TWTW - the Presidents Day one

Friday I started work early, but not as early as Billy Hicks, who made it to the office first. I painted my nails on a break, color influenced by Audrey (CND Vinylux Sage Scarf, you can see it in action on one of the Saturday photos below), had big ass salads for lunch with MFD and Ben, had an unsuccessful trip to HomeGoods, spent a few hours with my niece and nephew and giugitsus (sp?) while having pizza and cupcakes, and assed out on the couch after a stop at Target on the way home. 

Saturday Wakeup time was around 7:15, but I wasn't feeling it. I ended up sleeping until almost 10:30. I needed it I guess, and I am trying to get better about not getting up just to get up if I need rest. I eased into the day with eggs with the dogs and then read a book, did a lot of laundry folding and sorting, moved some furniture around, ran to the grocery store, and made creamy sausage tortellini soup. So easy and delicious. After that I packed up the car and headed back to the shore with los perros. I unpacked immediately which I never do and was up reading late. 

Sunday I had another lie in until about 9, got a big salad from Wawa and picked up supplies at Sherwin Williams, battled between the desire to get a project going and the desire to read a book straight through, finally prepped and primed the counter top, took the dogs to the beach, and headed out.

Melissa and Jim & the kids were a few towns over, so I popped in for a visit, including a beautiful and freezing due to wind jetty walk( bottom left pic I borrowed from Melissa) and dinner. It was impromptu and great, I'm glad we could make it work. Also look at the gorgeous church across as I was leaving. 

If you've never driven on the Garden State Parkway in the southern shore area with no one behind you on a moonless night, this is what it looks like looking out the back LOL. I stopped at ACME on the way home to exchange my water jugs, put another coat of primer on the counter tops, walked the dogs, had some Jeni's ice cream, and finished a book just before midnight. 

Work today, no bank holidays here. 

Kids at Home: finding fun during quarantine

Being at home for a long period of time is hard on all of us, and for kids especially this time in our lives has been confusing and difficult to handle. I've been sourcing info for coworkers to keep the kids occupied when typical entertainment avenues may be unavailable. Some of that includes:

Have a pamper session 

It’s not only you who can enjoy a good old pamper session, the kids can benefit from this too! A good pamper session can be great for your well being and health and great for your kids too, and you can use your own natural remedies. 

For skin: a mask made from yogurt, honey and avocado is perfect and okay for everyone's skin.

For eyes: some aloe vera gel on a cotton pad under the eyes is great. Cucumber slices on the eyes are refreshing and it will provide great care for the eyes stopping you from needing to buy kids glasses. 

For hair: some coconut and olive oil works as a hair mask. 

Nail painting is always an option and obviously a favorite of mine. Depending on your kid's age, you can do that too. 

Get baking 

There’s nothing better on a boring and rainy day than baking in the kitchen, and the kids can get creative here too. Why not create some easy shortbread with a 1:1:1 ratio of flour, butter, and sugar? You can decorate these with whatever you want or even make millionaire shortbread with caramel and chocolate. The kids will love being around you in the kitchen and they can learn a few good skills too. 

Teach them cooking skills 

Speaking of skills, one great opportunity during quarantine times is to teach the kids some simple cooking skills. When they get older, your kids will need to know how to prepare simple meals and it is important for you to teach them these skills early. You can teach kids how to cook rice, pasta, and how to cut certain fruit and vegetables, depending on age and skill level. 

Make a fort 

What’s one of the best ways to spend a day in isolation when you have children? Build a fort! Go on and grab every blanket and cushion in the house and start getting creative in your living room. This paired with some snacks and a few movies, maybe a flashlight or two and some books is the perfect way to have fun with the kids this week. 

Grow your own plants 

If you have been hoping to spend more time in the garden during quarantine, you have a great opportunity to do this now with the kids. You can get hold of some flower seeds such as marigolds or sunflowers and let the kids sow the seeds and look after them. Lots of tiny lessons about life and science during the time it germinates and grows, and once the seedlings are big enough you can plant them out in the garden, allowing your kids to feel the pride of having their own plant in the garden. 

