Mamaya Health Casey 1

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5 Ways to Get your "Mommy Groove" back!

 

Feeling stuck in a rut? Yeah, summer break can do that to us sometimes. I mean, why take the time to “pretty up” our hair when we’re in the pool almost EVERY day? And don’t worry that we’ve put on those few extra pounds – summer is the season for ice cream dessert every day of the week, right? And if you’re like me, you’ve gotten over the hopes of having friends over. With my 4 girls, we're living in a soror house – with tents, blankets, balloons, and stuffed animals every where I turn (not to mention the dirty kitchen. We really do snack ALL day!)

White flag away! Summer Break will NOT defeat us! We’ve decided that if we’re going to clean up our act and get our Mommy Groove back, all it takes is a little determination, and this list:

What to do When a Child is Diagnosed with Special Needs

altParents often struggle with what to do when they learn their child has received a special needs diagnosis. To help parents improve the quality of life for their children with autism, dyslexia, ADHD and other learning disabilities, we've assembled these helpful tips!

1. Make an appointment with your child's teacher. A simple phone call, email, or even a note may work wonders.

Jot down a list of detailed questions to gather information about your child's academic weaknesses and ask about any social or emotional problems and the teacher's observations of any physical clues that there may be a problem. Ask the teacher if she feels your child could benefit from an independent education program or any special needs classes.

5 Ways to Earn Money in 2020

Feeling broke now that Christmas has come and gone? Here are some easy ways to pad your pockets in 2020! 
1-Out with the old! Of course, there are many ways to donate your hand-me-downs, but there’s no shame in actually selling them if you’re in need of some cash. Consider listing for sale (I use Facebook groups like The Woodlands Bazaar and Beg, Barter, Buy, and Sell)  things like gently used toys, designer purses, winter coats, dressy dresses, and furniture pieces.  

2-Take on a part-time job. Lots of retailers are hiring part time this season, and often times, you can have a flexible schedule. Tag team with your husband when he gets home from work, and go spend a few hours each evening at a $10 per hour job with an employee discount to boot. 

3-Offer your babysitting services to friends and family in exchange for cash. Reliable child care options are golden during the new year and beyond. You can even consider regularly hosting a fee-based themed “camp” evening for a handful of your friends. Provide crafts, activities, and dinner for the little ones while mom and dad get a night out.

Explore the Excitement at Palava Family Entertainment Center

altCould your kids spend hours burning off that summer energy? Looking for a unique location for a play date? Maybe a place where the entire family can spend a full afternoon? Check out Palava Family Entertainment Center & Party Center in Spring!

Large Family Gift-Giving

Do you find yourself spending way more money than you want to spend on Christmas gifts for the “larger” families in your life? I always overspend my budget when shopping for my sisters and their families, because they all have multiple kiddos, plus I like to get presents for the grown-ups too. This year, I’m going with (1) family “have fun” baskets, (2) family memberships, and (3) restaurant gift cards, gifts that everyone will dig. I look forward to saving money on individual gifts.

Discipline Your Child with Time IN

Sure you’ve heard of Time Out, but have you heard of Time In? It’s a positive disciplinary tool that started making its rounds throughout the parenting world less than a decade ago. Unlike the traditional Time Out method, Time In does not send the child away, off to some lonely, dusty corner of the room or some remote area of civilization! In fact, studies have shown that the old-style Time Out technique can leave a child feeling abandoned and rejected, and often confused. If you give this idea some thought, you might find it easy to draw this same conclusion.  That’s why I was excited to learn about Time IN -  a good alternative to Time Out. Here’s the gist: 

Why Your Home is a Seller’s Goldmine

Selling your stuff online is a great way to declutter your home and make a bit of cash at the same time. If you rummage through your closets, you can probably find several items that you haven’t used in years. If they’re in good condition, chances are someone else would be happy to take them off your hands. Curious about what kind of treasures you could list online right now? Here are 10 of the most common options that’ll put some extra cash in your pocket.  

Vintage items

It looks like old junk to you, but a collector might see it as “vintage’ or “retro.”  Relics from decades past (think the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s) are often more valuable than you’d think. Check your storage areas (or your grandparents’ house) for things like obsolete electronics, vinyl records and old toys. You could get $20 for a 1961 “Christmas with the Chipmunks” LP, $60 for a 1970s RCA combination TV clock radio, or $125 for a 1980s Apple II+ computer. Toys in their original packaging are especially popular with buyers. A boxed GI Joe Jeep from 1964 could fetch upwards of $200.

"Keeping It Simple" - Editor's Post

This summer, with my husband being out of a job, God has gifted our family with the magic of a dwindling bank account. And what a gift it is.

"How are you keeping your kids busy this summer?" my friends want to know.

Well, truthfully, I'm not. These days, we aren't keeping "busy" much at all.

And I've never been more convinced that by not having a summer of frills and thrills planned for the girls, they're developing in incredible ways. They're sewing pillows, entertaining us with math riddles and brainteasers, building forts, having tea parties with their stuffed animals, writing short stories (more than 20 combined since the beginning of June), experimenting in the kitchen, and more.

How to Make Homemade Gak

alt
 
What you'll need:
 
1/2 cup water + 1/4 cup for later
1/2 teaspoon Borax
Food coloring (optional)
Baggies 
  1. Pour the glue into a bowl with 1/2 cup of water.  Mix well.  
  2. Add the food coloring if you'd like a fun color (if want to get really fancy, add some glitter too!).
  3. In a new bowl, mix 1/2 tspn of Borax with 1/4 cup of warm water.  Stir until the Borax is dissolved.
  4. Pour the Borax water into the glue mixture.
  5. Now stir, stir, stir!  The more you stir, the firmer it will get!    
 
This is a messy project, so be sure to prepare your work space!  There's lots of chemistry behind this activity, so this is also a good learning experience for the kids.  Have them research why the gak is firmer the more you play with it and thinner when you let it sit.   
 
The gak will last quite a while stored in a ziploc bag, just make sure it's closed tight when you put it away for the night! 
 
 

Field Trip Idea: Student Art Exhibits at the Library

The Montgomery County Library is hosting Student Art Exhibits showcasing the works of Conroe ISD students in grades K-12. The  South Library (Lake Robbins Dr) is a participant, and I was pleasantly surprised when I dropped by the facility on Monday evening and was able to view about 50 awesome art pieces created by local students. These student artists are Talented (with a capital "T")! Here's how I plan to turn this into a field trip for my little ones:

Books We Love - Kindergarten

Many students begin to read in kindergarten (even just a little). Spend time celebrating what your child has learned, and enjoy reading together every day!

 

  • Spend FUN reading time together every day. Don’t focus on teaching and practicing reading – enjoy books and stories together.
  • Read to your child every day – even after they start reading. Invite them to join in.
  • Read books over and over – and even if she picks the same book AGAIN, it’s good for her!
  • Let your child pick the books. They will stay interested and learn a lot.
  • When it’s not fun or there are distractions, take a break. Keep reading enjoyable for everyone.

Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
Marisol finds a new way to paint the “sky” when she finds out she doesn’t have any more blue paint.