>U Mom Knows Best: January 2017

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Homemade Valentines Day Cards With Welchs Fruit Snacks



   A couple of weeks ago after my bathroom renovation was done, I was in a cleaning mood and decided to clean out my bedroom closet. I now had a fancy new bathroom and I could not have a messy closet, especially since the closet in right near the bathroom. So I took everything out of the closet so I could vacuum. I made such a mess that I could not get out of the closet and had to call my boys to bring me the vacuum. Well, my after my youngest son brought me the vacuum, he saw several boxes of Valentine's that I had bought last year on clearance. He, of course, asked me if he could make his Valentine's day box for school. It was still January and I did not want another mess. I also knew that he would misplace the cards if he made them that soon, so I told him we would make the box once his teacher gave him the list of all the kids in his class.


    Well fast forward to a couple days before February and my son asked again to make Valentines. I told him yes as I had just received a big box from Welch's Fruit Snacks. This box contained not only some fruit snacks buy also a bunch of craft items. My son was so excited that he would be able to give his friend's fruit snacks. The teen was jealous that there were no fruit snacks for him, that boy can eat several packages. So I told the teen to leave the fruit snacks alone and my younger boys and I set out to make homemade Valentine's. This was a first for me as I usually just buy the boxes of premade Valentine's day cards when they are dirt cheap after the holiday as Super Heros never go out of style(one advantage of having 4 boys) and save them for next year. Because they are so cheap, I have enough boxes until the boys get to middle school. Now because I had four boys after my one girl, my creative side has left me so I had to turn to Pinterest for some ideas beyond sticking a heart on the fruit snacks.

 I loved the idea of my boys giving fruit snacks to classmates as they have less sugar than candy and vitamin C in them. I think they are a better option than all that candy the other kids bring for Valentine's day boxes. This one big box had enough fruit snacks for one class so cost wise they are a good deal too. I love that there is even a spot to write on the packages.


My boys and I had fun making Valentine's with all the supplies. I made the cute butterflies with two heart lace dollies. My boys had fun with the glitter and craft scissors. So if you had these supplies, what kind of Valentine' would you make?


Welch’s® Fruit Snacks are America’s favorite fruit snack brand. The Welch’s® Fruit Snacks Valentine’s Day themed box and pouch have custom Valentine’s-themed graphics with heart-shaped pieces with fun emojis. The snacks are perfect for Valentine’s Day parties, as each pouch features a “To/From” sign-able front panel. Moms and Dads love that every pack is made with REAL Fruit, is Fat-Free, Gluten-Free, and contains No Preservatives. Welch’s® Fruit Snacks feature fruit as the first ingredient, so they taste delicious! (28-Count Box with 0.5oz. Pouches / $4.99)



"These opinions are my own and I received samples of Welch's Fruit Snacks to facilitate this post."

Monday, January 30, 2017

Surprising Reasons Why You Can't Shift The Weight



Have you been doing all the right things, but the weight just won’t come off? It is super frustrating when you take action to lose those unwanted extra pounds and nothing seems to be happening. It can be tempting to give up on exercise and your healthy eating plan, and believe that it’s all in the genes – and there’s nothing you can do. But before you ditch your new regime and resign yourself to being overweight, have a read why those scales could be stubbornly stuck at the same number…


Are you getting enough shut-eye? People who don’t get enough sleep are much more likely to put on weight, or have trouble shedding excess pounds. This is because being sleep deprived can disrupt the regulation of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress in the body. When this happens, your blood sugar increases and you’re much more likely to feel hungry and find yourself reaching for that biscuit tin. Make sure you get at least eight hours every night to ensure that your dieting and exercising doesn’t go to waste.


Are you physically healthy? If you’re struggling to get down to a healthy weight, your difficulties could be due to an undiagnosed medical condition. Problems with your thyroid and conditions like polycystic ovaries can cause you to pack on those stubborn pounds. You can read about medical problems that affect your weight on this page. If you’re in any doubt, make an appointment with your doctor to get a comprehensive check-up and any treatment you might need.


