Three Things That You Can Do To Ensure That Your Health Isn’t Declining

One of the things that you are going to need to do in life is make sure that you are taking the best care of your health. You want to ensure that you are in the best possible condition as much as possible, and you want to take care of yourself, not allowing your health to be on the decline with something that you can prevent. The good news is that if you don’t have a clue where to start, we do, so you can keep reading if you would like to find out more about this.

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If You Have An Existing Medical Condition

 

If you have an existing medical condition, then we’re sure that you have some kind of treatment plan that you are supposed to be following. You should be doing this, because it’s giving you the best chance at keeping your illness at bay, and giving you the best life possible. If this means that you need to take certain medications, then take them. If this means that you need to find your closest infusion center, then do that. Whatever it is that you should be doing, you need to be doing it.

 

See Your Doctor On A Regular Basis

 

Another thing that we’re going to say is that you should be going to see your doctor on a regular basis, whether you have a pre existing condition or not. It’s recommended that you see your doctor every six months so that they can check up on all of the different factors that will impact your health. This is important because if there is an issue that you haven’t noticed, it’s best to catch it early so that it can be treated. It’s essential that you are making these visits, and that you’re ensuring you take all relevant information about your health since you last saw your doctor.

 

Make The Necessary Lifestyle Changes

 

Last but not least, it might be time to make some lifestyle changes. As a general rule you should be eating a balanced diet, working out 4-5 times per week, you shouldn’t smoke, you shouldn’t drink excessively, you should not take any kind of illegal substances and so much more. People don’t realize just how much their lifestyle can impact their overall health, but it can be detrimental if you are not careful.

 

If you think that this is where you need to start, look at your lifestyle, and pick two things that you want to change. You can work from there, but don’t try to tackle everything at once as this is never going to work.

 

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do to ensure that your health isn’t declining. The last thing that you need is for your health to end up on the floor, with you wondering how it got there, and doing these things will really help. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage to see success with whatever path you choose to go down.

Mommy Break- 5 Tips To Plan An Evening With Your Besties

If you are a mommy, you’ll need a break from the chaos at some point. That goes for busy professionals and stay-at-home moms because the stress levels run high for both. An evening with your besties is a great way to unwind and relax. 

 

In fact, a mommy break with other moms will make you feel alive again. But planning one may actually seem overwhelming. How to have fun without feeling stressed? Well, you needn’t do a lot to host a girl’s night out. Just trust your instinct and do everything your gang loves. 

 

We’ve got some tips to help you plan a great evening without spending big or making loads of effort. Let’s dive in, shall we?

 

Carve out the time

 

That’s the trickiest part for busy moms, right? You may not get time with your tight schedules. Coordinating with your gang may be even more challenging. But carve time for yourself in the first place. 

Look at your schedule, align it with your besties, and mark a day or night. You need not think of anything else. Ask your partner to hold the fort and enjoy the evening because you deserve it. 

 

Recruit your squad

 

Do you have that group of besties you want to have a good time with? They’ll surely want a break as much as you do. Connect with them and start planning the ultimate night out with them. 

Prepare your guest list in advance so that you don’t miss out on anyone in your group. The more, the merrier!

 

Pick a theme

 

Spice things up by picking a theme for the evening. You can explore ideas like a 90s throwback night, a cozy pajama party, or a glamorous red carpet affair. A games night with a card game like Rubbish Options is a great idea. 

Nothing gets more exciting than the unexpected twists and turns of the game. Music and dance go well with any theme. And do have lots of drinks and snacks at hand. 

 

Keep the memories alive

 

Don’t forget to keep the memories alive, ladies! You can do it by capturing the moments with selfies, videos, and group photos. Create a Whatsapp group, and share them with each other so that you can relive the memories after the night is over. 

You may post some pictures on social media and keep others private with your gang. You don’t need to show everything.

 

Unplug and disconnect

 

You need a real break, moms! So make sure no one calls you when you are with your gang of besties. Ensure everyone follows the rule of unplugging and disconnecting so that you can focus on having a good time together. 

Let your partner take care of your kids and home. Trust them to handle things; they’ll probably surprise you with their efficiency. 

 

Planning a night to remember with your besties is a breeze, provided you do not take it as a chore. Just do what you love and unleash your inner wild child. You deserve a mommy break, so make the most of it! 

 

5 Simple Ways Moms Can Raise Happy Toddlers

 

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-toddler-smiling-1912868/

 

Nothing is more fulfilling than watching your toddler grow up to be happy and content. However, navigating the toddler years can be overwhelming, with tantrums and power struggles being the norm. Incorporating simple practices into your daily routine can help your little one feel loved, secure, and content. From playtime to mealtime, this article will provide some easy and practical ideas for creating a happy and healthy environment for your toddler to thrive in.

Allow Your Toddler to Be Independent

As toddlers grow, they explore their environment and assert their independence. Moms need to give their toddlers the freedom to exercise their independence safely. Let them dress, feed themselves, and make small decisions. Allowing your toddler to do these things will help them gain confidence and self-esteem, which are vital traits to have in a happy childhood. Giving them independence will help them set a strong foundation for the future, allowing them to make sound decisions and take responsibility for their actions.

Create a Safe and Stimulating Environment

Toddlers are curious and thrive in an environment that nurtures their curiosity, keeps them safe, and provides ample opportunities for exploration and play. Creating a safe and stimulating environment can help your toddler feel secure and enhance their joy. Baby-proof your home using safety gates, electrical outlet covers, and lock cabinets to protect your toddler from harm.

