THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE IN HEAVEN FOR MOMS OF CHILDREN

As we all know, parenting is no easy task and being a mom, I think is an even tougher job at times because we play so many different roles in the lives of our children. I think it can be said that being a mother is one of the most rewarding and yet exhausting jobs we will ever have. At the same time, each day is filled with happiness and a love that is so pure and beautiful.

That is not to say that it is not also extremely difficult too! And being mom to more than one child is an even tougher job!

Recently, I came across this beautiful framed hand-painted calligraphy with the inscription: "There's a Special Place in Heaven for the Mother of Two Boys".  

 

"There's a special place in Heaven

for the Mother of two boys"

In addition, this site also offers other family quotes and sayings for yourself or gift giving.

 

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GUARDIAN ANGEL

MAKE MATH FUN WITH SIDEWALK CHALK SUBTRACTION

Sidewalk Chalk Subtraction

Too many children, practicing subtraction involves scratching a pencil around on a piece of paper while yawning with boredom. Make subtraction practice more fun with this outdoor review game!






What You Need:

• Sidewalk chalk
• Yardstick or measuring tape
• Bean bags

What You Do:

1. Draw a chalk grid on a driveway or patio. The grid should have at least 25 squares –five down and five across– with each square being about a foot across. You can use a yardstick or measuring tape in order to make the squares more exact.
2. Write one number in each square of the grid. The numbers can be as high as you would like, based on the level of subtraction that children playing the game have mastered. For example, a child who is just starting to learn subtraction should have only one-digit numbers in the grid. A child who has become proficient in subtracting three-digit numbers from each other can have very large numbers in the grid. Make sure that there are no clusters of all large or all small numbers anywhere in the grid.
3. Make a chalk line about six feet away from the grid. (You can make the line closer or farther, depending on how well the children can throw.)
4. Give each child two bean bags.
5. Instruct children to throw their bean bags on the grid and take note of the numbers they fall on. Children should then subtract the smaller number from the larger number to get their final score for the round.
6. Play four more rounds, adding to their previous score at the end of each round. The child with the highest score at the end of five rounds wins the game!

Sponsored by Education.com

BEST TABLET FOR KIDS

 

Do you have young children that are always asking to use your electronic device? I know I do! I've discovered that one of the best tablets out there for kids, is the Fire tablet from Amazon and now they have an All-New Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet, 7" Display, 16 GB.

It is honestly, such a great deal. First, it looks great and it comes with 1 year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, and a Kid-Proof Case, plus a 2-year worry-free guarantee. There are plenty of options on colors for the kids case.

It is not intended to be used as a toy. It is a real tablet, with a 7" IPS display, 16 GB internal storage, and up to 8 hours of mixed-use battery life. And you can always add more storage if you wanted to.
 
And....here's the part I love. It comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee: if they break it, you simply return it and Amazon will replace it for free. No questions asked.

The one year of FreeTime Unlimited gives your kids access to 15,000 popular apps and games, videos, books, and educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more.

If your kids are old enough and you are okay with it, you can even add Netflix, YouTube, and Minecraft.
  
The Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet offers parental controls that allow you to manage usage limits, content access, and educational goals.

In my opinion it is honestly a great deal for all the great features it offers plus the warranty and free time unlimited! 

5 FANTASTIC BIRTHDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR LITTLE PRINCESS

If you’re looking for the perfect present for your perfect princess, you’ll have discovered by now that little girls aren’t always easy to buy for! They say little girls are made of sugar and spice and all things nice, but they’re also in and out of anything and can go from angel to diva at the drop of a hat.

However, there are some foolproof gifts which will be sure to delight your little girl and withstand the ever-changing fashions and trends - here’s a roundup of five!

Doll’s pram

Doll’s prams make a great gift for any little girl who loves dolls and soft toys. Although most children enjoy the simple notion of pushing around prams, doll’s prams also fall hand in hand with other toys to heighten the enjoyment of dolls and teddies both new and old.

Doll’s prams also allow little girls to imitate their parents and other adults in their lives too, which can be exceptionally beneficial for their development - you can even use dolls prams to help your little princess to prepare for a new brother or sister.

With so many dolls prams on the market, you really do have your pick of quality. You could go for a cheap and cheerful pram, or you could even go for a really realistic Silver Cross dolls pram from Play Like Mum.

Tea set

Engaging in pretend play is so important for little ones and tea sets are a perfect way to encourage this. Much like with dolls prams, it’s really up to you how much you invest into a tea set; you can buy cheap and cheerful ones or splash out on quaint yet durable ones which could be passed down through generations.

Personalized Peppa Pig book

For an extra special touch, personalization makes a lovely addition to a gift and any lover of Peppa Pig will adore a personalized Peppa Pig book. If you thought Peppa Pig couldn’t get any better, brace yourselves because you can now make your little one a character in a Peppa book and it’s as easy as pie.

