Nikki

DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband

Who else loves an occasion to dress up? The girls have been counting down until the 4th of July, or “Fireworks Day” as they call it, since Easter. We’re not doing much to celebrate this year, but I did set aside some time to work with the kids on a red white and blue accessory. This DIY red white and blue flower headband, also called a flower crown, is so easy to make, you’ll want to make one for all your friends and family!

Materials for a DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband

For this project you will need:

A hot glue gun – I got my mini glue gun at Michaels for like $5.

Scissors

Suede cord – Again, Michaels. This fat roll was on clearance!

Artificial flowers with leaves. I used carnations from Michaels, and they were pretty big. Let that be your guide when choosing flowers for your flower crown.

Ribbon

Felt or cloth (optional)

You guys, this DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband craft was so simple! I’ll walk you through it step by step. Please let me know in the comments how the craft worked out for you!

How to Make a DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband

DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband

These red white and blue floral headbands are made from materials you can easily find at craft stores!

Materials

Suede cord
Artificial flowers with leaves
Ribbon
Felt or cloth (optional)

Tools

Hot glue gun

Instructions

Cut 3 equal lengths of suede cord for each DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband. I cut mine all 30 inches long. There was about 6 inches extra on my daughters’ headbands that I had to trim off.
Hot glue the end of the 3 suede cords together, then braid them into a rope of sorts. You’ll want the braid to be smaller than the circumference of your head, because you’ll be tying the headband on with ribbon. Hot glue the finished end of the braid. (Tip: Use a clipboard to hold the braid steady)
Remove a flower from the stem and push it through the very middle of the suede cord braid. Hot glue the end to hold it in place. Optional: The plastic backs of the flowers can be scratchy, so you may want to hot glue a little bit of felt or cloth to the back of the DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband.
Leave a good deal of space in between the middle flower and add 2 flowers on either side of it. The carnations I used for this DIY Red White and Blue Flower Headband are pretty large. If you glue them too close together, the whole thing can get a bunchy look.
Hot glue some leaves in between the flowers to fill in some of the space. I ended up using 3 little leaf-bunches in between each flower on this crown.
Finish off by glueing ribbon to the ends of each suede cord braid. Since this flower crown has a red white and blue theme, I used a starry ribbon to match the blue and red ribbon.
That’s it! Tie the red white and blue flower headband on and you’ll be perfectly accessorized for all the July 4th festivities.

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Also be sure and check out our other Summer Fun posts!

Sneaky Ways to Hydrate Kids this Summer

Summertime is a wonderful time of year when school is on break and we can take vacations. It is also the time when temperatures soar and it can be easy to become dehydrated. This is where water steps in and comes to the rescue. Most people know it is very important to drink plenty of water all the time and especially in the summer. But when you have kids, sometimes it’s a challenge to get them to drink enough water.

What some people may not be aware of is that there are also certain foods that can help keep kids hydrated. There is one food in particular that may not really shock anyone, but the rest might be a pleasant surprise.

Watermelon

Watermelon is a fabulous food to enjoy throughout the summer. What cookout or picnic would be complete without a big red juicy watermelon? Watermelon is surprisingly healthy because it’s high in fiber and vitamins and of course, water (91%). This fruit is aptly named since it contains so much water.

The greatest thing about watermelon is that most kids and adults enjoy eating it. Just put out a tray of watermelon slices the next time you’re concerned about keeping kids hydrated on a hot day! There is a good chance you will not have to fight to find a good watermelon because most grocery stores and farmers’ markets carry them all summer long. No matter where you and your family go during the summer, you will probably be able to find a watermelon or two.

Milk and Yogurt

For kids who don’t like drinking water, milk can be an alternative. Milk supplies calcium and vitamin D and is good for healthy bones and teeth. Milk is also great for hydration because it is over 80% water. And the best part? Most kids like it. Milk can be enjoyed plain or with flavor additives like chocolate, banana and strawberry. If additives are used, be aware that the carbohydrate (and sugar!) count increases.

Yogurt is another surprising member of the hydrating foods family. Yogurt contains almost as much water as some fruits. A real upside to eating yogurt is that it’s available in many of your favorite flavors. You can get it at any grocery store and even some convenience stores. Instead of packing sweet unhealthy sodas and juices to keep kids hydrated, pack yogurt (just remember to pack it in a cooler with ice).

