As a child, the only popsicles I ever ate were either Otter Pops or Jello Pudding Pops. While both of those are AMAZING in their own right (oh, Bill Cosby what I wouldn’t give for one of those vanilla/chocolate swirl treats right now) the notion that you could actually make your own never crossed my young mind. Popsicles came in boxes.  End of discussion.

Obviously, I have learned the truth over the years.  Making your own popsicles is not only a money saver, it is potentially healthier and is a great way to use up the last of your fruit before it spoils.  Here are some recipes that will make you forget all those pre-packaged popsicles of your youth.  Well, maybe just long for them a little less.

Fresh Fruit Popsicle

This is a very flexible recipe that allows you to use whatever fruit you have on hand.  These are not only delicious, they are beautiful!

Watermelon Lemonade Popsicle

Nothing says summer more than watermelon and lemonade.  This recipe is actually for just the beverage, but it freezes up into popsicle form beautifully. Combine these two wonderful flavors for the ultimate summer treat!

Vanilla Orange Popsicle

One word:  Creamsicle.  That is all.

Double Chocolate Frozen Fudge Pops

So…these are not good for you.  They are not a healthy treat at all.  But they are freakin’ good.  And sometimes you just want a good old unhealthy dessert.  Just try to only make them once per summer…

Blueberry Basil Popsicles

These are a great flavor combination that will please both kids and adults. Kids pretty much all love blueberries and the basil keeps these from being too sickly sweet.

Mango Clove Popsicles

I am always interested in trying new flavor combinations.  The richness of cloves brings an interesting twist to a typical summer fruit.

Monkey Tails

These are not really a popsicle, but they are a frozen treat on a stick. Pretty much the same thing as far as I’m concerned.  Frozen bananas dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in crushed nuts. If you do not want to give your kids chocolate, you can do the same banana preparation then dip them in orange juice and roll them in unsweetened coconut.

The post Popsicle Recipes appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

Graduate T Shirt- $14.99 Give your little preschool or kindergarten graduate a sweet shirt with their name and graduation date custom printed on it.

School Scrapbook- $27.99 Have a custom scrapbook made for your child and then have a blast filling it with pictures, words, and memories! A life long keepsake.

Custom Necklace- $27.99 Give the little girl graduate in your life a sweet necklace with her name and graduation date engraved on it. She will treasure it always.

Graduation Frame- $20 Put your graduates beautiful picture in this lovely frame to hang proudly in your house or in their room.

Gift Card. Make a handmade gift card telling your graduate you are treating them to a celebration dinner, trip, or shopping trip for summer clothes or new clothes for next school year.

Leap Pad. Give the educational gift of a leap pad by Leap Frog to your graduate so they can not only have fun this summer, but learn some new things, too!

Have any little graduates who are moving up this year? What are you planning on gifting them? Leave us a comment and add your great ideas!

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As a cook or a baker, many times things work out perfectly. The cake rises just enough. The frosting is the perfect consistency. The brownies were oh-so-gooey.

Annnndddd… then there are other times. You have the best intention of creating a masterpiece and it sounds amazing in your head. Until you realize the finished product looks like a raw hamburger patty or peanut butter slathered on a rice cake depending on which angle you look at it.

Today was one of those days. A “Pinterest Fail” if you will. I’m not saying these taste bad. On the contrary, they taste great. I wouldn’t share them with you if they tasted bad. It’s just they don’t look like a masterpiece.

When I saw the Rainbow Rice Krispie Pinwheels on Pinterest, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. My kids are not huge Fruity Pebbles fans but they do love Cocoa Krispies. I figured I would mix it up and make it a peanut butter and chocolate version. Who doesn’t like peanut butter and chocolate, right? Match made in dessert heaven.

It started out so great but about the time I started rolling the Rice Krispies into the log, I realized what it was going to look like. Even my husband was all “yeah, it does look like a stuffed cheeseburger. Now, I’m hungry for a cheeseburger.” Oh yeah, they are HUGE too!

