Teaching Your Children Good Deeds ~ Tori

This week we are talking about teaching your children good deeds.
Good deeds aren't hard to do. In fact they are quite easy and simple, and can be as simple as a day to day kindness.
In our house good deeds are defined as helping out around the house without being asked (not including regular assigned chores), making a card for someone sick or to show you care, being nice to others, etc.
The main thing is that all kids love to help. Kids are naturally wired for good deeds. They like the way it makes them feel when they do something good, they like praise they get, they like being helpful. So it isn't hard to get kids to do good deeds.

The one thing we as parents have to remember is that we are the role model for our children. So to teach them good deeds we need to do good deeds. We should involve them. Let them help make chicken soup for a sick family member, let them help sign or send out holiday/birthday cards, show them how to hold a door open for others when you are out and about, etc. Once they see you do good deeds they will start naturally doing them, and it can sometimes become a second nature to them.

Good deeds also vary by age. What is a good deed now will change as they get older. But it's always a good idea to keep your children involved throughout the years, and to continuously set an example for them.
Make sure along the way you have conversations about good behavior, good deeds (and why we do them), and of course teach them manners. Without manners good deeds can be hard to do because children may not understand them. And while children love being praised for good deeds teach them that doing a good deed is not just about getting praise but feeling good about the fact you did something good for someone else.

For instance my son once shared his Ala cart money with another kid at school. He wasn't asked to do this. This kid only had a penny and some other children were making fun of him because he thought he could buy something at the Ala cart with that penny. My son knew everything at the Ala cart costs fifty cents to one dollar and since he had four quarters he gave the kid two. The kid told him thanks and they went up together and each got something worth fifty cents, sat down together and enjoyed their snack. A new friendship was made, and my son felt so good that he could help someone out.

For young children focus on good deeds. Let them watch cartoons where the characters do good deeds, let them read books focused on good deeds. Ask them questions about what they watch or read. Here's a few of our favorites:

Become involved. Ask your child: "Why do you think so and so did that good deed?" "What was the good deed or deeds done in this cartoon/book?" "How do you think that made he/she feel once they did that good deed?" "How would you feel to do a good deed like that?" "How would you feel if someone did a good deed like that for you?" etc. There is no limit on how you and your child can get involved, and the discussions are limitless. I know a lot of parents even have a "Good Deeds Day" where you do a certain amount of good deeds for someone in a day. So just know the possibilities are limitless! :)

What are some good deeds you focus on in your house? Do you have any examples of good deeds?

Getting Your Kids Away From TV & Video Games ~ Tori

In today's world there is a lot of controversy over kids and TV/video game time. From monitoring what your children watch/play to how much they are watching/playing. Wherever you go I guarantee you can always find someone to strike up a conversation on this topic.
This week we are talking about ways to get your child to turn off the TV and engage in other activities.

Before we go on let me first say that I hope nobody takes this as a lecture. I am in no way perfect, and I admittedly do allow my kids daily TV and video game time. They are given roughly an hour or two of television time per day (depending on school breaks, weekends, rainy days, etc) Those hours are for watching TV or playing video games not that many hours dedicated to each separate one. Some people think it's a little excessive, but I don't think it's that bad. That gives each child (I have two) thirty minutes each for a personal preference of show or video game. Usually I do time in the morning and then time in the evening. Sometimes they can earn movie's they are allowed to watch also. As a stay at home mom this can come in handy for me because I don't have anyone to help me with my children, and this keeps them out of trouble for a time when I need to get certain things done (mopping, scouring bathrooms, etc).
We also have family movie time once a week where we all sit down to watch a movie, have popcorn, etc.

But it is extremely important to get those kiddos out from in front of the television all the time. Here's a few things we do in our house that we have found to be quite successful:

• "Creative Time". We like to get this time in every day. Even if it's only for 15 or 20 minutes. This is a time when our kids can choose to either paint, color, draw, play play dough, etc. We always make sure to keep stocked up on these types of things. It's a fun time to stretch your child's imagination and they can create anything they want.

