The Rose

Motherhood, Parenting

How to Create Successful Morning and Evening Routines for Kids

Today, I am collaborating with Amanda Tallent from The Zebra to talk about morning and evening routines. Having a consistent routine will definitely set your kids up for success. Predictable routines that work will help you, the busy parent as well. Amanda Tallent generously offered to share her morning and evening routine printables with my readers. If you want to create a new morning or evening routine for your children and don’t know where to start, keep reading for some tips and don’t forget to grab these free resources before you leave!

How to create morning routines pin

Before we get to the tips and tricks, I want to introduce Amanda. Amanda Tallent is a content creator for The Zebra and develops helpful resources for families. Her passion for creative writing has led her to cover unique topics ranging from business to lifestyle. She calls Austin, TX home and enjoys crafting, decorating and traveling in her spare time.

Mother and daughter brushing teeth

Time goes by quickly and as our kids grow older, they learn new skills each and every day. With new life skills, comes more advanced communication and even a bit of responsibility. No matter what age your child or children might be, there are simple ways to teach valuable skills that grow their independence. 

Establishing a routine can be very beneficial for kids of any age. Knowing what expectations are and how to handle a schedule helps set them up for success. From making their bed to picking up their toys, teaching these easy habits can pay off later. 

To help encourage your kids in the morning or when getting ready for bed, The Zebra created some printable routine checklists that show common tasks like brushing teeth and getting dressed. To use these printables each day, you can slip them into a pocket protector and use dry erase markers to check off each item.

Rosebud’s Evening Routine

Now that Rosebud is going to preschool it’s more important than ever that I create a consistent evening routine. Since preschool is new for her and she doesn’t attend everyday, I have some flexibility in our routines, but I try to stay as consistent as possible. Here’s our basic afternoon/evening routine.

When I get home from work, we play for 1-2 hours depending on what I’m making for dinner. If the meal involves more preparation, we have less time to play. While I make dinner, she’s either helping me in the kitchen, playing with a sensory bin or having a bit of screen time. I serve dinner between 5 and 6 O’Clock. There are some days when she’s hungry by 4:30, so I may start dinner a little earlier. Since my shift ends in the afternoon, my schedule allows for this.

Rosebud’s Evening Schedule

6 O’Clock: Play time.

6:45: Clean up toys.

I clean up the kitchen, feed the cat and prepare Rosebud’s backpack for the next morning.7:00 Bath time.

Put on pajamas.

Brush teeth.

7:30 Story time.

7:45 Bedtime.

Boy at bedtime snuggling a plush polar bear

I try to stick to this general schedule, but everything depends on how much work I have to do around the house and what Rosebud and I feel like doing. Sometimes, we skip bath time if Rosebud doesn’t need one. This gives her a bit more play time. Other days, we go out to play after dinner if it was too hot earlier in the day. Rosebud’s not a big fan of the hot weather, so she prefers to go outside later. Outdoor play is important, so everything else on the schedule may get pushed back. Just because bedtime is around 7:45, Rosebud almost never falls asleep that early. She likes me to snuggle with her after stories and I stay with her until she falls asleep. She’s usually asleep by 8:30. I bring a pair of earbuds and listen to an audio book or podcast. I’ve found it’s the only thing that doesn’t keep her awake.

You may have to do a lot of trial and error before you find a routine that works for you. The thing I’ve had to adjust most often is bedtime. Rosebud has always been a night owl, so, I’ve always struggled with getting her to sleep. As we all know, sleep is so important. It can make or break the next day.

Morning and Evening Routines infographic

Morning Routines

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that morning routines are a challenge for me. I’ve never been a morning person. I like my sleep and used to constantly hit the snooze button. Since I’ve moved my workouts to the morning, I’ve been better about getting up on time. My biggest challenge is fitting everything in without feeling rushed. However, here are some tips that have helped me.

  • 1. Prepare what you can the night before. Whether it be lunch or your child’s backpack, it saves time to have it ready.
  • 2. Get up a little earlier than normal. I moved my wake up time to 5:30. This gives me an extra half hour to exercise and spend a few minutes working on smaller blog tasks.
  • 3. Avoid hitting the snooze button and get up when the alarm goes off. If you fall back to sleep, you’ll feel worse.
  • 4. Eat a decent breakfast. Even if it’s just a smoothy, it’ll give you some energy.
  • 5. Have your children help with morning tasks if possible. Since Rosebud gets dressed by herself now, I give her her clothes and have her get dressed while I’m doing something else. Little things like this can not only save time, but will help children feel more confident in mastering these skills.

Mother waving daughter off to school

Our Morning Routine

5:30 Wake up.

Do small blog tasks and exercise.

6:00 Shower and get dressed

7:00 Wake up time for Rosebud.

This varies. If she wakes up earlier, it messes with my routine a bit. She either plays with toys while I’m in the shower or watches something on the iPad.

7:05 Rosebud gets dressed.

7:10 Breakfast

7:30 Hair and makeup for me. Rosebud brushes teeth and hair.

7:45 Packing anything we need that wasn’t packed the night before. If I’m making a sandwich, I make it in the morning. If I have a meal that I will have to warm up, I prepare that the night before. I check Rosebud’s backpack.

8:00 Feed the cat.

Then catch up on anything that needs to be done so we can get out the door on time. My routine never runs like clock work, but I can say it’s gotten so much better in the past year.

How to create Evening Routines pin

Printables

To help you with your routines, Amanda has created these free morning and evening routine printables that I have for you today. These printables can help the whole family stay on track and save everyone lots of time and energy by knowing what needs to be done and when. If your evening routine is a challenge or if your morning routine is a nightmare, these printables are definitely for you!

Evening Routine Printable

Morning Routine Printable

What tips and tricks do you use to make your morning or evening routines successful? Tell me in the comments. Also, don’t forget to visit Amanda over at The Zebra where there are many more wonderful resources for families!

