Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Accessory Inspiration from Around the World: Ensemble Box

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When it comes to fashion, I am pretty much the worst at accessorizing. I just don’t have an eye for how to pull things together on my own and if I want to achieve a certain “look” I have to just copy it from my source of inspiration to not get it horribly wrong. I actually really love looking at accessories, and wish I had the confidence to know what to buy that would work with my wardrobe. But I get so confused so easily, and more often than not, I just don’t buy anything and then find myself wearing outfits that fall short of looking polished.

So when Ensemble Box reached out about their company and what it offers, I was very excited. This is a monthly subscription service that will send you a few fun accessories each month, and every box is inspired by a particular country.

The August box I was sent, for example, contained items inspired by Spain. Three accessories were included, as well as a bonus treat (in this case, some tea that is traditional to Spain).

ensemble box review 1

The pashmina silk wrap is absolutely gorgeous and felt like the “big” item in the box. The colors are perfect for the fall, too.

I also really love the hollow out round drop earrings. This is something I would never have the guts to buy from a store but now that I own them I love them! They are so flashy and fun, and yet, if I wear my hair down then they can blend in a bit and not be overly loud.

ensemble box review 1

I also think the aviator metal sunglasses are quite fun. I’m not sure that they are the best style for my face frame, but I’ll keep playing around with them.

The Ensemble Box seems to be very thoughtfully curated box at a reasonable price point of $37.95 monthly. This is a new subscription service and there are few things I’d love to see them include as they continue to grow. First, I’d like to see retail price points for the items included. When I purchase a subscription box I like to feel as though I am getting a lot of bang for my buck, so show me what I might have spent if I’d picked up each item at full retail cost! Second, I’d like to see more information on the website about the country of the month and some ideas for how to weave the accessories into your wardrobe. Show me some folks wearing the scarf or the earrings to give me ideas (because I promise I’ll struggle to come up with it on my own!). And finally I’d love to see the option of subscribing for a longer period of time (month-to-month is the only option for now) and a little price break for committing to more boxes.

Are you an accessory maven or are you like me and riding the struggle bus in this department? Would Ensemble Box be something that could help you get out of a fashion rut?

One of My Favorite Halloween Breakfast Recipes: Spooky Pumpkin Chia Pudding

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Are you starting to get excited about all things pumpkin? The time is just around the corner, friends! And with it comes all things Halloween! Today I have a fun Halloween breakfast recipe for you to check out that makes good use of the most popular fall flavor. It’s a fun and festive breakfast, and best of all, it’s seriously healthy! Chia seeds, coconut and pumpkin join forces to provide some powerful nutrition for you and your kiddos to get through a busy day!

halloween breakfast recipes

Spooky Pumpkin Coconut Chia Pudding

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup chia seeds
  • 1 15 oz can coconut milk (not coconut milk in a carton, which is too thin)
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • shredded unsweetened coconut for garnish
  • 3 chocolate chip pieces or raisins
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for coconut together in a bowl, and mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (this gives the chia seeds time to expand).
  2. Put pudding into serving bowls, and then top with coconut flakes to create ghosts. You can use chocolate chips and/or raisins to make the eyes and mouth.
  3. Stir together chia seeds, coconut milk, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and maple syrup (if using). Half the mixture and pour into two containers. Cover and refrigerate overnight. If you’re in a rush, less time will do — I’d recommend at least 3-4 hours. You’ll want to wait until you’re ready to serve the chia pudding before preparing your toppings.

I get 4 servings out of this recipe. I hope your family loves it as much as mine does!

Mail Order Lobster From Maine for the New England Experience: Meet LobstahBox

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I’ve always dreamed of having an awesome date night at home with lobster. It sounds so divine! But I have no clue how to even pick a good lobster, let alone cook one! That’s where my friend Annemarie Menelli’s company, LobstahBox, comes in to save the day and make this dream totally possible by shipping you the New England experience, complete with mail order lobster from Maine. Enjoy her guest post and be sure to check out this awesome woman-owned business!

For me it isn’t a fun family gathering unless we’re surrounded by great food. My fondest memories growing up were big backyard feasts with my big — and very loud — New England family. The food often was New England classics and most memorable was fresh Maine lobster. These are some of the best memories of my life, the kind I’ll never forget. And that’s the reason I co-founded LobstahBox with my business partner, Jessica.

lobstah box

We started LobstahBox to give people the opportunity to create their own memories with their friends and family around an outstanding and authentic New England meal they’ll never forget.