• Reading time. This is something we do every day. We sit down and read with our kids daily out loud and help them along. They learn new words, get to hear great stories, it helps build their vocabulary, and build their reading skills. After about thirty minutes of this (or more depending on the day or how much time we have) we try to get an additional twenty to thirty minutes of "quiet" reading time. They know during this time they can look at any books they want and look at pictures or read the books. This gives mommy and daddy time to also sneak in some quiet reading time, and it's something we always try to do together. The kids think it's great that we all get to sit on the couch and just look at books, read, and relax. So it's always good to make sure your child (and you) have plenty of books also.

• Outdoor activities. These are also a GREAT way to get your child out from in front of the television. What child doesn't love the outdoors? You can go to the park as a family, go outside for creative time, reading time, do some outdoor exploring, or just play games out in your backyard. Go bike riding, go swimming (if it's warm enough), go on a picnic. Anything to connect as a family and unwind. It is a great way to get your kids out from in front of the old tube, and they will undoubtedly burn off some of that extra energy. This isn't always the best to do on rainy days, but still an option. Even in the winter go out and have a snowball fight, build a snowman, make an ice castle. In the rain if it's warm and there's no severe storms or lightening go jump in a few puddles even if it's just for ten minutes. Sail a paper boat in a puddle. It may get wet and sink or not float for more than a few seconds, but it's still fun. :)

• Fitness. Get your child active. There are tons of things kids can do to be active. From things like yoga, jumping jacks, etc., you can also do a little dance party. It is so much fun, and something your kids will definitely remember.

• Cooking. Let your child help make stuff. My kids LOVE helping bake bread, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, scrambled eggs, cakes, spaghetti, etc. The list is limitless really. And there's tons of kid friendly recipes your child can engage in. There's tons of kid friendly cookbooks at your local library, or that you can order for you child. There's ideas on Google, Pinterest, and YouTube as well.

• Gardening. Even if you don't necessarily have a yard space to work in there are always potted plants. Start a little indoor herb garden or plant some indoor or outdoor plants in pots. We live in an apartment right now so while we don't have yard space to work in we are working on a balcony garden. Sure it's all in pots but it's tons of fun for the kids and us. Also we get our own homegrown fruit! Right now we have tomatoes and strawberry plants. We also have some potted flowers out there. We have bigger plans for next year but for the time being it's working out great with what we have. The kids take a lot of joy and feel very accomplished to see the actual fruits (or vegetables) of their labors. ;) It's a way to keep them busy all the while doing something big and productive. Or let them play in a pot of dirt. Build some mud pies or let them make a tiny fort or camp ground in a giant pot. There are tons of ways to have fun with this.

• Board games & Puzzles. A bit old fashioned? Maybe, but also a lot of fun. We are huge into board games and puzzles around our house. The kids love them too. We do puzzles, play card games, board games, and it's so much fun. Sometimes the kids don't even want to watch TV or play video games because they want to play a card or board game. And don't forget you can set up dominoes and knock them down and build card houses too! Don't let the electronic filled modern world take away some of the old time favorites. :)

And those are just a few of the things you can do at home. There are many other ways to pull your kids out from in front of that TV and take that game controller out of their hands. If it's something fun enough you won't even get any complaints!

Now some of you may be thinking of how in the world you could come up with tons of ideas for these types of activities. What if your kids get bored with these things, and how do you make them more interesting?
Well that's where the world wide web comes in handy. As bad as the web can be it can also be a wonderful resource. If you find yourself running out of ideas, or just looking for something different and fun to do with your children get online and search it.
There's Google, there's YouTube, there are tons of blogs out there, and best of all there is Pinterest.
Pinterest is chock full of thousands of ideas. I am a huge Pinterest fan. I don't get to get on there as much as I use to but it is so easy to use and if you haven't tried it yet I highly recommend it.
Just go to Pinterest and type in the search bar what you want to know:

• Rainy Day Activities
• Fun in the rain
• Kids DIY Projects
• Painting with kids
• Make your own play dough
• Outdoor activities to do with your child

You get the picture I'm sure. There are tons of ideas, and you will be so glad to have it as a resource. We have had a lot of fun with Pinterest, and it has also been a life saver when the norm becomes a little dull or boring now and again.

