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What’s Your Go To Breakfast On a Busy Morning?
Happy Friday everyone! Welcome to a new week’s Moms Checks In post! New to Moms Checks In? It’s where different moms come together to talk about a weekly topic. It’s awesome for us to find out what other moms are doing and learn from each other! This week’s topic is all about breakfast.
What is your go to breakfast on a busy morning?
I make sure Sam has a good breakfast but on a busy weekday morning I grab an English muffin—with jam and peanut butter—a banana and a green tea, which I eat in the car. I eat in the car waaay too often as you could tell if you could see the crumbs under the seat.
– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!
Well, when I think of it the night before I make a batch of baked oatmeal. It’s SO good and the combinations are really endless. But most of the time, let’s be honest. I don’t think ahead (often). We are big cereal and banana fans. I’m trying to be good and eat before we leave for school because last year we got in a bad habit of going through the Starbucks drive through on the way to school, a lot. I will say, they have yummy breakfast sandwiches! 🙂
– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!
My daughter loves cereal and will eat Mini Wheats with blueberries every day which is quick and easy and works for me! My son likes frozen waffles and French toast sticks with peanut butter on them and fruit, usually blueberries or raspberries. I try to fill them up on a school day and get some protein and fruit in them. Now, on the weekends? My husband cooks and makes blueberry pancakes (can you tell we like blueberries yet?) on Saturday and scrambled eggs on Sunday. Those are my favorite days, of course!
– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!
Kay, so I’d love to say something really awesome like homemade biscuits and gravy – but uhhhhh no. My go-to breakfast on a busy weekday morning is coffee. Occasionally I’ll squeeze in a granola bar and I intentionally buy the ones with protein so I get that little bit in the mornings. Now, on the weekend – it’s all kinds of breakfast up in our house! My husband can THROW down in the kitchen!
– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!
Your turn! What is your go to breakfast on a busy morning?
Moms Check In – Football Season
It’s another Friday! Woo hoo! Which means the weekend is about to begin AND it’s another Moms Check In! Last night was the first game of football season. So we have a question for you.
So what about you? When football season begins are you more excited about the game…or the food? Be sure to follow us on Twitter! We will be tweeting your replies and some fun football themed ideas all week! (Follow us here!)
“Yeah, football is FUN but I’m totally in it for the food. I don’t watch football but I use football season as an excuse to eat all the awesome gameday foods that you see floating all over Pinterest! Go Colts!!”
– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!
My favorite part of football season is the beautiful autumn weather but that wasn’t one of the choices! Between the game and the food, definitely the food. I love appetizers and lots of ‘em! I really enjoy sampling a variety of tastes. Bite-sized appetizers satisfy without filling you up too much…unless you keep sampling! I have fun creating them too. (You can find tons of football food and party ideas here!)
– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!
Bring on football! While I love the dips, BBQ and snacks it brings out – I actually love the game! On game day you can find me decked out in team colors and saying things like “ohhh come on!” or “Even I could have caught that!” (which is a lie….) or my favorite, “TOUCH DOWN!”
– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!
The food! I’m not much of a football fan to be honest, but I’ll watch with the family just because it’s something we do together to wrap up the weekend. Usually you can find a big pot of chili cooking in the crockpot and some veggies and dip on the kitchen table at our house. And I may or may not use football as an excuse to pretend I’m watching TV while dozing on the couch. Shhh….
– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!
What about you? Are you in it for the game or the food?
Moms Check In – What Book Is Your Child LOVING Right Now?
Thanks everyone who joined our Twitter Party yesterday! It was so much fun! New to Moms Check In? Each week we have a different topic and all ‘check in’ with what we think. We love to hear what you have to say too! It’s a great way to get to know each other and learn from other Moms across the country! Make sure to include #MomsCheckIn with your answers and we will tweet them all week long! (Follow Moms Check In on Twitter here!)
