Parenting

I know today is Halloween, but I’m already looking ahead to November, a month when we focus on family, food and, for some of us, on growing ugly mustaches. It’s also a great time to reflect on all of the good things in our lives.

Between all of the daily posts on social media, and the multitude of videos, articles, and books on the subject, it’s easy to feel like gratitude is just another trend, unworthy of your time and attention. This can be especially true if you’re feeling like some of your “friends” on Facebook are using the posts to humbly brag on their own lives and accomplishment (#blessed). However, there are many scientifically proven benefits to practicing gratitude that range from improving sleep to helping build relationships.

Even though I’ve read all of the research and know how helpful it is, I’ve always had a really tough time keeping up with a gratitude journal. It just feels too much like work to me.That’s why I decided to search for other ways to practice gratitude.

Take a look at seven ways to help you feel more grateful and balanced during this stressful, holiday season, without writing a single journal entry.

1.Meditate- Most of us don’t take time in our day to self-reflect. We’re so busy rushing from one task to the next, that we never stop to just be still. I recommend adding at least five minutes of meditation to each day. I love the Insight Timer app, which has dozens of guided meditations on the theme of gratitude. Taking just a few minutes to quiet our overworked brains can be so powerful!

2. Take a Pic- This idea came to me this morning, as I was rushing to take my big kids to school. I was not in a great mood as it was 7 am and I was awake, but when I pulled out of our driveway I saw the an almost full moon in the middle of a beautiful pink and orange sky. The beauty of that moment hit me with a wave of gratitude. If you have trouble coming up with gratitude lists after a long day, take pictures instead. If you can capture some of those grateful moments, it makes reflecting on them much easier.

3. Start a Gratitude Jar– Skip the pressure of the daily journal entry by keeping a gratitude jar this November. Add something to it whenever the mood strikes. Everyone in your family who is old enough to talk can contribute something to the jar. It could also be a way for family members to say thank you for the kind things you do for one another.

4. Play the Grateful Game– This idea, from Teach Beside Me, is another great way for the whole family to practice gratitude. If you played the game Pick Up Sticks as a kid, this is the same concept, except, when you pick up a stick, you have to say something you’re thankful for that matches that colored stick’s category. For example, if you pick up a red stick you have to name a person you’re thankful for, green sticks mean you need to share a food that you’re thankful for, and so on. If you can’t find the game, make your own with colored straws.

5. Have a Gratitude Storytime– These books are a great way to teach kids and adults alike about thankfulness:

• The Thankful Book- by Todd Parr– This fun book shows you that you can be thankful for things both big and small. Kids will love the silly illustrations.
• PAWS and THINK Series: Be Thankful for What You Have- by Miranda Mittleman– See the world through a dog’s eyes in this heartwarming story that teaches kids to appreciate the simple things.
• Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes– This beautifully illustrated book follows a family discussing all of the things they are thankful for. It includes a space at the back to record your own thankful thoughts.
• The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan– In this memoir, Kaplan spends a year living gratefully and documents the changes this made in her marriage, career and life in general.
• Almost Everything: Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott– In her newest book, Lamott helps readers discover the hope and wisdom within themselves, even at the darkest of times. It came out last week and I just bought it to listen to on Audible. Book club, anyone?

6. Put Gratitude Out Into the World– Instead of just writing about the people you’re thankful for, say thank you to them in a genuine and specific way, give compliments freely when someone does, says or wears something that brings you joy. Don’t keep those thoughts to yourself.

7. Give Back– It’s easy for all of us to be so focused on our own problems that we forget how much we have compared to so many: a place to live, food, water, free public education, etc. It’s especially important for us to teach our children who have luckily never known another way of life outside of their comfy beds, Friday night pizza dinners and screen time.

There is no better way to bring home this lesson than to help others in need:

• Host a holiday party or playdate to benefit Feed More. Here’s a list of their most needed items.
• Volunteer in Feed More’s Community Kitchen and put together healthy meals for hungry children and homebound adults in your own community.
• Organize a fundraiser for refugees.
• Create Giving Bags by filling gallon bags with gloves, socks, hand and foot warmers, water, snacks and dollar bills. Hand them out to homeless men and women in your community.
• Organize a drive for your local hospital: VCU Health is currently looking for chemo care kits, fleece blankets and waiting room kits for both kids and adults. All items should be new, except for books and magazines.

Bonus: My holiday survival advice, take it or leave it:

• If you’re spending too much time stressing this holiday season, it is truly worth it to take five minutes to just be alone with your thoughts. If no one in your family will give you five minutes of peace, like my crazy crew, go take the dog for a walk, hide in your car or lock yourself in the bathroom. They can survive without you!
• If you’re feeling less than and comparing yourself to everyone’s highlight reels on Facebook and Instagram, it’s also worth it to take a social media hiatus over the next few months.
• When it comes to holiday dinners, decor and gift giving, do whatever works best for you and your family, and leave the rest to the Pinterest overachievers. Remember that they are a small 1% of the population with too much time on their hands. We’re too busy being adults with many important things to do!
• Expressing gratitude shouldn’t feel like another chore on your already massive holiday to-do list. It should be something that builds closeness within your family and brings contentment within yourself. If it feels artificial to you, don’t do it.
• When all else fails, there really isn’t much that an enitre bottle of wine, a hot bath and a few hours of Bravo reality TV can’t fix. You’ll either A) forget your troubles, B) fall asleep  C) feel more content with the drama in your own life, and possibly D) all the above. It’s basically fool-proof.

In the spirit of this post, thank you for taking the time to read my writing. Most of the time, like 99.9%, I have no idea what I’m doing, but writing things that may potentially help or entertain others brings me tons of joy.

Good luck this November! If your SO’s are considering celebrating Movember, extra good luck to you. I’ll cross my fingers that they look more Tom Selleck and less Michael Cera!

