For all you moms on the go, this is a cute, no-mess topical antibiotic for all your child's cuts and scrapes. You don't have to look for the lid, or wipe off excess ointment. Just spray and go! I've loved this cute and compact product, and won't go anywhere without it!
I was listening to a Joyce Meyer CD from one of her recent conferences... and she was talking about how we often times pity ourselves and/or make excuses for not being able to do, complete or succeed in the tasks that are given to us. Joyce Meyer says that "self-pity is the most debilitating thing there is" because it robs us of our strength and life. She says that we simply need to "PRESS IN, PRESS ON, and PRESS THROUGH!!"
As a mom, this is just what I needed to hear.. especially because when things are tough, when money is tight, when the kids are misbehaving, when the house is a wreck, when the dishes aren't done, when dinner has to be prepared.... it is easy to get stressed, complain, or just want to cry...
How neat it is to know that the Lord gives us the strength to PRESS IN, PRESS ON, and PRESS THROUGH any situation and any circumstance!!! God is good!! I pray that you will lean on the solid ROCK today... who gives you supernatural strength to be the best woman, mom and wife He has created you to be!
My boys are always trying to get up from their seat as soon as they sit down for their meal. If you have hyper boys who don't like to sit still to eat, smoothies can be a great alternative to getting nutrition fast. There are plenty of simple recipes for getting fruit and calcium intake. Below is an example of one of my favs. The measurements are up to your tasting, but here's a rough guideline.
Add the following ingredients to your blender:
1 banana (I prefer frozen slices of bananas that I previously cut and froze)
3/4 cup of berries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup vanilla yogurt or flavored
3/4 cup milk OR orange juice
1/2 cup crushed ice (optional, in case you want it slushy)
Mix for 30 seconds or until smooth
On my recent trip to the midwest, summer nights were the most fun. However, campfires, hiking trails, and swimming in the lakes gave me and my children many mosquito bites. It was already hard for me to stop scratching, but to get my kids to stop scratching seemed impossible. My wise aunt suggested dipping a cotton ball in vinegar and applying it topically. It worked instantly! The itching went away and so did the swelling. I researched online home remedies for insect bites, and sure enough, vinegar was one of the top suggested!
If you are a mom seeking community and/or support group with other moms.. check out MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers).
MOPS is a Christian faith-based organization that hold events and meetings at local churches for mothers with little ones. MOPS typically meets once a week where you can build relationships with other moms as well as listen to speakers discuss a variety of topics such as nutrition, marriage, illness, etc. They also have a great childcare/"muppets" program where children from newborn to kindergarten can attend and enjoy a morning of songs, games, etc. MOPS is most of all a great place for us moms to share and listen to what others are experiencing and learning about life and motherhood along with you...
You can find a MOPS group near your area here.
With flu season just around the corner, none of us are looking forward to our kids catching some kind of bug/illness from the park, store, daycare, church, etc. We can only do so much to wash and wipe their hands when they are out and about... but what we can do is to help boost their immune system to fight the bacteria.
Most of us know that sleep and diet are major factors in strengthening our immune system... but probiotics is another way to ensure good health. Probiotics are ”good” bacteria that are ingested in some fermented foods (like yogurt) or via pill, powder or liquid supplement. These health-promoting, live bacteria take up residence in the stomach to keep bad bacteria in check.
According to Dr. Sears, probiotics:
-Boost intestinal immunity
-Promote a healthy gut environment
-Reduce intestinal allergies
-Produce healthful nutrients
Breastfeeding automatically promotes the development of healthy bacteria. But you are giving your baby formula, or would like to give probiotics to you baby in addition to the breastmilk, there are brands out there that are for children ages 0+ (such as this one below).
The other day my daughter took a nap at 1pm and didn't wake up until 5pm! Her bedtime is usually around 7/7:30pm but I knew she was going to have a hard time falling asleep that evening. So... instead of dreading the evening, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and told her that "we are going out to see the moon!".
Little did she know, I was planning to take her to the nearby mall to see the moon from a ferris wheel! She was already ecstatic about leaving the house when she was supposed to be getting in her pajamas and brushing her teeth... but when she saw that we were going to get on the ferris wheel she was squealing (and squeeking) with excitement. It was her first time going on the ferris wheel at night. It was dark. There were bright colorful lights. And when we were at the top, the moon was RIGHT in front of us... as if it was waiting to see my daughter all day.
Our spontaneous night out was A LOT of fun. I really just wanted to bless her because I love her so much. As we were spending time together that night, the Lord reminded me of how He takes us on these fun and spontaneous dates and adventures when we least expect it. Just as a parent loves surprising his child, the Lord enjoys blessing His children ... simply because He loves us.