Family

Simple Ways to Help your Child Love School

The strangest academic year in our country’s history is almost upon us. It’s not too late to make it a fresh start. This upcoming school year may not be all that your family had hoped it would be, but it’s still possible to help your child love school. Here are some ways you can help build on that positive spirit all year long.

The academic year is almost upon us. It's not too late to make it a great one! It's still possible to help your child love school. Here are some ways you can help build on that positive spirit all year long.

Read Together

Reading out loud is not just for little kids. Picture books are great for all ages, and kids never outgrow the pleasure of being read to. Reading together is one of the easiest ways to help your child love school. Create a special reading corner at home. According to Math and Reading Help, children who enjoy reading tend to perform better in school than those who don’t.

Set up a Desk

This shows how seriously you take their schoolwork. Anything you make space for in your home is obviously valued, so if school is your child’s job, their desk is their office. Plus, a fun space dedicated just to her will really help your child love school!

Let Them Work it Out

Homework isn’t only about learning facts; It’s also about learning independently. Some kids need rewards to get them through the work. Others might need a supportive presence. Either way, the more kids achieve on their own, the more confidently they can tackle the next challenges.

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” ~ John Dewey

Recruit a Mentor

Your child loves you, but you’re, you know, a grown-up. Set your kid up with a peer mentor, someone just a year or two older who can relate to their day-to-day experiences and offer encouragement. Many schools are embracing the idea.

Support your Social Butterfly

A wide circle of friends gives kids options on the playground. Try to encourage your kids to invite someone new over to play (when it’s safe to do so). After-school activities or team sports can also help broaden their social horizons.

Model a Love of Learning

Kids are naturally curious, so set good examples. Pick up a book, play Scrabble, talk about current events. This will help foster their curiosity.

Buddy up with the Teacher

Teachers can give a more objective picture of your child’s day and help you uncover trouble spots. The teacher may also be able to shed some light on things your child has trouble expressing.

Offer Support

Be there for them! Attend school events, don’t miss parent/teacher conferences, join the PTA, and try to have lunch with them at least once a month. And most important, always remember to encourage them to succeed and even excel!

Related: How Transitions can Make or Break your Parenting

Tips for an Epic Beach Trip

Nothing says “summer time” like a trip to the beach. I’ve spent my whole life making beach trips (only during warm weather, because I’m not crazy). When we head out on a beach trip, we try and keep it simple. This is my strategy that helps make every coastal outing into an epic beach trip.

Tips for an Epic Beach Trip

Now that my kids are 5 and 7, they don’t need as much help – or as much stuff!- for a trip to the beach. My tips for a fantastic beach trip with small children are a little different, but the goal is the same: Don’t make it a huge chore for yourself!

Keep it Simple

Don’t overpack. Maybe every now and then, for a bonfire or something, take the plastic folding table and the portable mini grill. But if you’re just going on a family day trip, you don’t need much. It’s the beach. The fun is built-in. You don’t need a whole lot else.

What We Bring for an Epic Beach trip

Sunscreen. Because a beach trip is not epic if your sunburn is too. We bring the spray-on kind and repeat frequently, since it’s not the most reliable stuff.

Drinking Water. We pop some water bottles in the freezer in the morning before we leave and they stay chilly as long as we keep them in our bag in the shade.

Beach Bags. This is the only thing I bring that could be a little extra. We bring 2 totes to the beach: One is a mesh bag that I’ve had for years (still on Amazon, which tells you how great it is!) and I love that I can just shake the sand out of it. This is where I put sand toys/bowls 😉 , maybe a bag of chips, some fruit snacks or granola bars, sunscreen, keys, and towels. I can fit 5 folded towels in this bag! The other bag I bring is an insulated tote for waters, sandwiches, cut fruit, and anything else that I want kept cool and away from sand.

Umbrella. Just one. To cover me and the snacks. #sorrynotsorry I’m the one keeping you all safe and sunscreen up and I don’t like sitting in the sun all day. If you have to bring a second umbrella to share the shade, at least they’re not big and bulky. At least not the ones I bring. 🙂

Snacks. We usually bring a bag of chips, fruit, whatever else is in the cupboard. Smuckers Uncrustables are good for beach trips too because you just toss them in your tote bag, no prep required!