How YOU doin?

Oh HELL no.

♥ Erin

You don’t have to resign yourself to The Wiggles and Kidz Bop for the next 10 years! There are artists out there who make music designed for kids, but still mindful of their parents who may explode at any moment if they have to listen to Pink Fong’s Baby Shark one more damn time!!!

(Woah, shit just got real there for a minute…..sorry.)

Here’s a playlist filled with artists my kids love, and who I actually like. It’s too late for me, but I hope this list helps you avoid a Pink Fong induced meltdown.

Jack Johnson,  Curious George Soundtrack– I actually bought this before I had my 8 year old, and we’ve never stopped listening to it. It’s the same Jack Johnson you know and love. My favorites are the White Stripes cover We’re Going to Be Friends and the 3 R’s, a really cute song about recycling.

Koo Koo Kangeroo, Rad-trospective– These guys are hilarious and we love their weird and quirky songs like Rollin in the Minivan, Cat Party and Baby Crocodile. Be wary though, these songs will get stuck in your head.

Ziggy Marley, Family Time– If you love reggae like I do, I highly recommend this album. My kids and I have an especially great time dancing to the title track.

The Diggity Dudes, Presidential Physical Fitness Test– We were lucky enough to catch this dad band live at Willow Lawn’s Mommy and Me events 5 years ago. This album is full of silly lyrics and catchy tunes. Our favorite track is Sugar Coaster, which has a really great message about what too much sugar does to your body. You won’t be able to stop yourself from singing along.

Kira Wiley, Dance for the Sun, Yoga Songs for Kids– These mellow tunes are perfect for nap time or if you’re trying to get your little ones to sleep in the car. They are also great for teaching kids about mindfulness.

Walter Martin, We’re All Young Together– Walter Martin is the lead singer of the group The Walkmen. His children’s album is full of whimsical songs and beautiful melodies. I love the track, I-M-A-G-I-N-A-T-I-O-N, but the whole album is great.

Laurie Berkner, The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection– Laurie Berkner tells so many fun stories in this upbeat pop collection. Her songs are also extremely danceable and perfect for family dance parties.

They Might Be Giants, Here Come the ABCs or Here Comes Science– I have loved They Might Be Giants since early high school. Their songs are so fun. All of their children’s albums are awesome and educational.

Ask the Storybots– This is music from our favorite Netflix show. Every show begins with a question that the five bots, have to research and answer. These catchy songs are great for kids who ask a lot of questions.

The Barenaked Ladies, Snacktime!– Barenaked Ladies are another one of my favorite bands from high school. Their children’s album give you the same silly banter between Ed and Steve and lots of catchy pop tunes about topics kids can relate to.

Johnny Cash, The Johnny Cash Children’s Album– If you love classic country, you’ll love this Johnny Cash album. It’s kids songs done Cash style, darker and quirkier than traditional kids’ tunes, but still lots of fun.

Ozomatli Presents Ozmokidz– I love Ozomatli. Their funky music has a little bit of everything: latin, reggae, electronica, zydeco, rock. It’s hard music to pigeon-hole. Their music for kids is just as funky and weird and full of fun songs like, Moose on the Loose and Germs.

Peter Himmelman, My Best Friend is a Salamander– The songs on this album have clever and thoughtful lyrics that are great for kids and adults as well.

Caspar Babypants, This is Fun!– Remember the band, The Presidents of the United States of America? Who could forget their song, Peaches? Caspar Babypants is the kids’ tune singing alter ego of Chris Ballew, lead singer of the band. He has made a bunch of albums, but this is my favorite. The songs are as catchy as you remember the POTUSOA songs being!

Happy Listening!

♥ Erin

Last weekend, I took my kids on an 8 hour road trip to go visit my mom in Ohio. I really love my mama, and the kids are finally getting old enough, so these trips aren’t a total nightmare, but I still always feel like I’m living dangerously when I take them that far from home by myself. I’ve been making this trip for the past 4 years though, and I’ve learned some hard lessons on the open road, lessons I want you to avoid learning the hard way. These tips are great for long road trips, but they can also be really useful for everyday. Here are the things I’ve learned to keep in my minivan to stop tantrums, clean messes and handle emergencies.

Garbage bags and plastic bags– I love to keep extra bags in my center console and in every seat back pocket. The kids can use them to pick up their own trash. For long trips I hang a large trash bag on the back of the passenger seat.

A large flat sheet– This is great to lay across the bottom of your van or car if you’re going on a long trip, have a sick kid, or if you’re like us and have a dog who throws up every time she’s in the car. It makes clean up so much easier. I keep this in my trunk, in case of emergencies.

Febreze or other air freshener- If someone has an accident or gets sick, the smell can be hard to take. The Febreze will help to minimize the smell until you can get home and can really take care of it.

A Roll of paper towels in the front seat– I have a three year who really hates to get dirty so keeping paper towels within arms reach is really important. I can easily pass her a paper towel when she spills her water on herself.

Empty water bottles– Keep a few small empty water bottles or sippy cups in your van or car. Often my kids decided they are dying of thirst five minutes after we’ve left the house. If I have extra cups I can fill them up with water from my own water bottle. If you don’t usually have a your own water, throw some bottled water in your center console.

Extra snacks– Nuts, trail mix, gold fish, protein and granola bars are great things to keep in the car if you suddenly have ravenous kids. This tip keeps tantrums at bay.

Small bowls, plates, plastic silverware and straws– These things are great to have handy on a road trip, but even for every day.

A small backpack full of card games, books, coloring supplies, small toys, etc.- This backpack is great for bringing in to restaurants, doctor’s appointments or any time your kids will be waiting and needing something to keep them occupied.

Extra car charger- I’ve been burned before with a car charger that suddenly stops working. I always keep an extra one in my glove compartment. Even better, keep a fully charged portable charger in there and have instant charging wherever you need to go.

