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30 Spring, Nature & Earth Day Books For Kids



If you have been following me for a while you know how much my family loves books. And keeping with an Earth Day theme this week I thought I would share some of our favorite and new to us books about Spring, Nature and Earth Day.


And like I said on Instagram today, make they time to do the things you have on your list. Like actually MAKE/SCHEDULE the time for those things. This is something I have been working on this year, because that to do list is nothing if you don't actually set when you will get them done.


xoxo

Natalie

Tips That Help Me Meal Plan & Prep

Updated: Apr 13, 2021



Well hey there!

It's Monday and as I sit here I am hoping that despite the cold rainy weather this week feels smoother and better than last week.


It was A WEEK. You know the one I am talking about, one of those weeks that you never get a moment, yet you don't finish a damn thing. Ugh. The to-do list kept carrying on from one day to the next until I reached the weekend and just got the minimal done. Ayy.. It did not feel good at all, but I am sharing because I know I am not the only one that has those kind of weeks and well I want you to know you aren't alone.


But new week, new me? or maybe new week new attitude? Or maybe simply, new week, lots of hope.


I decided that I would tackle this post that I started last week that you have all been asking for. Meal planning and prepping is the number two thing that I think can change your week when implemented (number one is waking before your crew). It's especially helpful for me during this pandemic when most of our meals are cooked by me.


Here are some quick tips, tricks and words of wisdom. lol. I am laughing at myself as I typed that... And I didn't have a change to do my meal prep and plan this weekend so I am doing this all throughout the day, so you can honestly do it any day of the week that works for you.


  1. Write out your menu before creating your grocery list/food shopping. THIS IS HUGE. I hate not having that final, usually important ingredient. So I create a menu for the week, I even add in days we are going to have take out for dinner. Usually Friday or Saturday but honestly some weeks there is a week day in there too. So create your menu, scan your recipes and double check fridge, pantry and all expiration dates for ingredients. Then write out lunch and snack ideas on the side of your menu. For example, for snacks we love red peppers, carrots, celery, cucumbers, crackers, cheese, pretzels, freeze dried berries and potato chips for snacks.

  2. Include the whole family in creating the menu. I will say this until I am blue in the face, including kids in the kitchen in everything from the menu, shopping for foods, preparing and cooking will open doors for pickier eaters. So have everyone throw in a request for meals and snacks!

  3. Don't reinvent the wheel. I love to try new recipes but it's not something I do every night. I stick to the basics, and a lot of the time don't make anything different! GASP! Hahahah. We always have a pasta night, a soup during colder weather, a taco night and a leftover night.

  4. To not get bored with the same dishes I like to swap up the protein in our tacos, create a different side for a veggie and protein night, try a new grain, swap out the beans in my go-to white bean soup or change up the protein in it, or make any of my meals vegetarian by swapping the meat protein with a mung bean and sweet potatoes mixture (recipe coming soon). But there is no need to create all new things write out some of your dinners and rotate them until you have the meal prep/plan under your belt.

  5. Consider your schedule. I have said this one million times in IG stories but make sure you are considering your schedule while you plan out your menu, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays we have something planned after virtual school, nothing too late but enough that I have less time to cook so I make sure that the prep is done for these days and that the meal doesn't take too long to cook. So consider shorter recipes or something you can just toss in a slow cooker on days that your busier.

  6. Make ahead what you can. Make double the amount of a grain (White rice, brown rice, quinoa, barely are our favorites) that you can serve with more than one meal. I like to make a couple batches of my favorite sweet potatoes potatoes and roast a bunch of veggies to serve as sides, in salads or on their own as lunches! Making protein for a dish, well make a bigger batch for a couple meals! Prepare your veggies and greens for easy salads and snacks. And even making a dressing for the week can be an easy way to prep and switch up a daily salad.

  7. Plan for dishes that taste better the next day. Loved this article I included in my newsletter but meals like soups, baked pasta dishes, and chilis will taste better the second or third day and well the are so easy to just reheat!

  8. Invest in great glassware, in different sizes, this set and these larger ones, for storage. Even a lid for my instant pot makes it easier to prepare ahead or keep leftovers fresh.

  9. Make the time. This is a huge part of making this successful... Maybe it's an early morning on the weekend or an evening, or splitting into two days. But whatever it is you have to put aside some time to do all the things to make it easier, stay healthier, waste less and stay on budget.

I hope this helps make your week a little easier. I plan on sharing what my actual meal planning and prepping for a week is this month so be prepared and please respond with any questions that I can answer in the post!


And just remember that we are in this together.

xoxo

Natalie

20 Winter Indoor Activities

Updated: Apr 13, 2021










We have been really loving our science kits. I mean what kid doesn't love an array of ingredients, some tools and time to just tinker around, aka time and space to make a little mess. It's the number one requested activity by my kiddos and I really love having a little chunk of time to get one or two things off my to-do list, and yes the mess legit gives me chills but I have learned in this last year that allowing them the space and time to get messy is so good for all of us.


