Attention Working Moms & Dads

Attention Working Moms & Dads 

Do you currently work or thinking about going back to work? For some, the thought of taking your child to a daycare can be a bit scary. Rest assure that there is a way to find the daycare, or babysitter that meets your expectations. Here are some helpful tips.

1. Licensing- A childcare facility or in home daycare must be licensed in order to provide service for your child. Licensing makes sure that the facility, or home is up to standard in regards to sanitation, and safety. For more information you can call your local health department. If you are in the Inland Empire you can call Community Care Licensing at  (951) 782-4200 for information. They are located at:
3737 Main Street, Suite 700, Riverside, CA

2. Ratios-For every 3-4 infants there must be 1 teacher. The more infants there are to a teacher means that your little one may have to wait for someone to attend to his or her needs.

3.Healthy & Safe Staff- This simply means that all staff must be CPR and First aid certified. They must be up to date on their TB test as well as have a current background check. As a parent you are entitled to ask these questions about the staff.

4.Loving Atmosphere- A daycare that allows a parent to come in at any time is always a good sign.

5.Stimulating Atmosphere- Make sure that your daycare offers many stimulating activities such as toys, out door activities, music, books and occasional field trips. These activities allow your child a sense of change which fosters their developmental growth and interaction.

6. Separation of Age Groups- Infants should not be mixed with children over 1 years old due to safety, and developmental issues. Toys must be age appropriate as well as the curriculum.



7. Strict Sanitation Rules- Staff must wash their hands often to avoid spreading germs. Know your daycare's sick policy. Children should not be allowed to come to school if he or she is running a fever. The child is able to return to school 24 hours after having a fever. Toys must be sanitized often and food and diapering stations must be separated.

Money Saving Tricks!

Since gas prices are soaring high, we thought that we could give you a few tricks to keep the grocery budget a bit lower. Any way to save can help! :-) Here are some helpful tips that can help any mom, or dad spend less at the grocery store and still make satisfying and healthy meals. Enjoy!

• Go shopping alone ( if you take your kids your going to spend a lot more)
• Have a budget and stick to it
• Make fewer, larger trips (Create a day to do all your grocery shopping for the week or every two weeks if you can)
• Don’t shop hungry (the hungrier you are, the more you put into your shopping cart)
• Plan your meals in advance 
• Scan your cupboards, pantry, and fridge before leaving ( This allows you to use what you already have to create fantastic meals)
• Keep a running list of items you need on your fridge

• Clip (and use!) coupons for name brand items
• Check the store’s website for printable coupons
• Avoid non-grocery items that can be bought for less elsewhere
• Cook from scratch, avoid processed foods (Cost more)
• Avoid frozen/prepared entrees
• Eat more fruits/veggies, cut back on meat

Walking for a great cause!

Will you support kids in need? We still need donations and/or walkers for Sunday April 10th at Victoria Gardens Mall in Rancho Cucamonga to help raise money for The Ronald McDonald House Charities. They do so much for our community, check out what they do. http://www.rmhcsc.org/community_impact.php 

Also you can make a direct donation on our link http://www.walkforkids.org/bar

eblendz

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California - Community Impact

www.rmhcsc.org

Welcome to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, RMHCSC, where we're making a positive difference for children and families in need

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Baby it’s Cold Outside!

 So rain is in the forecast, and it's not going to mess up my day. With three boys in our household rainy days are always a challenge as they like to stay active.  Bare Blendz understands that keeping our kids entertained can be challenging, but it creates memories. Here are some fun activities and snacks that your kids can help you make. They are sure to bring laughter for you and your children on those rainy days to come.

A Warm Breakfast to Start your Day:

*Pink Oatmeal

What you’ll need:

2 cups of raspberries

2 cups of strawberries

Coconut flakes (optional)

Oatmeal

Directions:

Mix the raspberries, and strawberries in the blender with 1 cup of water.

Mix into the cooked oatmeal, and top with coconut flakes.

Breakfast for Baby:

Bare Blendz Apple Pie A La Mode made with oatmeal, apples, and black strap molasses

*Available at http://www.bareblendz.com/

Arts & Crafts:

Each craft that is created allows your family to bond, and enhance your child’s fine motor skills as they use hand and eye coordination. Your toddler can enjoy these activities too as they are introduced to using these motor skills. (Parents please cut the pieces out for children that are younger.) Try using bright colors to stimulate your child’s thinking process.

