Cosmic Cubs Teach Kids About The Solar System And Ecology

“This post has been sponsored by Cosmic Cubs.  All thoughts and opinions are my own"

 My family recently took an overnight train trip and it was a great trip. Traveling by train was way better than a long car ride. My husband liked that he could relax instead of driving and I liked that we could move around on the train. My boys liked that they could spend their time playing games and watching movies. Since they brought with their tablets, I loaded them with some fun educational apps so they could learn while playing games. I made sure that I selected kid-safe apps that taught my boys yet were fun to play. My boys have been into space and the solar system lately as they had recently learned them at school. So when I looked into some apps for kids, I came across Cosmic Cubs and I loved that this safe app for kids made learning about space with fun puzzles. As I was downloading the Cosmic Cubs Space Puzzles app on my Android device, (also available for iPhone), I notice that Cosmic Cubs also had an Eco Puzzler app that could teach my kids about the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. I am all about saving the earth so I also downloaded that app onto my boy's tablet. Cosmic Cubs also has a cute Cosmic Cubs Dress Up app that kids could play dress-up with the space cubs and I added that one to my list of apps for my granddaughter when she gets older.

Learning Apps For Ages 3 and Up
 I really loved that these fun educational apps could make device time learning time. I am the mom who wants to help children succeed in school and I know that learning apps can enhance their knowledge. The learning games on the educational apps were great for kids as early as three years old but since they have different levels that ranged from easy to hard, I knew that they would keep my boys entertained. The kid-safe apps had my boys learning about the solar system and ecology through different fun puzzles. My boys had to solve the puzzles to reveal pictures and facts about the planets and tips about the 3Rs. The best part was some of the games were free to play so you can check it out before you purchase the app.

Color your favorite Cosmic Cub while learning more about our universe.
Download and print educational coloring pages HERE

The Games Lead To Great Discussions
 Since we were on the train, I had fun helping my boys solve the puzzles. The boys and I had fun seeing who could solve the puzzles the quickest and with the least moves. Once we solved the puzzle, we took turns reading the facts. I loved that the Cosmic Cubs Space solar system games taught my boys about the different planets and stars. My boys learned that the surface of Venus has no water or oxygen and many volcanos. The games even rewarded us with beautiful images from NASA. The Eco Puzzler games lead to the boys and I discussing of ways we could do better on reducing and recycling around the house, like using bringing our reusable cloth bags to the store so we would not need a plastic bag for our groceries.

Great Fun For Younger Kids
 My boys even had fun passing the time on the train playing with the Cosmic Cubs Dress Up app. This fun app is geared more towards the younger preschool age kids but my boys had fun dressing up the space cubs and selecting different items for the cubs to play with. Once my boys were done creating the Cosmic Cubs danced for them. If we were at home, we could even print some Cosmic Cubs coloring pages. My boys still enjoy coloring and I wished I had thought about bringing with crayons and coloring pages.

Check Out The Three Cosmic Cubs Apps

Cosmic Cubs Eco Puzzler • Ages 3+ • Free or $1.99
Join the Cosmic Cubs to learn about the 3 R's-Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle -- while playing a slide puzzle. Kids quickly figure out which puzzle pieces move in position to recreate an image. This app helps raise awareness and offers suggestions for children to save the earth resources. 

Cosmic Cubs Dress Up • Ages 3+ • Free or $1.99
Clothes make the man and the cub! Choose from hundreds of different items to dress the various Cosmic Cubs as they step out into space. Look for enchanting themes from Princess to Spy.
Outerwear, helmets, scenery and more make this a delightful way to spend downtime with family or as solo play in the backseat of the car.

Cosmic Cubs Space Puzzles • Ages 3+ • Free or $1.99
The Cosmic Cubs are exploring the Solar System and you can travel along. Learn about the solar system, with NASA images and fun facts about the universe. Download the free version that
provides access to 17 images of the inner solar system, from the
Earth and the Moon inward to the Sun. You can also purchase all
54 of the puzzles of the outer planets and entire the Universe.
Children will be exposed to beautiful images from NASA and
can learn about Planets, stars and other fun facts about space.