Do you need help? Many of us try to get fit and healthy on our own, believing that we have to do it alone. Thankfully, there is an abundance of ways that you can get help with losing weight. For example, orlistat is a prescription medication, prescribed to help lose weight – and could be the key to your success. Ask your doctor for advice on how best to slim down, and talk to friends and family about their favorite tried and tested techniques.




Are you consuming too much sugar? If you’ve cut out your favorite sweets and chocolates, it’s easy to assume that sugar isn’t the problem. However, it can be found lurking in the most surprising of sources. For example, many ready meals are loaded up with sugar to make them taste good, and drinks like wine can contain 1.25 grams of sugar in a small glass. Are you enjoying salads as part of your diet? Your salad dressing may be full of the white stuff – so read the label before you douse your leaves in it. Ready-made sauces, like those we use on our pasta, can be packed with sugar – so cut them out and learn how to make your own. You’ll find a great basic tomato sauce recipe here.


Do you skip meals? It’s an easy mistake to make – thinking that you’ll lose weight faster if you cut out breakfast or lunch. However, this could actually cause you to gain weight – as your body will go into starvation mode and do everything it can to hold on to fat to preserve your life. Skipping meals also means that you are much more likely to want to overeat later in the day, believing that you have ‘earned’ your treats – so make sure that you have regular, balanced combinations for breakfast, lunch and dinner.


Do you use exercise as an excuse? It’s easy to fool yourself into thinking that because you’ve worked your butt off in the gym, it’s ok to have that doughnut, cheeseburger or bar of chocolate. However, a punishing workout does not negate the need to watch what you’re eating. If you’re consuming more calories than you’re burning, you will gain weight. If you consume as many calories as you burn, your weight will stay the same. Eat a little less and keep up the exercise to get the results that you’re looking for.
Losing weight is often difficult, which is why the diet industry is worth billions! Fortunately, you can do it with a sensible approach and a bit of graft. Before you start your diet, take time to examine your general health and your lifestyle – you might find that one or two simple things are holding you back. Once you’ve addressed any issues, you’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve. If you’re on a budget, check out these ideas for how to get healthy without breaking the bank – you can do it if you really want to!

Ten Great Road Trip Ideas For Traveling With Kids

Traveling with kids can be tough but these 10 great road trips can help make things easier.


  My husband and I are planning a trip to go visit our oldest daughter and her husband. They live in Las Vegas which is one state away from us. We considered flying there but for five of us, it would cost $1200 so we decided that driving would be our best bet. My husband and I would rather save money on traveling so we can have more money for fun while we are in Vegas. Not gambling fun but rather going out to eat and sightseeing. I know flying would be so much faster and enjoyable but I just don't want to spend that much money. Since I am not one who travels well by car, I always make sure that the boys have plenty to keep them entertained, that way I can sleep or maybe work on the computer while my husband drives. I am glad my husband likes driving. So here are some things that I like to pack for our road trip and some ideas to make the time on the road more bearable.

1. Sleep In Comfy Clothes  I have my boys sleep in sweatpants so all they have to do before we leave is go potty. It also helps to have them put their shoes in the car so no one forgets those. On one trip my husband forgot that he had his slippers on. Thankfully he discovered he had no shoes before we got onto the highway so we were only a mile away from home.



2. Leave Early In The Morning  I like to leave at about 6 AM as the roads are not busy yet and we can get on the highway before the rush hour happens. I know some parents leave early as their kids will sleep for several hours. My youngest are 8 and 10 so they don't sleep in the car but I try to as I am the one who hates car travel.

3. Bring With Coffee And Breakfast The coffee is for the grownups, of course, as it helps the driver be alert and coffee just makes everything enjoyable. I just love sipping a warm cup of coffee while traveling. I like to pack breakfast burritos or bagels. I make everything the night before and just warm it up in the morning.


4. Bring With Movies  My boys can be entertained for hours with movies and this keeps them somewhat quiet, they tend to laugh loud at their movies. The day before we leave I let the boys choose several movies from Redbox. I also make sure there is a Redbox near our hotel to be able to return them once we arrive. We bring our portable DVD player and dad's laptop so the teen can watch his movies while the younger boys share the DVD player. Of course, bring headphones! I just love Buddyphones. These durable kid headphones not only have volume control but they have this detachable BuddyCable system that allows up to four audio cables to connect to one device. That way all three boys can watch the same movie with their headphones. They also are made to fit little ears. I remember when the boys were small and the earbud-style headphones never stayed in their ears. The teen likes that they are adjustable so he can wear the Buddyphones. I even have a pair too so I can listen to music in the car. I love the included stickers so kids can decorate their headphones.



