Pumpkin Patch!

                               Loving these adorable pumpkin tees! 

     

Who knew?

Who knew that coconut oil kills dental bacteria and there are many reason to use it instead of toothpaste or at least along with toothpaste.

With all the scares over being antibiotic resistant and the health problems and

diseases that chemicals can promote you might want to look into using coconut oil as an alternative. Just a few of the chemicals found in toothpastes scare me, like triclosan and fluoride! Coconut oil helps maintain a normal balance in your mouth, a healthy environment, so to speak and does it while it keeps bacterial to a minimum.

If you don't like the idea of brushing with coconut oil, use it as a mouth wash. They say swishing through your teeth several times a week can help keep tartar down and help keep bacteria low. 

We all have heard how coconut oil is good for our hair, skin, helps with dark circles under the eyes, toenail fungus and can help with our diets. Nature is always the best way to go if you have a choice.....so, why not? I know I am going to start using it as a mouth wash for sure!

Tactile-Kinesthetic Learning & Children

There tends to be two kind of learners in our society, auditory and tactile-kinesthetic. An auditory child tends to learn through listening and a tactile-kinesthetic child learns from doing. Auditory children are usually good writers and story tellers; tactile-kinesthetic children usually have good eye hand coordination and are usually agile. I think, as a parent, you should tap into both and expose them as much as possible to both auditory and tactile learning.

While it is great to have auditory skills, it is just as important to have tactile-kinesthetic skills. Tactile-kinesthetic learners are "doers". This type of learning takes place when a child moves around, using their bodies to increase understanding. Children that are tactile learners usually do better in chemistry (experiments), athletics, drama, music and possess good eye-hand coordination. A child that seems to by hyper active in a classroom may simply need more movement within the classroom; a good thing to remember if you have a child classified as such. Ask if the teacher uses tactile learning in their classroom, it makes a difference! A classrooms with different learning stations really helps a child that needs movement to learn.

Here are some great ideas for early tactile-kinesthetic learning at home I found from fellow bloggers. Under each photo is a link to their site so you can explore the world of tactile-kinesthetic learning.

Letter Writing from Head to Toe - using the whole body to trace a letter from the 

child's head to their toes:

{via}

Alphabet Rocks - collect rocks, put letters on them and use them to form words. 

My grandsons will love this one!

{via}

Sensory Alphabet - use rice, macaroni, sand for feeling / coffee, spices for smell.

This was one of my favorites when teaching pre-school.

{via}

Letter/Number Scavenger Hunts! - This is such a great idea! Teaching letter and numbers through a scavenger hunt. Have the child find the letters/numbers then match them; I absolutely love the idea of using the upper and lower case matching for the more advanced pre-schooler.

Hide the letters and give hints where they are:

Then have the child match them up.

{via}

Kids love anything that is gooey! Alphabet Goo is the best. Water beads can be found on e-bay and Amazon. Mix them up, have the child find a certain letter, wash them off, dry them and use the letters to spell their name or sight words.

{via}

Pomegranate Seed Harvesting

Did you know that pomegranates are a super food fruit? Did you know that it is thought the pomegranate tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, not the apple?  It is said that King Tut was buried with them; in hopes of re-birth. They have been dated back as far as 3,000 BC, and are mentioned throughout the Bible. History has linked pomegranates to health and fertility. They are in supplements, hair products, lotions and potions! The fruit is found in ice creams, baked goods, sauces and the seeds are great sprinkled on salads. There are so many uses of this ancient fruit. You know there is something to be said about a fruit that has a crown!

I have always loved pomegranates. As a little girl, I would just pick them from the tree/bush, peel them back and suck the juice~never realizing all the natural health benefits they contained. They are chocked full of vitamin C, potassium, fiber and three types of polyphenols, potent antioxidants.

Now that I am older I appreciate them a little more! I try to eat a couple of tablespoons of seeds everyday. It has been said that as little as a 1/4 cup a day can improve heart health, cancer and aging, I like that! Pomegranates are about the size of an orange and the heavier the fruit the better. They are readily available in the fall, but can be found year round in some health food stores in the Houston area, as well as Fiesta Grocery Stores. 

It takes a little effort to seed pomegranates and it can be messy. I was watching Dr. Oz a couple of weeks ago with a guest doctor that was promoting all the benefits of this ancient fruit and did a segment on the cultivating the seeds that I found fascinating, because it was so easy. I have Googled and searched the web for the segment to share, but had no luck, so I am going to attempt to show you an easy way to get the seeds out without splattering your kitchen with the staining juices!

What you will need:

• Ripe pomegranates
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife (I use serrated)
• Bowl
• Spoon & Strainer
• Baggies

Choose ripe pomegranates if you can. You may have to allow them to ripen a bit once you get them home because they are picked rather early to keep them from bruising in transit. No worries! The can be kept for up to  2 months in your fridge.