Cosmic Cubs apps are fun and engaging while teaching children 3 and older about the solar system and the 3 Rs, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Each small step can become a giant leap in learning! Blast off to a Cosmic Cubs galaxy of learning fun! Explore the universe with the Cosmic Cubs! Cosmic Cubs is KIDSAFE certified.

  Download Cosmic Cubs apps at the iTunes App store and Google Play. 

To learn more about these educational apps click HERE

Ten Tips For Women To Stay Fit Over 50

Getting older is not an excuse for being out of shape!

  I think most people use age as an excuse for not being in shape or for a reason to stop exercising. I am here to tell you that age should not be an excuse for being out of shape. In fact, now is the time to continue those healthy habits or start making some. It is never too late to get your body in shape. Sure once you are over fifty, things change in your body but don't use those things like menopause as an excuse. Instead, learn new ways to continue to keep your body in shape and healthy so you can continue to enjoy life. If you start now you may avoid many medical problems later in life like diabetes and heart problems. I am proof that you can still be in shape over 50 and I am passionate about wanting to help others get healthy. As you are reading these tips, make sure to click on the blue words to discover some other great health information.


1. A positive attitude is always best
 As you get older, instead of complaining about the way things are changing, start looking at the positive things and Celebrate What Your Body Can Do. Sure my body may not be able to perform like it did when I was in my 20's but I can still move and I am not using a walker. I am still able to exercise every day and if you need some motivation, check out these Eight Fitness And Health Tips For Women Over 40. I can still get out of bed every day and trust me I can still make changes to keep my body in shape.



2. Start with a trip to the doctor
 A trip to the doctor is always good to get the motivation that you need to start making healthy changes so you can be in the best shape. Ask your doctor to order some blood work so you can things like your cholesterol, sugars, and thyroid tested. That way you can find out the areas you need to work on. If all of these are fine, give yourself a pat on the back for having healthy habits but if the blood tests reveal problems don't fret as some changes in your diet and exercise may be able to turn things around. That visit to the doctor may be the motivation that you need to start on the road to a healthy body.



3. Change your diet
 Turning 50 is always a great time to make changes in your diet. It may not mean eating less but eating more of the healthy foods like fruits and veggies. This is what I typically eat in a day to keep my body fit. You may need to increase your protein as older people need more to keep their muscles strong. The decline in estrogen from menopause is linked to decreased muscle mass, so women going through menopause should eat more protein. The best way that I increased protein in my diet is through delicious too good to be true gluten-free chocolate brownies and healthy dairy-free vegan protein pancakes.



4. Exercise and cross train
 You may have to exercise in different ways but the key is to keep exercising. Try to mix up your physical activity to avoid straining the same muscle groups, like your back, knees and other joints aren’t what they use to be. You don't have to run to get some great cardio as other exercises like fast walking, dancing, biking, or swimming offer the same benefits. Other great ways to sneak in the exercise can be through swimming, biking, or machines at the gym. You can even combine exercise with errands and bike to the store. To have a healthy body one should exercise at least 30 minutes 3 days a week. You may have to slow down when it comes to working out as you may not have the same energy as you had when you are younger and taking breaks during your workout can be beneficial to help you get the cardio that you need. My asthma symptoms got worse when I turned 50 but I am still able to keep running with asthma. I just do things differently from when I was younger. I find that buying cute colorful workout clothes helps me to be motivated to get my exercise in. These mismatched performance socks from My Soxy Feet always bring a smile to my face and give me the cushion that my feet need.

Twelve Things Your Skinny Friend Wants You To Know 

5. Add weightlifting 
 As we age our muscles tend to get flabby so adding weightlifting 2-3 days a week has many benefits beyond toning the body. I joined a gym 2 years ago and started using the weight machines there. I discovered that lifting weights help me not only tone up my flabby arms but it also helped with my metabolism.

"Weight training exercises not only help you maintain the muscle you have now and build more muscle, but it also offers other significant benefits. That includes boosting your energy, raising your resting metabolic rate, relieving stress, and preventing disease and degenerative conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity."  Live Strong 

6. Stretch Those Muscles
Your flexibility decreases as you age. If you start exercising without stretching and warming up those muscles, you could make yourself more prone to incurring an injury. I found this out the hard way when I suffered through a foot injury many years ago. I now make a point to stretch before and after I workout.

