40 Family Friendly Summer Activities
My kids have been counting down for summer since the pools closed last year. They love swimming and my 5 year old even started to learn how to do it on his own! Even though I tried as hard as I could to keep him from the pool altogether.In our family summer means sunshine, family vacations, visits from family all over the globe, and grilled Indian food. We all love it.Since moving to North Carolina, we feel like we're starting summer a bit early here. The weather has been amazing here lately with sunshine and heat. I know summers here get a little crazy, but we're daydreaming anyways. We even made a list of all the things we want to do this summer!
40 Family Friendly Summer Activities
1. Got To The Beach2. So Strawberry Picking3. Make Ice Cream4. Go Camping5. Make S'mores6. Read 5 Books7. Water Balloon Fight8.Collect SeaShells9. Conquer A Fear10. Try Something New11. Camp In Your BackYard12. Build A SandCastle13. Eat Watermelon14. Go On A Road trip15. Volunteer As A family16. Do A Lemonade Sale17. Have A Sleepover18. Scavenger Hunt19. Watch Fireworks20. Kids Make Dinner21. Go To The Zoo22. Go On A Kite23. Host A Dinner With Friends24. Watch a Foreign Movie25. Visit A Farmer's Market26. Attend A Parade27. Slip N Slide28. Treasure Hunt29. Homemade Pizza30. Splash Park31. Outside Movie Night32. Picnic33. Breakfast for Dinner34. Sleepover at Grandmas35. Ride a bike36. Game Night37. Make Potato Stamps38. Summer Camp39. Put On A skit40.Obstacle Course
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Food Prep Tips You Can't Live Without
This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid® As always, all opinions are my own.
Dinner Time With The Almost Indian Family
As a multiracial family, food is very important. It has become our favorite way to blend cultures. All you have to do is stop by our house any night of the week and you'll see fusion dishes galore as well as Indian feasts!If we're making dinner, we use a lot of our Indian spices to add our family's unique flare to the dish. It makes it our own and we love tasting cumin, cardamom, chilies, and garlic in our food. It's become extremely easy in our house because we've become obsessed with food prep.Our fridge and freezer are loaded with prepped veggies and meals to make dinner time a bit easier. It also means ingredients are easy to grab so spice up any dish.It also means we can make Indian food throughout the week. The thing that always stops me when I'm about to make Indian food is the thought of how much work it's going to be. You have to chop up all the veggies, make the rice, prepare the lentils, make the curry base...There is so much involved! It can end up taking a few hours to get dinner prepared and I honestly don't have the time. This is where food prep comes in. It's shaved off so much time for our family!
My Meal Prep Tips
Meal prep looks different in every family. You may whip up all of your meals on the weekends and reheat during the week. Or maybe you prepare all of your ingredients to make it easier. Either way these tips can help you.
Meal Plan For The Week
If you only followed on tip, this would be it. Plan out your meals. Think through breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the week. Write it all down. This helps you know exactly what you need to get when grocery shopping as well as helping you plan better the day of.If you know you're going to be making chicken curry, you know you have to thaw out your chicken. If you know you're making Naan, you know you have to prep your dough. It takes the stress out of cooking as well as limits those last minute store trips. We all know how crazy they can get with kids!
Chop Up Some Of Your Ingredients
Chop up all the veggies you plan on using throughout the week. Chopping veggies is time consuming. Take some time over the weekend and chop them all up. You can put them in a container and then all you have to do is open it up and grab what you need.If you have some lovely kitchen assistants like I do, you can put them to work! My kids love chopping up the veggies for me. They even make sure to tell everyone which veggies they cut up while we're enjoying dinner at the table. They love it and it helps momma out!
Have Some Fillers Ready To Go
Fillers look a little different in every house. A few of them are beans, rice, naan, or lentils. Plan out some of the fillers you plan on using throughout week. Then you can whip them up and put them in a large container.Our family eats rice with every meal and it takes 40 minutes for our rice to cook. Instead of taking 40 minutes every day, I cook it every few days. It helps cut time and also makes sure we always have our favorite filler on hand for the hectic nights.
Invest Into Good Meal Prep Containers
A good container is an absolute must have for any type of food prep. You need to find leak proof food storage containers that will keep everything fresh. Our favorite to use is Rubbermaid BRILLIANCE containers. They actually sent our family a set to try out this month. I have so many containers so I was curious to see how they'd hold up. They're amazing!The lids are a tight fit which means it locks in the freshness. We have used them for our homemade garam masala, left overs, and prepped veggies.It's hard to find good containers for our family because turmeric stains everything. We use it in all of our Indian dishes, but it ends up turning our containers yellow. the Rubbermaid containers didn't change colors! They stayed crystal clear, even after holding keema curry.When using a container for meal prep you need leak proof guaranteed and these are! My kids even knocked them out of the fridge and they didn't open up. I heard the load crash and hesitated to turn around. They're always knocking things over, but to my surprise nothing leaked out. You can even keep the lid vented open to prevent splatters in the microwave.
Cook On Sundays
Use all of these tips and do your meal prep over the weekend. This way you start out your week stress free. You get all the hard work done over the weekend, with a little help. The rest of the week just requires you to open ups few containers and cook them up on the stove.
Giveaway
Do you want to win your own Rubbermaid BRILLIANCE food storage set? Comment below with a food prep tip and SHARE this post. The winner will be announced on June 1st. Good luck!
What are your meal prep tips?