 

Design a stimulating environment by providing exciting and safe toys, soft mats to lie on, colorful books to read, and sensory play items to capture their attention and encourage discovery. Creating a peaceful and serene environment that encourages growth and play will lead to a happy toddler.

Encourage Exploration and Discovery

As moms, we all want our toddlers to be happy and curious little beings. Encouraging exploration and discovery is a wonderful way to foster their curiosity and help them grow and learn. Try providing them with various toys that encourage exploration and discovery, like puzzles or blocks, and let them explore different textures, colors, and shapes. Allow them to choose their activities and playtime, and give them plenty of praise and encouragement for their accomplishments.

 

You can also take your child on nature walks, play in the park, collect leaves, draw pictures, and identify new sounds. A quality stroller can help you keep your toddler safe during these activities. It will also make your movement more comfortable and less stressful. Visit diono.com for a range of lightweight, high-quality strollers in fun colors.

Model Positive Behavior

Leading by example is the best way to teach your toddler positive behavior. Model good manners, respect, and kindness in everything you do and say. Encourage your child to express themselves positively, even when frustrated or angry. Show them how to deal with their emotions healthily, like taking deep breaths or counting to five.

Instill a Healthy Lifestyle

Raising a happy toddler goes beyond the mental and emotional aspects and includes the physical side. A healthy lifestyle can help your child grow strong and nurture good habits. Encourage them to engage in age appropriate exercises, eat healthily, get enough sleep, and stay hydrated. Incorporate healthy habits into your daily family routine, such as going for evening walks or cooking healthy meals together. A healthy lifestyle will teach your child how to care for their bodies, leading to a long and happy life.

 

Raising a happy toddler is something all moms strive for. There are many ways to ensure your child’s well-being, from creating a safe and stimulating environment to encouraging exploration and discovery, modeling positive behavior, and instilling a healthy lifestyle. These five simple steps will help you raise a happy and confident toddler who will grow into a healthy and successful adult.

DinoMAYnia National Geographic Kids Book Bundle Giveaway

Welcome to the Come What May Giveaway Hop

 

Enter for your chance to win six dinosaur books from National Geographic Kids (ARV $83.00, US and Canada only)

How to Survive in the Age of Dinosaurs (paperback, ages 8-12, $9.99) —  Boom, boom, BOOM … Look out! That’s a T. rex coming your way!? You’ve been transported back in time to the age of the dinosaurs. What do you do?!
Test your chops and discover if you have what it takes to survive at a time when Earth looked, well, a tad different in this ultimate survival guide to the prehistoric age.Find out how to make it through exploding volcanoes and mega monsoons—while dodging giant Permian bugs! See how to fend off an angry pterosaur and learn what to do if you’re caught in a stampede of enormous titanosaurs. Discover what you could eat (spoiler alert: You better like the taste of insects!), and find out which hungry creatures just might try to eat you!

Packed with tips, tricks, and helpful maps, this is the ultimate handbook for dinosaur fans who want to know what life on Earth was really like when dinos ruled. Could you survive in the age of dinosaurs?
The National Geographic Kids Dinosaur Atlas (hardcover, ages 7-10, $24.99) takes readers on a tour of every dinosaur-inhabited continent, from Pangea to the modern day, revealing which creatures lived there, what their habitats were like and where dinosaur bones are being found today.
Unusually well organized, with plenty of appeal for both casual and confirmed dinophiles” — Kirkus
Special sections introducing the dinosaur family tree, a prehistoric era timeline, the geography of the prehistoric globe, what happened to the dinosaurs, and a dinosaur dictionary (with phonetic pronunciations) are also included.  Readers will find inspiration from profiles of diverse paleontologists from around the world. The oversized hardcover format showcases stunning, full color dinosaur illustrations on every page and the custom-made, kid-friendly maps were created by National Geographic’s legendary cartography and exploration experts.
Vetted and curated by Dr. Steve Brusatte — a paleontologist on faculty at the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburg, a PhD recipient from Columbia University, and the science consultant for the Jurassic World franchise — this atlas contains the most detailed and accurate information not only about dino “fan favorites” but also about the most recent dinosaur discoveries from less explored dig sites around the world.
Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (hardcover, ages 4-8, 128 pages, $14.95) – A #1 best seller on Amazon! The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic, with stunning illustrations. Bursting with fun facts and age-appropriate information, each spread features a different dinosaur, along with simple text in big type that is perfect for little kids. Young dino fans will love the interactivity included in every chapter, and parents will appreciate tips to help carry readers’ experience beyond the page.
Weird But True! Dinosaurs (paperback, ages 8-12, 208 pages, $8.99) – 300 dino-mite facts to sink your teeth into! Perfectly sized for back seat boredom busting, this addition to the wildly popular WBT series is taking on the jaws and claws that ruled the Mesozoic world.  Calling all dino dynamos!  Did you know that the T. rex had vision 13 times better than the average humans? Or that people collect fossilized dino poop? And get this: There’s a dinosaur named after Hogwarts–Harry Potter’s wizarding school! Get ready to meet dinosaurs with horns and feathers, razor-sharp claws and gigantic teeth. You’ll encounter the places they lived, the bizarre art they inspired, and the amazing paleontologists who discovered them.

You Can Be a Paleontologist! with Dr. Scott (hardcover, ages 4-8, $16.99) – Ever wondered how to find a dinosaur? Paleontologist Dr. Scott Sampson, host of Dinosaur Train on PBS Kids, tells kids how! How do paleontologists find dinosaur bones? How do they know what dinosaurs ate or looked like? And what is paleontology, anyway? Dr. Scott tackles all these questions and more while inspiring kids to go out and make the next big dino discovery!

