Breaking news!  Certain Zoobie Pets are extinct!!!!  Did you know that Zoobie Pets are introducing new Zoobies and slowly making old ones extinct! 

***POALLU THE POLAR BEAR IS NOW EXTINCT*** From the cute embroidered paws, to the fluffy, thick fur, this extra-cuddly arctic roamer is sure to be the perfect teddy bear for any child. Bound to become your child’s best friend, Poallu is not only an adorable polar bear, but also a comfy pillow and super-soft blanket all in one. Perfect for road excursions or just cuddling in bed. Poallu also makes a perfect baby shower gift.

• Microbead stuffed head for ultimate squishibility
• Large, super-soft coral fleece blanket inside: 53″x34″
• 19.5″L
• 100% polyester
• Washing-Blanket: Machine wash, tumble dry. Outer pouch: spot wash (if machine washed, using a lingerie bag is recommended).
• Blanket zips off/on for easy washing.
• Two bottom hook-and-loop Velcro tabs gather Zoobie into animal shape.
• Recommended for ages 3 and up, but safely tested for all ages.

Did we mention that there are only 2 left?

Welcome to cyber monday at www.petiteposh.com.  Use coupon code cyber at check out for 12% off your entire order ( on orders over $30).  Our cyber monday coupon is valid today….on cyber monday!

Celebrations for Chanukah will be starting soon and I have been searching for something easy to make for the children in our family.  The traditional thing to do on Chanukah is to give money for the 8 days.  Our family does not give money (otherwise known as Chanukah gelt).  We also don’t give 8 gifts, one for each day of Chanukah. 

We do however, have a Chanukah party and give each child one gift.  I couldn’t find a gift that easy enough for me to make, unfortunately I am not that crafty.  What I did find was a lovely handmade pouch to put the gift in.  Of course….it is a Martha Stewart craft! 

Each year, children celebrating Hanukkah receive a small bag filled with gelt, the Yiddish word for money.

Tools and Materials
Velvet backed with fusible interfacing Rubber stamps

Hanukkah Gelt Bag How-To
1. Cut a piece of velvet measuring 5 by 15 inches. Fold it in half and sew a tight zigzag up both sides. Fold the top edge over twice and hem.

2. Select a rubber-stamp design. If you cannot find Hanukkah-appropriate rubber stamps, print out the template below and bring it to a rubber-stamp store to have one custom made. Turn the velvet pouch inside out and place the stamp inside. With a spritzer, spray the pouch where it will be embossed. Using an iron set on high, press the fabric for 30 seconds. Turn right-side out.

It only comes along every now and then and it is now here!!!!

All Hushamok baby hammocks are now on sale at http://www.petiteposh.com/shop/hushamok/ .

Use coupon code hush for 15% off the Hushamok baby hammock of your choice…but remember, this sale expires on November 25th or until supplies last.

15% off the Hushamok baby hammock at www.petiteposh.com.  Look under Parenting Essentials for the Hushamok baby hammock!

I think I must be one of the rare people that absolutely LOVES Christmas cake!  I have searched and tried various recipes, some good, some not so good.  This one is a wonderful recipe for Christmas Cake.

This cake is ideal for Christmas or other special occasions, and can be marzipaned and iced with royal or fondant icing. Make upto 2-3 months in advance.  

• 650g/1lb 7 oz dried mixed fruit (or a combination of currants, raisins and sultanas)
• 75g/3oz glace cherries (chopped)
• 50g flaked almonds (omit and use extra dried dried fruit for a nut free cake)
• Grated zest of 1/2 an orange and 1/2 a lemon
• 215g/7.5oz plain flour
• 1/2 tsp mixed spice
• 175g/6oz butter (softened)
• 175g/6oz sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2-3 tbsp brandy

Put the dried fruit, nuts and cherries in a large bowl.
Add the brandy (or use lemon or orange juice) and stir well.
Cover the bowl with cling film and leave overnight.

Next day, grease and line a 18cm/7″ round or 15cm/6″ square tin with a double thickness of grease proof paper.

In another bowl cream the butter and sugar together, then add the eggs, lemon/orange zest, flour and spice and mix well. 

Fold in the fruit and nuts and mix until well combined.

Spoon into the prepared tin and level off the mixture. 

Bake in a pre-heated oven 150C/Gas 2 for around 3 hours. Turn the oven down slightly for the last 30 minutes, if the cake starts to get too brown.

