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4 Great Family Activities for Rainy Days

May 14, 2018 by Mandy

No one likes the rain. There is nothing worse than flinging the curtains open in the morning, only to be faced with grey skies and torrents of rain. It bad enough when the rain is keeping us from the day to day stuff that we want to do for ourselves, but for parents, it comes with an added dimension of dread. Not only do parents have to keep themselves entertained, if the kids can’t go outside to play, that means it falls on their parents to keep them amused as well.

You might think that it is this precise scenario that TVs, laptops, and tablets were invented for, but do you really want your kids spending more time than they already do with their heads glued to a screen? Wouldn’t it be better if you could find some more wholesome and fun activities to take part in as a family?

Help Them Build a Fort

Most of us still have some amazing memories of being children and building forts of our own. Nothing can compare to the power of a child’s imagination. To the parents, the materials you build with will be nothing more than cardboard boxes. However, to your children, this will be a real, magical fort. Seeing that kind of magic coming alive in your children is better than any TV show.

Take Kids to the Library

There are few tools as potent for stirring imaginations, young and old alike than a good book. Encouraging your children to read often is a good habit to try and get into anyway, for the both of you. Your kids will benefit in a number of ways from being exposed to books from a young age. There is increasing evidence that people who read more as children perform better academically for the rest of their lives.

Cooking

Kids don’t often get the opportunity to cook, largely because of the potential hazards involved. Because of this, many people don’t discover their love for cooking until relatively late in life. However, things don’t have to be this way. By introducing your kids to some simple recipes to cook and bake, you can help to ignite that spark wherever it may reside. You can find a whole host of suitable recipes online: Cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.Com is an excellent starting point.

Set Up a Treasure Hunt

What adult doesn’t secretly cherish the excuse to act like a kid again? Parents will already understand the allure that this kind of time with your children has. Some of the best quality time you will spend with your kids will be spent trying to exist, even momentarily, in their imaginations. Devising your own treasure hunt is an excellent way of putting together a fun and memorable activity for you and your family.

Rainy days can be a real pain. On the surface, many parents aren’t thrilled about the prospect of being kept inside all day and having to watch bored kids. However, with a little bit of effort, you can turn your rainy days into prime family times.

10 Fun and Healthy Recipes For Kids

May 2, 2018 by Mandy

Are you trying to find snacks for your kids that are both fun and healthy? Here are some great healthy recipes for kids that they’re going to love.

Do you have a house full of picky eaters? Is trying to get your kids to eat healthy an everyday battle? Are you tired of making healthy meals and then having to throw them out because your kids just refuse to eat them?

Well, fear not, we’re here to help! We’ve compiled a list of healthy recipes for kids, so you can whip up something that’s fun, easy, and nutritious. So without further ado, here are 10 healthy recipes for kids that will be sure to win them (and their taste buds) over.

10 Fun and Healthy Recipes for Kids

In this article, we’ll cover what kids crave most: snacks! These snacks are easy to make at home and offer the perfect combination of ingredients that will keep them feeling full and happy for hours.

Popcorn

Popcorn is a great snack alternative for children who constantly crave salty or fatty snacks like chips and pretzels. This whole grain snack packs 4-grams of fiber for every 3-cup serving, which means it’s a very filling alternative for kids.

Just make sure you go for the air-popped option and avoid movie theater popcorn or kettle corn, which are often packed with extra calories from sugar and fat.

Beyond calories and fiber, popcorn is a great snack because it’s endlessly versatile. You can transform this snack with different seasonings like grated cheese or nutritional yeast, which makes it easy to customize for the pickiest of kids. Just make sure to avoid going overboard with the toppings or it will no longer qualify as one of the healthy recipes for kids.

Ice Pops

Are your children fans of ice pops or another cold, sugary treat? If so, treat them to homemade ice pops, which you can customize to include healthy ingredients your kids won’t even notice.

There are many fruit flavors you can make that will provide your children with a healthy dose of vitamins while curbing their sugar craving.

Do your kids like orange ice pops? Make your own with orange juice and nonfat Greek yogurt, which will offer your kids a healthy dose of vitamin C and calcium. If your kids aren’t a fan of orange ice pops, try making other great ice pops like mango almond, berry flavored ones, and even faux fudge ones using avocado!

