Inside “How Does the Show Go On? you will learn all types of things about the theater and of course there are hidden gems such as a broadway ticket enclosed in a small envelope. On the opposite page is a little diagram that actually explains all that information on the ticket. I don’t know about you but I use to have a really hard time finding which section I was suppose to sit in. There is a Playbill on page 29, for those that don’t know this is the program you are given when you first walk in so you know who is playing and the different acts that will be shown. There are copies of scripts and scenes, stage notes, a sketches & swatches booklet, etc. My kids loved the before and after shots of the actors/actresses that played various characters. This book is jammed packed with information that you can think up or not even think up. I think this book gives two thumbs up as it has so much information and pictures to go with everything.

IMG: Disney.com

That’s not the only thing Disney has to offer, head on over to the Disneyonbroadway.com/giftshop and check them out. You will discover they have a Mary Poppins musical snowglobe, which I’ve already told the hubby I want. In the snowglobe you’ll see a large version of Mary Poppins with her umbrella taking her up into the sky and when you shake it stars twirl around her.  The song it plays is Chim, Chim Cher-ee, this cost $40.50. This would go perfect with the Mary Poppins movie too.

Of course no holiday guide would be complete without a list of Christmas ornaments correct? We all know the kids, as well as the adults love to put ornaments on the tree, especially when they

IMG: Disney.com

bring them memories. Disney also has Lion King’s Simba and Scar ornaments, which actually look like the masks that were worn on the Broadway play. Oh and if you have your heart set on Mary Poppins you can get her famous parrot shaped umbrella to hang on your tree. $20 each for the ornaments

Post from: Blisstree

Disney’s Holiday Guide For Kids and Adults

Image: sxc.hu

Yes, the first Thanksgiving, from which this  holiday of thankfulness originated, took place in Plymouth, MA.

However, it wasn’t celebrated nationally until Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of “Godey’s Lady’s Book,” decided that Thanksgiving should become a national holiday. She initiated a campaign to have a day in late fall set aside for us to give thanks for our harvests and many blessings.

From 1846 to 1863, she wrote letters to presidents, governors, and any influential people she could think of. Many editorials appeared in her magazine, urging the recognition of this celebration as a holiday.

Finally President Abraham Lincoln listened to Mrs. Hale. He decided that a day of thanksgiving in autumn also might help create harmony in the nation midst the Civil War.

In 1863, he declared Thanksgiving Day would be the last Thursday in November.  In 1941, Congress passed a resolution which changed Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday of that month. Since then, the fourth Thursday, which sometimes is the last one, has officially been Thanksgiving.

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Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday

Tonight I decided to introduce my children to a new meal, I’ve come across a few tips for you:

IMG: Elizabeth Ferree

Tips to Introducing New Foods:

1.  Make sure it isn’t too spicy. Tonight I made chili with actual fresh chilis in it, apparently it made it a bit too spicy for my kids. They could not eat it.

2.  Be prepared. Be prepared that your kids may not take to the new meal. You may want to have a side dish or a second meal just in case this one isn’t approved by your kids.

3.  Leave Your feelings at the door. When it comes to kids they will be completely honest with you. If your kids don’t like the way it tastes they will either make a face, try to hide the food or simply tell you. Oh and if it looks nasty or like something that came from a dog they will let you know.

Post from: Blisstree

Introducing New Foods to Your Kids

This old Fannie Farmer cookbook was actually my father’s mother’s book. She died, ironically, on Christmas Day when I was a wee kid, but judging from the photos I’ve seen of her, I’m sure she would have enjoyed having a cup or two of the Walker family nog.

There is a science to this egg nog recipe. For starters, it uses raw eggs. I remember when I was a kid and it was OK to lick the cake batter out of the bowl without someone freaking out about salmonella poisoning. I’m not sure what happened to eggs between now and then. But my father, the immunologist, says that the alcohol in our egg nog is enough to kill just about anything in its path. Honestly, this recipe uses enough booze that even my family would warn guests not to smoke near it.

The other odd thing is that this recipe is to be made a week before it is consumed and “store in cool cellar.” We live in Alabama. Our cellar holds wine and is climate controlled, otherwise it would be about 75 degrees this time of year. But, the refrigerator is a fair substitute. And we make room.

I have had two different excellent chefs taste the Walker Family Egg Nog and they both agreed with anyone else who has ever been brave enough to try it. It is excellent. And for those skittish few out there – not a single person has come down with salmonella or any other illness from consuming the raw eggs in this nog. (Think Rocky Balboa in Rocky, the first one.) As for alcohol poisoning, well, I can’t vouch for that.

