Abbi, Author at Joy99

Aim For Yes

Sep 30, 2020 | All, Ceci

I LOVE this article that talks about aiming for yes with you kiddos!

Kids hear a lot of “no” throughout the course of a day. No you can’t stay up as long as you want…no you can’t ride your bike without a helmet…no you can’t hit your sister.
It is easy for “no” to become a reflex answer to any new or odd request from our kids. Often times we say no before we’ve even thought through what they asked.

Joanna Goddard writes about the advice she heard as a young parent, “challenge the tendency toward the automatic no, and ‘aim for yes.’ Because some things are always going to be no – and rightfully so. But not everything has to be.

Here are some examples of things that recently happened in her home:
– Toby wanted to wear his bathing suit in the bath
– Anton wanted to jump from one sofa to the other
– Toby wanted to mix milk and water
– Anton wanted to wear pajamas to the grocery store
– Anton wanted to lie down on the skateboard

My knee-jerk reaction tends to be no – just hop in the bath, just drink your milk. But if I stop to think, why not? If it isn’t hurting anyone, and they find it exciting for some reason, who cares?

By saying yes, we’re encouraging creativity. It is giving our kids more opportunities to explore, to indulge their curiosity, and to build their confidence.

Aim for yes!

Mom Tip: Make Your Home Smell Like Fall

Sep 29, 2020 | All, Ceci Mom Tips

Fall has finally arrived and there isn’t much better than feeling cozy and warm inside! Here’s a great DIY trick to making your house smell like fall in a very natural way!

Ingredients:
– a few orange peels
– a couple of cinnamon sticks

Instructions:
1. In a small saucepan with water and add the orange peels and cinnamon sticks. Bring it to a boil and then turn the heat down and let it simmer. Medium heat is perfect.
2. Within minutes your home will start to smell heavenly. Simmer for about 20 minutes then add more water if needed. I recommend simmering for about 40 minutes to an hour so the smell can last, but you can simmer for as long as you want.

Best Day Ever Challenge 9/28 – 10/4

Sep 28, 2020 | All, Best Day Ever Calendar

Weekly Challenge

9/28 - 10/4

9

Drop off socks to a local homeless shelter.

GO DEEPER: Call a non-profit and ask how you can bless their staff.

Download Calendar

Secret to the Best Apple Pie

Sep 22, 2020 | All, Ceci Mom Tips

We’re moving into apple season and superstar chef Thomas Keller has some tips!

His hot tip for baking the perfect apple pie is controversial. Keller says to incorporate both diced and grated apples into your filling. “The grated apple cooks quickly and consistently, allowing for excess liquid to evaporate and resulting in an applesauce texture with just the right amount of moisture. Alternatively the diced apple provides a textural contrast.”

When you consider how prone the bottom crust of apple pie is to getting soft and soggy from water leaching out from the fresh apples, this trick makes a lot of sense. Grated apples have significantly more surface area exposed, which means moisture inside the fruit is able to evaporate at a higher rate in the oven compared to larger-sized apple pieces. Combining the two sizes helps preserve the textural contrast between the crust and filling (and we all know a grated apple pie would be less than ideal). You’ll still be biting into a sweet, tender-cooked apple chunk—it just won’t be encased in mushy, limp pie crust. Keller recommends using a 1:1 ratio of grated to diced apples.

Removing Blood from Carpet

Sep 21, 2020 | All, Ceci Mom Tips

It’s bloody nose season! Here’s a great way to remove blood from your carpet.

Mix one teaspoon of dishwashing (regular dishsoap, not automatic dishwasher detergent) with two cups of cold water. Take a clean, white cloth and dip it in the detergent solution you just mixed. Blot directly on the bloodstain, repeatedly. Blot do not scrub!