Our rules are simple:

- Children involved will help with clean up ( and this may not be mamas level of clean up which I accept).

- If little humans are fighting I put it all away. This is meant for fun and for mama to have time to get things done and I remind them of this (and all rules as I set up).

- Mama puts out ingredients and tools, children are not to ask for anything else after mama sits down. You get what you get and yes you can get upset but that is not going to change my mind. ( they love white vinegar, baking soda, flour, water, food coloring, salt, corn starch, and oil. Tools are from this set, and sometimes bowls, spoons and a whisk. I pick a few of each depending on how much time they have but never all at the same time, and please note that the girls are 4 and 7 and I never leave them alone doing this).

- None of this goes in your mouth or it's grounds for removal of activity.


That is pretty much it. They have seen us do a few experiments, and they even have cards showing other ones but they have the most fun with no direction (other than do not eat it!)

 

Now here are 20 more indoor winter activities that you can keep on the fridge for a trick up your sleeve. Pick one or two out of the list a week and surprise your kiddos, or let them pick something!


1. Make Play Doh (we love this recipe but there are so many on Pinterest)


2. Day time baths with color tablets, toys (like these bath pipes, or stickies) bath bombs or even shaving cream! I cannot tell you how much work I have gotten done for clients from my bathroom floor while girls played!


3. Get active indoors. Obstacle courses, these stones, this set looks awesome and want it for our next playroom, sit and spin, a tunnel. All things you may already have but if you leave them out in your living room the night before it will be like a new toy. Bonus points if you create an actual course with these said objects..


4. Play with snow.

Paint the snow

How to make snow paint here

Or other ways to play with snow in a jar.

5. Indoor car wash or baby doll baths with plastic bins/soap, brushes, shaving cream and hand towels. So much fun! my girls love both!

6. Indoor Sensory play i have pinned a bunch!

This blog has so many ideas

We use a big sheet underneath or if you have a plastic table cloth and some towels under each plastic bin!

We love this running water sink, THE BEST gift to give that kids will play with for years.


7. Freezing toys for the bath or even in a plastic container like this, let them use tools, water or salt to rescue the toys! Doing this this week with the girls!

Water sensory play

8. Let your kids build a rocket or car or anything with a box and art supplies! I have a whole Pinterest board of crafts with recycled materials!

9. Scavenger hunt

Love this color one

10. Snow storm in a jar. Fun science experiment like this one

11. Balloon tennis

12. Make a treat!

13. Or this bread in a bag looks fun for kids of all ages because baking is always a god choice in our house. can be messy but there is so much that goes on, science, sensory, reading recipes, taste and my girls try so much more when they are involved in making it.

14. Snow slime

15. Play Doh bake shop! We all make our own "baked goodies" but pretty much the girls do this all the time, I sometimes sit at the dining room table with them when I feel like


16. Jewelry Store or any store in general. They can create things, set up a store, either make or use play money, create tags and shop at each others stores. It was a favorite for me and my sister. I love this bead set for the big kids, this set of connecting beads Ami got a couple years ago and they both love (easy for toddler fingers) and this set is cute for younger kids who are ready to bead.


17. Then there is a bouncy house.... Oh gosh I have been wanting one for the girls for days we need to get our wiggles out. It's not cheap but from what I hear it lasts! (or a trampoline that fits inside... lol)

18. Zoom play date! Or read aloud from a family member? I am going to do a whole post on things you can set up for kiddos that don't do great on zoom but want to see friends/family next week, but the possibilities are endless, you can play Guess Who, read to each other, send a friend some play doh, do a show and tell. All things that yes are on a screen but interactive/social.


19. An invitation to play. This is another category I could write a whole post on but there is something special about setting up water colors or blocks, or magnet tiles or a puzzle, lighting candles, setting out a snack and letting the kids get engrossed in just being together with an activity. I sometimes even set out a bunch of the recycled paper (you know the cut up pieces or one scribble and down pages of paper that we keep in a bin) with crafts supplies/tools, light a candle and dim the lights, turn on a little music or a book on tape and the girls will create, no direction, no expectations of creating anything perfect, a huge old mess and lots of giggles. It's my favorite anytime activity.


20. Build a fort, load with pillows and blankets, then add flashlights and a bunch of books. We have two of these sets and it is so fun to create different designs!


I am so excited that I took the time to get this post up, so many of you have been asking for ideas and I love a place to send folks too. Please do forward to someone that may enjoy this or any of my content, your shares mean the world to me as I continue to grow this space.


Do you have any favorite indoor winter activities? Please email me and I will add them!


xoxo

Natalie




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