5. Bring Snacks  The snacks are mostly for Dad as they keep him happy. I like to pack items like dried fruit, cheese sticks, crackers, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. We also bring with us a gallon of water and a reusable water bottle for every person. I also bring with individual drink mixes as sometimes the water in other cities does not taste the same as ours and a little bit of flavor encourages everyone to stay hydrated. Some parents like to use tackle boxes to make the snacks more fun for kids but my boys are not into that. I think a tackle box would be great for the Legos. Also, pack some wipes and trash bags for messes.


6. Bring A Travel Bag For Each Child  I let my boys pack their own travel bags with items to keep them busy. I like the ones that go between the seat so items are within reach and organized. The ones that hang over the seat also work. My boys like to pack books, colored pencils, paper, coloring books, Legos, and travel games. I also give the boys a baking sheet, that way they have a hard surface to draw on or build their Legos on. For younger kids, these are great for magnets. Window markers are also fun. The kids can draw on the car windows with these markers and they wipe off easily with baby wipes. My boys like to write things for other cars to see in hopes of getting another car or truck to honk! I remember as a kid trying to get truck drivers to honk.

7. Make Fun Stops  I like to give the boys travel guides and maps for the states we are traveling through and too. That way they can see where we are and selected a couple of places to stop at like rest stops or other interesting points of view as long as they are not too far from the highway. It makes the trip go by faster if we stop and stretch our legs. Sometimes rest stops have playgrounds. We also have the boys make a list of places they would like to visit when we reach our destination.

Make sure to research your route and plan out the places you want to rest so you can make the most out of it. It's always suggested to read more about where you're going because every trip has lots of fun destinations in between and knowing where the top place is and checking them out will enhance everyone's experience. Also, plan out your car time as it's a tight squeeze with so many of us in the car and you don't want to waste any precious minutes fighting over who is sitting where.

8. Stop For Lunch  Sometimes we pack food for a picnic lunch depending on the time of the year or we stop for lunch at a restaurant. I like to stop at pizza places if we can find one but if fast food is our only option, then I break the rules and let the boys eat a fun meal. Sometimes those meal toys can keep them occupied for a while in the car.


9. Bring A Pillow And a Small Blanket  These are great items to have to encourage kids to sleep if not just rest. 

10. Travel Bag Surprises  Go to the dollar store and buy some fun items like stickers, candy, pipe cleaners, play dough, individual snacks, and so on. Wrap the items up and then each hour, give each child a present to open. For older children, you can label them with cities that you will be traveling through. Then when you reach that city, they can open the gift.

These are just some of my ideas that make car traveling easier with kids. I hope you can incorporate some of these into your next car trip to make it easier. I would love to hear your ideas on traveling with kids.

  What tips do you have for traveling with kids?


"These opinions are my own and I received samples of Buddyphones from http://www.onanoff.com/ to facilitate this post."

Friday, January 27, 2017

Become a Healthy Hero for Your Child

Ever heard the phrase ‘you are what you eat’? Well, even more, important a phrase that this is ‘your kids are what you eat.’ You want your kids to grow up as healthy as possible, don’t you? Unfortunately, disastrous natural illnesses can’t always be avoided, but we, as humans, try our best to dodge them by eating as healthily as possible. A lot of the time, however, our kids aren’t as prepared for the illnesses that are brought about by the winter season, especially, because of the simple fact that they aren’t getting enough of their five a day if any.


You child learns by imitating you — that’s a fact. For toddlers, specifically, imitation marks a major milestone. You remember when your little angel, once they’d uttered their first word, wouldn't stop copying everything you said, don’t you? You probably remember having to watch your language at this time, in fear that you’d send your toddler off to nursery sporting a new and unsavory word that they couldn't wait to tell everyone they possibly could. And it doesn’t stop there: when they see you eating something, they’re only naturally going to want to try it for themselves. Unfortunately, however, this is the first hurdle a lot of our little ones fall at in their race for a healthy life. When they realize that they don’t actually like the food in question, they won’t eat it. They’ll probably look at it like this, at first…

United_States_children_eating_at_day_care.jpg


…and they’re likely to either throw it as far away from them as possible or get it all over themselves.