With that I will leave you. I hope you've found our articles and advice to be helpful too you. Feel free to share how you get your kids from out in front of that TV. What are some of your children's favorite activities to do indoor and/or out?

10 Things My Kids Do Now That I Will Miss As They Get Older ~ Tori

This is a hard topic for me because there are so many more things than just 10 that I will miss as my kids get older. It's so hard for me to even pick. So I'm just going to list the first 10 things that come to my mind, hopefully that's okay.
I'm being a big baby about this post and getting a little sentimental and emotional just writing out these things. haha

1. Cuddling- I love my cuddle time with my kiddos. We often snuggle up on the couch with books, or to watch TV. Especially during family movie night then both love snuggling in my arms one of each side of me.

2. Holding my hand- I love when they hold my hand. Especially those times where they really want to show me something they have discovered and they reach out to grab my hand. Also there's times they will just hold my hand for really no reason at all, and it just warms my heart.

3. Telling me every little detail about everything- It doesn't matter if it's something they seen, read, did that day an idea they had, etc. I love them filling me in on every single detail about whatever they want. Even if they are gross details. (Which when talking two boys you will get info on boogers, burps, etc lol). Right now I can ask about school or their thoughts and they explode with information. I know later they will probably just give me one word answers if any at all. :(

4. Their Hugs & Kisses- While I hope that they will always give me hugs and kisses I know that as they get older this will decrease or go away. Especially before bedtime when we do our goodnight hugs and kisses. Right now if I'm sad or feeling sick they love on me and give me hugs or kisses on the cheek. One instance I was sick with the stomach flu and could hardly get off the couch, they both went and got me a pillow, covered me with a throw blanket, and made sure I had a bottle of water near in case I got thirsty. They also kept giving me plenty of hugs and telling me how much they loved me.

5. Pictures they make- Both my boys are always making me pictures. Whether we are painting, drawing, coloring, or doodling I know each of them will send a picture my way. It really warms my heart. I keep as many of them as I can and probably have just about every single one. Of course I can't hang them all up but I have a tote that is almost over bursting with pictures. lol I take them out from time to time and look at them all. I always give them tons of praise and encouragement and their little eyes just shine. I love it.

6. Their silly crazy jokes- Even if their jokes make no sense at all I love their excitment over them. Their crazy abandon and how they don't care what anyone thinks. They just want to make people laugh. Whether the jokes make sense or not I always give a big laugh and they just get so thrilled over it, and they laugh and laugh. They get those little giggles going, and I just love it.

7. Their view on the world- I love my kid's view on the world. They really do make us take the time to stop and smell the roses. They notice so many small details that we would otherwise miss. Whether it's a butterfly on a flower, an interesting shaped cloud, a bird in a tree, etc. I love that they see so much of the world and take such enjoyment in it. Especially with a life that can get so hectic and crazy. As adults it is so easy to miss all those little things.

8. My children wanting to be with me all the time- Sure all us parents grumble now and again about never getting any private time. I am guilty of it also. And while it is good for us all to get a little time, I also love when my children want to be with me. It warms my heart and I just feel so loved by them. I know as they get older it they won't want to spend as much time with me. Now I can ask if they want to run here or there with me, and we can do all kinds of things that they see fun. But as they get older they may not want to spend as much time with their "old" mom. LOL Whether they go through the embarrassment stage, or just want to be with their own peer group. I'm enjoying our time while we have it.

9.  The way they say certain things. My boys are both so silly and are always coming up with some of the craziest, funny things. They often catch me off guard and I usually find myself in a fit of laughter. Their phrases or words, and even their pronunciations. I just love all of it. Especially some of their pronunciations. I know sometimes I should correct them, but to be honest it is just so cute I hate to! LOL Like how my oldest will sometimes say awlsome instead of awesome. Or how my youngest will say wapkin instead of napkin. Those are just a couple instances. Or how each of them will have the craziest thoughts or questions that will catch you totally off guard. It's a lot of fun.

