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  • Raising Girls

    8 Savings Goals To Teach Kids About Money

    February 23, 2021 / No Comments

    To teach kids about money, you have to start young. Having good financial skills is important to everyone — even the youngest members of your household.

    Though these lessons can be hard to learn, it is much easier when you start learning about money early. Helping your kids to save for things they want can be a great way to help them learn healthy money habits + to teach kids about money management.

    #1 New Toy

    An easy place to start is with a toy that your child wants. This can be a great steppingstone, especially if it is a toy that is more than their allowance. Starting small like this can help set the stage for saving money without having to have your child wait so long that they start to get frustrated.

    If your child expresses interest in a toy next time they are at the store, use it as an opportunity to teach them about saving + how sometimes if you are willing to wait, you can get something better. Have a conversation with them about how much money they have + about how long it will take them to make the rest of it.

    #2 Video Games

    Games can be a great next step if your child is into video games. Work with your child to figure out the cost of the game + how long it would take them to save up the money to buy it.

    Give them a place to put their money while they are saving so that they can reduce their temptation. You could even offer them an incentive to save, like offering to match the amount they save.

    This gives them a preview to the world of earning interest + gives them a chance to build a positive relationship with saving money.

    #3 Bike

    Saving for a bike is another classic way to teach kids about money, saving it + other financial literacy. One good thing to do in the scenario is to also help your kid to do some research upfront. Help them to look at several different bikes so they can learn about finding a good deal + trying to balance quality with quantity.

    It might be worthwhile to talk to them about good components + how long the bike will likely last. Then, they can make an informed decision about the bike they want + be able to start setting up a savings plan. Once they have enough money, go with them to make the purchase.

    #4 Pet

    Saving for a pet can be a great way to teach kids about money, how to take care of finances + general responsibility. This might be a good savings goal to do together as a family.

    Work together to research breeds + find a dog that would be a good fit for your family. Then, you can all save together so that your children can participate while also learning from your example.

    #5 Family Trip

    Another great family savings goal that can help you teach your kids about money is to have them help to save for a family trip. Work together to figure out where you want to go, how long you would like to stay + what you think a reasonable budget would be.

    Then figure out how much each family member should save to help make the vacation a reality. It can also help to give them extra opportunities to earn money that can help them reach the overall goal.

    Make sure to meet regularly to figure out your progress + provide positive feedback for the work they are doing so far.

    #6 Sports Team or Class

    If your child is passionate about a sport or taking art classes, it may be a good opportunity to help them learn about saving. Try setting it up so that you pay a certain percent of the total costs + your kid helps to make up the difference.

    This can help them to learn to save money + the importance of investing in things that you love. Helping your kids to find + support their passions helps give them valuable lessons that they can take with them into adulthood.

    #7 New Clothes

    Clothing is a necessity but sometimes want your kids want to wear + what you’re willing to spend on a wardrobe don’t match. This can be another great opportunity to teach them about saving.

    The more opportunities you have to help your kids understand the difference between wants + needs to develop strong money habits, the better it will be for them in the long run. Saving for wants while taking care of basic needs is an important part of financial literacy.

    #8 An Activity

    Another great savings opportunity can be helping your kid save for a fun activity they have been wanting to try. Whether it is a trip to the local zoo, a movie date with friends, or a pizza party, having your kids save for an activity can teach them about saving money.

    Use this as an opportunity to show your kids how saving to do something fun with people they love is even more rewarding.

    Learning about money is a challenge, but it is essential to your children’s ability to build a full life in the future. The more you teach your child now, the better prepared they will be for the challenges of adulthood, financial +otherwise.

  • Black Friday Deals for Bloggers
    Mom Blogger Resources

    18 Black Friday (+ Cyber Monday) Deals for Bloggers

    November 25, 2020 / No Comments

    It turns out Black Friday isn’t just for getting a bargain on that SmarTV you’ve been eyeing. I came across a TON of Black Friday (+ Cyber Monday) deals for bloggers + Moms. It’s deals on everything from legal contracts for your service to Mommy + me outfits + blogging courses (+ everything in between).

    Freebies for Bloggers

    1. Blog Plan: Suzi Whitford is one of my favorite mom bloggers. She shares a ton of free information on how to start a blog + run a blog that makes money in her free Blog Plan.

    2. Stupid Simple SEO FREE Masterclass: Mike Pearson is my all-time favorite SEO expert. His free masterclass gives you amazing information that works for boosting your search engine rankings. It worked so well for my blogs that I bought his paid course but this one is FREE.

    3. Launch Your Dream Website: BluChic is one of my favorite template designers. They offer a free email course to help you plan, build + launch your dream website.

    4. Affiliate Course + Funnel: Ana from The She Approach offers a free email course on how to set up a successful affiliate marketing strategy + learn how to make a passive income with your blog. 