Messy_toddler.JPG


However, if you take preparations beforehand to make sure the food you’re eating is not only healthy but appetising then when your child comes round to wanting a slice, they might be more likely to like it and less likely to spit it out halfway across the room. For example, there are ways to make fruit far more appealing than it is, including buying them fresh and when in season in order to get them at their peak flavour; serving them with a dip or dressing, like fat-free or low-fat yogurt for fruits such as strawberries and melons; making them into fruit smoothies, maybe even using one of these delicious green smoothie recipes; and serving them with a variety of other fruits of different textures, i.e. having the crunchy apples, smooth bananas and juicy oranges all together in one big bowl. When your child comes round to wanting a piece of what your eating and they will, if they like what they’re eating they’re going to want it again, and again, and again — that’s just science. So instead of letting your kids seeing you eat fries from your local fast food outlet, let them see you eating a few nice, crunchy, carrot sticks.

Aside from being a healthy role model, there are other ways to create an environment where your kids can make healthy nutritional choices. An important aspect when it comes to children and nutrition is trying to make sure that they grow up and avoid any serious eating disorders later in life: such as anorexia and bulimia. To do this, avoiding placing restrictions on food is a good place to start. Instead of banning specific foods, even those that are unhealthy, let them be free to eat what they want whilst still making sure they are aware of all the healthy and nutritional options there are. You should never label foods as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ because, as your children grow, they will start to become more rebellious and will subsequently become more likely to do the things you tell them not to do. Instead, make food connections to the things your child enjoy doing, like sports or doing well at school. For example, for any of your children who want to do well in exams or anything else that requires them to think, tell them to eat bananas. Another good tip is to keep healthy food at all times, because, simply put, a child can only eat what they can get a hold of easily. And on this journey of healthy eating, you may even find yourself debunking popular health fads and feel your own health benefiting from the change in your diet.


So, what are you waiting for? Your child is in a constant state of growth, and it’s your job to make sure that that growth is helped as much as possible by healthy and nutritious foods.

Ideas For Celebrating Valentine's Day At Home

Make staying at home on Valentine's day special for the whole family.


  My husband and I for the longest time have stayed at home on Valentine's day. My husband used to work in the restaurant business and would always be at work on Valentine's day so that meant we would usually celebrate this day when he got home from work. That was usually at midnight and he would arrive home with a pint of ice cream and a box of chocolates. My husband knows that I love sweets so much better than flowers and would be in big trouble if he spent way too much money on flowers.


 
My husband no longer works in restaurants and for the past five years has had a 9-5 job. So one would think that we would now enjoy going out to eat on Valentine's but we don't and we still prefer staying home. Why you ask? Well, I am not one to pay for an over-priced meal at a busy restaurant and now that my teen has a girlfriend, we no longer have a babysitter for that night. My husband and I like to call the restaurant folks amateurs. So how does one stay at home with kids and still have a grand time on Valentine's day? Simple, we make wonderful dinner with a great homemade dessert. Then watch a movie with the kids and send them off to bed. Once the kids are in bed my husband and I will break out the pint of ice cream and maybe watch a romantic movie. My husband usually lets me pick out the movie and the flavor of ice cream as he knows that gets me better in the mood for later fun.

So here are some ideas for Valentine's day that the whole family will love:

Heart shaped dinner
       Grab a metal heart shaped cookie cutter and serve heart shaped food. Ideas include pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, pizza and more. Just take the heart shape cookie cutter and cut out cute hearts out of your food. You can even use smaller heart cookie cutters to make heart-shaped fruit out of apples and strawberries. My family loves heart shaped pancakes with strawberries and whip cream. For the heart shaped pizza just buy those premade pizza crusts or use English muffins and then make them into hearts with the cookie cutters. You can then let everyone make their own pizzas with toppings like spinach, pineapple, cheese, and more.