Peanut Butter Cookies

We know what you’re probably thinking: how on Earth can cookies qualify as one of the healthy recipes for kids? And the truth is there are many cookie recipes out there that are both healthy and delicious!

Don’t believe us? Try making these mouth-watering low carb peanut butter cookies made with two simple ingredients: peanut butter and Sukrin syrup. In less than 12 minutes, you’ll have a batch of delicious, low-carb cookies your kids will crave.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is such a great snack it deserves another spot on this list. Natural peanut butter is a filling treat that pairs well with a variety of other healthy foods like apples, celery, carrots, and bananas. It also offers healthy fats and protein kids need to stay feeling full and energized.

Healthy Baked Goods

Do your kids just refuse to eat their fruits and vegetables? If so, a great way to get them on board is by sneaking those fruits and vegetables into the baked goods they already love to eat. Once they fall in love with the flavor, they’ll realize how tasty and nutritious healthy foods can be.

What’s great about healthy baked goods is that there are a variety of options to choose from.

You can make banana bread, zucchini muffins, and even make muffins with sweet potatoes, which contain beta-carotene and potassium.

Eggplant Fries

Are your kids certifiable french fry fiends? Well, eggplant fries can easily satisfy their craving while providing them with all the benefits eggplant offers, such as potassium and vitamin C. And what’s better is that you can broil these bad boys and toss them in parmesan and garlic salt so that they’ll taste like the real thing without all the extra junk.

Oven Baked Almond Fish Sticks

Want a healthy recipe for kids that’s packed with protein? Oven baked almond fish sticks are the way to go then! You can replace the standard breading with a blend of crushed almonds and bran flakes, which will make these baked (not fried) fish sticks a protein-packed snack that’s low in carbs.

Fruit Salsa

If you’re looking to serve your kids something a little different, fruit salsa is a great option. Fruit salsa is a fruit salad with a spin, combining great fresh flavors like kiwi, mango, and papaya.

Simply add those ingredients and toss them with mint and a bit of orange juice for an absolutely delicious fruit snack.

BBQ Kale Chips

Are your kids willing to try an unusual (and entirely scrumptious) snack? If so, serve them up some BBQ kale chips, which beat traditional chips in terms of taste and nutrition benefits.

Simply season some kale chips with paprika, chili powder, dry mustard, and garlic powder for an out-of-this-world snack.

Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade granola bars are a great on-the-go snack for when you and your kids are busy. And what’s better is that you can match a bunch in advance, so that you don’t have to spend precious time whipping snacks together.

Alton Brown’s granola bar recipe offers a healthy snack that is full of dried fruit, seeds, and nuts. They’ll keep your kids feeling full for longer, and offer them a great granola bar taste without all the sugars and processed ingredients a standard one includes.

Final Thoughts on Healthy Snacks for Kids

Getting your kids to eat healthy foods isn’t easy, but it’s essential keeping them active and in good health. By trying out the 10 healthy snacks for kids on this list, you can find a healthy and affordable snack option they’ll be sure to love.

Have you tried making healthy snacks for your kids? Have any recipes we missed?

Let us know in the comments!

Tips for Setting Your Easter Table in Style

April 2, 2018 by Mandy

Easter is almost here and it’s the right time to start thinking about the table decorations for the occasion. Easter brunch is a tradition in many homes and most people like to take it easy and casual, and sleep in for a bit longer, so having brunch instead of a formal dinner is a perfect solution.

Deciding on this year’s theme might pose a challenge, especially if you want to keep it a bit classy for the adults, but still colourful and fun for the kids in the family. Here are several suggestions how to decorate your Easter table and offer something for everyone.

Elegant and classy

If you’re one of those families that like to put the kids at their own table and let them create their own fun, then that leaves you with enough room to upscale the decoration at “the adult table”. You can rarely go wrong with an elegant and classy style. For instance, a combination of marble and delicate floral Easter motifs is very stylish. You can create this look by mixing and matching marble tableware, a touch of black and white confetti sprinkled randomly and a gorgeous floral centrepiece that will add the colours and scents of spring.

Nothing says class and elegance more than a black and white combination. Consider setting your table with beautiful Robert Gordon black and white plates and bring it all up a notch by adding silver or gold accessories, such as napkin rings, egg holders, cups and dessert spoons. Finish it off with a dip bowl holding an assortment of chocolates wrapped in gold foil to fit with the rest of the design.