Take your pomegranate and cut horizontally; then into quarters

They will look something like this:

Fill a bowl with cool water

Let the quartered rest in the cool water for a couple of minutes

Once it rests, the arils (seeds) will separate easier from the membrane 

 ~ do this with each quarter

The membrane will float to the top of the bowl while the seeds sink to the bottom, making it easy to spoon out the unwanted membranes

Strain your seeds and label your bag for the freezer

  

I use snack bags. Spoon about 3-4 tablespoons in each bag. Pop in the freezer and you will have fresh frozen seed to eat everyday  ~ Enjoy!

Monograms & Appliqués for Spring!

I love to design, and one way I express my designs is through appliquéing and monogramming children's clothing! Scroll through the designs below to see the world of beaucoup baby & kids for spring & summer!

Coordinating Sibling outfits. T-shirt with anchor appliqué matches anchor appliquéd JonJon

Custom shoulder tie gingham dress with shoulder ties! A little shabby chic oversized bow to match.

 

Custom appliquéd monogrammed t-shirts made to match Personalized Story Books

Vintage Look - Custom tops & bloomers with matching oversized shabby chic bows

Coordinating twin onesies an lovies (tactile baby blankets)

Gingham JonJon monogrammed ~ Love this on little boys!

Babies of Grace gowns ~ So sweet

Coordinating Sets ~ Onesie, diaper cover & bib

Appliquéd t-shirts ~ Many to choose from ~ This one is the Circle Monogram

Coordinating tops & bottoms ~ Tank top appliquéd & rouched with a coordinating bow and skirt to match

Coordinating head bands to match outfits

More sibling sets! Number appliqués with monograms ~ Very fresh for spring

Coordinating cotton short sets for little girls ~ Appliquéd whale & monogrammed

Ruffled skirt that ties in back with big bow

Adorable shoulder tie dress appliquéd & monogrammed ~ Summer at its best!

Appliquéd crab on cotton tee ~ Great for coordinating with books as a gift 

(book in background)

Appliquéd caterpillar on onesie or tee ~ wraps around to back of onesie or tee

This dino is peeking up from the pack of the shirt! 

Coordinating backpacks and lunch or snack boxes monogrammed

Storybook Time

I have always loved the idea of making a t-shirt with a storybook character appliqué and the child's name embroidered on it! The Polka Dot Monkeys now carries a line of personalized storybooks that incorporates the name of the child. I am so in love with the idea of a book and coordinating t-shirt that are both personalized. This is so great for the preschool/kindergarten age child! It jumps starts the child's imagination when they actually see their name in print.

Reading is a skill that is highly valued in our society and a source for advancement. When you and your child read together you are weaving a successful lifelong understanding of the audial and visual written word allowing for correct and productive speech advancement that is associ-ated with the written word and pictures. It has been proven that reading to babies helps develop speech patterns.

Stimulating imagination is also key in a child's advancement. Our personalized books allow the child to put themselves in the story as a participating character and the coordianating t-shirts allow for them to connect even more to the story. Involvement is everything with the stirring of a little ones imagination. Have fun.....live a little through the imagination of your child! Personalized books range in price from $19.95 to 34.95 (soft and hard back books are available), personalized t-shirts range from $24-29 (depending on number of appliqués).

b b & k New Fall Designs

I have been trying to settle down enough to get my ideas sketched and I have done it! Sorry it really sketchy ;) I am excited about my new fall fabrics coming in. Baby whale corduroy in solids and prints, chevron, polka dots and many more coordinating fabrics. 

The ideas I have for this fall are custom ties for little guys as well as "tie t's"(with the tie attached to a t-shirt)! I just love a sassy tie with a pique polo shirt kind of half pulled up! Very sharp! I cannot wait to make some gray chevron and argyle vests for the little tykes, either! Lots of great fabrics heading my way to make little tie shirts also. I am teaming up with a lady that may be making the comfy baby whale cord cargo pants for babies and toddlers like I sell in the gingham! YEA!

For baby & toddler girls it is all about the palazzo look! I just love it! I have designed a one piece romper with palazzo legs and big ruffles at the bottom as well as a pillowcase & peasant palazzo jumpsuit! I have been working on the A-line dress and I have finally come up with a flattering design, not too long or too a-lineish (is that a word?).  The romper, a-line dress and pillowcase palazzo jumpsuit will all be cute with short sleeve tops or turtlenecks! 

Backpack & Snack Box Give-Away!

The Polka Dot Monkey Give-Away for Week of August 1st! Winner announced August 8th

The Polka Dot Monkeys is giving away a mint(R) (sweet little things) navy seersucker backpack and snack box! All you have to do is visit our Facebook page (click here) and look for "Enter Here to Win"! 

Our backpack is  the small backpack that mint(R) offers. It has multiple uses; pre-schoolers, diaper bag for baby & mom, tweens are carrying them to stash their phones. iPads, bush, lip gloss and much more. They are great because they have shoulder slings that make them easy to carry. For child and baby, personalize with their names. For tweens add a monogram, very stylish!

