Showing posts with label parenting
To all the moms of teenagers, I want to stop right here and give you a round of applause! We have finally gotten to an age and stage in parenting where we get to be a little more hands-off. We get to watch our not-so-little kids’ blossom into amazing young adults with full schedules and the healthy appetites to match. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to Yoplait’s newest product: Yoplait ® Go Big ™ yogurt pouches, the perfect snack for amazing teens! 





My 13 year old daughter, rocking her homework


My thirteen-year-old puts in long days. She gets up at 5:20 am for school and often isn’t home from school until after 5:00 pm when she has theater rehearsal, or an after-school choir event.  I try to pack her a healthy lunch and snack to help keep her fueled up until she gets home.  I’m thankful to have another healthy snack option in my arsenal.



The new Yoplait Go Big pouches come in a handy fridge box for easy grab and go snacking. They’re made with real fruit in two tasty flavor combos: Strawberry/Mixed Berry or Peach Mango/Cherry.  They have no artificial colors or high fructose corn syrup, and are a good source of calcium. 


#YoplaitGoBig yogurt pouches in handy fridge box



As most moms can attest, it doesn’t matter how well-thought-out the lunch and snack options we give our teens are ‒ some days they come back home with our busy kids, and that’s when we need to get creative with snack and homework schedules. 



#YoplaitGoBig peach mango yogurt is a perfect homework snack



Now that Melissa is thirteen, I’ve loosened the reins on how and where homework can be done. As long as it gets done, I can let some of my guidelines and parameters of elementary school days go.  I allow her to set up their homework area where and however makes her feel most comfortable.  If she wants to sprawl out on her bedroom floor, or the family room, I now say, go for it!  One day, she may prefer sitting at the table with a snack, a candle, iced coffee and music from her playlist, and now I can say, why not?  




Let teens choose how best to crush their homework schedules #YoplaitGoBig


For all the moms with kids in sports, band and dance programs, these cool, easy grip and rip yogurt pouches are perfect for on-the-go snacking, too!  Since they have a cool design on the package that’s not at all kiddie-like, you don’t have to worry about giving them a lame snack they don’t want to be seen eating.



#YoplaitGoBig pouches have easy grip and rip openings



Plus, the awesome pouch doesn’t have a huge opening, so your teen can squeeze as much as they want in their mouths, making them a perfect, one handed, and no-spills kind of snack! 



#YoplaitGoBig no spills pouch!



There’s no doubt about it ‒ our teens are leading fast-paced lives, doing amazing things at school and after. I truly am amazed at all the balls my thirteen-year-old daughter keeps in the air daily! She’s a great student, a caring and giving friend and family member, an awesome actress and singer, and budding photographer and videographer.  She and her peers are crushing being a teen in today’s busy, go for it lifestyle.  Honestly, Melissa’s commitment to excellence inspires me to re-think what I accomplish in a day!



#YoplaitGoBig the perfect snack for amazing teens



Do you have an amazing teen in your life too? Why not let Yoplait Go Big spotlight their amazingness? It’s easy, parents ‒ just visit the Go Big Facebook page and share how your teen inspires you. Go Big will select three teens with amazing stories and give them a platform to show the world! You can find more information and full contest details on the Go Big Facebook page as well.


Raising teens in this day and age may keep us on our toes, moms’ ‒ but we got this! If our teens can crush their days, so can we!


Please share in comments: Are you raising an amazing teen? Will you enter the Yoplait Go Big contest? 
Busy. Our teens are busy kids! Which usually means parents are busy with our teens activities too. For instance, both my daughters are in choir and both enjoy doing theater when their schedules allow it. Both girls are involved in clubs, fundraisers, attending school related events (football games, etc.),  so free time during the week to just sit and chat is hard to come by. Today, I’m sharing three easy ways I’ve found I can still feel connected with my teens during the busy times.



Books and CD's help you connect with your teens



1. Read their books:

Young Adult, or YA books, are written with your 15+ teen in mind, but don’t let that stop you from reading them! Some of THE best books I’ve read this year came directly from my teen daughter. When you see your teen engrossed in a book, take notice. Better yet, ask if you can read it when they are done,  and then talk with them about the plot and characters as you read.  

Not sure where to start? Popular picks are: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, The Selection series by Kiera Cass- (start my daughter’s reviews here). The much anticipated Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and two by J.K. Rowling and our personal pick and hands-down favorite , The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.




teens and earbuds, this is what they do!



2. Listen to their music:

Most parents know this time all too well: You’re in the car with your teen, taking them to their after-school activity again.  They make small talk with you for five minutes, and then in go the ear buds and you’ve been tuned out. The same thing can happen when you take them out to eat. 

Keep the conversation and the fun going by inviting them to keep some of their Cd's in the car, then pop one in while you are driving them to their destination. Once you get to your destination, if you see those ear buds come out again, ask them who they are listening too. 