Have a treasure hunt 

If you have more than one child it can be especially difficult for you to keep them entertained for a long period of time over quarantine. A treasure hunt can be the ideal way to keep them occupied for a few hours and give yourself a little bit of peace! When it comes to treasure hunting, you can place a prize such as chocolate or a present at the end for the winner with some backup treats for the other kids a treat too. There are a lot of resources online for this right about now. Thank you for always giving, Internet.  

Get arty 

Arts and crafts can be a great way to spend time with the kids during quarantine, and they can get super creative for hours. Lay out a table with all of the paper, paints, glitter, pencils and other art supplies you have, and to make things even more fun you can write the names of animals in a hat and allow the kids to pull them out so they have an animal to draw or paint. There are also places that are doing online art at certain times during the day via their social media channels. You can find a lot of videos on this page. 

Try DIY

If the house is looking a bit boring at the moment, why not bring the kids along  on a DIY odyssey? Get the kids involved and allow them to help paint the walls and rearrange the furniture in their own bedroom, sort through books, anything that will hold their attention based on age. It will be a good way to spend some hours and also will make the house feel brand new.

Tips for me to pass along to my peeps?

Happy Wednesday!

How do parents make a better world for their kids?

Tuesday and my brain is a-scramble this week. My friend Sarah who wrote about never being too busy to spend time with your aging parents and not falling into the pushy parent trap is back. If you are polishing your writing chops or have something to say or are trying to get into freelance writing and want some exposure and want to submit a post, email me! If you want to reach Sarah directly, email her. Note: you do not have to provide your email address for people to contact you if you want to submit a post!

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For the majority of good human beings with kids, one of the best side effects of having children is becoming a better person as an adult. There is no denying that having children is likely to encourage most people to become more mindful about what they say or do. Parents are responsible for the well being of their children. Psychologists have long demonstrated the devastating effects that poor parenting choices can have on young and vulnerable minds. As a result, the desire to become a better person is influenced by the need to protect children and give them a wonderful, nurturing place to grow into themselves.

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Even if you don't have kids, we are hopefully all on a continual path to self-improvement. While parents are motivated by their responsibilities toward their children to make better decisions, non-parents can also find some inspiration in the process.

They invest in their education
Parents spend a lot of time examining and comparing schools before deciding where their children should be educated, whether they need to go to preschool or high school. The reason for it is that a good education gives children a better chance of success in life. As adults, we can apply the same principle to ourselves. It's never too late to learn something new, be it a personal hobby or skill set; or  professionally to boost your profile with a certification or course. Finding the best evening school or online college to brush up your skills is not a decision to take lightly. It can have a massive impact on your career and your income. By approaching your decision with the same level of care as parents demonstrate in the choice of their children’s education, you can avoid costly mistakes.

They know how to motivate and guide 
Motivation is an eternal obstacle in our everyday life. Even adults struggle to maintain their motivation. Unfortunately, most of us continue to look for a reward, aka extrinsic motivation. For instance, many new gym-goers who are trying to boost their fitness levels are likely to use caloric rewards, allowing themselves a yummy snack for each drop of sweat. The problem is that extrinsic motivation can be counterproductive for yourself, and when exercised on someone else, it’s basically bribery. As a result, more and more parents are developing intrinsic motivation approaches, like helping children to build higher self-esteem by encouraging them to want to be the best they can be. Using the same thought process, you can also create new motivation to achieve your goals.

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They say sorry for their mistakes
Everybody gets things wrong, parents and adults included. Nobody expects parents to get things right all the time except possibly parents themselves (mom guilt is real). But being willing to apologize for mistakes remains an issue for many. Taking ownership of your error as a parent teaches children the importance of saying I’m sorry when appropriate and meaning it and establishes a healthy relationship. Learning to admit your mistakes is a vital lesson, not only for children but for everyone. Don't fall into the over-apologizing trap - women especially say sorry for too many things - but when it's appropriate, do it and do it sincerely.