Towels. Just one per person. No big picnic blanket, no plastic tarp. Just a couple towels.

Cash, quarters & a debit card. Some of our beach parking lots still use meters that only take quarters. So old school, right? And not all the time, but every once in a while, we grab an ice cream by the pier. You never know if the beachside vendors will be able to take debit cards, so we bring cash as a backup. Lastly, here’s your friendly warning to avoid the tourist shops, my friend. You will be lured in by their cute beachy tees, but they’re always way overpriced!

Our Boogie Boards. Which we will only bring if the kids agree to carry their own because I am not a pack mule. My 7yo girls like to boogie board but the 5yo is still learning. If he brings his board, I will stand in the water with him and give him a push when a wave comes.

3 small plastic bowls. Hear me out. Gone are the days when we used to bring a garden shovel and dig a hole for the little tykes to splash around in. I also don’t want to lug a sack of sand toys on our beach trip (because you know mom will end up carrying them!), but I will admit that it’s much easier to play when you have some tools. We bring a couple of small cereal bowls that the kids can use to carry water and scoop sand, and they’re pretty happy with that. Remember-having an epic beach trip is all about keeping things simple!

Even if you’re a long-time beach person, it’s still a pretty big job to get everyone ready and out the door. If you give yourself permission to not take everything but the kitchen sink, you’ll be more likely to have an epic beach trip with your family!

13 Ways to Make Summer Reading Fun For Your Child

Summer is the perfect time to work on reading skills, whether your children are 2 or 12. Older, more independent readers can use the extra time away from school to prepare for the next grade level, while younger children can always benefit from reading more books. As part of our Super Summer Fun series, here are some ways to make summer reading fun at home.

Some links may be affiliate.

13 ways to make summer reading fun

Bring the stories to life
What to do: After reading a story, do some of the activities you read about.
What you can emphasize: New vocabulary, verbs
Suggested stories and activities:

Story: If You Give a Pig a Pancake/ Activity: Make pancakes
Story: Curious George Flies a Kite/ Activity: Fly a Kite
Story: The Bug Book/ Activity: Hunt for bugs outside

Take the 1000 books before Kindergarten Challenge
What to do: Visit 1000 Books Before Kindergarten to download program instructions and reading log sheets.
What your child is learning: There are tons of early literacy opportunities here!
Suggested reading: Check the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten website for Books Your Child Should Hear Before Kindergarten

Stock a Summer Book Basket
What to do: Fill a basket or plastic bin with summer-related fiction and nonfiction books
What your child is learning: Seasonal vocabulary, comprehension
Suggested reading: Check out the fun titles on my list of 40+ books to read with kids this summer.

Listening to reading
What to do: Read stories out loud to your child. Children of all ages will also enjoy listening to their favorite book on their Kindle Fire for Kids, on Audible, or using your local library’s audio book program. We recently got all 3 kids their own Kindle Fire for Kids Tablets. Kids can choose the story they want to hear and I can set limits on how long the screen is on. Plus they come with a case, 1 year of Amazon Free Time, access to over 10,000 books AND a 2-year “we’ll replace it, no questions asked” warranty! Ok, I’ll stop raving now but seriously I can’t wait til their birthday in September.
What your child is learning: Children who listen to reading are learning what it sounds like when an “expert reader” reads text. Listening to reading helps to become better independent readers.
Suggested reading: Any of your child’s favorite books.

Join a reading incentive program or use a reading chart to track progress
What to do: Visit the public library and ask about their summer reading program, or use the Pizza Hut Book It Summer Reading program (or both!).
What your child is learning: Reading for a purpose, comprehension
Suggested reading: Any age-appropriate books

Bake a recipe together
What to do: Choose a recipe and make it together
What your child is learning: Reading instructions, as well as math and science and healthy eating habits!
Suggested reading: Try this complete cookbook for young chefs. For a great FREE recipe collection, check out Kids in the Kitchen online.