LobstahBox brings to your kitchen table great times in a way that only authentic Maine lobster can! From the fun and laughter of cooking it to the cracking and picking of the meat with your entire family wearing lobster bibs, you’ll have a picture to treasure and share for years to come.

We know that for some the joy of eating lobster can be cut short by a fear of cooking it. That’s why we make it so incredibly easy for you with our step-by-step instructions that come with every order. If you can bring water to a boil, you can cook lobster. Our goal is to make the LobstahBox experience as fun and easy for you to enjoy with the ones you love.

Every classic LobstahBox comes with lobster crackers and lobster picks, lobster bibs & placemats showing you how to eat lobster, wet naps for cleaning your hands when the feast is over and cooking sheets that easily show you how to cook the lobster. 

It’s the perfect gift to get your kids, young and old, around your kitchen table and make memories that will last a lifetime. Or, enjoy it for a romantic date night in with your partner. We’re confident you’ll find LobstahBox is the gift that won’t disappoint!

You can feel good knowing that the Maine lobster you’re eating is actually coming from Maine! Our commitment to sustainability is the center of everything we do. Our 100% Maine lobster is wild-caught and harvested, one trap at a time, off the coast of Maine.

Sweet, delicious lobster starts at the ecosystem where the lobster lives. In Maine, we ensure this ecosystem is protected by only harvesting by trap, ensuring this ecosystem is pristine and not overfished. It’s good for the environment, it’s good for the lobster industry and it’s good for you! mail order lobster maine

LobstahBox is excited to share our email campaign going on now, in anticipation of our launch on August 30th.  If you sign-up now, you will have a chance to win free lobsters and also ways to earn additional product by spreading the good news for us.  Please check out our website at www.lobstahbox.com and join us!  Anyone can bring it to a boil. It’s lobstah time.

(Giveaway!) Comfort for Life in the Bedroom: 5 Strategies to Bring On Blissful Sleep

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Serta for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have ever experienced the joys of adulting (paying large sums of money for joyless things like a plumber or new tires, changing 8,000 diapers, paying taxes, etc.) then you have surely experienced poor sleep. Stress is a major thief of rest, and when people are having trouble sleeping, stress is often the first thing we look at to try to determine how to improve the situation. That’s definitely a great place to start, but it’s not the only place to look! There are several things happening in the bedroom, itself, that can hinder you from sleeping in comfort, and yet most people overlook these problems and continue to wake up exhausted. 

Serta is well aware of these extra steps you can take that will set the mood for great sleep, and so in partnership with comedian Loni Love, ComfortSutra is being launched! This is a cheeky and fun guide to comfort in the bedroom to help people get back to the great sleep they once knew and loved. I’m helping out with the program by sharing a few things I do to “set the mood” for sleep! 

photo tips to sleep better_zpscrarr4pt.jpg

1. Do It in the Dark

Surely you have heard the advice to create ambient, restful lighting in your room through candles, right? It might be pretty, but it’s dangerous to do if there’s even the slightest chance that you might be falling asleep any time soon, and furthermore, our bodies truly need dark in order for our brains to understand that it is time to shut down the wheels turning in there and go to sleep. So ditch the candles or the light dimmer and get some blackout curtains if needed to ensure that when it’s time for light’s out, the lights are totally out! 

2. Viewer Discretion Advised

Some of the best marriage advice you can take is to keep a television out of your bedroom. But this advice can positively impact much more than your romantic life, friends. The glow from screens (including hand held ones, all you phone addicts!) disrupts our circadian rhythm and confuses our brain, making it harder for us to fall asleep when we should. One of the best things you can do for your sleep is to get rid of the television in your bedroom if you have one there, and to have a phone docking station outside of your room to help you avoid the temptation to check Facebook one more time before heading to bed. 

3. Get Naked

Well, friends, this advice is pretty cut and dry. I am literally suggesting that you try sleeping sans-pajamas and really sans anything except your birthday suit. It may not be the option that works best for you, but it also just might surprise you! Comfy sheets directly on the skin can feel so soft and wonderful and help your body relax naturally. Additionally, ditching the clothes might help you cool down a bit, and cooler temps have been shown to promote better sleep. Run your ceiling fan, if you have one, for good measure. 

4. Dirty Little Secrets

Is your bedroom a disaster zone? I can relate, if so! It’s the room that company rarely sees, so it gets neglected the most. But I’ve come to realize that this lack of attention to detail in my room has made it an uncomfortable place to sleep. Studies have actually shown that those who keep their bedrooms clutter-free and their beds made actually sleep better! If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. If the last thing you see before you go to bed is piles of clutter, your brain takes all of that in as a source of stress. Additionally, folks sleep better who wash their sheets weekly. Think about how wonderful it is to climb into bed with crisp, clean sheets waiting for you. Don’t let this laundry task slide for too long for the sake of good sleep, friends! 