“My kids are obsessed with Star Wars. OBSESSED. That’s all they want to read right now and my daughter actually brought home three school library books this week, all Star Wars. She has a birthday coming up this week and I ordered her the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia, guaranteed to be both of my kids’ new favorite book in the coming days. If you need to know anything about any Star Wars or Clone Wars character, you know where to find me. I’ll get your question to the little experts that live in my house and get back to you. ;)”
– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!
“We have done a lot of reading this summer together – it’s been delightful. Sam’s current favorite books are from the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. The incredible pictures are sure to induce giggles every time we read. The books are also perfect for Sam to start reading along too. It’s awesome to see him recognizing words and helping me with the story. I’m looking to many more story times together this fall!”
– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!
“I am so happy I have a reader. Joshua is actually a speed reader so we go through tons of books at our house! His teacher set a goal for each child to read 40 books this year at school and a week and a half into school and he’s done. He is in middle school this year and although he reads a lot on his own, I still try to read out loud to him at bedtime. Sometimes he will complain that it’s ‘baby-ish’, but he really does love it! We recently finished Treasure Hunters by James Patterson and it was really good! (And they just came out with a squeal! HOORAY!) He also loved the Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder Trilogy. Because what boy doesn’t love titles like that?
– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!
“Our son has always loved books, but he’s just now beginning to show an interest in reading. Before, it was always about the pictures. He loves any “character” books like Thomas the Tank Engine, Toy Story, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Frozen, you get the picture! Right now he’s reading a Clifford book he got from school.”
– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!
Tell us! What book is your child loving right now?
Best Potty Training Books
This week we have been talking about potty training for Moms Check In. I remember potty training! And I will admit, I am glad it is over! 🙂 But if you are just getting started or getting ready to start I wanted to help you out! Here are some well loved potty training books for kids to help get them excited and ready to use the big boy/girl potty!
They potty train is coming! All aboard! Time to say goodbye to diapers and take the journey to Underpants Station. Are you ready? Let’s chug away on the potty train!
This Potty Caddy is a set that every potty trainee needs! It contains a book, toddler size ‘magazines’, motivation stickers and more! It answers questions kids want to know with answers that they understand! Plus, it’s a great value!
Look! Up in the bathroom! It’s a boy! It’s a potty! It’s a little super hero who needs to be potty trained! The sturdy flaps, tabs and wheels in this unique, interactive potty book will help boys ages 2-4 learn everything there is to know about potty training—with heroic style!
Super Pooper Book – Potty Training for Kids
The colorful illustrations and cute characters will bring fun and laughter to a sometimes frustrating and challenging world of potty training! This book is certain to become a favorite choice of potty training your little one.
Every princess needs her throne and this 8×8 with a perfed tiara with reward stickers is perfect for the little princess learning to use the potty for the first time!
Potty (Leslie Patricelli board books)
There comes a point in a toddler’s life when going in one’s diaper is only one possible option, and the question must be raised: Should I go in my potty? With pitch-perfect humor and pacing, Leslie Patricelli follows the inner dialogue (sure to have little ones shouting responses) and hilarious actions of everyone’s favorite Baby, winding up with an over-the-top look of surprise and delight that will have both parents and offspring laughing out loud. “I did it!”
Every pirate needs his captain’s chair and this 8×8 with a perfed captain’s hat and reward stickers is perfect for the little pirate learning to use the potty for the first time!
Once Upon a Potty — Girl
Once Upon a Potty — Boy
In 1975, Alona Frankel wrote and illustrated her first book, especially for her son Michael, on how to use the potty. Thirty-two years later, Once Upon a Potty — Boy and Once Upon a Potty — Girl are the classic books on potty training and have sold more than four million copies worldwide. These children’s books help parents everywhere deal successfully with an often vexing challenge for the whole family.
Once Upon A Potty Plush Doll Set With Mini-Potty
Soft, cute doll sets coming directly from the classic, bestselling “Once Upon a Potty” books and videos. Your child will instantly recognize Joshua for his sweet face, curly hair, and other “nice and useful parts”. This doll provides great play value, before, during and long after toilet learning. Each doll comes complete with its own mini plastic potty, with a “Once Upon a Potty” label. Alongside Child Matters’ full size potty or while reading the book, this set makes potty learning fun, relaxed, and easy. Doll set is available in both BOY and GIRL versions.