Why You Should Give Your Mother In Law Some Slack
I'll never forget the moment I waited in Uthama's (My husband's aunt) living room to meet my future mother in law. I was absolutely terrified. Joel was the first serious relationship I had ever had so meeting the parents was a whole new experience for me.I didn't know what to say or how to act. All I could think of was the fact that I was about to make the world's most awkward first impressions ever.What if she hated me?What if I didn't live up to her expectations?I paced back and forth until the moment I heard the garage door open. Then my heart completely stopped. This was it. This was the moment I would remember forever.Joel's family all walked in, one by one. I met his brother and sister first and it went well. They seemed really nice and I could tell it would be natural with them.Then in walked his mom... I practically froze. I started questioning everything I was about to do.Should I hug her? Shake her hand?Then she walked over to me and gave me a hug. I wish I could say all my fears disappeared in that moment, but they didn't. I was nervous all weekend because I wanted her to like me. I was already madly in love with her son and I knew we'd be together forever.It's funny looking back on how our relationship began because now she's the one I call when I need advice. It may be for a recipe, advice with the kids, or just to talk. We've both put in a lot of hard work for our relationship and it's completely paid off.
I'll admit, I didn't realize how important our relationship was until I had boys of my own. Then I pictured what it would look like when they grew up and got married.Would I be close to their wives? Would we be friends? Would I become the crazy mother in law in all of their stories?Having kids has taught more than I ever could have imagined about life, but having boys has taught me something special about my mother in law.
The Most Important Women In Your Husband's Life
When your husband got married, you became the most important women in his life. You became the one he would depend on, trust in, and go to for everything. While it's very special for you and your husband, it's extremely difficult for your mother in law. She not only has to figure out her relationship with you, but she has to figure out her new relationship with her son.She will always hold a special place in your husband's life, but it changes after he gets married. She has to step back and let you come in. It's easy to get frustrated with your mother in law when you feel certain pressures, see how involved she is, etc. Instead you have to look at how much her life has changed and the fact that she's trying to figure it out just like you.
Where Does Your Mother In Law Fit In
She wants to know where she fits in to her sons life now. I don't know about you, but I dread this moment with my sons. I am excited for them to get married, but I don't even like to think about the moment my relationship with them will change. It will always be beautiful and special, but it will change.In addition to the typical changes your mother in law will face, think about how much more complicated it becomes when her daughter in law was raised in a different cultures....I love looking to see what people search to find my blog. One of the new popular searches is How Do I Handle A Daughter In Law From A Different Culture...You all have expectations of what your relationship will look like with your mother or daughter in law. You come up those expectations based on how you've seen them happen in the past. Often times, you will look to your own life and see how it's happened with your sister in law, a cousin's wife, etc.Then you get married and realized it's all different. Everything you thought would happen doesn't and instead your faced with a new set of challenges.This is how it is for a mother who welcomes in a daughter raised in a different culture. She had all of these expectations on how she would talk to you, how she would interact with you, and how she would fit into your life. You had expectations as well, but they all looked differently.Letting go of expectations is difficult because they are deeply rooted in us. You may not even realize all of the expectations you had until they start to play out differently. As they start to happen differently than you anticipated you will typically respond by getting angry or distancing yourself. Your mother in law will do the same thing.It's hard. It's hard to let go of your expectations.So what do you do? What should your mother in law do? There is one thing that will truly help you figure out your relationship with each other. Communicate. Communication is the most important thing in any relationship. You and your mother in law have to talk to each other before, during, and after situations come up.It will help you to understand each other and talk about expectations you may not have known about. Be careful not to shut each other down if you don't agree. You need to be open to the reality that your relationship will look different than you thought and that's not a bad thing. The more you work on it and the more you communicate, the closer you will be.You're both just trying to figure out your roles and see where you fit into each other's lives. Give each other grace and a little slack as you figure it out.
What would you say to someone struggling in their relationship with a mother or daughter in law?
Quick and Easy Samosas
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RealFlavorRealFast #CollectiveBias
This week has given us a little taste of the beautiful weather North Carolina has to offer. We wake up in the morning and it's already warm outside. The last thing we want to do on these warm days is heat up the oven. Instead, we go straight outside and turn on the grill.Today, we grilled up a gorgeous piece of Smithfield Marinated Pork. We love using their pork because you can create real flavor real fast! They use 100% pork and none of that nasty added stuff.* It's perfect for a midweek meal because it hardly takes any time at all to cook!It was so easy to cook and it smelled heavenly. It hardly took anytime at all for it to reach the right temperature and then we brought it inside to put together our samosas.
The best part of these quick samosas is that you can fill them with anything! My families favorite is meat and potato. They're filling and perfect for any meal!Traditional samosas take a bit of time from your day. You have to make the dough from scratch, wait for it to rise, and then start the rest of the process. Not today. We made it easy by using a tortilla!
Head over to your local Walmart and pick up your own Smithfield Marinated Pork. They have so many options on the types of marinades you want to fit everyones tastebuds. You can use them to whip up your own homemade samosas or eat them on their own!They've taken all the work out of it by marinading it for you! All you need to do is sauté it, roast it, or even throw it on the grill! Our family loves to grill up our Smithfield Marinated Pork and then use the left overs in our samosas the next day! Seriously delicious meals two days in a row!