Cheers to Magazines:

*We all have magazines in the house that we have read over and over. Instead of throwing them away why not make a funny picture with the cut out pieces. Find pictures of animals and make a farm collage, or tell your child to pick out pictures that describe their house hold and place them on construction paper.

Sock Puppet:

Get an old sock and hot glue buttons for the eyes, or allow your child to draw the eyes on. Yarn displays the puppets mouth and a cheerio for the nose. Create your own puppet show for the family to enjoy!

A fun “Make it yourself” Snack for kids:

These nutritious snacks allow the kids to help you prepare them. Another fun idea to keep the kids entertained! Did we mention that they are all made with raw foods. (yay!)

*Banana Bites

What you’ll need:

2 bananas, peeled with the ends cut off (This part is for the parents to complete)

12 raisins, dry

12 walnuts, dry

Directions

Slice the banana into 6 equal pieces (12 pieces total)

Push a raisin into one banana circle, and then top with a walnut…repeat the process.

Teaching while Creating a Bond

ways to have fun and bond with your baby:


1. Gently rock your baby as you sing. It can increase alertness as you make eye to eye contact.
2. Dangle a bright ribbon or scarf over your baby and say the colors that are on it.
3.Point to your baby's toes, knees, hands, etc. as you make it into a song by saying the name of the body part.



Have fun!

Whoa Baby!!

Whoa Baby!

Hey parents out there! Ever wonder what exciting thing your baby will do next? Well here is a timeline of Childhood Milestones to enjoy. *Please note that in some cases these milestones may be accomplished earlier or a little later in each child.

Timeline of Childhood Milestones

2 Months	Smiles at the sound of your voice
3 Months	Raises head and chest when lying on stomach Grasps objects Smiles at other people
4 Months	Babbles, laughs, and tries to imitate sounds
6 Months	Rolls from back to stomach and stomach to back Moves objects from hand to hand
7 Months	Responds to own name Finds partially hidden objects
9 Months	Sits without support Crawls
12 Months	Walks with or without support Says at least one word Enjoys imitating people
18 Months	Walks independently Drinks from a cup Says at least 15 words
2 Years	Runs Speaks in two-word sentences Follows simple instructions Begins make-believe play
3 Years	Climbs well Speaks in multiword sentences Sorts objects by shape and color
4 Years	Gets along with people outside the family Draws circles and squares Rides a tricycle
5 Years	Tells name and address Jumps, hops, and skips Gets dressed Counts 10 or more objects

Drum roll please..............

Our website is now up at Bare Blendz.Come check out our delicious blendz. We will see you at a Farmer's Market and in stores very soon!
http://bareblendz.com/index.html

Dinner is Served!

So it's a busy week night and the kids have homework to do, laundry needs to be done, baths need to be taken and of course dinner needs to be made and served. Lucky for you here at Bare Blendz we understand what it's like to have a busy household. Now that you have your little one covered for dinner with his or her delicious Bare Blendz, here are some recipes for the rest of the family to enjoy.These simple and quick recipes are sure to please your family so that you can spend more quality time with one another.

1. Salmon Patties
Serves 4
Ingredients

16 ounces canned salmon, drained, skinned, and boned 1 cup cracker meal (about 1/2 sleeve Saltines, crushed fine) 1/2 cup Hellman's or Best Foods mayonnaise (not low-fat) 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional) The finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 2 tablespoons of its juice 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or half as much table salt) Freshly ground black pepper 1 stalk celery, finely chopped, plus some of the leaves, also chopped 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped Vegetable oil for frying or you can bake the patties Tartar sauce, purchased or homemade (see recipe below) Tartar Sauce (Makes a little more than 1 cup): 1 cup Hellman's or Best Foods mayonnaise (not low-fat) 2 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon finely chopped fill 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 teaspoon capers 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or half as much table salt)

Directions

1. For the tartar sauce: Whisk ingredients together in a small bowl and chill until serving.
2. Flake the salmon with a fork, then add the cracker meal to the bowl and use your hands to blend it into the fish.
3. Whisk together the mayonnaise, Old Bay, hot pepper sauce, lemon zest and juice, and salt and pepper, then stir it into the fish mixture along with the celery and dill. The mixture should just hold together: Add more cracker meal if it's too wet, or a bit more mayonnaise if it's too dry. Use a 1/3-cup measure to form 8 patties around 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick.
4. Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a large nonstick skillet over moderate heat, until a pinch of the fish mixture sizzles when dropped in the pan. Fry the cakes in a single layer until golden, around 4 minutes per side. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate and serve with tartar sauce.