2 Comments
Parenting, Personal Development

55 Journaling Prompts for Moms

As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, I love journaling. I find that journaling has a lot of benefits. It helps clear the mind, look at things from a different perspective and lets you reflect on your past. It’s a great way of keeping track of your goals, remembering dreams, showing gratitude, preserving memories and if you are a writer, it’s one way to create content. Journaling helps me relax before I go to bed, but I’ve been so focused on this blog, I haven’t been journaling as much. That’s something I want to change because I was thinking about how I’ve been writing to preserve memories for Rosebud. When she was a baby, I wrote so many things down, but for the past year, I’ve definitely been slacking which brings me to the topic of journal prompts for moms. I’ll divide them up into categories and hopefully this will help all of us to start or to continue our journaling practice.

55 Journaling Prompts for Moms pin

Prompts to Preserve Memories

  1. What was your child’s birth story?
  1. What was your family life like growing up?
  1. What lessons did your parents teach you?
  1. What do you wish they would’ve done differently?
  1. What have been the most memorable experiences so far with your children?
  1. Make a list of firsts and write the stories behind them. First words, first food, first steps, first birthday party, first day of school, first night away from home etc.
  1. What was your first memory from your childhood?
  1. Where was your favorite place as a child and where is your favorite place now?
  1. Who were your childhood friends?
  1. What are your child’s favorite toys?
  1. What were your favorite toys as a child?
  1. Did you have any childhood pets? If so, what were they like?
  1. Make a list of things you love about your children.

Collection of journals

Exploring the Future

  1. What are your hopes and dreams?
  1. What are your short-term and long-term goals?
  1. What is the most important lesson you want your children to learn?
  1. Write a letter to your older self.
  1. Write letters to your children.
  1. Where do you want your life to be in ten years?
  1. What are your hopes and dreams for your children?
  2. Woman writing in diary

Self Discovery

  1. If you could have any career, what would you do?
  1. What places would you like to see?
  1. If you won ten million dollars, what would you do?
  1. Who do you look up to and why?
  1. What relaxes you?
  1. Make a list of things that bring you joy.
  1. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
  1. What do you love about yourself?
  1. If you’re in a relationship, what do you love about your partner?
  1. If you are not in a relationship, what do you look for in a partner?
  1. What are your biggest secrets?
  1. What is your biggest regret?
  1. What does your perfect day look like?
  1. What new activities or hobbies would you like to try?
  1. What does self-care mean to you?

Pregnant woman writing in journalPrompts for Daily Life

  1. What are you grateful for today?
  1. What happened today that made you smile?
  1. What was the worst thing about today?
  1. What’s on the menu for the day or week?
  1. Write a story with your child.
  1. What conversations did you have with your children today?
  1. Is there something about today that you wish you could have done differently?
  1. What is your morning routine like?
  1. What is your fitness routine like?
  1. Did you have any dreams that you remember?
  2. 55 Journaling prompts for moms pin

Free Writing Prompts

Some people use a word as a prompt and just write whatever comes to mind. It’s a stream of consciousness exercise. I’ll use some words that may pertain to motherhood.

  1. Motherhood,
  1. Growing,
  1. Working,
  1. Change,
  1. Time,
  1. Happiness,
  1. Expectations,
  1. Wonder,
  1. Plans,
  1. Wishes.

Do you have any go to journaling prompts when you get stuck? Tell me in the comments. If you are looking for a new journal, here are some different styles to choose from. Happy journaling!



If you keep a digital journal like me, check out my favorite journaling app.

6 Comments
Education, Parenting, Preschool

Why I Chose Preschool for Rosebud

Up until now, Rosebud has been cared for by family members while I work. I’ve never even left her with a baby sitter or a trusted friend. Leaving her with someone I don’t know at all has been completely out of the question. I had very negative experiences with baby sitters and childcare centers as a kid, so the thought of Rosebud being anywhere other than at home causes me a lot of anxiety. I’ve seen what can happen first hand and just the idea that anything could happen to my daughter is scary. If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I work in a childcare center. Most people would think that the obvious solution would be to bring her to where I work, but the truth is that I know too much. I know exactly what goes on there and there are too many things I don’t want Rosebud exposed to. One example is this experience, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. If it were up to me, we’d live in a society where children didn’t have to go to childcare and they could spend most of the time with their parents, but we live in a world where most families need two incomes just to survive.

Why I chose Preschool for Rosebud pin

The Boredom

After Rosebud turned three, I started noticing a lot of changes in her. She wasn’t listening, she’d argue with everything I said and it seemed like there was something missing for her. She seemed bored. Bored with me and bored with her toys. She seemed more interested in watching tv until we went screen free for a while.

Kids playing in a circle

Socialization

Her only friend was Little Guy and he only came over occasionally. He comes over even less now since he switched childcare programs. She’d often beg me to have Little Guy come visit, but when he was here, she’d struggle with the idea of sharing her toys. She loves Little Guy. They have a good time together, but since he is a year younger, they don’t play on the same level. she’s really into creative and imaginative play. She loves to set up pretend parties, create art and build intricate buildings out of blocks. On the other hand, Little Guy loves to play on his own. He’s happy with a bunch of rubber ducks or pushing food around in a toy cart which is completely appropriate for his age. His idea of playing with another kid is a boisterous game of chase which Rosebud loves, but she wants to do other things as well. There are two separate struggles there. Rosebud is an only child and is not used to sharing her toys and you add the fact that they aren’t on the same level and don’t always understand each other. It has made for some interesting play dates, but no matter what happens, they seem to forget and love each other in the end. Rosebud talks about Little Guy every day when they don’t see each other and Little Guy smiles and runs right in like he owns the place when he comes back to visit. That being said, I know Rosebud needs more in terms of learning to share and making new friends.

Girl playing with clay

Mom Guilt

Yes. The mom guilt. The struggle is real! Being an early childhood educator, I always felt guilty for not doing enough with Rosebud. At least I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. I wanted to make new sensory bins every week or two, try all kinds of different types of play-dough and do a bunch of art activities. Oh and let’s not forget that she needs outside time. The problem is there aren’t enough hours in the day. When am I going to do all that? I work and am tired when I get home. I work with kids all day and the last thing I want to do when I get home is get out messy finger paints or make up a new batch of play-dough. All I want to do is relax, but what I need to do is make dinner, clean and get ready for the next day. That doesn’t leave me much time with Rosebud, so I usually take her to play outside. I feel a lot of guilt over this because the last thing I want to do is take care of and play with other kids instead of my own, but that’s what I have to do every day. We do art on rainy days and I make up new sensory bins once a month. The crayons and markers are always available to her and we do lots of pretend play in her kitchen. Over the past six months, the mom guilt has been really nagging at me.