A First Aid Kit- I keep the kit within easy reach under the passenger seat and inside it I have:

• Band-aids of all sizes
• Hand sanitizer
• Alcohol wipes
• Neosporin
• Cotton swabs
• Gauze
• Adhesive Tape
• Tweezers
• Children’s Ibuprofen and Claritin
• Benadryl spray
• A medicine cup and syringe
• Digital thermometer
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Safety pins
• Instant ice packs
• Sunscreen

Here’s to keeping our cars clean and our kids safe and happy!

Side note: I’ve been a minivan mom for almost 7 years now! When I got the damn thing I cried, because I suddenly realized that I had gone from being just an adult with a kid to a full-fledged Soccer Mom. (I was also 8 months pregnant with my second child at the time, so that might explain some of the extra emotion.) If you’re on the fence about buying that minivan, you’re not alone. I knew that the features and design of the van were the right thing for our family. We needed the extra seats, extra space, and all of the bells and whistles it offered. It was still hard.  It’s important to remember though, that what you drive does not define you! Get in that minivan, blast that gangsta rap with the windows down and get shit done!

♥ Erin

Reading to my kids has always been one of my favorite things. Snuggled up on the bed or couch under a blanket, staring into their excited faces as I read, that’s a pretty great way to spend an afternoon, even if they do sometimes demand that I read the same book ten times.

While you’re reading (and rereading) that favorite book, did you know that you are also teaching your child early literacy skills:

• Tons of new vocabulary! The more you read to them, the more words they will be exposed to.
• Understanding how books work: how to hold a book, turning pages, print going left to right
• Helping to build motivation, curiosity and memory
• Creating a positive association with learning and reading

Here are 24 of my favorite books for exposing your kids to early literacy, broken down into categories.

ALPHABET

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Touch Think Learn: ABC by Xavier Deneux

ABC Mindful Me by Christiane Engel

ABC For Me: ABC Love by Christiane Engel

NUMBER SENSE

Pete the Cat and his 4 Groovy Buttons by James Dean

How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Little Owl’s 1-2-3 by Divya Srinivasan

Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3 by Sherri Duskey Sherri

COLORS

Baby Colors by Rachel Hale

Edible Colors by Jennifer Vogel Bass

Mouse Paint by Ellen Still Walsh

Splatter by Diane Alber

SHAPES

Press here by Herve Tullet

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff: Dr. Seuss’s Surprising Word Book by Dr. Seuss

Walter’s Wonderful Web: A First Book About Shapes by Tim Hopgood

Shape by Shape by Suse MacDonald

BODY KNOWLEDGE

Counting Kisses by Karen Katz

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Hello World! My Body by Jill McDonald

Inside Your Outside: All About the Human Body by Tish Rabe

ANIMALS AND ANIMAL SOUNDS

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss

My Big Animal Book by Roger Priddy

The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

You are your child’s first and most important teacher. You are the one who will give them their first impressions on the importance of learning and expanding their worlds. The books above are all well-loved by my family, but honestly it doesn’t matter what you read. Just read with enthusiasm, do all the silly voices, and make it as fun for you as it is for them. If you can do that, you won’t just be creating memories, but also enthusiastic readers who never stop learning!

♥ Erin

Kids are messy, and spills happen, but don’t resign yourself to years of never having nice things. Use our guide to remove stains and keep your carpet, furniture and clothes looking as good as new!

Photo credit: Merry Maids

Crayon–  Click on the link for an in-depth description of how to remove crayon from just about every surface imaginable from How Stuff Works.

• Some quick and easy tips: Try baking soda, non-gel toothpaste or WD-40 on your walls and a toothbrush soaked with white vinegar on clothes.

Marker-

• On surfaces or walls: use hairspray and wipe clean with a paper towel.
• On upholstery or tables: spray the stain with WD-40. Next, cover the stained surface with plastic wrap and let sit for at least 2 hours or overnight. Once it has set, wipe the stain with a few dropped of dish soap and a wet sponge.
• On clothes: Use non-gel toothpaste, working it between your fingers and into the stain. Repeat this process until the stain is gone and then launder as you normally would. Other things to try: Nail polish remover

Pen ink–

On walls or other surfaces:

1. Use a multi-surface cleaner and spray and wipe following label directions.
2. If the stain persists, cover the area with a wet paper towel that has been sprinkled with ammonia.

For ink stains on clothes follow these steps:

1. Spray with hairspray to loosen the stain.
2. Soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse with water and dry. If the stain is still visible try soaking in rubbing alcohol or ammonia.

Stickers- Use a hairdryer to heat up the sticker and then a credit card to easily scrape it off of your floors or walls. If the sticker still won’t come off you can try an adhesive remover like Goo Gone or Duck Adhesive Remover.

Slime- Whether you’re trying to remove it from carpet or fabric, the first step is:

1. to scrape off any excess slime with a dull knife.
2. For clothing : Next, saturate clothing with vinegar, then rinse off with warm water and wash as usual.
3. For carpet: Pour white vinegar on the slime stain and allow to sit until the slime begins to soften. Wipe with a towel and the stain should come right off.

Playdough- When play dough gets ground into your rug or carpet, don’t despair.

1. Let the dough dry completely for over 24 hours. Try not to step on it while it’s drying and definitely don’t use carpet cleaner, which may turn your carpet the color of the dough.
2. Once it dries, use the brush tool on your vacuum to break up the dough.
3. Vacuum up the residue.

Photo credit: Baby Gaga

Nail polish– Check out the in-depth guide in the link for more info about getting nail polish stains out of anything. I’ve had my girls spill nail polish onto our carpet in multiple spots so that is my main focus here.

To remove from carpet:

1. Scrape as much of the excess as you can without forcing it into the pile.
2. Apply Acetone or Non-Acetone nail polish remover
3. Keep moist and let stand for about 15 minutes, blotting occasionally. Scrape to help loosen the stain.
4. Flush carefully with a dry-cleaning solvent or Afta Cleaning Fluid.
5. Allow to thoroughly dry.