    50% Off Black Friday Deals for Bloggers

    5. Digital + Social Media Content Creation Packages: Save 50% on my monthly retainer packages. Monthly content creation (blog posts, Pinterest pins, social media updates + more starting at $150/month). Use Coupon Code BF20.

    40% Off Black Friday Deals for Bloggers

    6. Legal Contracts: Your Legal BFF is offering 40% off all of their legal contract templates.

    7. The Contract Shop: Save up to 40% on contract templates + bundles.

    8. Pinterest Ninja: Save 40% on Megan Johnson’s Pinterest Ninja course. I took this course + it exploded my Pinterest (in a good way). If you’re looking to leverage the power of Pinterest for your blog, this is the course for you. 

    35% Off Black Friday Deals for Bloggers

    9. Blog Traffic eBook: Ana from The She Approach offers a step-by-step guide to growing a blog, building an army of loyal readers + getting your blog traffic up to at least 50,000 pageviews. Use Coupon Code SAVE35.

    10. Affiliate Marketing Bundle: Ana from The She Approach offers a step-by-step guide to earning your first $1,000 in affiliate commissions that helps you master every aspect of affiliate marketing that a blogger needs to know. Use Coupon Code SAVE35.

    11. 500+ Affiliates Program Masterlist: Ana from The She Approach offers a list of 500+ affiliate programs in 17+ niches that can help any blogger find the best + highest paying products available. Use Coupon Code SAVE35.

    12. Pinterest eBook: Ana from The She Approach offers a step-by-step guide to growing a Pinterest presence + growing your blog traffic by fully automating your pinning schedule. Use Coupon Code SAVE35.

    13. EBook Bestseller Bootcamp: Ana from The She Approach offers a step-by-step video course that teaches bloggers how to write, launch + sell their first (or next) bestselling eBook.

    30% Off Black Friday Deals for Bloggers

    14. Blog by Number Course: Suzi Whitford takes you step-by-step in this paint-by-number type course to start, grow + monetize your blog. I took Suzi’s course when I first started blogging + she just updated it so it has all the latest information, strategies + more when it comes to blogging + making money from blogging. Use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2020.

    15. Blog by Number eBook: If an eBook is more your style (the eBook is included in the course), check out Suzi Whitford’s eBook on starting a blog, growing it + monetizing it to make money as a blogger. Use Coupon Code BLACKFRIDAY2020.

    16. WordPress Themes + Design Templates: Bluchic is offering 30% off all of their products, including WordPress themes, Canva templates + more.

    25% Off Black Friday Deals for Bloggers

    17. Restored316: Restored316 offers website + blog templates. For Black Friday + Cyber Monday, they’re offering 25% off on all their products.

    20% Off Black Friday Deals for Bloggers

    18. Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing: If you’re trying to up-level your game when it comes to affiliate marketing, check out Michelle Schroeder’s course. I took it + LOVED it. Use Coupon Code BLACKFRIDAY20SALE.

    Black Friday Deals for Bloggers
    Black Friday Deals for Bloggers
    Black Friday Deals for Bloggers
    XOXO, Kristie
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  • Raising Girls

    10 Mom Bag Essentials I Have For Summer Fun

    June 21, 2020 / No Comments

    Summer is a season of spontaneity + on-the-go fun. Friends may pop up with an unexpected invite to the pool, beach, or local water park.

    If you’re a busy mom of kids who doesn’t want to miss the action, it can definitely benefit you + your family if you get organized!

    I always have these 10 mom bag essentials for summer fun stocked at all times.

    What Are My 10 Mom Bag Essentials For Summer Fun?

    I am glad you asked. These are the items you want to keep in your bag of tricks 🙂

    #1 Swim Gear

    Since you never know when an impromptu swim time or water play opportunity may present itself, keep one swimsuit per family member in your bag.

    #2 Sun Protection

    Always, always, always have sunscreen in your bag.

    A clean sunscreen with a high SPF (sun protection factor) protects skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

    Brimmed hats such as baseball caps, fishing hats + bonnets for babies will all help to shield tender skin from UV rays that cause sunburn + can lead to skin cancer.

    #3 Extra Clothes

    Afternoons spent at the beach, unexpected dinner invites after a day at the pool, meet-ups at the park post-swim lesson (+ just the yuck your kids tend to get all over them throughout the day) are all good reasons to bring an extra change of clothes for kids when out + about in the summertime.

    Hey, Mama, don’t forget to drop your own bathing suit, cover-up + an extra set of clothes to make a quick change into dry clothing + move on with the fun without skipping a beat.

    #4 Summer Footwear

    Typical summer footwear includes flip-flops for the beach, pool, camping showers + just hanging around on a hot day.