Teacher showing a boy and girl dinosaur models

Education

Next fall, Rosebud will be old enough to do the public pre-k, but from what I’ve seen, pre-k is pretty academic these days. I didn’t want Rosebud to go from no structure to all the structure. Academically, I don’t think it would be a problem. She knows her colors, shapes, numbers and is starting to recognize many letters. She knows a lot about the world around her and is a fast learner. I don’t want school to be a negative experience for her, but I think it would be if there were no transition in between.

Why I chose preschool for Rosebud pin

Preschool

Up until June, I was still on the fence about what to do. I often hear about the different local programs and I know the signs of a quality early childhood program so that’s what I look for. There are only three programs in my area that have a really good reputation. Unfortunately, cost is definitely a factor, so I was holding off. Then one day, someone told me about this preschool summer camp. It’s a three week session that runs three days per week. They do art, music, story time and outside play. It’s only a morning program. It seemed perfect. It was the perfect way to find out how Rosebud would react in a preschool environment. So far, so good. She’s finished her first week. She’s been on a nature walk, painted pictures and played with new toys. More importantly, she’s been playing with other kids. According to her teacher, she helps out in the classroom and is wonderful. The best thing is that she’s so happy in the afternoons. She tells me about her day and is excited to go back. I’ve noticed that she is less bored and is listening better. She even took a nap one afternoon which she hadn’t done in months. I am relieved that she is enjoying it and that her teacher seems to like her.

Back when I enrolled her in the summer preschool, I asked about their fall preschool program. They have a two, three or five day option. I chose the two day option for the fall. Now I’m kind of regretting not going with the three day option, but I wanted to see how things go. What I like about this preschool is that it’s play based and parents have said all good things about the program. I agonized over this decision, but it was a huge step for me and for Rosebud too. While I still worry and wonder what she is doing throughout the day, I know that I made the right decision. She needs this for her social and emotional development and I know she’ll learn things along the way. Now that I know she’ll be getting some other enrichment, I won’t be as worried that I’m not doing enough. I can just enjoy my time with her no matter what we are doing. Is your child starting preschool this fall? What was the deciding factor for you? Tell me in the comments.

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Education, Parenting, Shopping

Back To School: Cats and Dogs Edition

I don’t want to think about the summer ending, but September is getting closer. For the kids, that means heading back to school. Last week, I posted a unicorn themed list of school supplies. This week, all the back to school items are cat or dog themed. If your child loves kittens and puppies, this post is for you!

Back to School Cats and Dogs Edition pin

Backpack


Teacher explaining calendar to little boy

Supplies for Meal Times

Lunch Box


Ice PacksIn case your lunch box doesn’t come with one, here are some extra ice packs you can get. I couldn’t find any cat themed ones, but I found puppies and penguins.

Thermos
For those foods you need to keep warm. I also did not find cat thermoses, but here are a couple options if you are looking for one.

Water Bottle
I found plenty of cat and dog themed water bottles. Here are just a few.


Cat with notebook and pen

School Supplies

Notebook


Folders


3 Ring Binder


Pencil Case



Pencils

Pencil Sharpener

Erasers

Dog with books
Pens

Markers
I didn’t find any cat or dog themed markers, but here are the standard ones for your convenience.

Crayons

Scissors

Tissues and Wipes

Back to school Cats and Dogs edition pin

Extras


Well, that’s all for this week’s list. I hope I’ve helped you find something unique or have given you a place to start. I might do one more back to school themed post later in August. Are your kids wanting a specific theme for their back to school items this year? Let me know in the comments. to simplify your life, I’ll leave you with this back to school checklist. If you have younger children, click here for a list of what to pack for preschool.

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Childcare, Parenting

What to Pack for Preschool

I’m a childcare provider and there are so many instances where the children do not have the essential items that they need. I know there are a lot of reasons for this. Parents may be struggling financially, there is poor communication between teachers and parents or it may be that parents assume that we can provide these items. Each childcare program is different. Some programs include diapers and wipes in the cost. Other programs serve meals and snacks. Some programs provide swimming lessons or dance classes. With so many different expectations, it’s important to find out what your child needs to have with them when they are first enrolled. Whatever the case may be, here is a list of items your child may need based on age.

How to pack Your Baby’s Diaper Bag pin

Infant and Toddler

Bottles
Unless you are fortunate enough to work close enough to your child where you can breast-feed throughout the day, you’ll need bottles. This is where you should check with your childcare provider. Do they prefer premade bottles or will they make them as needed? What is their policy on frozen breast milk? At the center where I work, we prefer premade bottles that the parents make up at home. This way, we can pop them into the warmer or crock pot and the babies don’t have to wait as long. It’s also easier to keep track of whose bottles are whose this way. We label them, but with eight babies under a year old, it really helps us to have the bottles ready to go. Sometimes, we might need extra milk or the child is there longer than expected, so we have a freezer for storing breast milk that is properly labeled with the child’s name and the date it was expressed. We follow the same procedures for formula fed babies, but I’d recommend leaving a can of formula with your childcare provider just in case.

Baby Food

If your child has started eating solid food, you may want to bring some baby food depending on the childcare provider’s policies. Our program provides baby food and regular lunches for older children. However, many programs do not provide food. Personally, I prefer that parents bring food. This way, you know exactly what your child is eating and chances are, they will eat. I see so many kids that refuse our food either because it is unfamiliar or they think it’s gross. Then the child is grumpy because they are so hungry. There are advantages and disadvantages to providing food or having parents provide food, but it can be a factor when deciding on a program for your family.

