Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Soleil Moon Frye, Target's mommy ambassador, author of Happy Chaos, and mom to Poet, 6, and Jagger, 3. This week Soleil shares her tips on traveling with kids.

I'm a huge believer in the importance of taking the occasional "time out" as a family and planning an escape to recharge and reconnect.

Last year, Jason surprised me and the kids with an impromptu jaunt to Mexico. Although it was stressful to think of dropping everything on such short notice, the trip turned out to be exactly what we needed. It was an invaluable treat to spend quality time together without the distractions that pull us in a dozen different directions every day.

Whenever I'm traveling with my girls, my carry-on always includes these essentials:

• An assortment of portable activities like books, a few toys, and paper and crayons. I have the girls pick out a few of their favorite things from home to take with them — this way we're not overloaded with too much stuff, but they feel connected to what they are bringing.
• A first aid kit with Band-Aids and other Doctor Mom must haves in case of emergencies.
• Wipes, wipes, and more wipes. They're quick and easy for cleaning up spills and sticky fingers on the go.
• A change of clothes for both girls, including a sweatshirt in case they get cold.
• A stash of yummy snacks is the best way to combat the inevitable crankiness that comes with restless flights and travel delays.

A successful family trip doesn't require airplanes or lush accommodations. When I was growing up, my mom would delight us by laying blankets on the small balcony of our apartment and letting us sleep under the stars. I've inherited her passion for making an adventure out of everything and am also a big advocate of "staycations." In my house, we love to camp out in the living room and decorate the space to look like an exotic location. You can go all out and cook foods native to those places and do activities inspired by their cultures.

The idea is to carve out time to be together and create a special experience that the kids will always remember. The extravagance of a getaway isn't what will factor into the memories.

I'm always looking for fun family bonding ideas, so please share your cost-cutting travel tips and creative "staycation" plans with me on the Target Baby Facebook page!

. . . Soleil

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Soleil Moon Frye, Target's mommy ambassador, author of Happy Chaos, and mom to Poet, 6, and Jagger, 3. This week Soleil shares her tips on bringing her kids into the kitchen.

I'm a huge holiday person, and birthday celebrations are especially important to me. It's not about the presents — my favorite memories from childhood birthdays are of my mom showering me with attention, filling the day with my favorite foods, and making me feel special and loved.

I'm not sure anything will ever top Johnny Depp crashing my 12th birthday (a special surprise from a mutual friend), but I'm determined to create similarly unforgettable birthday experiences for my girls.

For Poet’s fifth birthday, we had a Grease-themed party and went for a full-out, '50s-style event. It’s possible to be elaborate without being expensive — for the Grease party I found discounted Halloween costumes and spandex pants online, then scooped up festive and affordable party supply essentials at Target. My friends set up a makeup station and sprayed the girls' hair into wild Grease-era styles. If you’re willing to play DJ on your iPod, a dance party is free!

Here are some other fun, budget-friendly ideas:

• DIY goodie bags: Fill large mason jars with candy and let kids decorate brown paper to-go sacks with stamps and stickers.
• Treasure hunt: Scatter little toys and treats around the yard or park, and send the kids to go find them. Works every time!
• Crafts: Buy a bunch of inexpensive picture frames and let the kids decorate them with paint, stickers, and glitter. If you’re a fan of Polaroid cameras like I am, snap photos of each guest with the birthday boy or girl to go in frames as a memory of the day.
• Philanthropy: It's never too early to introduce kids to the concept of giving back and instill a sense of compassion and awareness. Have guests bring toys for kids in need or donate the crafts made at the party to a local children’s hospital.

Keep reading for Soleil's tips for ensuring smooth sailing at your party!

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Soleil Moon Frye, Target's Mommy Ambassador, author of Happy Chaos, and mom to Poet, 6, and Jagger, 3. This week Soleil shares her tips on bringing her kids into the kitchen.

I've been known to eat dessert first. While my food philosophies may be unorthodox at times, my efforts to make eating fun and exciting for my girls have produced rather impressive palates for two little ones. They love Japanese food, Indian food, veggies, you name it.

One of my tried-and-true strategies for raising well-rounded eaters is to have my kids make some of their own choices in the kitchen. Letting them have a hand in the process gives them a sense of control and empowerment — and trust me, my girls are way more willing to eat a salad that they helped make!

Here are some fun ideas for playing with ingredients in the kitchen:

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. In honor of Valentine's Day, Annabel shares a red cupcake tots will love.

