Colita Rosita is a CD with 16 modern and upbeat songs in Spanish for children. This is one of the most fun CD’s I have heard in a while, as the songs are full of sound effects that really will attract the attention of your kids. It includes canciones navidenas which makes it a great CD to have in hand for the upcoming holiday season. The five Christmas songs, included are: Cascabel, Santa Esta Tarde, Trineo de Renos, Santa Clos and La Navidad, a perfect set of songs to start teaching your kids more about Christmas stories in the Spanish language. There is also a song referencing the New Year and even a Birthday song, what fun! Other songs touch on kid friendly topics like trains and various animals. The cool music is accompanied by sound effects that will immerse and engage your kids in the story behind each song, making it an interactive CD for the whole family. All of the songs are very catchy and I guarantee it will have you singing with your kids.

The Giveaway!

We’re giving away one copy of the Colita Rosita CD to FIVE lucky winners! All you have to do is head over to the Colita Rosita music sample page and leave us a comment letting us know which song you and your niños enjoyed the most. Then, enter the rafflecopter below.

Ends November 7th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaching by example is the motto of my parenting style. I have certain traits I consider fundamental that I want to pass on to my daughter, Little L. If I don’t lead with my actions, how can I expect more from her?  As parents, we also need to find support in tools like books, toys, videos, and other quality activities that can help our children develop, learn, and grow.

One of the traits that it is incredibly important to me is sharing, and this Classic Wooden Tea Set by Lakeshore Learning is just the perfect toy to help me teach Little L, in a fun and engaging way, more about what sharing means.

Since she got this sturdy and super-well-made wooden tea set, we have played every single afternoon with it. I have been able to teach her how to serve tea for her and others — en español. She has used the tray to serve “pastries” to her dad. Little L has also gotten creative, stirring her tea using the small wooden spoons and feeding her dolls with them. Most pieces come apart and can be connected by velcro, which is perfect for kids her age to pull apart and try to put the pieces together again. The set includes 25 wooden pieces from realistic teacups and saucers, to cake and biscuits, everything Little L needs to throw her own fantastic tea party. Seeing her enjoy, get creative, and share so well with her doll friends, shows me that she is ready for a real tea party and this tea set has been the inspiration for her next birthday party. I have been incredibly satisfied seeing Little L love her Lakeshore Learning tea set, being open to share and letting her mind fly away as she imagines countless ways of playing with it.

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one Classic Wooden Tea Set to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know who you’d like to share this prize with. Then, enter the Rafflecopter below.

Giveaway ends November 5th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contrary to what many could think judging by its name, el Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is mostly a celebration of life. It is a time where we honor and remember our loved ones that have passed away and we do so by celebrating with joy the memory of their lives. In Mexico, colorful altars are created either at home or the cemetery. These altars include skulls and other symbols that represent death but they are lively decorated, full of color and cheerful details, as the idea is to bring to life the positive memories we have of those who have died. Personal objects, mementos, pictures and even favorite foods of the deceased are placed as part of the altar. The whole family gets creative thinking of ways the altar can best represent the memories of those that have passed on and are held near and dear to their hearts. As much importance is placed on creativity, I wanted to share an edible idea that is meant to get your creative juices flowing: Día de los Muertos Sandwich Art.

The shape of traditional sandwich bread is close to the shape of a skull, so just like decorating cookie skulls, you can decorate a piece of bread to make fun and creative sandwiches or toast. This is a great idea to involve your kids and to allow them to learn more about the traditions, but also to become part of the celebration. If you do not partake in the creation of an altar at home but do want make sure your family knows about this celebration, why not try this edible activity for breakfast, lunch or snack time, while telling stories about the lives of our loved muertos.

Here are a few Día de los Muertos sandwich art ideas but remember the possibilities are endless.

Using an apple corer or simply a knife, make two holes on a piece of bread to resemble the eyes. Do the same for the nose and mouth. Spread peanut butter and jelly on another slice of bread and top it off with the cutout sliced so that the jelly shows out, adding color to the face of the skull.

If you want to get even more creative, make an open face sandwich. Have various types of nuts, candy, and fruit on hand and on a slice of bread, use a smooth spread of your choice. The spread will work as a glue that will hold together your work of art. This is a good idea for a sweet treat or snack.