Makeup- To remove common makeup stains like lipstick and foundation from clothes and carpet:

1. Use a foam shaving cream on the stain.
2. Scrub the shaving cream into the stain with a clean toothbrush until the it disappears
3. Wash and dry as usual for clothes and let carpet dry naturally.

Blood- Blood is a notoriously difficult stain to remove. The hemoglobin in it is a binding agent so blood binds to whatever it lands on when exposed to air. The easiest way to remove the blood stain is to work on it as quickly as possible, before it sets.

• On clothing: Rinse with cold water and then blot with a diluted laundry detergent.
• On carpet: Blot with a paper towel, then spray with an ammonia solution. You can also rinse or spray with cold tap water or a safe detergent such as Joy or Dawn.
• For dried in blood stains: soak the area in cool salt water for several hours, rinse well and then soak in ammonia.

* Other household products that can work are salt, baking soda or meat tenderizer, along with cold water. Another strange method is spitting on the blood stain, if it’s your own blood this may surprisingly help.

Medicine stains– My kids don’t always love taking medicine, so it’s not uncommon for it to end being “accidentally” spilled or spit up onto the carpet or their clothes. To remove the sticky and colorful medicine from clothing and carpet:

1. Soak the stains in a solution of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol.
2. Blot the stain with a clean white cloth until the stain is no longer transferring color to the cloth.
3. Then, rinse with cold water.

Bathroom Stains and Smells from Carpet, Mattresses and Furniture– Ugh, been there.

1. If your child poops, pees or vomits on your carpet or furniture, the first thing you need to do is remove any excess fluids or chunks (I cringed writing that, but I gotta keep it real.) .
2. Next, remove any residue with a solution of two cups cold water and one tablespoon of dish soap dabbed into the stain and let dry.
3. If after the stain is gone there is still a remaining smell, put this recipe in a spray bottle and spray onto the stinky spot: 2 cups hydrogen peroxide , 2 tsp baking soda and 2 drops liquid dish soap. Be sure to spot treat on furniture to see if it affects the fabric.

Gum– Ugh, this one is a doozy to remove. Follow the steps below to get gum out of carpet and hair.

• For carpet: Freeze until gum gets hard and then carefully scrape it off of the carpet. Sponge the residue with a cleaning fluid and then apply a spot treater to the area. Cover with a sponge or pad dampened with the dry spotter and let sit until the residue is removed.
• For hair: Creamy peanut butter scrubbed in the affected hair with a toothbrush usually does the trick. The oily stuff lubricates the hair and breaks down the gum.

Oil– To remove grease and oil food stains from clothing:

1. Blot the excess with a paper towel.
2. Cover the stain with baby powder, corn starch or salt to absorb the oil.
3. Remove the absorber you used with a spoon.
4. Work a small amount of dishwashing detergent and water into stain with your thumb. Once the detergent begins to foam up, take an old toothbrush and begin rubbing the stain using circular motions.
5. Wash as usual.

Grass– To remove grass stains from your child’s clothing:

1. Soak the garment in cold water – never use hot water.
2. Dab rubbing alcohol in the stain, rinse in cold water, and then apply a teaspoon of liquid detergent to the stain.
3. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then wash as normal.

Some general tips for stain removal:

1. Treat the stain as soon as humanly possible.
2. Dab the stain gently so as not to further set it in.
3. To remove stubborn stains, try leaving clothes out in the sun. This can often work for stains such as baby poop, grass and even blood.
4. Don’t put clothes or bed linens in the dryer until you are satisfied with the stain removal as drying makes stains extremely hard to remove further. Instead, try running them through the wash again.

Photo credit: A Guide 4 The Kids

Kids are kinda gross and messes happen (As I’m typing this I just noticed an exciting new red crayon stain on my favorite gray sheets.), but now you have the right tools to get rid of even the nastiest stains and smells.

Good Luck!

♥ Erin

Hey All, anyone dealing with the joy and the rapture of excessively picky eaters? My kids were the WORST, but they’re finally all at a point where they are willing to try new things, even if they are green!  I credit following these five food tenets with helping my kids to become more adventurous eaters:

1.) Expose kids to as many foods as you can, with a variety of colors, shapes and textures. Start early!

2.) Let kids try the food off of your plate. My kids often try things they wouldn’t normally try because they see me eating it, and they always want to have whatever I have. This is why I usually wait until they’re in bed to eat dinner. Scavengers and thieves, every last one of them.

3.) Don’t force, but encourage kids to take one taste and only one taste. If they really don’t like it they won’t have to have any more. Often at my house this involves bribery. For example, you can have more potatoes if you try one bite of zucchini.

4.) Get kids excited about being healthy. Take them to the farmer’s market and let them pick out whatever appeals to them. Get them involved in the kitchen.

5.) Set out a few plates of healthy fruits and vegetables just before dinner is ready and create your own vegetable happy hour. You’ll be surprised how kids will eat what is in front of them, especially if they are really hungry.

If you’re still in the weeds and struggling to find ANY foods your kids will eat today, I see you. If you’re pulling your hair out because all of the foods that kid loved last last week are suddenly disgusting to him now, I have your back. I give you the snack deas that worked for my own three picky people, and the hope that it won’t always be like this.

Yogurt tube popsicles– Super simple idea here. Just put one of those yogurt tubes in the freezer for a healthy and satisfying popsicle. These are great for babies who are teething! If you’re into making your own, here’s a link to buy the tubes.

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Smoothies– Healthy smoothie recipes are everywhere for a reason. I love that you can pack them full of veggies, protein and healthy fats and they can still have a milkshake flavor and consistency. I love that they can be thrown into a sippy cup for maximum portability. My favorite smoothie secret ingredients are: Vega Protein and Greens tropical protein powder, hemp seeds, mango and spinach mixed with ice, almond milk and greek yogurt. The color turns out neon green and my kids love it!