Fancy Seafood Dinner
      Valentine's day is a great day to buy some of your favorite seafood and enjoy a great dinner. My kids love shrimp while I love scallops and my husband loves cooking them. Add some great sides like sauteed veggies and rolls.

Simple Dinner
      Don't feel like cooking? Then order a heart shaped pizza as plenty of pizza places make heart-shaped pizzas on Valentine's day. Ordering in Chinese food is also a great option.

Family Friendly Movies
         Make some popcorn and get comfy on the couch. Then watch family-friendly Valentine's Day movies like "Lady and the Tramp", "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown", "The Love Bug" or "Stardust".

 Make Cookies
      Premake or buy some heart-shaped cookies and then have fun as a family decorating the cookies. I like to buy pink frosting and plenty of sprinkles. My kids then have a great time decorating their cookie.

Have a Picnic
        Spread a blanket on the floor and have dinner picnic style. You can serve heart-shaped sandwiches and heart-shaped brownies. Your kids will feel so special when you let them drink out of fancy glasses. My boys love when I serve sparkling fruit flavor water. They just love this healthy water!


Couple Time
   Put the kids to bed and continue the fun as a couple. Lay a blanket on the floor and watch a romantic movie together. Grab two spoons and one pint of ice cream. A bottle of champagne or sparkling fruit flavored water is also great. Serve the bubbly in fancy glasses. My favorite sparkling water is Cascade Ice. With zero calories and many great flavors, it is a great fancy no-guilt treat. I like to also indulge in some chocolates with my husband. I like to create a basket of goodies for my husband that includes some fun couple items in it to help get him excited for our night. This year I discovered an organic and edible plant-based product that we will have fun with after our movie is over. Good Clean Love is a healthy product that my husband and I will enjoy.


"These opinions are my own and I received samples from Cascade Ice and Good Clean Love to facilitate this post."

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This Friday, January 20th, 2017– ONLY, you can load a coupon to your Kroger (or Affiliate) Plus Card for Free PowerBar Protein Bar!

Although 01/27/17 is the only day that you can load the coupon, the coupon offer is redeemable through 02/12/2017
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Thursday, January 26, 2017

Ten Unique Facts That You Must Know About Mardi Gras


 Last December, I was able to visit New Orleans or NOLA as the locals call it. I was there for a conference so I did not have much time to explore the city, but I was able to experience some food and fun. My husband did not go with me but told me that I had to bring some jambalaya back with me while the boys wanted me to get pictures of alligators. While I was not able to do either of these items for my family, I could just imagine the mess in my bag from the jambalaya, I did bring back Chicory coffee, alligator meat in a can, and alligator heads. I also took a picture of the etouffee that I had for dinner one night. I discovered the alligator heads along with the meat in a gift shop when I went down to explore the famous Bourbon street. My boys loved the alligator heads and the teen snarfed down the alligator meat. My husband and I both enjoyed the Chicory coffee.


      The one thing NOLA is known for beyond their food is knowing how to party. Did you know that their biggest celebration Mardi Gras actually starts in January? Called the "carnivale" season, it  officially begins each year on January 6. This Feast of the Epiphany, 'King's Day', starts with traditional balls occurring in the weeks that lead up to the big event- Mardi Gras. The people of NOLA love to celebrate weekly with the delicious King Cake. This is a traditional sweet cake that has a plastic baby(the King) in it and who every finds the baby has to bring the next cake the following week. We all know that coffee goes great with cake, so Community© Coffee introduced Mardi Gras King Cake coffee late last December so people could have a great cup of coffee to go with their cake.


 I may not be able to be in NOLA to experience Mardi Gras in February, but I am glad that I can enjoy their MARDI GRAS KING CAKE coffee. This coffee has flavors of vanilla and cinnamon and reminds me of the sweet King Cake. This coffee smells like a cake baking! When my husband tried this coffee, he said that we need to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I told maybe next year. He then said that I should make a weekly King Cake instead. I think I will surprise him with a cake on Mardi Gras. I will have to find a good recipe as I doubt that any bakers in Albuquerque know how to make this king cake.


                     So grab a cup of this delicious Mardi Gras King Cake coffee and celebrate! Enjoy the MARDI GRAS TOP 10 COUNTDOWN while you sip this delicious coffee!


