All parents want their children to be happy and healthy, but it's often difficult to encourage our kids to follow a healthy lifestyle, especially if they have grown used to sweet treats and like to spend a lot of their time in front of their screens. If you’re a parent who is concerned about their child’s health, or would just like a few useful tips to keep in mind, below are a some simple suggestions on how you can help your children stay fit and healthy. You know how to do it, getting started is the hard part. So, here's your motivation.
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Diet
A good place to start is looking at your children’s diet and whether or not there need to be some changes here. You don’t have to feed your kid all organic food to make sure they maintain a good diet, and obviously, not all households can afford the more expensive products. If you want to make sure your kids are eating well, make sure they get plenty of fruits and vegetables and lots of good carbohydrates.
If your kids are fussy eaters, think of creative ways to get them to eat a variety of foods, like making them a healthy smoothie or soup so the veggies and fruits are hidden from view. Also consider taking time to cook meals with your children so they can start to learn this important life skill and about nutrition and what constitutes a healthy diet. We've started ordering dinnerly, an economical food delivery service. Teenagers can cook their own gourmet meals or easy weeknight dinners, you choose the recipes each week.
Sticking to a good exercise routine, can be difficult. Kids are no different. The best way to encourage your kids (and yourself) to get moving is by finding a sport or activity that they truly enjoy. By making exercise fun, kids are more likely to engage and exercise regularly, especially if their friends are involved. Get the family out and moving together on weekends, whether it’s going for hikes or playing Frisbee together in the park.
As well as making sure they’re eating right and getting their hearts pumping, also watch out for your children's oral health. A lot of kids don’t like having to brush their teeth before bed, particularly if they’re already tired and cranky. However, this is an essential routine they need to get into early to avoid problems with their gums and tooth decay, which can be very painful and unpleasant. Make sure your kids brush their teeth twice a day, and be sure to teach them how to floss. If they hate toothpaste, have them brush with water to get the food out and then do an oral rinse.
Physical health is important, but your child’s mental well-being is also crucial to help them stay physically healthy. This isn't always as easy to see, but the best way you can help is by creating an environment at home where your child feels comfortable talking with you about their feelings and problems. If you discover concerning behaviors, ask your kids' teachers if they've noticed anything at school. The pandemic has been rough on everyone, but especially our kids.Make sure you're paying attention, any changes in behavior might be a cry for help. Kids are struggling with depression from being forced to stay inside.
Raising kids is the most challenging thing anyone can do. Keeping your kids fit and healthy is an important part of parenting. Hopefully, these tips will help you find new, creative ways to keep your kids happy and healthy. Be sure to click on the titles between the paragraphs above, for more detailed information on each topic.
Have you unexpectedly been tossed into the throes of homeschooling since the Corona virus pandemic? If you've suddenly had to to become the school teacher, cafeteria lady, and janitor during these school closures, you're well aware that home learning is more difficult than it looks. So, how do you do homeschooling during the coronavirus pandemic? As seasoned homeschoolers, we're here to help. Below is a list of our favorite homeschool resources and some articles specifically addressing these troubled times and how to help your kids cope. What a life lesson this is, right?
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For more on our personal journey scroll to the end.
Worried how school closure and remote learning will affect your child? Love them, support them, build them up, and they'll be fine. Think homeschoolers are weird? Maybe, depends on your perspective, but we're more normal than you think. We only had 7 months of brick and mortar school, but our previously homeschooled kids made the best of their first year of brick and mortar school. They miss school so much. When this is all over your kids will look forward to going to school too! I've added a photo album for our long time readers and fans. Enjoy!
I love this post! We have a similar experience. Keep scrolling to see our homeschoolers' success in public school!
Tips for Home Learning and Coping during School Closures and Covid19
These are scary times, so here's a Coronavirus meme to lighten the mood.
Educational Resources for Homeschooling during the Coronavirus
Many of our older homeschool resources that target elementary students are listed in the homeschool tab on this site: Homeschool Learning Lessons for Elementary Age You can also do a search on our site for specific types of lessons like, grammar, math, and science.
BrainPophas the most fun videos; I love them as much as my kids do. BrainPopJr. is great for the younger set. They are a paid service, but offer a free movie of the week and other free lessons.
Life of Fredis our favorite home learning curriculum. We checked the books out at the library, that's probably not an option during these coronavirus times. You can get the Life of Fred books online at Amazon and on the Life of Fred website (Get the dolls!)
Mobymax has free options for remote learning and homeschoolers. The great thing about this website is they find and fix learning gaps. Kids can take assessments to see where they fall and then do educational activities based on their grade level in different subjects. It's a great way to see if your child has been falling through the cracks in public school.