Here’s how I got there…

Ingredients -

3 tbsp butter

10 oz pkg mini marshmallows

6 cups of Cocoa Krispie Cereal

Frosting -

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 TSP vanilla

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions -

1. Make your traditional Rice Krispie Treats with the Cocoa Krispies. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in Cocoa Krispies.

2. Spread out the Cocoa Krispie Treat mixture on a buttered jelly roll pan. (Baking sheet with edges). Let sit for 20 minutes on the counter while you make the frosting.

Looking good so far, right?!

3. Make the peanut butter frosting by blending all the frosting ingredients (peanut butter, butter, sugar and vanilla) together in a stand mixer.

4. Spread the frosting over the krispie treats. I would NOT use all of it. If I were you, I’d scrap it along the top so that there should be about 3/4 cup frosting left to save for another dessert. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips over the frosting. At this point, I still think I’m doing great!

5. Starting at one end, I rolled the Cocoa Krispies into a log.

This is where I realize that it is starting to look like a hamburger roll. Gah! Who knew that the color of the Cocoa Krispies and the marshmallow would give it that appearance?!?

Once I rolled the entire thing, I realized that maybe it would have been smarter to start the rolling with the longer side so that I could cut more pieces out and they would be smaller! You live and learn!

6. Once I rolled it into one HUGE log, I set it on a cutting board and cut it into pieces with a large knife. I was able to cut about 12 HUGE pieces.

Now, these aren’t bad (they are actually quite good!) but they aren’t pretty, and because of that, I consider them a “Pinterest Fail”. Maybe if I decide to make them again, I will use less frosting and definitely roll the krispie treats from the long side to make them smaller.

I was debating whether to even share this with you since they are a “Pinterest Fail” but I decided it was the right thing to do. I can’t always show you just the perfect recipes that turn out amazing. That gives you false hope that everything on Pinterest is super easy to make and you are a failure if you can’t make it work. Sometimes it just doesn’t work.

The post Chocolate Peanut Butter Krispie Pinwheels appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

They have now teamed up with expectant mother and actress, Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Bravado! Designs to donate $214,000 worth of nursing bras to mothers. Bravado! Designs are dedicated to providing expectant and nursing mothers with comfortable nursing bras, tanks, and other accessories to make this time in a woman’s life more comfortable. They stated

“This partnership with Jenna is an example of Bravado’s deep commitment to serving all women, helping to build their confidence as they embrace motherhood and nursing.”

And the actress is equally as thrilled about helping mothers with essential nursing bras. She recently said

“I am so grateful to Bravado! Designs and Baby Buggy for partnering with me to donate nursing bras through the Nurse Family Partnership. I am lucky to have the essential gear, not to mention the support of my husband, family and friends as I begin my motherhood and breastfeeding journey, I realize not all new moms are as fortunate.  Without proper resources, tools and the support of a strong community, breastfeeding and the whole of parenting an infant can seem impossible to many women.  It is a privilege to make this donation and help new mothers on their way.”

Here at Baby Gizmo, we think it’s wonderful when celebrities use their fame for great causes

The post Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Bravado Team Up To Help Mothers In Need appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

You see, IKEA is God’s gift to new parents. Technically, IKEA is God’s gift to anyone who has a home, it’s that fabulous. IKEA is modern, budget-friendly and the perfect place to gather staples for your little one’s space.

So, go ahead … add IKEA gift cards to your registry and get your shop on!

I’m a big supporter of purchasing baby basics in gender neutral colors and styles. It’s smart for future siblings, not to mention resale, and IKEA totally gets this train of thought. I mean, just look at these options:

SUNDVIK crib ($119) | One, I adore this color. Two, the price can’t be beat! Chic lines and the ability to transition into a toddler bed make this crib a win!

HEMNES dresser ($299) | Plenty of storage for your darling’s clothes and the top can easily double as a changing pad location.

EXPEDIT shelving unit ($159) | Oh the places this piece will go! First stop, nursery, next up, play room, then, back to the kiddos room and perhaps the living room one day down the road. Talk about a versatile investment! Don’t forget to add baskets (ranging from $5-$17 depending on the style).