Just when you thought you couldn't take any more of the dreary Winter weather, Valentine's Day appears on our calendars. The day celebrating love adds some warm colors to an otherwise drab month, with reds and pinks that are sure to warm both big and lil hearts. Kids will love the chocolatey surprise of these red velvet cupcakes. Decorate them with little heart biscuits to add some extra flair to your celebration.

To see the recipe for Annabel's Red Velvet Valentine's Cupcakes, which can be found on her new Annabel’s Essential Guide to Feeding Your Baby & Toddler iPhone app, read more

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. As the year comes to a close, Annabel shares her thoughts on making kid's mealtime healthier.

I always find the New Year a great time to start afresh, and I think it so important to find new inspiration to feed my family and myself a balanced and nutritional diet that will shake us out of the slightly overindulgent Christmas month that has just gone by. Below are a few resolutions that might help re-energize your cooking habits through January.

• Try to keep introducing new fruit and vegetables into your children’s diet. For example hidden in a sauce or threaded onto a straw for the lunch box.
• Variety. Give your children a wide variety of different foods, for example trying recipes from different cultures such as Asian or Italian. Encourage a balanced diet of different foods – it will reduce the likelihood of your children developing into fussy eaters and make them more interested in trying new foods.
• Try not to give into demands when taking your children to the store. Establish a rule to allow them one treat, and one treat only, otherwise you can end up with grocery bags full of sweet cereals and candy.
• Try to be organized with ‘Smart Snacking’. Kids are always hungry when they come home from school or activities. Keep a supply of healthy snacks available in the lower shelves of the fridge such as a Spanish omelette or cut up fruit.
• Try to stay clear of ready-made processed food that is high in saturated fats and sodium. Where possible make food from scratch using fresh ingredients, but if that is not possible, look for ready-meals that are designed for children and therefore lower in salt.

Have a picky eater that refuses to eat his greens or a lil girl who is begging to be your sous chef, but you don't know how she can help? Submit your cooking and feeding questions to The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community and we'll have Annabel answer them!

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares an easy first fish puree to help increase lil ones' fatty acid intake.

The old saying that "fish is good for the brain" is absolutely true. Oil rich fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines are rich in omega-3 essential fats, which are vital for brain function and visual development. Our brains are made up of 60 percent fat and eating the right fats – omega-3 and omega 6 found in fish and seeds – makes us smarter. Introducing oily fish, like salmon, around 7 months will get them used to the taste from an early age.

To see the entire recipe, read more

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares two terrifyingly tasty Halloween recipes that will add some fright to the festive night!

Halloween is a great excuse for a children’s party, so take the children trick-or-treating and prepare some great, festive food for them to return to when they come home. You can really get into the spirit of things by getting the children to help you with the cooking. These recipes are simple to make and by using your cauldron (mixing bowl) and wand (wooden spoon), you can concoct devilish delights for all the family to enjoy.

To see Annabel's recipe for Deadman's Finger Sandwiches, read more

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares tips for ensuring lil ones get enough to eat throughout the day!

There is no definitive guide to portion sizes for tots. Babies' appetites vary for many reasons, so it is important to be flexible and not to worry if some days they don't eat very much. A baby's appetite may increase during a growth spurt and they may eat less when cutting teeth as the gums can be very sore.

Generally tots will tell you when they have had enough as they often stop opening their mouths or they throw food on the floor! Between nine-12 months, babies need to drink 18-21 ounces of breast milk or formula — any more may fill them up so they will not eat as much as they should. Giving the daytime drinks in cups (with teats) is another good way to ensure baby doesn't fill up on fluids but still remains hydrated.

For toddlers it is a good idea to make individual portions in small ramekins or bowls such as mini fish pie. Small versions of your family meal will be appetizing, rather than daunting, for them and will look more attractive than a dollop of food on the plate. You can make several individual portions at a time and then freeze them so you have your own healthy convenience food on hand on days when you don't have time to cook.

To see three of Annabel's perfectly portioned recipes, read more

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares lunchbox tips to keep lil one's midday meals exciting!

Children are all different, but by and large what they want is a quick fix – something to eat fast saving maximum time for the playground. Here are some tips on how to make healthy lunchbox ideas that will sustain them until dinnertime, and most importantly food that they will enjoy eating.