*FDA has determined that there is no significant different between milk derived from rBST-treated and non rBST-treated cows
5 Things Multicultural Kids Love To Hear
5 Things Multicultural Kids Love To Hear
Multiracial kids are becoming more common every year. Something that was seen as such an abnormality is now becoming normal. Even though it’s becoming more normal, people are still trying to figure it out. Instead of keeping their questions to themselves, they tend to ask you questions that make you feel uncomfortable and remember how different your family is than theirs.The best is when people around you notice the positives about your multiracial family. Having a unique family and integrating multiple cultures into your family means your family has so many things that makes you special. Here are just a few things multicultural families love to hear.
1. You've traveled more than anyone I know!
One of the amazing things about being a child in a multicultural family is that they have family all over the world. Family vacations for them don't just mean a simple trip to Disney Land. Instead it means a two day flight to India!
2. You know how many languages!?
Raising a bilingual child is difficult and requires a lot of hard work. You have to be intentional every day to present them with multiple languages in a practical way. You also have to make it fun enough to encourage them so they want to learn multiple languages.Hearing how impressed someone is by their ability doesn't just make you as the parent feel good. It makes your child feel amazing! They take such pride in all of their hard work.
3. You look just like both of your parents!
Biracial children can feel ostracized by how different they look from their parents. They don't tend to hear time and time again how much they look like their mom. Instead people tend to be shocked when they find out who their parents are.Having someone come up and tell a biracial how much they do look like their parents makes them feel a strong sense of family unity.
4. You’ve integrated multiple cultures into your life so well! How did you do it?
Blending multiple cultures into one life requires hard work, patience, understanding, grace, and so much more. You question how well you do and what you could do better. When someone recognizes what a good gob you’re doing you can finally take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back.
5. You've taught me so much about your culture!
>Biracial children will inevitably face ignorance in their lives. They'll get asked rude questions and have people make incorrect snap judgements about them. The biggest thing they can do is to challenge ignorance by teaching people around them.When a biracial child hears how much they've been able to teach someone about their culture shows them they've been able to make a difference.
What is your favorite thing to hear as a parent of a multicultural parent?
Are Your Kids Represented In The Books They Read?
Are Your Kids Represented In The Books They Read?
I want to raise my children in a world full of diversity and a love for anyone different than them.
Growing up, I was always a book lover. I couldn't wait for my teachers to pass out the scholastic book fair catalogs because I would race home and beg my mom for as many books as she could afford. Then I would eagerly wait to bring the books home and hole up in my room and read them all!
My favorite part was seeing myself in the stories. I would open a book like Ramona and see a little girl just like me. It was a comforting feeling.
My husband is just as big of a reader as I am. The first thing we had to buy when we got married were five book cases. Yes, you read that right... Five large bookcases. We even had to get rid of a box or two of books because we had a lot of doubles!
Reading was a passion we definitely wanted our children to share. I started buying books as soon as the pregnancy test turned up positive.
I quickly realized how difficult it was to find books that would represent our multiracial family and our biracial children. I wanted my children to share the same feelings I did when reading their books.After talking about it with my husband, we quickly made the decision to hunt down books with multiracial families and children of color. We wanted to fill their rooms with stories of little boys just like them.
When kids read books, they want to identify with the characters. Most of the books they read are an inspiration to them. It may inspire them to be adventurous, to stand up against the bad guys in the world, or even to be who they are.
By seeing kids that look like them, they start to let go of the limits they've put on themselves. They start to believe that they can do anything they set their minds to. I want my kids to dream as big as their little minds let them.
Are you looking for books with multiracial families? Here are some of our favorites.
Mixed Me by Taye Diggs
Mixed Me is all about Max, a biracial little boy. He is constantly answering questions about being mixed race. He loves that he's a perfect mix of mommy and daddy.
I Am Mixed by Garcelle Beauvais
I Am Mixed is all about twins Jay and Nia discovering how great it is to be a blend of multiple cultures.
Mixed Blessing: A Children's Book About a Multi-Racial Family by Marsha Cosman
Young kids don't realize they're biracial right away. It takes them time to understand that they're different. This book walks with a child as he discovers he's different than mommy and daddy in a fun and creative way.
What I Like About Me by Allia Zobel Nolan
This book celebrates the diversity in our world. Instead of feeling bad about looking different than your friends, this book tells you how special we all are!
I Am Flippish by Leslie V Ryan
This book is all about Sean and his experience when his friends start to ask him why he doesn't look like his daddy.
Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown
Marisol is beautiful and doesn't match. She is proud of being biracial and won't let anyone put her in a box.-----
Fill your house with books that will remind your children how special they are to be different. Do you have a favorite book about interracial families?
*I get a small commission when you purchase these books off Amazon. Whether you're looking into the books to support me or find your children some amazing books.. you can't lose!*
Momma's Game Day Must Haves
This post contains affiliate links, but as always all opinions are my own. I only recommend items we actually use and love!
I've officially entered a new stage of motherhood. My boys have begun sports! I was going to wait a few more years, but the opportunity came up and they jumped at it. They were so excited to play on a team and I couldn't say no.Now, our weekends are filled with practice and games days. Game days have been a lot of fun. Levi is playing soccer and Liam is playing football. Liam has been obsessed with learning the plays and being the best on the team. The fact that he's the smallest one hasn't even crossed his mind. Levi is a different ball game. He likes running, but doesn't care which direction or trying to get the ball. Although, today he discovered the goalie position and was in love. He didn't have to do anything, but wait for the ball.We're about to have our last game and I've definitely learned a few things.I've learned through trial and error what to bring and what not to bring. I tried to prepare for every possibility. We ended up being there all morning because we had a gap between games.The biggest problem I had was lugging around so many things. My husband usually ended up carrying it all while I tried wrangling all the kids from around the field. Less is definitely more when it comes to game days with kids.