10. Everything- Parenting is very bittersweet. It's the greatest feeling in the world. Being a mom is so much more than I ever imagined it to be. I never felt it was possible to feel so much love. Putting that feeling into words is so hard because there are no combination of words to do the feeling justice. My heart just swells with love for my children. They are amazing, funny, smart, caring, and wonderful. I am so proud of them, and I know they will both do great things. But I admit I always get a little nostalgic at times because time really does speed by, and they really do grow fast. One minute they are tiny little babes you hold in your arms, the next they are toddlers getting into everything, and before you know it your wondering what happened to time. I am just so thankful to be Blessed with my two little loves. I will miss everything about them being kids. :)

So with all that said and with sentimental tears in my eyes I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

Elizabeth Stone — 'Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. '

Uh oh...we're talking about...SEX! *gasps*

When I was pregnant with my first son I of course thought of a million things I had ahead of me. One of those things was the inevitable sex talk that would come when my son was in the pre-teen years. But one thing I wasn't quite prepared for was that particular talk wasn't going to fully wait until then.
Let's face it, kids have questions, they are curious. And you are not going to be able to avoid that particular talk until the pre-teen/teen years. And you do not want to wait and let school teach your child about sex. I have heard many stories that some parents actually do rely on a school to have that talk with their children. Many figure well that's what sex education classes are for right? WRONG! You do not want your child walking around unaware of everything. I'm not saying go full hog and sit your toddler or elementary aged child down and have the whole talk with them at once. But let them know what their body parts are called. And let them know what they are for and that it is not okay for anyone to touch them there. Let them know they do not have to be ashamed of their body or their body parts but there is a time and a place for bringing up those subjects.

A lot of parents get worried to even tell their children a correct term for their body parts like penis, vagina, breasts, testicles, etc. But it's nothing to be embarrassed about and it's nothing to be ashamed about. It's awkward to talk about more than anything, but just push past that feeling. When you get nervous and uncomfortable and try to cover up the actual name for these parts then your children could pick up on that and be embarrassed also. Not to mention they won't be getting accurate information. And that's not good, you want them to be comfortable with themselves, and they need to understand.
Because girls and boys alike are going to be curious about their parts and how they differ from other childrens. They want to know what certain things are for and why they have them, and it's up to you to give them that information. My kids know the names of their body parts, and they know that nobody other than mom/dad/themselves/doctors are allowed to touch them there. And when they have questions just answer them. My oldest son asked where babies come from recently and how they get in and out of a woman's belly. He also asked why boys can't have babies. I explained these things to him in a way he can easily understand. About how men have sperm and women have ovaries and eggs. How the sperm and egg meet and make a baby. How boys have a penis and girls have a vagina, and only girls carry babies. Once I answered his questions he didn't ask any further questions, but both our boys know they can ask questions. They know it's natural to be curious. I don't want to send them out in the world and have their questions answered by anyone else.

If you consider something taboo and you don't broach the subject or answer questions as they come up then you are just teaching your children that they should be ashamed of their bodies. Not only that but when the time comes for them to make a decision they may not have all the facts to make a decision. Kids are a lot smarter than many people give them credit for.

So don't be ashamed to talk to your child about sex and body parts. It's important that you answer any questions they have, and give them the facts in a way they can understand. Don't recite from a book but really talk to them and listen to them. Don't send them out in the world curious and unprepared because you don't know what kind of answers they could get from someone else. It's our job to teach them. It's not something to be ashamed of, don't be embarrassed.
And you will probably find that if you answer the questions they have now and at least teach them the basics that your future "talk" won't be as bad as your dreading it to be.

And we meet again...

Hey all! I bet your were probably expecting this to be another one of those mom blogs where we write awhile then give up on it huh? Well, lucky for you we didn't give up just had some life things going on that kept us away for awhile. But now we are back baby! (Excuse me I have just always wanted to say that). :D

Just in case you forgot who I am, my name is Tori.

I'm a 26 year old stay at home mom. I do book and product reviews on my own blog, and do some freelance work for extra income from time to time. I am married to a wonderful, sometimes frustrating, but I love him dearly man. His name is Josh. We have been married almost eight years. He makes me laugh like crazy, and never cares that I am always a little ditzy and that crazy odd things always seem to be happening to me (now us). LOL

We have two wonderful boys that keep us on our toes. Lucas 6, and Levi 3. They are always so much fun, they say the darndest things, are smart as can be, and there is never a dull moment. Things can get a little crazy here and there, but if things weren't a little crazy now and then it wouldn't be called life right?

