Having said that, and just as in the case with stay-at-home moms, there are many benefits to being a stay at home dad, such as being involved in the day-to-day lived realities of your children, having the opportunity to take time off to explore new career paths, or learning new things about yourself and your wife.

Being a stay-at-home dad can be tough, but it’s not impossible. Here are some tips on how to be a stay at home dad and love every moment of it.

Get male support. Stay-at-home moms and stay-at-home dads are similar, but, again, they are different. To talk about the challenges you’re facing as a dad or about your triumphs as a parent, consider, getting to know other men who are also stay at home dads. Online support is nice, but it doesn’t beat interacting with real dads face to face.

Get out and involved in your community. To stay connected to both yourself and your community, as a stay at home dad, it’s important that you make time to leave the house. Maybe go for a walk around the block with your children or attend a story time at the library. Whatever you do, be sure to include some “out-of-the-house” time for each day.

Make time for yourself. It’s easy, as a stay-at-home parent, to lose sight of your goals, ambitions, and interests since so much of your day-to-day reality is spent caring, nurturing, supporting others. And that’s why it’s imperative that you do something each day just for you. Whether reading or writing or exercising, schedule some time in and get it done!

Keep a flexible, daily routine. Having a routine is different than clock-watching. It means that each day, you (and your kids) have an idea of what to expect as the day progresses. So, for instance, maybe after breakfast, it’s in your routine to go to the park. This, or having a routine, will help you better fit in your “me” time and will help regulate your children’s eating and sleeping schedules.

Most importantly, remember that you are important and valuable and a contributing part of society. With some planning and some time at this, you’ll find your groove and stay-at-home dad-ing will be smooth sailing.

Any stay at home dads out there with any tips to share?

Summer is here, and along with it come along some delicious fruits, one of my favorites being mangoes. With their unique flavor, not only are they tasty but they are full of vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin A and potassium. My 19 month old and I love to share a mango as a healthy dessert, although the first time she tried it, she wasn’t impressed. The next time I sat down to eat one, she was right there eating away with me, and now she points and says “man-o” (toddler speak for “gimme some”). So here are some fun and mouth-watering recipes that are perfect for the family during these mango-filled months.

1. Mango and Cream Dessert

This Mango and Cream dessert from ecurry combines the delicious tastes of mangoes, cream and pistachios in layers of richness in a glass. My mouth is watering and we’re only at number 1.

Photo credit: ecurry

2. Mango Upside-Down Cake

Having a party but want to bake something a little different? Try this Mango Upside-Down Cake from the BBC Good Food Guide and your guests are sure to be pleased. It’s light and easy to bake, with a touch of fruity flavor.

Photo credit: BBC Good Food

3. Mango Blackberry Yogurt Pops

Summer simply isn’t the same without some kind of popsicle, and AmberLee at Giver’s Log has created this great recipe for Mango Blackberry Yogurt pops as healthy alternative to chocolate chip cookies for the kids. A must try!

Photo credit: Giver's Log

4. Creamy Mango Smoothies

Nothing is quick to make but more filling than a smoothie, so for on-the-go mango freshness, try blending these Creamy Mango Smoothies.

Photo credit: Recipes.com

5. Honey Mango Pie

This recipe by Mike Mulligan for Honey Mango Pie looks like a real winner, as it combines the unique flavor of mangoes with a little honey. Just puree the mangoes with the rest of the ingredients, pour into the crust, bake and you’re done!

Photo credit: Mike's Table

6. Mango Breakfast Crepes

Instead of the usual plain mango for breakfast, why not try these light Mango Breakfast Crepes by Tasty Treats?

Photo credit: Tasty Treats

7. Mango Salad with Black Beans, Avocado, Mint and Chile-Lime Vinaigrette

A perfect summer snack or side would be this Mango Salad with Black Beans, Avocado, Mint and Chile-Lime Vinaigrette full of vitamins and goodness with a tangy chile-lime dressing.

Photo credit: Kalyn's Kitchen

8. Mango Ice Cream

Of course this post wouldn’t be complete without Mango Ice Cream!Try this simple recipe from Munaty Cooking, perfect to cool you down on a hot summer’s day.

Photo credit: Munaty Cooking

9. Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa

Looking for an interesting new flavor for your salsa? Try some mangoes! This Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa has got 5/5 stars from 604 reviews on All Recipes. That’s pretty impressive and definitely says you can’t go wrong!

