my kids (it's been a bit hectic over here). And they turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself.
To create these little tom turkeys, I had my kids trace their hands on a piece of brown cardboard (not a thick corrugated cardboard, but one on the thinner side, like a cereal box...or, ahem, like the inserts in Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-92053733008684165122013-09-16T14:15:00.000-05:002013-09-16T14:15:04.347-05:00Homemade Deodorant Recipe
I have tried just about every natural deodorant on the market in the
last 20 years...all with disappointing results. Six months ago I
whipped up my first batch of homemade deodorant and have been thrilled
with the results! It even works on my husband. Even through summer.
I'm not exagerating when I say I whipped it up...it takes minutes to
make and uses ingredients you Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-42425327925284160652013-08-05T10:09:00.005-05:002013-08-05T10:12:26.802-05:00OMG! J.Crew Maternity
I thought my family of five was complete...until I noticed the Maternity Pixie Pant on J.Crew's website this morning.
The Pixie has a classic cigarette silhouette and would be a great staple in any pregnant woman's wardrobe; they will always be in style and can be paired with any shirt! The Maternity Pixie Pant comes in black, navy and pinot noir (at least there's one safe way to enjoy Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-30272527494681824212013-08-03T12:29:00.001-05:002013-08-03T12:29:38.538-05:002-Day Magazine Sale
I received an email today notifying me of a steep sale on many family-focused magazines...THIS WEEKEND ONLY! Below are some of the titles/prices included:
For Children
Ranger Rick - $11.99/year (10 issues)
Boys' Life - $4.99/year (12 issues)
Jack & Jill - $7.99/year (6 issues)
Sparkle World - $13.99/year (6 issues)
Thomas & Friends - $14.99/year (6 issues)
For Adults
Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-55699029822472653122013-07-22T09:33:00.001-05:002013-07-22T09:33:35.634-05:00Table Tennis: Love-All
I come from a long line of tennis players. That same long line is quite competitive. One of my first memories is being timed on a puzzle when I was 4...racing against my parents, older cousins, uncle and grandparents. I obviously lost that round, but have won many other competitions since then, including Who Knows the Most Words to the Next Song on the Radio, Who Can Get ThisUgga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-2532682055924747862013-07-21T11:16:00.000-05:002013-07-21T11:16:29.977-05:00Camp Classic Play
If you're like most parents I know, your children's planned summer activities are coming to an end. Almost every parent I've talked to the past few summers have their children participate in organized camps and classes at some point in June and July, but leave the month of August open for spontaneous fun and family time (my family included).
Camp Classic Play is a week-long list Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-91708159982420011652013-07-20T15:14:00.002-05:002013-07-20T15:19:15.604-05:00Kids React to Cheerios CommercialDo you all remember the Cheerios commercial that depicted an interracial family? Unfortunately, there was a lot of hatred spewed as a result of the cute, supportive, thoughtful family due to the color of their skin. :(
I felt sick and lost a bit of hope in humanity when first hearing of the unnecessary and unjustified controversy. But I feel lighter and more hopeful today afterUgga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-68282493128065733492013-07-16T14:51:00.002-05:002013-07-16T14:51:52.184-05:00Buttered Spaghetti Sauce
It's hot today. Really hot. Almost too hot to even go to the pool. (Almost.) Silly me, despite the heat, I'm craving rich pasta for dinner tonight. Luckily, I have the simplest, tastiest homemade pasta sauce recipe up my sleeve. Only three ingredients: canned tomatoes, butter and yellow onion. Easy peasy.
The recipe below makes enough sauce for my Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-87716635161438552682013-06-26T10:53:00.000-05:002013-06-26T10:53:27.075-05:00Five things to do with your children today:
Five things to do with your children today:
Explain why it's important to ask questions when others are different instead of making fun of them; in addition, the importance of sticking up for others being made fun of.
Discuss what your family is to do in the event of a fire: stay low, don't touch doorknobs, exit strategies, meeting location, etc.
Read a book aloud (a picture bookUgga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-53908827961383887182013-06-11T18:12:00.001-05:002013-06-11T18:12:10.000-05:00Soap Snakes
We crossed off a summer sand bucket list item today: soap bubble snakes! As you can see, the kids had a great time...and our puppies were quite intrigued by the long bubbles blowing around the yard!
The only materials necessary to make the bubble blowers, are:
Plastic water bottles
Old cloth (washcloth, sock, etc.)
Rubber bands
Dish soap
Water
To assemble, cut the bottomUgga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-28611927327440840882013-06-11T09:23:00.000-05:002013-06-11T09:25:58.050-05:00LEGO Father's DayFather's Day a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-65656628156172615702013-06-05T14:31:00.001-05:002013-06-12T06:32:32.029-05:00Dry Brushing
I first heard the term dry brushing a few years ago, but at that time, I only learned of the exfoliation benefits. When I started incorporating the process into my morning routine a few months ago (to prep my skin for bare legs and tank tops), I was pleasantly surprised to discover the additional health (and beauty) benefits.
In addition to removing dry skin (think knees, ankles, elbows.Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-27518593361551756942013-02-22T14:26:00.000-06:002013-02-23T11:07:17.124-06:00Homemade Yogurt Recipe
Homemade yogurt. Sounds fancy, tricky and impressive...until you've made it and you realize it's about the easiest thing to make. And it's cheap...especially if you buy as much of it as I used to for my family of five yogurt lovers.
Impress your family this weekend and whip up a batch of homemade yogurt parfaits!
Ingredients:
Half gallon (8 cups) whole milk
1 Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-68817198206519016142013-01-31T10:41:00.003-06:002013-01-31T10:42:19.263-06:00Ugga Mugga is on Facebook!
Now you can get notified of new blog posts through your Facebook news feed and share the posts with your friends! Click here to "like" Ugga Mugga and join our parenting social network circle! Many new features coming soon!Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-46844819446743205402013-01-31T08:22:00.000-06:002013-01-31T08:22:09.547-06:00DIY Bathtub Water Run
I love this bathtub water run created with parts from the hardware store that was featured on The Brooding Hen (photo from their site).
The instructions are easy to follow and if you live in a tool-filled home like I do, this will be pretty inexpensive to make! I'm excited to construct this for my littlest one...she's showing more and more interest in showers lately in an effort Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-35613091702084585672013-01-29T14:24:00.001-06:002013-01-29T14:25:27.198-06:00Shea Terra Organics African Black Soap
I'm 37, how can I still be having trouble with acne?! My son is only a few years away from his own awkward teenage years, and here I am still fighting blemishes. However, I probably shouldn't complain about it so much...it could be, as many older people have told me, part of the reason I still get carded so frequently...and not just from the the occasional bartender trying to Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144991888600883311.post-56165186975211400852013-01-22T08:15:00.000-06:002013-01-22T08:15:02.836-06:00REN Skincare
A few weeks ago I received some unsettling news...unsettling, that is, until I took some time to process is. After the initial delivery, I calmed down and relaxed, feeling confident all would be well, regardless of the uncertain outcome. As I was explaining to my mother my sincere serenity during this trying time, she said, "Well, that comes with maturity."
Although I am Ugga Muggahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06064792159871587950noreply@blogger.com0