Friday, September 24, 2010
Great game for toddlers
The girls are in LOVE with this version of the CandyLand
game. It is easy for them to play by themselves but also fun enough for their older siblings to play with as well. It is often the first thing they take out in the morning. They learn shapes, colors and do puzzle work throughout the game by putting the pieces in the correct spots.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Love this cereal!
I recently found a cereal that I surprisingly LOVE! It is healthy, tasty and filling! It is a fairly new cereal, I think, so sometimes I have a hard time finding it. However, I did find a few boxes at local Wal-Mart.
First of all, I never thought I would like any raisen bran cereal. It just didn't sound very good to me. But this one has almonds, raisens, yogurt clusters and craisens - the combination makes the taste amazing. I have even had a handful for a snack without the milk. At just 210 calories (with fat free milk), 2.5 grams of fat and 6 grams of fiber. It is a well rounded breakfast.
So, if you are looking for new cereal, I highly recommend it!
First of all, I never thought I would like any raisen bran cereal. It just didn't sound very good to me. But this one has almonds, raisens, yogurt clusters and craisens - the combination makes the taste amazing. I have even had a handful for a snack without the milk. At just 210 calories (with fat free milk), 2.5 grams of fat and 6 grams of fiber. It is a well rounded breakfast.
So, if you are looking for new cereal, I highly recommend it!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
What to make for breakfast???
I am always looking for new and healthy things to make for breakfast in the morning, for both my husband and I and our kids. With the new school year starting, I made a vow to myself to get up earlier so I am better prepared in the morning to offer the kids something better than just a granola bar or cold cereal. Although, I am sure on most days that is what they are going to want. I want to make sure I have other options. The hardest part for me is to be up early enough to have it ready for them.
When making my list of breakfast options for the kids I came across a few good lists and websites that I would like to share. If you have good breakfast ideas that you would like to share I would love to hear them!
1. Berry-Fresh Parfait: This can be a fun recipe to make together! It can be prepared the night before, too. Put it in a plastic cup, if breakfast needs to be eaten in the car or on the bus. Just layer your child’s favorite flavor of low-sugar yogurt with granola and colorful fruit like strawberries, kiwi, blueberries or peaches. Small children can help by adding pre-sliced fruit to the cup or bowl.
2. Oatmeal Happy Face: Oatmeal can go from “yucky” to “yummy” by adding some fun faces made with raisins, bits of dried apricots, cherries and nuts. Just serve plain old fashioned oatmeal in a bowl, and give your child the option of creating a fun face on top with dried fruit and nuts. When the “artwork” is complete, add a bit of maple syrup, and watch breakfast be devoured!
3. Wrap It Up! Eggs and cheese rolled up in a whole wheat tortilla is a nutritious “to-go” breakfast. The egg and cheese mix can even be scrambled the night before. Just put it in a sealed container. When you’re ready to wrap and roll, warm the eggs and cheese, put some into the tortilla, and you’re done!
4. 3-Minute Muesli: This 3-minute recipe is super-healthy and fun to make with kids. The recipe lasts for three days, so it’s ready whenever you are! Check out my recipe and “how-to” video at http://www.voiceofreason.net/.
5. Mmm-Mmm-Good Muffins: Kids love to stir, so helping make oatmeal-blueberry, corn-peach muffins will be lots of fun for them. Scooping batter into muffin cups is also a safe and easy way to get kids involved in cooking.
6. Pile-O-Fruit: Always keep mixed, fresh, cut fruit on hand. Scooped into a bowl and drizzled with honey (and maybe topped with granola), fruit makes a delicious breakfast.
7. Way-To-Go-Waffle: Whole grain waffles are a good source of nutrition. Topped with sliced bananas or berries, this colorful meal is irresistible!
8. Cereal: Low sugar cereals can be made more exciting (and tasty) with the addition of berries, nuts, dried fruit or whatever else your child might like. Just have healthy “add-ins” on hand, and he’ll feel proud when he creates his own concoction of goodies.
9. Shake-Rattle-‘n’-Roll: Nothing is quicker than a shake make with milk, fruit and honey. The natural sweetness is irresistible! Just have your child pick the types of fruit she’d like, control the “on” and “off” switches of the blender, and voila! She’ll be drinking her fruit in no time.