I have a wide variety of interests. Some (but definitely not all) of them are writing, reading, spending time with family and friends, water, gardening, and just anything fun.

Now let me fill you in a bit on where I've been. It's been crazy and I may leave quite a few things out so forgive me. haha.

We found an apartment that fits our family (yay!). We are going to start the house hunting process in a couple years and are getting things financially right in the meantime so we will be ready.
Other than that I would just put it as we have had a lot of family stuff, health stuff, car troubles, etc., going on that has kept us pretty busy. Stressed at times, but God has really seen us through and I am so grateful for that. I can't even begin to put into words how thankful.
So we are chugging along, and I am excited to be back to blogging with the other wonderful ladies that are part of this blog.
I'm sure we will provide endless entertainment for you guys, and give you our take on tons of different topics. Hopefully you will find them informational, and they can help you in some way. If you would like to hear us speak on any topics in particular just remember you can leave your requests in the comments or just zap us an email at thecaseofthemissingcheerios@gmail.com
We would love to hear from you, and are always excited to meet our readers.
I will be blogging on Saturdays, so I look forward to seeing you all again soon! :)

Favorite Books of 2013 ~Tori

This week we will be sharing our favorite books of 2013. To be honest I don't always read books as they come out (unless I'm waiting on a particular book, or following a series). However I have read quite a few books released this year and earlier. So I'll attempt to keep it short and just list some of the more memorable ones.
Also let me just admit this, honesty is the best policy: I have not had the chance to read as many books this year as I usually do. *gasps* I know it's shameful really, I usually always make the time to read, and will make the time again effective immediately. I hadn't really realized until this post how much I've slacked in the reading department this year. Yikes...anyway, on to the post.


Here's some books released this year I have greatly enjoyed:

What Your Dreams are Telling You by: Cindy McGill

::Description::
Why Waste One-Third of Your Life Only Sleeping?Have you ever wanted to receive wise advice about a business proposal, a relationship or a direction in life? Tonight you will have several dreams. Did you know they could contain the very advice you need?It's true.
Join dream interpreter Cindy McGill as she shows you that sleep is so much more than just a time to rest your body. If you pay attention, you can uncover a secret weapon for success--and the keys to unlocking your full potential.

Not only is it possible to remember your dreams, but when properly interpreted, they bring guidance, hope and strength to achieve what may seem impossible. Here Cindy gives you the tools for discovering and decoding these hidden messages, including

-- how to get the most out of your dreams
-- historical and present-day examples of life-changing dreams
-- common dream themes and what they mean
-- 3 steps to discover the genuine message from your dreams
-- a quick-reference guide to common dream symbols
-- how to reawaken your dream life

Solutions to your problems can come on any given night. It's time to listen to what your dreams are telling you.

I am one of those type of people that (depending upon my dream) will put a lot of thought into any meanings. This book is great at explaining some things which worked well for me. I learned a lot of things I didn't previously know about sleep, dream symbols, dream meanings, etc.
While I do not always pay attention to all my dreams I do pay attention to some because I have had some instances where I've had dreams and then something has happened whether it be good or bad. I always just figured it was my subconscious trying to warn me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 



Raising Boys by Design by Gregory L Jantz PHD and Michael Gurian

::Description::
A book about how to help your son become the man God created him to be. Find out what is really going on inside your son's brain and build a HERO who values Honor, Enterprise, Responsibility, and Originality. In this book you will learn how to strengthen your sons character, and overall well being. Find out what your son needs from you and develop healthy thoughts and emotions that fit with his brain chemistry. Questions at the end of each chapter will give you personal insights into your son, and the book overall a deeper understanding of raising and understanding your son.

I have two young boys so I'm always soaking up information on parenting, especially when it comes to boys. No matter what it's always good to know too much rather than nothing at all. I do know that as we are all essentially the same, boys process things differently than girls. They think differently and are just all around wired differently. This was an interesting book to read as a mother to two boys as it explains in depth how to talk to your son about self-discipline, technology, sexuality, education, emotions, etc.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Invisible by Ginny L Yttrup

::Description::
Ellyn DeMoss -- chef, café owner, and lover of butter -- is hiding behind her extra weight. But what is she hiding? While Ellyn sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So when a handsome widower claims he’s attracted to Ellyn, she’s certain there’s something wrong with him.

