How to Make Simple but Decadent Chocolate Oatmeal

This delicious and indulgent chocolate treat is a healthy alternative to satisfy your chocolate craving and can be enjoyed anytime, from breakfast to a late night snack. This is also a great recipe for children, because they’ll love the chocolate so much they won’t even realize they’re eating something healthy!

Ingredients:
* Uncooked oatmeal (rolled oats, old fashioned, steel cut, whole oats, etc.)
* Salt
* Semi-sweet chocolate chips
* Butter
* Real maple syrup
* Cinnamon

Directions:
Cook single serving of oats as directed and add a dash of salt while cooking. Add a few sprinkles of cinnamon too while cooking.

When oats are almost finished cooking, add 2 tablespoons of butter and stir to melt. Drizzle oats with maple syrup to reach desired sweetness and stir to thoroughly combine.

Pour mixture into serving bowl, and sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips. Gently stir to melt and swirl the chips throughout the oatmeal.

Sprinkle another tablespoon of chocolate chips on top as a garnish and for extra flavor.

For an added treat, put a dollop of whipped cream on top.

For extra fiber and some Omega 3's, stir in some crushed flax seed.

-Written by Kristina for eHow.com

How to Host a Tea Party for Toddlers

A tea party is a great way to allow toddlers to socialize together while also learning manners. This is also fun for the moms too, and you will have some awesome photos to keep forever.


What you will need:
* Printed or emailed invitations
* Table & tablecloth
* Tea- decaf flavored tea is great for the toddlers
* Tea cups and tea pot
* Tea biscuits, cookies, petit fours or other snack
* Fresh flowers in a vase
* Elegant background music
* Tea party dress
* Camera

1. Send out invitations to everyone you want to invite at least 2 weeks in advance. Make sure you have enough seating for all invited.

2. The day of the party, place freshly ironed tablecloths on tables. It’s great if you have a small table to set just for the toddlers. Place flower vases on tables and use a small vase that’s hard to break for the toddler table.

3. Set out tea cups and saucers at each place, along with a folded napkin and tea spoon.

4. Put on your party dress and dress up your children in a party dress for a girl or nice dress shirt and dress pants/khakis for a boy.

5. About 30 minutes before guests arrive, put out cream pitcher, sugar bowl and sugar spoon and lemon slices to garnish tea cups.

6. Play a cd or music channel with elegant music such as classical or maybe some relaxing acoustic music.

7 . Make sure your camera is ready to take lots of cute pictures of the little ones.

8. Greet and welcome your guests. Pour the tea for all your guests. If you are serving hot tea, put a couple ice cubes in it for the toddlers. You might even want to put theirs in a sippy cup.
Relax and enjoy yourself.

-Written by Kristina for eHow.com