Even Firefighters Go to the Potty: A Potty Training Lift-the-Flap Story
Clang! Clang! Clang! The fire truck is pulling out of the station. But wait! Where is the firefighter going? To the potty! Even firefighters go to the potty!
Dinosaur doesn’t need to use the potty. Even when he’s making lemonade, running through the sprinkler, having a three juice box lunch, and splashing in rain puddles. See? He’s doing his victory dance. Wait . . . that’s not a victory dance, that looks like a POTTY DANCE! Run, Dinosaur, run!
Big Girl Panties! features a light, positive approach to motivate toddlers to become toilet trained. What could be more rewarding for a little girl than wearing big girl panties, just like mommy? Adult caregivers and toddlers alike will love the snappy, rhyming text and colorful, hip illustrations.
Moms Check In – Best Potty Training Tips & Twitter Party!
It’s Friday again, which means it’s time for another Moms Check In! This week we are talking potty training! Potty training is exciting not only because it means that there is no more changing diapers (or buying diapers for that matter!) but also because it’s such a huge milestone. But potty training can be hard and challenging too. Here are some tips from our Moms Check In panel! Be sure to let us know your best tip! And next Thursday we will be hosting a Moms Check In Twitter party from 1-2 PM (Eastern)! Make sure to sign up below to RSVP below! It will be tons of fun plus we are giving away lots of Walmart gift cards!
Waiting to potty train when your kiddo is showing signs that they’re ready is key! When they’re waking up dry, that’s a first good indication that they might be ready. Buy some super cute big girl or big boy underwear, maybe even with some of their favorite characters on them. Stickers….kids love stickers! Keep a sticker chart in the bathroom and give them a sticker for each time that they go potty!! One more thing….pretend that their favorite doll or action figure is going potty too. Cheer on the doll/action figure, and give THEM a sticker as well. The kids might be like, “Hey! I want you to cheer for me and give ME a sticker too!”.
– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!
Consistency! Potty training was most challenging for me just because of the effort it required to stick with it. But when you’re really ready and your child is too, get them on the pot every hour or so to at least try to go. Set a timer if that helps you remember. Mine both learned faster when we stayed home for a few days and made it a point to get on the potty to try to go every hour throughout the day. And be patient. They always learn eventually!
– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!
My best potty training tip is strike a balance: don’t press toddlers too hard and once you start training, just keep charging through and it WILL get better! A helpful tip for boys that I received from an experiences mom is to put a square of toilet paper in the toilet: tell them to sink the ship!
– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!
I’ll be honest potty training was a nightmare for us. My son wanted NOTHING to do with it. I remember going to the store saying “This is the last time I’m buying diapers. You will have to go on the potty.” And of course I was back buying more the next week. My son was 3 1/2 before he was potty trained! BUT one morning he woke up and said he wanted to wear big boy underwear to school. I was so excited. We had tried wearing underwear before (both by themselves and over his diaper) but he had never initiated it! He went all day without an accident!!! And then, slept through the night. No accidents. And then all week without an accident! I’m sure he could have done it earlier, but he wasn’t ready. So, my advice is to talk about it (a lot!) and take cues from your child when they are ready!
– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!
Let them watch you go potty. “Ew!” I know, right? But here’s how it worked for us: When my oldest was potty training, we rewarded with M&M’s. One day while we were both in the kids’ bathroom, I said I wanted to go potty. I did, without asking her to leave the room, and I rewarded myself with M&M’s. Wouldn’t you know, she decides SHE wants to go potty, and had success! And M&M’s.
– Ann-Marie launched Chaos Is Bliss in 2010 to share money-saving deals, family-favorite recipes, and family fun. She is the mom of 3 awesome kids! You can find her on Twitter here!