Grapefruit

Another wonderfully juicy fruit joins the hydration camp. Grapefruit is over 90% water and contains vitamins. Just like watermelon, grapefruit is easy to find and easy to pack for a trip or an event.

Some people may not care for the “zing” that grapefruit has, but that tartness can be tamed with a tiny sprinkling of sugar or low calorie sweetener, or for best results-salt!

Lettuce

This is good news for people who enjoy a good salad. Lettuce is made up of over 90% water and packed with goodness. It is versatile because lettuce can be used as a garnish and as part of the main course in all types of salads. The leafy vegetable is naturally low in calories and helps you feel full longer.

The variety that offers the most water content is iceberg lettuce. There are so many ways to enjoy iceberg lettuce other than salad: on burgers, as the foundation for chicken and taco salads and that is just the tip of the…iceberg.

creative ways to keep kids hydrated this summer

When the temperatures start to climb, it is nice to know that there are options besides plain water when it comes to staying hydrated. It’s always a good idea to drink plenty of water, but sometimes water seems kind of plain. Some people just do not like the taste of water at all. If water is not your family’s “go to” for hydration, then consider some of the wonderful and healthy food alternatives.

Fruits like watermelon and grapefruit are excellent sources of water and taste really good. Milk and yogurt lend a hand to healthy teeth and bones as well as helping keep you hydrated. Water is important, but it is nice that there are other choices when it comes to hydration.

When you have kids, sometimes it's a challenge to get them to drink enough water. Thankfully, there are also certain foods that can help keep kids hydrated.

Easy Bacon Avocado Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese was one of my favorite dishes when I was a kid. My mom would make a huge casserole pan from scratch and there was rarely any leftovers. This mama is a little too busy too for that recipe. Instead, I doctored up a box of regular mac and cheese with a Southern Cali twist. The result is easy bacon avocado mac and cheese.

The inspiration for my bacon avocado mac and cheese recipe comes from my love of a local Southern California social house, 127 West. They have some of the most amazing entrees, with mouth-watering ingredients. I wanted to bring a taste of that into my own kitchen. Side note: My original plan for this recipe was for it to include garlic aioli as one of the ingredients. Thank goodness for recipe testing! The garlic was too overpowering for me, but if you’d like to give it a true Cali kick, add a few teaspoons of garlic aioli to your bacon avocado mac and cheese.

Easy Bacon Avocado Mac and Cheese

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Taking boxed mac and cheese up a notch! Add bacon, avocado, and one egg to this easy bacon avocado mac and cheese.

Ingredients

1 box mac and cheese (discard cheese powder)
4 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup milk
4 slices thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, or plain bacon if you can't find applewood (I used Smithfield)
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese (see note below)
1/2 of an avocado, cut into chunks

Instructions

Cook bacon and chop into crumbles. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions.
Drain the water from the cooked pasta and stir in the butter and cheese. Mix well to combine. It's ok if the butter doesn't completely melt, because you'll be baking this later.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, salt and pepper.
Add the bacon and egg mixture to the pasta. Stir to Combine.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven, top with avocado, and serve immediately.

Notes

Pepper Jack cheese includes ingredients that are mild, but if your palate is sensitive to spicy foods you may prefer to substitute it for Monterey Jack cheese instead.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 618Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1072mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 21g

More easy family dinner ideas:

Chicken Divan

Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken

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How to find a Homeschool Near Me

School is out, and as we look towards the next school year we’re turning our attention towards homeschooling. I’ll be honest, homeschooling is not the type of education that I feel called to. I was homeschooled as a child and I loved it, but it’s just not for me. The decision to homeschool is 100% a response to the current worldwide health crisis. That being said, we’re looking into finding a good fit homeschool near where we already live.

Why would I want to choose a homeschool near me?

The awesome thing about homeschooling your kids is that they can learn from anywhere. So you don’t necessarily have to be a part of a local homeschool program in order to get an education. But there are some benefits to enrolling in a homeschool program that’s close by. When it’s safe to do so, these programs will likely have more opportunities to participate in-person 1-on-1 meetings with your educational facilitator (teacher), and may even have extracurricular activities at a school site near you, such as group PE or a hands-on science class. Your kids would be able to join in activities and playdates with other kids from the same area.

