parenting - So Easy Being Green

Mom, What’s for Breakfast? Healthy, Simple Toddler Breakfast Idea

"Mom... What's for Breakfast!?" I can't tell you how many times I hear this question - at least once a DAY! HA! But seriously, breakfast options can be just as hard to decide on as lunch and dinner. Especially hard when you've just woken up, haven't had a cup of coffee yet, and are scrounging around the cupboards and freezer for a quick option on those mornings. I've shared before that Sophia is in love with oatmeal in the mornings. One reason is because it's something that she can help make, but she also loves to customize it. Right now she's on a dried blueberry kick, so when she's enjoying a bowl of Earth’s Best® Sesame Street® Organic Yummy Tummy Oatmeal, we always add a small handful of blueberries! There are numerous benefits of eating … [Read more...]

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: children, family, parenting · Leave a Comment

Wordless Wednesday: Toddler Behavior

Sophia asked if she could play with the crinkled paper that was in a package yesterday. I said, "Sure, just don't make a messsss..." 5 minutes later. Her response when I asked her, "Why!?"... "I was pretending it was bird seed and confetti, Mom!" How much fun do you think she was having throwing that stuff around while I was in the bathroom!?! … [Read more...]

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: children, family, parenting · 17 Comments

Dry Eyes, Dry Sinuses but NO Dry Winter Skin for Me! #DoveTruth

I think I've mentioned a few times about how ready for Spring I am, haven't I? Well, I am. I am so over this cold Winter season it's not even funny. Everything in this house is dry... dry air, dry eyes, and the pressure in my head means my sinuses are too! But guess what it isn't dry... my skin! That's the only thing that I've said goodbye to dry this year, goodbye to dry winter skin! How? Oh, you know... by escaping to the bathroom more! You can tell from my steamy bathroom, above, that I really, really like warm showers. They not only help me relax from a long day with the girlies, but it also helps with my dry sinuses! With a nice combo of the Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture® and body lotion, I don't have to worry about the warm water drying … [Read more...]

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: momcentral, parenting, Review · 6 Comments

8 Tips on Feeling Safe and Secure While Traveling Close and Far From Home

I used to live by myself in college. Actually, I lived by myself in an apartment while finishing my last year of college then lived by myself in another apartment for a couple of years when I first began my career. I was hardly ever scared or nervous - to come home, to leave home, to go anywhere... Then something happened. Not sure when it happened, but I do know that now that I have children, I've become a more nervous person. Nervous about the unknown, unseen, and "what if's". Maybe it's too many Law and Order episodes or maybe it's just a part of growing up and realizing that there are un-safe situations that people get put into everyday and I don't want to become one of them. When I started thinking about the subject, I came up with 8 things that I do to make myself feel a … [Read more...]

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: cbias, parenting, technology · 13 Comments

Earth’s Best Organic Loyalty Rewards Program

This month, Earth’s Best is proud to announce the Earth’s Best Awards Program! With this new loyalty program, you can earn points from your Earth’s Best purchases and redeem them for great discounts and prizes. The Earth’s Best™ Rewards program is our way of saying thank you for raising your little one as part of generation pure. Using your home computer, smartphone, or other mobile device, simply sign up for the program, then check in at your local Earth’s Best retailer on your mobile device via our mobile site (earthsbestrewards.com). After you create your Earth’s Best profile, earning points is easy. Just check in when your local Earth’s Best retailer, purchase Earth's Best products, and enter the UPC codes on our site within 48 hours after you return home. You can also earn points … [Read more...]

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: Green, parenting · Leave a Comment

What Do You Think About Toddlers Learning a Second Language?

My girls are half-Filipino, but yet they don't know Tagalog - the main language spoken in the Philippines. My husband's parents speak a form of Tagalog in their home and often converse with Rob in the language. I know very, very few words and for the most part, don't have a clue what they're saying. Rob and I have talked about purchasing a Language Learning Software, but it's such a big expense that we've continued to put it off. I think he would be the best teacher, but he feels like he can't. Soooo... we're stuck! I've often wondered if Sophia would even have interest in learning another language. Sure, she picks up a few words here and there from Dora and can count to 10 in Spanish, thanks to the little lady too, but would she really like to learn a … [Read more...]