Our snack box are bubble foiled lined for insulation and have over 1000 uses! They, of course are used for snacks, lunch for toddlers, baby bottles, portable game storage, collecting shells at the beach, housewarming box-filled with small boxed wine or mini bottles of travel liquor, dog treat bag, great teacher gift-filled with note cards, PSA Personalized Stamp, an apple, Easter Basket and much more!
Make sure to become a fan and share, share this great give-away!

Back to School & Social Graces

In my eyes, social grace is the way God expects us to be. He expects us to be kind, respectful and love one another. It should be taught to our children by example in our everyday lives. Unfortunately with social media of today, our children see more disrespect, unkindness and lack of love than they do grace. This is why it does not hurt to re-start those graces in which God would like for us to practice by practicing them with our children everyday and encouraging them to conduct their days with love, kindness and respect. Really you cannot have one without the others.

Many will disagree with my theory and say social grace is not "grace" in the eyes of God. But think about it for a second; if you love, you are kind to others and you respect yourself, you will respect others! Teaching your children social grace encompasses all of the above! So why not give it a try?

You cannot start teaching children Social Graces too soon, and now is a great time to brush up on those skills before you send them back to school! Emily Post's The Gift of Good Manners: A Parents Guide to Raising Respectful, Kind Considerate Children is a great book and can be found on Amazon for $12.58!

Your child's new teacher will certainly appreciate all of your efforts, I can assure you! Emily Post suggests that you start by building empathy with your child to help teach good behavior and manners. Helping your child to understand kindness and love along with truthfulness is a great way to start. Tell them you expect them to play well with others, to share and be inclusive. Reminding them of how it feels when others did not share with them, or include them, is building empathy and helps them to understand. Expect the best behavior from your child, and nine times out of ten they will exhibit it. Give them little reminders each day about inviting their new friends to join in and gentle reminders about remembering to say please and thank you or yes/no 'mam or sir.

Before school starts, get back in a nightly routine of sitting down together for dinner as a family. Have your little ones set the table encouraging right placement of utensils. I carry a new line of personalized place mats that have the place settings on the place mat. A great way for them to learn! (click here for place mats) When at the table follow through with polite conversation and encourage your child to sit with no elbows or heads on the table; and most of all....try to chew with their little mouths closed!

These gentle reminders will help them to develop basic social grace that they can build upon as they grow. You will be helping your child and making her/his teacher so happy! A teacher just loves a polite well mannered, kind, loving, truthful, loving child and so will you!
Click below for link to Amazon for Emily Post's The Gift of Good Manners
Emily Post's Book

What an absolutely fabulous idea! With school right around the corner and getting kids back into the swing of things these little punch cards are great. Blog "eighteen 25" is offering a free download for Good Deed Cards. 
Every time your child performs a good deed or follow through with a chore you punch their cards allowing the kids to earn a special treats. You can offer a trip to the toy store, special dinner date with mom and dad (no siblings allowed) or something special they want to do or have.
I would suggest getting tag board or card stock for sturdiness. Just follow me (click here) to "eighteen 25" look for the download button, save to your computer and print a set and start using right away!

Mastering Handwriting

Here I go again about a child mastering handwriting in kindergarten. I have taught children that have not been encouraged to write within a space and others that have. My personal opinion, a child that learns to form the alphabet within a confined space usually masters the efficiency of letter formations sooner than a child that is given a blank sheet of paper with no direction. A child in kindergarten should be encouraged to begin forming letters in an efficient way. I know that there are a few that do not agree with this, but I have experienced this while working with pre-k, kindergarten and first graders and it does make a difference!  Handwriting directly supports the writing to read process! Click here to see tablets

I have noticed that once an incorrect muscle memory forms it is very difficult to reteach! Working with your child and encouraging proper letter formation is very important for muscle memory and their progress in kindergarten. You should always encourage your child to write his/her name properly, using the uppercase letter first followed by the lowercase letters. Teach them "capital letter starts my name, then lowercase, the rest the same," kids love rhyming and it sticks with them!

If you are beginning to work with your child, start with "l". This is the letter they will read and write the most. It is great, because it starts them with the downward strokes and left to right (cross mid-line) motion, which will be used to form other letters.  The "O" is another very important letter and encourage clock and counter clockwise motion when drawing in the sky or writing on paper. 

I know it is very hard for a child to write between the lines. I always liked to make squares on a sheet (the exact number as letters in their name) and work with them to stay within the lines of the square. By the time your child gets into kindergarten it is appropriate develop- mentally, to have high expectations and you should encourage them to stay between the lines. I love the Kindergarten Lined Tablets  ($24.95) and the Kids Dry Eraser Board ($19.95) I am able to offer this school year. Not only are they personalized with the child's name, but the tablet has 75 sheets of high quality paper that is lined for your kindergartner or pre-k child. The Dry Erase Board comes with a dry-erase maker and is lined ready for handwriting and personalized at the top! Great for on the go and for the beginning. If they make a mistake they can simply wipe away and try again! Use BTS2012 at check out for a 15% discount (with a $25.00 minimum cart ;)