Local homeschools may also give you the option to visit their resource library and choose your own textbooks to teach from. If you’re hoping for a more involved role in your child’s learning, a local homeschool would be a good fit for you.

Let’s dive in and find a homeschool near you

Like a ripple, start small and branch out.

Did you know that some school districts have a homeschool program already? I did a Google search for our hometown and looked for websites that have the school district’s acronym. For example, ie. Riverdale Unified School District might have a link that looks like www.rusd.org/homeschool-academy. It turns out, if we wanted to, we could enroll in a homeschool that is serviced by the school right in our own town!

If there’s nothing in your school district, search for homeschools or charter schools in your county

This would be a much broader search, such as “Charter schools in Springfield county”. Another search term that brought me good results was when I searched for the state + department of education + charter school. For me that search term was “California Department of Education Charter Schools”. Be warned: you will get a LOT of results. There were over 120 charter schools just in San Diego county alone. Many of these results will filter themselves out though. Other times, you can tell just by the school’s name that it’s not a good fit for your child. For example, I can see from the San Diego County charter school list that “High Tech Middle Chula Vista” doesn’t fit our needs because 1) it’s a middle school and we’re looking for elementary schools 2) it’s site-based and I’m looking for a full independent study program. I would look into Ingenuity Charter, because I can see from this table that they are an independent study program, which is charter school-speak for homeschool!

Just to see if this search was useful, I tried the same terms for a few nearby states, Nevada and Oregon, and got some good results there as well.

Can you recommend a homeschool near me… please?

Another thing you can do is call a local school office or district office and ask what homeschools are in the area. Even better, ask your friends on Facebook or post in a neighborhood Facebook group.

Finding a homeschool near you is only part of the process. Make sure you read reviews with a grain of salt. People are so quick to share negative experiences but slow to give praise! Ask plenty of questions. And be confident that you do not have to commit to anything you’re not fully comfortable with.

What is your experience with homeschooling? I would love to hear what the process of finding a homeschool was like for you. Leave a comment below or connect with me on Instagram!

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What are you doing for exercise during shelter in place? Definitely my biggest challenge of sheltering in place as a solo parent is getting enough exercise. The kids are plenty active. But me? I tend to find myself sitting on my tush ? … a lot! Our rooms are small, so I usually prefer exercising outdoors-jogging, hiking, walking by the beach. Stuff like that. But I can’t really get an adult-sized workout outdoors with kids. Oh sunshine how I need you ?? Now that trails and county parks are opening back up, I’m making a list of places we can hike as a family. Also, I asked other moms for what workouts they recommend that can be done in a small living room. Some of their ideas were: On YouTube •PopSugar Fitness (free) •Orangetheory Fitness (free) •Trainer Kaitlin •Chloe Ting On Amazon Prime •Maggie Binkley (she’s adorable and fun) •Lumowell workouts, such as the 500-calorie Total Body HIIT workout. These are kinda weird because the trainer is a computer-generated avatar, but it has VERY clear and helpful tips on correct body position while you’re doing the moves.
A post shared by Nikki | Simply Sweet Days (@simply_sweet_days) on May 15, 2020 at 1:41pm PDT

Scoob! Movie Printable Activity Pages

May 15th was the official premiere and watch party for the new Scooby Doo and Shaggy movie, SCOOB! Your family is going to love this movie. To make the home entertainment even more fun, I’ve rounded up a bunch of Scooby Doo printables and coloring pages! I hope you enjoy this mega bundle of Scooby Doo printables, games and activities. Perfect for your next Scooby Doo themed party or SCOOB! movie night watch party.

Here’s a little bit of the storyline from the website: The first full-length animated Scooby-Doo adventure for the big screen is the never-before told stories of Scooby-Doo’s origins and the greatest mystery in the career of Mystery Inc.

“SCOOB!” reveals how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they joined with young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc. Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.

SCOOB! Printable Coloring Pages & Activities

Looking for some easy activities for your Scooby Doo party or SCOOB! movie night? This mega bundle of coloring pages, games, and activities are printer-ready!