7. Sleep
Losing sleep is never a good idea as sleep helps our body repair itself. When you don't get enough sleep, your body suffers. I discovered that on the days I am tired, I tend to not want to exercise and I also don't make good choices when it comes to food. Lack of sleep can also lead to stress which is not good for your heart. So keep your heart healthy and aim for 6-8 hours of sleep each night. These ten sleep tips might help you get better sleep. I also discovered a wonderful cooling mattress pad for my bed that helps with those night sweats that we get from menopause.

8. Drink more water   
 Water is the best beverage for your body. It helps our body in so many ways. Drinking water instead of other drinks may help you lose some weight as those calories that you get from sodas, teas and other drinks can add up fast. Water before a meal may help you eat less and water is also great for flushing out toxins from our body. Adding more water to your day might even help your skin look younger naturally. Aim for a least ten 8 ounce glasses of water a day, more if you are active. In the summer when you sweat more it is important to drink plenty of water. I discovered this delicious naturally sparkling mineral water that is infused Elderflower extract and it helps me to drink my daily water. This flavored water comes in 100% recycled glass bottles as this company is trying to keep plastics out of the oceans.



Sweating is good for you and should be done often

9. Add these supplements
   As I got older I discovered some supplements that are great for older folks. These supplements have helped me with things like joint pain, heart health, and even keeping those wrinkles away. These supplements are ones that I take every day and I love the benefits of them. To see a list of my favorite supplements click HERE.

10.Love your body
 The best thing that you can do to stay healthy as you age is to love your body. Getting older brings changes to our body. Things tend to shift and sag. Our belly is no longer flat as we may gain weight around the middle. Those wrinkles start to appear. We might start to have leaks when we sneeze or laugh. We may not be the same body size as we were in our 20's. We need to focus on health, not the way our body looks. As we get older we also gain knowledge to realize that our happiness does not come from the way we look in a swimsuit or from a number on a scale. We may be older but that should not stop us from doing the things we love. So aim to make changes to get fit but don't obsess over it so much that you don't enjoy life. You may be over 50 but you have a long time until you check into a nursing home and making healthy changes will make that time even longer. When you see a person who has lived to be over 90, the first thing you notice is they are active and in good shape. So take care of your body with healthy food and exercise so you can continue to do the things you enjoy.

The Best Supplements For Women Over 50

 Age is just a number when it comes to getting older. Getting older does not have to mean being tired and having aches and pains. I am proof that you can still enjoy life and have fun after you turn 50. I am proof that you can still look and feel great after the big 50. I am 54 and I am still in great shape. Sure you might have to make some changes like a healthy diet and include exercise into your day but to me, those things are so worth it as I want to look and feel good. Over the past couple of years, I have discovered some supplements that have helped me with many things as I age. I have discovered the best supplements for pain and the best supplements for keeping the wrinkles away. I have also discovered supplements that can give me healthy energy and supplements that can help me fall asleep. So I want to share with you the supplements that I take regularly so you too can experience the benefits and not experience the bad things of getting older. Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor and I am just sharing my experience with these supplements.




Turmeric
 One of the first supplements that I discovered a great for us older folks over 50 was turmeric. I discovered this amazing supplement after I had a running injury. This supplement helps with pain and inflammation and is great for our joints. I had injured my ankle joint from running up hills too much and then my son accidentally crashed a shopping cart into my injured ankle. The doctor said it was not broken but my ankle was swollen and in pain. Through my research about running injuries, I discovered that turmeric could help with the pain and inflammation. So, I decided to give it a try as I did not want to continue taking over the counter pain medicines. I was amazed that I was able to get some pain relief from the turmeric. I knew the turmeric was working as on the days I forgot to take my turmeric capsules, my ankle would hurt again. I also discovered that turmeric was a great supplement overall for health, so I continue to take this supplement even after my ankle joint healed. I take my daily turmeric in pill form and I add a couple teaspoons of turmeric powder to my daily smoothie.