Not only will this gift further encourage your little girl to get involved with reading, but it will also give the simple gift a whole lot of sentimental value. With these books, you can personalize a character to have the same name as and look just like your daughter so that she will have the ultimate immersive experience when reading.

Balance bike

Particularly for younger children, balance bikes are a great gift to help build confidence with cycling. Learning to ride a bike is a huge moment in a child’s life and, with a balance bike, the process will be made a lot easier and more enjoyable.

Balance bikes, such as this Wiggins Pau Balance Bike, are only gaining in popularity and you can get hold of them from most popular bike shops.

Building blocks

A common theme among young children is that, once they realize that they can balance one block on top of another, they never want to stop building. Soon you’ll have a floor covered in building blocks and Legos or a toddler trying to build a tower all the way to the ceiling.

What’s great about building blocks is that you can adapt them to make them age appropriate for your child. Younger children who have a habit of putting things in their mouths can be gifted soft plastic blocks, whereas older children can be given more complex structures.

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QUICK GUIDE TO GETTING KIDS TO BEHAVE IN FRONT OF A CAMERA

Working with children in the creative industry can be a challenge; from tears and tantrums to unbelievably high energy levels and difficulty concentrating, children can seem like more hassle than they’re worth. However, kids bring a unique charm to productions and can add an extra special touch to whatever it is that you’re working on.

Children and bad behavior often fall hand in hand and, if you’re struggling to get the best out of your little superstars, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve put together a quick guide to getting kids to behave in front of a camera.

Pay attention to patterns in their energy levels

Children are unable to regulate their energy levels in the same way that adults can; have you noticed that one moment they could bouncing off the walls and the next they could be having a tantrum because they’re overtired?

Particularly with younger children, you have to be mindful of their energy levels if you want to get the best out of them on camera. If the child still has regular nap times, be aware that they shouldn’t be on camera during that period of the day or they may become irritable and more likely to misbehave.

We spoke to Filming With Kids who said: “The best way to accommodate for children’s fluctuating energy levels is to simply get to know each child before working with them. Pay attention to any patterns in their energy and adjust your shooting schedule accordingly.”

Hire a baby wrangler

Camera work often involves long days doing take after take to get the desired product which can be extremely tiring work, especially for children. Tired or bored children are much more likely to misbehave than those who are kept entertained and, for that reason, whether you’re working with one child or ten, it’s always a good idea to hire a baby wrangler.

‘Baby wranglers’ - otherwise referred to as ‘child wranglers’- can be endlessly beneficial when it comes to shooting with children. It’s their job to entertain children during the more boring times when they’re not shooting and to provoke the desired reactions out of them when they are.

Create a reward system

Using a reward system to encourage children to behave is an almost sure-fire method and that’s no different on set. Rewarding the child for their good behavior such as sitting still and being quiet when required will not only encourage them to keep up their good work, but it will also lift their spirits during the long day.

If you’re lacking some inspiration for a suitable reward system, check out this post on the jar and cotton ball method.

Be prepared

When working with a child - or, indeed, anyone - it’s your responsibility as photographer or director to keep them happy. This involves feeding them properly throughout the day and, with children, providing them with toys and games or a baby wrangler.

If you’re unsure about how to provide adequate food on set, check out this post for some pointers.

DO YOU RUN OR BIKE - BE SEEN!

If you love to run or train on your bicycle here is a perfect way to stay safe while doing so. Light Up Turning Signal Gloves, Zackees allow you to signal to traffic without having to worry,

These light up gloves are water-resistant with spandex and the fleece liner keep your hands toasty warm, even in rain and snow. Zackees award-winning Turn Signal Gloves are the hottest innovation in cycling lights that allows you the ability to communicate turning intentions to other vehicles on the road. Zackees are also great for runners.  Often times people who run, like to do so at dusk or night time and sometimes they run along the side of the street where there is a flow of traffic. These light up gloves allow you to let drivers know where you are going.

The lights on the Zackee gloves are surprisingly bright even with such a small battery because the LEDs are the most efficient on the market at converting power into light. The gloves can run up to 3 weeks of moderate use, after that you just plug it into your charger.  The Zackees are also conveniently machine-washable. All you have to do is remove the batteries, wash it and then let it dry (naturally.)

So not only do these gloves look super cool, they are very efficient.

Check out the Zackees in action:

Try a pair on your next bike ride or run!

