Home Made French Fries

I do not like buying frozen French Fries because I want to control the types and amount of vegetable oil used to make them. Some of the commercial French fries on the market contain surprisingly large amounts of oils. This is too bad because potatoes. by themselves, are not fattening and contain plenty of important nutrients.

A 5 1/2-ounce potato, about the size of a computer mouse, has 100 calories, no fat, 26 grams of carbohydrate and 3 grams of fiber. North Dakota State University nutritionist Julie Garden-Robinson says that potato also provides 21% of the daily recommendation for potassium and 45% of vitamin C, plus other nutrients.

She stresses that you should cCook potatoes in their skins and eat the skin or peel as thinly as possible because many of the nutrients are directly beneath the skin.

French Fries Your Way

One potato per person or one big for two people

Olive oil

Fresh ground pepper

Coarse salt

Dried red chili peppers (optional)

Oregano and thyme (optional)

Wash the potatoes. Do not peel. Cut out any blemishes.

Cut the potatoes in any style. Remember the thicker the piece, the longer it takes to cook.

For shoe string, cut into quarter inch thick slices along the length of the potato. Lay them flat and cut them in quarter-inch thick fries. For wedges, don't cut them so small.

For cubes, cut into quarter to half inch thick slices. Lay them flat and cut again. Then again along their length.

Wash off the excess starch on the potatoes. Pat dry. Put on a light coating of olive oil. Sprinkle with the pepper, salt and optional ingredients such as herbs or dry chili peppers and quickly combine them with your hands.

Spread on a large cookie tray and bak at 450 degrees F. After 10 or 15 minutes, turn the potatoes with spatula to help them brown on all sides. Serve when cooked to your liking.

It does not matter which type of potato you use. However, I like to cube the red ones and cook with them with the herbs. I like to turn the russets into shoe string and the yellow fleshed potatoes into wedges, using the dry chili peppers for flavor.

Home Made French Fries

Mouse A Cookie

Home Made French Fries

Home Made French Fries
Home Made French Fries

Mouse A Cookie

First Birthday Party Ideas For Baby Girls

As parents we want the very best for our children. And our children turning 1 years old is one of the most significant event in our little girl's life. We want them to cherish and treasure this event when they look back later in life.

Let's face it, time flies and before we know it our little girl is a grown up. Having good memories of our baby's first birthday will surely make us fulfilled. Let's start by organizing the things that you need to record and mark this important event of our baby's life.

Prepare your camera and camcorder to capture the moments. If you are into scrapbooking, put all the pictures, invitations, thank you notes, etc. to your scrapbook. Decorate your house depending on the party theme that you choose. Buy the necessary decors like balloons, piñatas, banners, streamers, confetti, etc. Use tablecloth, utensils, and dinnerware that match the theme of the party.

Prepare your guest list weeks or months in advance so no one gets left out. Depending on the theme of your party, you can search the web for the right images for your invitations. There are also many free printables that are available online. You can also hire the services of professionals to make your invitations. Once your invitations are ready, send them out two to three weeks prior to the party. Don't send the invitations when it is already very near the party date because your guests might have made other plans and commitments.

The birthday cake is also very important. The cake that you will have for your baby must ideally be based on the party theme. Depending on your theme, there are many recipes, cake pans, toppers that are available online.

If you are planning a birthday party for your baby girl's first birthday then you can choose from different well-known cartoons and famous characters for your theme. The first birthday party of your daughter need not be boring. Below are some of the birthday party themes that you can use for your child's first birthday:

Minnie Mouse
If you want a cute and lovable birthday party that is well-known and very feminine then a Minnie Mouse birthday party is a great choice for your daughter. The partner of Mickey Mouse, almost all kid know or have heard of this Disney character.

Yo Gabba Gabba
Nickelodeon's rising children TV show, Yo Gabba Gabba's characters are fun and cute at the same time. A Yo Gabba Gabba based birthday party is very ideals for children below the age of 5 and especially nice for a 1 year old. If you are to hire a DJ Lance Rock impersonator and Gabba mascots then the children will surely have lots of fun with this party theme.