Yogurt or smoothie bites– I used to make these all the time for my babies, when they were babies. Line a plate with parchment paper and place small dollops of greek yogurt or smoothie onto it and place it in the freezer. When frozen these make delicious and healthy little bites that most kids can’t resist.

Egg cups– Scrambled eggs in a muffin tin have to be up there as one the greatest ideas in history. Make these bad boys ahead and kids can get all the health benefits of an omelet in a minute or less. You can mix and match cheese and veggies as much as you want until you find what your kids will eat. I love all of the variations above from Life Made Sweeter.

Photo credit: Fresh April Flours

Hard-boiled eggs– Believe it or not, my kids love hard-boiled eggs. I always hated them as a kid, but my kids have inspired me to give them another try. I love this recipe for making them in my Instant Pot. There are no pots on the stove and no watched pots to deal with. I usually make a large batch on Sunday and then simply rinse out the pot before reusing it to make a large batch of soup for my lunches that week.

Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

Chocolate zucchini muffins– A friend of mine recently made these and they were delicious. I highly recommend making these for breakfast or snack time and then using the leftover zucchini for dinner. Remind your child that the dinner zucchini is the same one from the muffins he or she had earlier. Who knows? It could work.

Homemade Trail Mix in a Muffin Tin– Take some safe foods like cheerios, or pretzels and mix in some newer foods like sunflower seeds, pistachios and dried fruit.

Photo credit: Minimalist Bakerhttps://minimalistbaker.com/banana-bread-granola/

Banana Bread Granola– If I’m being totally honest, this stuff is like crack to me, and I can no longer keep it in my house. The recipe comes from one of my all-time favorite food bloggers, The Minimalist Baker. It’s full of healthy fats and fiber and is a perfect snack for kids, just not for an almost forty year old mom struggling to keep the weight off. 😉

Photo credit: Baby Foodie

Oatmeal cups– Like the egg cups above, I love how portable these are, and that they can be made ahead and customized any way you want.

Photo credit: In The Kids’ Kitchen

Wrap pinwheels– Simply spread your child’s favorite spread on a whole wheat wrap or tortilla and top with their favorite things. Next, roll it up and cut it into bite size circles. My kids favorites are: almond butter, bananas and chia seeds, hummus, cucumber and roasted red peppers and tomato sauce, turkey pepperoni and shredded mozzarella cheese. That last one can be put in the toaster oven for a few minutes for maximum deliciousness.

Photo credit: CD Kitchen

Spinach and Black Bean quesadillas– This can be adjusted to your child’s taste, but the black bean and spinach combo seems to be the favorite at my house. Quesadillas are a great way for kids to get extra veggies because the cheese distracts them!

Soup, there it is– My kids love the healthy soups I make, and I make sure they are always chock full of veggies. Their favorites are my vegan lentil, vegetable barley and Greek lemon chicken.

Photo credit: Healthy Little Foodies

Veggie fritters- I recently made a version of these with some leftover spaghetti squash that I knew wasn’t going to get eaten otherwise. I love that you can really take any leftover veggie that sautés well, throw in an egg and some flour or bread crumbs and you’re good to go. The rainbow fritters above are made with gluten free chickpea flour, and look amazing.

Muffin Tin Dip Spread- On one side of a muffin tin add hummus, greek yogurt, nut butter, etc. and on the other add sliced fruits and veggies like apples, cucumbers, carrot sticks, snap peas. Encourage children to try different food and dip combinations.

Kale chips– My kids and I are all salty food fiends so sprinkle some sea salt on these babies and we are all over them. I love getting one of those giant bags of kale and making two or three batches. They usually don’t make it past day one, I kid you not.

Photo Credit: The Nutrition Adventure

Banana sushi– I love this as a cute snack or dessert idea! I’ve actually never tried this one, but I think I will have to now.

* Remember that babies and toddlers have tiny stomachs and don’t need to eat as much as we do, so any of these snack ideas could also be used to replace another daily meal. Variety is important in your child’s diet, but think of it in terms of weeks and months, not days. If your toddler only wants egg cups today, let them eat all the egg cups! They will try something new tomorrow or the next day, and by then there is a good chance they will hate the egg cups anyway. Isn’t parenthood fun?

Happy healthy eating to you and your munchkins! With a little patience, some cursing under your breath, (ok, a lot of cursing under your breath) and time, I swear you will have your own (sometimes) healthy eaters. Good luck, and God speed to you all!

♥ Erin

I try to limit screen time in my house as much as possible, especially for the threenager, but sometimes I need to do something really important, like take an uninterrupted 5-minute shower or hide in the pantry to eat Twizzlers.

At times like those, apps that can keep my kids entertained for more than five minutes are like gold! The following apps aren’t just entertaining, they are also educational and developmentally appropriate. Many of these apps say they are for ages 3 or 4 and up, but I’d definitely give them a try with younger ones. As soon as they show an interest, they can try these apps.

Little Fox Music Box- This sing-along app is super interactive and the fantastic animation really holds kids’ attention. They can also record themselves singing the three songs.

Skills Learned: Early music education, rhythm, memory

Tozzle– I LOVE how easy this puzzle app is for toddlers to use by themselves. It contains over 40 different puzzles that vary in difficulty so the app really grows with them. The puzzles also include fun sounds an animation. For example, the farm animal puzzle moos when you put the cow into the puzzle and quacks when you put in the duck. I’ve had this on my phone for 5 years and all three of my kids loved it.

Toca Kitchen– We’ve really enjoyed all of the Toca Boca apps in our house, but this is always a favorite. You can choose from four different people to feed. You choose the food from the refrigerator and then can chop, sautee and puree before you put the food back on the plate and feed your person. I love how the app has no direction so kids really have to play around with it to figure out how it works. The sounds effects when they are cooking and feeding the people are really cute.

