And LeapFrog made me Ambassador!  I was so excited when LeapFrog asked me to be ambassador of their Summer Reading Program!  As Ambassador, I would be given the LeapFrog Tag Reading Systems to my local libraries, including some extra Tag Kits to handout to families!  (That’s another post, this one’s about the library;)

I chose to give the Tag Reading Systems to my boy’s school library, Highland ISD, and to my local hometown library, County-City Library of Nolan County.  When I called up Becky, the librarian, she was more than excited to receive these and was already spinning ideas around on how they would implement the systems into their library.

In order for my local library to get the entire book collection, I had to make a video with the librarian!  Becky, while a little shy, was more than happy to do this in order for the kids to get the entire book system!  And me?? Well, you know I don’t like to see myself like that but totally worth it for the kiddos!

LeapFrog’s goal with this program is to encourage reading and make it more fun so that the children want to learn.  I was able to handout the Tag and the Tag Junior Reading Systems and I know that your children will love them. Little man LOVES his!

Thank you Becky for letting me and LeapFrog into your library and the local community!  And thank you to LeapFrog for bringing such an awesome reading system to our kiddos!

Enjoy the video!

I’m sure many of you struggle with getting your kids to eat fresh, healthy vegetables.  In fact, I’m willing to be a lot of you give in to your child’s unwillingness to eat their vegetables which is a big no-no.  If you lead by example, it’s much easier to teach your children healthy eating habits.  If they see you eating at an early age, it will become habit.  BUT, there will times when a child will run screaming the other way at the sight of some brocolli.  I highly encourage you to keep offering your toddlers repeatedly.  Did you know that it can take a toddler up to 10 times to acquire a taste for a particular food?  Yep!  That’s why you keep trying.

BUT, if you still are having trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies, check out the Love Your Veggies website.  They offer some fun creative ideas to incorporate veggies into your every meal plan.  To get an idea of what you’ll see, I found one of my faves:

Bagel Smiles

You’ll need:
Whole wheat bagels
¼ cup Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® dressing*
¼ cup whipped cream cheese

Instructions:
Split bagels in half; lightly toast. Mix ranch dressing and cream cheese in small bowl; spread even amounts of mixture over each bagel half. Use imagination to assemble faces. Example: Cut American cheese into shape of hat, bell pepper strips for a scarf, raisins for eyes, shredded carrots or broccoli florets for hair.

Face Decoration Ideas:
American cheese slices
Asparagus spears
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Shredded carrots
Red bell peppers
Raisins
Broccoli florets
Canned beans (black, garbanzo, pinto)
Grape tomatoes

Sometimes making food fun can make all the difference.  And what I really love, is that kids can help you in most of the recipes, just like this one.

PARTICIPATE

Do you feel like spreadin’ a of your love for veggies?  If so, you can enter “The Search for Veggies Champions Contest”. Art Smith, author and celebrity chef to the likes of Oprah, knows the challenges parents face in encouraging their children to eat their vegetables, and that’s why he is looking for a few good moms – those devoted to getting their kids and their communities to love their veggies. To find them, Art has teamed with the makers of Hidden Valley ranch dressing to launch the Search for Veggie Champions Contest, which began Nov. 7, 2008 and closes on Jan. 15, 2009.

Ten lucky moms will be chosen to attend an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago to learn from Art himself fun and exciting ways to help their children love their veggies from plant to plate, as well as a $5,000 grant to put toward their own community garden.

Moms can complete an entry application here.   On the site, you’ll also find kid-friendly recipes, tips and interactive activities for the whole family.

Now over to you!

Would love to hear some creative ideas on how you get your children to eat their vegetables!!

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