10. Bagel-icious: Whole grain bagels, whole grain English muffins and raisin bread are each tempting when slathered with peanut butter, apple and pear butter or other preserves. High in protein, this is a dynamite way to start the day!
When making my list of breakfast options for the kids I came across a few good lists and websites that I would like to share. If you have good breakfast ideas that you would like to share I would love to hear them!
1. Berry-Fresh Parfait: This can be a fun recipe to make together! It can be prepared the night before, too. Put it in a plastic cup, if breakfast needs to be eaten in the car or on the bus. Just layer your child’s favorite flavor of low-sugar yogurt with granola and colorful fruit like strawberries, kiwi, blueberries or peaches. Small children can help by adding pre-sliced fruit to the cup or bowl.
- I love this one because it can be prepared the night before. I just received a Magic Bullet from my sister and I am excited to make smoothies, etc. Hopefully the kids like them!
2. Oatmeal Happy Face: Oatmeal can go from “yucky” to “yummy” by adding some fun faces made with raisins, bits of dried apricots, cherries and nuts. Just serve plain old fashioned oatmeal in a bowl, and give your child the option of creating a fun face on top with dried fruit and nuts. When the “artwork” is complete, add a bit of maple syrup, and watch breakfast be devoured!
- I think the little girls will like this the most! We also make malt-0-meal which probably isn't as good for you as oatmeal but it is another option.
3. Wrap It Up! Eggs and cheese rolled up in a whole wheat tortilla is a nutritious “to-go” breakfast. The egg and cheese mix can even be scrambled the night before. Just put it in a sealed container. When you’re ready to wrap and roll, warm the eggs and cheese, put some into the tortilla, and you’re done!
- The is one of my favorites! I often make them with ham, onions, green peppers and sometimes bacon bits. They are quick and easy! Of course there is always the regular eggs, toast and some sort of protein as well. We normally save that for the weekends though.
4. 3-Minute Muesli: This 3-minute recipe is super-healthy and fun to make with kids. The recipe lasts for three days, so it’s ready whenever you are! Check out my recipe and “how-to” video at http://www.voiceofreason.net/.
5. Mmm-Mmm-Good Muffins: Kids love to stir, so helping make oatmeal-blueberry, corn-peach muffins will be lots of fun for them. Scooping batter into muffin cups is also a safe and easy way to get kids involved in cooking.
- The kids love muffins! Most of the time though I just buy the muffin mixes that you just have to add water or milk - how easy is that!!
6. Pile-O-Fruit: Always keep mixed, fresh, cut fruit on hand. Scooped into a bowl and drizzled with honey (and maybe topped with granola), fruit makes a delicious breakfast.
- All of us love fruit so this is a win in our house. The only thing with fresh fruit is that it can get spendy!
7. Way-To-Go-Waffle: Whole grain waffles are a good source of nutrition. Topped with sliced bananas or berries, this colorful meal is irresistible!
- French toast, waffles, pancakes and French Toast sticks are something that all of us love as well. Sometimes I make a whole loaf of french toast and freeze it and then just bring up what I need for the day. It takes a little time to prepare but then you have it done already and just need to heat to eat.
8. Cereal: Low sugar cereals can be made more exciting (and tasty) with the addition of berries, nuts, dried fruit or whatever else your child might like. Just have healthy “add-ins” on hand, and he’ll feel proud when he creates his own concoction of goodies.
- I am trying to get the kids to eat more low sugar cereals. We will get there someday. Honeynut cherrios is the closest we've got so far.
9. Shake-Rattle-‘n’-Roll: Nothing is quicker than a shake make with milk, fruit and honey. The natural sweetness is irresistible! Just have your child pick the types of fruit she’d like, control the “on” and “off” switches of the blender, and voila! She’ll be drinking her fruit in no time.
10. Bagel-icious: Whole grain bagels, whole grain English muffins and raisin bread are each tempting when slathered with peanut butter, apple and pear butter or other preserves. High in protein, this is a dynamite way to start the day!
- Our son loves bagels so this works great for him. I have been buying the bagel thins lately and really like them. They are about half as thick as a normal bagel and half the calories. I toast them and put a little peanut butter on them - yummy! And only about 3 WW points!