POANG rocking chair ($199) | With a tall back and soft cushion, this rocker is the perfect landing place for early mornings and late nights.

TEJN faux sheepskin ($10) | Who wouldn’t want tummy time on this?

LEKA baby gym ($30) | Babies don’t need many toys, so make the ones you do get count for something. Baby gyms provide the perfect stimulation for developing hand-eye  coordination.

BEKVAM spice rack ($4) | Paint these puppies to match your color scheme and create a little reading corner.

You can’t wait to hit up IKEA, right? I mean, for less than $1,500 you’ll have a gorgeous, modern nursery with pieces that will grow with your family over the years. What’s not to love about that? Accessorize with your chosen color palette and patterns and just like that, your nursery space will be set for your little man or sweet lady’s arrival.

What did you do to keep your nursery budget in check? Share your tips and tricks!

The post Thanks IKEA! A Modern Nursery Without Breaking the Bank appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

My kids watch TV. Yep, I said it. They watch TV AND I let them. Now don’t get me wrong, they don’t watch TV every waking moment but I do allow them to watch kid-friendly shows at home as long as they get their homework done, spend some time running around outside and they do their chores.

I even let them watch TV and movies on the go! Gasp! Our iPad replaced our trusty DVD player a year ago and it travels with us on road trips, doctor’s offices and even meetings when my three-year-old has to come with me because babysitting fell through.

Whether at home or on-the-go, my kids are picky about what they like to watch. They won’t just watch any old show. It has to be one of their “favorites”, they want to see it from the beginning and they want to watch it when they want to watch it. Yes, kids are so high maintenance these days!

Enter Netflix.

We have been Netflix members for over 2 years and we absolutely love it. Dare I say, we couldn’t live without it? Okay, that is taking it a bit far but we LOVE it with a capital “L”.  When I discovered their iPhone and iPad app last years, I didn’t realize how much deeper my love for them could become.

I know I’m being over the top but you’d understand if you saw how it keeps my 3 year old quiet when I can quickly turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally on the iPad while I take a super important call with a TV producer. And when he tires of Mickey Mouse or it is over, he knows how to navigate the app so that he can quickly find two of his other favorite shows, Calliou and Curious George.

When we are at home, I love that the kids know how to turn on Netflix through our Wii and get right to the dedicated kids section that has all TV shows and movies that are appropriate for kids ages 2-12. It gives me piece of mind when they are in the “Netflix for Kids” section that they won’t accidentally turn on one of my husband and my favorite TV series that is either too scary or just not appropriate for kids.

Netflix isn’t just for kids either. When the kids go to bed at night, my husband and I catch up with all the fabulous TV series that we missed over the past few years when we were busy being exhausted from having kids. We are still exhausted but we can’t pull it together enough these days to watch a few TV episodes of amazing shows each night.

Plus one of the best things about our beloved Netflix is that it is only $7.99/month! Yeah, try getting that price for cable. Not. Gonna. Happen. AND that $7.99 includes access to all the same shows and movies on your smart devices such as your iPhone and iPad. Yes, you can watch all the great offering on your iPhone!!  I know, I know…super exciting. See why I am seriously so addicted to Netflix now?!?

Best. Thing. Ever.

What are you watching on TV with your family? Netflix has family favorites from Disney, Disney Jr., Hasbro, Cartoon Network and Dreamworks that are available to stream anytime, anywhere.

And streaming is easier than you think! Download the free app on your iPad, click on the Netflix app on any gaming device, go to the website on your computer – and you’re in business. Check it out here!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX. “Sponsored post” still means that everything in this post is honestly my thoughts, opinions and statements about Netflix. I would still tell you about them even if this wasn’t a sponsored post.

The post Netflix Saves My Sanity. Yes, Really! appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

Well, you are in for a treat because you get to see an inside look at what went on during those two days! Take a peek at the video below and count how many times you see those white sunglasses! And both times the BMW spun out on the wet track? Yep, BOTH times were ME! Ridiculous fun!