Skills learned: Problem solving, early cooking education, imagination

Toca Hair Salon 3– Just like the kitchen app above, you choose from four people and then can cut, curl, color, and accessorize their hair. The new version also has fun beards you can choose from.

Skills learned: Problem solving, cause and effect, creativity

Draw and Tell by Duck Duck Moose– Duck Duck Moose is another developer that makes educational apps that we’ve loved for years. In Draw and Tell children can make up stories and illustrate them with different colors, stickers and animation. After they finish illustrating, they can record their own voices telling their stories.

Skills learned: Fine motor, storytelling

Starfall ABC– Starfall is an awesome website that my mom used when she taught kindergarten, but my son loved playing on it from the time he was 15 months old. The site is a member service and you pay a small amount each month to access all the content, but there are still a lot of things available on the site for non-members. The apps are just like the website. My favorite one for toddlers is their ABC app. You click on each letter and they give you three different pictures that start with that letter. All of the pictures include fun sounds and animation that make learning the alphabet fun.

Skills learned: Alphabet recognition, fine motor

TALU Town– Take a drive and meet your neighbors in this fun filled, interactive play set. TALU Town rewards exploration and reinforces the value of helping others. With surprises around every corner, your child is sure to enjoy their time in TALU Town.

Skills learned: Shapes and number recognition, matching, kindness

Endless Alphabet– The premise of this app is super simple. They give you a word that needs to be filled in, and you need to click and drag each letter to its place to complete the word. I love that when you drag each letter, it makes the letter’s sound. When kids finish the words they become animated. The animation is super adorable, and I love the vocabulary kids can learn from a young age when using this.

Skills learned: Alphabet recognition, letter sounds, vocabulary, fine motor

Happy Valley Friends– Meet new friends while playing 18 different educational games and 6 unique mini games. Learn shapes, letters, numbers, math, time and more in a friendly environment. This app is full of fun animation and surprises.

Skills learned: Letter, number and shape recognition, telling time, early math skills

Highlights Monster Day– I loved Highlights Magazine when I was a kid so it’s no surprise that their apps are all awesome. This is one of my favorites. Help your toddler learn about friendship, explore the world around them, and develop compassion, kindness and independence. Kids can choose a favorite monster buddy and care for him from morning till night: brush his big teeth, feed him bagels, help with his science experiment and play basketball. At the end of their buddy’s day, they can wash and feed him, and gently send him to bed.

Skills learned: Independence, friendship, kindness, compassion

Try one of these apps today and get a well-deserved moment of peace!

♥ Erin

Obviously, we all love our kids. They are beautiful, lovable gifts and the sun rises and sets with them and all that. However, they are also serious, all-consuming, time-suckers! If you catch me in the morning, you’ll find a mom full of grand plans and maybe even a sprinkle of energy, but by 3 pm you’ll most likely find a blob, sort of resembling me, being smothered on the couch, still trying to finish her morning coffee. It’s amazing how much such small people can suck all of that motivation right out of you. This is why these hacks are so important. They save us time, energy and sanity, all things that are pretty hard to come by these days. Read on for twenty of my favorites, perfect for parents of young children.

Photo Credit: Infarrantly Creative

1. This genius way to organize measuring tools. I waste so much time looking for the right spoon when I’m cooking/baking, and I’m always needing to google measurement conversions, so this speaks to my soul. I love that it’s all tucked on the inside door of a cabinet. It seems like a pretty straight forward DIY project that even I wouldn’t screw up!

2  This cheap and easy travel bed. Take three pillow cases, sew them together and then stuff them with pillows. Somehow over the years we have amassed a large collection of pillows and their cases so I’m definitely making one or two of these to use for sleepovers. If you can’t sew, like me, you can use Liquid Stitch found here.

Photo Credit: Quilt Keepsake

3. This adorable heirloom quilt! OMG, I’m completely not talented enough to do this, but I had to share the idea. Sew your child’s outgrown baby clothes into a quilt and then save it to give to them when they have their own children. If you love this idea as much as I do, but you flunked Home Ec. too, here’s a link to a quilt company who can make it for you.

Photo credit: Infarrantly Creative

4. This clever board game hack. Frame board games and hang them on the wall as playroom decorations. Put command hooks on the back of the frame to hang sandwich bags with all the game pieces and spinners. I LOVE this idea because we are always losing game pieces. Pick up cheap frames at Dollar Tree or shop the frame sales at Michaels.

Photo credit: Mom Hacks 4 Everyday

5. This idea for keeping track of those mischievous baby socks. Speaking of losing things, it’s been three years since I’ve had a baby, but I still have a collection of tiny socks missing their other half! You don’t have to be like me. You can keep them together by putting them inside a mesh laundry bag whenever you wash them. This also works great for legos or other little toys you find yourself needing to put through the wash.

Photo credit: Alana C. Valentine

6. This way to make sure your child takes all of their medicine. Let’s be honest, with everything going on in our lives right now, how often have you forgotten if you gave your kid their antibiotics for their latest ear infection? Or even worse, miscommunicated with your spouse and ended up double dosing your kid? It happens, but with this easy hack you can keep track of whether or not they’ve had their medicine and also how many days they need to continue to take it.

Photo credit: Princess and the P Baby

7. This idea that makes snack time a breeze. I would say about 50% of the conversations I have with my kids center around them telling me they want a snack and then asking me to recount every single thing we have to eat. How much easier would be if they could just ask, Can I have a snack? and then after I said yes, go to the pantry and choose something from one of the pre-approved snack baskets. Purchase cheap baskets like the ones pictured above at Dollar Tree.

