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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!

Winter 2020 Outerwear Trends

Sep 29, 2020 | All, Tommy and Brook

It’s time to turn our thoughts to fall and winter. Like I mentioned last week, there is a strong possibility we will be seeing less inventory in the coming seasons, so if you’re in the market for something new, you’ll want to shop earlier and not later this year.

Happily a trend of the past is back in a big way. The blanket coat, over sized wraps and capes…anything the swaddles you in warmth is what this season’s outerwear trend is all about.

Quite obviously this is an extension of the casual pandemic comfy trend we’ve all come to know and love. The coats and warm layers of the season are basic blankets with little structure, layers of textiles and quilted details. Imagine your sleeping bag as a coat, or your sofa throw belted as a top layer. There you have it. Today’s coats!

Remember you can find many of these trends 2nd hand. You don’t have to pay full price unless you’re crazy for it. There are lots of these styles available online as well. So again, shop early for the best selection no matter where you shop.

You can do this!

XO~A

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.

Macaroni Skillet

Sep 29, 2020 | All, Cookin with Brook

If you’re as tired of cooking as we are, whip this up for a yummy dinner! This is a great and EASY comfort food recipe! My family LOVES it!!

1 pound ground beef
1 tsp onion powder (or 1/4 cup chopped onion)
3 cups tomato juice
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1 TBS vinegar
1 TBS brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup macaroni

Brown ground beef in like a 5 quart pot. (if you’re doing real actual onion, put it in when you’re browning the burger) Once it gets going, sprinkle the onion powder in and let that fry into the beef. Once the ground beef is no longer pink, drain the fat and keep the beef in the pot. Add everything else right into the pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

For ALL my Cookin With Brook recipes, click here!

As always, thanks to Gerrit’s Appliance!

10 Grocery Items To Grab In Case Of Another Lockdown

Sep 28, 2020 | All, Tommy and Brook

We are now 6 months removed from the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Grocery stores had many of their items sold off of the shelves. As we enter into the “normal” cold and flu season in West Michigan, many in the medical field believe that another lockdown could happen. That said, here are a few items to make sure that you have on hand. While we do not live in fear, these are a few items you could grab if you happen to see them at the store

Canned Goods
Cleaning Supplies
Paper products
Meat and Seafood
Dairy Items
Baking Items
Easy to prepare frozen foods
Rice
Canning Materials
And it is probably not a bad idea to grab your Turkey for Thanksgiving SOONER than later!

11 Reasons Why Dads Matter To Daughters

Sep 28, 2020 | All, Tommy and Brook

11 Reasons Why Dads Matter to Daughters
1. Girls whose fathers provide warmth and control achieve greater academic success.
2. Girls who are close to their fathers exhibit less anxiety and withdrawal behaviors.
3. Parental connectedness is the number one factor in preventing girls from engaging in premarital sex and indulging in drugs and alcohol.
4. Daughters who believe that their fathers care about them have significantly fewer suicide attempts and fewer instances of body dissatisfaction, depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, and unhealthy weight.
5. Girls with involved fathers are twice as likely to stay in school.
6. Girls with fathers or father figures feel more protected, are more likely to attempt college, and are less likely to drop out of college.
7. Girls whose parents divorce or separate before they turn twenty-one tend to have shorter life spans by four years.
8. Girls with good fathers are less likely to seek male attention by flaunting themselves.
9. Girls who live with their mothers and fathers (as opposed to mothers only) have significantly fewer growth and developmental delays, and fewer learning disorders, emotional disabilities, and behavioral problems.
10. Girls who live with their mothers only have significantly less ability to control impulses and delay gratification, and have a weaker sense of conscience about right and wrong.
11. Girls do better academically if their fathers establish rules and exhibit affection.
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« Older Entries

Aim For Yes

Winter 2020 Outerwear Trends

Mom Tip: Make Your Home Smell Like Fall

Macaroni Skillet

10 Grocery Items To Grab In Case Of Another Lockdown

11 Reasons Why Dads Matter To Daughters

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