National Geographic Reader: Dinosaurs  (Paperback, ages 3-6. $4.50) Perfect for parents and kids to read together.  Learn all about the giants that once roamed the Earth—maybe even as close as their own backyard! National Geographic Readers’ combination of expert-vetted text, brilliant images, and a fun approach to reading have proved to be a winning formula with kids, parents, and educators. This level 1 text provides accessible information for kids just beginning to read on their own, perfect to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow.

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Graduation Cards Online: Celebrate Your Milestone Online

As graduation season approaches, many graduates face the challenge of celebrating their milestones in a new and unique way. With the rise of virtual events and online communication, sending virtual graduation cards has become popular. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of virtual graduation cards, provide tips for designing them, share virtual graduation card ideas, and discuss how to send them.

 

Benefits of Virtual Graduation Cards

 

Virtual graduation cards offer many benefits, including convenience, affordability, and eco-friendliness. Unlike traditional paper cards, virtual cards can be designed and sent online, which saves time and money. Additionally, virtual cards are more environmentally friendly since they don’t require paper, ink, or postage.

Sending graduation cards online is also a great way to stay connected with friends and family who cannot attend in-person celebrations. With virtual cards, you can easily share your graduation news and accomplishments with loved ones who live far away or cannot travel to attend your graduation.

 

Tips for Designing Virtual Graduation Cards

 

When designing virtual graduation cards, there are a few things to remember. First, choose a design that reflects your personality and style. Whether you prefer a simple and classic design or something more fun and colorful, make sure your card represents you.

Next, consider adding photos or videos to your virtual graduation card. Including images of yourself in your graduation outfit or with your diploma can make your card more personal and meaningful. You can also record a short video message to share with your recipients.

Finally, include essential details like your graduation date, school name, and degree earned. These details will help your recipients remember your milestone and celebrate with you.

 

Virtual Graduation Card Ideas

 

Many virtual graduation card ideas exist, depending on your style and preferences. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

 

Animated cards: Animated cards are a fun and playful way to celebrate graduation. You can choose from various animations, such as confetti, balloons, or fireworks.

 

Photo collage cards: Photo collage cards are a great way to showcase your favorite graduation photos. You can creatively arrange your photos to make a special card.

 

Typography cards: Typography cards use creative typography and design to make a bold statement. You can choose various fonts and colors to make your card stand out.

 

Sending Virtual Graduation Cards

 

Once you’ve designed your virtual graduation card, it’s time to send it to your recipients. There are many ways to send virtual cards, including email, social media, or messaging apps.

If you’re emailing your card, include a personalized message to each recipient. This will make your card more meaningful and show appreciation for their support.

If you’re sending your card via social media or messaging apps, tag your recipients or send them directly. This will ensure that they see your card and can celebrate with you.

 

Benefits of Sending Virtual Graduation Cards on Social Media

 

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer a unique way to share your virtual graduation cards. By posting your card on social media, you can reach a larger audience and receive more congratulatory messages.

In addition, social media platforms allow you to tag your friends and family, making it easy for them to see your card and share in your celebration. You can also use hashtags to connect with other graduates and celebrate together.

However, it’s important to remember that social media platforms are public, so make sure only to share information that you’re comfortable with the world seeing. You can also adjust your privacy settings to control who can see your posts.

 

Conclusion

 

Graduation cards online offer a convenient, eco-friendly, and personal way to celebrate your milestone. Following the tips and ideas outlined in this article, you can create a memorable virtual graduation card that reflects your personality and style.

Whether you send your card via email, social media, or messaging apps, add a personal message to each recipient and include essential details like your graduation date and degree earned. And remember to tag your friends and family, or send the card directly to them to ensure they see and celebrate with you.

So go ahead and design your virtual graduation card, and share your accomplishment with the world!

 

 

 

8 Steps to Change a Child’s Challenging Behavior

Let’s find out about practical steps to help adults facing challenging child behavior.

Set a Goal

It’s good if parents know exactly what the child’s behavior is – unacceptable, threatening, or creating difficulties for himself or herself or those around him or her. Unfortunately, such a situation is rare.

 

Often adults try to educate their children in everything and at once. They make an endless list of demands on the child: excellent grades, a clean room, and “normal” hairstyles. Someone gets a run in the morning with his mother at the stadium.

 

With this approach, the only thing guaranteed to the family is resistance and scandals. So before you take on parenting, think, observe. Compare your requests with reality and stop at 1-3 points in the list of requirements, failure to comply with which causes much difficulty for you and the child.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

At this stage we suggest that you think again carefully about how critical and difficult the behavior of the child is that you would like to change. And how the child’s life and yours would change if he starts to behave differently. Don’t forget: he will become obedient in this aspect not only with you but also with everyone else.

 

Next, learn from books or discuss with a psychologist the natural characteristics of age-related development. Learn about the theory of age crises. You will understand if your child is going through a turning point right now. If so, then perhaps all the observed difficulties in behavior is one of the natural manifestations of age development. You just need to wait it out.

 

Check the legitimacy of the demands made. Do they not violate the rights of the child? Maybe the child has simply grown up, and he is still treated as a child. In that case, the adults are simply trying to enter someone else’s territory.

Become Sherlock Holmes

Give up emotional shouting and abstract phrases like, “He’s driving me crazy!” All you need here are the facts. Try to talk through exactly what your child is doing that makes him crazy. When does he do it? All the time? Perhaps there have been times when he hasn’t? Get rid of labels and generalizations, describing situations that are difficult for you and the child’s actions in specific words.