WAIT! We aren’t done! Next Thursday, August 28th from 1-2 PM Eastern we will be having a Twitter Party talking all about potty training! Make sure you RSVP below to let us know you are coming! It will be lots of fun and Kandoo will be giving away tons of prizes including four $25 Walmart gift cards and one $100 Walmart gift card! YOU MUST RSVP AND BE AT THE PARTY TO WIN!
Make sure to follow all of your hosts so you don’t miss anything! Also, be sure to use #KandooKids during the party!
Moms Check In
Kandoo
Sweet Pennies From Heaven (Jenni)
See Mom Click (Lindsay)
Spaceships And Laser Beams (Stephanie)
It’s a Fabulous Life (Amanda)
Chaos Is Bliss (Ann-Marie)
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Kandoo has a full line of products for children to help get clean! Products include flushable wipes, soaps, body wash, shampoo, detangler, bubble bath and hand sanitizer! Easy to use and with fun mascots and scents, Kandoo products are perfect for all kiddos! But not only do they have amazing products, but their website is FULL of great information! Their most recent addition to their site is a great (and FREE!) downloadable potty training tool kit! It includes a potty training guide with a fun story where kids can learn how Didit becomes a Potty Hero. There is also a bathroom time chart, door hanger and certificate. It’s full of great tips and information for parents too! You can download it for free here!
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Thursday, August 28 from 1-2 PM (Eastern) for the #KandooKids Twitter Party! See you there!
This post is sponsored by Kandoo. All thoughts are mine and participating bloggers.
Moms Check In – Best Tips For an Organized School Year
Back to school time is here. Everywhere you turn it seems to be binders, pencils and backpacks. We want to know, what is your best tip for an organized school year. Do you have a super way to make those crazy mornings go off without a hitch? Or maybe you’ve mastered the art of sifting through and organizing all of those papers that come home. Whatever your expertise – we want to know!
Here are some of our top back to school tips!
Since Sam is just going into kindergarten, I’m a novice at this back-to-school regimen so all I can tell you is what I’ve thought about. In the last couple of weeks we’ve been inching toward what his new schedule will be. That means Sam’s getting to bed a little earlier so he’s ready to get up earlier, too. The other thing I plan to do is make sure lunch is packed and clothes are chosen at the end of each day instead of having to hustle in the mornings.
– Stephanie
Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Facebook here!
Gosh is it time to go back to school already? Can’t we just start summer over? We are not morning people. Ok, I am not a morning person. On the weekends, I make extra breakfast and we freeze the leftovers. Pancakes are perfect for popping into the toaster! After our Saturday grocery trip we separate the snacks into individual serving size baggies. We also make a LOT of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to put in the freezer. Come on Monday when we need to make Josh’s lunch we just have to grab a sandwich from the freezer and a few prepped snacks and we are good to go! It only takes about 30 seconds and we are off!
– Amanda
Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Facebook here!
“My top tip is to get done what you can the night before to prepare for the next day. The morning rush is no fun when you’re trying to hustle kids out the door. So we’ll lay out clothes, make sure backpacks are packed, and decide what we’re packing for lunch before we go to bed. My other big tip? Get labels with your kids’ names on everything. Losing a lunch bag or backpack can be a painful (and expensive) loss. I speak from experience!”
– Lindsay
Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Facebook here!
The first thing to get us back into the swing of things is to get back in our routine of going to bed early. Just so I’m not running ragged in the mornings, I always lay his clothes out and make sure his backpack is ready to go too. Bath-time the night before also, that always saves a ton of time!
– Jenni
Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Facebook here!
So now it’s your turn! Tell us! What is your best tip for an organized school year? Make sure to follow all of the moms on social media and Moms Check In on Twitter! We will be tweeting your responses all week!
Moms Check In – Mom Confessions
Friday is quickly becoming my favorite day because I get to post another Moms Check In post! It’s been so much fun getting to know everyone and learning about their households! This week’s topic is all about Mom Confessions. What do you have to confess? Want to know what we confessed to? Keep reading! But first, who is doing the confessing?
