Spring Cleaning Survival Guide

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Krissyar

This post is sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and The Motherhood.

I know the concept of Spring Cleaning. It’s a new start from the dreary winter, time to open the windows and let the fresh air in – but if you are like me you always wonder, “how in the world am I going to manage that?” Spring to my family means baseball and soccer practices every waking moment (OK every moment I’m not at work), my allergies are usually doing a number on me – and when they aren’t, well honestly I want to be outside. I want to work on my yard, or take a hike or a bike ride and enjoy not being coped up in the house.

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So though most of my Spring hours are already accounted for, I know that in order for me to really enjoy my summer that I need to get my house into shape. The long winter makes my old house smell a bit musty (no matter how many candles I light), and let’s face it, the holidays really keep most of us too busy to get any real cleaning done anyway.  So here it is: Your Spring Cleaning Survival Guide for Those Who Wish They Could be Anywhere Else (almost).

Step 1. Be Prepared

If you don’t have what you need when you need it, you are going to be spending a really, really long time on this Spring Cleaning project. You need to write out your shopping list and have everything you need ready to go for when you start. Below is a really great list to get you going- (everything you need can be found for great prices at Walmart). I pick up great products like Viva®, Scott®, Cottonelle® – which is great that I can find them all in one convenient location.

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Spring Cleaning Shopping ListStep 2. Make a Game Plan. Now being prepared not only means making sure you have all the products you need, but also having a game plan. Whether you are a CEO or a student, a game plan is the most successful way to accomplish your goals in an efficient, timely manner. My goal when Spring Cleaning is to get the most done in the least amount of time as possible. So if I have a game plan set up and ready to go – I know what to do after each task is completed, I’m not going to get as easily distracted and waste precious time. My Spring Cleaning Game Plan is something as simple as this Checklist. I know what needs done in each room and I don’t leave that room until everything is checked off. This printable checklist makes it super easy to stay on task.

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Step 3. Get to Work. Honestly we could all spend hours make the list just right, buying a ton of products to use for this or that – but if you want to survive Spring Cleaning this year – without spending the entire season well, cleaning – you need to get to work. Make sure you have everything you need (CHECK!) make your game plan (CHECK!) and get down to business! The quicker you get it done – the faster you can go outside and enjoy that beautiful weather!

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We’re All Just a Kid from Somewhere with a Dream

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/POWERADE.

I have played sports since as far back as I can remember – 5 years old playing t-ball to high school basketball and softball teams. I never gave much thought to my parents being there at every practice and game until I had little athletes of my own.

No matter what, whether I had a 9 a.m. practice or a 8 p.m. game across town, my Mom loaded up my little sister and met my team there. Rooting me on from the stands, I remember shaking my head a few times when I could hear her voice over the rest, even my coaches, “Come on Kris!” (She always called me Kris – unless I was in trouble of course). “Swing all the way through!!” or “Lift that elbow!” Some of the same things I shout to my son during his games.

Though being a baseball Mom can be exhausting, I never heard my Mom once complain. She never complained about taking me to practices, or how dinner would have to wait, or how much work she had to get done at the house; she was just always there, folding chair swung over her shoulder, cooler filled with drinks and snacks, umbrella ready, and sometimes even with a blanket for those really chilly Spring practices. She was always there ready to cheer me on, and encourage me to be the best I could be.

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For many years I was determined to be the first female professional baseball player (I was going to be that good that they would want me to play for MLB). Then to be a part of the WNBA. Never once did my Mom discourage me, or try to push me in another direction – she believed if I wanted to do something, I could do it.

That is the Mom I am trying to be with mine.

nathan_baseballThough they might change their mind every few months on what they want to be – I tell them they can do whatever they set their minds to.

POWERADE believes that with the right motivation these everyday athletes can realize their potential and one day be the athletes that they look up to. Sports have a major impact on our communities. Whether it is t-ball or the pros, every athlete in every league has a story waiting to be told.

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There is potential in all of us.  No matter what you achieve in life, you start in the same place as everyone else:  as a young athlete full of potential and big dreams.  At the end of the day, we are all “just a kid” from somewhere.