TeachersPayTeachers and TeacherSherpa both offer great resources free and paid. The lesson plans are created by teachers for teachers, but homeschoolers and remote learners are welcome to download them too! Check out our store on TPT, it has some fun educational skits to do with the kids, we even have a play about the Easter Bunny!
Khan Academy is not for the faint of heart. If you're all in to the homeschooling thing, give it a try. We used it for several years. It's a free learning resource originally targeted toward middle schoolers and high schoolers, but now offers lessons for elementary too. It feels a lot more like "real school" than some of the other online options and keeps track of your progress and grade level.
Why not give this difficult time a fun spin? Our Summer Camp Handbook is edutainment at its best! Enjoy science experiments, PE Activities, and more disguised as fun!
We also love CrashCourse with John and Hank Green. (Yes, that John Green!) You'll even find some of their lessons on Khan Academy. These are super fun, especially for older students.
We hope these resources help ease your mind and put you on the right track for remote home learning during the Coronavirus pandemic situation. Remember, homeschooling isn't easy and not all parents nor all kids are cut out for it.
Bowling allows for socialization and physical activity. During the quarantine,
bowl with your game console or set up milk jugs to knock down with a basketball.
Do the best you can. Don't overdo it! If you take it too seriously, your kids won't enjoy it and neither will you. Make learning fun, make it light, and focus on those skills that are best learned at home: writing letters, sending emails, tying shoes, telling time, how to follow a recipe, chores (consider doing laundry a PE activity,) working on cars, putting together puzzles, dice games, Minecraft Uno or any Uno game, and anything that brings your family closer together.
Dress up day.
Note: This past year, my kids decided to go back to public school. My 15 year-old was placed as a high learning junior taking all senior and college level courses, my 13 year-old is a well-rounded, straight A, school loving eighth grader.
In previous years, we spent a maximum of 2 hours a day on book learning. The rest of our day was focused on healthy outdoor activities, field trips to museums, special events at the library, and a local homeschool group for "socialization." Turns out, it was more than enough.
Take it easy, don't stress out, and remember that YOU CAN DO IT!
Made the grade, first semester honor roll.
Never played football in his life. Made the team!
Loving the school band.
My son was looking forward to performing in the high school play, finishing building a home for Habitat for Humanity, trying out different sports and clubs, and now, that will have to wait until next year. My daughter was on an academic team, loving art club, playing in the school band, and appreciating school for its many wonderful opportunities. I took great pride and joy watching them try new things. My heart aches for their loss and for the loss of those long time public school seniors who are missing out on their last school dance, possibly graduation, and all the joys of being a high school senior. If nothing else, this experience will teach us not to take life for granted.
Never forget, no matter how stressful it gets, getting to stay home with your kids is a gift.
First, I'll share my process in making the balloon birthday cupcake decoration. You know, the giant balloon that's all over YouTube and Facebook? You'll need to pack a party load of patience to make that balloon cupcake decoration. If you're a mom who drinks wine, maybe step one should be a few sips of a nice Riesling. If you want to make a giant balloon birthday cupcake for baby's first birthday party, even with my simplified method, you're going to need a few hours and at least one faithful friend. Ready? Read on for my Balloon Birthday Cupcake Tutorial!
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How to Make Balloon Cupcake for Birthday Party YouTube
This was my process, it's real. If you want to cut to the chase, scroll down for detailed instructions on how to make a giant balloon cupcake.
Step One
Refuse to take money from your friend. She offered $75 and dinner. Plan in your head how they must've created the giant balloon cupcake. Draw it out on paper. Watch the videos below. Realize you got it all wrong. Decide you can't do it. Give up.
Balloon Birthday Cupcake Seen on Pinterest YouTube Tutorial
Step Two
Think about it some more. Try it your way. Realize it is going to be tedious. Give up, but remember your blog's motto is, "You can do it!" He's a professional, he must know the easiest way to do it, right?
Maybe this one is easier? (It's not,)
Step Three
Watch videos again. Decide to really pay attention. Have a glass of wine Use the easiest steps from each video. Realize this is completely ridiculous and only a professional balloon designer can make these. This is why the florist said they'd make one for you for $300.
Think about it some more. You're no quitter! You can do it! After all, that's what this blog is all about. Try it your way again. This time with more confidence. Start with a tiny prototype. Watch one more YouTube tutorial on how to make a giant balloon cupcake like the ones on Pinterest. Decide you deserve a nap.
Wow, she seems fun and nice. This isn't a cupcake, bur realize the concept is the same. The skill level is still difficult. It doesn't look easy when they do it. Think about that. They are trying to make it look easy! It's not...