1. Drawstring Backpack
My kids have a dozen different backpacks, but we made sure to have one just for game day and practice. It helps because I can keep all of their equipment in one bag and it makes the game days a little easier.
2. Water Bottles
Kids have to bring water to each practice and game day so a water bottle was essential. I love this one too because it's insulated and keeps it cold the whole morning.
3. Camp Chair With Bag
Camp chairs are a must have for mom and dad. This one also has a bag which makes carrying it much easier.
4. Insulated Bag
While the little kids and I watch the game, they're always snacking. It's the only way to keep them busy. Our insulated bag has been great because it keeps all of our snacks good and cold.
5. Kid's Wagon With Canopy
If you don't get anything else, get this. This is my absolute favorite. It has straps and keeps the little ones buckled in with their little activities. Not to mention it folds up small!
What are your game day must haves?
15 Things I Discovered After Becoming A Mom
15 Things I Discovered After Becoming A Mom
I've wanted to be a mom since I was a little girl. I would sit next to my mom while she rocked my baby brother and mimic her every move. Now, I'm a mother to three beautiful little boys and I never could have imagined just how much my life would change.
Sleep Becomes The Most Important Thing
The exhaustion starts when they're first born and it just never goes away. The books promise you'll get more sleep as they get older, but it's all a lie.
Time Truly Does Fly
Parents warn you how quickly it goes, but you never know until it you see it first hand. I still remember holding my moments old babies. Now, I look at them and my oldest is about to go into first grade. They get big so quickly.
You Get To Be A Kid Again
One of the best parts of being a parent is that you get to be a kid all over again. You get to dress up and play pirates, you get to watch every kid movie you could think of, and you love every minute of it.
Privacy Is A Thing Of The Past
The days of using the bathroom alone are far behind you. After kids, you can expect kids watching you pee, trying to hop in the shower with you, and knocking during the worst possible times.
At Some Point You'll End Up Hurting Your Kid And You'll Feel Terrible
At some point, you'll be wrestling with your kids and you will accidentally hurt one of them. You'll feel like the worst human alive, but it's ok. We've all been there.
A Crazy Night On The Town Looks Much Different
Before kids, a night out may last the entire night. Now, a night out ends just in time for the babysitter to drive home.
Sick Days Don't Exist
As a mom, sick days just don't happen. You'll try to let the kids watch movies all day, but they act like it's torture. Then they make the biggest messes possible.
Kisses Heal Every Boo Boo
You'll discover the magic behind a kiss from mommy. There is no boo boo big for mom.
Your Purse Becomes A Portable Trash For Your Kids
It doesn't matter how many garbages are around, your purse becomes the catch all for all your kids trash.
Bedtime Becomes The Prime Time To Ask Life's Deepest Questions
You could spend your entire day with your kids, but they will hold onto every big, life question until you're tucking them into bed.
Your Kids Will Embarrass You In Public Many, Many Times
Your kids are going to find the "best" possible moment to talk about your fat tummy, the guy with no hair standing in front of you, or the smelly person at the grocery store.
Your Kid's Selective Hearing Wears Off The Second You Say A Bad Word
You're kids won't hear you when you tell them to clean their room, but they will when you stub your toe and a cuss word comes. out.
You Won't Ever Be Able To Hide Goodies From Your Kids
You'll wait for your kids to go to bed before you bring out your stash of goodies. Then they will run into your room the moment they hear you open the bag.
A Trip To Target Alone Feels Like A Vacation
Getting out of the house alone, even if it's just to Target, will feel like a luxurious vacation. You'll even wander up and down the aisles for one little item.
Just How Much You Can Love Someone
You'll dream about becoming a mom, but you'll never be able to truly imagine the way you'll feel about them. The way your heart will instantly melt the moment you hold them for the first time. Nothing can compare to the love a mom has for her child.
Letting Go Of Who Culture Says You Should Be
Letting Go Oh Who Culture Says You Should Be
About 4 years ago, I was sitting in my kitchen. I was feeling overwhelmed with all the pressure I had on my shoulders to be the perfect Indian wife.In all honesty, I was beating myself up. I was feeling crushed under the pressure to be the perfect Indian wife. It didn't matter what I did, I couldn't do anything Indian enough. I had been married for a few years at that point and I thought I'd have it figured out by then. Instead, I was just disappointed in myself. I was questioning if I'd ever be able to get there.
Would I ever be the perfect Indian wife?
Then it hit me.No.The answer was so simple, but the freedom I felt from saying it felt incredible.I would never be the perfect Indian wife because I'm not Indian. I may have teased that my tan skin during my wedding did, in fact, mean I was East Indian, but I wasn't.I married my husband, knowing he was East Indian and he married me knowing I wasn't. I was enough for him, so why was I pressuring myself to change?There are so many interracial couples out there doing exactly what I did. They're pressuring themselves to fit an image culture has created for someone else.Multiracial families break the mold when it comes to what it looks like to be a wife, girlfriend, husband, or boyfriend. There isn't one image that works for everyone because we're all blending cultures in our families differently.This is how The Almost Indian Wife was born. I knew I wouldn't ever be able to become the perfect Indian wife, so I asked myself who I was. This is a huge question for anyone.