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POWERADE comes in great tasting flavors and has been helping keep athletes hydrated for decades.  POWERADE ZEROTM features the same hydration benefits of classic POWERADE but with ZERO calories.

 

POWERADE flavors:

Mountain Berry Blast®

Fruit Punch

Orange

Grape

Lemon Lime

POWERADE Zero flavors:

Mixed Berry

Grape Zero

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  • Walmart/POWERADE Offer – Free “Just a Kid” Sports Bottle:

When shoppers purchase two 8-packs of 20 oz POWERADE at Walmart, they’ll be able to go online, submit their receipt, and order a free custom “Just a Kid” reusable sports bottle. Go to http://www.us.powerade.com/walmart/#pov2 to learn more.  The offer is good until April 4, 2016 or while supplies last.

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The Most Dangerous Room In Your House Isn’t Where You Think

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Krissyar

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If someone asked you what the most dangerous room in a house was, what would your answer be? Most people would say the kitchen and it’s not difficult to see why. Think of all the potential dangers in the hub of your home!  There’s the cooker for a start that reaches blistering temperatures. Then there are the sharp knives, bubbling pans; the list could go on and on. Your kitchen holds a lot of potential for doing some damage to yourself or others.

But guess what! It’s not the room you should be most wary of at all. That honour goes to the bathroom. Yes, the bathroom sees way more than it’s fair share of accidents. An American study has shown that more people come to harm in their bathroom than in any other room of the house. In 2008, for example, almost 22 million Americans aged 15 plus gained an injury in their smallest room. Around a quarter of a million of these had to be treated in emergency departments. The hardest hit group in the study were those over the age of sixty-five. The older subjects had the highest rate of injuries.

The biggest cause of bathroom accidents were falls. The problem with falling mainly onto a hard surface like a waterproof floor?  It’s the risk of injuries such as hip fractures. Those over 65 had the highest amount of fractures and were found to be more likely to be hospitalized.

There are lots of ways accidents like these can be prevented. Making sure there is quality flooring and installing grab bars can reduce the amount of problems that happen in this environment.

Over 60% of homes in the US use mats in their tubs or non-slip strips, but less than twenty percent of households had a grab bar installed. They’re the perfect aid to help with balance.

As for flooring, non-slip tiles are another way to help reduce the likelihood of slips and trips. Tile Markets have an extensive range of options which won’t just help keep you safe; they’ll bring a new lease of life to your bathroom too.

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Some other findings of the study make for interesting reading. Women tended to have 72% more chance of sustaining an injury in the bathroom. The majority of problems happened when the over 65’s get on or off the toilet. Grab bars by the toilet could be useful if things are getting difficult. If balance is becoming an issue for you or a loved one, there are exercises you can do to help maintain your posture. If you feel like you’re going to fall, try and catch your balance. You can do this by taking a few little steps. Try and find someone or something to grab hold of, and try to avoid falling onto either of your hips. Do try and drop and roll out of the fall rather than landing hard. It could help you avoid a painful injury. Falls can be potentially fatal, so make sure you have preventative measures in place.

 

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Skiing With Young Children Doesn’t Have To Be A Nightmare

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Krissyar

When we think of skiing, we think of luxe chalets, fancy restaurants and Apres bars. A trip to the slopes doesn’t exactly scream ‘family trip’, does it? However, skiing can make a fantastic family holiday. A lot of us make the mistake of thinking that skiing with young kids would be a nightmare, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
While skiing is sometimes better suited to older children, you can hit the slopes with little ones in tow and still have a fantastic time. It’s just a case of being as prepared as possible, to ensure that every angle has been covered and nothing can go wrong.

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If you’re a keen skier but have been putting your next trip to the slopes off because of the kids, you’ve come to the right place. To make skiing with little ones in tow easier, I thought I would share a few tips with you.

Plan your trip around your kids.

This is rule number one of skiing with children in tow. Planning your trip around your children means picking a resort that is child-friendly. How you can tell if a resort is child-friendly is by the facilities on offer. For example, check out the family suites at these Mont Tremblant hotels.