Photo credit: The Not So Perfect Mom

8. This way to make meal and snack time feel like play time. Toddlers love eating food out of ice cube trays or muffin tins. I’m not sure why, but I think something about the novelty and variety appeals to them. It’s a great way to get them to try new, colorful fruits and vegetables.

Photo credit: Melissa Sabra

9. This idea for keeping bibs handy. I don’t know why I never thought of this, because we always have some of those command hooks around our house. Great idea to avoid lost bibs!

10. This genius trick for ridding your home of the herpes of the craft world! Glitter is seriously not welcome in my home. If you’re a kinder, sparklier mom than I, this seems like such a smart and easy way to pick up the glitter pieces that manage to adhere to every surface of your house. Good luck to you!

Photo credit: One Crazy House

11. This easier way to keep little hands clean. Use empty shampoo or soap bottles as faucet extenders. I’ve spent eight years lifting my kids up to help them reach the sink. Believe me, your back will thank you for this hack!

Photo Credit: The Realistic Mama

12. This idea for keeping snacks healthier on the road. Have you ever found yourself starving, but stuck in the car with no food? When I find myself in that situation I usually blink and somehow find a frappuccino or Chick-Fil-A nugget in my hand. How did that happen? Stop hunger from getting the best of your good intentions and keep a basket full of healthy snacks in your car for you and the kids.

Photo credit: Lemon Lime Adventures

13. This creative car cleaning idea, perfect for road trips. Wrap a piece of duct tape, sticky side out, around your hand, and use it to pick up crumbs and other dirt in the car. If your kids are old enough to help, wrap it around their shoes instead. They can have fun getting their wiggles out while helping clean up.

Photo credit: A Life From Scratch

14. This kit that helps you stay prepared for life’s emergencies. I love this clear kit from Courtney at A Life From Scratch. Check out the link above for the what and why of everything she put into it.

Photo credit: We Love Being Moms

Photo credit: Central Coast Teaching Tots

15 & 16. These two awesome uses for hot glue. Use it to stop kids’ shoes from skidding and slipping. Use it to stop up holes in bath toys to prevent mold growth. However you use it, hot glue for the win!

Photo credit: Parkingpalmagnet.com

17. This idea for keeping kids safe in the parking lot. When you are loading groceries, or getting a baby out of the car, sometimes your older child may have a desire to wander. I would usually just yell at my kids to, “Touch the van!!”, but it would be great to give them a specific spot to hold onto. You can use a large car sticker, or buy the stickers pictured above here.

Photo credit: The Paper Mama

18. These safety tips for parents with kids who like to wander off. In the photo above, Chelsey from The Paper Mama, used a marker and New Skin liquid bandage to create a waterproof tattoo on her child. You can use the tattoo to provide easy contact info if your child gets lost in a crowd or to communicate a food allergy on children who aren’t old enough to tell people themselves. When you get home, simply add another layer of New Skin and the tattoo just wipes right off.

Next, before you head out for a day at the beach, amusement park, or any other crowded place, take a family photo. Not only will you have a great photo, but if anyone gets lost, you have a visual of what they look like that day, what they were wearing, etc. So easy, but so smart!

Photo credit: One Creative Housewife

19. This awesome hack for helping toddlers put on their shoes. This is one of my favorites because it is cheap and easy, but it really helps kids figure out their left from their right. This will save you so much time!

20. This sleep tip that promises to help you fall asleep fast. If you’re someone who feels exhausted all day, but has worries keeping them up at night, this 4-7-8 sleep technique from Dr. Andrew Weil is for you. Practice the breathing exercise below twice a day, and within a few weeks you should notice a difference in the time it takes you to go to sleep.

• Exhale completely.
• Inhale for a count of 4.
• Hold your breath for a count of 7.
• Exhale for a count of 8. Repeat for 4 cycles.

Hopefully these hacks can save you some time and perhaps even your sanity! If you can’t get enough parenting hacks, check out Alonzo Lerone’s collection of hilarious hacks from veteran parents who seem to have it all figured out! You’re welcome.

♥ Erin

Parent Hack: Wine. LMFAO. So much truth!

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had enough of all of this rain. I know it’s important and all that, but it’s really gotten in the way of our pool, beach and amusement park plans over the last few weeks. We’ve spent a lot of time in the house, and I’m not gonna lie, many hours on screens. Here are some great activities to keep your kids active, learning and having a great time, even when you can’t escape the house!

15 Rainy Day Activities for Active Kids and Toddlers:

Get Messy in the Bath– The bath tub is one of the best places to get messy because clean up happens naturally. I love these homemade bath paints from Parenting Chaos.

Jump That Energy Out– Small trampolines like this one from Fisher Price take up very little space, but keep little ones endlessly entertained.

Create Your Own Snuggle Fort– I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like fort-making was one of the highlights of my childhood. I love a good fort! It’s free and keeps kids busy for hours.

Dance it Out with Scarves– These colorful scarves from Amazon are so much fun to dance with or throw up in the air and catch.  I’m always amazed by how long they keep my children entertained.

Go Fishing– I love this laundry basket fishing idea from Munchkins and Moms. Kids love sitting in them so much, why not make a fun game out of it? You can use magnetic fish and fishing poles if you have them, but feel free to get creative like the blogger below.

Paint the Easy Way– Little ones love to paint, but they might not have the ability to grasp a paintbrush yet. I love this cotton ball painting idea from Domestic Mommyhood that makes painting easy for toddlers.

Make it Rain– These rain sticks from Happy Hooligans are colorful and easy enough for toddlers to help make. Let them practice their fine motor by picking up the corn, rice or other small noise-making items and putting them in the paper towel roll.

Host an Animal Pool or Ice Skating Party– How cute and easy would it be to freeze water in a small tray or even a foil pan and make animals their own indoor ice rink like this pic below from I Can Teach My Child. If you don’t have time for the freezing, make the toy animals their own pool or bubble bath.

