So the weather is getting a bit colder outside, and it’s taking more than the promise of a warm day at the beach or park to get your kids to go outside?

Times like these call for special adventures that will get the whole family itching to put on that coat and hat and get out into the fresh air—even if that air is decidedly frigid. And what else gets kids as excited as the promise of a treasure hunt? From low-prep to high-tech, here are three ideas for adventurous family fun that will get kids (and grown-ups) of all ages rushing out the door:

Scavenger Hunts. You don’t need any special equipment or much planning to pull off a scavenger hunt. You don’t even have to leave your yard! Read this clever tutorial for creating a toddler scavenger hunt (could be easily modified for bigger kids) at United Teaching, and check out the awesom glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt this mom blogger created for her daughter’s birthday party! Continue reading…

Halloween is right around the corner, do your kids have a costume yet? If they do or even if you have pictures from Halloween’s past come on over to our Facebook page to enter our Halloween giveaway!

Grand Prize: $500 Target gift card and $50 worth of Mott’s products!
2nd Prize: $200 Target gift card and $20 worth of Mott’s products!
3rd Prize: Mott’s coupons totaling $30

Contest ends November 6th so get busy entering!

Good luck!

Autumn is definitely here. Even though today was sunny and almost warm, there’s a crispness in the air and a crackle underfoot as the first of the leaves begin to accumulate on the ground.

This time of year is my favorite (with late spring being a close runner-up). I was thinking today about how much time my mother and I spent outdoors at this time of year when I was a kid, and the sights, tastes and smells that instantly take me back. I love that some of those same sights, tastes and smells will one day bring my children back to the time we spend together at this time of year.

Here are some of my instant autumn memory-triggers:

Sights:
the brilliant golds, reds, and oranges of leaves changing color on the trees
piles of bumpy, ugly gourds
soft fuzzy sweaters

Smells:
a fresh Mcintosh apple
pumpkin guts
spiced cider
leaves on the ground. (Oh I love that smell!)

Tastes:
that first taste of the first McIntosh apple of the season
warm homemade applesauce (I sometimes cheat and make it by heating up jarred applesauce on the stovetop and adding spices)
pumpkin pie

What sounds, smells, tastes, or sights instantly remind you of the fall? Are you making a point to make your childhood autumn memories into great autumn memories for your kids, too?

Photo credit: bowlingranny from morguefile.com

Missy Chase Lapine, aka the Sneaky Chef, provided her favorite back-to-school simple recipes featuring Mott’s applesauce and juice. Mott’s products are Missy’s super sneaky ingredient because they’re an easy way to get kids servings of real fruit. Check out the video!

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When it comes to table manners, I am a die-hard supporter and I have some firm opinions on the matter. Manners are a must in my house, and I love the way it’s influencing my kids to be good guests in other homes, restaurants and settings. Are they perfect? Definitely not, but who is? But they also aren’t the kids yelling, screaming and making a scene anywhere. They just know better.

I am certain that my devotion to manners comes from how I was  raised. As a child, I knew the rules and, for the most part, followed them without thinking. Understanding the concept of manners has come in handy in my adult life. On the first day of my first semester at Barnard College, I dined with the president of the college. To be eating with someone so important to my education was nerve-wracking, to say the least. But I knew how to act in that scenario, so there was no added self-consciousness about how I was behaving … only that I would make a good impression.

Right now, someone, somewhere is saying, “Oh please, does this really matter? Who cares if you know the right fork to use?!?” It does matter. When it comes to important dinners and lunches, having good manners mean that how you sit and eat blends into the background and it’s your conversation that gets noticed. On the otherhand, if you have bad manners, that can overshadow anything you say at all. Talk about a bad impression … and really, would you rather be remembered for your excellent commentary on the state of health care reform or unseemly noises you made while you chewed your steak?

So parents, I encourage you. No matter how you were raised, it’s time to raise the bar on manners in your home so that your kids can go out in the world confident and certain in any eating situation. They will be better off for it.

My Top 5 Table Manner Rules

1. Wait for everyone to be served before eating.

2. Do not leave the table unless you’ve been excused or politely excused yourself.

3. No talking with your mouth full.

4. Do not touch your food with your fingers (unless it’s a finger food like corn on the cob)

5. Pause between bites — meals are not a race