5. Wake Up Still Smiling

When you lay down on your mattress, does it make you smile? Can you feel your muscles relaxing and your body surrendering to some awesome comfort? And do you still feel that way when you wake up? If so, then you are rockin’ the right mattress, which is yet another significant part of getting the best sleep of your life. But if you don’t feel that way when you lay down or wake up, then it might be time to start looking for your perfect mattress match. 

ComfortSutra Challenge

A great way to start your search is by heading to your nearest Serta retail location to learn about their great products. While you are there, take a selfie with a Serta mattress and post it to social media with a note about how you like to get comfortable, including the tags #SertaComfortSutra and #entry. This will give you the chance to win a full bedroom makeover, including a new mattress and accessories and the grand prize of Serta “Comfort for Life” which includes a mattress of your choice, free of charge, every 5-7 years!!! The contest begins on August 26th and ends  September 6th, so get yourself over to a Serta location quick and get entered! 

photo serta comfortsutra selfie_zpsgwa9a07a.jpg

Tips for Using Workbooks for After School Enrichment

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This is day 4 of my kids being back in school, and while they haven’t yet brought home any homework, they have certainly been doing homework exercises with mommy each afternoon. And you may be surprised to hear that they enjoy it!

Workbooks, just like regular books, come in a wide variety of qualities, and getting a bad workbook can equal miserable kids and parents and not much actual learning taking place. But if you find a good one, then you just just may find that your kids ask to get to do some homework every single day (yes, even on weekends, and yes, my kids really do ask!).

Over the summer I tend to use a larger quantity of workbooks and some of them are a bit more rigorous. During the school year I’m aware that my kids have already been in school for 4-7 hours, and so I back off on the intensity and tend to offer workbooks that are colorful and that feel like fun mini-challenges instead of something dry and tedious.

So far, the workbooks sent to us by School Zone Publishing have fit the bill perfectly for weeknight enrichment.

workbooks for the school year

Let me show you a page from one of the books so you can get a sense for what to look for in a school year enrichment workbook:

school year workbook

The pages are bright to draw in the child, there are fun graphics, and in this example, there are actually several different subjects that get touched on, all on one worksheet. So these are just fun ways to do tiny little tests on your child’s retention of the things they should be learning in school. It’s empowering to them when they get the answers right, and when they are struggling with a concept, they aren’t overwhelmed with dozens of other questions on the same subject to have to wrestle with that day. When they know there’s just one question to work through, it seems manageable.

Are you using workbooks during the school year or is your child saddled down with too much homework, as is? Ever tried School Zone workbooks?

The Little Prince on Netflix: Perler Bead Activity Inspiration

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I’m a member of the Netflix Stream team and enjoy free streaming service. I have been a happy Netflix customer for 11 years, now and am thrilled to share about my experience.

Friends have you watched The Little Prince on Netflix, yet? If not, I want to very strongly encourage you pop some popcorn, and sit down with your kids to watch. This movie literally took my breath away with its incredible message and it’s beautiful images. It is, without a question, the most awesome movie I have seen since I watched Frozen in the theaters (before our kids played it 8 million times and sucked all the joy out of it…remember the very first time you watched Elsa sing Let it Go?). It was magical, I promise.

The Little Prince is also magical, but in a more serious, thought-provoking way. It’s the kind of movie that needs some follow-up activities that can give kids some time to meditate on the message of the movie, and ask questions. The perfect activity to go along with this movie is one with perler beads!

little prince perler bead activity

We made a fox and a little prince based on a photo we found online and I wanted to show you the images before we fused them together because it’s easier to see how many beads on each row that way. You will need 46 yellow, 54 tan, 4 black, 35 white, 22 red, 64 blue, 5 gray and 7 dark blue beads.

little prince activity perler beads

Here’s the little prince all decked out in his finery. Cute, right?!

And from the movie, here’s that precious little fox. You will need 76 orange beads, 9 black beads and 33 white beads.

little prince craft fox perler beads

These took about 30 minutes to put together, and that’s a nice amount of time to get to have some conversations about what you saw while watching the film. I hope this provides a great reflection opportunity for folks after watching such a truly awesome film. Well done, Netflix!

Why I’m Willing to Listen When My Child Cries or Tantrums

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Enjoy today’s parenting guest post by Patty Wipfler,  author of Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges.  Copyright © Handin Hand Parenting, 2016. Affiliate links may be included.