Step Five
Share your tiny prototype with friend who hopes to have the best one year old's first birthday party ever! She's so patient. She trusts you. She has complete faith in you. You find this rattling. But, you're determined. Go back to STEP ONE. Create the balloon cupcake, the way you imagined it was constructed. Listen to friend cheering you on, "See, I knew you could do it." Think friend is nuts. This looks nothing like those giant balloon cupcakes. She's tired, she's over it, she just wants something after all of this effort. You know she's thinking, $300 would've been a lot easier.
Realize it's not perfect, but it will do. Just show it's good side. Reconsider making these for a living. Realize $75 is a great price, understand why the florist wanted to charge $300. THEY ARE SMARTER THAN YOU ARE, THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT!
Refuse to ever make another one, even though you know full well, that the next one will be better. You learned from your mistakes. You know how to make it straight. You know the ins and the outs. Baby, there isn't enough wine in the world...
What you say? Where are the tiny balloon sprinkles? Well, I ought a.... We bought tiny balloons, we taped them on with duct tape. They looked dumb. I'm sure you need the tiny, long balloons used for balloon animals. I didn't feel like another trip to the store! Sharpies, worked just fine. Pink and purple Sharpies would've been nice though.
Step Six
Take it to the giant balloon cupcake to the party. (That seems like a simple step doesn't it? Well, it's not!) Disassemble the giant balloon cupcake in as few pieces as possible. Place it in the trunk of your hatchback, crossover SUV. Ha, ha. ha. Jokes on you. Panic. You're going to be late to the party. Read text from very patient friend, "Where are you?" Panic some more, don't answer text. Notice your Dad's Trailblazer in the driveway (he left it there so you could get some giant rolls of carpet for the house.) Open the hatch, say a little prayer. It fits! Thank goodness the party is less than five minutes away.
It's three pieces!
Step Seven
Pull up at the church. Rush to get the balloon inside the door. The door, yet another obstacle. See everyone ooh and ahh as you enter. If you've ever been on stage, you know how applause feels. This feels like that. Think, maybe you could make these for a living. After all, this was the first attempt. Surely, it would get easier each time? And, you certainly know what NOT to do.
Don't worry, I had to blur baby's face, she's a beautiful baby in the process of adoption.
So, now you've seen the videos, you've read my process leading up to it, here's the UNCONVENTIONAL giant balloon birthday cupcake tutorial. May the force be with you!
Sit down with the laundry basket in your lap. Starting with the second column of holes, tie a PINK balloon to the vertical weave in the basket (between the holes.) Skip every other hole. Do this all the way around the basket. Our basket had vertical line holes, some have circular holes.
Balloons will move, don't worry about this now. Depending on the spacing of your basket's holes, you may need to skip the next row. If you see the basket between the balloons, use every row. If not, use every other row. Got it? You will after a few rows.
Note there are only two rows of holes, I tied two balloons to each vertical strip to get a line of four balloons tall.
The balloons want to escape, the don't stay orderly. Don't worry about this until you've got them all tied down.
Once all pink balloons are tied down, you can then gently push them to arrange them in a straight (ish) line. For the balloon's white cupcake frosting top, I used the process in the ice cream cone video from above. I connected six white balloons together to create somewhat of a circle. I made a separate grouping of four white balloons for the topper and then tied the red balloon in the center with fishing line.
Balloons are willy-nilly, but can be arranged at the final stage.
Here you can see, that the cupcake is 3 separate pieces.
So, how do you attach the balloon sections together? I was going to tie them with fishing line as demonstrated in the first Balloon Cupcake YouTube Tutorial, but that proved too complicated for me. Also, I kept popping the balloons. I tried duct tape, but you could see it. In the end, I didn't connect the pieces at all and was thankful for this when it was time to load the balloon for delivery.
Get the Cupcake lanterns and Pinata from Oriental Trading. Baby's face is blurred to protect identity.
The cupcake's purpose was for a photo shoot for a very special baby's first birthday party. The cupcake wasn't perfect, it had a bad side, but we just turned it to the good side! Photo shoot was amazing! Baby is beautiful, but we aren't permitted to share her face here. Just know, she was tickled to death with her giant cupcake!
Easy Gluten Free Chicken Wrap Frito's and Broccoli Slaw
Are you a fan of the Frito's Chicken Enchilada Wraps at Subway? We sure are. The wraps, or subs, whichever way you choose to order the Frito's special. are delicious. Around here, we like to do it gluten free. So, when Kbosh sent some gluten free veggie crusts, the creative juices started flowing! Thiseasy chicken wrap with Fritos is gluten free because the wrap is made with a veggie based, broccoli crust! Need an easy weeknight dinner? Use your chicken leftovers to whip up this easy gluten free chicken wrap with Frito's and broccoli slaw recipe. Enjoy!