NUMBER 10
How to spell “krewe” and “flambeaux” and “Mardi Gras” and, well, you get the point.

NUMBER 9
Technically, Carnival is a season, and Mardi Gras is a day. But we tend to generalize and refer to the weeks of parades leading up to Fat Tuesday as Mardi Gras.

NUMBER 8
The Mardi Gras colors are purple, green and gold. Remember to coordinate your outfit appropriately.

NUMBER 7
The Captain of the Krewe is more important than the King. But the King gets all the glory, while the Captain does all the work.

NUMBER 6
If you miss a doubloon thrown from a float, never reach down to pick it up. Always put your foot on it. If you go with your hand, you're either too late or you'll get your fingers stepped on.

NUMBER 5
If you bite into a plastic baby in a King Cake, that's a good thing.

NUMBER 4
Any beads shorter than two feet long are unacceptable unless they are made of glass -- the bigger and longer the beads, the better.

NUMBER 3
Once any beads have touched the ground, they are sullied and should not be picked up unless under the rarest of circumstances.

NUMBER 2
The vast majority of people in the French Quarter during Carnival are from out of town.

NUMBER 1
The Number 1 thing you must know about Mardi Gras season is that Community© Mardi Gras King Cake coffee hits the shelves. We suggest you celebrate with the “king” of all flavored coffees, our delicious Mardi Gras King Cake coffee with light vanilla and cinnamon flavoring.

Look for Mardi Gras King Cake coffee at your favorite store or purchase a bag or two at the below link.



"These opinions are my own and I received samples of Mardi Gras King Cake coffee to faciliate this post."

5 Tips For Healthy Living On A Budget


    Health is one of the crucial things we need to look out for. Having a healthy body will help you stay active and focused all day long. But unfortunately, to some people, it's hard to maintain a healthy life in today’s world. This is due to the tight schedules where you are supposed to get up early, prepare your kids to drop them at school as you go to work. Later you get home late where you are tired, and all you want is to eat and sleep. Sometimes you may not be able to cook, and you end up buying takeaways which of course are junk food. Well, the other group is the ones who cannot afford all these due to their income, and therefore they have to live on a tight budget. This is due to the expenses one has to pay such as rent, electricity bills, school fees, and insurances as well. The expenses might be the cause, but the best news is there are some tips you can adopt to ensure that you live healthy on a budget. These tips are;

• Prepare a list. Before you go for shopping, ensure that you draft a list of what you are going to buy. You will find a lot of healthy foods sold in the grocery stores and therefore ensure that you have a plan ahead and you include all the healthy food on your list. A list also helps you to avoid impulse buying.

• Buy the seasonal food. You will realize that some products are seasonal and when they are available they are cheap. Such products include the vegetables and fruits. If the products are in season, buy as many as you can and store them for later usage.

• Ensure you get enough sleep. Sleeping is crucial in our lives and for our health. It is recommended that you sleep at least six hours per day and this will do wonders for your body. Sleep also helps in controlling your appetite and helps you to know when you are full so as to stop eating.

• Search for discounted and free workout classes. Some gyms may be starting off, and they want to get clients to join their gym. Others may be offering a discount to their members. Therefore, look for such classes so you can be able to work out as well. There are some sites with promo codes that can help you find the workout places or even greatly discounted gym kit essentials from shops like John Lewis. View here to save more money.

• Engage in outdoor workouts. Did you know swimming is a way of working out? Well, it is important to adopt outdoor activities such as swimming, you can also go hiking with friends, run around the neighborhood and biking as well.


Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Top Tips For Taming Your Toddler



You breathe a huge sigh of relief that you are at last past the baby stage: your little one is up and about, can feed himself – and you can talk to him! But, wait, what are you supposed to do when he starts throwing a massive tantrum? How do you cope when he’s refusing to eat certain foods, and developing definite fussy tendencies? Follow these tips, and your toddler will be (mostly!) back under your control…


Tantrums
You know the kind: you’re online happily browsing the special offers on your favorite products at www.dontpayfull.com, and your tot is pestering you for a bar of chocolate. Before you’ve had the chance to finish telling him that it’s too close to dinner and he will have to wait until later – there is a massive eruption of volcanic proportions! He hurls himself to the floor, arms and legs flailing, screaming at high pitch that he wants it ‘nooooow!’ What’s a mom to do?