Winnie The Pooh
The Winnie the Pooh themed birthday is ideal for baby girls. Winnie the Pooh is a Disney character that is well-loved by kids and adults alike. Winnie the Pooh together with his friends: Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, and Christopher Robin will surely make your daughter's first birthday truly memorable.

Alphabet
Let your baby have an alphabet themed birthday party. This party theme is very fitting for a first birthday party as your baby is just starting to learn her ABCs.

Sesame Street
This classic children's TV show is perfect for a 1 year old's birthday party. Sesame Street is an institution and well-known to children around the world. Host your Sesame Street birthday around the popular Sesame Street characters like Bert & Ernie, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Kermit. This party idea is great for both boys and girls alike.

Hello Kitty
One of the most popular character of the Sanrio family. Hello Kitty is a perfect birthday party theme for a 1 year old. This is a classic Japanese cartoon character that is still well-loved by its fans, young and old alike. A very feminine character that best fits a first birthday party for your baby girl.

Disney Princess
You can never go wrong with a Disney Princess themed birthday party. Among the more popular Disney princesses are Cinderella, Snow White, Princess Jasmine of Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, and Princess Ariel of The Little Mermaid. You can either choose one character for your daughters party theme or you can mix all of the Disney Princesses into one party.

Barnyard Animals
Another great party idea for girls are the barnyard animals theme. You can rent your local farm for the birthday party or you can recreate the barnyard atmosphere right in your own backyard.

First Birthday Party Ideas For Baby Girls

Mouse A Cookie

First Birthday Party Ideas For Baby Girls

First Birthday Party Ideas For Baby Girls
First Birthday Party Ideas For Baby Girls

Mouse A Cookie

Lalaloopsy Littles

Meet a new series of Button-eyed dolls - Lalaloopsy Littles. MGA Entertainment designed new cute dolls for their fans. Lalaloopsy Littles are young siblings of your favorite Lalaloopsy characters. They will be released in early December.

Little sisters of Lalaloopsy dolls are 10 inches high and look very close to their big sisters. For now there are only four toddler dolls to collect:

Sprinkle Spice Cookie the little sister of Crumbs Sugar Cookie Squirt Lil Top young sibling of Peanut Big Top Bundles Snuggle Stuff the young sister of Mittens Fluff and Stuff Specs Read-A-Lot little copy of Bea Spells-A-Lot

Littles are sewn from the same pieces of fabrics as their big sisters. That's why they have the same color hair, eyes, and they love to do what their big sisters love. Sprinkle Spice Cookie likes baking sweets like her old sister Crumbs. She also has pink hair and cute pink little dress with yellow apron. Squirt Lil Top the sister of Peanut loves dancing, joking, making focuses and help her sister arranging parties for their friends. Bundles Snuggle Stuff wears warm furry overall and loves ice-cream, snow flakes, skating and skiing she is a snow girl like her sister Mittens. Specs Read-A-Lot has orange hair, blue eyes and loves reading more than anything else. She and Bea reading together books all day long.

Lalaloopsy little sisters also have their own little pets and cute accessories. Bundles has a pet bear and ice-cream; Specs has a pet worm and glasses; Sprinkle has a pet mouse and baby bottle; and Squirt has her own pet and clown hat accessory. These dolls wear adorable outfits, and what's more designers created lots of different little dresses, overalls and capes for them, so girls can play dress up game with these toddler dolls. Lalaloopsy baby dolls are smaller than their big sisters, which make them more appropriate for little kids. Actually original dolls are too large for little hands. Also Littles are really cute and definitely are going to become popular among little and not so little girls.

Christmas is just around the corner and we all are looking for great gifts for little girls and boys. For this year 2011 you have so much toys to choose from, Squinkies, Xia Xia Pets, DaGeDar, Sing-A-Ma-Jigs, Zhu Fari Pets, Trashies, Barbie, Moxie, Monster High Dolls and now new Lalaloopsy Littles. I hope you've got an idea on your perfect present, good luck!