Sabina Jackson -- tall, slender, and exotic -- left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she’s come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina’s doing more hiding than healing. What’s she hiding from? Is it God?

Twila Boaz has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, though she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival. But will she succeed?

As these women’s lives intertwine, their eyes open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God’s image.

This book really blew me away. It gave me a whole new perspective and my new favorite words which is the latin words Imago Dei (in English it means Image of God). We all have our own personal struggles regardless of life circumstance, wealth, body type, past history, etc. However we are also equally created in the Image of God. We are who he wants us to be. While we can better ourselves and take care of ourselves we should never feel down about who we are because He holds our hand every step of the way and we are never alone.
In addition to the things this book gave me to ponder about I loved the plot. This is a fiction book, very romantic, and lots of characters to keep you busy. I was actually sad to see this book end.

And I am currently reading Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. This is his sequel to The Shining so I'm sure I'm going to be on the edge of my seat loving every bit of it. When you want a thrill Stephen King never fails. I did re-read a couple of my favs of his book this year:
Misery & Needful Things both by Stephen King


What have you been reading this year? Any particular favorites you would like to share with the rest of us?

Terrible Twos and Temper Tantrums ~ Tori

All kids go through it. Even the most sane, loving, well behaved child will eventually enter the terrible stage. It's a fact of life. But the thing is that it isn't just two year olds! It's threes, fours, and yes sometimes fives! Not having a child at the age of six (just yet, give it another month) I'm not sure if it continues after that, but I guess we shall see. (I'm hoping it begins to taper off. LOL)

For my oldest son, he didn't start his terrible stage until he turned three. Then we had the terrible threes, but for my youngest son we are definitely in the terrible twos.
I can't blame them really, as children are growing out of infancy they start testing their limits. This can end in a good and bad way. Of course we all want to get our way. Who doesn't? But as they begin to test their limits and are moving around relatively unassisted on their own they begin to hear that dreaded word...NO! That's not a word that has a happy place in a toddler's vocabulary. Well not when it's being told to them anyway.
Toddlers are also dealing with more emotions than ever and how to handle those emotions is key. Often they don't know how to handle how they are feeling or they cannot explain it. This is where we as parents need to help them with that. There are methods for each kind of tantrum. Not saying any of these methods will work 100% of the time but they sure can help.

• Talking- If your child is old enough to understand what you are saying sometimes the calm approach is best. Discuss how your child is feeling and why. When my son gets upset I tell him to take a few deep breaths before he explodes.
• Re-direct their anger and discuss other ways they can express themselves that doesn't involve throwing a fit. Again discuss how they are feeling and why.
• Sometimes ignoring bad behavior can also have a positive effect. As long as your child's behavior isn't hurting anyone (other than maybe grating on some nerves) just take a deep breath and let it go. Say calmly and simply "No you are not getting that toy today" and leave it at that. They are throwing the fit to get the attention and bad behavior is not rewarded.

Every child wants to be in charge, but the key is to let them know that no matter what you are still the one in charge and that isn't going to change. Tantrums will still happen but will either decrease in severity or how often they happen. My oldest son knows better these days than to argue with me over getting a toy when we go shopping or getting this or that. He knows by now that when I say no it means no and crying or screaming about it will do no good.
My youngest son however has not grasped this fact yet and probably won't for a little while still. He is still learning and coming into his own. Eventually though he will get it.

So don't get stressed when your child is screaming at the top of his/her lungs. Don't be embarrassed. I guarantee there are other mothers wherever you are that have been there and done that. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it either because tantrums are just a normal part of your child and having a child. They are going to happen whether you like it or not. It's normal and even healthy that your child is developing, testing limits, and learning his/her own sense of self. Take a deep breath and push on, the tantrums won't last forever.

Tap or Bottled Water?

Sure tap water will save you tons of money, but is that the safer choice?
This week we will be discussing tap water vs. bottled water.

• Quick Fact: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees bottled water, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water. However, they use similar standards for ensuring safety.

