Tuesday Tips - Strangers

I had a fantastic experience today with BG and it got me thinking I needed to sit down and write a tip to all of you. 

Talk to strangers.*

Crazy, right? Stick with me here. 

I was walking into the grocery store and I noticed an elderly gentleman sitting in his car in the handicapped spot. He had the windows down, an oxygen tube across his nose and was working on a crossword puzzle. As I approached his car I saw that his license plate paid homage to Toledo. I just couldn't help myself.

"Excuse me sir, I don't mean to bother you but are you from Toledo,Ohio?"

Twenty minutes later his "sweetheart" as he referred to her had returned wih their groceries and BG and I had made two new friends. Not only were these perfect strangers from Toledo but they had graduated from the very same high school that MY sweetheart and I graduated from many decades ago. They attended the same church that my hubby was raised in. And they too have a deep fondness for our very favorite pizza spot in Perrysburg. 

Talk to strangers. 

Strike up a conversation with someone walking by who's dress you like. Maybe they got a steal deal on it and you'll be able to score one too! Or maybe you'll just make their day with that compliment. 

Tell another mom at the park how you adore her son or daughters curly hair. Maybe they'll want to meet again for a park play date so you can continue chatting while the kiddos play. 

Exchange pleasantries with an elderly person at the store. They usually havean interesting story or two to tell...and maybe their lives will have crossed paths with yours before!

*this goes without saying but please don't talk to the scary or unnerving strangers that you encounter - if your intuition tells you to be alarmed then listen to it and just keep walking. 

Five on Friday

I wanted to take a moment to relax after a crazy week and what better way to do that than with a quick blog post?

one 

Nate made reservations for Mothers Day brunch uptown. Gorgeous views, delicious food and no dishes make this mama one happy girl!

two

We have THE BEST neighbors, seriously, we do! Our back door neighbors opened their pool and we've been getting in daily despite BGs attempts at wearing his floatie as a hat. (If you have a little swimmer I can't recommend a Puddle Jumper enough. BGs been in one since last summer and is so independent in the pool because of it. I spied them at Costco for under $15 this week if you need one!)

three

BG was so lucky this week to have a couple play "days" with one of his buddies. We were all exhausted after each full day together - so much fun to hear these little stinkers loving on each other...I have a new admiration for mothers of multiples!!!

four

My girlfriend and I were craving more fresh strawberries so off to the farm we went to pick. It was a beautiful day for picking and chatting with some of my favorite Michiganders. 

five

Nina was THE best and brought a piece of her chocolate Nutella cake so Nate and I could have a treat tonight. Wellll I also made strawberry hand pies. Lots of treats in our house this weekend...whole30 what??

Five on Friday

one

Lip Sync Battle. Please tell me you're watching this amazingness on Spike as well. Although Emma Stone live on The Tonight Show will forever be my favorite, this show is quite entertaining! 

two

We went to our favorite bagel place last weekend and somebody was extremely excited. He ate this whole bagel! Having gymnastics beforehand combined with not having Bagel Bin in awhile a hungry boy does make!  

three

Nate's been in Chicago all week for work and he sent me pictures one night of drinks he was having with coworkers. How amazing is this drink presentation?

four

We've been going to our local strawberry farm weekly for berries. I've already made lots of jam, crisp and other tasty eats. We love strawberrry season but we secretly can't WAIT to go and pick blueberries!!

five

We've had the best week with friends. The weather has been perfect. The invitations to play have been plentiful. It does this mamas heart good. 

*I try to host friends for dinner when their hubbies are also working late/out of town. This week Allie came for Mexican and her sweet as pie Scottie would not stop tackling and wrestling BG. It was absolutely hysterical and we did nothing to intervene...in fact I'm pretty sure we just egged it on. 

**BG is obsessed with playing in the back of our suv when we finish walking with his buddy on the greenway. It's a bit of a tradition now and those two little stinkers just love pushing, poking and prodding all of the buttons in the back.  

Tuesday Tips

Hello again...need to publish this baby fast or it'll become Wednesday Tips!

As always, today's tip is a simple one but hopefully it will help keep you and your little ones safer!

As we head into the hot hot hot summer months I can't urge you enough to place your purse/diaper bags in the back seat of your car. If you make a point to do this, even when your child isn't present in the car, it will become second nature to place it there. When you get to your destination you will have to take an extra step of opening the back door to get your bag, but it will hopefully keep you aware of your backseat passengers, no matter how busy or distracted you are!

Five on Friday

Keeping it simple this week...happy Friday all!!!

one

I scored some wicker furniture this week for $50 on a local Facebook group. It needs some tlc but fills our deck space well. 

two

We've been spring cleaning like crazy over here despite the hot-cold-hot weather! Our neighbors lent us their power washer and boy did it clean my rockers well - much easier than using washcloths and toothbrushes for the small nooks and crannies. 

three

BG is either the strongest child alive or we bought a Bellini lemon. My hubby sent me this pic when he went to get BG from his nap. Need to call Bellini stat. 

four

Celebrated a special friends 2nd birthday  today. Her mom requested Easter egg cookies and a Humpty Dumpty cake. Trying to smooth butter cream is a true labor of love but wrote every minute!

five

We had pictures taken in a peach orchard last week - I'm loving this one of BG in particular mid "if you're happy and you know it..."