Choose a quiet place in your home that is free from any distractions, like the bottom of the stairs, and calmly lift your child and place him in this spot. Do not shout or scream, however tempting it is to join in – just calmly explain that he needs to take time out to calm down. Even if your little one continues to scream, do not react, and walk calmly away. Stay within a short distance so that he has the reassurance of knowing that you are still there, but do not engage with him until the storm has passed. Children often throw tantrums because they are rewarded with attention: by taking that away, you are helping them to learn that there is no point in this behavior.

Fussy eaters
Very young children often become fussy eaters for apparently no reason. They decide that they’ll only eat chips or foods that are red or refuse point blank to eat any kind of vegetable when they had no problems eating them before. It’s easy to get annoyed and frustrated, but your little son or daughter is just trying to take control and assert independence. Punishing or getting angry will just inflame the situation, and make your tot even more determined to stick with his choice.


Re-introduce ‘forbidden’ foods very gradually in very small doses to help your child to feel that you respect their choices. If they won’t eat broccoli, tell your son or daughter that if they have one tiny bit, they will get a reward. You can make your own reward chart to make this easy. The more times they have a tiny bit of a food that they ‘hate’, the more their taste buds will adjust to the flavor – eventually, they will enjoy these foods without even thinking about it.

Dealing with kids having tantrums and becoming fussy eaters is not for the faint-hearted: so it’s just as well that moms are so strong and determined! With patience and a consistent approach, these are two battles that you will win hands down! Find out more about dealing with young children on this page.

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This information is brought to you by EvgieNev customizable Wall Decals. All opinions are my own.



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  Polar Friends is a new amazing addition to our collection of wall decals for nursery showing Penguins having fun and Polar Mama Bear with Cub and two famous Whales, on the background of an ocean with icebergs and mountains.

Children Teepee Wall Decals set, First Nations Camp with Canoe, Campfire, Eagle, Black Bear and Mountains



 Marvellous First Nations wall decals theme featuring Pioneer Time playing camp with TeePee, Canoe, friendly Black Bear, Campfire and Eagle, set on a natural landscape and surrounded by magnificent Mountains, Clouds and Stars, this is a very warm illustrative setup promoting empathy and imagination of play time while highlighting Indigenous People history and spirit!

Custom Flag Name Outer Space Wall Decals with Astronauts and Aliens, Rocket, Planets, UFO Children Wall Decor



 Mind-blowing Outer Space wall decals theme featuring Custom Flag Name with spacewalking Astronauts, spaceship, aliens, asteroids, and dots to create constellations.

Wall Decals Nursery - King of the Jungle Baby Nursery Decor with Sleeping Lion, Giraffe, Elephants and Monkeys



    Imagine roaring safari lions with monkeys playing tricks all around and large rainforest trees. Evgie nursery wall decals from Jungle Safari collection has been crafted especially to brighten the playroom and animated jungle themed nursery with African animals and recognized characters such as Lion King or Tarzan.

More Reasons to Shop at Evgie.com

  • 100% SATISFACTION – If it turns you don’t love your decal you may ship it back and they will refund your money.
  • FREE test decal for you to practice on and EASY Step-by-step detailed instructions.
  • They can adjust the decal size larger or smaller and add additional colors. Contact them for pricing.
  • They offer custom designs. If you have an idea in mind of a custom design, let them know.

Share the love:

Visit Evgie on Etsy and find your favorite decal. Use the share buttons to share with your friends. It’s an easy way to help small businesses gain more exposure! I know they would be so grateful!

Wall Decals Giveaway Details:

Enter to win $150 to spend on wall decals from EvgieNev! Open Worldwide (If outside the US or Canada the winner will have to pay the difference in shipping.) Giveaway ends on February 10, 2017, at 11:59 pm EST. Enter below on the giveaway form. Good Luck!!

Monday, January 23, 2017

My Favorite Photo From The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta With Canvas On Sale

I love how this picture looks!