• The FDA requires bottled water producers to:

1. Process, bottle, hold and transport bottled water under sanitary conditions
2. Protect water sources from bacteria, chemicals and other contaminants
3. Use quality control processes to ensure the bacteriological and chemical safety of the water
4. Sample and test both source water and the final product for contaminants

• The EPA mandates that water utilities provide annual quality reports to customers. These customer confidence reports provide information such as source (river, lake, aquifer), contaminant levels and potential health effects. However, the EPA doesn't regulate private wells. So if your tap water comes from a private well you should test your water every year for contaminants, more frequently if needed.

In our household we mainly drink bottled water. However I do not use bottled water for cooking, certain treats (like kool-aid), etc. For that we use tap water. Generally I will boil the water before use whether it be for cooking or drinking. But when it comes to water consumption to hydrate we drink bottled 98% of the time.

In my opinion bottled water vs. tap water comes down to matter of preference. Bottled water is usually cleaner, tastes better, and there are many kinds to choose from. Tap water unseen contaminants that can pose health risks to children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems. For that reason I try to use as little tap water as possible unless I boil it first just as a safety precaution.

Tap water travels miles underground in pipe lines that can leak or burst thus contaminating our drinking water and result in a boiling ban. Bottled water is packaged in sanitary sealed containers under usually strict sanitary conditions. And when you think about it how many bottled water recalls have you heard of compared to how often you've heard of a town under a boiling ban?

On the other side water bottles are a huge concern for our environment. Too many people do not recycle or dispose of their empty bottles properly. This results in major littering and causes harm to our environment. So if you do drink bottled water please dispose of properly because if you do your bottles can be recycled into more bottles.

I'm not downing either one but at least while my children are younger I stick to bottled water for hydrating purposes. I use tap with cooking and when needed to use tap for drinking I typically always boil it first. You can also buy brita water filters or pitchers as an extra piece of mind if you use tap water for cost related purposes. You will be amazed at how much particals actually filter out of the water.

Keeping Kids Busy ~ Tori

Keeping kids busy is important on many levels. For one thing when a child gets bored only terrible things will follow: temper tantrums, mischievousness, orneriness, etc. (Trust me we've all been there as a mom and as a child ourselves if you think back). Also by keeping your child busy they will be more active and they will learn.

The key to it is to make sure your child always has something to do. It's even a great idea to plan for many occasions. Below I've included some tips as well as a few pictures of ideas you can use for yourself or see different methods of making each one fun and interactive:

• Plan for car trips: Such a bore to kids. As moms, we have to run errands (in my case a lot), and it's no fun for kids. They don't care about paying bills, having to go to the store to get groceries, etc. So me and hubby stocked the back pocket of our car (on the backs of the front seats) with little toys (non-choking hazards), a medium sized notebook, and crayons. This way if we are going to be on the go most of the day the kids have something to do in the car rather than get bored and fight, or grumble in the backseat.

Picture credit: keepinglifecreative.com
This is something we use as well. The baskets can be found usually anywhere at very cheap prices. There's a space for a drink, snacks, and activities.

• Free time on a beautiful day? Go outside and enjoy, play with your child, have a picnic, go on a walk. Enjoy the day and have fun. Children need activity with you as well as activities alone. They need to be outside playing in the fresh air. It's good for them and it's good for you too. You can plan a scavenger hunt, inspect nature in your own backyard, look at clouds, play tag, play ball, etc. The list is endless.

• Plan for rainy days/days that are not suitable for outside: Kids need activity and days they cannot go outside can put a damper in the day. Things like painting, playing hide and seek, crafts (Pinterest has many ideas if you need some), reading, board games, coloring, etc., are all good ways to keep kids busy and pass time in a fun learning way. If the weather is warm and it's raining given you have raincoats and rain boots playing in the rain is extremely fun for children as well.

Photo credit: sidetrackedsarah.com

• Chores: Chores are needed in every child's life. They teach responsibility. One thing people don't realize about chores is that they can be fun. Each chore can count toward a goal, something to earn. You can turn chores into educational fun. Let your child help dry dishes or rinse them and count as you go. There are many possibilities for about every chore there is. You can even make chores into a game. Make a chore chart and have a fun prize at the end whether it's a toy, new coloring book and crayons, a movie, etc., that they are working towards.