Who am I?
Then it came to me. I was The Almost Indian Wife. Every time I say it, I smile. The Almost... It's a reminder to me that I'm my own person. While I love Indian culture and I'm always looking for ways to bring it into our family, I'm not Indian. I even tease my husband that we're the Almost Indian Family!The Almost Indian Wife isn't expected to do everything the Indian way. She isn't expected to be the perfect Indian parent. She's navigating between two beautiful cultures and making the rules for herself.Today, I want to take a moment to remind you that you're enough. You don't have to change yourself for your relationship. You don't have to be the perfect partner based on your partner's culture.
Your partner fell in love with you and not for an idea of what you would become.
Today, I welcome you to the Almost club. This club is full of people who pride themselves on being who they are. Don't worry we don't have any cheesy chants or songs (until I can think of one!). By joining, all you have to do tell yourself, I am enough.Your confidence will help you get through anything that comes your way. It took me a long time to be confident in being The Almost Indian Wife.In all honesty, I had to start walking it out before I felt it. Sometimes your feet need to tell the rest of the body what's going on. By walking out your confidence, even if it's not quite there, you're still making a commitment to yourself.You're committing to loving yourself whether you feel it or not.You're committing to being proud of who you are. Take a moment today and really think about the pressure you're putting on yourself, like I did. Then ask yourself that question. Who am I?
In the comments, tell me who you are. What defines YOU? Let all the pressure and expectation go. Who are you?
Our Family Adventure At Wise Acres Organic Farm
As some of you know, my family and I moved to North Carolina a few months ago. Since we've been here, we've slowly been venturing out looking for fun places to take the family.This week our friend invited us along on her homeschool co-op field trip! We were sold when she said strawberry picking! I was surprised to see just how close it was to our house.
If you're ever in the Charlotte area, you have to head over to the Wise Acres Organic Farm.It's run by a family who moved here from Chicago. They wanted to have a small organic farm and it wasn't possible in the city. Now, there family is able to run a small organic farm where families around can bring their kids and spend the day!
They have tractor rides without all the itchy hay!
The best part of the tractor ride was the little Dr. Seuss flare! During the tractor ride, the kids were on the hunt for Truffala trees! Every one they spotted ended with kids yelling and pointing! They loved it!
They even have a cute horse tire swing. My kids could have spent the whole day on the swing! Levi was so in love with it, he even gave it a little speech as we left.OK I think this is it. Don't worry, I'll be back one day. 
Luke's favorite part were the animals! He got to meet some bunny friends and even hold a baby chicken! It was all good until the chicken started flapping his wings! The little guy was convinced it was after him!
Strawberry picking was the biggest success! The boys went up and down picking every red strawberry they could find. I figured they'd stop when their little baskets were full, but no. Luke found a way around it. He started filling his little mouth with them instead!Overall, the day was a success and the boys are already asking when we're going back!
Be sure to watch my Insta Story to see what we make with our strawberries!
Baked Masala Egg Cups
Breakfast On The Go
As a momma with three little boys, I've quickly learned some of the best ways to find a smooth morning routine. Okay, I'm not sure about "smooth," but less chaotic. Little boys are full of energy and if I'm not careful, I end up with all of their wardrobe on the floor because they had a battle with a hot lava monster.So what do we do?We start some of our mornings off with a park trip! We're very blessed to live in walking distance to one and there are even a few more close by. It's been the perfect start to our day lately.The boys run around the park, jumping off every play structure they can climb!On park days, we're always looking for a quick and simple breakfast. Sometimes it's a bag of cereal or even a quick trip Chick-Fil-A.This week, we decided to mix things up a bit. I spent my weekend doing some meal prep so we could have quick and easy meals. One of our favorites so far has been our Masala Egg Cups.Can you say... YUM.
Masala Egg Cups
These breakfast egg cups are delicious and quick to make. We made up 2 dozen on Sunday and froze half of them. All we have to do is stick them in the fridge the night before and pop them in the microwave.We love whipping up our Masala Egg Cups and serving them with a warm chapati if we're at home or we take them on the go!
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:20]
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10 Summer Activities To Do With Your Kids
Let's Beat The Heat With These Summer Activities For Kids!
I'm not sure about you guys, but it's getting HOT in North Carolina. It's showing us just how crazy our summer is going to be! We've decided to share some of our favorite ways to beat the heat this summer!Here are 10 of our favorite activities from other bloggers who know exactly how to do do summer right!
1. I love this Backyard Teepee from Mamma Papa Bubba! It would be perfect for a little outdoor fort or even a little reading spot.
Get everything you need to make it here.
2. Mini Water Blobs from Hello Wonderful. They're perfect for some outdoor slipping and sliding!
Get everything you need to make it here.
3. This Portable Sandbox from How We Learn is perfect! You can fill it up and bring it anywhere!
Get everything you need to make it here.
4. Squirt Gun Races from This Grandma Is Fun is a huge hit at our house! My kids love anything Nerf gun!
Get everything you need to make it here.
5. Make your own Fairy Garden with Design Dazzle! I've always wanted to make one of these!
Get everything you need to make it here.
6. Make Giant Bubbles with One Charming Party. Who doesn't want bubbles as big as yourself!?
Get everything you need to make it here.
7. Build a Pool Noodle Race Track with Ramblings From Utopia.
Get everything you need to make it here.
8. Have some cold fun by freezing your Treasure Hunt with Macaroni Kid.
Get everything you need to make it here.