2. Mini Pizza's

Serves 2-double the recipe to make 4

Ingredients

1 English muffin, cut in half 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon red pesto 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 small red onion, sliced 2 to 3 button mushrooms, sliced 1/2 small zucchini, thinly sliced Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup ready-grated mozzarella or grated Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Toast the muffin until golden and leave to cool. Preheat the broiler. Mix the tomato paste and red pesto and spread over the muffin halves. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook the onion, mushrooms, and zucchini until softened and golden.
2. Add the seasoning and then divide the vegetables between the muffin halves and scatter the mozzarella or Cheddar over the top. Place under the broiler and cook for 4 minutes or until golden and bubbling.

3. Five Cheese Pasta

• 1 pound Rigatoni, or small shells
• 2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon Basil, dried
• 1 cup Crushed tomatoes in heavy puree
• 1 package Italian blend cheese (8 ounces divided - mozzarella, mild cheddar, provolone, and asiago)
• 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

1. Boil pasta two minutes less than the package directs in plenty of well-salted water and set aside. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together the cream, crushed tomatoes, basil, 1 1/2 cups of Italian cheese blend, and gorgonzola cheese.

2. Add cooked pasta to the cream and cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Pour into prepared casserole dish and top with remaining 1/2 cup of Italian cheese blend. Bake for 30 minutes, or until top is browned slightly and pasta is bubbling hot. Serve immediately.

4. Grilled Tomato Melts

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 3 large tomatoes (about 8 oz. each) or a variety of smaller tomatoes (about 1-1/2 lb. total)
• 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (1-1/2 cups)
• 1 small green, yellow, purple, or red sweet pepper, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Cut each tomato into 4 slices, about 1/2 inch thick. If using smaller tomatoes, halve each one. For each of 4 servings, arrange 3 tomato slices, overlapping slightly, in a foil-lined, 15x10x1-inch baking pan. (Or, if using smaller tomatoes, arrange in a single layer in a foil-lined,15x10x1-inch baking pan.) Sprinkle with shredded cheese, finely chopped pepper, and toasted almonds. Bake about 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Carefully lift with large metal spatula to individual plates, allowing excess juices to drain off.

To prepare on a grill, arrange ingredients as above in a shallow disposable foil pan. In a grill with a cover arrange medium-hot coals around the edge of the grill; test for medium heat above the center of the grill. Place the pan with the tomatoes in the center of the grill rack. Grill, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Makes 4 appetizer servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: Arrange tomato slices in baking pan and sprinkle with cheese, pepper, and nuts. Cover and chill up to 4 hours. Bake or grill as above.

5. Monterey Tortilla Casserole

Serves 4

Ingredients

• Nonstick spray coating
• 6 6-inch corn tortillas, each cut into 6 wedges
• 1 cup loose-pack frozen whole kernel corn
• 1 16-ounce jar salsa Verde
• 3 tablespoons light dairy sour cream
• 3 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup crumbled Mexican Chihuahua cheese or crumbled farmer cheese (4 ounces)
• Light dairy sour cream (optional)
• Snipped fresh cilantro (optional)
• Chopped tomato (optional)
• Jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)

Directions

Spray four 10- to 12-ounce baking dishes with nonstick coating. Place 5 tortilla wedges in the bottom of each dish. Place remaining tortilla pieces on a baking sheet; bake in a 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until crisp and golden. Meanwhile, combine  corn, salsa, the 3 tablespoons sour cream, cilantro, and flour. Divide mixture among dishes.

Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Arrange baked tortilla pieces atop casseroles. Top with cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. If desired, garnish with additional sour cream, jalapeno slices, cilantro, and tomato. 

To bake frozen casseroles: Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Top with tortilla pieces and cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. Garnish as above.

To micro-cook frozen casseroles: Cover microwave-safe casseroles with waxed paper; micro-cook on 30% power, allowing 4 minutes for 1 casserole and 5 minutes for 2 casseroles. Continue cooking, covered, on 100% power until heated through, allowing 2 to 4 minutes for 1 casserole or 3 to 6 minutes for 2 casseroles, rotating the dishes once. Top with baked tortilla pieces and cheese; micro-cook, uncovered, about 30 seconds more or until cheese is melted. Garnish as above.

Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble casseroles as directed above, except do not top with baked tortilla pieces; place baked pieces in a moisture- and vapor-proof plastic bag. Freeze casseroles and tortilla pieces up to 1 month.