Explain to the Child What’s Bothering You

At this stage, three-part “self-statements” can be an indispensable tool. This is the most honest and environmentally friendly way to tell the other person what is happening to you and why he or she isn’t acting the way you would like.

 

The wording scheme for the statement is as follows: the first part is about you and your feelings – “I’m angry…”, “I’m afraid…”, “I get upset…”. Remember, there is a fundamental difference between the phrases “I’m angry…” and “You made me angry…”. Because you’re the one who’s angry. And the child just decided to dye his hair green without any intention to piss off the adults.

 

The second part of the statement – the words about the actions of the child that seem difficult. And here it’s important to evaluate the words and actions, but not the qualities of the personality. You should say, “When you listen to music loudly, then…”. But not, “You grew up selfish, so you don’t let me rest…”. It was for the possibility of such specific formulations that you became Sherlocks in the third stage.

 

The third part is to explain why this behavior is difficult and what you would like in return. For example, like this, “I’m really tired today and I have a headache and want to play at the TonyBet login website this evening. Could you please listen to some music on your headphones?” The effect of these phrases is often so powerful that the situation is resolved without further steps.

Look for a Need

If you have researched the situation well, this step will probably not be a difficult task for you. In fact, you need to find the answer to two simple questions. First: why does the child behave this way – what does he want to get? And what does he get if he persists in this behavior? And the second question: does he know the alternative? That is, does he know a more environmentally friendly way to get what he wants? Is there an opportunity for him to get what he wants in your family that way?

Learn How to Get What You Want in a Different Way

If the child knows that his mother will pay attention to him without tantrums, there will be no need for them. If the recognition of bad grades isn’t a reason for punishment, but an opportunity to get support and together find a way out of the situation, there will be no point in lying about the grades. The task of the parent is to expand the boundaries of the child’s experience, to teach him to achieve his goals in a more comfortable and safe way.

Support, Praise, or Let the Consequences Come

Behavioral change, of course, won’t happen in a minute. You have a long way to go, during which it is important to support and praise every “sprout” of new behavior. And it’s also important to remember that supporting good behavior works four times faster, on average, than punishing difficult behavior.

 

So don’t be stingy with praise if a child who previously cheated you has become honest. Pay attention to the washed dishes as emotionally as yelling about the mountain of dirty plates.

 

So what do you do if the difficult behavior doesn’t go away after all? Give the consequences a chance to set in. Unless they pose a threat to the child’s life or health. Didn’t learn his lessons? Fine. You’ll get a “D” tomorrow. Didn’t do the dishes? Fine. We’ll wait for you to wash them – we’ll sit without plates. Remember the needs and reinforcements of difficult behavior, and avoid it.

How To Make The Most Of Every Room In Your Home

Your home needs to be a place you enjoy spending time in, and you should like every room. If you currently have rooms you don’t use or that you think don’t look as great as others, why is that? Could you do anything to make the most of every room instead of shutting the doors and ignoring what you have? The answer is yes, and here are some of the ways you can do it. 

Photo by Esra Afşar

 

Make A Plan

Before you can start with your renovations and changes, you’ll need to have a plan. If you just jump right in, you might find that you run out of time, money, or energy, and that the results are not what you wanted. A plan will ensure you can get everything done, and you’ll have a timeframe to work to. This will stop you from getting overwhelmed, and it will help you when it comes to budgeting as well. 

 

Sometimes it’s the planning itself that can be the problem, especially if you’ve never done any renovating before and don’t know where to start. If you’re really having problems, speaking to experts like those at McEntire Construction Services can help. You’ll get some ideas, costs, and even timeframes, and it might be that hiring experts is the right call in the end anyway. 

 

Make Enough Storage

If you have an entire room in your home (or perhaps an attic or basement) that is solely used for storing old things and items in boxes that you haven’t looked at for a long time, you’re not alone. A ‘junk room’ is a staple of many homes, but it’s a terrible way to make the most of every room. It’s actually taking an entire room away from you. 

 

The best thing to do is declutter and remove everything you don’t need – you’ll probably find there is a lot, and it might surprise you. Once that’s done, think about storage. If you can add enough storage to your rooms, you’ll free up a lot of space and be able to use them all more easily and in the right ways. Add cupboards, shelving, or even furniture with hidden storage, like sofas and coffee tables. Your room will look great, and everything will have a place. 

 

Let In Natural Light 

Natural light is always the best kind of lighting to have, and the more you can allow in a room, the more comfortable and enticing it will be. If you have a room that’s dark and unloved, could it be the lighting that’s the problem? 

 

Think about your windows and whether there is anything blocking them, inside or outside (you might need to cut back on some bushes or shrubs if that’s the case). Look at your window treatments and dressings; are your curtains heavy and dark? You might be blocking natural light in that case. Switch these curtains for lighter ones or even blinds. 

 

If you can’t get any more natural light into the property, add some mirrors to the walls to reflect what light you do have and make things brighter. On top of that, make sure you use light colours to decorate with, and this will instantly make the room much more usable, so you can make the most of it. 

MamatheFox’s 2022 Gift Guide for Kids

 

 Rengöra’s Turtle Wall Art Set

If you are looking for a cute room update for a kid in your life, then you should consider getting the new Turtle Wall Art Set from Rengöra. I just love these adorable detailed metal sea turtle set for ocean and beach decor enthusiasts. Being a green-hued color, these turtles bring beachy charm indoors and outdoors. You can use that as bedroom, bathroom or even beach out decorations.