Baby clothes

Diapers and Wipes

This is an obvious one, but some places. Provide diapers and wipes, so it’s definitely something you should ask about. Parents will usually give us an unopened package of diapers and the same for wipes, but occasionally there are parents who only provide a few new diapers each day. I find this is the hardest to keep track of and if you forget, your child won’t have diapers for the day. While we try to have extra diapers on hand, it’s not always possible. When diapers are not provided, we end up having to borrow diapers from other children. Then when the diapers are replenished, we have to give some of your diapers back to the children you borrowed from. Some places have policies that state that if your child does not have enough diapers for the day, they cannot stay at the program. It’s also important because some children have skin sensitivity issues and using different diapers and wipes can cause irritation or an extreme rash. that’s why we only like to use what you provide. If you use a specific diaper rash cream or powder, you should include that as well.

Infants, Toddlers or Preschoolers

Changes of clothes

I can’t stress this enough! Infants should have at minimum two or three changes of clothes. With the spit ups, food mishaps and blow outs, infants need ample changes of clothes. This should be obvious, but parents can forget in the midst of sleepless nights while holding down a job.

Toddlers and preschoolers need changes of clothes too. I’d recommend two changes of clothes and check back often to be sure clothing is replenished. Even though most childcare providers will keep track, it helps to work as a team.

Little girl with teddy bear

Comfort Items

Does your child use a pacifier? Do they have a special blanket, swaddle or stuffed animal? If so, please bring those in. We want your child to feel as comfortable as possible and want your child to feel at home. Most programs welcome family photos. Especially for infants. In our infant room, we have family posters. Each child has a poster with several pictures of themselves and their family members that they can look at throughout the day. Other classrooms use little photo albums that children can keep in their cubbies. Your child misses you throughout the day and photos can help them feel closer to you.


Packing child’s bag

Outdoor Items

This will change depending on where you live, the climate and the ages of your children, but here’s an idea of what your child may need outside.
Jacket, raincoat or sweatshirt,
Good sneakers for outdoor play,
Rain boots or winter boots depending on season,
Summer or winter hat,
Mittens of gloves for winter,
We prefer the water proof mittens, but they may be harder to put on and may not fit as well as gloves or knitted mittens. Also, some children find it easier to use gloves or knitted mittens because they can use their hands better.
Sun screen or bug spray,
This is important because you know which products if any will cause allergic reactions in your child.

Items for Water Play

Many childcare providers do some type of water play and here are some items you might need.

  • Bathing suit,
  • Water shoes,
  • Towel.

Food

Boy eating lunch

As I mentioned above, some programs require you to bring your children’s food. The amount of food you will need will depend on how long your child will be in care and the meals the provider will or will not include. Some programs serve breakfast and a snack, some programs serve two snacks, but no lunch while others provide all meals. Some programs may not provide any food at all. If you need to bring your own food, carefully read the policies as many places have items that you aren’t allowed to bring. Many programs are nut free which rules out anything with peanut butter. Some items are choking hazards such as hot dogs, whole grapes or raw carrots. I recommend including food items from each food group for a balanced diet. Whole grains, protein, vegetables, fruit and dairy. I also recommend using a lunch box or container that helps keep items either hot or cold since most places don’t have the time or facilities to warm up so many lunches at once.

Essentials to pack for preschool

Optional Items

these are items that I’ve seen parents bring over the years that may be helpful, but not always necessary.

  • Bib,
  • Sunglasses,
  • Teethers,
  • Chap stick,
  • Tissues,
  • Journal for writing notes back and forth.

There may be other items your child will need, but this list is meant to be a basic guide for what your child will need to bring to preschool. Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments.

5 Comments
My Favorites

My Favorites for July, 2019

It’s been a busy month for me, so this list will be short. I have a recipe, a couple of books and some favorite articles to share. On the blog this month, I accepted my first guest post! I’m happy with how it turned out. The perk of letting other bloggers write for you is that you can take a break from creating content. The second change I’ve made is behind the scenes. I have a new blogging schedule. I’ve been using Saturdays and Sundays for writing new content. I try to write two posts per weekend. During the week, I add images, affiliate links etc. This has taken a lot of the stress off and while I was on vacation in June, I was able to write several posts, so if I’m not feeling up to writing posts on a certain week, I have some content ready to go.

My Favorites for July, 2019 pin

For my favorites for July, I have the basics, a recipe, a book and a few articles. Enjoy.

Ice cream pizza with no toppings

Recipe

Rosebud happened to see them making an ice cream pizza on one of her favorite shows. She seemed excited about this, so I asked her if we should make our own ice cream pizza. We tried this simple Ice Cream Pizza recipe. Rosebud helped make it and of course, we enjoyed having it for dessert. This recipe would be great for a pizza themed party.

For toppings, we used chocolate sauce, M&M’s and chocolate chips, but you can include any kind of toppings you want.Ice cream pizza with toppings

Books

This time, I’ll include two books that can be used as resources. The first book I found by accident. There was a two books for one credit sale going on Audible. It was an educational themed sale, so most of the books were from the Great Courses series. I wanted to take advantage of the deal, but had no idea what to get. Time was running out, so I ended up choosing The Addictive Brain, by Thad A. Polk. This isn’t something I’d normally read, but I chose it because I wanted to understand. Addiction has been a problem in my family and I guess I wanted to try to understand what was behind their behavior. While people take different stances on addiction, this book focuses on the science and the genetic component of addiction. I tried to keep an open mind while reading it and it actually made a lot of sense. Overall, it was an interesting read and I learned something.

Girl learning sign language

At the beginning of July, we had a new baby start with us at the childcare center where I work. He is the sweetest baby ever. He’s happy, cuddly and playful. He’s also deaf. unfortunately, this makes it harder to communicate with him. He doesn’t sign yet, but we are all learning. As someone with low vision, this is even more challenging for me because most of the time, I can’t see if someone is signing. I’ve been learning a couple new signs per week to practice with him. Since he’s usually laying on the floor in front of me, I can watch his hands closely or feel them, but he doesn’t sign back yet. At least he’s getting language in some form. I know it’s probably not good enough and that frustrates me. I want to do more and be able to communicate with him, so I’ve gotten a couple books to learn the basics. The most useful book I’ve found so far is Baby Sign Language Made Easy, by Lane Rebelo. It’s been the most useful for me because of the large images and good descriptions of the gestures. I need detailed descriptions, especially for the subtle visual things. I know it’s better to learn in person, but now this is where I have to start.