Photo credit: Ellen Phant

10. Red Mango Mouse and Berry Parfait

If you like mangoes, I bet you love berries, so why not combine the two and make this Red Mango and Berry Parfait by G Living? The layers of delicious nutrition will work as a dessert or breakfast, and leave you feeling full and in fruit heaven.

Photo credit: G Living

I wanted to let you know that they are having a huge Memorial Day Sale that has already started. 5 pairs of select BabyLegs for $25!  That is a great deal! BabyLegs leg warmers are usually $12 each so getting them for $5 is a steal. It’s not every color and pattern that they carry but there are quite a few to choose from.

Hurry because the sale ends 5/28/12 and the best patterns always sell out. Just go HERE and use the code “RWB50“.

To make a potentially long and gross story short, after a lot of trial and error and rashes, I stopped cloth diapering and went to disposables. And she never had a rash again.

I was happy with disposables, but then when my second daughter was born and with the cloth diapers I had from my first sitting idly in her closet, crammed between her dresser and the wall, I decided to “give it another go.”

I’ve been cloth diapering now for almost three months. With my second daughter, I cloth diaper full time during the day and sometimes at night.

So far, we haven’t had any rash episodes (fingers crossed). Through my experiences with cloth diapers and rashes, I know that the most common variables leading to rashes are excessive moisture, inadequate or insufficient wash routine, detergent buildup, detergent ineffectiveness, etc.

So, in cloth diapering my baby, I keep each of these variables in mind and I do all of the following to prevent rashes:

Let her lay/crawl around naked. Usually, I’ll just place some pre-folds or towels beneath her and let her hang out awhile. This is sometimes messy, but I do it because it lets her bottom air out.

Only buy non-irritating wipes. Some mainstream wipes contain potentially irritating dyes and chemicals that can dry out your baby’s bottom. When buying wipes, I always go for the ones that are fragrance free and as free of irritating chemicals as possible. Or, as an alternative, and when I don’t feel like spending the money, I wipe her with a cloth wipe with water and a bit of mild soap (I prefer Dove for Sensitive skin).

Change her diaper often. In my experience, cloth diapers must be changed more frequently than disposables. This is just my experience, however. With my daughter, I change her as soon as she soils her diaper (usually every 2 hours). This is particularly important since she is now eating some solids.

Evaluate my wash routine often. About two months ago, I was doing a cold rinse, a normal wash, and a cold rinse. Now, and after too many smelly diapers, I’ve been doing a Normal cold wash (sans detergent), a Normal hot wash (with detergent), and a Normal cold wash (sans detergent).

Check my detergent. I tried natural detergents with my first daughter but didn’t have much luck. Now, I use regular Tide. That keeps my diapers clean and my baby’s bottom happy. Sometimes, if a detergent is too harsh, it can dry out your babies skin. When choosing a natural detergent (or any detergent for that matter), be sure to do a double rinse.

Unless I’m using a diaper liner, I use a cloth diaper approved balm or cream at night. There are a number of great diaper rash balms and creams on the market currently. One of my favorites that I use on the occasions I decide to cloth diaper my baby overnight is Angel Baby Bottom Balm.

And lastly, be flexible. I’m a cloth diapering mom who supplements with disposables on most nights with my baby because I know that’s what works for us.

 Note: If your baby is getting chronic rashes and you’ve tried all of the above tactics, consider getting your pediatrician involved. They can test for food allergies to see if there’s something else that’s causing the rashes in your child.

Cloth diapering parents: How do you prevent diaper rashes when using cloth diapers?

But with some time and creativity, I managed to create a large repertoire of fun and healthy snacks for my toddler. This list contains 30 of my “go-to” snacks. Along with being fun and easy for her to manage, these snacks were designed to ensure that she is getting as much nutrition as possible with each snack.