 

 The Butterfly Swaddle

Do you have a new baby on your shopping list? Looking for a gift that will be useful and appreciated? Consider gifting them a Butterfly Swaddle. Parents all over are falling in love with The Butterfly Swaddle, and you will too! The Butterfly Swaddle is a safe, high-quality, organic, and versatile swaddle that allows a gentle and safe approach to swaddling your baby while the startle reflex is strong and even helps with transitioning them out of the swaddle when they are ready. It is important to acknowledge that all babies are different and every parent knows their child best. The versatility in the uses of the swaddle intuitively allows parents to choose to use the swaddle in the best way they see fit for their baby’s preferences – from very snug and cozy, to gently limited arm movement – all of which leads to better sleep.  This all-in-one swaddle and sleep training system will ease your baby into peaceful sleep and grows with them as they get bigger.

 

 Catch the Moon

Climb through the clouds and reach for the moon! All it takes is a few cleverly placed ladders, a steady hand, and a bit of imagination. Reach for the moon, but don’t stretch yourself too thin, or you may lose the ladders under your feet. With the right mix of suspense and risk taking, you will ascend to success. Dexterity/stacking game with whimsical theme and beautiful design Players take turns rolling a die to determine how they must place their wooden ladder (must touch one other ladder, two other ladders, or be the highest point) Ladders will shift as more pieces are added, adding an element of suspense and unpredictability Raindrops are given to players whose ladders causes the structure to collapse; the winner is the player with the least amount of raindrops at the end of the game.

 

Upbounders®️ Picnic Panic Cooperative Game for Kids

It’s almost picnic time and you’ve got to get ready before your guests arrive! In Upbounders Picnic Panic cooperative game for kids, players work together to gather all the supplies needed to throw an awesome backyard cookout. You’ve got a lot of stuff to gather, but don’t worry – there are shortcuts. About Upbounders The world belongs to kids. They need to feel they belong in the world. This is why at Upbounders everything we do promotes belonging. With high-quality products, we support all families in making sure all our future minds are seen and loved. GAME CONTENTS: (1) game board, (1) oversized wooden die, (4) player pawns, (1) guests pawn, (5) paper stands, (6) target cards, and instructions.

 

 Taco vs Burrito

Created by a Kid +Perfect for everyone. Alex dreamed up Taco vs Burrito at age 7, but this crazy, fun strategic food fight is a smash with kids and adults alike! Ideal for ages from 7-77. This game is easy to learn and quick to play; It takes only a few minutes to learn. Gameplay runs 10-15 minutes. Optimal for 2-4 players. There are 5 ways to play this game. Includes 24 Food Cards, 32 Action Cards, 4 Quick Start Cards, 4 Taco + Burritos and 1 Rule sheet.

 

Double Ditto

Double Ditto is a fast paced family game that can be played with kids 8 years & up to adults. A customizable card game that allows for creativity with answers and has other players guessing the answers of competitors. How to Play: Pick a card, read it aloud, & quickly write down two answers you think others will imagine. Laugh or cry as you discover if you were correct. Find out whose mind is in sync with yours. It may not be who you’d expect! Creativity is key! What You Get: 400 category cards, a 15-second timer, score sheets, & instruction card. Play Time: 25 minutes. (**8 and 9-year-olds with strong reading and writing skills may also enjoy playing, and younger players may “team up” with an adult). Purchase Double Double Ditto Expansion pack on Amazon for extra cards and fun!

 

 Spoof

Spoof is the hilarious bluffing board game that will have you talking and laughing all night. Provides the best party games for adults and family. Be Creative & Fool Your Friends: “Spoof” your friends by making up clever, fake answers to fun trivia such as “_______ is the national bird of Japan.” “_______ is illegal to have on your porch in Arizona.” Be careful with the correct answers! Learn how to play Spoof in just 5 min. Ages 10 plus but younger players may play by teaming up with an adult. 4-8 Players. Playtime is 30 min.

 

Rising Sun Baby Reversible Teether

Teething can be a difficult time for some babies, but with Rising Sun teething rings you can make it easier for them. Offer instant gum relief and keep your little one happy with Rising Sun Baby Reversible Teether in blue, red, pink, yellow or green. This teething toy is made for tiny hands, it’s easy to grip and soothes sore gums in no time! In other words, your child can chew safely, which will ease their discomfort and distract them from any pain. These teething rings are made in Japan with ultra-premium BPA-free and phthalate-free non toxic medical grade silicone (which is far better than food grade). The soft yet durable silicone soothes your child’s gums while acting as a sensory toy. You can safely put them in the freezer or in the dishwasher, making it easy to clean and sterilize them.

 

BraveJusticeKidsCo. 

If there are kids in the house, there are probably lots of snacks in the fridge and pantry, and if there are snacks then there are probably snack cups of some sort. The Snack Attack Baby Snack Cup from BraveJusticeKidsCo. is such a modern, sleek way to carry snacks for the kiddos. Made from 100% silicone, this cup is super easy to clean, and perfect for little hands. Due to the silicone material, the cup is durable enough for kids. This means that it will not rip or break during use, which is obviously a must when kids are handling it. With very large handles, kids will easily be able to hold the cup and reach for food at the same time. This feature makes the cup perfect for stroller and car use – both places and times when kids are needing to be more independent. Many different colors are available to purchase, lots that will appeal to moms of kiddos.

Mabel’s Labels

Giving practical gifts is just as important as “fun” gifts, but these labels are fun and practical! Mabel’s Labels creates labels that stick to many different types of surfaces, even clothing too. These labels are great for keeping track of all kinds of kid items including water bottles, backpacks, shoes, clothes, lunch boxes, pencil pouches, and so much more. All the labels are high quality, washable, and very affordable. Lots of styles, colors, fonts, and shapes are available; personalizing them is super fun! These labels are a great stocking stuffer for any child on your list.