I like that the signs in this book are actual ASL and not made up baby signs. I have some ASL guides as well, but they are not as descriptive. This particular book is mainly for parents who want to sign with their hearing babies, but I’m using it since the signs would be the same whether the baby is hearing or deaf. If I’m showing him a sign, I show him the object right before and after the sign. If it’s a more routine task like a diaper change or nap time, I find that more difficult. I’m hoping that if I use the signs every time we do that activity, he’ll start making the association. If you are interested in teaching your baby to sign, this book is a must have.

My favorites for July, 2019 fireworks pin

Articles

An informative article about the dimensions of self-care. This article dives deeper into self-care going beyond the typical self-care rituals to explore the why and the how.

Work Life Balance: Could It Be a Myth? I think we all are looking for this balance, but maybe it doesn’t really exist?

How to Get Baby to Sleep in the Crib Through the Night.

Are you having trouble getting your baby to sleep in his or her own crib? Are you thinking of transitioning your baby to a crib? This post is definitely for you. It’s packed with tips and tricks for baby sleep and one of my posts is featured!

How Your Negative Self Talk Becomes Your Child’s Inner Voice.

A reminder that we need to be kind to ourselves. Our little ones are always watching.

There you. have it, my favorites for July 2019. I’ll be back next month with more, but come back to visit throughout August. You’ll be seeing some back to school posts and other fun surprises.

1 Comment
Education, Parenting, Shopping

Back to School: The Unicorn Eddition

Welll, it’s that time again. It’s getting close to a new school year and that means buying brand new school supplies. Rosebud is starting preschool this year which is the inspiration for this post. I’ll mostly be focusing on supplies for elementary school kids since preschoolers don’t usually need many supplies. Rosebud and I are both unicorn fans, so here is a back to school list, the unicorn edition!

Back to school Unicorn supplies pin

Supplies for Meal Times

Lunch Box

Kids love to have a cool lunch box and here are a couple options for a girl who loves unicorns.


Ice Pack
In case the lunch box you choose doesn’t come with one or you need an extra.

Thermos
If you want to pack soup or other warm food.

Water Bottle
Whether your child is going to preschool or elementary school, they’ll need a water bottle.

Mother giving backpack to daughter.

Backpack

Another extremely important item. Most kids love picking out their own backpack. Here are a few unicorn backpacks to choose from.


Girl with stack of books

School Supplies

Notebook

Folders

3 Ring Binder

School supplies on a chalkboard.

Pencils


Pens
I remember a lot of us having pens when we were in school. Although, I didn’t see pens on the back to school lists I looked at.

Erasers
These are more novelty than anything, but it’s fun to have some unique school supplies.

Pencil Sharpener

Pencil Case

Unicorn Edition: school supplies pin

Markers
I did not find a unicorn marker set, but I found some colored pencils. I’ll include those along with a standard marker set.

Crayons
I’ll include this novelty set as well as a standard crayon set.

Safety Scissors
Who knew there were unicorn scissors?

Extras
Tissues and Hand wipes,

Glue

Unicorn Edition: Water color unicorn pin

School Supply Luxuries

Have fun shopping for back to school items this year. Try not to stress and if possible, give your children some choices about what they would like. In my experience, it helps them get excited about the start of school. Stay tuned for more back to school posts in August! I’ll end this post with this simple back to school checklist.

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Books, Preschool

12 Bug Books for Preschoolers

Rosebud has been talking a lot about the bugs we’ve been seeing outside lately. She’s decided that a lot of them are scary which is why I put together the rice and bugs sensory bin. Honestly, I can’t stand bugs. there’s just something about them being creepy and crawly, but I didn’t want Rosebud to be scared every time she saw some sort of insect, so we’ve been reading some bug books as well. There are a lot of books out there about bugs. Some of them teach life lessons while others are educational in a different way, teaching us about how bugs are beneficial to our environment. While not all the bugs in these books are scientifically classified as insects, they are still apart of the bug category in my book. Whether your child is afraid of bugs or curious about them, you’ll find something interesting on this list of 12 bug books for preschoolers.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar book

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle

I had to include this one because it is a classic and Rosebud loves still loves this book!
Description
In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf.” So begins Eric Carle’s modern classic,The Very Hungry Caterpillar. More than 12 million copies of this book have been sold in its original, full-sized edition, and the beloved tale of science and gluttony has been translated into 20 languages. This five-by-four-inch miniature edition is truly tiny, with tiny type, but it is a nice size for small hands to hold and flip through the pictures. Despite its diminished state, the book is complete in every detail, following the ravenous caterpillar’s path as he eats his way through one apple (and the pages of the book itself) on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, and so on, through cherry pie and sausage–until he is really fat and has a stomachache. And no doubt you know what happens next! Kids love butterfly metamorphosis stories, and this popular favorite teaches counting and days of the week too.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs
By Catherine D. Hughes

While doing some research for this post, I found this informative book. I haven’t read this one yet with Rosebud, but I’m including it because it’s nonfiction and is perfect for our little scientists. Not only does it talk about our typical backyard bugs, but it also shows bugs from around the world.
Description
The experts at National Geographic present a delightful reference that introduces young children to bugs of all kinds: big and small, jumping and crawling, colorful and creepy. This charming book explores backyard favorites, such as ladybugs and lightning bugs, and introduces kids to more exotic species that inhabit rain forests and deserts around the world. Colorful photos are paired with profiles of each insect, along with facts about the creatures’ sizes, diets, homes, and more. This book will quickly become a favorite at story time, bedtime, and any other time!
12 Bug Books for Preschoolers pin

The Very Impatient Caterpillar
By Ross Burach

A book perfect for any kid that struggles with being patient.

Description
Hey! What are you guys doing? 

We’re going to metamorphosize. 

Meta-WHAT-now? 

Transform into butterflies. 

Right. Right. I knew that… 

WAIT?! You’re telling me I can become a BUTTERFLY? 

Yes. 

With wings? 

Yes. 

Wait for ME!! 

Ross Burach’s hilarious, tongue-in-cheek exploration of metamorphosis will make you flutter with glee, while also providing real facts about how caterpillars transform into butterflies.