Lalaloopsy Littles

Mouse A Cookie

Lalaloopsy Littles

Lalaloopsy Littles
Lalaloopsy Littles

Mouse A Cookie

Kid Reading Activity - Books and Puppets

A fun kid reading activity includes acting out your story as it's read. Puppets are a wonderful way for kids to learn to enjoy books and reading. Just about every story and book can be used with puppets.

Books such as If You Gave a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone, Curious George by H.A. Rey are great stories to use. Other classics such as Aesop's Fables, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum are also fun to read and act out. The local library has an unlimited supply of children's books and stories to pick from. Bring several choices of books to the kids, and let them vote on their favorite book to use.

If you have a large group of kids, break up into smaller groups and select different books to read. Each group will make their puppets and act out the story for the other groups. Another idea is to create a "Puppet Club" and have kids sign up to participate. The "Puppet Club" can be offered in sessions throughout the year so everyone has a chance to join.

Once a book is selected, read the story first. After you read the story, talk about the characters in the book, discuss the plot, and message or moral of the story. Have the kids decide which character they would like to use to make a puppet. Another idea is to put the characters on a slip of paper, place in a hat or bag, and let the kids pick a character.

Paper bag puppets are easy and inexpensive to make. Provide white or brown paper bags, assorted paper such as construction, wrapping, tissue and crepe, scissors, glue and markers. Used socks, garden gloves, and spoons work great for puppets. If you have lots of time, create papiermache' marionettes. A cardboard box, paint and fabric makes a wonderful puppet stage.

Making puppets to go with children's stories creates a fun kid reading activity. This is an activity that kids will want to do over and over again!

Kid Reading Activity - Books and Puppets

Mouse A Cookie

Kid Reading Activity - Books and Puppets

Kid Reading Activity - Books and Puppets
Kid Reading Activity - Books and Puppets

Mouse A Cookie

Unique And Clever Cupcake Ideas

Cupcakes are a fantastic treat for dessert or a perfect snack for club meetings or parties of any sort. But unless you add a little flair, cupcakes can be a little boring. Fortunately, there are many great cupcake ideas to add a little flourish to these delicious goodies and spice up any gathering!

If you are making cupcakes for some sort of holiday gathering, consider cupcake ideas related to that specific holiday. For Halloween, try decorating cupcakes as pumpkins or ghosts. Christmas calls for Santa and reindeer heads or perhaps a "Christmas tree" formed of cupcake ornaments. Fourth of July can be celebrated with red and blue icing garnished with pearl sugar or white candy sprinkles to represent stars.

Valentine's Day could be commemorated with heart-themed icing designs, but if you really want something special, try making heart-shaped cupcakes. To do this, all you have to do is place a marble in each pocket of your cupcake tin so that two humps are formed at the top of the paper cupcake sleeve. Once baked, just decorate cupcakes appropriately with red, pink or other Valentine-themed icing!

If you need cupcake ideas for sporting events, consider choosing icing that matches team colors. Of course, it is also easy to make cupcakes that look like baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls or even hockey pucks. You might have to get creative with the icing to make footballs, but it can be done. You can also make cupcakes resemble football helmets for a rounder option if desired.

Another great theme for cupcake ideas is choosing a favorite cartoon character. Whether it is Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse or Garfield, decorating cupcakes as cartoons is easy. In a case like Mickey Mouse, try adding small cookies for the ears. Things like chocolate chips or gumdrops can often be used for eyes and noses. Have fun with the decorating so those enjoying the cupcakes will enjoy eating them.

Flowers are another great idea for making your cupcakes unique. Simply choose an appropriate color for the petals and swirl the icing in a proper pattern. Garnish by adding a few green leaves. Whether you prefer red roses for your sweetheart, yellow mums for your mother or purple tulips for your best friend, floral cupcakes are a breeze to design.

To make your cupcake ideas more exciting, consider making them three-dimensional. Use the icing to turn circles into spheres. This will make your designs stand out even more. Practically anything that can be designed as a circle can be expanded into a ball. Obviously it would work very well for sports balls, but it also fits cartoons and flowers and most any other creation as well.

Coming up with cupcake ideas is really only limited by your imagination. Practically anything from simple round shapes like golf balls and planets to more complex shapes like famous people and goofy characters can be represented on these tasty dessert treats. It is fun to be creative, so do not hold back. Run wild with these cupcake ideas or dream up some of your own!