Parents and other adults that play roles in the lives of children exemplify better lives by creating healthy and positive habits for themselves. Whether you are a primary, secondary, or periphery role model for a child, try applying some of the things we learned in kindergarten to yourself as an adult. It can't hurt.

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Thanks Sarah! See you back here tomorrow with a (hopefully) coherent post.

Looking After Kids? Never Fear, An Activity Guide is Here

Not everyone in the world is comprised of a skeleton of maternal bones. For some of us, our nieces and nephews and framily of kids of our friends are more than enough. Popping in as a favorite adult that's not a parent is one of the best feelings aside from the genuine affection and big hearted love you have for these little darlings. However, when they are in your official care because your sibling or friend has an appointment or it’s date night, you are now in charge of them, and need to entertain or at least direct entertainment as well as keep them out of danger.

If you find yourself in charge of the happiness and well being of a couple of little people in your home or theirs, depending on their age you are probably looking for some activities to do together. Very little human beings are easy to care for because they eat, sleep, pee/poop, and play and require very little activity planning...but where's the fun in that? Never fear, as they grow older, you'll be branching out more in your activities. There are lots of great activities you can get into that will be fun for the kids and as a bonus fun for you. 

Seek Adventure

There are a whole host of adventure parks across the country. These range from water parks to theme parks. If the children that you are looking after adore being active and can swim, a water park is ideal. They can spend an hour or two going down slides, enjoying the rapids, and having a swim in the wave machine. Taking kids I love is literally the only way I'd set foot in a water park. If it's not outdoor weather, you can partake in one of the hugely popular bouncey places. Enjoy the fun of the trampoline park and watch the little people bounce away to their heart’s content. Being active, having fun, and bouncing off of the walls (literally) is tiring in a good way and makes for happy evenings.

If the kids are old enough and you're all feeling daring, you could opt for a theme park. Most theme parks have ride areas specifically aimed at kids. Harry Potter World and Disney have amazing rides and can be the ultimate day out. Here in PA you've got Dorney and Hershey Parks and in NJ there are all the shore town amusements as well as Six Flags. Busch Gardens in Virginia...what's near you? Get your wallet out and go. 

Stay Local

There's no need to travel for fun if you don't feel like it or don't have the cash for it - there are lots of free activities all around. You could head to the local park or playground or take a walk or bike ride through the neighborhood together. Your local town might have a free museum or it will at least have some attractions where the kids go free. Consider what the children are interested in and try to mold activities around their likes and passions. If they adore all things science, head to the local space center or observatory. Philly friends, check out the Franklin Institute or Please Touch Museum. If they'll sit for it, take them to see the kids movie that's out in theaters. If they like books, check out what's going on in the kid's section of the local library. 

Local activities are great because you don’t have to worry about planning a long journey. You never have to worry about the incessant Are we there yet and you can visit some local places that you might not go to much, broadening your own horizons. 

Stay Home

Some kids prefer a more sedate and chilled pace of life. If they're little homebodies or you're looking after them at night, the chances are that you’ll be staying indoors. Turn up armed with some pipe cleaners, paints, crayons, paper, boxes and felt, and allow them to craft away. Maybe you can collaborate on building a robot or painting a portrait or copying a design from a book. Kids adore novelty, so any craft activity new to them just by virtue of doing it with you should be a lot of fun. If you're not crafty and they're not either, you could bake a cake together, build a fortress with blankets and pillows, read books, play school, pretend you have a restaurant or are going to the store....all those awesome imagination required things that let kids stretch their brains. 

What are some activities you like to do when you're babysitting the awesome little people in your life? Are you on duty this weekend? 