 

 Kids First Huey: The Line-Tracking, Color-Sensing Robot

Learn to code with Huey, your color-sensing robot pal. This kit offers kids a hands-on, screen-free introduction to the world of robotics and coding. With a built-in color sensor, Huey navigates around maps that you create using 81 puzzle-shaped tiles. Huey recognizes the colors of the 32 coding discs, which tell it whether to turn right, turn left, or continue straight. Huey makes fun sounds and movements as it travels around the map, revving its engine as it gets started, and doing a little dance when it reaches home. You can also create your own maps and then challenge your friends to solve them. The possibilities are virtually infinite!

Blobby’s Pizza Math Card Game

As a parent, I love games that include an educational aspect. This winter we are going to keep the kids sharp with math (fractions, decimals and percentages) as they eat their way to victory in the incredibly fun and strategic pizza eating contest between cute monsters! In order to win, you’ll build whole pizzas out of pizza fraction cards and try to get the highest bill. The most fun way to get better at fractions, decimals and percentages! Tabulate your check from the pizza you collected and the whoever has the highest bill wins the game.  Menu prices emphasize addition with decimals while adding another layer of strategic play. A realistic Guest Check score pad makes adding decimals easier, with enough room for annotations, if needed. Also included is a color-coded Tax & Tip “Tip Card” that teaches basic percentage calculations during an advanced play version.

 

 Full of Bull! Dice Bluffing & Mental Math Game

Keeping the educational games rolling with Full of Bull! This dice bluffing and mental math game by multi-award winning Semper Smart Games that helps kids master multiplication and addition. Suitable for younger kids who are working on higher digit multiplication tables or older kids who need mental math practice.  Includes a dice rolling cup with viewing window and dry-erase bidding puck double as a convenient game container for fun on the go. Win bids to win points! Players use two shared dice and two hidden dice (under cup) to calculate bids, or use chips or bluffs to increase your bid. Multiply the two highest dice and add two lower dice (from hidden and shared dice) to produce a bid total and then write bids on the bidding puck. Players can use correct math–or bluff–when bidding. But watch out, opponents can earn points by calling Bull! or lose points when a bluff is called! This is a great game for kids in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.

 

Don’t Go Boom

Your Mission? Don’t Go Boom! Get the lowest score in 3 rounds by totaling up the numbers on each player’s minefield cards. Watch out for Big Bad Bomb cards, they’re worth 15 points each. Explosively fun card games by Inspiration Play. Inspired by the parlor card game, Golf. Family card games are where it’s at! Improve your kids counting and math skills while having fun and ditching virtual play. Our travel games for kids help teach your child social skills, math, and the art of kicking some serious butt.

 

 Happy Little Dinosaurs

Lately, it feels like we’re all just dinosaurs trying to avoid the falling meteors. In this game, you’ll try to dodge all of life’s little disasters. You might fall into a pit of hot lava or get ghosted by your dino date, but the dino who survives it all wins the game! Base Game: Includes 97 standard-sized cards total (28 Disaster cards), 4 Dinosaur Player Boards, 4 Dinosaur Meeples, and 1 Rulebook. In Happy Little Dinosaurs, the first person to reach 50 points, or be the last Dinosaur standing, wins the game! During each round, you’ll flip a Disaster card featuring a Natural, Predatory, or Emotional disaster. Each player will play a Point card in hopes of collecting points and avoiding the disaster. Will you successfully dodge the disasters or get eaten by a prehistoric whale? Only the cards can decide…

 

Bookroo

Bookroo is the perfect gift for the kid whose parents are asking for no more toys! This year give the timeless gift of books in the form of a subscription box. Bookroo has 3 subscription options based on age and reading level. Board Books, which contains 3 sturdy books for kids ages 0-3. The Picture Book club has 2 hardcover books appropriate for kids ages 3-6. The highest level reader option is The Chapter Book and is great for kids ages 7-10 and comes with 2 chapter books. They offer month to month, 3 box prepay, 6 box prepay or 12 box prepay. You will not be disappointed with Bookroo books choices as they are curated to contain the best options for your little reader. As a bonus, each box includes an insert highlighting the books. Insights from the authors or illustrators, parents guide to engage in conversations about the books and even special offers are also included. We cannot rave enough about Bookroo and are sure you will feel the same once your child excitedly cuddles up with a new pile of books.

 

 Ultra Bionic Blaster

Have a blast with this awesome engineering project! Construct an air-powered robotic glove that launches safe foam darts. Learn about pneumatics — technologies that use pressurized air to perform work — and many cool mechanisms as you assemble the blaster from over 100 pieces. After you’ve built and tested your blaster, slide it on and strap it to your wrist. The first pull of the trigger causes the scissor arm to lift up the barrels and launch the first dart. Pull the trigger two more times to launch the next two darts. Grab some additional darts from the reserve clip under your wrist and reload. The blaster is entirely powered by your hand and the amazing pneumatic system — no batteries or motors required! Best for ages 10+. Ages 12+ may be able to build this independently. Children under 12 will most likely need adult assistance in the building process.

Feltman Brothers

The latest Christmas collection from Feltman Brothers brings nostalgia and style to any holiday celebrations. Featuring classic Christmas colored hand embroidered solders, Feltman Brothers’  Holiday Solider collections has the perfect touch of elegance for celebrations and family photoshoots. The solder collection has a wide range of outfit and accessory options to match all of your family’s needs! From preemie to toddler sizes, Feltman Brothers has been creating high quality vintage style baby outfits for over a 100 years.   This holiday season choose Feltman Brothers to make each childhood stage extra special and adorable.