Unique And Clever Cupcake Ideas

Mouse A Cookie

Unique And Clever Cupcake Ideas

Unique And Clever Cupcake Ideas
Unique And Clever Cupcake Ideas

Mouse A Cookie

Disney Wedding Favor Ideas

While some brides may dream of a traditional wedding, others dream of a Disney-themed ceremony. Fairy tales, talking animals, and happy endings grace the story lines of Walt Disney's many famous movies. Many couples feel that using Disney wedding favors is a great way to add a fun touch to their wedding receptions. Shower your guests with Disney gifts, and they will never forget how special your wedding ceremony was.

If you want to go zany with your Disney theme, consider choosing Alice in Wonderland favors. Recreate the tea party with the Mad Hatter by serving tea in large novelty mugs. Or, instead of using actual tea, give out tea mug candles to create a similar effect. Remember "We're painting the roses red!" as ordered by the Queen of Hearts? Hand out playing cards as wedding favors for a royal treat.

Classic and sweet, try Mickey and Minnie Mouse favors in chocolate. The popular mouse head shape is available in cookies and chocolates as well as cookie cutter for making your own creations. Decorate your sweet Disney treats with icing by making faces or writing your and your spouse's names. Present them on reception tables in glass serving dishes for an elegant look.

Great for fall weddings are delicious red apples. The apple is also a great Disney wedding favor because it symbolizes the story of Snow White. If your wedding tables are planned to be covered with white tablecloths, beautiful crimson apples will make a dramatic contrast that is very pleasing to the eye. Unlike the apple that Snow White bit into, your guests will be falling under a spell!

Perhaps the most common theme represented in Disney weddings is the story of Cinderella. This story involves magic, romance, and ends in a happy marriage. In short, it has the works. So naturally, many brides want to reflect these happy concepts in their own weddings. The carriage in which Cinderella was escorted to the ball in is often found in the form of candles, candle holders, and cake toppers. These are very elegant favors and will impress your guests. Another great wedding favor for your Cinderella wedding is the glass slipper. It is a representation of the bringing together of the Prince and Cinderella and therefore will make a sentimental favor for your guests.

Like the great Walt Disney world itself, bring the magic of castles to your wedding tables. Castle wedding favors are perfect fairytale symbols and their quality is elegant and attractive. By giving these unique wedding favors to your guests, they will always be reminded of your special day.

Disney Wedding Favor Ideas

Mouse A Cookie

Disney Wedding Favor Ideas

Disney Wedding Favor Ideas
Disney Wedding Favor Ideas

Mouse A Cookie

Magical Moments With Lalaloopsy for Your Little Princess

Christmas is coming and getting the right present for a little girl in such a short span of time can be quite a challenge. Anyway, any girl would love to receive a personal gift from the heart, and one of such popular gifts is perhaps the MGA Entertainment Lalaloopsy Dolls by Bitty Buttons. Lalaloopsy Dolls are cute, lovely rag dolls, created with different characters and personalities that will easily capture the heart of any little girl.

Adult female fans buy and collect these cute dolls to add colors to their cars and bedrooms. At about 7x5x13 inches, a Lalaloopsy doll weighs 3.2 pounds and is suitable for a child ages 6 and up. All Lalaloopsy Dolls come with their pet, a promise certificate and a collectible poster. The head and the hair are made of hard-wearing plastic so you do not have to worry about durability issues or brushing the hair every now and then. The head, arms and legs can be moved and turned, and they have wonderful vivid colors.

According to the story told by the manufacturer, Lalaloopsy Dolls magically come to live when the last stitches have been sewn. The dolls' personalities and hobbies are based on their specific fabrics, and they have pet friends that somehow correspond to their unique personalities. Take for example, the super-sweet Crumbs Sugar Cookie, which was made from a baker's apron. She loves treats and to make cookies and has a pet mouse, or the Pillow Featherbed, which was made from pieces of baby's blanket. She loves good stories, long naps and lots of snacks. Pillow Featherbed has a pet sheep as her companion. Additionally, Lalaloopsy Dolls have certain sewn dates each. Apparently, the manufacturer puts some thoughts in it too. For instance, Crumbs Sugar Cookie was sewn on December 4th, the National Cookie Day while Pillow Featherbed was sewn on January 3rd, the Festival of Sleep Day. Find which Lalaloopsy Dolls relates most to your little girl and let her bring the magic to live.