Amanda is the mom of one boy and owns It’s a Fabulous Life, which is a one stop place for all things ‘Mom’. You can find recipes, DIY projects, frugal living, parenting and more. (Follow her on Facebook here!)
Jenni is the mom of one boy and writes at Sweet Pennies From Haven. Sweet Pennies From Heaven is a hearth and home website that focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. (Follow her on Facebook here!)
Lindsay is the mom of two great kids and owner of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. (Follow her on Facebook here!)
Stephanie is the mom of one son and owns Spaceships and Laser Beams. Spaceships and Laser Beams is a great site full of party ideas, crafts and more all with boys in mind! (Follow her on Facebook here!)
This week our guest host is Mary from Mission: To Save. Mission: To Save is full of coupons, deals and freebies! Not to mention fun DIY projects and recipes! (Follow her on Facebook here!)
You will want to make sure to check out all of our moms on Facebook!
And don’t forget to follow along with Moms Check In on Twitter! We will be tweeting your responses all week!
Alright. Let’s confess. This is a no judgement zone right? My child is SO picky. We are talking the only fruit he will eat is a banana and he has MAYBE tried 3 or 4 veggies in his life. He will eat ‘leaves’ (salad) with a gallon of Ranch on them, but that’s it. He’s never even had corn or potatoes! So my confession is…I let my child eat PB&J. For breakfast. Lunch. And dinner. Obviously not every night, but there have for sure been a few times where he eats it for multiple meals in a day. I swear, we go through more peanut butter in a week at our house than most people go through in a year.
And before you send me angry emails, I do make him take vitamins and drink shakes to get some vitamins and minerals that he is otherwise lacking… 🙂 Tips for picky eaters? Bring them on!!
Oh geez. Secret is out I guess. Bedtime is my weakness. We stay up late sometimes and so we let my son stay up too. It’s been worse over the summer, but now that school is getting back in session I need to work on getting back on a schedule. It also doesn’t help that it doesn’t get dark until a little after 9:00 PM!
Why are you making me confess this? I sometimes hide my favorite food from the kids. I love having a little treat after they go to bed and know that if they see my goodies (like a jar of Cookie Butter – I have issues with it) then they’ll help themselves. I can’t have that. So I hide it! Now never tell my kids or I’ll be forced to find new hiding spots.
I’m more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person. I like being spontaneous. I think some of my creativity bubbles up out of that part of my personality. However, as a mom I recognize that kids need to have at least some structure and order. Sometimes I think I need to get more organized so things move along smoothly…but I’m also pretty laid back in temperament so the entire life organization thing eludes me. And I mostly don’t care!
I must confess…My house is usually a mess. Sure I can make it look good for company or when we are leaving for vacation (because who wants to come home to laundry and a dirty floor), but on any given day- my house looks very “lived in”. I tend to be a bit of a pack-rat (NOT a hoarder!) so I often have piles of things here and there. I like to call it organized chaos. Sure I would “like” to be more organized (that’s why I have a whole Pinterest Board devoted to it) but right now, it’s not the priority. For now, hanging with my fam, creating good food to sit down together to eat and building my business/blog mean more to me than the dust on that shelf.
What about you? What is your Mom confession? Let us know and be entered to win an Amazon gift card!
Moms Check In – Favorite Summer Memory
I have been LOVING our Moms Check In series! I fel like I have gotten to know so many of you! 🙂 I think it’s awesome when moms get together to talk! So with that said, welcome to week 4 of Moms Check In!
So who are our Moms?
Amanda is the mom of one boy and owns It’s a Fabulous Life, which is a one stop place for all things ‘Mom’. You can find recipes, DIY projects, frugal living, parenting and more. (Follow her on Facebook here!)
Jenni is the mom of one boy and writes at Sweet Pennies From Haven. Sweet Pennies From Heaven is a hearth and home website that focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. (Follow her on Facebook here!)