    You may also want sneakers with socks so that kids can play sports. Water shoes, too, are another good addition to your mom bag essentials.

    Since all of these shoes can really weigh down the bag you carry, you can also store a bag of shoes in your car so they are handy if you need them.

    #5 Small Toys + Books

    Younger children may require toys, games, books + activities to occupy them on long or long-ish car trips, or during down-time on a day at the beach, in the park, or on summer vacation.

    Items you can keep in your mom bag:

    • Books
    • Deck of playing cards
    • Small games
    • Crossword puzzles
    • Mad Libs
    • Coloring books
    • Sticker books

    Change out the activities periodically to keep things fresh + interesting.

    #6 Snacks

    No mom bag would be complete without kid-friendly snacks.

    Popular favorites that you can throw + keep in your bag include wrapped + sealed snacks such as:

    • Crackers
    • Chips
    • Cookies
    • Graham crackers
    • Cheese-and-cracker packs
    • Peanut butter-and-cracker packs
    • Dried fruits such as raisins
    • Chewy fruit snacks
    • Granola bars
    • Cereal-and-fruit bars

    If you’re stocking your bag for the day you can include items such as:

    • Sliced fruit
    • Cheese
    • Cut veggies

    A smart solution for perishables such as watermelon chunks, carrot sticks, celery sticks, berries + other fresh produce is to purchase a reusable vinyl “food bag” that you can drop into your mom bag before you head out with the kids each day.

    #7 Drinks

    Along with snacks, another mom bag essential is drinks.

    Most popular for the kiddos is:

    • Water
    • Juice boxes/pouches

    You can use stainless-steel water bottles that can be refilled with ice + water or juice.

    #8 Bug Repellent

    You’re also going to include some bug spray as part of your mom bag essentials.

    For moms who prefer safer, environmentally friendly products, there are a growing number of chemical-free choices in insect repellent.

    You can find essential oil + Neem-oil based options you can put in a take-along spray bottle, or as an oil that you can apply directly to the skin.

    You can even mix your own insect repellent at home using:

    • Clove oil
    • Peppermint oil
    • Lemongrass oil +/or citronella or rose geranium

    There are also stretchy bracelets that come wrapped in sealed plastic packaging, which have been soaked in an essential-oil based mixture. Pop a few of these in your mom bag on your way out for the day.

    #9 Plastic/Wet Bag

    Keep one or more plastic bags or a wet bag in your mom bag.

    Use them to store wet bathing suits + towels while traveling home from the seashore, lake, or pool. A plastic bag comes in handy to dispose of trash, such as food wrappers from the kids’ snacks.

    #10 Hair Ties + Small Brush

    With three girls, I also keep a supply of hair ties + a small brush in my mom bag. Perfect for pulling hair into ponytails for swimming + brushing out the snarls from wet hair before it dries into a matted mess.

    If all of this sounds like too much to fit into one tote bag to lug around all summer, don’t worry.

    You can stow away items in your trunk + swap them in + out of your mom bag, as needed.

    XOXO, Kristie

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    How To Teach Phonics For Kindergarten In A Fun Way

    September 29, 2020 / No Comments

    I have three girls. One is in 2nd grade. One is in kindergarten. One is in preschool.

    The kindergartner and I have been working on letters + phonics for over a year now. The struggle is real, ya’ll.

    I am always on the lookout for options of how to teach phonics for kindergarten in a fun way.

    I think I may have found it in these two books…

    Amazon.com: Jolie Canoli Phonics The Vowels: Every Sound They Say  (9780999670187): Canoli, Jolie: Books

    How To Teach Letters For Kindergarten

    When these two books arrived in the mail + I ripped open the envelope to pull out the two books, my 5-year-old kindergartner was immediately interested.

    The bright colors on the cover demand attention. The letters dancing around are entertaining. My daughter instantly started pointing out letters that she knows.

    That night, as we were going through our bedtime routine, she sat down to pull out the books.

    We read every single page.

    She was totally engrossed.

    She pointed out letters + words that started with the letter featured on the page. She truly enjoyed the “stories” behind the letters.

    So how do you use these books to teach phonics + letters to a kindergartner?

    You simply read them to your child + let your child explore the pages on her own + with you.

    Fun Supplements To The Books

    These colorful printed books are a great way to share letters + phonics with my kindergartner so she can learn while she thinks she is just having fun!