The Very Busy Spider
By Eric Carle

This is another classic by Eric Carle that Rosebud loves. I love that the illustrations are tactile as well.

Description

Early one morning a little spider spins her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to distract her, yet the busy little spider keeps diligently at her work. When she is done, she is able to show everyone that not only is her creation quite beautiful, it is also quite useful!

This multi-sensory book allows children to feel the pictures as well as see them. And with its rhythmic text, The Very Busy Spider becomes an experience to touch, to see, and to hear.

Child with a bug in a jar

How the Ladybug got her Spots
By Caren D Green

I had never seen this book before doing research for this post. This looks like a cute story with a message that all kids should hear. We are all different and that is a good thing.
Description

Once, in the leafy, green plants lived a small red and black bug that did not feel as special as all of her garden friends, and so she set out to find something to set her apart. Follow her through this charmingly illustrated, adorable tale that teaches how even the tiniest among us can be special.

Backyard Books: Are You a Dragonfly?
By Judy Allen

Here’s another nonfiction book. This one is about dragonflies.

Description
The most colorful wings on the pond belong to the nimble dragonfly, but this delicate flying insect didn’t begin life in the air. In Backyard Books: Are You a Dragonfly? by Judy Allen with illustrations by Tudor Humphries, the secrets of metamorphosis are unfurled through the story of a familiar backyard creature.

Girl holding butterfly

Ten Magic Butterflies
By Danica McKellar

This is a cool book that Rosebud and I read recently. It has magic, counting and the message that is a good thing to be yourself.

Description
Fairies, butterflies, and magic help to make this math-focused picture book from Danica McKellar, the New York Times best selling author of Goodnight, Numbers and star of The Wonder Years, positively enchanting! 

Join ten flower friends for a night of excitement that mixes a little math with a lot of magic. As each flower turns into a butterfly, children will discover different ways to group numbers to create ten, an essential building block of math, all while watching each flower’s dream come true. (And keep an eye out for the adorable caterpillar who wishes he could fly, too!)

Alpha Bugs: A Pop-up Alphabet (David Carter’s Bugs)
By David A. Carter

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll have seen a post or two about interactive books. I couldn’t finish this post without including some. Here’s a pop-up book that includes bugs and the alphabet, so it’s perfect for a bug theme.

Description
From boogie-woogie Bubble Bugs

to upside-down Umbrella Bugs,

this fun-filled pop, pull, and peek book

makes learning the alphabet

exactly eight egg bugs excellent.

Review

Publishers Weekly “Where will they strike next? A jar of olives, a waffle iron, a rock — each conceals a daffy insect… They are wittily transformed into members of an odd but comical alphabet species… Amusing alliteration and a zany sense of humor deliver fun with every letter.

Be and Me book

Bee & Me
By Elle J. McGuinness

This book not only has a story, but it has a short fact list about bees as well. The coolest thing about this book is the motion. Each page has something that moves. While some of the information in this book is over Rosebud’s head, she loves the colorful illustrations and the way the bee moves.

Description
The New York Times bestselling Bee & Me, in a new mini-Animotion format. 

Just like the New York Times bestselling Bee and Me, the mini abridged Bee and Me is filled with all of the action of AniMotion windows, and the same great story and pictures that have won the hearts of legions of kids and parents all across the country. The heart of the book is a sweet tale teaching kids the important roll bees play in nature. This new smaller format is ideal for younger children and smaller hands. 
“A beautiful, heart-warming book that helps children (and adults

Understand how essential bees are to the planet.

Bee & Me
By Alison Jay

You read that right. I’ve included two Bee & Me books. This one is a picture book and it is totally different from the first one. Not only does it show friendship, but it also shows the importance of saving bees.

Description
A beautiful wordless picture book brings a personal note to the plight of the honeybee and offers a message of hope.
A little girl befriends a bee that takes her on a journey of discovery, revealing an action that every child can take to aid in conservation. In a wordless story told through enchanting illustrations, Bee & Me tells a tale of friendship and offers an introduction to the ecology of the natural world. Alison Jay’s original artwork brings the story gently to life, pointing out the sadness of a world without bees. An afterword makes clear to readers the important role these endangered insects play.

Bee reading book sitting on a flower

The Very Greedy Bee
By Steve Smallman

A book that teaches us not to be greedy.

Description

A greedy bee learns a lesson when he “slurps and burps” too much nectar, falls asleep in a meadow, and needs help from other insects to find his way home after dark.

12 Bugs for Preschoolers pin

The Very Quiet Cricket
By Eric Carle

I’m wrapping up this post with another classic by Eric Carle. This book also has an interactive feature, the chirping cricket at the end. Even without the chirping cricket, it’s a great story.

Description

One day a tiny cricket is born and meets a big cricket who chirps his welcome. The tiny cricket tries to respond, but there is no sound. The quiet cricket then makes his way into the world, meeting one insect after another, each of whom greets the little cricket with a cheery hello–the hum of a bee, the whirr of a dragonfly, the whisper of a praying mantis. The cricket rubs his wings together each time, but nothing happens, not a sound. Until the day he meets another cricket, a female, and something different happens . . .

As children turn the page on this wonderful moment, they are greeted with a surprise–an actual chirp!

An open book with butterflies
Are there any cool bug books that should be on this list? Tell me in the comments!

I’ll leave you with some more bug related items to explore.

Check out this list of 16 creative ways to make bug crafts with kids and these bug theme snacks.

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Parenting, Personal Development

Affordable Self-care for Moms

Today, I have a wonderful guest post for you by Andee Schmidt who is working on her new blog. When it is up and running, I will add the link to this post. I often talk about personal development and the importance of self-care for moms, so I was happy when Andee approached me to share this post on affordable self-care for mothers. Thank you, Andee for writing this post and sharing with my readers. If you’re on a budget and are in need of some affordable self-care ideas, you’ll definitely want to check out Andee’s self-care suggestions.

Affordable Self-care for moms pin

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard the term self-care being floated about. Many times this idea conjures up a “treat yourself” mentality of shopping splurges and face masks, but that’s not always the case. Self-care can be accessible.