Lindsay (@SeeMomClick) is the mom of two great kids and owner of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. (Follow her on Facebook here!)
Stephanie (@spaceshipsLB) is the mom of one son and owns Spaceships and Laser Beams. Spaceships and Laser Beams is a great site full of party ideas, crafts and more all with boys in mind! (Follow her on Facebook here!)
This week our guest co-host is Erin from A Bird and a Bean. Erin is a mom of 2 and on her blog she shares some amazing DIY projects with some yummy recipes and lots of amazing things for the kiddos! (Follow her on Facebook here!)
You will want to make sure to check out all of our moms on Facebook! This week you can join in our Moms Check In conversation for a chance to win some cash! 🙂
And don’t forget to follow along with Moms Check In on Twitter! We will be tweeting your responses all week!
I can’t believe that summer is about over. Kids around here have been back to school starting as early as last week! Yikes! So this week’s topic is your favorite summer memory!
My favorite memory this summer was for the 4th of July. Josh and I went downtown Indianapolis for the day and rode paddle boats on the canal, hung out at the memorials and at the museums. Later that night there was a big festival with bands and lots of pizza. We ended up winning VIP tickets so we got to watch the fireworks from the top of the monument which was the most amazing view. Plus, free unlimited pizza. Josh was a happy kid! The fireworks were awesome and we had so much fun!
My favorite summer memory this year was probably the 4th of July. My little man loves fireworks and we had such a fun time. Spent the entire day swimming, then had a cookout with some family and their kiddos before the show! Other than that, we spend a lot of time in the pool and that’s Eli’s favorite place to be. No vacations this year…boo!! Hoping to get away somewhere this year still though. Maybe something awesome in the fall.
Family vacations are always the highlight of my summer. We’ve gotten to the beach a couple of times and have one more long weekend planned before school starts. Unplugging, building castles with the kids, eating at our favorite beach spots…Ah, that’s the stuff a relaxing summer is made of. I always think a change of scenery does everyone good and family time exploring a new place away from home creates the best memories!
I don’t really have just one favorite memory this summer. Everything has melded into one satisfying season! Since Sam is in school now, this is the first summer he hasn’t been in daycare. We’ve spent a lot of time together and it has been AMAZING! This is also the first time in four years that I’ve taken a (kind of) vacation (the blog never sleeps you know!). I have been intentionally trying to relax and recharge so I’ve been able to enjoy lots of little things with him. Mike, Sam and I have gone on bike rides, mini hikes, and picnics as well as worked on a few fun projects. We’re also spending more time with family this summer. It feels good… and I’m more in love with my guys than ever!
Our summer has been jam packed this year. We’ve had so much fun and embraced every single minute of our time together these last few months. We made an all inclusive bucket list at the beginning and I think we’ve completed almost everything, from catching fireflies and night swimming to horseback riding and river rafting. But if I had to narrow it down to my MOST favorite summer memory so far (because it’s not over yet, baby!) it would for sure be our annual family vacation to Lake Michigan. The whole family goes and stays in one big house, my parents and sibling and cousins. It is chaotic and relaxing and crazy and wonderful. We go to the beach everyday and take little day trips here and there. This year my favorite day trip was visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes. It is absolutely spectacular. If you haven’t gone, you need to put it on your bucket list.
What about you? What was your favorite part of the summer? Make sure to let us know on one of our Facebook pages for a chance to win some cash! 🙂 Good luck!
Have a question you want us to answer? Bloggers, do you want to co-host a week of Moms Check In? Fill out the quick form here and let us know!
Moms Check In – What do You Do For Yourself Each Week?
Wow! We are on week 3 of Moms Check In! Can you believe it? If you are new, Moms Check In is a weekly series where Moms from all over discuss a new topic each week. We have been absolutely loving the conversations so far! It’s been awesome to learn from each other and to find out how other moms handle different situations!
So who are our Moms?