    Here are some additional ways you can help your kiddo learn letters that go along with the book:

    • Have them write their letters using shaving cream
    • Use playdough to shape the letters
    • Form scraps of paper into the letter, adding details that turn it into a person, place or thing that starts with the letter (For example, add an alligator snout + teeth to an A.)
    • Have your kiddo write the letter in the air with their finger
    • Roll letter blocks + have your child identify the letter that is face-up in the block
    • Play Junior Scrabble
    • Create songs that teach them how to spell words or their name
    • Use flatbottom marbles to create letters
    • Use coins to form letters
    • Print dot worksheets + use Bingo daubers to dot the shape of the letters
    • Write letters on a piece of paper + have your child trace over the letters with a highlighter or marker
    • Shape your bodies into letters (a la YMCA-style)
    • Coloring pages (Check out Jolie Canoli’s free coloring page)

    We have used all of these options to help our kindergartner get a grip on her letters + phonics. It hasn’t been an easy road but she has almost mastered all of her letters + we had some (tears +) FUN along the way.

    The song option helped her learn how to spell her name at the beginning of her pre-K year. Of course, what works for my child might not work for your child so test out some things to see which are the most effective + the most FUN for you + your child.

    But, seriously, I highly recommend you check out Jolie Canoli phonics for yourself. I think you + your child will enjoy this fun option for learning vowels + the alphabet.

  • Mom Blogger Resources

    Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs

    April 23, 2019 / No Comments

    I admit it. I’m a marketing junkie. I love pretty things that glitter + shine. I’m addicted to shows like Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant + Outlander (don’t judge me). You can find a People magazine in my hand from time to time (+ I do read it cover to cover).

    But, back to the marketing junkie confession. These are some of my favorite marketing blogs. Reading them helps keep my up to date on the happenings in my world (+ probably yours if you own or run (or own + run) a business or blog.

    Quick Sprout

    Honestly, I receive Neil Patel’s emails, which is Quick Sprout’s founder + blog writer, to alert me when a new post is up on the blog. In other words, I don’t go specifically to the blog every day. I read his email intro + click on the link if it’s something of interest to me.

    I wouldn’t say what he offers is cutting edge stuff to someone who has been online or working in the world of marketing recently. What he does offer is great reminders on what we all SHOULD be doing with our marketing online. If you’re a novice, you’ll think he’s a genius, however.

    (AND, he might just be one since he has helped some major players turn their businesses into forces to be reckoned with.)

    From time to time, he does offer some great suggestions on apps or sites to check out for your marketing efforts.

    Digital Marketer

    Digital Marketer is another great one to follow. They share some pretty intriguing ways to drive traffic to your site. They share a ton of info about converting your visitors into buyers. They are obsessed with putting systems into place to create a sales + marketing funnel that works for your business.

    I’ve picked up some great tips—some that I definitely use in my daily content marketing + online marketing antics.

    Melissa Cassera

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Melissa. She talks a great deal about your business being your guilty pleasure + about having a business crush. I am pretty sure that I might be crushin’ on Melissa. Anywho…

    Her bestie is also a copywriter + since I am a copywriter, this might just make Melissa a little nearer + dearer to me 🙂

    Melissa puts a public relations + sales spin on marketing. She delves a bunch into content marketing, but she focuses her attention on teaching you how to create RAVING FANS that cannot get enough of you + your business.

    I completed her 5-day business challenge, Obsessed I dove (face first) into her guide The Irresistible Business Challenge. Yum-my! Delicious content that I can eat with a spoon.

    What Do You Read?

    Do we share any top fave business blogs? What are your favorite blogs to read?

    XOXO, Kristie
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  • Girl Mom Reviews

    Angel Food Cake Recipe

    October 14, 2019 / No Comments

    Broiled Angel Food Cake with Maple Whipped Cream

    Once you’ve tried broiled angel food cake, there is a good chance you’re never going to want it any other way. With a crisp, golden brown crust reminiscent of toasted marshmallows + that tender melt-in-your-mouth interior you’ve come to expect from angel food cake, this is sure to become one of your favorite go-to dessert recipes for fast + delicious results.

    This recipe can be made with your favorite homemade angel food cake recipe or with the store-bought variety. However, if you buy a pre-made cake, look for one that is not packaged inside a disposable baking pan. The exterior of cakes sold like this tend to be very sticky, which makes them more difficult to slice. Look for one that is packaged with just plastic wrap around it for protection, instead.

    Ingredients:

    • 1 pint heavy whipped cream
    • 1-2 T. real maple syrup
    • 1 angel food cake, homemade or purchased
    • 5 T. unsalted butter, melted
    • 1 pint fresh strawberries, washed, hulled + cut into chunks or slices
    • ½ pint fresh blueberries, washed

    Directions

    In a large glass bowl, blend 1 pint of heavy whipping cream with a hand or immersion blender until it doubles in size + changes texture. Then, drizzle maple syrup into the bowl + continue blending until the mixture is light + fluffy. Set aside.

    Place your oven’s top rack on the highest setting + turn the broiler on high. 

    Due to its round shape, angel food cake is normally cut into a series of wedges. However, the pieces are not going to brown evenly under the broiler if cut like this.