• Lunches can be prepared the night before to save time the next morning. You can prepare pasta salads, sandwich fillings or include something from last night’s dinner like soup in a flask, chicken skewers or a frittata (Spanish omelette).
• Avoid too many processed foods as they tend to contain few nutrients and too much salt, sugar, additives and saturated fat. Instead of chips or chocolate biscuits try offering toasted seeds, popcorn, rice cakes, yoghurt covered raisins and dried apricots.
• However healthy food is, it won’t get eaten unless it’s tasty and appealing to your child. Simple touches can make all the difference like cutting sandwiches into shapes using cookie cutters or threading fruit onto a straw to make a fresh fruit skewer.
• As the colder weather sets in it’s a good idea to include something hot in a lunchbox. A wide mouthed mini thermos flask would be ideal for serving up a delicious cup of home-made or good quality bought soup like tomato soup which is both warming and nutritious.
• Pure fruit juice contains 100 percent fruit juice as you would expect, however a ‘fruit juice drink’ can contain as little as 5 percent juice and high levels of sugar and artificial colors and flavors. Other good options for the lunchbox are fresh fruit smoothies, probiotic mini yogurt drinks or plain old water.

Have a picky eater that refuses to eat his greens or a lil girl who is begging to be your sous chef, but you don't know how she can help? Submit your cooking and feeding questions to The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community and we'll have Annabel answer them!

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares breakfast tips for keeping tots fed and full before heading off to school.

Don’t let your child skip breakfast. If your child claims not to be hungry first thing or there is no time to fit in breakfast, think back to the previous evening. When did they last eat and what time did they go to bed? The earlier your child eats and the earlier they go to bed, the more likely it is that they will want food first thing and the easier it will be to get them up 15 minutes earlier. A good tip is to get as much ready the night before so that you are not stressed in the morning. Breakfast need take no longer than 10 minutes from start to finish. Cereal with milk or peanut butter on toast, a yogurt or some cheese, and a glass of fruit juice would provide an excellent breakfast for a child.

If your child’s not hungry at breakfast you can send him off to school with a healthy muffin and a smoothie. Try my Apple and Carrot Muffins.

Eggs are packed full of nutrients and make great breakfast food. How about a Breakfast Burrito – scrambled eggs with tasty extras like ham, grated cheese, or chopped tomato inside a wrap, or try my simple recipe for the Perfect Omelette.

Try to include fresh fruit – toast with peanut butter, sliced bananas and a drizzle of honey, add berries or dried fruit to cereal, see my Granola recipe and find fun ways to serve fruit like melon balls or half a kiwi in an egg cup.

On weekends encourage your child to help prepare breakfast – pancakes, French toast, pancakes, and smoothies are fun to make.

. . . Annabel

Get the recipes for Annabel's Carrot and Apple Muffins, Perfect Omelette, and Granola when you read more

Editor’s note: We are thrilled to introduce our first guest blogger, Annabel Karmel. The British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author will be joining us for a weekly series with tips, tricks, and recipes geared toward giving lil ones a healthy start in life.

I have had three fussy children and written 22 books and can tell you that feeding children needn’t be hard work. My quick and tasty recipe ideas are great for all the family and will give parents a helping hand to make meal times easier and fun. Whether it is recipes for babies, fussy eaters, healthy snack ideas, or fantastic food for parties or holidays, I will be giving you my top tips.

I am really excited about launching my new books and products in the US and cannot wait to start blogging. I will also be happy to answer any questions you may have. In the meantime take a look at annabelkarmel.com for hundreds of my delicious recipes. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

. . . Annabel

Have a picky eater that refuses to eat his greens or a lil girl who is begging to be your sous chef, but you don't know how she can help? Submit your cooking and feeding questions to The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community and we'll have Annabel answer the questions each month!

The following post was written by Olympic athlete and mom Kerri Walsh, two-time gold medalist in pairs beach volleyball.

My philosophy on traveling is to have a tool box. It should be full of everything and anything you could possibly need to help deal with hunger, tantrums, etc.

My toolbox has premade bottles for the boys and millions of snacks. I usually pack things like yogurt bites, crackers, baby food, and fruit. I also pack Joey's backpack full of books and toys. I bring stuffed animals and toys that do not make a lot of noise so we do not bother the other passengers. We will read Five Little Monkeys five times on a one-hour flight; Joey loves it. He is also just starting to watch videos. Joey will play on Casey's iPhone and watch Elmo or Mickey's Play House.

I also recommend having hand sanitizer. Joey touches everything so I make sure to wipe down the trays and seats as soon as we get on the plane.

Recently my nutritionist suggested an all natural supplement to give the kids to help build up their immune systems. I give the kids Congaplex a few days before we travel to help fight anything they may catch from other passengers.

Be sure to catch up and read all of Kerri's great posts on FitSugar!