But, as mothers, it might feel like there’s barely any time –or money– to focus on you. Read on in this list of affordable self-care ideas to find out how mothers can prioritize themselves, because health shouldn’t be a luxury.

Woman sitting on a bath tub with rose petals.

Self-Care for Mothers

Moms have the toughest job in the world. You’re probably feeling overworked and overtired, and that’s precisely why it’s important that you take care of both your mental and physical wellbeing.

Ultimately, self-care is the practice of taking action to improve your own health. Honoring your body, mind, and spirit will help you activate the best version of yourself you can be by improving your physical, mental and/or emotional health.

Although it probably sounds impossible to prioritize an hour for just you, treating yourself to time alone has been proven to improve overall wellbeing. In fact, according to VeryWellMind, it can even make you a better caregiver, because it reduces the feeling of burn out.

Free and Affordable Options

Woman painting at easel

Flex your creativity

You don’t need to be artistic to benefit from an artistic hobby. In fact, the pleasure from art usually comes from the process of creation, not necessarily the final outcome. Whether it’s painting, knitting, drawing or sculpting, budgeting some time per week for a creative hobby can have very positive results. Finding your groove with something artsy is a great way to get into a flow state and let your mind relax.

Remember, coloring books aren’t only for children anymore, but you can always have your kids join the fun and color together!

Woman meditating on beach

Relax your mind

Meditation can be intimidating. I don’t know how to do it well or I get distracted are common concerns of those new to the practice. But, here’s the thing, meditating is just about listening to your thoughts and being present in the moment. You can even meditate while taking a shower or while winding down for bed.

Like anything else, meditation takes practice; but here’s a list of good –and free– applications that can get you started: The Mindfulness App, Headspace and Calm.

Become a yogi

You don’t need a large budget for yoga: as long as you have comfortable clothing and a nice quiet space for your practice, you’ll be good to go.

There’s no need to stress about flexibility, stamina or fitness levels. Yoga is more about the mind than the body: learn to be present and mindful of what your body is capable of without worrying too much about perfection. Plus, there are even positions that allow you to lay flat on the floor–mini nap anyone?

Check out some online tutorials or cheap or discounted beginner classes that you can use to get started.

Woman reading a book at a cafe

Curl up with a book

Oftentimes, reading is something that falls to the backburner when you have so many other things to worry about. However, reading can be excellent for self-care. Reading is a relaxing activity that helps you take a break from the stress of everyday. Plus, with the boom of audio books you can even read while taking care of your other tasks.

If you’re interested in learning more about self-care, you might want to start by reading some of the books on this list, or these, if you want to read about motherhood.

Woman walking in the park with stroller

Take a walk

The good thing about walking? It’s free. And you can do it basically anywhere. Pop in your headphones, or put the kids in a stroller and just walk.

As long as you take the time to think about yourself and take care of your mind, you’ll be practicing some form of self-care. Plus, studies have shown that spending time outdoors can reduce mental fatigue, stress and elevate your mood.
Self-care for moms on a budget pin

Finding Time for Self-Care

Now this is all peachy… but, many of you might be thinking: how do I get enough time alone to do that?! Prioritizing yourself can be tough when you feel that every second is going to taking care of others. It’s certainly not easy, but here’s a list of quick tips you can use to find the time alone you need:

Occupy the kids

Use the time when your kids are busy as time to squeeze in your self-care. Play dates, nap time and after-school activities are great ways to both entertain your kids and get some free time for yourself.

Put it on your calendar

If you make alone time sporadic, it will feel abnormal for your family. But if you do it weekly and let your kids and partner know this is “mom’s time”, it will become part of their routine and yours!

Ask for help

The truth is, getting alone time while being a mother is nearly impossible, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Make a plan with your partner or anyone in you support system so you can ensure you are getting what you need. Lean on the people in your life. Also, if you are able, there’s nothing wrong with hiring a babysitter to get a few hours to yourself.

Many of these activities can also be done with the whole family: take your kids out for a walk, to the movies, or the park and you will soon find yourself with time on your hands to think. But if you are able to get some precious alone time, don’t feel guilty for enjoying it. Remember, moms need to be taken care of too!

About the author:

Andee Schmidt

Andee is a recent college graduate from Arizona State University with a love of writing, the outdoors, and funky cafes. You can usually find her hiking or planning her next trip. She is passionate about traveling, frugal living, her family, and the perfect cup of coffee. She is the writer behind the blog : xx . Find her on Instagram as @andee_schmidt or Twitter @andeeschmidt.
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Awareness, Blogging

How I’ve Made Pinterest Work for Me

Last year, I wrote a post about all the reasons I didn’t use Pinterest. As I said in that post, I wanted to use it. I knew that Pinterest drives traffic to blogs. I knew that there were Pinterest users that would be interested in the topics that I write about. Topics related to motherhood and activities for kids are huge on Pinterest. Unfortunately, for me, there were a lot of barriers. When I tried to use Pinterest, I became very discouraged and didn’t know if I’d ever be able to use it properly. If you’ve been reading my blog at all this year, you’ll have noticed the pins on the newer posts and I’ve gone back and updated some older posts as well. I’m happy to say that I am now able to use Pinterest, but it took lots of learning and researching, trial and error and waiting for features to become accessible. Now I will explain how I’ve made Pinterest work for me as a visually impaired blogger. Plus, I’ll give you some Pinterest tips for beginners.

How I’ve Made Pinterest Work For Me Pin

Pinterest Strategies

One of the things that put me off about Pinterest was that I had no idea how to use it. At first, I was just pinning my blog posts and other things at random. I wasn’t sure how many boards to have, how to organize them, when to schedule pins, how often to repin the same items etc. There is a lot that goes into pinning and promoting your posts. That’s why this free Pinterest Course for New Bloggers is so valuable. This is a free E-mail course that gives you step by step instructions on how to set up your Pinterest profile, set up your boards, find appropriate keywords for Pinterest SEO, create pins that convert and more. It’s free, so it’s definitely worth checking out and it’s a great starting point. Especially if you are new to Pinterest! One lesson from the course focuses on Pinterest group boards which are important for your blog content reaching a wider audience. If you’re not sure how to find or collaborate on Pinterest group boards, Marina from Tinylovebug has you covered. Check out her post, Everything You Need to Know About Pinterest Group Boards.