    Instead, carefully slice the angel food cake with a sharp knife into equally thick sections by making a series of parallel 2” wide cuts, starting on one side of the cake + working toward the opposite side. Trim the pieces so they are all approximately the same size. The result should be uniformly sized pieces that will brown evenly.

    Place the angel food cake slices on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper + brush the top with melted butter. Turn over each piece + repeat on the other side.

    Place baking sheet under the broiler until a golden-brown crust starts to form. (You may need to rotate the baking sheet to get uniform results).

    Keep a close eye on the cake during this time because it can burn very quickly. Once toasted, remove baking sheet from oven + turn over each piece of angel food cake. Place back under the broiler + toast the remaining side until golden brown.

    To serve, arrange toasted slices on individual serving plates + top with maple whipped cream + fresh berries.  

    Angel Food Cake Recipe
    Angel Food Cake Recipe
    Angel Food Cake Recipe
    Angel Food Cake Recipe
    XOXO, Kristie
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  • 26 Mother-Daughter Dates Ideas
    Raising Girls

    26 Mother-Daughter Date Ideas

    October 15, 2019 / No Comments

    Ahhhhh…the mother-daughter relationship. It can be a tricky one but it can also be a totally fulfilling one. Here are 26 mother-daughter date ideas to do together.

    #1 Put Together a Puzzle



    While I am not a huge fan of puzzles, my girls LOVE puzzles. It’s also a great activity for young girls to do. So pull out a big puzzle that you can put together together. My girls especially love the HUGE floor puzzles but a table puzzle works just as well.

    #2 Go on One-on-One Mother-Daughter Dates

    With three girls in the mix, it can be challenging to spend quality time with each of them alone. While child experts say it’s more about quality time (can be as little as 10 minutes a day) than it is about quantity, plan regular one-on-one dates with each of your daughters. Let them pick an activity that they want to do with you + you alone.

    #3 Have a Dance Party

    Put your fave jams from iTune on your SmarTV + jam! My girls love music (+ so do I). We blast songs from different genres + times, dance, sing + have fun! Dancing around the living room can also be a great workout for you + your littles.

    #4 Read a Book

    My oldest started learning to read last year so she’s still doing a lot of practice reading. Every night, we read at least one book together. I have her read me a book that is at her level. Sometimes, we read chapter books together, where I read one chapter to her each night. The other two girls often sit in or we read with them separately.

    #5 Movie Night

    We tend to do this when my husband is traveling. We make a blanket bed on the floor in the living room with tons of blankets + pillows. We pick a movie to watch together while we munch on pizza + popcorn (+ sometimes ice cream). If you’re feeling financially fit, you can also head out to the movies to see a movie on the big screen.

    #6 Go to a Concert

    We have enjoyed everything from kid concerts outside to jazz concerts with the girls. As they get older, your daughter is sure to have a band or musician that she adores so buy her tickets as an experience gift + be her plus 1 for the concert.

    #7 Go on a Scavenger Hunt

    You can take this one a couple of different ways. You can create a neighborhood scavenger hunt, where you create a list of items to find as you traipse around your neighborhood. You can take it a step further + create a list of items to find around the town or city where you live.

    Since we live right outside of D.C., we can do this with monuments, historical spots, battlefields, etc.

    #8 Start a Business

    Our girls are more tech savvy than ever before. Ali Martinez runs an online girl’s clothing boutique from home with her two girls. Ali says being able to run the business from home allows her to spend time with her girls while she’s working + gives the girls a chance to see how her hard work helps to keep their family thriving. Depending on how old your girls are, they can help with things like prepping orders for shipping or creating a masterpiece on your invoice to add a special touch.

    #9 Participate in Afternoon Tea

    In our area, it’s Tea with Mrs. B. There’s likely one in your area, too. Get dressed up for the afternoon + head to the tea room for some tea (or lemonade for the girls) + yummies. Mrs. B has a warehouse full of dress up for the girls + she also gives a quick rundown of table manners before the official tea starts.

    #10 Conduct a Science Experiment

    My girls are always mixing up potions + are very interested in science experiments. It’s not really my thing but they love it so to foster this love for science + to watch their little faces light up, we subscribe to Green Kid Crafts STEM boxes, so that new experiments arrive on schedule + we always have some activities to do together.

    #11 Visit a Farm

    We are lucky enough to have several farm visit options in our area. Find a farm that is within driving distance to your home. Spend the day petting + feeding the animals. Many farms also have people that explain to you how a farm works, hay rides + more for the girls to enjoy.