Shiny and sweet

By Easter time, most people feel sick of winter and are yearning for the colours and smells of spring, so bring some fun and colour to your table styling. Break away a bit from the tradition and get creative with what you have in your home, and your kids could contribute with their own ideas. You can use floral wrapping paper and cut it up to use it as a disposable tablecloth and make a big statement at a very small cost. Lay the table with blue plates that will pick up on the tablecloth colours and some pastel mugs. Tie it all together with white side plates and shiny silverware.

Leave it to your kids to add an egg holder with a monogrammed Easter egg for each guest and a bright, yellow chick or a cute white bunny next to each plate to finish the setting.

Country garden party

There’s something particularly sweet about a country garden party theme for Easter, especially for the kids’ table. They will adore a cotton candy colour palette, with a chequered tablecloth, paper doilies and tiny cut-out flags that you can all prepare together before the guests arrive.

Get your kids to pick spring flowers such as garden roses, tulips and daisies, and arrange them casually on the table. Dress the table with some patterned ribbons, colourful confetti eggs, Easter candy jars and place bunny cut-outs with kids’ names on them, colourful Easter-inspired paper plates and cups, so the kids can fully enjoy the Easter fun without the worry of breaking anything.

Forest theme

A natural woodland theme is one of the most common Easter table settings and is suitable for both adults and kids. The best thing about it is that it doesn’t cost much and you can easily make it together with your kids just by using things you have in the house and your backyard.

As a centrepiece, you can use your kitchen wood slice board and place a wicker basket filled with twigs and spring flowers that will make a wonderful nest for colourful Easter eggs. Go with white, green and blue colours for your crockery and add pastel plaid napkins. And, as a finishing touch, put scented candles and faux moss bunnies around the centrepiece.

Easter is a time of celebration and joy, and whether you’re having an elegant party or a casual country brunch gathering, these table setting ideas will help you create a lovely, warm and inviting ambience and impress your family and guests.

The Best Devices For Keeping Your Family And Your House Safe

February 23, 2018 by Mandy

Although it isn’t a pleasurable thought, and the idea of someone breaking into your home is enough to send shivers down your spine, you must prepare for any possibility. Therefore, you have to ensure that you’re equipped to either discourage the thieves before the theft takes place, or to catch the perpetrators in the hope of being reunited with your belongings. As you’ll agree, protecting your home and your family is paramount, and there are ways of doing your very best to employ preventative measures with the help of devices and gadgets. You want to protect your family, your home and your possessions by any means possible, so it’s important to get to grips with new technology that will enable you to do exactly this.

Motion Sensors

A motion sensor outside your home will pick up on any movement activity and alert you to it. If you place motion sensors at the back and the front of your home in full view, assuming that you’re covering the two main entrances of your property, then this itself could be enough to deter anyone with ill intention from wanting to come one step closer towards your home. A driveway motion sensor can protect your home, your garden, and your car, so it’s well worth investing in this smart technology and taking steps to protect your family and your possessions. Motion sensors either side of your garage can also help you park your car and protect from damaging it through means of accidentally hitting into objects stored in your garage.

Cameras

Perhaps your most useful device for preventing theft from your home is to use a camera. Having a security camera which can be seen might well be enough to prevent a burglary, however, if not, then the evidence recorded by the camera can be used to help catch the thief or even be used as evidence for prosecuting the offender. By installing a camera, you’re not just keeping watch of thieves, but also you’re tracking any unwanted visitors that may take a fancy to your lawn or trash cans, for example. You can keep an eye on which pests are making their way on to your property, and from here you can take steps in trying to eradicate them. You can do this either by laying traps or making your home and yard far less appealing to the critters via means of building an impenetrable trash can shed or using the scent or spray of another, and more fearsome animal. If you do have trouble with pests, then it’s worth calling in the professionals who can take care of the problem quickly and safely.