For a healthier version, spread cream cheese to create a blank canvas. Use cold cuts, sliced cheese and veggies to cut out shapes that will give life to the skull.

Mister G’s ABC Fiesta CD is a true fiesta that honors the beauty of Latin America and the Spanish language. The bilingual songs blend Spanish and English verses and they all touch on cultural topics that are both entertaining and educational.

With songs like Quiero Leer, Mister G emphasizes how fun it is to read, learn, and discover through reading. Other songs, like Bongo Bongo, touch on the joy that music brings to our hearts and others, such as Vamos a la Playa and Hola Amigos, are about having fun, sharing with friends and enjoying life. Every tune is packed with the sazón of traditional Latin rhythms, mixed with modern and diverse beats that are sure to make kids of every age clap and shake their tails.

What is really unique about this CD is that it not only includes songs but also short conversations between Mister G and his friends Manuel and Verónica. These short conversations become interesting stories that your kids will be listening to and learning from as they focus on how Mister G is getting to know the different terms used around Latin America for words like Bus (Guagua, Camión, Autobus), Beans (Habichuelas, Frijoles), Lollipops (Chupetas, Paletas, Chambelona). Take this opportunity to talk to your children and teach them new ways of calling other things around you; an activity that can involve everyone in the family.

The CD includes a small booklet that tells the stories, in both English and Spanish, behind the inspiration for each song. The booklet also includes pictures of Mister G as he tours Latin America and the United States, as it was then that he wrote the Lyrics for ABC Fiesta. Ben Gundersheimer, an award-winning musician, author, and educator is Mister G, and he shares with this CD his life-long passions: reading, music and the Spanish language. This CD will be perfect if those are things you would like to ignite in your children.

The Giveaway!

We’re giving away one copy of Mister G’s ABC Fiesta CD to TWO lucky winners. All you have to do is visit the music preview page and leave us a comment letting us know which song you and your niños enjoyed most. Then, enter the Rafflecopter below.

Ends October 31st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is post is sponsored by Walmart. All opinions are my own.

What I want to share with you today is a great alternative to the traditional burger we are used to. Every long holiday weekend, like Labor Day coming up, many of us tend to enjoy the outdoors by cooking and entertaining with friends and family. Grilling is a popular choice and making homemade burgers is my favorite thing to do. But not all the time we have a grill available or the weather allows us to be outside, other times there is so much food already planned in the menu that making full size burgers is not the best idea. The good news is that we can still share and enjoy the flavors of one of America’s favorites, by serving these mini burgers on a stick, the perfect party appetizer if you ask me.

A fun entertaining tip is to serve these mini burgers on a stick with several sauces on the side. I use a mixture of mayo and ketchup which combines the most common condiments all in one. You can also offer other dipping sauce options like BBQ sauce, blue cheese, ranch, chipotle etc. Another great idea is to have on the side a basket of mini buns in case people are still craving them. The rolls can be cut in half to hold and slide the stick to get all the tasty fillers.

To make these bite sized burgers, have all your ingredients ready and make it a fun time for the kids by assembling them together.

A tip for prepping your meat, that will guarantee a juicy and flavorful burger, is to add shredded onions. The onion will add moisture to the patties and the end result will be tastier and juicer for sure. Regardless of the seasonings, what is most important in order to cook the best burger, is the type of meat you use. I trust the selection offered by Walmart. Their ground beef is all natural, U.S. inspected and passed by the Department of Agriculture, with no artificial ingredients. That will be my first suggestion for a superb burger patty, then select any flavor additions and fixings according to your preference.

Everyone will have fun not only making them but eating these tasty bites as well.

Mini Burgers on a Stick

yields 20

Ingredients

• 20 ounces ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 large vidalia onion, shredded
• Cheddar cheese
• Lettuce
• Bacon
• Cherry tomatoes
• Skewers

Cooking Directions
- In a large bowl, mix together the beef, salt, pepper, garlic powder and shredded onion. Form the mixture into 20 equal-size patties. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown the patties for 1 to 2 minutes on each side.

- When patties are cooked you can keep the warm in the oven while you make sure all you other ingredients will be ready to assemble. Cheese, lettuce and bacon should be cut into small pieces and cherry tomatoes should be cut in half.