1. Cheeses- Mozzarella string cheese or cubed pieces of yellow or white cheddar
2. Whole grain tortilla chips with homemade salsa
3. Frozen bananas- Dip a banana in yogurt, roll it in crushed cereal, and freeze it for a tasty frozen snack
4. Cottage cheese- Serve with fruit
5. Cucumbers- Slice and serve with a low-fat, all natural salad dressing
6.  Whole grain toast- Cut into manageable pieces and serve topped with cheese, unsalted butter, or another topping
7. Tortilla Roll-Ups- Roll up chicken or turkey or just cheese into a whole grain tortilla. Cut into bite-sized potions that are easily manageable by toddlers
8. Sweet Potatoes fries- These can be purchased in the store, or you can make them at home by just cutting up a sweet potato into fries and baking in the oven, sprinkled lightly with sea salt
9. Nori- This is a dry sea vegetable commonly used in Sushi. My toddler loves it because it’s salty.
10. Olives- Pitted and sliced make a great, salty snack that your toddler may love
11. Dry cereals- Whole grain cheerios are my toddler’s favorite
12. Rice cakes- Serve plain or consider adding Nutella, peanut butter, or almond butter on top for added flavor.
13. Popcorn
14. Snap Pea Crisps
15. Toasted English muffins- Serve with a peanut or almond butter dip or with pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese
16. Tofu- Buy the extra firm variety, freeze, and then saute in light oil and spices for a protein dense afternoon snack
17. Fish cakes – Salmon or Haddock
18. Medjool dates. Remove the pit and cut into smaller pieces
19. Sesame sticks- These can be found at most health food stores and are made in many varieties (i.e. plain, honey flavored, Cajun flavored)
20. Dried fruits- Most parents start with raisins, but give other fruits, like bananas, apricots, cranberries, blueberries, apples, and mangoes a try, too.
21. Steamed vegetables- My toddler’s favorites are broccoli and carrots.
22. Hard boiled eggs- Serve whole or cut into slices
23. Avocado slices
24. Nuts – Brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, or walnuts
25. Salt-less pretzels- Pair with a dip like peanut or almond butter
26. Cooked legumes- Chickpeas, kidney beans, red beans, etc. Just sprinkle with some spices like paprika, cumin, or garlic powder. If you go with canned legumes, be sure to rinse the beans in water first to remove all the extra salt.
27. Celery with peanut or almond butter spread on top
28. Yogurt. (Rather than the sugary kind of yogurt marketed to kids, try a Greek plain yogurt. Most toddlers will go for this without even adding a sweetener like Honey.)
29. Citrus fruits- Grapefruit, clementines, oranges. Remove skins and serve in pieces.
30. Cubed melons- Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Watermelon

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks that you serve your toddlers?

Who Says There is No Such Thing as A Free Ride?!  Mutsy just announced an awesome stroller promotion:  Stroller BOGO, Buy a Mutsy 4Rider, Get an Easyrider.

We all know most new parents get more than one stroller. One heavy duty, full-featured stroller and another lightweight stroller for quick trips and travel. This is a great opportunity to get two strollers and only pay for one. How often is there a buy one get one free stroller promotion?! Not often.

Here is what you have to do:

1) Go to store.mutsy.com. (You have to buy the strollers through store.mutsy.com ONLY! Yep, not going to work with any other store.)

2) Put both a 4Rider (or 4Rider Light) and an Easyrider in your shopping cart and enter code freerider12 (case-sensitive) on the last page of checkout to receive FREE Easyrider.

FINE PRINT: Both strollers must be purchased at the same time and be shipped to the same address. Does not apply to previous orders. Promotion is valid through store.mutsy.com ONLY. The promotion will run from May 15 through May 31, 2012 and is valid for U.S. residents only.

Each seat on the Zee Two measures 12″ wide, with a 20″ seatback and a measurement of 26″ from seatback to canopy. While our 5-year-old, 43 lb tester isn’t a stroller-rider anymore, he fit in the seat perfectly so that we knew it really did hold up to its weight capacity. The seats sport non-padded, 5-point harnesses with hard-to-do Valco buckles to keep your little ones safely in the seats and the independently, adjustable footrests will keep them comfortable.

Each seat sports a baby bumper bar but there is no parent or baby tray, as well as, no cup holders. We love that the bumper bar is covered in the same fabric (which is removable) as the seat instead of foam. Each seat has an independent, “one touch” Valco strap recline that reclines each seat to any position with one hand including a deep recline for newborns.

The Zee Two is very well-endowed in the basket area. The basket is huge and can easily fit an extra large diaper bag and additional baby essentials.