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ANTI-AGING CREAM BY HEMPGENIX

If you have been searching for a good anti-aging cream, here is something new, HempGenix, (with Pure Hemp CBD Oil.) CBD hemp oil is made from high-CBD, low-THC hemp, unlike medical marijuana products, which are usually made from plants with high concentrations of psychoactive tetra-hydrocannabinol (THC). Because hemp contains only trace amounts of THC, these hemp oil products are non-psychoactive.  CBD interacts with our naturally occurring systems, but is non-psychotropic, it doesn’t cause a high. This makes it a safer, less controversial alternative, while still offering significant health benefits

HempGenix Anti-Aging Cream - is made with a Blend of Retinol, Collagen  and IP6 HempGenix and is specifically combined to provide a soothing therapeutic effect for your skin. This anti-aging cream contains collagen retinol, which helps in the reduction of pore size and the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles. Some of the other things it can help with are:

• Helps fine lines
• Skin Pore size reduction
• Skin elasticity
• Firmness
• Hydrates skin

You can check out some of the reviews for this product online as well:


"In love, love with this line – I started using them about 3 weeks ago and I am officially hooked – What I love the most is that when I put the creams on I can literally feel it – I feel the tingling of the cream.. its like I feel it working .. each morning I wake up with high hopes… so far so good – VERY PLEASED!" by Christina Machado

There are also a variety of other CBD Skin Care products you can try as well.

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SCOOTER SUITCASE FOR THE KIDS

The best part of summer vacation I remember as a kid, were the fun family trips. Some years we actually got to travel on a plane for family vacation time but most of the time, it was road trips during the summer. I loved how when I was older I got to pack my own suitcase. It makes a kid feel like they are older and in control. Ha! Ha! Now, my kids get the same privilege. We've been on a couple of road trips already this summer and packing is never an easy task. However, my kids are a little bit older now but when they were younger, I know they would have loved the luggage scooter!

Check out how adorable these suitcases are! Wow! I wish I had these suitcases when I was a kid, instead of those boring old suitcases we use to have! These neat suitcases have different designs on them AND you can ride them! How cool is that? I know my niece, nephew and grand kids would love these!

What a fun way for kids to travel.  The hard case rolling luggage opens up into a scooter, making traveling even more exciting for your child!

As if traveling wasn't fun already, these suitcases just add to the adventure, making it even more fun for your kiddos! Whether it's a trip to the airport or a road trip, these Luggage Scooters are lots of fun!  They have a a bunch of cute designs with Cyclops and even have a Storm Trooper one for Star Wars fans!

There are a variety of styles that your kids will love! Here are some options:

Sparky the Robot: http://amzn.to/2tYlWSY

Daisy Scooter:  http://amzn.to/2tY0zB6

Betty Scooter:  http://amzn.to/2sBJycd

You Can Buy Your Favorite Luggage Scooter Right Here:

SUMMER ACTIVITY BOOKS

Are you running out of things to do for summer? Want to keep your kids busy (as well as their minds?) Prevent summer learning loss with the award-winning, best-selling Summer Bridge Activities® 

Check out the Summer Bridge activity books for all ages!   

Here are a few links to other books for various age groups:


Pre K - K: http://amzn.to/2u3ROq6
K to 1st: http://amzn.to/2sBuPyj
1st to 2nd: http://amzn.to/2uWjqJQ
2nd to 3rd: http://amzn.to/2sBtlUu
3rd to 4th: http://amzn.to/2sB5vIv
4th to 5th: http://amzn.to/2uW6vrx
5th to 6th: http://amzn.to/2u3Waxu

MAKE YOUR HOME A SMART HOME WITH THESE GADGETS

Summer is here and that means the kids are out of school! If your kids are like mine, they love to be indoors in the air conditioning lounging around the house, before summer camp starts, especially because we live in South Florida and it is so hot out.  

Many of you, may have to work outside the home and do not send your kids to camp and may even have to leave your kids home alone for an extended period of time. Whether it is for a couple of hours or all day, while you work, that leads me to my next point - safety in your home is vital!  As parents we always want to do everything possible to keep our children safe and a "smart home" does just that. 

One of the best ways to do this, is by implementing automation in your home. This way you can monitor all that goes on in your home while you are away. Automating your home can be as simple as installing buttons or voice command so that you can control things such as the lighting in your home, the locks, the thermostat, the garage and mainly your security system. I love the feature that allows you to control the temperature in your home. This is a big plus in South Florida! 

One of the most popular safety items that many homeowners are using to keep their homes safe is by using Smart Lock. It allows you key-less access to your home and is connected to your smart tablet, so if you forget to lock your door, you can always do it remotely.

Another neat gadget to make your home safe is an August Connect WiFi Bridge. August Connect requires an August Smart Lock and works with the free August iOS or Android app. This has a variety of features but mainly it lets you control your door from anywhere! It has voice control that allows you to connect your lock to Amazon Alexa or even Siri.  I think the best feature on the WiFi Connect Bridge is that it gives you instant alerts when someone enters or exits your home.

There are countless ways to make your home a safe home and you can choose the gadgets that work best for you and your home but the most important thing to remember, is that your kids know the safety rules of staying home alone and act responsibly when doing so!