Disclosure: Thanks to Cooper Tire for inviting me to the Supermom Event. Even though my travel expenses were covered, all statements, opinions, and comments are my own. This was not a paid post but just a fun way to show you what went down that trip!

The post Racing Cars & Testing Tires with Cooper Tire (VIDEO) appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

It will retail for $499 and the optional 2nd seat is sold separately and is available in Silver or Black.

The post Baby Jogger Debuts Limited Edition City Select Stroller appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

My son just turned two and has shown a great interest in potty training (bless him). What am I going to do now that I won’t need my diaper bag anymore? Petunia Pickle Bottom has made that answer easy. Buy a Petunia Pickle Bottom handbag!

Yes, you read that right!Petunia Pickle Bottom has introduced a new line of handbags, the perfect answer to any fashionable mom who no longer needs to carry a diaper bag but still needs a purse.

Here are some facts on the new line-

The new line of handbags will be released in June under the name Petunia.

These gorgeous bags will come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and patterns.

While these bags will not have any of the diaper bag goodies like the wipes case and changing pad that their diaper bags come with, they will still have the signature Petunia Pickle Bottom look with gorgeous patterns similar to that of their diaper bags.

You can sign up for exclusive sneak peeks and an exact release date when you go to the handbags new site at www.handbags.petunia.com

Here are some fun sneak peek photos of the gorgeous new handbags that will be out for sale soon!

So tell me, will you be buying a Petunia handbag? Are you phasing out of the diaper bag and in need of a new handbag?

The post A Look At Petunia Pickle Bottom’s New Line Of Handbags appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

Then one day, I came across the Gerber Graduates Kiddy Cutlery Fork Set, by NUK, while out shopping.

They looked different from the other toddler forks we had tried, so I threw them into my cart. I also picked up a Kiddy Cutlery Spoon Set.

That night, I set plates of macaroni and cheese and peas in front of the boys and handed them their new forks. And suddenly, it was like a light bulb went off in their little heads. They easily speared their food and placed it into their mouths, even picking up and devouring individual peas. The next morning, I gave the boys their new spoons with their bowls of yogurt, and they had the same success. I went back to the store and stocked up on the utensils, and we haven’t turned back since. Even now that my boys are nearly two and have mastered eating with utensils, these remain the best ones for them. Here’s why:

1. The rubbery handles are soft and perfectly sized for little hands, making it easy for toddlers to hold them. I found that a lot of other toddler utensils had handles so skinny, my boys had trouble gripping them.
2. The stainless steel tines of the fork are not sharp enough to hurt kids, but are long enough to easily spear food. (My son, in fact, was picking up broken pieces of crackers with one of them.)
3. The spoons are deeper than adult spoons, making it easier for toddlers to scoop food and for the food to stay on the spoon. The spoons are also just the right size to fit into little mouths.
4. Since the forks and spoons have stainless steel tips, they look like adult utensils. This is a huge deal for my boys, who want to eat like grown-ups. They would refuse to eat with plastic utensils and instead whine and reach for our utensils, which were way too big for them to use.
5. The utensils are definitely helping the boys transition to adult utensils. Now if we go to a restaurant, the boys are able to use a salad fork or a teaspoon more easily because they’ve had such great practice with their NUK cutlery.
6. The utensils are dishwasher safe and still look brand new despite the tons of wash cycles I have put them through. And they are very sturdy! My boys have flung them onto the floor numerous times and they have come out unscathed.
7. They are inexpensive, averaging about $5.00 for a set of three. How could you go wrong?
8. They are BPA free!

NUK also has a Kiddy Cutlery Set that includes a fork, a spoon, and a knife.

I am going to wait until the boys are a little older to let them try using knives, but reviews I’ve read on various websites have shown that people love the knives just as much. They are not as sharp as adult knives, so they are safer for kids, yet they are sharp enough to cut soft foods.

The utensils come in blue, green, and pink, so you can stock up on a nice variety. Such simple products have truly saved mealtimes for my family. Go grab some and give them a try!

The post Product Review: NUK Gerber Graduates Kiddy Cutlery appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.