Photo credit: theorganizedwife.wordpress.com

• You can also let your child watch cartoons (we do so in moderation). Cartoons are not a bad thing if watched in moderation and is something fun and educational. A few good shows we enjoy are Sid the Science Kid, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That, Word World, Blue's Clue's, Max & Ruby, Diego & Dora, Yo Gabba Gabba, Umizoomi, among others. They are fun educational cartoons. Some TV and cartoons can be fine, but just make sure you aren't parking your child in front of the television all day. Make sure your child stays active, has hobbies, and participates in family interactive activities. If you and your child/ren are tired of the same old activities find some new ones! With the world wide web at our fingertips these days information is right at our fingertips.

Photo credit: nourishinteractive.com

• Exercise is also a good way to keep children busy. We do kid friendly yoga, go on walks, etc. Again it's limitless. 

Now I'm not saying that all these methods of keeping your child busy will totally eliminate mischievous behavior, tantrums, etc., but it will definitely help matters. Nobody likes to be bored, especially kids. Be active, be a family, and make sure to have plenty of things planned. You will all enjoy it and you will be creating happy memories to last a lifetime.

Working Out ~ Tori

As a busy mom it can be incredibly hard to find time to work out. When there is a bit of time in my day I can think of so many other ways to fill that time. Quiet reading time, cleaning (as a mom to two young boys something ALWAYS needs cleaning), etc. The list goes on and on.

But the fact of the matter is that we all need to work out. What method we use to work out will vary, but keeping healthy is the main goal we all have in common.

Sometimes it's best to just quit over thinking and make some extra time in our day for working out. A little time each day will help us in so many ways.

Working out makes you feel better, helps you live longer, and (believe it or not) makes you have more energy.

And if you don't have time for a complex work out routine there are many simple ways to sneak in a few methods to help you. Maybe take the stairs instead of the elevator. 

Have a day planned at the park with the kiddos? Walk there instead of driving. Or walk to a place close to you that you usually drive to. No sense in wasting money on gas when you could enjoy the day and take a nice walk.

Set your clock a bit early in the morning (even 15-30 mins) to get in an early morning work out. Do some squats, jumping jacks, yoga, etc. Do zumba once a week. There are so many ways you can make working out a part of your daily routine without infringing on anything else. And although it may seem a task at first you will very soon notice some small differences in your days. Increase in energy, better mood, you will find yourself sleeping better at night, you'll find an extra little spark in your sex life, and you'll notice over time weight loss.

I for one like to get up a bit early. There's a window (albeit a small one) where everyone in my house is asleep and I can wake up without dragging my feet around. It's about thirty minutes and I use this time to get some workouts in. The house is silent, I have a space to myself, and I get at it. It's nice to have a bit of quiet time to myself and know that I'm bettering myself (even if a little bit) by getting my workout in. And even though I often find some of my muscles sore I notice a significant difference throughout my daily routine. I tend to be happier, have more energy, and feel more accomplished. 

Just remember that if your working out to maintain weight eating healthy also goes hand in hand with that. Not saying cut out everything delicious in your life. Life is short and we must live it. But here and there we can make better choices. 

By working out you will feel better about yourself, you'll feel more sexy, more confident. We can all use some of that right?

It's a great stress burner and it will calm you through some of those tough moments sure to pop up through your normal mom day.

Bottom line is exercise can be fun, and it can definitely make you feel better.

The best advice as one mom to another that I can give you is just don't put to high of expectations on working out. Often we set ourselves for too high of goals that we find difficult to reach. Everyone is different and we all work at our own pace. No body is the same. Just have fun with working out and be a friend to yourself rather than an enemy. 

If you have worked out all week long and there's no difference than the previous week don't be down on yourself. At least you haven't gained! And most importantly at least your keeping active and having fun.

Nobody is perfect and as long as your on the path to bettering yourself, you are on the right path. Have patience with working out and have patience with yourself. Don't expect the same results that someone else may gain from working out because you are not them. And most importantly, I can't say this enough, have fun!