Tuesday Tips - Bee Season

The bee's are back and unfortunately that means the mosquito's aren't far behind. I like to carry this sting stick in my bag just in case any of us get stung or bitten. It doesn't completely erase the problem but it helps ease the pain/itch until you can get home and address the problem more in depth. 

This year I'll be carrying it well into the fall!  Last year one of the children in our playgroup was stung by a bee in late October - I hated that I'd left this at home as I'm sure it wouldn't given her some relief!

Did any of your moms carry a sting stick? It's one of the things my mom always had in her bag of tricks when we were growing up. 

#ChobaniKids Project

 

I was inspired recently by Chobani's #ChobaniKids project to discuss healthy lifestyle choices and proper nutrition for children in honor of National Nutrition Month.  I was instantly intrigued by this project as our family is truly undergoing a lifestyle change this year.  That lifestyle change not only includes healthy food choices but also having a more active lifestyle.  We are still in the training phase but hopefully our healthy choices today will lead to a consistently healthier family unit!

BE ACTIVE TOGETHER!

Having an active lifestyle seems as though it would be easy with a toddler but in fact it can be just as easy to stay in one spot and have him run circles around us.  However, my husband and I both want to set a good example for BG's future by moving and shaking with him!  We take weekly walks on our local greenways and through the neighborhood with friends. Although BG is in his BOB for these long walks, I know that interacting with friends while getting fresh air is just as incredibly important for him and knowing that his mama is out getting exercise is just as important to me.

For BG's birthday we gave him a balance bike that he absolutely adores.  He loves to practice riding and we love scooting along side of him.  Our hope is that eventually he'll be strong enough to ride on his own and we'll be able to take long bike rides as a family.

Although he is only two years old, we have always enrolled BG in a class focusing on exercise.  For over a year he took swimming lessons with one of us in the pool as well.  Now we take a gymnastics class together!  Allowing him to exercise while interacting with his peers not only helps him burn that neverending-toddler-energy but he also prepares him for future team sports and activities.

 

FLAVORFUL CHOICES

Some of BG's very favorite snack choices involve yogurt!  I often purchase plain Greek yogurt as I can cook and bake easily with it.  The chili's too spicy? Add a spoonful of Greek yogurt! No applesauce or milk for that baking recipe? Try using Greek yogurt! Have a pasta recipe that calls for cream cheese? Substitute Greek yogurt! Obviously there are many ways to fit Greek yogurt into your lifestyle.  The following are some of BG's favorite ways to enjoy Greek yogurt and what parent doesn't love to see their child enjoying a "treat" that actually double as a healthy choice?

He loves being given a small bowl of plain Greek yogurt with fresh berries swirled in or a drizzle of local honey on top.  (Did you know that local honey can possibly diminish the effects of  seasonal allergies?) Fresh fruit or honey really give plain yogurt a hint of sweet creating a new dimension of enjoyment. I'm always happy to see BG enjoying a bowl of high protein and natural ingredients.

We love to make smoothies in our home usually with a combination of fresh fruit, spinach and a big spoonful of plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt creates the creamiest consistency that makes a truly healthy smoothie taste like a creamy treat!

When we travel it can be so easy to fill my bag with snacks that will fill BG up but not necessarily with protein and other essential nutrients.  He rarely gets to have pouches so handing him one on a trip is like giving him a golden ticket! I'm always careful when buying pouches to look for those that have Greek yogurt in them as the protein content is much higher (3-4 grams!) than other fruit/veggie filled kinds (>1 gram).  These new pouches from Chobani have everything that I normally look for and the flavor profiles fit exactly what BG wants as well!

Growing up my mom always froze small containers of yogurt for us as a simple frozen treat.  Now that I'm a mom, I absolutely love making homemade yogurt popsicles for BG!  His favorite flavor combination by far is Lemon Raspberry Yogurt Popsicles (I follow this recipe from Annie's Eats substituting organic sugar ).  When he eats these popsicles he acts like he's tricked me into giving him a bowl of ice cream.  What he doesn't know is that the majority of this frozen treat is actually just healthy and natural ingredients!

MODERATION

When I was younger my dad always told me that everything can be good for you if it's in moderation.  Now that I'm responsible for BG's health and diet, I want to make sure that he experiences moderation in his world as well.  I want BG to know that having the occasional treat or movie day on the couch is okay.  In fact that's what makes those moments even more exciting - they're special because they don't happen often!  That's why on occasion BG gets to pick out a show to watch or choose his own treat at the store. 

A happy life really is all about living in moderation...



*I was not compensated by Chobani for this post.  All of the opinions above are my own.*