9. Do a Rock Painting Craft with What Can We Do With Paper and Glue.
Get everything you need to make it here.
10. Enjoy some Squirt Gun Painting with Fire Flies and Mud Pies.
Get everything you need to make it here.
12 Things Interracial Couples Are Tired Of Hearing
12 Things Interracial Couples Hear All The Time
As an interracial couple, you're used to people asking you questions and maybe staring a bit. Sometimes people are curious and other times they're just enamored but what an adorable couple you are.The questions though.. They get a little crazy. They start off innocent and then just get... Well, you'll see.
1. You met online...?
2. Did your family approve?
3. Getting quizzed to see if the stereotypes are true
4. Racial jokes
5. Have you ever been attracted to your own race?
6. I would love having mixed kids! Can you help me find a (____)
7. Won't your kids be confused
8. I've dated someone who's ____ before
9. Is it uncomfortable getting both of your families together
10. Doesn't it feel weird being the only (___) at their family events
11. You're really progressive.
12. I love Kim Kardashian and Kanye!
What are you tired of hearing about your interracial relationship?
7 Multiracial Families You Should Follow!
The Almost Indian Wife
I love sharing my story with all of you on here. If you really want to see the nitty gritty of our multiracial family's day to day, be sure to follow us on Instagram. You'll see my boys mischievous little plans, what we're whipping up for dinner, hear fun stories, and get to know the family behind the blog.
Are Those Your Kids
Diedre is the glamorous girl behind Are Those Your Kids blog. She is a momma who seriously does it all! She helps her hubby on the farm, works as an educator, all while being the momma of two gorgeous little girls! Her Instagram is full of tips for curly hair, a glance at farm life, and all the fun in-between.
We're Parents
Larisha is the semi-crunchy mom behind We're Parents blog. Together with her fiancé, she is raising two beautiful little girls! Her Instagram is full of mouthwatering food, family adventures, baby wearing, breastfeeding, and authentic life moments. Her family is adorable and I love following their adventures!
De Su Mama
Vanessa is the beautiful momma behind De Su Mama blog. Her whole blog is about your multiracial motherhood legacy and what it looks like to be a multiracial family. Her family is always visiting fun places and I love seeing how they blend cultures and what it looks like to have a family legacy.
Cherish 365
Jennifer is the voice behind Cherish 365 blog formerly known as Baby Making Machine. She is truly a rockstar in her family. She has a little boy and a girl and her whole mission with her blog and Instagram is to cherish every day. She finds the beauty in every moment and it's truly inspiring.
Madh Mama
Alexandra is the voice behind Madh Mama blog. Her story is beautiful and I love following her along on her journey. She is raising two beyond gorgeous little girls while living in a joint family. I love seeing how her family embraces Indian culture together and what it looks like for them to be a multiracial family.
English Wife Indian Life
Lauren is the jet setting momma behind English Wife Indian Life blog. She fell in love with her husband and moved her entire life to India. Now they are raising a beautiful little boy together while she lives abroad. I love seeing her family on Instagram because she's showing how she keeps her culture alive while living so far from home. The beautiful thing is now India is her home!
20+ Things You Can Do For Mom This Mother's Day
20+ Things To Do With Mom On Mother's Day
Mother's Day is the day momma long for every year. It's the day we can get away with as many hugs and kisses from our kids as we want, we get spoiled, and we get a break.I'm going to tell you a little secret today. You may go out of your way to find the most elaborate and special gift you can find, but it doesn't have to be hard. All we want is to put our feet up for a bit and have some fun!Here are a few ways you can spoil your mom this Mother's Day!
Write her a letter
Write her a letter telling her how much you love her. You will always be her little baby and those little letters will mean the world to her.
Draw her a picture
Maybe you're a little too young to write a letter. No worries, you can draw momma a picture!
Make her breakfast
You may think a big and elaborate breakfast is what she wants, but breakfast in bed is the answer. She doesn't even have to put her make up on! She simply has to roll over and enjoy a delicious breakfast in bed.
Record a video
Take some time to record a video and let her know how much you love her. You can even throw in a few of your favorite memories.
Rub her feet
Pamper you momma. She spend her whole day taking care of everyone and today is her day. Have her sit down, relax, and rub her feet.
Clean the house
Cleaning is the absolute LAST thing your mom wants to do today. While she sits down, clean up the house.
Take her out on a family adventure
Take her out for a fun adventure. It could be a hike or even a movie she's been dying to see.
Do a game night
Turn off the TV and bring out the board games. Sometimes mom just wants to spend some good quality time with her family and game night is just the way for it to happen.
Send momma away for the weekend
Be an over achiever and schedule a weekend getaway for momma. You can work it out with one of her friends and send her away for a spa getaway.
Pamper momma
Don't stop at rubbing her feet, pamper her all day. You can play with her hair, scratch her back, and even bring her snacks when ever she wants!
Surprise her with a fun day out
Surprise her with a fun day out and about. Momma spends so much of her time in the house or doing things for the family. Take her out for an entire day and let her choose everything!
Look at old pictures with momma
Take out the photo albums and go down memory lane.
Put on a skit
Spend some time practicing to put on a funny skit for mom.
Let her use the bathroom alone
Trust me. If she has little kids, SHE NEEDS THIS.
Go grocery shopping
Find her grocery list and go grocery shopping for her. Get the brands she normally gets, if you remember. This is the gift that will keep giving back all week!