Scooby Doo Printable Cutouts

These full-color cutouts are an easy Scooby Doo craft!

Scooby Doo Mystery Machine

Print out this colorful Mystery Machine cutout, add some glue, and you're all set!

Evil Bot Mask

Print out this Evil Bot mask and pretend you're part of the movie!

SCOOB! Bracelet Cutouts

These Scooby Doo Bracelet Cutouts are another easy Print-and-Go craft!

Scooby Doo Themed Party Food

Try these tasty treats at your next Scooby Doo movie watch party!

Scooby Doo Monster Burgers

These are sure to make you SCREAM for more!

Scooby Doo Cupcakes

Take your cupcake skills up a notch with this easy-to-follow Scooby Doo cupcake tutorial!

SCOOB! Coloring Pages

Use your creativity to bring your favorite SCOOB! characters to life.

Shaggy and Scooby Coloring Page

This Scooby Doo coloring page is from when the pals were little.

Young Scooby Doo Coloring Page

He's such a cute little pup!

Shaggy and Scooby Picnic

Here are the BFFs, doing what they do best... Eating!

Scooby and the Gang Coloring Page

All the friends are here in this Scooby and the Gang coloring page!

Best Pals Coloring Page

Shaggy and Scooby are the best of friends!

The Mystery Inc. Coloring Page

Another great printable of the whole crew!

Ruh-Roh Coloring Page

One of Scooby's classic lines!

Shaggy Coloring Page

Lots of snacks in the background are the perfect wallpaper for this hungry fella!

The Gang in the Snow

This chilly scene brings all the friends together for some coloring fun!

Shaggy and Scooby at the Movies

No sharing popcorn for these guys!

The Mystery Machine Coloring Page

The unsung hero of all the spooky adventures.

More Scooby Doo Printable Activities

Looking for more Scoby Doo printable activities? Check these out!

Mystery Quiz

Test your SCOOB knowledge with this fun quiz!

Scooby Doo Maze Activity

Help Scooby Doo get through the maze to find his collar. Also, test your memory skills with this fun online SCOOB! memory game!

The Mystery Inc. Gang Maze Activity

Help the pals find the haunted house!

SCOOB! Connect the Dots

Reveal the Blue Falcon in this connect the dots activity page.

Shaggy and Fred Connect the Dots Activity

Complete this activity to reveal Fred!

Movie Scavenger Hunt

Be on the lookout for these characters, and check them off as you watch the movie! Bonus game: Go to whackabot.scoob.movie to whack some evil bots in a fun online game!

Scooby Doo Crossword Puzzle

Use the clues to solve the puzzle!

Scooby Doo Mad Libs

You can enjoy this silly story over and over again!

SCOOB! Drawing Challenge

Pick a character to draw and have your family and friends guess who it is!

How to Draw Scoob

Use this quick tutorial or watch this video on how to draw the mystery-solving pooch.

SCOOB! Word Search (1)

Can you find all the hidden words?

SCOOB! Word Search (2)

Even more word-seeking fun!

Want the whole, 40+ page activity mega bundle? Click here to grab the entire SCOOB! Movie Night Party Pack.

Mega Bundle of Scooby Doo printables, games and activities for your next Scooby Doo themed party or SCOOB! movie night watch party.

Affordable Workouts for a Tiny Living Room

Well it’s almost here. You know what I’m talking about-the most stressful time of the year? Bathing suit season. We live in a pretty cramped place. When you’re limited to working out at home in a small living space, that tiny living room can be a challenge. I’ve been on the hunt for workouts you can do in a small space, and was pleasantly surprised to find many AFFORDABLE small space workouts to choose from!

13 Affordable Small Space Workouts

Short on space? Working on the Baby Steps? These 13 affordable workouts are perfect for tiny living rooms (or wherever you get your sweat on!). I promise you they will get your rear in gear AND fit in your budget!

FREE YouTube Workouts

I filtered through oodles of YouTube workouts and found top mom-recommended workouts for small space living.

POPSUGAR Fitness

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

SO.MANY.WORKOUTS. All very well-produced.

