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Tips for Masks and School-Aged Kids
In many school districts around the country, children will be returning to school sometime this month. This school may take a variety of forms but face-to-face instruction may be a part for many families. This will require the children to wear masks. Training children to wear a face mask during school in order to prevent the spread of germs will no doubt be one of the more harrowing and challenging aspects of being a teacher during the 2020 – 2021 school year. Parents as well will likely face their share of difficulties in enforcing mask wearing protocol in order to protect children and prevent further spreading of Coronavirus. Below find…
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Check-in on Yourself with Your Journal
So many people are focused on their responsibilities, loved ones, and people who count on them both at home and at work, that they often neglect themselves. Not to mention all of the drama going on in the world today. If you find that this is happening to you, simply writing in a journal can help tremendously. Use your journal not to talk about anyone else, but to reflect on yourself and your own life. To check-in on YOU and see how you’re doing. How have you been feeling? Is there anything on your mind? How have you been feeling lately? Write how you have been lately, both internally and…
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10 Reasons to Embrace Your No
Michelle had just turned thirty when she became engaged. At the same time, she was planning her wedding, she also took on two key projects at work and began volunteering at a new organization that started in her area as well as helping her sister pack for a cross-country move. Rather than say “no” to any of these commitments, Michelle kept saying, “yes”. As her wedding date came closer, she felt overwhelmed, stressed, and scared. She could barely manage her life now. She couldn’t imagine adding another person to it. A friend gently pointed out to Michelle that she had “overspent her yeses”. She explained, “Your ‘yes’ is how you…
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Intro: Back-To-School Tips Series for 2020
2020… Back to school… The thought of going back-to-school for the 2020 – 2021 school year is likely to cause a fair amount of anxiety for even the most chill of moms. How can anyone who has kids and expects to keep working — either from home or in their workspace — handle all of the increased responsibility? Moms (and some dads) will have to participate in homeschooling again. There will need to be a good mix of educational, gross and motor skill development, technological, artistic, and skill-building activities. Parents will also be expected to make sure their kids get enough fresh air and some socialization. And keep the kids…
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Watermelon Feta Salad with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
Happy National Watermelon Day! I grew up eating watermelon at my grandmother’s house during the summer. My family would buy one a couple of times a week — there were quite a few of us plowing through the watermelon. My cousins and I would spit the seeds out like machine gun bullets — this was before the rise in the seedless watermelon. Yes, I used t be good at spitting out seeds and making it entertaining. Now if I find a seed in my seedless watermelon, it’s horrible. I have gotten spoiled in my old age. But seedless watermelon does have its benefits. Like in this recipe Watermelon with Feta…
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Protect Your Eyes and Eyesight
August is Eye Exam Month and Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. This post will focus more on adult eye care. I plan to tweet about children’s eye health. On to the topic! Our eyes may be small, but they are mighty. They have an incredibly important job and we depend on our eyes far more than we probably realize. They don’t just give us the visual picture of what’s in front of us. They help us sense danger, bring vivid colors to our memories and they are instrumental how we respond to any given circumstance or situation. Have you ever cried watching a breathtakingly emotional scene in a movie? …
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Kid-Friendly Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches
I can’t believe it is already August! In keeping with all of the ice-cream specific days during the summer, today is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. It’s amazing how many wonderful ways there are to enjoy ice cream! Today’s tribute to this day is a Kid-friendly recipe for Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches. This quick and easy “semi-homemade” recipe is perfect for younger children who like to help out in the kitchen. For best results, use square or rectangle waffles* (vs. round) for this recipe (and plenty of sprinkles for decorating!) This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, as needed. You can make your own waffles to use in this…
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Instant Pot® Cheesecakes
It’s still National Cheesecake Day, Post 2! The previous post, Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Parfaits, presented a no-cook cheesecake option. This post presents TWO Instant Pot® cheesecake recipes. One with fruit and the other chocolate… You can make one or both. Go all out for Cheesecake Day! First, here are a few tips before you start on your cheesecake masterpieces: Special equipment needed: 7” (or 7.5) springform pan (for 6-quart Instant Pot®)Non-stick cooking spray or parchment paper You will need a springform pan that fits appropriately into the pressure cooker. You can find them at department stores but here is one developed for the Instant Pot®. I found it at Bed,…
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Greek Yogurt Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
It’s National Cheesecake Day! Today I am sharing THREE cheesecake recipes one in this post and 2 in the next post. Different flavors and different types. You should have enough choices to start your National Cheesecake Day celebration. This lead-off recipe — Greek Yogurt Berry Cheesecake Parfaits — is a no-cook cheesecake version. Perfect for the hot summer months. No oven necessary and filled with fresh fruit! Yum! It’s also very easy to pull together for a family dessert! Note: There are nuts in this recipe (in the crust). If you don’t like nuts, you can substitute a different crust recipe in the parfait.
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Roasted Artichoke and Mozzarella Salad
The last week in July is Salad Week. I am sharing a couple of salads this week — this one and the Classic Caesar Salad recipe. I am a HUGE fan of salads and would love to just run a salad bar out of my fridge. But that’s not feasible so we have to find other options. This Roasted Artichoke and Mozzarella Salad is nice for a weekday meal. But it also dresses up nice if you are having a bigger gathering (when life returns to normal — stay safe everyone!). Did you try this Roasted Artichoke and Mozzarella Salad at home? Let me know in the commments!