A Guard Dog

Having a large dog outside your home can help keep your family safe as its very presence can be enough to prevent robbers from entering your yard. Even if the dog isn’t particularly large or necessarily protective, having a furry friend visible in the garden can be all you need to keep your family safe from the threat of theft. Having said this, however, you need to be vigilant and acutely aware that a dog shouldn’t be left alone in the company of any young children whatsoever, as having an aggressive, or just an unpredictable dog in the home could have serious consequences for your family. If you’re thinking about getting a puppy to share your home with, then always ensure that you know the temperament of the dog’s mother and father. You should also make sure that the dog doesn’t initially show signs of being vicious or overly interested in your young children, and you carry out research into the history and characteristics of the breed you’re considering welcoming into your house. If you’re thinking of keeping a guard dog mostly for the purpose of protecting your home, then any young children shouldn’t come near the dog, and you should issue written warnings around the parameters of your home that you, in fact, keep a potentially aggressive dog.

Safe And Secure Wi-Fi Routers

Keeping your Wi-Fi routers safe and secure will put pay to any criminal plans of using your network for dark and exploitative means. Since you use your internet for many activities such as internet banking, sending emails to work, purchasing goods, and sharing details from your personal life, it’s within your interest to prevent individuals who may wish to cause you and your family harm from gaining information into the most private recesses of your life. Some smart routers have the capacity to scan all devices on the network for malware vulnerabilities, to monitor outbound traffic, and to detect any zombie or alien devices on the network and send notifications when it detects suspicious activity or when it suspects that your security may be compromised. These routers can protect the safety of your home and your personal information from being potentially hacked and leaked.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide leaks can kill, and often they do. Since carbon monoxide is odorless and therefore undetectable to the human nose, it is more of a means for concern than other gases. It is paramount that you install carbon monoxide detectors in your home as the difference between having one and not having one can be death. Carbon monoxide is an unapologetic silent killer that could claim the lives of you and your family as you lie asleep in your beds, so you can afford not to have one in your home.

Baby Monitors

Baby monitors allow you digital access to your child’s wellbeing without actually being inside the room. Such monitors can record and track your child’s rate of breathing and can sense when the baby’s breathing becomes too slow or too fast and will alert you to a change in how your baby’s breathing is behaving. For added safety, consider installing a battery operated baby monitor that features a camera as well as a motion and breathing sensor. Since you cannot be too careful in protecting your young child, this device is considered a must-have in keeping your family safe.

Crispy Cobbler Pie – What’s The Difference

January 24, 2018 by Mandy

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When it comes to dinner, many people’s favourite part is dessert. Who can blame them, right? With so many choices of desserts it’s easy to see why many love these sweet apres dinner finishers. From ice cream to cake, fruit salads to pies, what’s not to like? A favourite dessert for many, and one that tends to be featured after many roast dinners is that of pies, crisps, and cobblers. But what’s the difference between each and how do you make them? You can read about cobblers and pie in this article below!

Crisp (Sometimes Called Crumble)

A Crisp is a fruit based dessert that is typically fully covered in a mixture of flour, granola (or other cereals), nuts and sugar all mixed together and baked on top of the fruits themselves. This topping covers the fruit entirely and bakes to a golden brown and hardens up just slightly. Sometimes the fruit juices can leak on top of the crisp, but it’s nothing to be concerned about. The best part is almost any fruit makes a great crisp, but especially apples and berries, or some people even mix them to make mixed fruit crisp. Serve with ice cream.

Pie

Pies differ from both crisps and cobblers in the sense that the filling is almost entirely encased in pastry shell. The dish is lined with the pastry, the filling added and then a layer of pastry is added on top of the entire thing, with small holes pierced in the top to allow steam to escape. Pies can sometimes have only strips of pastry over the filling in a crisscross pattern that showcases some of the filling beneath. Pies often are considered to be a dessert or of a sweet flavouring, usually fruit but can also include things like chocolate, banana, lemon, lime as well as different types of meats. For fish lovers, check out ‘Stargazy Pie’, although you might never look at pie the same way again!

Cobbler

Cobbler on the other hand is somewhat similar in style to a crisp but with a batter or biscuit crust which is dropped in lumps onto the filling with spaces left between each to allow the filling to show through – much like a cobbled street, hence the name. Cobbler can come in a variety of types with mixed berries and fruits being the most popular.

So which will you choose for your next dinner party? Make sure to have ice cream on hand to go with whichever you choose and serve them up slightly warm. Bon appetit!