The point is to engage and connect in their world often!  Some of the best and funniest conversations I’ve had with my girls is talking about the lyrics to some of their favorite songs. Our top pick right now is “25” by Adele, followed closely by "Blurry face" by 21 Pilots. 




my teen helping me with work photos for a brand



3. Include them in your work:

I have the privilege of working from home. Both my businesses- blogging and Avon are businesses I work mainly from home, so my teens have gotten used to seeing me work on a daily basis. I’m inviting them in and keeping this part of my day open to connecting possibilities. They respect what I do and actually look for ways to help me.

Teens are plugged in to what’s in, what’s trendy and relevant to them which is invaluable to anyone in a marketing field. Which is why my oldest daughter didn’t mind helping me with a recent photo shoot at Toys “R” Us for a brand I was working with.

Asking your teen for their opinion on a related topic to your industry can be a great way to connect with them as well.  My teens know it's not all fun and lip gloss in my businesses because they see me doing the back office work too. We bounce ideas off each other often and they have opened up my eyes to a newer, fresher way of seeing the world. Why not show your teens what you so all day as well? Bring home an assignment to work on after dinner and ask them to check it out. 


There you have it! Three easy ways to stay connected with your teens. Try one or all three over the next week and you may see your teens in a whole new way, you may even score some cool parents points!


Please share in comments: How do you connect with your teen?  Do you use one or more of my strategies? 

The moon has called to us from above for ages. Not only is it a celestial marvel to look at it, is necessary to us mere mortals here on earth. I've looked up into the night sky to find constellations and admire the moon since I was a kid and I've passed my love of the night sky onto my daughters. We have a telescope and try using it as often as possible. If you'd like to help your kids say I see the moon in a whole new and exciting way, check out this great STEM learning box offer from Groovy Labs. 


The links in this blog post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on these links, I will receive a small commission from Groovy Lab in a Box.


Moon Dance STEM learning box


Parents- are you looking for the perfect STEM activity for kids 8 and older?  Why not try a Groovy Lab in a Box


What is Groovy Lab in a Box?


Groovy Lab in a Box is a monthly STEM kit that encourages critical thinking, problem solving and fun! Groovy Lab in a Box incorporates STEM investigations and an Engineering Design Challenge - all designed around the Next Generation Science Standards. Each box has a retro-themed lab notebook and access to the Beyond...in a Box, a special web portal for additional groovy STEM fun!

In fact, Popular Mechanics magazine included Groovy Lab in a Box in its 100% Wholesome Holiday Gift Guide - a compilation of some of the best toys that promote scientific inquiry and engineering.



Take the Engineering Design Challenge!


Moon Dance STEM Box design challenge


Fellow STEMists who want to become optical engineers can be on their way to doing research and investigations through the engineering design process found in monthly-themed Groovy Lab in a Box. Explore Earth’s moon, gravity, mass vs. weight, moon phases, tides, light, telescopes and much, much, more. Check out "Moon Dance" for more groovy fun for STEMists! .  


Parents can take advantage of Groovy Lab in a Box's sale and check it out for yourself! You can get 50% off “Moon Dance” Single Box! Just use code FULLMOON at checkout HERE. Hurry and be sure to give your STEM Friends a groovy heads up while supplies last. Deal ends on EARTH DAY & FULL MOON - April 22nd!  US residents only.


 Please share in comments: Do you have a budding astronomer in your family? What moon phase is their favorite to see?

thredUP Kids Clothing Swap

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I was invited to join thredUp over the weekend and have just now found the time to check it out.

 thredUP is a  Kids and Moms Clothing Swap - where parents exchange gently worn, second hand & used kids clothing online.  The Average Family Saves $569/yr  swapping Kids Clothes on thredUP according to the website and it's Free to join!

Sounds Good!

 I'm very excited about this option because lately, I'm feeling just a wee bit cheated at my local brick and mortar Consignment store.

Why?

Because in March,  I brought in a large Trader Joe's grocery bag full of no-stains, really gently used, name brand,  stylish girls clothing in the much needed sizes of 7/8 and 10/12 and was given $ 4.87 store credit for the bag.
  Really? There was at least $ 100 dollars worth of Aeropostle, designer dresses, tees, blouses, etc. in that bag! This was my best bag yet, I'm thinking and I get that much?
 If I'd wanted cash it would have been even less. Hey, I know it takes alot to run a store, but still. Yeesh...

Has this ever happened to you? What are you supposed to do? Make a scene and ask for all your clothing back?

 I decided not to use those options, however appealing they seemed at the time and least see what my girls had found. There wasn't much to choose from, so it was a rather disappointing trip all around.
Always one to look for the good, I assured the girls I would find a better option.


I'm hoping thredUp will be that option. I'm going through my girls closets and will be listing items over the weekend.

I joined thredUp using a friends link. If you would like to join, I would love for you to use my affiliate link below. Thanks!

thredUP Kids Clothing Swap

Do you like consignment shopping? Have you used thredUp? I'd love to hear from you!
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