Become a Sorting Expert– Color sorting is so easy and fun for kids, while also being a great learning opportunity. I love this Cereal sorting mat from I Can Teach My Child. For a more active color sort, give kids a color and have them run around the house with a basket collecting everything they can find that matches the color you chose.

Create a Pillow Roadway– I love this fun idea from Hands On As We Grow! Collect all of the pillows and couch cushions in your house and lay them on the floor to make an indoor roadway for kids to run around on.

Make Child-Sized Art– Get a large piece of paper or poster board and trace the outline of your child’s body. Next, have them color and decorate the inside. This is a great activity to do year after year to see how they grow and how their drawings mature.

Photo credit: Passionate Homemaking

Experiment with Sensory- I love the sensory activities we made last week for playgroup. Check the recipes out here. Another option is an easy sensory bin filled with corn, rice, or anything else small and fun to scoop up and pour out. The yellow sensory bin below is featured on Every Day Chaos and Calm.

Stack ’em Up– How easy is this, but I swear, it keeps them busy! Experiment with cups of different sizes to see what works best for your child.

Photo credit: Everyday Chaos and Calm

Make a Busy Bag– There are so many variations of busy bags, but basically they are engaging activities that kids and toddlers can complete mostly independently, and they are stored in bags so they are ready  to go at any time.  The Teaching Mama does a great job listing some great examples on her blog. Check out her great color sorting bag below.

Have Your Own Mini Toddler Obstacle Course- This is similar to what you’d see at a toddler gymnastics class, an obstacle course that little ones can go through over and over again to work on their gross motor skills and spatial awareness. How fun would it be to create your own obstacle course at home? It just takes some creativity. Start by finding some things that your kids can go under, step over and step on and some bean bags to throw into bins or to balance on their heads. Whatever you do, make sure you model it for them, step by step.

Photo Credit: How to Run a Homemade Daycare

∗ I also have to include this amazing list of 45 age-appropriate indoor learning activities for the littlest of learners, 18-24 month olds.

Hopefully the skies will part and the sun will come shining through again before we know it! Until then, keep your sanity by keeping the little ones occupied and having fun…..and be sure to stock up on wine.

♥ Erin

All this rain we’ve had in RVA lately has left me scrambling to find fun, indoor things to do with my three kids, especially the littlest one who needs a lot of help staying out of trouble. Sensory play is a great indoor activity for kids of all ages, even my eight year old can’t get enough of playdough and slime. However, it’s especially beneficial for little ones because it keeps them busy while also promoting their growth and development.

Three Main Benefits of Sensory Play

1. It promotes the development of many skills including: oral language skills,  fine and gross motor skills,  memory skills and problem solving skills.
2. It helps to relax anxious children.
3. It teaches children to use sensory characteristics (sticky, gooey, dry, cold).

Here are five of my favorite taste-safe sensory play activities: 

Banana Pudding Slime

• 1/4 cup instant pudding mix
• 1 cup corn starch
• 1/3 cup warm water

1. Add instant pudding mix and half of your cornstarch to a mixing bowl. Add 1/3 cup water and stir until slime begins to form (it will be pretty sticky at this point)
2. Slowly add the rest of your cornstarch, stirring as you go. When slime thickens and is hard to stir with a spoon, finish kneading by hand.
3. Making slime isn’t an exact science, and sometimes I need to add a bit more water if the slime is dry, or a bit more corn starch if it is sticky. I’d compare it to making bread: sometimes you need to keep working in flour until you have the perfect consistency.

From The Soccer Mom Blog

Homemade Kinetic Sand

• 1/2 cup flour  
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 Tbsp. oil (any kind) 
• 1 Tbsp. corn syrup.

If it runs a touch on the drier side add a touch more oil in your next recipe.

From Surviving a Teacher’s Salary

Pumpkin Pie Play Clay

• Canned Pumpkin
• Cornstarch 
• Pumpkin Pie Spice

1. Take your pumpkin and stir it until it’s smooth.
2. Add enough pumpkin pie spice that it smells delicious.
3. Slowly add cornstarch and stir.  Once the dough starts drying out, you’ll want to switch to kneading.  You want the dough to roll into a ball, but it should not stick to your hands.
4.  If it is sticking to your hands add a bit more cornstarch; if it is so dry that it won’t form a ball and is crumbling instead, add a small amount of water.

∗The amounts of cornstarch will vary depending on the brand and quantity of canned pumpkin you use. The dough will keep for 2-3 days sealed in the fridge.

From Fun At Home With Kids

Yogurt Silly Putty

• Corn starch
• Yogurt- Make sure it’s a yogurt without chunks of fruit.

1. Mix together 1 cup of yogurt and 3/4 cups of corn starch
2. When the mixture is no longer sticky, pick it up and roll the putty into a ball (to further mix the yogurt and corn starch)
3. If it’s too sticky, sprinkle in additional corn starch. If it’s too dry, add a bit more yogurt

From Smart School House

Ooblek

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of Corn Starch
• 1 Cup of Water
• 10 Drops of Food Coloring (optional)

1.  In a shallow bowl, combine the corn starch and water.  The mixture will be thick and hard to stir, so mix the ingredients by hand.

2.  Add the food coloring and mix well.  We used green food coloring to look like the Oobleck in the Dr. Seuss book, but you can pick any color.

From ABC’s of Literacy

Other great things to use for baby sensory play:

Rice Crispies/Cheerios or other cereal that isn’t a choking hazard

Boxed Mashed Potato Flakes

Ice

Colored Rice

Tapioca Pearls

Gelatin

Sensory play is so much fun for the whole family, and many of the items I used above you probably already have in your pantry. Summer is a great time to experiment and get messy with sensory because, when you’re done, you can throw them in a baby pool in the backyard for easy cleanup. If you try any of the recipes, please let me know how it goes. Let’s get messy!

♥ Erin