Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

I take a Mommy & Me class with my youngest at our preschool and they have seriously the BEST play dough I have ever experienced!  The secret ingredient is peppermint extract that makes the play dough smell minty and lovely! It is such a hit with the moms and kids, that the teacher gave us her recipe along with a great holiday gift idea for little ones.

This was my first attempt at making my own play dough, and I have to say it was very easy and so fun!

Peppermint Play Dough Recipe: 

* 2 Cups White Flour

* Liquid Water Color or Food Coloring (as much as needed to get the color you want)

* 1/2 Cup Salt

* 3 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar (This was hard to find, I never saw it before. It was in the area with the salt and looks like baking powder.)

* 2 Tablespoons of Vegetable Oil

* 1 Tablespoon Peppermint Extract (Optional – but this is what makes it smell SO good!)

Ready, set, make!

1. Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large bowl with a whisk.

2. Add 2 cups of water and your coloring of choice to get desired color.

3. Mix well with a wisk.

4. Add vegetable oil and peppermint extract.

5. Mix well with a wisk, then stir/smooth batter with a soft spoon or  spatula.

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This is a great gift idea for any of you looking for a last minute gift this week! The Thomas & Friends Sodor Search and Rescue play set has provided hours and hours of fun in our house!

I have two girls, and it is not intentional, but we honestly do not have many traditional “boy” toys like trucks, cars or trains.

So when the folks at Mega Bloks contacted me about doing a review of one of their products, the Thomas and Friends Sodor Search and Rescue, I thought, “it’s about time we have a toy like this for the girls to enjoy!”

It is a GREAT toy, and reasonably priced at $29.99. This set would make for a great gift idea for any little one (boy OR girl) 3 and older on your list.

It comes in a handy carry case which doubles as a building platform.  I love a toy that has dual purpose, and it is great to have an easy place to store the little parts.

The set includes different accessories like opening doors, a track switch and a working crane as well as Thomas and Harold buildable characters.

It took some time, but both my girls figured out how to put it together.  I think my husband also secretly loves assembling it too.

www.MegaBloks.com

Join the Mega Bloks Family Club to stay up to date on the latest and greatest toys for all ages.  And right now, they have a Holiday Toy Giveaway going on where you can enter to win a new toy daily! Click here for more info.

[Disclosure: I received a complimentary Thomas and Friends Sodor and Rescue play set to facilitate this review. Thank you!]

Since it ’tis the season of giving, I wanted to put together a green holiday gift guide for all those eco mamas out there!

So I asked Giselle Baturay, owner of Granola Babies and an expert in all things eco-friendly for parents and babies, to give me her top holiday gift picks. Here they are! 

The Ergo Baby Carrier is a favorite for dads since it’s easy to put on, has a sporty look and is very comfortable to use with babies and toddlers.

The Keptin Jr series of teething toys are made of organic cotton so you can feel good knowing that your baby is mouthing only natural toys.

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The car is too quiet.

No one is demanding a different song on the CD. No one is asking for a snack. What is going on?

I am in the Mission Viejo Kaleidoscope center parking structure. As I wind up, I automatically think, “Am I going to Jump N’ Jammin? Did I pack a change of clothes in case newly potty-trained Morgan needs them?”

But wait, no one is in the car except ME.

When I pull into the Level 5 parking lot, I see the lovely doors and the gold BW sign calling to me…whispering….no one needs you for a few hours…relax…unwind…breathe. I remember why I am there, I open the doors and exhale.

Welcome to Burke Williams Day Spa, an idyllic suburban retreat where OC moms can escape and enjoy some well-deserved time to do nothing but focus on yourself. Imagine that!

I had the pleasure of going last Friday afternoon and got four solid hours of relaxation to enjoy every aspect of the lovely Burke Williams Mission Viejo.

From the moment you enter the elegant foyer, the soft lighting and soothing music transport you to another world.

The facility is spacious and heavenly.

Prior to your treatment you can enjoy amazing amenities like the steam room, sauna, expansive jacquzzi and cool mist room.

[Photo credit: Burke Williams]

No cell phones, cameras or computers allowed. Turn ‘em off and leave ‘em in the locker. It is a time to unplug and reconnect in a different way.

What impressed me the most about Burke Williams were the details!

To me, it’s the little things that all add up to make a seriously phenomenal experience. It seems like Burke Williams is committed to making your stay as comfortable as possible.  Let me tell you my favorites…

My floor length locker, cozy hooded bath robe, full size bath sheets, hair ties, toothbrush & toothpaste available on request, geranium & mint infused washcloths, bathing suit bags, products galore, fresh water & lemonade…pretty much anything you would need to make your pampering day just all around delightful.

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Growing up I was not much of a cartoon watcher, but the one cartoon I never missed on Saturday mornings was The Smurfs™. So when the Sony Pictures Animation film, The Smurfs™, came out this year it made me very nostalgic and happy my little ones could now enjoy these cute little blue creatures too!

Exciting news, The Smurfs™ is now available (starting today) on Blu-ray™ 3D, DVD, digital, and also a limited edition 3-Disc Holiday Gift Set which includes Blu-ray™ + DVD + a new mini-movie, The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol DVD just in time for the holidays. Such a great holiday gift idea.

As luck would have it, thanks to the super sweet folks over at Sony, I have one of these Holiday Gift Sets and a few other Smurf-alicious goodies to give away, so please make sure to enter below.

The film is about the Smurfs™ adventures when the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs™ out of their village and into a whole new world (ours!) smack into the middle of Central Park.

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