Since each rider will definitely have their own personality, we love that the canopies are independent. One child can be fully covered while the other can enjoy the sunshine. The Zee Two’s canopies are sturdy and rounded for more headroom and sport a mesh peek-a-boo window with cover on the back of each. At first glance, the canopies aren’t huge until you realize it is the fabulous Valco EXpanda hood that zips open to reveal another whole canopy panel for full sun coverage.

The one-piece handlebar isn’t adjustable and measures 40″ from ground to where you place your hands. While it is perfect for the average mom (at about 5″4), if you are super-duper tall, you might want to check it out first. Our dad tester at just under 6″ handled the stroller just fine though.

The maneuverability on this double stroller is fabulous! Once you push it, you’ll know what we are talking about. It glides along and you can even maneuver it with one hand with two small children aboard. The 7″ front and 9″ rear hard rubber, tubeless tires are great on smooth surfaces and you’ll never have to worry about a puncture or a flat with these. You can tackle your typical kid all-terrain (grass, playground mulch, small rocks) with the Zee Two if you lock the front wheels straight. We also love the flip-flop friendly, one-touch brake system to lock the stroller into place.

The Zee Two has a very easy, two-handed fold. (See our video review on how to do it.) There is an manual lock on the side to keep the stroller closed during transport. You knew we had to say it, we’d love to see an automatic lock. Boy, we are predictable, aren’t we?!?

Weighing in at just under 27 lbs, this full-featured, double won’t break your back to get it in and out of your trunk. All the wheels pop right off if you want an even more compact package or if a good wheel cleaning is necessary.

The Zee Two takes the Valco Baby Hitch Hiker (riding board) for an older child to hop on for a ride and an infant car seat adapter (for the Graco, Maxi Cosi, Peg Perego, Chicco infant car seat) to make it a travel system. It’s important to know that it only takes one infant car seat at a time.

The Zee Two is available in three colors: Sapphire (tan with blue accents), Jet (black) and Blue Opal (blue with tan accents). The Zee Two retails for $499.

Overall, the Zee Two is a great lighter-weight, easy-to-fold double stroller that is stocked with features and versatility. If you are looking for a stroller that can do it all from birth to about 4 years old and can even turn into a triple with the Hitch Hiker board, you might want to consider the Valco Baby Zee Two.

Watch our full in-depth review video of the Valco Baby Zee Two below:

SHOP the Valco Baby Zee Two HERE

So I feel it is my duty to alert you that TODAY, Tuesday, May 15 is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.

But I am even going to go one further and share some of my absolute favorite chocolate chip cookies.

Sweet Loren’s

I had the privilege of meeting Loren at a mom blogger holiday event last December.  I think I ate her entire tray of brownies.  Hence, a sweet friendship developed as I waited and waited for her products to be available nationwide so I could share with all of you.  Sweet Loren’s all-natural, ready-to-bake cookie dough and brownie batter contain the finest unrefined ingredients. They are made with 100% whole grains and natural sweeteners, and do not contain dairy products or preservatives. Just heat up your oven and in minutes you’ll have piping-hot, delicious arsenal of cookies and brownies.  What’s even sweeter is that a percentage of all sales is donated to Cookies for Kids Cancer.

Levain Bakery

For those in New York City or The Hamptons,  (and store this information for your next trip to The Big Apple) the best chocolate chip cookie you will ever eat is Levain Bakery.  (Actually, I just learned that they are now available to order online)

Here’s a few fun cookie facts courtesy of Levain’s website:

• The chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield in 1930 at the Toll House Inn Restaurant in Massachusetts.One of her favorite recipes was for Butter Drop Do cookies. The recipe called for the use of baker’s chocolate and one day Ruth found herself without the needed ingredient. She substituted a semi-sweet chocolate bar cut up into bits. However, unlike the baker’s chocolate the chopped up chocolate bar did not melt completely, the small pieces only softened, thus creating the first known chocolate chip cookie.
• Americans consume over 2 billion cookies a year, or 300 cookies for each person annually.
• The Chocolate Chip is the most popular type of home-baked cookie.

What’s your favorite chocolate chip cookie?  Are you ever tempted to eat the dough before it’s baked? 

I added chocolate to the cheesecake and turned the crust into Oreo crust and now we have something special! These are sinfully delicious. Oreo cookie crust topped with chocolate cheesecake topped with chocolate chip cookie. Seriously, so yummy! Plus, these bars would be perfect for a summer party, birthday get together, Father’s Day (it would be a BIG hit!) or 4th of July! So, “pin” this recipe and save it for that perfect baking opportunity! You won’t be sorry!

Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup flour
• 2/3 cup chocolate chips

Cheesecake Filling:

• 10 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup melted chocolate (I used Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips melted)

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Grease an 8 inch square baking pan OR line the pan with parchment paper or foil allowing a little overhang and spray with nonstick cooking spray for an easier clean up. Set aside.

2. Mix the melted butter and Oreo crumbs until thoroughly combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 6 minutes. Remove pan to a cooling rack.

3. While the crust is cooling, prepare the chocolate chip cookie dough. In a large bowl with an electric mixer (or use a stand mixer), beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth and thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Mix in the flour on low speed, and mix until just incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips. Set aside.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla on low speed just until combined. Add the 1/2 cup melted chocolate (that has been cooled slightly) and mix just until combined again. Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust.

5. Flatten the clumps of dough in your palms to flatten them out a bit. Distribute the cookie dough onto the top of the cheesecake batter. Be sure to use all of the dough. You will cover most of the cheesecake batter.

5. Bake for about 30-32 minutes, until the top feels dry and firm (the cookie dough) and the entire pan looks set. Move bars to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely. After 30 minutes, I popped mine in the refrigerator.

6. Slice into desired size and store in the refrigerator. I serve these bars cold.

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I have two boys under four years old and to say their eating habits are erratic would be an understatement. One day they love something and the next won’t even look at it. It can be frustrating but I try to stay the course and constantly offer them a variety of nutritious foods.

No matter how picky or disjointed your kids eating habits may be, there are usually a few things they will always happily eat and for my kids that’s pancakes, french toast or waffles. Lately we’ve been eating a lot of french toast which is actually pretty nutritious and well balanced because it contains carbs and protein. Skip the syrup or go easy on it and serve it alongside some fruit and you are in breakfast business. I learned early on that it’s also a perfect “finger” food for young kids and they just go wild when you cut the bread into sticks.

Always searching for ways to up the nutritional value of my families food, I decided to start sprinkling the french toast with wheat germ. This not only increases the nutrient content of one f our favorite breakfasts, it also gives it a nice little nutty crunch.

What the heck is wheat germ anyway?

Wheat Germ contains many essential nutrients and is a good source of B vitamins, such as folate, niacin, thiamin and vitamin B6, among other things. Wheat Germ is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Some of my favorite uses for Wheat Germ:

• Sprinkled into hot or cold breakfast cereal.
• Baked into muffins or breads
• Stirred into waffle or pancake batter
• Stirred into yogurt or a smoothie
• Added to your favorite granola bar recipe

Crispy Wheat Germ French Toast

Serves 2 adults or 4 little ones

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten

¼ cup skim milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

4 slices whole wheat bread

¼ cup wheat germ

2 tablespoons butter

Instructions:

1.In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, salt and. Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture and allow each to soak for 10 seconds on each side. Place dipped bread onto a platter or cutting board. Sprinkle each slice with wheat germ on both sides.

2. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Place 2 slices of bread into the pan at a time and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Serve immediately topped with fresh berries, extra butter and real maple syrup or keep toast warm in the oven using the TIP, below.

*Note: After opening, store Wheat Germ in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen for an even longer shelf life.

TIPS:

-Keep French toast warm in a 200 degree oven by placing it on a rack set into a cookie sheet.

-Save leftovers (if there are any) for sandwiches later. French toast bread is great for a grilled ham and cheese.

Time Saver Tips:

-Make-ahead and freeze:

I have to be out the door by 7:30AM to make it to work every day which doesn’t leave me a whole lot of lingering time. Still, I know that having my sons favorite breakfast foods on-hand is the best way to ensure he eats a good breakfast no matter how pressed for time I am. Freezing is the key to my success. Every Sunday, I make a batch double batch of either Pancakes or French Toast and freeze them, using the method below.

1. Make a double batch of your favorite pancakes, french toast or waffles.

2. Allow them to cool on a wire rack.

3. Wrap each pancake individually in wax paper, parchment paper or heavy duty aluminum foil and place inside a freezer bag.

To Re-heat:

Unwrap and place in microwave for 20 seconds. You could also reheat in the oven but that’s just crazy talk to a mama whose in a rush to get out the door.