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Chicken Wrap with Fritos Gluten Free
Kbosh Broccoli Crusts come in packages of two for your convenience. If you prefer the original Fritos Enchilada from Subway, that's okay. The crusts are versatile and can be used many ways. Of course, the crusts make wonderful pizzas, but they also work for taco shells, wraps, and lasagna dishes!
For cooking your Kbosh crusts, we recommend a griddle skillet pan like this one.
How to Make Chicken Wrap with Fritos Gluten Free Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Kbosh Broccoli Crust
2 Tbs. Butter
1 Package Broccoli Slaw made to package directions or your liking.
1 Diced Apple
1/2 C. Shredded Chicken
1/2 C. Fritos
Drizzling of Ranch Dressing
Prepping the Kbosh Crust wrap is simple. Just remove it from the package and heat as preferred. To get those golden brown edges, we placed ours in a skillet with some butter, 1 minute on each side. The microwave works great too! Just don't over cook it, you want it to be pliable.
Fold Chicken Wrap with Fritos together like a burrito.
Drizzle with Ranch Dressing.
The Gluten Free Chicken Wrap with Fritos is also low calorie and low carb. The crusts are flavorful, soft, and convenient. It's fast food without all the guilt. For more easy recipes, follow us on Pinterest.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake with Gluten Free Chocolate Crust
Has there ever been an easier way to make a delicious dessert? Absolutely not! If you're gluten free or keto, or you just love food in general, you have to try these gluten free veggie crusts by Kbosh! They make these gluten free crusts for pizzas and dinner food, and they also make dessert crusts too! It's the craziest thing, we started with their gluten free chocolate zucchini crust and got creative. Scroll down for our easy,gluten free, chocolate chip cheesecake recipe.
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Are you on a gluten free diet? Do you do all things Keto? These veggie crusts from Kbosh work as tortillas, crackers, pasta, pie crusts, pizza crusts, and so much more. You'll never know you're eating veggies. The kids loved this simple cheesecake roll. It makes a great after school snack, and the kids can make it on their own!
How to Make Gluten Free Crustless Cheesecake Recipe
Start with an easy, no bake cheesecake mix or get fancy and make your own cheesecake filling from scratch. It doesn't matter, it's all delicious! We used a Jell-O, No-Bake Cheesecake in a box. Ditch the graham crackers, you don't need them and they're full of gluten and extra sugar. Yes, there's sugar in the cheesecake mix. Shh...
Make a gluten free chocolate cheesecake with a Kbosh dessert crust.
So, all you really need is a bag of chocolate chips, a Kbosh Chocolate Zucchini Crust, and the Jell-O Cheesecake mix. Make the cheesecake according to package instructions.
Next, remove your Kbosh Crust from the freezer and place it in the microwave for 40 seconds. After your cheesecake mix sets, spread it on the chocolate veggie dessert crust.
Chocolate, gluten free pre-made dessert crust with cheesecake spread.
Sprinkle on chocolate chips.
Carefully, roll it into a Swiss Roll and then slice in 1" pinwheels to serve.
Seriously, that's all there is to it. Imagine how great this gluten free chocolate chip cheesecake will be when you add strawberries and whip cream on top! Did someone say, time to eat?
Nothing says summer like Strawberries! Add some summer to your breakfast with these yummy and easy strawberry cheesecake pancakes. Keep scrolling to learn how to make strawberry cheesecake pancakes!
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Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes Recipe.
If you're a fan of pancakes, strawberries, and cheesecake, watch out! These pancakes are irresistible! Your family will think your're a gourmet pancake guru when you serve up this simple, easy strawberry cheesecake pancake recipe that you make from scratch! It's the perfect pancake recipe for a quick family breakfast or a fancy girl's get together brunch.
Cheesecake Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients:
1 T lemon juice
1/2 c milk
1 c flour
1 T sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
3 oz. cream cheese
1 egg
1 c strawberries, finely chopped
How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes
Mix together lemon juice and milk.
Allow the milk mixture to sit for 5 minutes.
Milk will curdle slightly. This is good.
Stir together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
Beat the cream cheese until it is smooth. Small chunks will remain.
Add egg and milk mixture. and blend.
Gradually add dry ingredients with minimal mixing.
Stir in strawberries.
If the batter is too thick, and a little more milk.
Grease a skillet or pancake griddle and heat to medium-high on the stove.
Cardboard Toilet Tubes turned Holiday Hats How many rolls of toilet paper do you go though each month? We've got to recycle that ca...
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