Put all the electronics away
Put all of the electronics away on her day. She just wants to spend time with you and talking to you while you're on your phone isn't the same thing. I'm talking to you dads!
Let her hug and kiss you as much as she wants to
As kids get older, you may not want as many hugs and kisses all day. Let her indulge today. Come on, she's your mom!
Buy her a fun class
Does she have a hobby she enjoys? Buy her a class to have more fun with it!
Book her a mani/pedi
Send her out to get a mani/pedi. They're so relaxing and will make her feel great.
LET HER SLEEP
This is the absolute best gift you can get mom. Let the woman sleep! She's been deprived ever since she started her motherhood journey and today is the day to let her sleep as long as she wants!
How will you spoil your mom this Mother's Day?
Ask The Almost Indian Wife: How Can I Teach My Loved One A New Culture
One of my favorite parts about blogging is getting questions from all of you! The whole reason I started blogging was to take what I've learned from my multicultural family and give you tips for yours!
Dear Almost Indian Wife,
I need help! My husband and I have been married for a little under a year now. He's amazing! The only problem is our cultures collide all the time. I'm East Indian and he's American. Most of our fights are surrounding our families. I keep trying to explain my family to him, but he doesn't get it. He gets frustrated so much and all I want is for him to feel comfortable with my family. What do you think?
When my husband and I first met, we had an instant attraction to each other. We knew right away that there was a spark between us and we were interested in taking our friendship further. We didn't start thinking about what it would look like to blend cultures until we were engaged and planning a fusion wedding.In the beginning of most of our relationships, I think it's safe to say it's similar. We're so interested in getting to know each other and it's just fun. The beginning of a relationship is fun because it's all new. It's all about the first dates, the first kiss, and the first time you feel completely yourself in front of that person.As your relationship continues and you get closer, things begin to get more serious. You start to meet their family, they meet yours, and you start to see what it may look like to blend cultures together. This is where things get a little tricky.My husband grew up with parents who had an arranged marriage and spent the first part of their lives living in India. I grew up with a single mom who got remarried to my, now dad, at 10 years old. It's safe to say our families were very different.I didn't realize how different until he started to spend time with my family. He knew my family was different than his, but he was trying to find his place. He wanted to know how to talk to my brothers because in his family he has a sense of authority with his siblings. They listen to and respect him because he's there unna (big brother). In my family we were more equals with my siblings.The hardest thing for us was how different the dynamics were. We couldn't simply do what we did in out own families. It was different.
Teaching Your Loved One About A New Culture
Remember it's new
Give it time.
Communicate
Remember some things are universal
What's helped you teach your loved one about a brand new culture? Or are you on the opposite end of the equation?
I Can Finally Breathe Again
Have you ever had a moment where you realize you've been holding your breath for a long time?
A moment where you finally take a deep breath and realize things are ok? This is exactly how I felt this month, let me tell you why.My family and I are coming out of a rough season. Our youngest has been dealing with febrile seizures and it's caused us to put a lot of things on hold. It was something we needed to do.If he got sick, we would cancel all of our plans and simply stay home.If he got sick, my husband and I knew we were in for a long night of waking up every 3 hours to give him Motrin.If he got sick, we had to check his temperature every 30 minutes to make sure he wasn't spiking a fever.It became our routine. We knew what we needed to do and the moment he got sick, we'd go on autopilot. It went on like this for the last year. I didn't even realize how exhausted I was until earlier this month.We went into my son's neurologist and she said she wanted to get more tests done. She wanted to see if he was indeed dealing with febrile seizures or if it was something more. Waiting for those results were the longest few days in my life. The morning finally came and we went in to hear the results.She walked into the room and told us everything came back normal and it was indeed febrile seizures. This was the answer we were hoping and praying for because it means he'll grow out of them!
In that moment, I let out a deep breath.
What I didn't realize was that I'd been holding my breath for months. I was so scared to actually let myself breath. I didn't know when the next seizure would come... I didn't know when I would finally hit my breaking point...This year has been hard on our family, but we didn't let it ruin our year. When Luke was sick, we'd stay have to stay home all day, and we'd turn it into an adventure. We'd turn our living room upside down and we'd build the biggest fort we could.When Luke would have to stay at the hospital, family and friends would come and make sure the other kids had a little mini vacation.
Life happens.
Things don't always go as planned and that's ok. This year was incredibly stressful. No one wants to see their baby go through something they can't stop. No one wants to see that look on their baby's face post-seizure and know how scared they are.The reality is we could have taken everything that we experienced this year and let it ruin us or we could take it and grow as a family. We chose to grow. We chose to teach our kids how to respond to life when it gets hard.We learned how to depend on each other as a family. We learned how to make the best of an awful situation. We learned how to laugh even when all you want to do is cry.Now, we've learned to celebrate as a family.
Mango Lassi Chia Pudding Recipe
Food Is About More Than Just A Meal
I love seeing how many of my children's memories are associated with food. Food isn't just something to eat for them. It brings them back to the moment they first tried it, the people they were with, the feelings they had at the time, and it's all tied in to each bite.Mango Lassi is definitely one of those sweets for them. Every time we make it at home, they tell me how their Ammamma makes it for them every time they see her. Every sip brings them back to their visits to her house and the special moments they have had together.Food means so much more than I ever could have imagined in Indian families. It's more than food, it's all about the community around the meal. It's about the relationships forged over preparing and enjoying the dishes.I love that we're carrying this on with our boys. I think their bellies are happy too!