Web accessibility key

Equal Access on Pinterest

While I was researching and learning about Pinterest strategies, I was waiting for Pinterest to become accessible. If you’ve read some of my previous blog posts, you might know that I’m visually impaired. I use a screen reader to access everything on the web and sometimes, websites or apps are broken. Meaning, they do not function well or at all with a screen reader. I happen to use Voiceover which is built into all Apple products, but there are other Windows based screen readers as well. Some common accessibility problems with websites or apps may be that buttons or links are not labeled, buttons or links are not clickable or in some cases, websites or apps may be completely image based which means the screen reader cannot read the text or any of the features that may be clickable. Even though a link may be labeled visually for you with some text or an image, the screen reader may just say the word link or it may be a string of letters and numbers that don’t tell us what the link leads to. There are lots of accessibility bugs that we may face on a daily basis which I won’t get into here, but unfortunately, Pinterest has many.

Coffee cup and a tablet with Pinterest on screen

Last year, Pinterest was almost completely inaccessible to me. I was able to create an account, but that was about it. I couldn’t read pin descriptions, the blog posts after clicking through a pin, the notifications tab, anything in the following tab and so much more. There was a huge laundry list of features I couldn’t access. When I asked other visually impaired bloggers about this problem, they just told me not to bother with Pinterest since it is so visual anyway, but that answer wasn’t good enough for me. Pinterest is the largest source of traffic for blogs these days. Why shouldn’t I be able to participate in that? It frustrated me, but I waited. Every now and then, I’d try again. One day, it worked!

I found that I was able to upload my pins, read the pin descriptions and blog posts of others, save and send pins, collaborate on group boards and access most of the profile settings. In the beginning, I could barely do any of that, but Pinterest still has a ways to go. There are still a lot of bugs. I can’t read my messages, so what I do is take a screen shot and then export that photo to an app that can read text from photos. I still can’t read anything in the notifications tab unless I’m in Safari. When I add hashtags, a menu pops up with other hashtags that I can’t read. I can’t read or respond to comments on my pins. The scheduling feature on the Pinterest app is completely inaccessible with Voiceover. Today, I discovered that I could finally read most of the items in the following tab. If a pin doesn’t have a text title, I can’t read it. In order for me to read an image, I have to zoom in and make it bigger and even then in a lot of cases I have difficulty. I’m happy that Pinterest is becoming more accessible over time, but I worry that coding will be updated and those features will be broken again. Is the frustration worth it? Right now, I’m thinking yes because it has brought more traffic to my blog, but time will tell.

Woman with computer and mobile phone

Trial and Error

Speaking of frustrations, there are the graphics. That’s another interesting part of this blogging journey for me. I have done lots of trial and error to figure out a way to create pins. I know Pinterest is about eye catching images that draw the reader in. You have to think about the colors, the layout, the font etc. This is not easy for me since I have trouble telling most colors apart and see better with a sharp contrast. I don’t know much about fonts, so I stick to the basics.

The first thing I do is search the stock photo sites for relevant photos. If I find a large enough vertical image that either has copy space or a workable place for text, I export that photo to the Phonto app. It’s a simple image editor. I’ll mention that it’s really not that accessible, but it was simple enough to figure out. My only complaint is that I wish the text color options were labeled. After messing with the text, background colors, fonts and sizes, the image is ready for pinning. Let’s go back to square one for a minute. If I don’t find a large enough vertical image that is related to my blog post, I use an app called MA Long Image. This way, I can make a photo collage with two or more images. After I have my photo collage, I upload that to Phonto and repeat the process. Most people use Canva to create their pins, but I tried Canva and it doesn’t work for me. Most of its features are not labeled or accessible. I’m just glad to have found something that works even though it may be limited.

I’m not writing this post to complain, but I want to raise awareness of accessibility issues. I’m also the kind of person who pushes the boundaries of what can be done. People might ask why I care about Pinterest since it is so visual. As I previously mentioned, Pinterest is a great source of blog traffic, but it’s also a search engine. Many of my coworkers use Pinterest for lesson planning. The activities you can find for kids is endless. Why shouldn’t I have access to that information? While Pinterest is meant to be a very visual platform, most of the links lead to blog posts with text, so there is no reason why that shouldn’t be accessible. Pinterest is more than pretty images. It’s a great marketing tool, not only for promoting blogs, but for selling goods and services as well. I also want my readers to understand how I create my content and the work that goes into it.

How I’ve Made Pinterest Work for Me pin

Pinterest Tips

I’ll leave you with a few quick Pinterest tips I’ve learned so far.

  • 1. Create at least two or three pinnable graphics for each blog post. This way you can pin the same post to a board more than once, but be sure not to schedule those pins too close together.
  • 2. Speaking of scheduling, find a way to keep track of your pinning schedule. Many people use Tailwind, but that is even less accessible than Pinterest, so I don’t use it. Some people use an Excel spread sheet or word document. This way they can follow which pins were posted to which boards. This will avoid multiple pinning too close together. You don’t want to look spammy.
  • 3. If you can, try to get premium stock images for pins if you can’t take your own. This can effect how well your pin does on Pinterest. If many people are using the same free images, Pinterest picks up on that. If those same free images are used for different pins in totally different categories, it can cause those pins not to perform as well. I happened to see this tip last week.
  • 4. Use Pinterest SEO. Search for keywords before creating your pin description and hashtags. Find out what’s popular related to the topic you are posting about.
  • 5. Don’t be afraid to try different things to see what your audience responds to. Whether it be a different pin layout, color scheme, different types of headlines etc. It may take a while for a pin to get traction, so don’t be discouraged if your pin isn’t a hit in the beginning.
  • 6. Don’t forget to spread the love and pin plenty of other content from other bloggers. It will help you connect and reach a larger audience.
  • Do you want to learn more about how Pinterest works? Check out this list of 9 Pinterest myths.

As always, thank you for reading. Do you have any great Pinterest tips? Feel free to share them in the comments.

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