   Last year was my second year to attend the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta as a media person and it was quite awesome. I just love all the hot air balloons and taking photos of them. I think I took at least 100 photos. This event is perhaps the most photographed event that I know of. It is just an amazing site to see over 500 hot air balloons floating in the sky so I completely understand why people take so many photos. I think my favorite balloons at this event are the special shapes. This one of a butterfly was my number one favorite. So when I had an opportunity to make a photo into a wall print, I selected this one. Canvas On Sale made it so easy to make an aluminum print out of my favorite balloon photo. All I had to do was download it on their website and select the size that I wanted. I selected the 16 X 12 size as I knew this size would be perfect for my new bathroom. This picture is going to hang over my toilet. I just wished Canvas On Sale included a hanging clip on this print so I could hang it up. Once I get to the store I will buy one to mount on the back and then my husband can hang it up.

    The hardest part of ordering this aluminum print was waiting for it. I ordered it a couple days after Christmas so it took three weeks to arrive. Once it arrived, though, I was very happy as the quality was awesome. I had many options to choose from for my photo but I choose the aluminum as it had UV Protection on it as well as Splash & Light-resistant so I though it would hold up well in my bathroom. I just love the bright glossy colors on it. This print will add the perfect touch to my new bathroom. That space above the toilet is where it will hang. 


I can't wait for Balloon Fiesta 2017 in October so I can take more pictures of these awesome hot air balloons. Here are some more photos that I took last year.

Do you have a favorite photo that would make into a print?





"These opinions are my own and I received a gift certificate from Canvas on Sale to facilitate this post."


Delicious Green Smoothie Recipes


Can a green smoothie taste delicious?


Most people think green smoothies taste gross. How can something that is green taste good? The image of green grass comes to most people's mind when you say green smoothie. I am here to show you that a green smoothie that is loaded with nutrition and taste like a tropical drink. When I think of tropical fruits, I think of pineapples and mangos. I just love using these two fruits when I make my morning green smoothie. I usually use spinach or kale with my fruit in my green smoothie as it packs a whole lot of nutrition and fiber. I know what you are thinking, spinach/kale in a smoothie has to taste nasty. It really does not as the sweet tropical food covers the taste of the spinach/kale. So are you ready to try spinach/kale in your smoothie for the nutrition? Here are some recipes of green smoothies that I like.

Lean Green Pineapple Kale Smoothie


Ingredients

1/4 cup kale leaves, packed
1/4 cup spinach leaves, packed
1 small banana, peeled
1 cup fresh pineapple 1-inch chunks 
1/2 cup  water
1 cup ice

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend for about 2 minutes or until smooth.


Blueberry Spinach Smoothie


Ingredients:

2 cups coconut water
1 cup blueberries
1 cup spinach, frozen or fresh
2 tablespoon chia seeds

Mix all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth.

                                Chocolate Banana Peanut butter smoothie


Ingredients:

  1 cup water
1 banana
             2 tablespoons peanut butter
             1 scoop Chocolate protein powder
 8 ice cubes

   Place all ingredients in a blender and combine until smooth.


Tropical Coconut Mango Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen mango
1 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons dried coconut flakes
1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup cup ice
2 Tablespoons chia seed

       Place all ingredients except chia seeds into a blender. Blend until smooth and frothy. Stir in chia seeds with a spoon and pour into a glass.

 As you noticed the last two smoothies did not contain and spinach or kale but yet were green smoothies. The chocolate peanut butter smoothie was not even green in color. Yet these smoothies have the great nutrition of green veggies. The secret ingredient is an awesome supplement from Activia Naturals that contains spinach, wheat grass, broccoli, and so much more. This delicious Green Super Food powder also contains antioxidants, fiber, and probiotics. It is a great way to add the benefits of greens to your smoothies without the taste or texture that spinach and kale have. My boys love the Chocolate Banana Peanut butter smoothie and have no clue that mom put green veggies into it, they think it is a delicious milkshake. The Tropical Coconut Mango Smoothie may have a green tint to it but close your eyes and take a sip. This drink tastes like tropical paradise.
                                          

This delicious green supplement also has a berry taste to it so it would taste great in juice, water, or other smoothies. What smoothie would you like to try?


"These opinions are my own and I received a container of Green Super Food powder to facilitate this post." 

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Mom knows best