Here are the Lalaloopsy Dolls and their personalities to help you find one that suits your little girl most:

Bea Spells-a-Lot: This Lalaloopsy doll was made from a school girl's uniform. She loves to follow rules and talk and she has a pet owl. She was sewn on October 16th (Dictionary Day).

Crumbs Sugar Cookie: She was made from pieces of a baking apron. She has perfect manners and loves inviting friends over for tea. She has a pet mouse and she was sewn on December 4th (National Cookie Day).

Dot Starlight: She was made from a astronaut's space suit, thus she loves science. She has a pet bird and she was sewn on July 20th (the date of the first Man on the Moon).

Jewel Sparkles: Created from remnants of a real princess' dress, Jewel is graceful and loves to dance and wear sparkly clothes, even though she is a little bit bossy at times. She has a Persian cat and she was sewn on March 13th (Jewel Day).

Mittens Fluff 'N' Stuff: Made from pieces of an Eskimo's scarf, Mittens loves hot cocoa and snow fights, among others. She has a polar bear pet and she was sewn on December 21st (1st Day of Winter)

Peanut Big Top: Peanut Big Top was made from bright-colored clown costume. Being a silly prankster who can be clumsy sometimes, she loves to make people laugh and she has a pet elephant. Her sewn on date was April 1st (April fool's Day).

Pillow Featherbed: Created from pieces of a baby's blanket, Pillow loves good stories and long naps. Her favorite snack is milk and cookies and she has a pet sheep. Her sewn on date was January 3rd (Festival of Sleep Day).

Spot Splatter-Splash: Spot was made from a painter's overalls. Thus, she's creative, loves bright colors, and often makes big messes. Her pet is a zebra. Her sewn on date was October 25th (International Artist Day, also Picasso's birthday).

Product Features:

- Adorable rag dolls with different characters and personalities
- Cute pet animal that comes with each Lalaloopsy Doll
- Durable head and hair, movable arms and legs
- Each dolls come with a promise certificate and a collectible poster

Magical Moments With Lalaloopsy for Your Little Princess

Mouse A Cookie

Magical Moments With Lalaloopsy for Your Little Princess

Magical Moments With Lalaloopsy for Your Little Princess
Magical Moments With Lalaloopsy for Your Little Princess

Mouse A Cookie

The Importance of Owning a House

Owning a house is a great achievement in ones life. Owning a home is an increase in assets which you could use to apply for a huge and, invest to increase your income. Living in your own homestead feels good and more comfortable compared to a renter. Once you own a house, your minds become settled and you are able to join other members of the society in developments such as, voting and representing the society in various projects. You can cultivate the remaining space and use it for farming to to earn more money. For instance, you can plant tomatoes or green vegetables and sell them to various supermarkets.

After buying a house, you will become stable. Your children will also settle and concentrate in education without any interruption. When owning a home, kids tend to perform better compared to those of a renter especially when you vacate several times. Your children could get affected as they adopt themselves with the new places, teachers and also creating new friends making them lag behind academically.

You will be able to invest your money comfortably since there is no rent. For example, you could keep the money you spent on rent with the 401k which is tax free and create more money. Your home market value could appreciate and therefore earn yourself more money. You will feel more secured since there will be no more commitments and, fear of failing to pay the rent and being kicked out of the house.

However, you could put your home at risk of being sold once you fail to complete the payments. This could be a double tragedy since you could end up homeless and, your children could get affected especially if they are still in school. You will have to set some money aside for home maintenance and repair making you have more responsibility. Again, your home must be of certain standard value depending on where its situated.

The Importance of Owning a House

Mouse A Cookie

The Importance of Owning a House

The Importance of Owning a House
The Importance of Owning a House

Mouse A Cookie