Orangetheory Fitness

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

Again, many full workouts to choose from.

Trainer Kaitlin

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

You have to find one that fits your equipment needs but she’s pretty good about suggesting alternative equipment options (ie., a bundle of books instead of dumbbells).

Chloe Ting

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

I love that Chloe offers low-impact and beginner modifications when possible.

Free~ish streaming workouts

If you have Amazon Prime there are some really great workouts you can do in your living room that will get your heart rate up and burn that pesky quarantine 15 right off your buns! If you don't have Amazon Prime, you can get a free 30-Day trial here!

15-Minute HIIT 1.0 Workout or 15-Minute Full Body Burn by Maggie Binkley

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Free with Amazon Prime!

Zumba Fitness Concert LIVE

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

16 high-energy routines in a booty-shakin' 70-minute workout! Free with Amazon Prime.

10-Minute Cardio Fat Burning Workout

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Free with Amazon Prime. Also by the same trainer: Hourglass Figure Workout for Beginners, Burn 500 Calories in 40 Minutes, How to Lose Weight Fast: Weight Loss Workout (35 Minutes)

Peloton Workout App

Photo Credit: www.peloton.com

No bike? No problem! The Peloton app offers more than cycling classes, such as yoga, running, bootcamp, meditation, and running.

Single DVD Workouts

Some DVD workouts are really a workout plan or system, like BeachBody, and they’re expensive! I prefer workout DVDs that I can pop in whenever, and not have to commit to long-term.

The Firm: 500-Calorie Workout

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Reminiscent of the step aerobics classes from back in the day but with more sweat! (60 minutes)

Cathe Friedrich's XTrain Series: Hard Strikes

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Fun boxing-style workout (40 minutes)

Jillian Michaels 10-Minute Body Transformation

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Any of Jillian Michaels' workouts will kick your butt!

Online Workouts

These online workouts came highly recommended by moms.

Fitness Blender

Photo Credit: www.fitnessblender.com

Fitness Blender has tons of free (and paid) workouts you can sort through and filter by duration, difficulty level, and equipment.

Honorable Mention

There are a lot of workout apps out there, but this one is worth a second look.

7M Fitness - 7 Minutes Is All It Takes

Photo Credit: www.workoutinc.net

7M is a free app that you subscribe to monthly, but at only $2.99/month (on the Apple app store), the 7-minute workouts are a pretty good deal.

Colorful Couscous and Sausage Recipe

This colorful couscous and sausage dish is the perfect light meal on a warm summer afternoon. Couscous always gives me a satisfying, comfort-food happy tummy. When I found myself with some extra time recently, I knew I wanted to do some recipe testing with couscous.

Why cook with couscous?

Two words, sister: BUSY.MOM. Couscous is awesome to serve for dinner on busy weeknights or nights when you just don’t feel like cooking because it’s easy to cook, it’s low-maintenance, and it’s ready in 10 minutes.

The preparation for each brand of couscous may vary. Some cook with a 1:1 water (or broth) to couscous ratio, and others call for more liquid. Before you head to the store for ingredients, make a note on your shopping list to grab the couscous first. Then you can check to see how much broth that brand of couscous needs in order to cook to its full, puffed-up goodness. We used this kind. It called for 1 Tbsp. oil and 2 cups water or broth. I used broth.

Prep the veggies first

Since couscous cooks so quickly, and plus you’ll be tossing the carrot in with it, it’s a good idea to do all the chopping, grating and dicing beforehand. Grate 1 carrot, mince 1 garlic clove, chop up ½ cup diced onion and1 smallish red bell pepper. Quickly cut ½ cup loosely packed cilantro too. Keep everything separate because it doesn’t all go into the same pot or at the same time.

Cook the sausage and couscous

Add the oil to a large fry pan and add the ground sausage. It wants to clump back together, so break it up with a spatula frequently. When the meat is browned, add in the onions and garlic. Saute, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. The first time I cooked this couscous and sausage recipe, I used a brand of Italian sausage that had just the faintest hint of crushed red pepper in it. Unfortunately, it was enough that my kids noticed. It was way too “spicy” for them. The next time we made this I was careful to choose an Italian sausage that was marked “mild”, and it the kids were much happier. In fact, Johnny (5) said, “Mommy I thought this was going to be yucky but it’s not!” Thanks for the compliment, kiddo… I think.