Amanda (@its_a_fab_life) is the mom of one boy and owns It’s a Fabulous Life, which is a one stop place for all things ‘Mom’. You can find recipes, DIY projects, frugal living, parenting and more.
Jenni (@sweetpennies) is the mom of one boy and writes at Sweet Pennies From Haven. Sweet Pennies From Heaven is a hearth and home website that focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home.
Lindsay (@SeeMomClick) is the mom of two great kids and owner of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes.
Stephanie (@spaceshipsLB) is the mom of one son and owns Spaceships and Laser Beams. Spaceships and Laser Beams is a great site full of party ideas, crafts and more all with boys in mind!
This week our guest co-host is Niki from 365 Days of Crafts! 365 Days of Crafts is full of DIY inspiration for yourself and your home!
You will want to make sure to check out all of our moms and follow along with Moms Check In on Twitter! We will be tweeting your responses all week!
This week we want to know, what do you for yourself each week?
Amanda
I think that taking time out for yourself is so important! It helps you to relax and be refreshed! And we all know that we are better wives, friends, and mothers when we are refreshed! 🙂 For me, I love to get out with my friends. I belong to an awesome church and we have lots of incredible small groups. Each week I meet up with two of my groups – one is a Bible study and the other is a group called Girls Night Out. We just get together and talk and hang out. A girl needs her friends! I also love to read. Running and exercise aren’t really my thing, although I’ve been trying really hard to make them more of my thing! Maybe one day, right?
Jenni
Okay, so I’m a big TV person. I stock up on DVR’d shows through the week and spend a part of each and every weekend just binge watching TV. Big Brother is in FULL swing now and I am addicted to Big Brother After Dark too. Then there’s Food Network, The Walking Dead (October can’t get here fast enough), Downton Abbey and so many other great shows! Nothing better than to pile up on the couch on a Saturday with a blanket, my remote and some not so healthy snacks!
Lindsay
I read! I have been known to forego a good night’s sleep in exchange for just one…more…chapter. But it’s my treat at the end of the day to crawl in bed with my Kindle and enjoy a good book. I have always loved to read and my hobby sort of fell by the wayside off and on after having kids. But lately I’ve made it a priority and really enjoy those few minutes before I doze off of solitude. Just me and my latest novel. Bliss!
Stephanie
Although Mike and I do the laundry, dishes, organizing and daily pick-up chores, we hired a cleaning service shortly after we were married. They come once a week to dust everything, do the floors and deep-clean the bathrooms and kitchen. It’s wonderful! There are only so many things I can do in a week — and Mike works crazy hours as well because of his shift work. At first we felt a little guilty about the decision but quickly came to realize how much it added to our overall quality of life. The hours we would have spent doing those chores on a Saturday, we spend together doing something we love.
And just for me, once a month I indulge in a facial. There are very few things I do that are only for me. When I am getting a facial, for one hour, I get to relax with no one asking anything of me. The fact that it’s really been helping my sensitive skin is a bonus.
Niki
As a mother of two (4 & 11) and a work-at-home mom finding alone time can be difficult. To guarantee my down time, we make weekly trips to the library. After the trip we go home and each member of the family has a half an hour of alone time. The 4 year old understands that even though she cannot read a book, she can look at the pictures and play make believe.
What about you? What do you do for yourself each week? Let us know here or on Twitter! Make sure to include #MomsCheckIn with your answer! We will be tweeting your answers all week!
Have a question you want us to answer? Bloggers, do you want to co-host a week of Moms Check In? Fill out the quick form here and let us know!
Moms Check In Week 2 – What do you wish you started earlier with your kids?
Last week we talked about chores and do your children do them. This week we are on to another topic! I absolutely am loving our Moms Check In series! What is Moms Check In? Well, each week we have a new topic and get the opinions of 5 bloggers. It’s a fun way top know how other moms are handling situations and fun to get other mom’s perspectives and ideas! We love to hear about what you think too! We tweet answers all week on Twitter!
So who are our Moms?
