May 8

May 8 Father's Day June

Educational Explorations

This clip is all about helping your little ones learn the alphabet with silly rhymes. Putting the alphabet to a new song will help with memorization. Figure out what else rhymes with the animals in this song. Have fun!! The "Animal Alphabet” is also available for purchase musicmovesinmesongs.com

Let’s Jam

While we are on the topic of music, this month we are learning all about various animals and ocean life! Here’s a playlist you can jam to that is related to that theme, hope you enjoy!

The Bare Necessities |Phil Harris & Bruce Reitherman
Under The Sea | Samuel E. Wright & Disney
Animal Alphabet | Music Moves In Me
Down By the Bay | Raffi
Baby Belgua | Raffi
Stomping At The Savoy | Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald

Littles Reading List

We are learning all about the alphabet this month! All of the books listed below will really help to not only teach your little ones the alphabet, but teach them associations with each letter!

Mexican Chocolate Cake

What you’ll need-

For the cake:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 228 grams
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar 350 grams
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 75 grams
1 teaspoon baking powder 4 grams
2 teaspoons baking soda 10 grams
2 teaspoons cinnamon 6 grams
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional (1 gram)
1 teaspoon salt 8 grams
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup freshly brewed strong hot coffee

For the frosting:

1 cup salted butter at room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
5-6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon cinnamon

For topping:

1 cup mini chocolate chips

The How To;

Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

For the cake, put flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cayenne pepper (optional) and salt in a large bowl and mix well.
In a stand mixer, mix the buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla together. Slowly add in the mix of dry ingredients while the mixer is on low. Add the coffee and make sure everything is combined. The batter will be very thin.
Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the center of the cake springs back when you touch it. You can also insert a toothpick into the center and it should be mostly clean.
Allow the cake to cool on a cooling rack. While the cake is cooling, make the frosting.

Make the frosting:

Whip the butter alone in a stand mixer on medium for 2 minutes or until fluffy, almost white in appearance and lighter in texture.
Add the vanilla and cinnamon. Add the powdered sugar slowly, mixing between each addition.
Alternate the last bit of powdered sugar and the heavy cream, and whip the frosting on high for at least 2 minutes. If the buttercream is too thick after 5 tablespoons of heavy cream, add another tablespoon.
Spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Sprinkle the top with mini chocolate chips.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

June’s Monthly Music Kit

Your little will enjoy this early education music enrichment kit. It will include a musical game or puzzle to develop beginning music theory skills, a handmade felt finger puppet, a figurine that encourages discovery around the educational theme, and music theory based flash cards to learn the various instruments or dynamics used in the music genre correlated with that month. Visit us at musicmovesinmesongs.com to subscribe for yours today!

Essential Oil Bug Repellent!

Use citronella, eucalyptus, and peppermint oil to help keep the summer bugs away! Just dilute in a carrier oil and spray around where you’ll be sitting (not directly on your skin!