Above info from Modernmom.com:
Other ideas:
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Everyone has days like these..... I think?
A few days ago I decided to take all the kids with me to get groceries and their school supplies - my first mistake. I thought it was going to go so well. The kids were in good moods and very excited to pick up all of their supplies.
We walked into the store and the chaos started - we had to go to the bathroom first, then Iz had to go, then O went into the boys bathroom, then they need a drink from the fountain, etc. Once that was done, we finally started the shopping. I got out my lists which I had highlighted because we only needed certain items as some things were still good from last year. We started putting items into the cart and I let them put their items in themselves too. O was putting everything she could grab into the cart. So while I was trying to get E and A's stuff organized, I had to keep track of what O was putting in that she didn't need and put it back on the shelves - which ended in a crying meltdown because she thought she NEEDED all the items. A had a great idea to get O's mind off the crying - she could pick out a new backpack! O was thrilled! So we moved on to that aisle. O picked one out in no time and we were all set with the supplies, whew!! I was exhausted, hot and sweaty by this point.
Next were the groceries. We didn't need much but we still had to go through almost every aisle, which left plenty of time for the 3 kids that were walking to pester each other. And oh how they did! I was constantly telling them to stop touching things, stop touching each other, etc. It was exhausting. And somewhere along the way O picked up a $4 notebook that she thought she had to have. I let her carry it around hoping it would keep her happy and content the rest of the trip. Well, she left it lay about 4 aisles before we were done, so another crying tantrum resulted. This one lasted pretty much until we left though :-( We continued to shop and get the items we needed with the kids still misbehaving. I am not sure why they were in such a pestering mood. I often take all 4 of them with me and it has never been THIS bad.
We were finally done. The kids went to the play area by the checkout and I began the checkout process. I started stacking the bags back into the cart and Iz says she needs to go poopy. I asked E to take her to the bathroom. He takes her and comes back and they all go back and play. The cashier finishes checking me out and I get my total. Then I hear Iz say, "I need to go poopy", so I asked E nicely to take her again and he refuses because he said that he just took her and she went. So I tell her to hold it and she starts crying because she has a tummy ache, so I hold her. I reach into my purse, NO WALLET! I can't believe it. I was so frustrated with the kids, hot and sweaty from shopping all over the store and dealing with the kids and now I can't even pay for the items I wanted to buy. Ughhh.! I put Iz down and begin looking for my wallet. I can't find it anywhere. In the meantime, Iz pooped in her pants! So, I then tell E to take her to the bathroom to see if she has to go more. The customer service rep comes over and tells me that she will hold my groceries while I go and get my wallet. I then went to check on E and Iz and he has her in the men's bathroom and their is poop EVERYWHERE on her legs, underwear, leggings and dress. Luckily, I had wipes and an extra set of clothes with for her. I took her and changed her in the women's bathroom while E watched the other kids outside the bathroom door. Then we ALL go outside to the van to find my wallet, which was there thankfully, and head back into the store again. I go up to customer service, pay, and then we all head back out to the van, this time with our school supplies and groceries.
Needless to say, they all got a nice talking to on the way home and a timeout when we got home. This was the worst shopping experience I have EVER had with the kids. I know it happens to everyone and that is why I am writing about it. As mad and frustrated as I was, I knew that someone else had experienced something like it, or worse. I know bringing all the kids at one time was kind of asking for it but I have done it so many times that I thought it would be fine. It was just the accumulation of all the things that happened that put me over the edge.
After we ALL took some time away from each other, we had a nice calm talk about how we act in stores and in public and how we need to help Mom when she asks, etc. I think we all learned a lesson from this one.
I guess my tip to you from this story is to know that all of us have our "Mommy Meltdown" moments. Although is seems so bad at the moment, it passes and everything turns out just fine. I have actually laughed about it now :-)
We walked into the store and the chaos started - we had to go to the bathroom first, then Iz had to go, then O went into the boys bathroom, then they need a drink from the fountain, etc. Once that was done, we finally started the shopping. I got out my lists which I had highlighted because we only needed certain items as some things were still good from last year. We started putting items into the cart and I let them put their items in themselves too. O was putting everything she could grab into the cart. So while I was trying to get E and A's stuff organized, I had to keep track of what O was putting in that she didn't need and put it back on the shelves - which ended in a crying meltdown because she thought she NEEDED all the items. A had a great idea to get O's mind off the crying - she could pick out a new backpack! O was thrilled! So we moved on to that aisle. O picked one out in no time and we were all set with the supplies, whew!! I was exhausted, hot and sweaty by this point.