    #12 Create Care Packages for the Homeless

    I am borrowing this idea from my daughter’s vacation bible camp. Stock pile some supplies + gallon storage bags. Spend an hour or two with your daughter filling the storage bags with items such as a:

    • Bottle of water
    • Toothbrush
    • Toothpaste (small tube)
    • Small notepad
    • Pen
    • Shampoo (sample size)
    • Granola/energy bar
    • Lip balm
    • Deoderant (trial size)

    Keep the filled bags in your car or bag. When you’re out + about + see someone who is homeless, give them one of the bags. My daughter really enjoys filling these bags with items people without homes need. Giving them to someone is a life lesson in empathy, humanity + kindness.

    #13 Plant a Garden

    Plant a veggie or flower garden with your daughter. You can spend some quality time in the great outdoors + teach her about caring for live things. She’ll rejoice in the fruits of her labor as her veggies + flowers grow. We also did this with trees. We live in a wooded area + had to take some trees down for our safety + the safety of our home.

    We bought at least 3x the amount the of trees that we cut down to replant with our girls. We taught them about replenishing + how trees provide us with the oxygen that we need to breathe!

    #14 Volunteer

    Spend a day (or more) volunteering with your daughter. Choose an organization that is near + dear to your hearts. Volunteer at a nursing home, hospital, animal shelter or soup kitchen. One of my daughters attended a Kids Give Back summer camp, where each day they made or assembled items for a charity or cause. She had a lot of fun but she also learned about helping others.

    #15 Have a Dinner Date

    Make reservations at a fancy restaurant. Get dressed up + go on a dinner date with your daughter. The conversation tends to be fascinating when you are focused on each other + enjoying your delicious meals.

    #16 Hit an Orchard

    Depending on the month, find out what is in season + go picking! Pick apples, strawberries, pumpkins or whatever is in season in your area that particular month! When your bring your pickings home, eat them as is or find ways to turn them into new creations, like apple pie.

    #17 Bake for a Neighbor

    Bake cookies or a pie together. Deliver the baked goods to a friend or neighbor. If you bake enough, you can deliver the items to several friends or neighbors rather than just one.

    #18 Spa Day

    You don’t have to go to a fancy spa to have a spa day when you can bring the fancy spa to your house. Amber Spence has two girls. She says on a lazy Saturday , she + her girls put on their robes, do their nails, a facial + their hair. I remember I let one of my girls do my makeup. I am pretty convinced the then 4 year-old did a better job of it than I could.

    #19 Be a Tourist

    Every town or city has something for tourists. If it’s not your city or town then find the closest tourist attractions. Spend the day doing things a tourist would do if they visited your area. Go to a museum, find the best restaurant in town + eat there, take photos with statues + monuments + in front of exhibits (when the museum allows).

    #20 Play Board Games

    Host a board game day or night. Let your daughter pick a few of her favorite games + spend time together playing. Board games teaches your daughter many skills while you get to spend time together.

    #21 Cuddle with Cats at a Cat Lounge

    Find a cat lounge in your area. A cat lounge is a location where kittens + cats lounge. You can visit with them, cuddle with them + play with them. It’s a great activity for cat lovers that might now have a furry feline at home (or even if you do, you can spend some time with other kitties).

    If you + your daughter are more dog people than cat people, then visit a shelter + cuddle with dogs + puppies instead.

    #22 Cook Together

    My oldest two girls are intrigued by what I am doing in the kitchen. Have your daughter pick a recipe + cook it with her. Walk her through the steps of mixing the ingredients + working through the steps to get the food from the stove (or oven) to the table. Then, you can enjoy the meal together.

    #23 Try a New Ice Cream Place

    Check out a new ice cream place. If you + your daughter are feeling especially adventurous, try out a new ice cream flavor. We had this on our bucket list last summer + discovered a delicious local ice cream shop that makes their own ice cream + sells mini scoops so you can get 5 mini scoops of different flavors to try instead of one (or more) big scoops of one flavor. Genius, if you ask me 🙂

    #24 Walk the Runway

    When my girls get new clothes, they love to have a “fashion show.” They make me the announcer + then they strut their stuff down the runway (OK, the hallway + into the living room). They think it is so fun. When I get my Stitch Fix box, they make me do the same thing. They have me try on my clothes + strut my stuff on the runway. It is a lot of fun!

    #25 Nail It!

    Pick a DIY project on Pinterest that you + your daughter can tackle together. Follow the instructions. Take pictures to document the process of your project. Take final “after” pictures. Compare it to the picture on Pinterest to see if your Nailed It (or not).

    #26 Go on a Girls’ Weekend

    Plan an overnight or weekend getaway for you + your daughter(s). Maybe you spend the weekend at a nice hotel + spa. Maybe you jet off to her favorite amusement park. Visit the local eateries, museums + other must-see spots while you’re in town.