Amanda (@its_a_fab_life) is the mom of one boy and owns It’s a Fabulous Life, which is a one stop place for all things ‘Mom’. You can find recipes, DIY projects, frugal living, parenting and more.
Jenni (@sweetpennies) is the mom of one boy and writes at Sweet Pennies From Haven. Sweet Pennies From Heaven is a hearth and home website that focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home.
Lindsay (@SeeMomClick) is the mom of two great kids and owner of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes.
Stephanie (@spaceshipsLB) is the mom of one son and owns Spaceships and Laser Beams. Spaceships and Laser Beams is a great site full of party ideas, crafts and more all with boys in mind!
This week our guest host is Esther (@couponcutting) from Coupon Cutting Mom! She is the Mom of two girls (5 & 8). Coupon Cutting Mom is full of deals, coupons, shopping trips, recipes, family activities and more.
You will want to make sure to check out all of our moms and follow along with Moms Check In on Twitter!
This week’s question was a tough one! What is one thing you wish you started earlier with your kids? Let’s see what the Mom’s said! And don’t forget to let us know what YOU think!
Amanda (@its_a_fab_life)
Gosh that’s a hard one. I wish that I would have started Josh on trying new foods more. He was diagnosed with Autism and the doctor told us that having a sensory disorder can make different textures hard. I was always so scared to push trying new foods on him. But now at almost 11 the foods he eats are very limited (think no veggies and the only fruit he eats is a banana!) We’ve started making him try a bite of something and he can do it! He may not like it, but he can do it. I’m not sure it’s so much a sensory issue or if he’s just used to being able to eat PB&J all the time! 🙂 So we are for sure a work in progress!
Jenni (@sweetpennies)
I really wish I would have started getting him to sleep in his own room earlier. We knew we were creating a monster very early on, but it was so comforting having him sleep near us!! Breaking him of that was insanely difficult, but we finally did it!
Lindsay (@SeeMomClick)
This is a tough one for me. I don’t really think there’s anything my kids are behind on but there are a few things I wish they knew how to do. My almost 9-year old daughter has no interest whatsoever in learning to ride a bike. Seems kind of late for her to learn but she just cares nothing about it so what can I do? I also wish I’d handed them a knife earlier and taught them to cut up their own food. I think I spend more time serving them at mealtime than I do eating my own food! One day I’ll be aching to cut up their potatoes again, right?!
Stephanie (@SpaceshipsLB)
I actually feel pretty good about the choices we’ve made for Sam so far. I mean, you can second-guess on issues but I’m a pretty relaxed mom overall so I don’t obsess about the should-of/could-of. You do your best for who you are at the time and trust that is good enough. If you press me, I guess it might have been good to work on self-discipline earlier. Nothing heavy-duty…more in the realm of more chores, having intentional exercise as part of our daily routine sooner (we are doing that now), perhaps starting him in music lessons. I’m hoping he’ll want to play an instrument. Since Sam is almost five and growing in his abilities to understand and perform, I feel like we are entering a new season so there will naturally be new challenges and greater expectations.
Esther (@CouponCutting)
I wish I would have started a chore chart and teaching my kids how to help with jobs around the house at a younger age. I realize now that small chores are a great way to start teaching a young kid responsibility and basic life skills but back when my kids were much younger I felt it was just easier for me to do the things like cleaning, laundry and other jobs around the house. Now when I ask them to fold their laundry or clean their bedroom I feel like I’m pulling teeth to get them to help. My older daughter is almost 9 years old and she does a fairly good job of helping but my 5 year old has a wonderful ability of constantly trying to getting out of work and also trying to getting her sister to do both of their chores. If you have any great chore charts that have worked for your family I would love to hear about them.
What about you? What do you wish you would have started earlier with your kids? Let us know here or on Twitter! Make sure to include #MomsCheckIn with your answer! We will be tweeting your answers all week!
Next week’s topic is what is one thing you do for yourself?
Big thanks to Esther for being our guest host this week! Want to co-host a week of Moms Check In with us? Fill out the form here!