6 Fun Ways to Help Your Kids Excel in School

Happy Sunday! I hope your weekend has been superb. Beth, who is a Life According to Steph reader that teaches second grade and moms for a living, sent me this article she whipped up to share as everyone with kids turns their attention towards back to school at some point in August, later or now depending on where you live in the country. Thank you Beth! 

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Helping your child to excel in school can be attributed to a variety of practices. It can mean making sure they get a good night’s sleep so they are ready to take on the day. It can also mean making sure they eat a nutritious, filling breakfast so that they can concentrate when they arrive at school.
Outside of the physical care of a child though, it’s also a good idea to incorporate learning methods your child will find fun. Below, you’ll find six fun suggestions that could potentially help your kids to excel in school. Take a look:

1. Read To and With Them
Helping your child to develop a love of reading can be a lot of fun for both of you. Get into the habit of reading with them every day, even if just for a short while. If they can read to you, take it in turns. Ideally, you should start as early on as possible, as this can help them to appreciate good writing and be able to pick up context clues. Reading helps with all kinds of skills, from writing their own stuff to communicating in general.

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2. Set An Example With Your Own Learning
If you can concentrate on your own learning and set an example for your kids, then that’s a great way to encourage them to excel. Monkey see monkey do really does have some truth in it, so show them that you also care about your learning and self development by learning new skills in front of them and talking about learning.

3. Allow Your Child To Follow Their Passion
If your child seems to have a love for something, whether that’s art, English, or maths, let them follow it. Let them talk about it, do Cazoom maths quizzes at home, and really help them to nurture the passion. You might think that other studies and subjects will be neglected, but this won’t be the case. Having passions from such an early age and getting kids excited about subjects is amazing!

4. Play As Many Games As Possible
Various games can teach kids all kinds of lessons: Clue for their process of elimination skills, Monopoly for skills with numbers and decision making, and so on, so break out those board games and have fun playing..

5. Make Sure Your Child Knows How To Switch Off And Relax
Teaching your child to shut down can be vital in improving their ability to switch on at the right times. Simple breathing exercises or even basic meditation can have a powerful impact on the ability to learn. It’s much better to teach them the skill of calming their minds rather than letting them sit in front of the TV. Look into Yoga and meditation for young people and you’ll be teaching them valuable skills for life.

6. Let Their Imaginations Run Wild 

Let your child write poems and stories. Let them make things and draw pictures. Allow them to use their imaginations as often as possible. Don’t correct them if they draw the sky green or the sea pink, simply ask them why they made that decision. You want to encourage them to let imagination flow, rather than force them to stick to reality.

Thanks for the opportunity to share six easy and fun things to do at home to help kids excel in school!

How to teach your child to love a new sport

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Tuesday. Let us acknowledge its benign terribleness and move on.

As you know, I accept articles on things I don't write about. Such as kids. I don't have them and I don't really write about them. This one is from Adrian, a lifelong thrill seeker and adrenaline junkie. A freelance sports writer, Adrian is passionate about health and fitness and pushing his body to limits. Whether he's rambling in the beautiful Cotswolds or bunjy jumping in New Zealand, Adrian is a fervent believer in making the most of the great outdoors. 

I, too like The Great Outdoors - the movie as well as rambling around in nature, albeit with a little less adventure to my outings. Nevertheless, sports. Kids. Teaching. Go.

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Sports are important for all children. Sports can help your child develop their social skills, self-esteem and their self-confidence. Sports can help them make new friends, it can help them stay healthy, and it can help them focus better in all other areas of their lives. Sports, and the exercise playing sports requires, are imperative for your child’s health, happiness, and their development. Getting them to love a new sport, however, can be tricky. Follow this guide to find the perfect sport for your child:

1. Let Them Try Out New Things

There are many local activities, sports, and courses to choose from. Sit down with your child and register them to the activities and sports that they show interest in. Register for taster events, so that your child can try out the sport without a huge commitment. This will allow them to try out new things and see what works for them.