    The mother-daughter relationship is a special one. Use these 26 ideas as inspiration for the next activity or date night you have with your daughter.

    mother-daughter date ideas
    XOXO, Kristie
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  • Subscription Boxes for Girls
    Girl Mom Reviews,  Raising Girls

    7 Subscription Boxes For Girls

    October 16, 2019 / 1 Comment

    I might be a little bit addicted to subscription boxes so my girls come by it naturally. I mean, what is better than receiving a box full of goodies in the mail? Check out these seven subscription boxes for girls. They are some of mine and my girls’ faves!

    1. Girl-A-Tude

    So first of all, I love graphic t-shirts and the Girl-A-Tude subscription box comes with a new girl-power t-shirt each month. It also comes with a peer-to-peer note that is personalized for your daughter + other small gifts that go with the monthly theme.

    Some of the goodies that have landed in the Girl-A-Tude box are a sling bag, personalized koozie, personalized 100 piece puzzle, giant blow up pool noodle, sequin mermaid key chain + sunglasses.

    2. Two Pink Balloons

    Two Pink Balloons is a subscription box full of handcrafted busy bags + educational activities that provide parents with a toolkit of activities to grab for on the go to help reduce the dependency on screen time, but also provide wonderful small moments of connection between parents + children.

    I have to say that my girls LOVE felt + felt boards so this subscription box is right up their alley.

    3. Confident-Crate

    Confidence is something a lot of young girls (+ girls in general) deal with. Confident-Crate helps boost confidence in girls with its monthly subscription boxes. It is for girls age 5-12 + comes with three full-size bath + body products + three additional items to help raise confident girls.

    Some of the items included in past boxes are sugar scrubs, lip balms, bath bombs, pop culture pins, patches + socks.

    4. Mom + Me

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Mom + Me box. It is made for mothers + daughters to share together. Each box comes with 9-12 full-size items such as spa items, matching items, fun accessories or activities for mothers + daughters to do together like a journal with prompts to fill out.

    I am always looking for mother-daughter date ideas to share with my girls but sometimes I have a hard time coming up with new ideas. The Mom + Me box solves this problem.

    5. Dream Girl Box

    The Dream Girl Box is the ultimate girl empowerment subscription box for girls. It’s a quarterly box with its own theme of girl power. The themes focus on goal setting, life skills + social media for girls + parents of girls.

    The Follow Your Heart theme box included a goal setting activity, journal, “Follow Your Heart” clutch, pencil case, planner stickers + a beaded bracelet.

    6. Em and Liz

    Em and Liz is another great monthly subscription box for girls. Each month has a theme + includes items such as age-appropriate beauty products, accessories, jewelry + more based on the theme. Each box also includes two sheets of theme-based stationary to encourage creative expression.

    7. Smarty Skirts

    If your daughter is a history buff or you want her to be then the Smarty Skirts subscription box for girls is perfect! Each box features a famous woman in history. All of the items + activities are based on this sensational woman.

    Boxes include stories, games, pictures, puzzles + activates to encourage hands on learning for everything from sports to science dedicated to a different woman in history.

    XOXO, Kristie
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  • Girl Mom Reviews

    Carrot Cake Smoothie Recipe

    July 14, 2020 / No Comments

    This healthy + delicious smoothie tastes more like a decadent dessert than a nutritious way to start the day.

    The natural sweetness of the orange + carrots is balanced by a trio of complementary spices, while a spoonful of homemade coconut whipped cream serves as the perfect finishing touch.

    Tip: For best results, use coconut milk that does not contain guar gum to make the whipped cream.

    Prep time: 10 minutes        
    Serves: 2

    Coconut Whipped Cream Ingredients:
    1 13.5-oz. can coconut milk, chilled
    1-2 T. maple syrup (optional)
    1 t. orange zest (optional)

    Smoothie Ingredients:
    1 c. coconut milk
    1 large banana, cut into chunks and frozen
    2 large stalks celery, roughly chopped
    1 large orange, peeled
    4 large carrots, roughly chopped
    ¾ t. cinnamon
    ¾ t. ground allspice
    ½ t. ground nutmeg
    4-6 ice cubes

    Optional Garnish:
    Ground cinnamon
    Finely chopped walnuts

    Directions:

    1. Chill coconut milk in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. To prepare, remove can from refrigerator without shaking or turning + remove lid. Scoop out the solidified “cream” from the top of the can + transfer to a mixing bowl. Reserve remaining liquid coconut milk to use in smoothie.
    2. Add maple syrup + orange zest, if desired, to mixing bowl + blend until light + airy. Allow coconut cream to warm up slightly before blending if lumps persist. Cover + place bowl in the refrigerator until ready to use.
    3. Add the coconut milk + frozen banana to a high-speed blender + blend until smooth, around 30 seconds.
    4. Add celery, orange, carrots, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg + ice cubes. Blend on high speed until completely combined + creamy, approximately 1-2 minutes.
    5. Pour into glasses + top with a scoop of coconut whipped cream. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon or finely chopped walnuts, if desired + serve immediately. Enjoy!
    XOXO, Kristie
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  • nighttime potty training
    Raising Girls

    7 Tips for Nighttime Potty Training Girls

    September 12, 2019 / 1 Comment

    My oldest daughter was finally potty trained right after she turned 3. She was a nightmare in potty training, to say the least. I won’t get into the long convoluted story.