Magno Lassi Chia Seed Pudding
As the weather is starting to warm up in North Carolina, the boys and I decided it would be the perfect time to whip up a batch of Mango Lassis. While the boys enjoyed the traditional recipe, I decided to put a little spin on mine.My husband and I have been trying to eat better the last two weeks and incorporating more healthy options into our diet. Chia seeds have been a huge one for us. It has so many health benefits! Their rich with Omega-3, fiber, antioxidant and are great for your metabolism!We've been adding them into our smoothies, granola, cookies, and today we're even making chia pudding!When I told my husband what I was making, he got a little nervous. I could see it in his face.What are you trying to get me to eat now?All it took was one bite and he was hooked. It's so delicious and the added flavors of the mango lassi with it are amazing.
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Interracial Couples: The Feeling Of Never Doing It Well Enough
There are so many blessings in being an interracial couple. You get to present your children with multiple rich cultures, you get to dive into a new culture, you get to see how differently your spouse grew up, your family vacations are amazing because you get to visit places you both went as children, and your family becomes a strong unit because you're figuring out how to blend cultures together.However, along with all of the blessings, there are some difficulties as well. I've received so many emails and comments from all of you sharing a similar struggle...
The Struggle Intercultural Couples Face
You feel torn between two cultures. You want to blend these two rich cultures in your family, but it comes with a lot of outside pressure. Your family wants you to keep the traditions you grew up with and his family wants you to embrace his culture. It sounds easy enough, right?Then the comments start to roll in as you and your spouse start blending cultures the way you think is best. The wonderful comments that make you feel like complete garbage."Why are you doing it that way? That's not how we raised you to do it.""Why don't you tell her how she should be doing that?""Why do you let your child eat so much American food? Don't you want her to be raised with Indian food?""Why do you feed him such spicy food? We never gave you spicy food."These are some of the comments many of you have told me you get. As parents, you're probably already used to the outside pressure. There's always something you're not doing well enough or doing too much of. You can't win in the world's eyes because everyone has the idea that their way is the right way. This is definitely the same in blending cultures.It's almost like you're too (white) to be (Indian) and too (Indian) to be (white)... Switch it up and fill in the words that fit for you, but it's a real struggle intercultural couples are facing on a day to day basis.If you're not careful you're going to give into the pressure and start listening. All it will lead to is you feeling like a failure. Feeling like you can't do anything right.
It means you're embracing both of your cultures and creating a new culture within your family.3 Ways To Respond To Negative Criticism Over The Way You've Chosen To Blend CulturesTake it with a grain of salt.When you hear a comment remember everyone has their own opinions. You may agree with some comments and completely disregard others. Before you ignore the comment, ask yourself if you agree. If not, that's ok! People always think their way is best and have a hard time changing what they think. Just remember it's your family and you will figure out the right way to blend cultures for you. Let it go and move on.Some comments you get will be frustrating, but easy to ignore. Others feel like a knife in the heart. It's hard to hear anything about your parenting or your family. You tend to get defensive and ready to fight off anyone that has anything negative to say about them. If they dare criticise either of them, you hold onto it. You let it fester and turn into something much worse.Instead, you have to let it go and move on. Their will always be someone out there with something negative to say. You can't hold onto it all because it will ruin you and it's not worth your time.Remember there is no perfect way to blend cultures.I have talked with so many people in intercultural marriages and my favorite thing is to see how they blend cultures in their family. I'm going to tell you a little secret... They all do it differently! They're all breaking the mold on what's right. Blending cultures is a beautiful and difficult task, but it's always worth it. Don't let the outside pressure get to you.
7 Things Kids Shouldn't Expect On Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a treasured day for moms. It's not just special because of the adorable handmade gifts and flowers they get... No, it's much more that that. It's special because it means...The. Whole. Day. Is.About.Them. As a mother, every day is spent taking care of other people. From morning until night they're taking care of little and big people. While mother's love taking care of their brood, they save up all of our selfishness for one day. Mother's Day
Here are 7 things children should not expect to happen on Mother's day...
A home cooked dinner.
Any type of emotional support all day.
Don't expect mom to give you emotional support all day. You will need to find support in your siblings, other family member, or dad. Mom's off. She will not care about your boo boos, your argument over who had the lego first, or the fact that she won't make you food. None of it. Don't waste time.
To see mom in the morning.
Moms work all day, every day, 24 hours a day. Sleeping in is the biggest rarity in her life. Do not expect to see her on Mother's day morning. She will be sleeping. As long as she possibly can. If she has little kids her body might rebel against her, telling her she has to wake up. Then you, as the child, shouldn't expect anything other than the blame. Because it really is your fault.
Diapers to be changed
You can't be too shocked that mom has no desire to change dirty diapers... At all. Don't expect any diapers to be changed on this glorious day. Not a grand babies... Not a child's... You should help a little sibling out or teach them to do it. Mom is off the hook!
The house to be cleaned
Unless she wants to dance! The house could combust on mother's day and she wouldn't care. It's her day!
Fake laughter at your not funny jokes
I hate to break it to you, but not even mom will give you a pitty laugh today. You'll either have to actually be funny or try the day after Mother's day.
Mediation
This is the day all kids will have to duke it out. Instead of helping you deal with your problems rationally, she will give you boxing gloves and tell you to enjoy.
The one thing you should expect is to do absolutely everything for your mom and wait on her hand and foot.All.Day.Long.