Pediped

Pediped offers a vast variety of innovative shoes for boys and girls sizes newborn to 6 Youth. Their three collections Originals , Grip ‘n’ Go™, and Flex all provide children with high quality leather shoes ideal for healthy foot development. The ultra light technology is specifically designed to support kids’ feet in all activities while providing flexibility and freedom. From school to the playground, or any adventure, Pediped are easy to clean with dependable durability. Pedipeds award-winning design and technology makes them one of the fastest growing children’s footwear brands in the United States! They are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association and ready to fit any child’s footwear needs.

Pediped Flex Avery

The Flex Avery is the perfect all around shoe for casual school days, wild playdates, and fancy holiday parties. These shoes are equipped with Pediped’s unique Flex system which includes inserts that can be added or removed to create the perfect fit for a child’s growing foot! Three color options, black, leopard, and floral, are available to fit the style of any occasion. The winter floral even features artwork by renowned pastel artist Katie Rodgers. All three designs are equipped with double hook and loop fasteners for maximum adjustability.

 

Baby Starters Snuggle Buddy

Price: $12.99: Baby Starters Dolls are made from high-quality, plush material for a lifetime of hugs and play. Made with the highest safety standards for baby, including embroidered eye and nose details. Baby Starters Dolls are soft and snuggly for newborns, infants and toddlers without compromising on design. Extra special details and design makes each doll unique and diversified.

 

 

Joy Toasted Almond

Adorable and cozy, the Joy Toasted Almond baby boots are just too cute! The ultra fluffy faux fur upper lining is warm for winter walks while adding texture and style to any outfit. The footbed is constructed with suede to allow little feet the freedom to bend and wiggle. With a hook and loop fastener these simple boots are easy to get on and off. The Joy Toasted Almond come in sizes newborn to 24month. Like all Pediped shoes, they are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

 

GoSili 

The GoSili 12oz OH! Cup is the cup that looks like mom and dad’s without the spill. This 12oz cup features a 360, spout-free lid so your child can drink from any part of the lid. When your child is not drinking, this lid self-seals to help prevent spills. Made with 100% European grade silicon, the silicone is dishwasher, microwave, and boil safe. Unlike other grades of silicone, European-grade silicone is held to the highest of standards and free of filler materials. It is sustainable, recyclable, stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, and cannot harbor harmful bacteria. To prevent collapsing when gripped, the silicone is embedded with stainless steel rings to keep the shape. This season choose GoSili for a fun and functional gift!

 

Homeroom 325

Studies have shown using visual images can effectively increase learning. However, the things we tend to learn, or teach our children, are not always the most visually appealing. Fortunately Homeroom 325 has designed a line of artwork that is both educational and beautiful. With their children in mind, the owners of Homeroom 325 created artwork that inspired the love of learning while also being complimentary to their home aesthetics. Local artists use modern interpretations of historic artistic techniques, to create posters that are accurate and stunning. All their artwork is printed on FSC-certified paper from recycled fibers. The paper is tear-resistant and has a canvas-like texture. Lastly, Homeroom 325 provides children around the world with a better future by providing meals through purchase income. Allow Homeroom 325 to fill your home with learning and beauty!

 

Ways Age Affects Your Senses And Ways To Stop It

We’re all getting older. There’s very little that we can do about that. We can, however, play a large part in how we get older. There are a lot of elements of your health that you need to pay more attention to as you age, including weight management, heart health, and more. However, one category of health that you can begin to immediately notice changes in as you get older is your senses. Hearing, sight, taste, and more can be at risk if you’re not careful. Here, we’re going to look at what those risks can be, and what you can do to mitigate them as best as possible.

Credit – CC0 License

 

Keep an ear out for your hearing

One of the senses that are most famous for how it can change throughout the years is our hearing. As we get older, we have a higher risk of experiencing changes to our hearing. However, those changes can start to take root when we’re much younger. Exposing our ears to excess noise, especially common via headphones these days, can increase the chance that we experience hearing loss. The single best way to stay on top of your hearing health is to make an appointment with your audiologist and schedule a hearing check. They can let you know if you have any hearing loss, as well as the steps you can take to protect your hearing.

 

Watch out for vision changes

Your eyesight is the one sense, alongside hearing, that’s most vital to how you perceive the world. Some people experience vision changes naturally and you can start wearing glasses to correct it at any point in your life. However, there are elements of self-care, such as nutrition, that can have a huge impact on eyesight. Taking total eye care supplements, taking care to maintain your blood sugar levels, and eating the right foods to maintain your eyesight, such as fish, red peppers, and dark, leafy vegetables can help you fight off some of the age-related deterioration that so commonly affects our eyesight. Of course, getting it checked out by an optician is the best way to get an idea of the current condition of your eyes, as well.

 

Don’t take your teeth for granted

Most people know to take care of their teeth. However, are you aware that it can become harder to take care of them as you get older? If you’re simply brushing twice a day or even using mouthwash, then it might be time to make a visit to the dentist. Losing teeth is not only going to affect your smile, but it also affects how you eat and how you speak. Even with things like partial dentures, there will be changes that can take some time to acclimate to.