2. Combine Activities

Sometimes, all it takes to get your child interested in a new sport is to show them the possibilities. For instance, showing them that they can have fun while going to school, or going over to a friend’s house with a scooter, is a great way to introduce them to greater sporting possibilities. To start, buy them a JD Bug scooter. JD Bug are one of the founding companies of the fold-up scooter, and specialise in children’s scooters. This means that you can get a scooter that can adjust to your child’s growing height, meaning there are many years of memories to be had. Through such a scooter they can not only get from A to B safely, but they can also try out new tricks that are bound to impress. For more information, see the full range of JD Bug scooter on Skates to help you choose the perfect scooter for your child.  

3. Try Out Sports with Them

One of the best moments as a parent is showing them something that you love, with the hope that they love it too. It is the hope of every parent to teach and mentor their child, and it can be very disheartening when they don’t find your sport interesting. Instead of getting disheartened, try out new sports with them. Learning together can be incredibly rewarding, for both you and your child. 

4. Keep it Fun

The most important thing to remember when encouraging your child to love a new sport is to keep it fun. By participating in a sport it keeps them healthy and happy. If they are talented in that sport, and even if they show interest in becoming a professional in that sport is no excuse to take the fun away from it. Let them push themselves, and focus instead on being supportive and knowledgeable on what their next steps need to be, if they decide to take their talents further.

Getting your child to love a new sport takes two main steps. You need to first help them find a sport or activity that they love to do, and then you need to keep it fun. Whether they play sports with friends, with you, or by themselves, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that they are active, healthy, and happy. 

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Any tips from you parents out there for other parents?

See you back here tomorrow for carrot pineapple muffins. 

Fun Ways to Introduce Other Cultures to Your Children

When people approach me about sharing articles in my blog space, I don't say yes to every opportunity that comes along. . I am not big into writing about or accepting writing about things like tampons for any amount of dollars. I do accept articles that cover topics that I don't because I think that's an interesting supplement. Like this one:

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Exposing your children to the many different cultures that are found throughout the world will make them well-rounded individuals who have a true appreciation for people all over the planet, not just in their home country. To make the experience of learning about other cultures more fun for your kids, though, you should follow the helpful tips and strategies below.

Explore Different Religions

Every religion has something unique to offer; yet all religions have the common theme of loving yourself and loving those around you equally. By exposing your children to the many different religious teachings from around the world, you can prove to them that everyone basically holds to the same hopes and values, but they express them differently and follow different scriptures or deities. You can study everything from Buddhism to Christianity on sites like Deily, and you can allow your kids to determine which religion they connect with most, rather than forcing them to believe in what you believe.

Indulge in the Delicious Cuisines of Different Cultures

One of the best and most fun ways to dive into a different culture is by indulging in its food. You can actually learn a lot about a culture by sampling its most beloved dishes, so make it a point to research some recipes that you can make at home, and find local restaurants that are family owned and operated and are serving up authentic cuisine. You may be surprised by how different yet delicious the flavors are, and your kids may find that their favorite dishes aren’t their own culture’s recipes after all.

Get a Map

The simple act of printing out a world map is a great way to show your kids where different countries are located and where different cultures come from. You can incorporate these lessons into your other strategies. For example, on a night during which you will be having Indian cuisine for dinner, you can take the map out and show your kids where India is located.

Visit Museums

Yet another fun way to teach your kids about different cultures from around the world is by taking them to a museum. You can go to a natural history museum that will focus on the evolution of various cultures from across the globe, or you can visit museums that are dedicated specifically to a single culture, such as the Native American culture. Museums are highly educational, and they provide parents with a host of resources that they can use to teach their kids more about diversity and global cultures. So go ahead and plan a day at the museum and visit all of the exhibits that will expose your kids to the artwork and history of people from other countries.

These are just a few of the many fun ways that you can teach your kids about other cultures from other parts of the world. Of course, you want to also teach them about your own heritage and its culture, but this is a fantastic way to raise kids who will embrace diversity.