Test if the cake is cooked by sticking in a sharp knife or skewer. If it comes out clean then the cake is cooked.

Allow to cool in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack. When cold, wrap the cake tightly in a double layer of foil or clingfilm and store in an airtight box until needed.

Optional: ‘Feed’ the cake with extra brandy by pricking the surface with a skewer and spooning over a little more brandy. Repeat this every few weeks. Be sure to wrap the cake back up afterwards.

Have a “krafty kid”?  Here is a great new product that we just got in by the makers of all things krafty for kids! 

With the Kid Kraft Artist Easel with Paper Roll, young artists are free to let their imaginations run wild! Parents will love watching their kids create one masterpiece after another.

Features of this childrens art easel include:

• Chalkboard surface on one side and a dry erase surface on the flip side
• Wooden strips can hold paper firmly in place
• Made of wood
• Smart, sturdy construction
• Packaged with detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions  

When my granddaughter Maia was just a baby ( she is all of 15 months now I used to help my daughter bath her.  There was nothing better than bathing this beautiful  baby!  She loved her bath, never cried ( although I think that is because we bathed her in the spa baby tub) and I swear, even though she was just a few weeks old, smiled!

Having a mother with an online baby store really helped out when something was needed for bathing the baby.  My daughter had received a few hooded baby towels as gifts for the baby.  Some were of better quality than others.  She would take the wet baby out of the bath and Maia would get cold (no matter how warm the room was) and she would cry. 

I decided to practice what I had been preaching to my customers…..try the Kangaroo towel…you will love it!  I brought over a kangaroo towel, a uniquely designed hooded towel that the adult wears (literally wears), when the baby is ready to be taken out of the tub , you just slip him/her into the pouch and snuggle….hmmmmm, no better smell than a baby after a bath!

So, if you are looking for a great shower gift or a fabulous hooded towel for yourself, look no further!  The Kangaroo towel at petiteposh.com is the perfect hooded baby towel!

Today is coupon day at www.petiteposh.com !  Use coupon code news at check out for 10% off all orders over $30.00….even sale items!!!

Have fun shopping!!!!

I know I have said this before but I am saying it again!  Zoobies are great!  I just got in 4 of these limited edition Zoobies.  The Koala and Baby Kai Koala is, in my most humble opinion, THE cutest Zoobie around.

Khimba the Koala and Baby Kai Zoobie are what they used to call a “twofer”.  Mama Khimba the Koala Zoobie opens to a pillow and blanket.  While your little one is snuggling with Khimba baby Kai is just waiting to be held and cuddled also!

I don’t profess to be an expert on sibling rivalry but as a parent I have had my challenges.  Being a parent of 3 kids, a girl and twin boys has led me to believe that sibling rivalry comes in many shapes and forms.

“Mom….he’s in my stuff again”

“Mom….they are ganging up on me AGAIN!”

“Mom…I hate him/her/them”  and then every now and then there would be a

“Dad..she is making fun of me”

Each family has its own unique dynamics and handles sibling rivalry in its own way.   Whatever your family dynamics sibling rivalry can be stressful, frustrating and upsetting. Let’s face it, we all have dreams of our kids being best friends and supportive of each other.

Here are a few tips to help understand and ease the pain of sibling rivalry:

* each child has their own personality, temperament and disposition (including identical twins…mine included!), this causes them to clash every now and then

* Children have evolving needs, try to assert themselves and show they are the leader and strong one…and they love to have their own way!

* Don’t forget, kids are copycats!  Be a role model.  If they see you slamming doors and arguing to get your own way they will think this is the norm.  The easiest way to learn is to learn by example.

Now you ask yourself…what should I do when the fighting starts?  My experience has taught me that nothing works every time but here are some tried and true guidelines:

* Try not to get involved.  As difficult as this may be…and believe me I know, getting involved has consequences of its own.  You risk the chance of your involvement being interpreted as favoritism for one child or that you are protecting one child from the other

* Don’t try to figure out who is to blame, do try to help them calm down and think of ways to resolve the issue even if you have to separate them for a few minutes

* Help them to take time out until the emotions have died down and they can discuss a rational way to work things out.

* Make sure that each child has their own space which is to be respected by all, a space that they can play quietly or with other friends

Don’t forget that teaching your child to work things out is a life skill, one that will stay with him for the rest of his life.  Whether in the work place or at home, learning compromise and negotiation will prove to be priceless.

Patience, understanding and lots of luck…