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: family, learning, parenting, Review · 18 Comments

5 Tips to Make Nighttime Potty Training a Success

Last week I shared with you how Nighttime Potty Training was going in our house {it's not} and a Tutorial for a DIY Waterproof Mattress Pad. This week I'm sharing 5 tips that will making Nighttime Potty Training a Success {hopefully!} 5 Tips to Successful Nighttime Potty Training 1. Wait Until Your Child is Physically Developmentally Ready. We've tried a couple of times to get Sophia potty trained at night, one just recently, with little success. She is just not developmentally ready. So, how do you know if your child is? He/She should be waking up dry at least 5-6 mornings out of the week. Sophia would occasionally, but that just wasn't enough. To have success, this is important that your child's bladder can handle holding the liquid all night. 2. Limit Liquids at … [Read more...]

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: parenting, potty training · 9 Comments

5 Tips on How to Get Your Toddler to Eat Vegetables

A few months ago I blogged about this subject, but on the opposite side. I wanted to know how to get my toddler to eat vegetables. Sophia was a great eater as a young toddler - she preferred spinach to chocolate, broccoli to bananas. Seriously! But then she became two and everything changed. I reached out on the blog, on my personal Facebook, to other Mothers... I had no idea what to do with this little girl who was refusing anything that was good for her. I got some great advice, we implemented some new family rules, and I am proud to say that Sophia is now eating veggies again! Sure, it's a hit and miss kind of thing and sometimes she still refuses, but I'm going to share with you a little success... Last night, hubby and I met in the kitchen {we walked out of the dining room} and did a … [Read more...]

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: Finished Giveaways, Green, parenting · 30 Comments

Spring Cleaning: Outside Toys

It's beginning to look a lot like Spprrrinnnng... Everywhere we go! Ok, so yes, I'm singing that to the tune of "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas", but I just can't help myself. I'm so ready for Spring to be here and this sunny, although a bit cool, weather is making me want it to hurry up even more! Even though we've had to bundle up, the girls and I have been trying to fit in some outside time during the day. As you can tell, Moreaya is really enjoying our backyard swing set as much as Sophia this year! Although we're not quite ready to spend most of our days outside, we went around the yard picking up sticks and debris a few days ago. Sophia also wanted to play in her playhouse, but she didn't like that there were a few bugs inhabitants in there! We … [Read more...]

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: blogging, family, learning, parenting · 12 Comments

Nighttime Potty Training {& a DIY Mattress Pad Cover}: When Parenting Gets Tough {a series}

Today I'm tackling one of the toughest parts of parenting a toddler - Potty Training. Well, specifically Nighttime Potty Training. I would almost guarantee that every parent would list Potty Training on a list of Tough Parts of Parenting {well, that is until they reach the teenage years} and although there are a ton of methods of Potty Training out there - one doesn't work for everybody. Luckily, Sophia started potty training very early. She was wearing panties at 18 months, but still had occasional accidents and actually still does. It's really hard for a 2.5 year old to pause in play to take a potty break. But now we're dealing with Nighttime Potty Training. Nighttime Potty Training Nighttime Potty Training isn't quite as predictable as day potty training {is any of it predictable, … [Read more...]

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: diy, Green, parenting, potty training, sewing · 20 Comments

Goodbye Cold and Sickness – Hello Warm Weather! {Dealing with RSV season}

I am so ready for Summer... even Spring I would be happy with right now. The dreary, cold days of Winter here in east Tennessee do more than just keep us inside, they keep us sick. It seems like every time I've turned around this season, someone has been sick - the girls, my parents, Rob or me... We had quite the scare with Moreaya a few weeks ago also. She had picked up a cold-like virus from her sister {who got it from who knows where} and it ended up developing into pneumonia. Her pediatrician assured me that her type of pneumonia wasn't as bad as people often assume, but I was still worried. She was already exhibiting signs of wheezing and coughing, but he informed me to watch for difficulty of breathing - rapid breaths like she couldn't catch her breath. He told me that we really … [Read more...]

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: momcentral, parenting · 11 Comments

Escape to the Bathroom – I’m a Dove Mom

Want to know one of the things that I "wish I'd know then that I know now"? Don't take a shower for granted! When you have a newborn, you can't leave them unattended for a shower. When you have a toddler, you can't leave them unattended because {1} they'll wreck the house {2} they won't allow it. Back then {before I had kids}, I didn't realize how nice a quiet, long shower was. I really didn't. Even now if I get one, there is always someone right outside of my curtain asking questions, trying to peek in the curtain, or crying. Always. So, I have to make the most of each shower I get. That's why I'm a Dove Mom! I recently became a Dove Mom Ambassador, but I've actually been a Dove Mom for a long time. When I had my first skin … [Read more...]

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: momcentral, parenting, Review · 15 Comments