I’m going to share this recipe, and you’ll thank me if you try it. (I’m not going to type it in because that’s probably a copyright issue. So I’ll just shoot the page.) But if you really want to thank me, then you can visit BlissMom.com after Dec. 1, because at the end of the month I’ll be moving on from the glorious BlissTree. Bittersweet. Meantime, let’s toast to this, the best egg nog recipe you will every try.

Photos, JWJourney

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Best Egg Nog Recipe in the World!

family fun image: sxc.hu

We as parents and grandparents can do much top open up a non-electronic world to supplement the electronic experiences.

• Science experiments
• Hikes
•  Nature walks nearby
• Arts and crafts
• Acting out books and stories
• Family fun nights
• Family cooking competitions
• Reading aloud
• Storytelling

I think of the pleasures of my childhood and my daughter’s before there were so many electronics.  Recapture this family fun and closeness as we interact together.

What do you and your family do that’s non-electronic?

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Are Our Children Consumed by Electronics?

IMG: amazon.com

What is it with kids not wanting to wear a jacket when it is freezing cold outside? Today for instance, it is suppose to snow this afternoon, my son (he’s 12) goes to pick up his siblings from the bus stop and I quickly look out the window to discover he’s kicking a soccerball around outside with NO JACKET on. Of course this sets me off, does the kid want pneumonia or something? I’ve been sick for 3 weeks, I guarantee he does NOT want this. Yet he doesn’t understand why I get upset.

Please tell me someone else goes through this and it isn’t just me. Do you have a secret remedy? I’m sure even if they have a jacket on once they leave they probably shove it in their backpack once out of sight. Ugh, I give up.

Post from: Blisstree

Making Kids Wear Jackets

Recipes & Memories Image: sxc.hu

The kitchen filled with smoke and the meal wasn’t gourmet by any means. However, as my daughter (her cousin) responded, “At least they tried! That was something.”

Perhaps the boys will give another try if Mother is patient, She’ll have kitchen helpers and sons who can prepare their meals when they’re on their own. Also, my niece will have this as one of those memories to share in years to come.

Why not write down some of these memories about your cooking and your children’s attempts? Also, compile memories about family gatherings and holiday meals. These all mean so much in future years and to future generations. They become part of your family heritage.  Along with this, collect and save family recipes.

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Saving Kids’ Cooking Memories

IMG: Sxc.hu

Simple, they don’t want to pay the ridiculous late fees that come with it. Recently my own daughter ended up bringing home a note that told us she’d missed two library days because she hadn’t returned her book. Funny thing was we had no clue. We can’t exactly know what’s going on at school if we aren’t informed.

We were finally sent a note stating this and then a week later a note from the school library telling us she could no longer check out books unless she returned them. Further it stated if we could not find said book we could pay a fine, only there was no mention of how much it cost. We searched everywhere for the book but we couldn’t find it with the name of the author they gave, later we would find the book but wrong author. Apparently they had the wrong author in the system, but we did have the right book. So the case of the missing book has finally been solved.

Today I read that an anonymous person returned two very late library books with a $1000 money order for the late fees. The books were said to have been lost back in 1959 when the person’s family immediately moved and the books were accidentally packed away. However, even though it has been 50 years, they were returned. Talk about a responsible person.

Have you ever had late fees from the library?

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School Library and Overdue Late Fees

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They never really had that special toy, I even tried to go as far as make them have a favorite blanket. But once again as long as they had a blanket they were fine.

When it came to pacifiers that didn’t work, the only one that took one was my second child and that was because I introduced her because I knew I was going on a flight and her ears would pop. She was done with the pacifier a month later.

Truth is this is one area I have no clue on. I’d love it if one of my readers could give their input. I have heard some say that taking away a blankie could be a horrible thing, while others state you do it right away.

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Mail Call: When To Give Up the Blankie

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Do you ever notice how children respond to a smile?  Even a baby who, you think, is too young to really notice people.  Smile, and so often the child will smile back at you, perhaps wave its arms and make sounds if it hasn’t learned, “Hi.”

I’ve often wondered what’s in the power of a smile that a tiny tot will respond.  What  if your whole family begins to smile?  What would that mean to the attitude of your home?

It’s difficult to be angry if you’re truly smiling.  Often this dissolves into giggles.

What about trying a campaign of smiles with your family, your friends and even the strangers you meet?  Teach your children the power of a smile.

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The Power of a Smile