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Social Distancing at School: Best Practices to Teach Kids
You may be wondering with so many schools doing a hybrid school session for fall 20200 & beyond, how you will possibly get your children to wear masks at school and keep them on in order to prevent the spread of germs. Children are notorious germ spreaders. If you need any convincing, just think of their daily habits. Talking too close to each other, touching unnecessarily, slobbering on toys which they then share because of that is what they were told to do, and other delightful germ infested practices seem to be the standard kid modus operandi, at least for younger children. While it may be more difficult to control…
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Tips for Reducing Stress with Your Journal
Stress is the great equalizer – but not in a good way. You don’t want to know that everyone deals with stress in the same way. Stress is bad for your physical and mental health, disrupts your sleep, can lead to emotional eating, and so many more issues. If you have been dealing with a lot of stress, journaling can be an amazing tool. Do a Big Brain Dump If you are using your journal to reduce stress, try starting out with a brain dump. This is when you release all of those worries, thoughts, and feelings onto the paper. It can be easy to hold a lot of information…
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Warm Italian Panini Sandwich
August is National Sandwich Month! And August 11th is National Panini Day! Do you make paninis at home? It’s easy even if you don’t have a panini press! A classic Italian sub sandwich normally features a mixture of cured meats, such as salami, pepperoni or ham, and provolone cheese on an Italian-style roll. Onions, tomatoes, and crispy lettuce topped with copious amounts of Italian dressing are also standard. This version is similar, except it is on a super soft artisanal white bread without the dressing. It is also served warm. If you don’t have a dedicated Panini press at home – no problem. You can achieve similar results with a…
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Creamy Instant Pot® Rice Pudding
Today, August 9th is National Rice Pudding Day I remember having this dessert first when I was in kindergarten. It was usually part of our lunch and was mass-produced. LOL It was not my favorite thing — I was 5! Finally, as a teen, I was given a new version — one made in a home. Hmmm — it was quite tasty! So, it moved up my list of things I like to eat! This Creamy Instant Pot Rice Pudding recipe makes a really creamy version without much effort on your part! This creamy, custard-like rice pudding is so delicious and easy to make, it just might become your new…
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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? …