 

Savor your sense of taste

One of the senses that can begin to deteriorate naturally as we get older is our sense of smell. Very closely connected to this is our sense of taste. However, there’s one habit in particular that is a bigger risk factor than any other currently known. Smoking comes with a wide plethora of potential health problems, including respiratory conditions and throat and lung cancer. However, even if you avoid those, smoking has been linked to a loss of taste, especially if you smoke and drink. In fact, smoking has been linked to the loss of all senses, largely due to how smoking is connected to your blood vessel health.

 

Balance is a sense, too

While we might not frequently count it up there with hearing, sight, smell, and taste, your sense of balance is one that’s worth preserving, too. Balance issues are fairly common, a lot of people will experience vertigo temporarily, only for it to go away, often after a course of the appropriate medication. However, long-term or recurring vertigo is a very real problem, that is often associated with ear health, and for good reason. Your ear not only perceives sound, but it also governs your sense of balance. Any problems affecting your ear, be it an infection, fluid buildup, or even earwax, can affect your balance, too. However, there are other risk factors that can affect your sense of balance, such as migraines, cholesterol levels, and vitamin D deficiencies. If you begin to feel symptoms of vertigo, then you should talk to your doctor as they can get to the bottom of which risk factors might be to blame.

 

You might not be able to regain your keen eyesight or to hear as well as you did when you were a teenager, but you can make sure that you’re not endangering your senses anymore with the tips above.

Rain Drops on Roses Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Rain Drops on Roses

Giveaway Hop

Enter to win this Spring Book Giveaway

prize consists of all 6 books listed above, ARV $76, US only!

Did you know that a giraffe’s eye is as big as a Ping-Pong ball? Or that about 19 million hot dogs are sold at major league baseball games every year? Or that there is only one bone in your body that’s not connected to another one?  This book is chock-full of fascinating facts, silly stats, and catchy little knowledge nuggets in all kinds of awesome categories, from amphibians to black holes to the gold rush.
Special features include Extreme Weirdness, Strange Places, What’s the Difference, and more. Bold, colorful photographs in a supersize format and spectacular information create a winning combination for curious kids who can’t wait to learn more about the world.
Little Kids First Board Book: Becoming a Butterfly (Board Book, $7.99) Follow one of nature’s most fascinating creatures from egg to caterpillar to butterfly in this vibrantly illustrated board book that introduces babies and toddlers to these incredible insects.
Bursting with vivid photos and featuring super-simple facts, this charming board book explores how a butterfly becomes a butterfly.  Little readers will be dazzled by the variety of colorful butterflies they meet as they learn how these beloved insects develop from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to an adult ready to spread its wings and fly.
Little Kids First Big Book of Sports (Hardcover, $14.99, ages 4-8, 128 pgs)
Climb, dive, skare and race into the wide world of sports! This lively reference book, co-branded with ESPN, introduces young readers to a variety of sports from across the globe and explores how they are played.
Whether a sport needs a ball or a stick, a pool or a field, a racquet or a ski pole, young readers can explore each sport’s history and the rules and skills that make that sport unique. From basketball to soccer, lacrosse to cricket, archery to diving, bowling to skateboarding, snowboarding to playground games, this lively reference book covers a variety of team and individual sports. Special sections look at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.Whether you’re interested in team sports, solo sports, or watching from the stands, this book has something for everyone. Let’s play!

Features include:

  • Age-appropriate descriptions of dozens of sports, and the rules and skills that make each sport unique
  • Activities that encourage interactive learning and exercise
  • Simple text for reading aloud or for beginning readers
  • Fun facts on every spread
  • More than 200 incredible photos
  • Parent tips that extend the experience beyond the book
Zeus the Mighty: The Voyage on the Oddest Sea (Hardcover, $12.99, ages 8-12, 192 pgs)
Join Zeus the overconfident hamster, Athena the wise cat, Ares the treat-loving pug, Poseidon the proud pufferfish, Demeter the loyal grasshopper, and Hermes the daring chicken on another laugh-out-loud adventure through Greek mythology.
Plunge into stormy waters with Zeus the hamster and his gaggle of gods as they meet a shape-shifting soothsayer and uncover the mysteries of the deep in the spellbinding fifth book in this hilarious romp through Greek mythology.
After an earthquake rocks the Aegean Sea, Zeus and Demeter set sail in a not-so-seaworthy vessel to find out what really happened. When their ship is capsized by a slithering sea monster, the duo find themselves trapped in a mystifying underwater realm. The other Olympians mount a rescue mission, only to encounter enchanting mermaidlike creatures with hypnotic songs and a tentacled shape-shifter who tells tales of the future. His uncanny abilities make the Olympians question themselves―and each other. Can the god squad stick together, or will the strange currents of this underwater world tear them apart? www.zeusthemighty.com.
5-Minute Baby Animal Stories (Hardcover, $14.99, ages 6-8, 208 pgs)
If baby animals make you go aww, this collection of stories is the book for you!  Curl up with 12 true tales about some of the most adorable baby animals on the planet.  Each story is the ideal length to be read aloud in five minutes, perfect for bedtime, story time, or anytime.
From inspiring tales of baby manatee and baby wombat rescues to irresistible stories of how panda cubs, penguin chicks, and more babies grow up, this nonfiction 5-minute storybook will engage and enchant animal lovers of all ages. Illustrated with colorful photographs, these true stories are perfect for any time you need a little boost of cute!
My Favorite Animals Super Sticker Activity Book (Paperback, $12.99, ages 4-8, 112 pgs)
Chock-full of kids’ favorite animals: dogs, cats, bunnies, hamsters, birds, cows, sheep, pigs, and many more! With a colorful design and loaded with tons of games and activities–such as mazes, matching, drawing, and counting — kids are sure to love these pages of 2,000 stickers!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.