Giggle Jiggles - Fun ways to cook with kids

Rye and I like to look through cookbooks and choose fun foods to make together. This experiment takes me back to my childhood when I used to make Jello cubes. Today we tried Giggle Jiggles from "Sesame Street's Silly Snacks" book. I think we did OK. We learned that really small cookie cutters were the way to go on this one. Our big giggle jiggles were more like giggle drippers. It was a fun thing to do to beat the summer heat.

Grooving Backstage with the Imagination Movers

Above: Riley, Tyler, Scott, Cathy, Jennifer, Reese, Dave

The Imagination Movers rock! Seriously, the show has some fun, original dance tunes. This past Wednesday, July 11, at Sesame Place we had the pleasure of grooving with the Movers and sitting with them for a little insider info. Scott and Dave are in the photo above.

The "Imagination Movers" is a show on Disney Junior, where 4 guys, Dave, Rich, Scott, Smitty and Warehouse Mouse, use their imagination to solve problems. It is great for our music loving family, because we all enjoy it. When my little one was born 5 years ago my husband and I really wanted to incorporate music into our daily lives. I started evening dance party when she was about 6 months old. Marc and I would play our favorite tunes, dance and shake out the day. Now that she's older we don't always get to have our evening party, but Riley has taken up the torch herself and dances to these guys songs.

                                          Photo credit: Tyler Gilmore (age 5) with photo assistant Riley Bloomgarden (also age 5)


We sat down with Dave and Scott (above) and asked a few pressing questions about the show:

Q (from Riley, age 5) Why is there sometimes grey smoke and sometimes white smoke on the show?
A (from Dave and Scott) Because they decided to change some of the things from season 1 to season 2. They added white smoke instead of grey and the smoke also now surrounds the Imagination Movers when their imagination is working out the problem.

Q (from Jennifer, Mom) Which do you like better live performances or the show:
A (from Dave and Scott) Both! The live performances really fuel the show, because we write all of the music ourselves and to play it live, with an audience, is part of the creative process and makes the show even better.

Q (from Cathy, Mom) What inspired you to create Imagination Movers?
A (from Dave and Scott) We all have families and some of the messages in popular music are not geared to kids. We write music that we enjoy, but that is also age appropriate for children. Our songs have meaning and positive messages that hopefully encourage creativity. We wanted to make something that both kids and adults would enjoy too.

Scott also mentioned before he was in the band he was a teacher. Once of the things that inspired him to write and perform music was to encourage movement in the body and brain. As we danced around Sesame Place I'd say job well done!

Thank you Imagination Movers and especially Dave and Scott for your time and for adding a ton of creative energy into our daily lives. If you can catch the Imagination Movers either on TV or Live, they are awesome. Let me know what you think!

Share It Maybe - Cookie Monster's version of Call Me Maybe

My 5-year-old Rye and I heard this Cookie Monster version of "Call Me Maybe" on the radio while driving to Sesame Place yesterday. It might be my new favorite song... I know it is Riley's. I love when humor and music come together is clean fun! Enjoy.




or click below:

Cookie Monster "Share It Maybe"

Duh...It is all in the presentation!

Sometimes the "why" has to hit me on the head to get it. That is what happened this morning. We were dashing around our NYC apartment getting ready to leave for Sesame Place in PA. I was proud I pre-packed everything. All I had to do was get Rye, my 5-year-old, dressed, fed and send out a few work emails.

As I'm making my morning coffee, I decide to add ice and blend. Rye comes over and asks for a smoothie like mine, so I've got extra time-- I say OK! I'm so excited. I pull out strawberries, yogurt and a scoop of peach sorbet with a few cubes of ice and blend. I present to my little one and she takes one look at my hard work (key word look) and says yuck! So, I'm confident once she tastes it she'll love it - it is like healthy ice cream with a straw. Wouldn't you know it, my stubborn little one tastes about a dab of the shake and says again "I don't like the taste".

I am so annoyed! Seriously, I just went to the trouble to make this smoothie for her and she's going to waste it? I don't think so.... so I proceed to take time bribing her to drink some of this delicious treat. No go.

Fine. Deep breath. Breath in cookies, blow out candles (as she taught me). Let it go. Better she doesn't have so much liquid before we get on the road for a long drive anyway.

Then, inspiration strikes. I was so bummed to waste the smoothie, because at the very least I liked it. Well VOILA .... I can turn it into Popsicles. Yummy, fun shaped Popsicles.

And, guess who likes Popsicles? Sometimes it is in the sales pitch and presentation, even for 5-year-olds!