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Parents, how do you teach your kids about other cultures?

And a happiest of birthdays to one of my favorites, Jill.

Random Inclement Weather Thoughts from the School Pick-Up Line with Jana Says

Today I am lounging around on a hammock on Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. Other activities include a massage on the beach. Hey ohhh. My long-time friend Jana who blogs over at Jana Says is here to pick up my slack today and will be responding to your comments below. Thanks Jana!

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For those who don’t know me, I’m Jana. I blog at Jana Says and Steph and I go way, WAY back to our years at the University of Delaware. You might have seen me in some of her Throwback Thursday pictures. We had fun.  Unfortunately, my life isn’t as exciting now as it was back then. In fact, a good portion of my week is devoted to time in my car, driving my daughter to and from places. Including school because she’s afraid of the bus. So each day, I
wastespend a fair amount of time waiting in the school pick-up line.  And I think. Which might or might not be a good thing. I've talked before about some of the thoughts that go through my head but now, with the winter and lots of inclement weather swiftly approaching, I have other thoughts.

In the morning
This line is incredibly long and slow moving. Kids need to toughen up and wait for the bus like we had to do.

 I really shouldn't criticize the other kids. My kid is just as bad.

I'm glad I remembered to warm up the car this morning. It's freaking cold out.

Is she wearing a warm enough coat? I hope they don't have outdoor recess.

Hey, why isn't that kid wearing a coat at all? Hoodies are not sufficient!!! His mother should know better.

I hate when people don't brush snow off their car. It's not that hard.

WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE TAKING SO LONG?

Oh, finally. We're moving towards the front door.

Where are all the teachers? Aren't they supposed to be supervising?

I guess I can't blame them. It's way too cold out. They can see the kids from the front door.

At least it's not raining/snowing.

I should check the weather to see if it's supposed to rain/snow today.

Oh, look at that. It's supposed to rain/snow.

I hate winter. I need to move somewhere warm.

In the afternoon

I think it's colder out now than it was this morning. I blame the snow.

I'm going to blame the snow for everything bad that happens during the months of December-March because it's really the worst thing ever.

That puddle is way bigger than it was this morning. I hope whichever teacher is walking around with the sign out clipboard doesn't step in it.

I'm glad this parking lot doesn't have huge potholes like the gym parking lot. My wheels would probably fall off. That would suck.

I should learn how to change a tire. But not until the weather is warmer. It's too cold for that shit. 

Why do I have 16 pairs of gloves and no scarves? If I could knit, I'd have 86 scarves. I should try knitting again.

Who am I kidding? Knitting is not a skill I will ever possess. I should surrender that fantasy.

What does one do with skeins of yarn? Is that what it's even called? I feel like it needs to be called "big knotted balls of yarn that serve no purpose".

I'm horrible at naming things.

That teacher has a pom pom on top of his hat! I bet someone knitted that for him.

I really need to stop thinking about knitting.

I should probably lower my music before that teacher gets to my car.

Why does Buckcherry's "Crazy Bitch" always play while I'm waiting for the child?

Let's go ahead and skip it today. I don't need these teachers thinking I'm a terrible and inappropriate parent.

WOOHOO! We're moving again!

Why is that teacher waving violently at my car? I'm aware that I have to move up.

Maybe she's doing it to keep warm. If that's the case, I can't fault her.

Okay, she needs to calm down now. My child is buckling her seat belt. Safety first.

OMG, I hate how people drive in the snow/rain.

I hate winter.

I need to move somewhere warm.

 Thanks so much to Steph for having me guest post again and Steph, if you're reading, I hope you're enjoying your vacation! Also, if you guys like intermittent posting, you can like Jana Says on Facebook; if you like pictures of dogs, books, and random stuff, you can follow me on Instagram; if you like nonsensical conversations, connect with me on Twitter; and if you like pins relating to food, snarky memes and pictures, and kids' crafts, find me on Pinterest.