    My second daughter potty trained herself by the age of 2. I’m almost convinced God gave me a pass since my first daughter was such a nightmare.

    The baby hasn’t started yet so she’s an unknown. 🙂

    Nighttime potty training was a bit of a different animal. Similar to their day potty training, my oldest daughter was waking up with a totally soaked nighttime pull-up while the middle daughter woke up dry or 99% dry almost every morning.

    Nighttime Potty Training

    I had talked to other mothers + I had talked to the pediatrician + both said nighttime training is harder + best left to allowing it to happen naturally. While that theory seemed to be working with the just turned 4-year-old, it was lost on the just turned 6-year-old.

    At her 6-year-old wellness checkup, I spoke to the pediatrician again. He told me to rip the bandaid. He said a pull-up was acting as a crutch. He said to send them to bed without a pull-up + to give it a try for a month or so. If that didn’t work, he suggested a bed wetting alarm.

    If the bed wetting alarm didn’t work, then he said they would send her to a specialist to see if there was anything physically wrong or if it was more of a behavior issue.

    First Nighttime Potty Training

    That night, when my husband arrived home, I told him what the doctor suggested. We decided to go with it. We had a mattress cover on their mattress.

    We cut liquids off 1/2 an hour before bedtime. We had them brush their teeth + use the bathroom before climbing into bed. We woke both of them up to use the bathroom again before my husband + I went to bed.

    I went to sleep expecting to be woken up in the middle of the night with soaked sheets + kiddos (or at least one kiddo). At the every least, I expected when they woke the next morning, one or both would be wet, if not soaked.

    To my surprise, neither of those things happened. BOTH girls woke up COMPLETELY dry.

    Beginner’s luck, right?

    Nope.

    Every night since we started, we go through the same routine + both girls wake up completely dry.

    I am not suggesting this works for every child. I am not suggesting that it’s going to work for your child. I am saying that it worked for two out of three of my girls. If you have concerns about day or nighttime potty training for your child, talk with your child’s doctor.

    Nighttime Potty Training Tips

    Every child is different. I also hear that nighttime training boys can differ from training girls. I wouldn’t know anything about that but here are some tips to help you start nighttime training when you + your kiddo is ready.

    • Start after daytime trained. Make sure that your child is completely potty trained before even thinking about approaching nighttime training. We waited close to 3 years + 2 years, respectively, with our girls before attempting a more formal nighttime training process.
    • Assess the situation. I had nighttime accidents until I was about 7 or 8. It wasn’t an every night thing but an occasional accident here + there. I also read that bedwetting can be hereditary so I always chalked my oldest daughter’s bedwetting to something she might have happened upon naturally. It turns out that she was likely just afraid of the dark so with her new bathroom routine at night and leaving some lights on, she gets to the bathroom in the middle of the night if she needs to go.
    • Cut out liquids. Some parents start cutting liquids out after dinner. We cut them out about 1/2 an hour before bedtime (so 7:30 for an 8 pm bedtime).
    • Create a bathroom routine. Have your child use the bathroom before they go to bed + again before you go to bed. The second time is optional so do what you think works best for you + your child. Have them use the bathroom again as soon as they wake up in the morning.
    • Expect accidents. We have had a good run of dry nights so far. I expect we still have some accidents in our future + that’s totally OK. I’ll take it. Expect that your child is going to have some dry nights + some nights where they have accidents.
    • You can wait it out. You certainly have the option of waiting it out. My plan was to have the girls wear pull-ups until they were waking up dry for a couple of months. While the 4-year-old was pretty much there, this plan wasn’t working for the 6-year-old. You can follow your child’s lead + wait to yank the nighttime pull-ups until they’re waking up dry for a few months.
    • Make a big deal of successes but don’t stress over the accidents. We made a big deal out the mornings when the girl woke up dry with whooping + high fives + praise. We also let them know that accidents are okay, too. So far, we haven’t had any accidents so we’re trying not to stress over it ourselves + avoiding stressing the girls out about any accidents that might occur.

    Now, I’m off to see how I can use all of the money I am now saving on nighttime pull-ups. I also think it’ll cause us to approach nighttime training with our youngest daughter differently than we did with the first two, when the time comes.

    nighttime potty training
    nighttime potty training
    nighttime potty training
    XOXO, Kristie
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