Next were the groceries. We didn't need much but we still had to go through almost every aisle, which left plenty of time for the 3 kids that were walking to pester each other. And oh how they did! I was constantly telling them to stop touching things, stop touching each other, etc. It was exhausting. And somewhere along the way O picked up a $4 notebook that she thought she had to have. I let her carry it around hoping it would keep her happy and content the rest of the trip. Well, she left it lay about 4 aisles before we were done, so another crying tantrum resulted. This one lasted pretty much until we left though :-( We continued to shop and get the items we needed with the kids still misbehaving. I am not sure why they were in such a pestering mood. I often take all 4 of them with me and it has never been THIS bad.
We were finally done. The kids went to the play area by the checkout and I began the checkout process. I started stacking the bags back into the cart and Iz says she needs to go poopy. I asked E to take her to the bathroom. He takes her and comes back and they all go back and play. The cashier finishes checking me out and I get my total. Then I hear Iz say, "I need to go poopy", so I asked E nicely to take her again and he refuses because he said that he just took her and she went. So I tell her to hold it and she starts crying because she has a tummy ache, so I hold her. I reach into my purse, NO WALLET! I can't believe it. I was so frustrated with the kids, hot and sweaty from shopping all over the store and dealing with the kids and now I can't even pay for the items I wanted to buy. Ughhh.! I put Iz down and begin looking for my wallet. I can't find it anywhere. In the meantime, Iz pooped in her pants! So, I then tell E to take her to the bathroom to see if she has to go more. The customer service rep comes over and tells me that she will hold my groceries while I go and get my wallet. I then went to check on E and Iz and he has her in the men's bathroom and their is poop EVERYWHERE on her legs, underwear, leggings and dress. Luckily, I had wipes and an extra set of clothes with for her. I took her and changed her in the women's bathroom while E watched the other kids outside the bathroom door. Then we ALL go outside to the van to find my wallet, which was there thankfully, and head back into the store again. I go up to customer service, pay, and then we all head back out to the van, this time with our school supplies and groceries.
Needless to say, they all got a nice talking to on the way home and a timeout when we got home. This was the worst shopping experience I have EVER had with the kids. I know it happens to everyone and that is why I am writing about it. As mad and frustrated as I was, I knew that someone else had experienced something like it, or worse. I know bringing all the kids at one time was kind of asking for it but I have done it so many times that I thought it would be fine. It was just the accumulation of all the things that happened that put me over the edge.
After we ALL took some time away from each other, we had a nice calm talk about how we act in stores and in public and how we need to help Mom when she asks, etc. I think we all learned a lesson from this one.
I guess my tip to you from this story is to know that all of us have our "Mommy Meltdown" moments. Although is seems so bad at the moment, it passes and everything turns out just fine. I have actually laughed about it now :-)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Love these no-spill cups!
This is another item that took me until the 4th child to give in and buy and I wonder why I did so? These are great cups for toddlers! They are easy for them to hold, lightweight and of course spill-proof. I think I was reluctant to buy them in the past because I thought - The kids won't be walking around with a snack, so why would they need a spill-proof cup...haha! I know as much as I want them to sit for all meals and snacks, that isn't always going to happen. So, for when you are on the go, on a walk, at church, etc. these cups really do keep their snack inside and are easy for your toddler to use!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Almost as good as chips
I have a great LOVE for chips and I finally found something similar that is a little more healthy - Veggie Straws
They are crunchy, a little salty and fulfill that afternoon craving that I have for some chips. The kids have really taken a liking to them as well.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Another great Yoga DVD
I try to incorporate a little Yoga or Pilates a few times a week to my workout regimin and I picked this DVD up a while back and I really like it. It is a little more intense than the Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga
, but still has the same benefits. I highly recommend it. There is something to be said about feeling more lean, taller and more flexible after yoga. It took me until this year to try it and it is something that I will continue to do for the rest of my life.
Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown
Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown
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