Meanwhile, cook the couscous according to package directions, adding in the carrot when you put the couscous in the water.

Mix everything together

When the couscous is cooked, add it to the fry pan with the sausage mixture. Add in the diced red bell pepper and toss everything together. Serve it alongside a simple baby arugula salad and dinner is done!

Colorful Couscous and Sausage

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil, or more depending on couscous preparation instructions
1 lb. ground mild Italian sausage
1 minced garlic
1/2 cup diced onion
1 (10 oz.) pkg couscous
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (optional and depending on couscous preparation instructions)
1 shredded carrot
1 diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 package baby arugula lettuce, optional

Instructions

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large fry pan. Saute the sausage in oil until browned, breaking it up with a spatula.
Add garlic and onions to the sausage and cook for 3-5 minutes. Drain the sausage and return to the pan.
Meanwhile, prepare the couscous according to package directions. Put the shredded carrots into the boiling water or broth when you add the couscous.
When couscous and sausage are finished cooking, mix them together in a large dish, or in the fry pan if there is enough room.
Stir the red bell pepper and cilantro into the couscous and sausage mixture.
Serve warm and garnished with arugula lettuce, if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 461Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 717mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 28g

Moving Forward when Life Feels Disrupted

When your life feels disrupted, how do you keep moving forward?

What we’re going through right now is so uncomfortable, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s also very temporary. It’s like the shock of cold water when you first jump into the pool.

Growing up, my grandma had a pool. Even though she lived in temperate San Diego, it still baffled me that she would swim nearly every day of the year. Her late morning swim was as much a part of her routine as reading the Bible and watering her many potted ferns and flowers. But Grandma Dee hated getting her hair wet. Refused to, actually. And if we’re being honest I’m not too sure she really liked the water either.

Yet every morning she would don a black and white swimsuit for her water exercise. At the edge of the pool Grandma would tuck a round pool float under her chin to help keep her head out of the water, and with a huge yell she’d race down the steps and into the water (up to her neck, of course, so as not to wet her hair).

People would joke about her loud hollering every time she got into the water. But apparently that was the best way she knew to adapt to the uncomfortableness of warm skin against cold water: Let out a big yell. AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! But once she was all the way in and had given a few graceful butterfly strokes, her beautiful smile would wrinkle up her cheeks. Away she would go, swimming laps and announcing each one as if we were all waiting to applaud her achievement. “31!… 32!…33!…”

As I sit here in my house for day kajillion of Safer at Home, I have to remind myself daily that this is temporary. This is uncomfortable and unpleasant, but it is something we have to do so that we can stay healthy.

Do I yell sometimes? Yes, inwardly. I yell because I’m grieving the good things we used to have and took for granted, like playgrounds and beaches and classrooms and churches filled with people. I yell because I’m not working and I don’t know when I’ll be able to go back to a job that I love. I yell because I feel trapped and I wish I could be out with people. I yell because I’m tired of the fear that is so heavy you can feel its weight when you pass by people.

But each day I get into my groove. With grace I find my rhythm. The beautiful blue sky outside my window is not afraid, not trapped, and gives me hope that I will be out adventuring in the world again. I just have to go through the motions a few more times. Keep moving forward. A few more days. They go by so quickly, if you don’t celebrate them quick it will be too late. 31, thank you essential workers! 32, I appreciate you first responders! 33, we love you, teachers and school employees! Persisting. Day by day, breath by breath. Thankful and grateful for another day, and knowing that the discomfort is only temporary.

Be well my friends, and find me on Instagram.

Onward Printable Coloring Pages and Activities

You guys, the first animated Disney movie of the year is finally out and the theaters in our area are CLOSED due to the current virus outbreak. While I totally approve of all the social distancing, it’s still a bummer to have to put off seeing movies in the theaters. Thankfully, Disney swooped in to save the day. They have expedited the digital release of this month’s Disney · Pixar movie Onward so you can purchase the digital title on Movies Anywhere starting today. Then, starting April 3rd, you will be able to stream Onward on Disney +. How awesome is that?