Read the book AND watch the movie
What to do: Read a book and watch the movie version of the story
What your child is learning: Comparing/contrasting, character traits
Suggested reading/watching: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Book and Movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas Book and Movie, Curious George Books and Movie

Plan a trip that took place in a story
What to do: Plan a trip based off of one that takes place in a story
What your child is learning: Noting details, new vocabulary, making a list
Suggested reading: Let’s Have a Picnic!, The Lost Lake

Make a book about your summer
What to do: Compile a collection of pictures with captions or stories of what you did during the summer.
What your child is learning: Summarizing, putting events in order
Suggested reading: How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Make a reading nook
What to do: Set up a special place for reading with fun pillows or a beanbag chair that are just for story time.
What your child is learning: The importance of reading for fun
Suggested reading: Any age-appropriate books

Do some research
What to do: Help your child learn more about a favorite topic by reading books or online articles about it.
What your child is learning: Research skills (and yes, even kindergartners can do research with help!)
Suggested websites: Fact Monster and this list of kid-safe search sites

Make puppets
What to do: Make puppets of the characters in your child’s favorite story. Use felt, socks, or paper bags and any materials you have at home!
What your child is learning: Comprehension, summarizing
Suggested reading: Any of your child’s favorite books

Read through the alphabet
What to do: Using the printable below, read one book that corresponds to each letter of the alphabet.
What your child is learning: Comprehension
Suggested reading: 26 of your child’s favorite books (try Z is for Moose and maybe let X be in the middle of the word so you can enjoy The Adventures of Taxi Dog).

To download the reading log, click here. For best printing, use 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper and select “fit to page” in the printing preferences. Can also be printed in black and white.

I hope your summer is full of reading and fun. This post is part of our summer series. Click this link for more Super Summer Fun ideas!

making reading fun for kids during the summer. 13 ideas that will encourage your child to read.

How to Shop for Healthy Food on a Budget

Eating healthy doesn’t have to break the family budget. It takes a bit more planning, but you can save money when you’re shopping for your family. These tips will teach you how to save money as you shop for healthy food on a budget.

Many families would like to practice healthy eating but are concerned about the cost. When we started setting our family budget, groceries were one of our biggest expenses. So it makes sense that people would get the idea that buying healthy food is too expensive. This is not true. It can be done once a family knows where and how to go about it.

Where to Find Healthy Food

There are several places where families can buy healthy food within a budget. You might want to try:

Grocery stores

Farmer’s markets

Gardens (family’s garden, neighbor’s garden, community garden)

Produce stands along the road-I found one in town with 25¢ avocados!

Health market stores (follow weekly ads to get in-season produce cheaper)

Family and friends (sometimes extended family members have more than needed when it comes to fresh produce)

Bread outlets

CSA subscription boxes

Dollar Stores

Discount grocery stores – around here we have Winco, Aldi’s and Food 4 Less.

How to Find the Good Deals

It’s good to know where to go to find healthy food. But it is just as important to find out how to find good deals. Here are some ways to save money when buying healthy food:

Purchase fresh produce when on sale or discounted, like at a bag sale.

Use coupons (both store and manufactured coupons) when possible.

Find out when fresh produce is discounted (do this with produce that can be placed in the freezer or canned).

Purchase frozen vegetables and fruit when on sale.

Purchase whole grain bread at bread outlets and possibly dollar stores.

Compare prices of different vendors at a local farmer’s market (make sure it’s not only a good deal but also good quality).

Grow a garden (eat right away and/or freeze or can for later use).

Exchange garden produce and fruit (from fruit trees or bushes) with neighbors, friends, and extended family.

Purchase less processed meals and make own version from scratch.

Ask friends and neighbors about good produce stands (hint: some will discount produce and healthy food items at the end of the day).

Join a co-op.

Search the internet for free printable coupons.

Practicing healthy eating does not have to break a family’s grocery budget. It can be done by knowing where to purchase or obtain healthy grocery items. Sometimes, you don’t even have to shop for healthy food; it can be grown in a backyard or community garden.

Once a family understands all the possibilities of where to purchase healthy food, it is important to know how to save money. Great money-saving tips include using coupons to knowing when a store or produce stand will discount fresh produce and other healthy products.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to break the family budget. These tips will teach you how to save money as you shop for healthy food on a budget.

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.

Recommended Products

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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.

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.

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.