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Reasons to Listen When Your Child Throws a Tantrum

We humans are social animals.  We all need connection with others.  And sometimes, when we are overwhelmed with feelings, relating “properly” gets hard to do, especially for young children.  But opening your heart and your arms to the feelings that are overwhelming your child allows her to clear her mind, lets her to think and learn unhindered by emotional baggage, and builds an essential level of trust and closeness in the relationship between you.

I know from personal experience, and I bet that you do to, that the gift of caring attention has helped me let out feelings that were interfering with my ability to relate well to someone I cared about. Being thoughtfully listened to leaves me feeling connected and understood, especially after I have acted cranky or unkind. It’s a gift that strengthens relationships.

It saddens me to think about the many, many upset or hurt or frightened children who have been sent off to the solitary confinement of their rooms until they can behave “properly.”  I know parents love their children, and they probably didn’t have any other way modeled for them growing up, but what a lost opportunity to nurture and support a precious child.  That would be like my husband or my best friend telling me, “I have no intention of loving all of you.  I only want to see the parts that work for me. Go away until you can be easy for me to deal with.”

Here’s how this change of perspective worked for a mother in one of my classes,

Now, whenever there is a tantrum, I tell myself that, “I am thankful for the tantrum. Because my son/daughter is trying to communicate with me and I will be there for him/her.” I started really stopping and listening to their tantrums after the first class. However, the tantrums got worse! I wasn’t sure if this method really worked. But later on, I realized that it was because my son feels safer to express his feelings and tension to me. The second week, I did listened when they had a tantrum and we did Special Time. Amazingly, the occurrence of tantrums significantly decreased! Not only that but, both my husband and I enjoy the special time with our kids.

One day my son was upset that I didn’t give him something during breakfast. He started crying and screaming. I thought he was being unreasonable. In the past, I would say, “Eat your breakfast now and don’t be unreasonable.” But I stayed by him and listened to his cry. After about 10 minutes, he said, “I don’t want dad to go to work.” I am amazed that as I listened to his cry, his real issue surfaced – he misses his dad.

This new way of looking at tantrums has completely changed our parenting approach. Being able to connect to our children becomes the first priority in our relationship with them. It transformed us and helps us to be more confident parents.

listen book cover

Patty Wipfler and Tosha Schore are the co-authors of Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges. To learn more about this unique approach to relationships in the family and get your own copy of Listen, click here.

 

Dealing With School Jitters Through Imaginative Play

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Today was the first day of school for my girls! Since they are in a Montessori environment where children are grouped together in 3 year cohorts, neither child was headed to a new classroom or even a new teacher, and 2/3 of the children in their classes will be the same ones from last year. So as far as experiencing something new goes, the first day of school this year might seem to an adult to be highly unlikely to cause much nervousness.

But this was not the case, and I suspected it might not be, which is why for the past week we have been frequently playing school. Pretend play is one of the very best ways children can express concerns and fears and then actually work through them as if it were a dress rehearsal for what’s to come in real life. By playing school with my girls I was able to get a bit of insight into their worries (like whether or not they will have the same spot for their cubbies) and to work through what to do should something uncomfortable happen (such as not getting to sit with a friend on the first day).

playmobil school and school bus 1

You can create a pretend school environment in many different ways, but we have especially enjoyed using the City Life School House and School Bus that Playmobil sent our way for review. I’ve personally found that the girls will extend the imaginary world further and break out of character less often when they are using little figurines as opposed to just using themselves as the characters.

Using these items we have had so much fun setting up the classroom, practicing getting on and off the school bus (my kids don’t take a bus but they are totally fascinated by the idea of it!), working together with another student, and playing during recess.

playmobil school bus

This Playmobil set requires some very basic assembly, which the girls enjoyed, and it comes with several smaller pieces which didn’t thrill me, but TOTALLY thrilled the kids. 🙂 I will say that those small items have been used a great deal during play time.

Are you kids nervous about heading back to school, or if they are already in school do they seem to be struggling a little bit with the adjustment? I highly recommend sitting down with them to play school, be it with these items from Playmobil or simply by using what you have on hand to construct a little classroom. Let your child take the lead with what’s going on and you’ll be surprised by how quickly you can pick up on what might be troubling them or causing some anxious feelings. Play provides the perfect way to practice working through problems and increasing confidence that all will be ok.

plamobil school house

You can find the Take Along School House for $$39.99 and the School Bus for $24.99 on the Playmobil website or on Amazon.