Your kids will love these free Onward printable coloring pages and activities!

When you see a printable that you want to keep, just right-click the picture and save it, or click the link below the image to go straight to the pdf file. You can save them to your computer and reprint them whenever you want!

Grab some crayons or colored pencils and bring these pages to life!

We hope you enjoy these coloring pages of the Onward characters. Let us know, who is your favorite?

Click here for the pdf of Barley, Ian and Guinevere.

Click here for the pdf of Barley Lightfoot.

Click here for the pdf of Blazey.

Click here for the pdf of Ian Lightfoot.

Click here for the pdf of Laurel Lightfoot.

Click here for the pdf of The Manticore.

Get everyone together for some Onward fun activities!

This memory card game is really 4 pages, so you can download the complete file by clicking here.

Help Barney and Ian get to Guinevere in this fun printable Onward maze!

Click here for the pdf of the maze activity.

Check out these other popular Disney Printable activity Pages:

?Frozen 2 Printable Coloring Pages

?Toy Story 4 Printable Coloring Pages

?Coco Printable Coloring Pages

?Incredibles 2 Printable Coloring Pages

18 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Wouldn’t it be great if you could slash your grocery bill? We’ve been living on a pretty tight budget for almost 2 years now and I can assure you I am excellent at getting the most nutrition for my money. The stores in our area don’t offer a double coupons and rarely have sales, so we really have to work at it to find ways to save money on groceries. These 18 tips are the key to stretching your dollar and maximizing your food budget.

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Get the Most Nutrition for your Dollar | 18 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Plan ahead. Make a meal plan and stick to it, otherwise you’ll find yourself throwing out food throwing out uneaten food. Throwing out food is like throwing out your money!
Make a list before heading to the grocery store. And again, the key is to stick to it! A list keeps you from making impulse buys and extra trips to the store for forgotten items. Not sure what to put on the list? They actually make pre-printed lists so you can just check the items you’ll need!
Check unit prices. This helps you compare brands and find the one that gives you the most product for your dollar.
Consider buying the product in bulk. Some stores sell spices, grains and pastas in bulk bins at a much lower price than they are in the brand packaging.
Buy Generic! People pay much more for the brands they trust, when there’s hardly any difference in quality or taste. You’re just paying for the name on the label!
Save yourself some time and stretch out those groceries by making a double-sized meal once a week and freezing the leftovers or using them another night.
Don’t go to the store hungry. You’re more likely to fall prey to impulse buys when your tummy is growling. The same goes for any children you bring along. We actually bring snacks and drinks on long store trips to keep the littles from getting grouchy.
Check supplies before going to the store. Use a pantry or freezer inventory to keep track of what you have on hand.
Avoid the cost of convenience. Single-serving packages for things like baby carrots, yogurt and cracker packs. Buy a large container instead and make your own snack sizes.
When produce is in season in season, buy fresh. When not in season consider canned, dried or frozen.
Buy day-old bread. Use this storefinder, and also check your local Big Lots and Dollar Tree as they are official day-old stores for Bob’s Red Mill and Bimbo.
Choose whole-grain cereals instead of the sugar-coated ones. The whole-grain are better for your and usually cost less!
Serve popcorn as a snack in place of processed crackers. Popcorn is cheaper per unit ounce than a box of snack crackers, and it’s healthier than the salty processed snacks.
Make your meat dishes go farther by adding in beans, lentils, rice, or pasta.
One night a week serve a vegetarian bean or egg dish for dinner.
Chop up overly-ripe fruits to use in smoothies or add them to yogurt or oatmeal.
Check the bottoms of packages of fruits and vegetables to make sure they’re not damaged or moldy. Also, check the expiration date on bagged salads to make sure you’ll use them before they go bad.
Make small compromises as a family, like buying one less bag of chips, crackers or cookies a week.

I’m a busy working mom of four and I’ve tried every penny-pinching trick in the book. These are real things that I really do because I don’t have time to read every grocery store mailer and visit five different stores to get the best deal. If you’re really wanting to save money on groceries, you can do it! It just takes dedication. If you’re not budgeting, get my free budget plan here and start being accountable for your spending!

Got any great tips for feeding your family on a budget? Tell me what works for you!

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