Collagen
 I like taking collagen for many reasons that include my joints, skin, and hair. Collagen was another supplement that I started taking for my injured ankle. This supplement is great for older folks to keep our joints healthy. As we get older, our joints tend to wear out so collagen is a protein that helps heal them and keep them healthy. Collagen is also a great supplement for runners as running puts a lot of stress on those knee joints. Collagen is also great for the skin and the hair to keep them healthy. This protein building supplement keeps my hair thick and healthy so it is a supplement that may prevent thinning of the hair. Collagen also helps with the skin’s elasticity so it may help with keeping the wrinkles away. I will add a powder collagen supplement to coffee daily to keep my joints healthy so I can keep running.




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Astaxanthin
 I learned about astaxanthin when I attended my favorite healthy conference in 2016. I was introduced to this heart-healthy supplement as one that could help my endurance when running. I had just started running again after my ankle injury and I was not running as fast as I wanted to. I was training for a 5K and I wanted to increase my speed so a brand at the conference informed me about astaxanthin being good for endurance. Us older folks know about the slowing down that happens when we get older so I decided to see if this red supplement could help me be able to run for longer distances and give me more speed. While I was not able to get back to the 7-minute miles of my younger days, I did notice that astaxanthin helped me to be able to push myself with running and I could run for longer times without being out of breath. I take 12 mg of astaxanthin daily.



Matcha Green Tea Powder
 A supplement that I like for energy and skin health is matcha green tea powder. This supplement is made from green tea leaves and is an ingredient in those delicious green tea lattes that the coffee places sell. I started using this supplement for some mind energy as it helps me be able to think better. This mild green tea powder is also great for the skin and may give your metabolism a boost. I add a ½ teaspoon of matcha to my daily smoothie to get all these health benefits.

Macro Greens
 Your mom always said eat your vegetables and she was right as those green veggies are great for your health. Eating those leafy green vegetables not only keep your body healthy but they have many other benefits that can help as you age. Those green veggies are loaded with antioxidants and minerals. The problem is most people have problems eating enough green veggies to reap the benefits, so I recommend adding a green drink supplement to your day. I like that I can add a serving of a delicious green drink supplement to my daily smoothie or to a glass of juice and get 38 nutrient-rich superfoods that include green vegetables.



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Protein Powder
 When I turned 50, I noticed that my arms were starting to get flabby, so I added protein powder to my diet. I follow a vegetarian diet so drinking a protein smoothie every day has helped me to tone my arms and get my daily protein grams. I also love adding protein powder to many recipes like my homemade protein donuts. The average older person should consume 55 gram of protein a day and protein powder helps me reach that amount since I do not eat meat. I also get my protein from these other meatless protein options.

Coffee
 Coffee may not be a supplement but it is a drink that has many health benefits. Coffee is loaded with antioxidants and research has shown that it may be good for preventing diseases like Parkinsons or Alzheimers. Like most things, the key is moderation so two to three cups a day is best. I love my daily two cups of coffee for that way it stimulates my mind so I can get my writing done. I know some people enjoy coffee for energy but for me, it is a delicious drink that I enjoy relaxing within the morning and I can drink it guilt-free knowing that it has benefits for my mind. I may also consume on occasion a natural energy drink that has caffeine in it when I go running first thing in the morning for some energy. If you are like me and coffee keeps you awake at night, try to drink that last cup of coffee eight hours before bed.

                   

CBD Oil
 The supplement that I am still discovering is CBD oil and I am loving what this supplement has to offer. I mainly use CBD oil for topical pain relief and helping me to relax but CBD oil has so many more benefits beyond that for older people. Research has shown that CBD oil is great for arthritis and people are still discovering how this safe supplement works. CBD oil is made from the hemp plant and it still new to most. No, you will not get high from CBD, I use CBD ointments on my boys when they have muscle pains from sports and growing pains. I have also used the CBD oil drops with my boys after they have a visit to the orthodontist. CBD oil is legal to use and if want more information on this supplement, be sure to click HERE to read this article that has lots of great information about CBD oil.

 This is a list of the supplements that I have added to my daily routine in the past 4 years since I became 50 years old. I do believe that these supplements have helped me to continue to do things that I love like running. I do also contribute my young- looking skin and awesome energy to some of these supplements. I don’t have any of those old people aches and pains yet, even after I work out. So, try some of these supplements to see if they help you. I am not a doctor, this is just my experience with these supplements so do some research if you have questions beyond the information that I supplied.



Make sure to check out these Ten Tips For Women To Stay Fit Over 50 HERE