Best Beginning Yoga Poses for Kids

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Friends I hope you enjoy today’s guest post! We love doing yoga with our little ones!

Best beginning yoga poses for kids

Yoga has been around since the pre-vedic era in Indian history, which makes it over 5000 years old. The word ’yoga’ means unity, where it combines spiritual, mental, and physical awareness within the self. This is the core meaning of the word, and shows that yoga is so much more than just a regular workout regimen.

Yoga involves training more than just our bodies, it involves sharpening our minds. Practicing yoga can discipline us, allowing us to react differently to challenging situations in our lives.

Introducing yoga to children can be a wonderful gift to them at a young age as it can radically transform how they see the world as they grow into mature adults.

Yoga works by transcending the ego and helps us reconnect with the best of what we have to offer. In today’s digital world, what could be better than yoga for kids to get the best of both the physical and spiritual planes?

Though it might be a bit tricky to get children to start out of their own free will, but you could pique their interest by planning a short vacation on a yoga retreat. The stress of the daily routine can be a big hindrance in the simple pleasures of life like being with family. Imagine a place where you can unwind and unplug from everyday pressures along with your children.

These yoga retreat centers offer special yoga classes for kids and beginners, and it can be a fun way for your children to get introduced to yoga. Here are some family and especially kids-friendly yoga retreat centers to help you plan out your next family vacation, Ibiza, Lotus yoga retreat, and world family yoga.

Now let’s see some interesting yoga poses for children, though it would be best to get a little help in the beginning. yoga poses for kids

Tadasana

Tadasana or the mountain pose is a basic standing asana. Start by guiding children to stand straight and keep both their feet close together, their palms on the sides of their thighs. Keep the heels firmly in the ground.

Gently guide them to tighten every muscle in their body, the legs, the knees, the thighs and the buttock. They should tuck in their stomachs and tighten their elbows. Do not let them tense their necks, instead as them to broaden their chests and breath normally. Stay like this for 20 to 30 seconds.

Tadasana corrects bad posture and strengthens the back. Now ask them to slowly relax their bodies. Doing this every day would be best but you need to do it at least three times a week to get the most out of the Asana. We chose this as the first pose for children as this is very easy, and they will be able to follow instructions without confusion.

Urghdva Hastasana

Starting from the Tadasana position, ask children to stretch their arms over their heads with palms facing each other. Ask them to breathe normally as many tend to hold their breaths without realizing it. Stays put for half a minute and then ask them to slowly bring down their hands and relax. This pose teaches a kid to stand correctly and makes the mind alert.

Vrikshasana

Vrikshasana or the tree pose is the standing asana that improves the balance of standing in tadasana. You can ask children to begin by bending their right knee and holding their ankle with their hand placed on their inner left thigh.

They should then rest their hands on their hips and after a few seconds stretch their arms up. Now let them join palms and stay so for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Vrikshasana can be challenging initially but you can ask children to stand firm and focus at one point on the floor to maintain balance. Ask them to slowly bring their hands down and return to the pose of Tadasana. They should keep their right leg straight and bend their left leg to do the pose on the other side.

Virkhsana strengthens the shoulders and legs, it also improves concentration. So now your kid knows what to do while studying.

Sukhasana

To perform Sukhasana or the pleasant posture, you ask children to sit on the ground with both your legs stretched out in front of them. Ask them to bend their left knee and then their right to pull the legs in.

Let them sit with their legs crossed at the ankles and ask them to clasp their hands together with the fingers of their right-hand dominant over the left.

Ask them to sit straight and perform deep and controlled breathing. Sukhasana is also known as the comfortable posture which is an excellent pose for relaxation and better breathing. It can be easily performed by any child and can be very beneficial for various health benefits.

Here are some important things to keep in mind before your kid starts out their yoga routine

  • Make sure your kid is dressed comfortably.

  • Ensure your child is well hydrated.

  • Instruct your child to be patient while performing difficult postures.

  • Encourage your kid to stretch before the practice.

  • Do not give them a big meal before the practice.

  • Encourage them to ask questions.

Make sure to be supportive of your children, advice them to do their best but then leave the rest to them. Try to demonstrate each pose for your kid and consider joining them for the practice every so often. If your child suffers from any serious medical condition it is best to discuss with the doctor before starting out on any exercise plan.

Once your kid is on board with the yoga practice, you will notice many positive changes in your child’s personality and health.

Andrea Bell is a blogger by choice.  She loves to discover and lives the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs.

Find her on Twitter:@IM_AndreaBell