The fact that there are a range of family suites available shows that this is a resort that offers a range of family features. Other features to look out for include an on-site kid’s club, activities and child-friendly eateries.

Help your little ones to learn to ski.

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While the first trip to the slopes might be spent helping your kids to stay up. If you teach them young, next time you take a trip to the slopes they’ll be able to hit the slopes with you. Before your trip, take your little ones to your local ski slope to get some practice in. You could even book them in for a couple of lessons so that before you start skiing, they’ve mastered the basics.

As well as getting your kids lessons before you go, book them onto a course at your chosen resort. Your best option is a crash course, as this will give them the best chance of mastering how to ski. Just make sure to book them in with an English-speaking instructor, as this will make it easier for them to learn. The great thing about booking your kids onto intensive skiing courses is that while they’re learning to ski, you can hit the slopes.

Pack a rucksack full of treats

For every time, you hit the slopes as a family, pack a bag full of treats and drinks. That way, should your little ones need an energy boost, you can give them one. The most common cause of tantrums is a child being hungry or thirsty. That’s why carrying snacks and drinks with you on the slopes is a good idea so that should your children need a boost, you can give them one.

 

Skiing with kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare; it’s just a case of being smart about where you go. Pick a resort that’s child-friendly and you can ensure that skiing with the kids is fun and enjoyable.

 

 

 

Posted in Fitness/Health, Travel | 1 Comment

How to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits with Kids

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Krissyar

Being a parent is rough, we have to teach our children so many life lessons that they simply may not be cooperative to learn and one of those fun parenting lessons to teach our children falls under knowing how to encourage healthy eating habits. This can be difficult if you have a picky eater, child with issues on textures and a teen who just feels they can eat whatever they wish. Life doesn’t have to be difficult though, you can learn how to encourage healthy eating habits at any age and today we will discuss some ways in which you can learn how to encourage healthy eating habits.

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Portion Control

The easiest step in encouraging healthy eating habits starts with basic portion control. With a child, you can simply purchase plates that have the dividers in them for every meal. Print out the food pyramid and use that as a teaching tool for portion control. Find a coloring page of the food pyramid, print it out and color it with your children while you openly discuss what’s found on the food pyramid, this will guide your children’s thoughts on what are acceptable portions for food during the day.

If you have a child who over eats on cereal, you know they have to pour that cereal bowl flowing well beyond capacity, start to place zip lock sandwich bags out with each child’s name on it so they know this is the amount of cereal they are allowed to have. Finding creative ways, such as this zip lock bag idea, to encourage independence while still remaining the parent in charge can really encourage healthy eating habits for your kids as it will start to teach them basic portion control.

Control what you Purchase for Food

Another basic way to encourage healthy eating habits is to only have acceptable foods available in your home, such as fruits and healthier snack options that can still seem sugary fun for kids but really are healthier versions of the same sugary snack option on market. Create a grocery shopping list that stays within budget, but includes healthy meals and snack options so that your pantry is full of selections you will be proud your child is eating.

Start each day off with your child choosing which two snack items they will have during the day, have the child place their selections in a container and this will let them have a visual reminder of what they have allotted for snacks during the day. If your child makes the decision to eat both snack options in one sitting, then they won’t have any other options aside from meal time to eat during the day.

Keep a Balance between Junk and Health

Even parents have a little junk food here and there, so why should children not be allotted a little cheat day too? Try to maintain a good balance between portion sizes, healthier food in home and that cheat treat that is allowed ever so often. When you allow your child a little cheat snack here and there, they will not crave that junk food as often. Remember, it is human nature to crave what we can’t have and by allowing that cheat day for your child takes away that desire to crave what they can’t have.

Sure these options on ways to encourage healthy eating habits may cause a ruckus at first, but once you develop a consistent pattern of healthy eating habits it will become routine for your children. Encouraging healthy eating habits with your kids really comes down to having the balance of options with portion control and education; once you educate our child on portion control and balance of food options then you are one step ahead to raising well rounded, heathy little people. Your children will eventually forget what the original norm was and gladly continue on board with eating healthier which translates into a happier parent!

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