- Once all your ingredients are ready, start assembling by threading the tomato first, then lettuce, bacon cheese and lastly the mini burger patty.

- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

My bilingual 19 month-old daughter has two new favorite words. She went from only saying “Hi” to “Hola Hello” after listening to Mariana Iranzi’s new album. “Hola Hello” is the album’s title and the name of its catchy single. I loved it because it is not only bilingual but also multicultural. Her songs, besides being in Spanish and English, also touch cultural aspects such as Latin American rhymes like “Los Pollitos,” and English classics that she has made her own like “Five Little Monkeys.”

The fact that the album is bilingual was what caught my attention first, but after listening to every song I was moving my tail and can attest that it’s more than just a source for parents raising bilingual children — it is a fiesta for all! Play this CD and Mariana will have everyone in the family dancing thanks to the wide variety of musical styles and instruments played. The lyrics are very cheerful, which is great for the little ones. On the other hand, the contemporary style and the rock, reggae and Latin-flavored tunes make this album appealing to older ones as well. Some soothing songs are also included which will be perfect for the nursery and nap time.

There is a lot of room for entertainment and learning with this 13-song CD. The song “Veo Veo” teaches the different animal names and sounds, “Arco Iris” aims to teach the colors of the rainbow and “La Semana” the days of the week. Mariana is an Argentinian professional musician, singer and composer with a focus on child education, which makes this a well thought-out resource for fun and learning.

Mariana shared with us the newest music video she just released for the song “Arco Iris.”

Grab a copy of “Hola Hello” by downloading her album ($9.99) or purchasing the CD ($15) at CDBaby.  You can also find her on Facebook and YouTube.

The Giveaway!

We’re giving away one copy of “Hola Hello” to THREE lucky winners. All you have to do is visit Hola Hello’s CBBaby page, preview the songs, and let us know which is your favorite in the comments below. Then enter the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When one of my daughter’s first words was D-d-d-dora I knew there was something special about this character. As a new mamá, I am watching children’s programs for the first time, getting to know what they are about and trying to figure out which are best for my daughter, Little L. Although she just turned 1, I do rely on some TV to help me with raising her bilingual. Little L’s exposure to Spanish is limited, and as I am away from most of my family and my country I appreciate all the help I can get — even when it comes from a 7-year-old cartoon character.

When it was time to plan her first birthday party and pick a theme, it was a no brainer: Dora the Explorer.

Not only does Little L adore Dora, I think she is an incredible role model for adults as well. Dora loves her familia and is proud of her culture; she is a great team player, cares for others, she is forgiving, adventurous but cautious, and is always trying to save the day. The fact that she is not only Latina but also bilingual just makes her even more extraordinary and a perfect example for Little L. I want my daughter to grow up with a kind heart like Dora’s and to be proud and confident to speak English, Spanish and why not Spanglish as well.

As a Latina food blogger I pay a lot of attention to the food I serve, so for this fiesta, I created a menu that was kid-friendly and that represented our Latino heritage. I took this as an opportunity to tell a story of our culture and language. Regardless of planning a Dora theme or not, we can all use food as a channel to engage and enrich our guests. To make the celebration and the menu more personal, I suggest you look into what matters most to you, what makes you unique and what you want to share about it. In this case, it was all about representing a side of Little L’s background that is friendly, lively, colorful, vibrant, diverse and welcoming. I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and although that is what I am most proud of about my heritage, I realize Little L is going to grow up in a country where she will be mostly seen of Latino descent not just Dominican. So I incorporated a menu that was going to give a tour of the Americas including other Latin American countries and the U.S.

The idea was to use the menu as a map (Dora’s map) for guests to go around the party almost like on a scavenger hunt looking for dishes and food items listed on the map. The labels for the food served were written in español and in English. We encouraged guests to try to read and say terms they were not familiar with out loud, can you say ‘agua’?. This exercise became a fun part of the party and fostered great discussions and lots of learning from both sides. I think it’s an idea that can be applied to any party, so I want to share the menu I created for you to use at your next Dora or Latin inspired theme party.

In this HungryFoodLove post, I have included recipes, ideas and a printable PDF version of the map for you to download. Enjoy!

To check out Melissa’s post with a printable of the map mentioned above click here